USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth county, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 31
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Mr. Norton was born in Lafayette township, this county, on November 5, 1874. He is the son of John H. and J. Louise (Merrick) Norton. The father was born at Chardon, Geauga county, Ohio, and when one year old his parents, Winthrop and Hannah (Cranston) Norton, brought him to Wal- worth county, Wisconsin. That was in 1842, in pioneer times, and here he grew to manhood and received his education in the early common schools. The mother's family was from Cranston, Connecticut, having been early settlers in the old Nutmeg state.
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The Norton family located in Lafayette township upon their arrival in this county and there maintained their home until 1861, when they made the long overland trip by wagon to California. There Winthrop Norton died and was buried. John H. Norton was about twenty years old at the time of the trip to the Pacific coast. He farmed there about two years, then he and his mother returned to Lafayette township, this county. An uncle of the subject, Abram Cranston Norton, also went to California, returning a year after his brother, John H., returned, and these gentlemen bought a farm in partnership in 1866, and farmed the rest of their lives here, being widely known as the Norton brothers. Abram C. never married, and always made his home with the father of the subject.
The parents of William C. Norton were married on February 8, 1871. The mother was the daughter of Austin L. and Celestia (Cook) Merrick, and was born in the town of Spring Prairie, this county, on September 21, 1843 .. Her father was born in Franklin, Delaware county, New York, and he was among the very earliest settlers in Walworth county, locating in Spring Prairie township in 1836, entering land from the government, which he improved and there made his home the rest of his life, and there he was married to Esther Celestia Cook, who was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, in which state her parents died.
John H. Norton and wife and Abram C. Norton, mentioned above, re- mained on the home farm until 1888, when they retired from active life and moved into Elkhorn, which has since been the family home. Abram C. died on February 9, 1909. He had been a member of the county board of supervisors and was also an alderman in Elkhorn.
Three children were born to John H. Norton and wife, namely : Irene C., William Clarence, of this sketch, and Florence L.
William C. Norton lived with his parents on the home farm until he was fourteen years of age, and he received his education in the district schools of Lafayette township and the high school at Elkhorn, from which he was graduated in 1892. The following year he entered the State Uni- versity at Madison, where he made a splendid record for scholarship, re- maining there until 1896. Then he went to California, where he and the family spent a year, then returned home and he entered the law department of the State University and took the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1900. Thus well equipped for his life work. he came to Elkhorn and began practicing his profession with Joseph F. Lyon, with whom he remained up to the death of the latter, two years later, since which time Mr. Norton has practiced alone. He has been very successful and now enjoys a large and rapidly
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growing practice. He has kept well abreast of the times in all that pertains to his profession and ranks with the leading attorneys in this part of the state.
Mr. Norton is an ardent Republican and has long been active in the ranks. He has served as city attorney and also as a member of the board of education, and was chairman of the Republican city committee, filling all these positions in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. Of recent years he has devoted his atten- tion almost exclusively to his profession.
Like his worthy father, he is active in Masonic affairs, being a member of the blue lodge, the chapter, commandery and the Order of the Eastern Star.
GRANT DEAN HARRINGTON.
Among those persons who have by virtue of their strong individual qualities earned their way to a high standing in the estimation of their fellow citizens, having by sheer force of character and persistency won their way to a place of influence in the community, Grant Dean Harrington, of Elkhorn, now serving his sixth term as county clerk, is entitled to special mention in a volume of the nature of the one in hand, partly because of his excellent record as a public servant and partly because he is a worthy scion of one of the pioneer families of Walworth county.
Mr. Harrington was born in Richmond township, this county, on Octo- ber 12, 1862. He is the son of Milton S. and Fannie E. ( Miltimore) Har- rington, both natives of the state of New York, she the daughter of Edwin .A. Miltimore and wife.
Grant D. Harrington was a small boy when the family removed to the ยท town of Delavan, where he grew to manhood and received such educational advantages as the schools of that place afforded. He subsequently com- pleted the scientific course of study at the University of Valparaiso, Valparaiso, Indiana, after which he taught school one year at Goshen, that state. He then went to Rock Valley, lowa, where he published the Register during a period of about twelve years, during which time he was also active in other business enterprises, meeting with a fair measure of success in all that he undertook. He was one of the organizers of the State Bank and became its first vice- president. He became a leader in public affairs there and was postmaster at Rock Valley for some time. He also carried on a real estate and insurance business.
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Finally returning to Delavan, Wisconsin, Mr. Harrington purchased the Enterprise, which he published about three years. He was clerk of the city of Delavan during its organization. In 1900 he was elected county clerk, and so well has he discharged the duties of this office that his constituents have re-elected him every two years since.
At all times an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party, he has represented his constituents in conventions and party councils, always making his influence felt for the good of his community and the party in general.
In 1886 the Masonic order at Hull, lowa, initiated him into its mys- teries and he later became a charter member of Pilgrim Lodge at Rock Valley, and was chosen its first master. In 1886 he became a member of Delavan Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and has since received the honors of Delavan Council, Royal and Select Masters. Beloit Commandery, Knights Templar, Wisconsin Consistory, Scottish Rite. and Tripoli Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He stands high in Masonic circles in southern Wisconsin, in which he has long been active. Religiously, he and his wife belong to the Congregational church.
Mr. Harrington was married on January 5. 1886, at Osceola. Iowa, to Sadette Smith, daughter of John and Mary ( Elliott) Smith, a highly es- teemed family of this place. One son has graced this union, Elliott Dean Harrington.
In closing this sketch, it is deemed fitting at this place to give an account of the massacre of Edwin A. Miltimore, maternal grandfather of the subject. and six members of his family, by the Bannock and Snake Indians on August 31, 1859, near old Fort Hall, on the Snake river, in which Milton S. Har- rington, father of the subject took part, fighting the red men and probably killing their chief.
The Miltimores were Eastern people and knew nothing about Indians, and they attempted to cross the plain to Oregon by way of a new trail, opened by the government, along which the Indians were supposed to be friendly. Milton S. Harrington was the main promoter of the enterprise with his father-in-law, Edwin A. Miltimore, and he was with the party from their start from Fairbanks, Iowa, and in 1907 he gave the following graphic account of the trip before the court of claims :
"I was on ahead as usual towards evening, selecting a suitable camp- ground. when we were attacked by the Indians. Hearing their firing and whooping in the rear, I took in the situation at once, and while we were prac- tically unarmed and defenseless, I started back, having a rifle, intending to
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do what I could in driving them away. I soon met Charles N. Miltimore running in my direction with Indians following him. Upon seeing us, they fled, disappearing in the sage brush. Mr. Miltimore told me that the Indians had killed his father, Edwin A., and the rest of the family, so we retreated to the camp that I had chosen; but in a few moments the band came down upon us in full force and surrounded us except on the river side. They dismounted and closed in upon us, firing as they came. They had nearly surrounded me when I was warned by others of our party. I then secreted myself in the bottoms, where I was joined by Nathan Titus, a member of the train, who also had a rifle. The Indians then came out into plain sight when a shot from one of our rifles killed the largest of the Indians, whom we afterwards learned to be the chief of the band, when the rest of the Indians again dis- appeared. The killing of their chief broke up this band of marauding red men and they later scattered in all directions.
"By this time it has become quite dark and we joined the survivors of this portion of our party, and by marching all night around the country sup- posed to be infested by the Indians we again struck the trail the following day. All night long we could hear the whooping of the savages. We finally overtook George and Alonzo Miltimore who had gone on ahead hunting ducks, thereby making their escape, being away on the river when the attack was made. We found ourselves without a particle of food and very scantily clothed. We kept hid in the daytime, traveling the rest of the way by night, in order to escape further molestation.
"Having learned that a train was ahead of us, two of our party were sent to overtake it. On the evening of the fourth day we came upon a small government train, which had been sent out from the camp on Bear river with supplies for a party of surveyors in Oregon, and were returning. They had an escort of seven soldiers and a guide, under the command of Lieu- tenant Livingston, who sent a scout and a soldier back to the scene of the massacre. They found the bodies and the contents of the wagons scattered about as if a general looting had taken place. Apparently the Indians de- stroyed what they could not carry away. A party of dragoons went to the scene also and buried the bodies where the massacre occurred. The father, mother and five children of the Miltimore family had met death, one of the children being a baby, born en route.
"We went on with the soldier to the government camp on Bear river and were there given a tent and food by the commanding officer, Major Lynd. the soldiers soon afterwards transporting us to Camp Floyd, where we spent the winter, my wife keeping a boarding house, while I and the Milti-
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more boys worked at anything we could find to do. In this manner we secured sufficient means to purchase an outfit and during the following sum- mer I brought the survivors of the Miltimore family back to Delavan, Wal- worth county, Wisconsin."
It is believed that all the Miltimore family is now deceased except Charles and George. The family was practically ruined by this atrocious and unprovoked attack by the Indians, who destroyed property of the Milti- mores probably aggregating seven thousand dollars.
CAPT. GEORGE EDWIN WOOD.
The respect which should always be accorded the brave sons of the North who left their homes and the peaceful pursuits of civil life to give their services, and their lives if need be, to preserve the integrity of the American Union is certainly due Capt. George Edwin Wood, a well known citizen of Elkhorn. He proved his love and loyalty to the government on the long and tiresome marches in all kinds of situations, exposed to summer's withering heat and winter's freezing cold, on the lonely picket line a target for the missile of the unseen foe, on the tented field and amid the flame and smoke of battle, where the rattle of the musketry mingled with the terrible concussion of the bursting shell and the deep diapason of the cannon's roar made up the sublime but awful chorus of death. To the heroes of the "grand army" all honor is due; to them the country is under a debt of gratitude which it cannot pay, and in centuries yet to be posterity will commemorate their chivalry in fitting eulogy and tell their knightly deeds in story and song. To this rapidly vanishing host into the phantom army of the silent land be- longs the subject, still left with us to thrill us with reminiscences of those stirring times in the early sixties.
Captain Wood was born at Hartford, Vermont, August 19. 1842. He is the son of Lucius and Juletta (Morse) Wood, the mother a daughter of Hiram Morse and wife. Mrs. Hiram Morse was in Boston during the Revo- lution, and the subject remembers her telling him of seeing the British enter that city. She lived to be ninety-nine years of age. One of her sons, Wash- ington Morse, was a prominent Seventh-Day Adventist and lived to be one hundred and one years old. Another brother of Juletta Morse was S. F. B. Morse, famous for inventing the telegraph.
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Lucius Wood, father of the subject, was left an orphan at an early age, at Brookfield, Vermont. He grew to manhood and was educated in his native state, and began life for himself by teaching school there, later in life becoming a tanner. Upon his marriage he moved to Bradford, where he had a tannery, and there his wife died, leaving the following children : Lucy, who married Luther C. Hull, of Lynnfield Center, Massachusetts; Lucinda mar- ried William H. McCausland, at one time chief inspector of detectives in Boston, and they died at Wakefield, Massachusetts; James R. Wood was a celebrated scout and a prominent officer in the government's secret service during the Civil war. He was one of two scouts who took a secret message from General Grant to President Lincoln from the battle of the Wilderness, the President showing his appreciation of the hazardous service by embracing the scouts. He and his son ran a detective agency in Boston from 1879, and he has been succeeded by his son. Elizabeth Wood died in Lowell, Massa- chusetts, May 14, 1850, of cholera; she was the third child in order of birth, James R. Wood being the fourth ; the next was Charles P., who was born on June 18, 1840, and died in Seattle, Washington, in 1902. He was a soldier in the Civil war, serving in the First and the Fourteenth Vermont Volunteer Infantry. He was with the troops at Gettysburg which received Pickett's famous charge. For many years he was in the fire department in Boston. George Edwin, of this sketch, was next in order of birth; Pamelia J., the youngest, was born February 8, 1846, married Walter C. Wigfall and she lives at Providence, Rhode Island.
The father of the above named children was for years connected with the police department of Boston, and his death occurred there on November II, 1864. Two of his step-sons, children by a former marriage of his wife, were also in the Union army.
Capt. George E. Wood, of this sketch, spent his boyhood in Boston chiefly, where he attended the public schools, also went to a military school at Norwich, Vermont, being a student in the latter institution at the commence- ment of the Civil war. On May 9. 1861, he enlisted in Company D, First Vermont Volunteer Infantry, at Rutland, Vermont, to serve three months, and he was mustered out on August 15th following, but on September 19th of the same year re-enlisted, and was at once elected sergeant of Company B, Sixth Vermont Volunteer Infantry. His military record is one to be proud of and he saw much hard service, proving a most gallant soldier and faithful officer, according to his comrades. His regiment was in the battles of War- wick Creek, Lee's Mills and Williamsburg, Virginia, in the spring of 1862. On June 14th of that year he was promoted to second lieutenant. On June
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27th and 28th he was in the battle of Golding's Farm, and on June 29 that of Savage Station, where he was wounded and taken prisoner. After seven days under guard he was confined in Libby Prison and from there was paroled on July 17th, and on July 23d he was promoted to first lieutenant. He was in the great battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862, although his wound was still open and running. After that battle he was made a staff officer and from then on until the end of the war he was away from his regiment, but was in every battle that engaged the Army of the Potomac, and they were many and bloody. From November, 1862, Captain Wood served on the Second Di- vision. Sixth Corps staff, under Gen. Albin P. Howe and later under Gen. George W. Getty. In December, 1863, he was promoted to the Sixth Corps staff under John G. Sedgewick and later under command of Gen. H. G. Wright. He served on the Sixth Corps staff until June, 1865. except two months when he was temporarily on Gen. Phil Sheridan's staff. On October 29, 1864, he was commissioned captain of Company A, of his regiment, but continued to serve as a staff officer until the close of the war. He was present at Lee's surrender and was one of those detailed to bear the news of the surrender to other divisions, where he witnessed the never-to-be-forgotten enthusiasm and elation of both commanders and privates at the final victory. Captain Wood was highly commended by his superior officers for his bravery and fidelity to duty. He was mustered out on June 26, 1865.
After the war Captain Wood went to the oil regions of Pennsylvania and until 1889 was engaged in putting down oil wells. He was very success- ful in this line. He was married in 1866 to Maria A. McLean, of Boston, and her death occurred in 1868.
Captain Wood's family have nearly all been engaged in police and detective work, and he has been a detective most of the time since the war, proving to be a most efficient, faithful, alert and successful one. From Penn- sylvania he went to Michigan in 1869, where he assisted in breaking up a very bad gang of notorious outlaws. Like nearly all detectives from habitual training, he seldom talks of his work or tells of his adventures, but enough is known that we may be sure he could give a very interesting account if he were disposed to do so. In 1896 he went to Haney, Crawford county. Wisconsin, and there filed claim to some land that for some reason or other still belonged to the government. He located there and made Haney his home until he came to Elkhorn. For many years he has taken a great interest in horse racing, and buying and selling fast horses, and has made a business of it. He came to Elkhorn first in 1901, but did not locate per- manently until 1903. In that year his second marriage occurred, when he
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espoused Eva S. Tubbs, sister of Willis J. Tubbs, a record of which family is to be found on another page of this work.
The Captain now makes his home in Elkhorn, and is thoroughly identified with the county's affairs. He was for many years a member of the Ameri- can Detective Association. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic. He is now a justice of the peace and is discharging his duties in this office in a manner that elicits the praise of all concerned.
HERMAN VOLTZ.
The name of Herman Voltz has long been a familiar one in Geneva township. Walworth county, he being one of the thrifty and enterprising Germans who have deigned to cast their lot in our midst and have, by so doing, benefited themselves and us. He was born in Pomerania, Germany, on November 30, 1850, and is the son of Carl and Augusta (Karnerpp) Voltz. The subject grew up in his native land, and was educated there. When a young man he became foreman of a large farm, consisting of one thousand acres, and he discharged his important duties most faithfully. He was married in his native land to Augusta Rasch, daughter of Frederick and Louise (Janke) Rasch, also natives of Pommerania.
Mr. Voltz continued to reside in the fatherland until 1875, when he brought his wife and her mother to the United States. They located at Kenosha, Wisconsin. His wife's sister and sister's husband had settled near Wheatland, Kenosha county. Two months later they came to Bloomfield, this county, and here Mr. Voltz worked by the day for Andrew Kull, one of the leading farmers of that part of Walworth county. After remaining with Mr. Kull three and one-half years, he began farming for himself on a rented farm in Lyons township, and he continued in this manner for fourteen years, during which he got a good start, then bought two hundred acres in Linn township, and he has continued to reside here most of the time ever since. In 1905 he also purchased a farm of one hundred and eighteen acres at Como in Geneva township, but retained his residence in Linn township. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser and is now well fixed, having a fine home and his land well improved and under a high state of cultivation. He keeps an excellent grade of live stock.
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Voltz. namely: William married Emma Dickman, and they had two sons, Frank and one other.
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William was farming on the home place in Geneva township. His death occurred in January, 1908. Edward Voltz married Bertha Coots and they live in Lake Geneva, where he owns a good residence and some valuable lots. He is engaged in farming near that city. He has one son, Carl. Herman Voltz, Jr., married Martha Siefelt and lives near Alden, Illinois, on a farm. Frank is married and lives on the same farm with Herman. Andrew Voltz is operating the farm formerly conducted by his brother William at Como.
For the past three years Herman Voltz and wife have resided on the farm at Como, but they still own the home farm in Linn township. They formerly belonged to the Lutheran church.
PATRICK DUNN.
One of the best remembered and most highly respected citizens of a past generation in Walworth county was the late Patrick Dunn, a man whom to know was to respect and admire for he led an exemplary life and aided in all movements looking to the material, civic and moral welfare of his community. He came to us from the Emerald Isle, which fair country has sent so many enterprising and much welcomed citizens to our shores who have aided us in pushing forward the wheels of civilization.
Mr. Dunn was born in Queens county, Ireland, in 1815, and he emigrated to America when young in years, and here spent the rest of his life. He was married about 1849 to Ann Murray, who was born in Monahan, Ireland, the daughter of John and Bridget (Finnegan) Murray.
About 1850 Mr. Dunn and wife came to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, then moved to Linn, and from there to Walworth township, where he farmed successfully until old age rendered it necessary for him to retire. He estab- lished a good home there and had a fine farm and there he reared his family, comprising six children, named in order of birth as follows: Mary Ann, who married John Kelly and reared a family of seven sons and one daughter; lived in Iowa until her death; Michael, who is living in Walworth township, this county; John married Elizabeth Hickey and lived in Lake Geneva until his death, on Christmas day, 1886, leaving a son and a daughter, John and Anna Irene, the former dying when about twelve years old, and the latter is attending school in Milwaukee: Elizabeth married James Hagan and they live in Harvard, Illinois; Catherine is the wife of Horace G. Douglas, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Edward lives in Lake Geneva, and a sketch of him appears in this work.
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The death of Mr. Dunn occurred on October 23, 1897, after an honor- able and successful life, during which he enjoyed the friendship and good will of all with whom he had occasion to associate or have dealings in a business or social way, for he was charitable, neighborly, obliging and public-spirited.
Mrs. Dunn lived until her death in Lake Geneva, her daughter-in-law, widow of her son, John, living with her. She would have been ninety years of age on Christmas day, 1911. She retained her faculties remarkably well, having had as good hearing as any young person up to the last, and she was very well preserved for one of such advanced years. She had a good memory and often related interesting reminiscences of pioneer times. She was a devout Christian and her example was always salutary, being a faithful member of the Catholic church. Her death occurred on October 17, 191I. She was loved and respected by all who knew her.
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