USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth county, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 32
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ELMER E. COWLES.
The best farmers of the present day do not confine their whole time and attention to the cultivation of the soil, but vary their operations by raising stock for sale to other farmers. The raising of any kind of live stock, wheth- er fancy or not, may be made very profitable by the farmer who will take the time to study the stock question as it deserves. One of the modern agricul- turists of Walworth county who not only makes it his aim to raise a good grade of live stock, but, also, to employ the most approved and scientific meth- ods in all his work, is Elmer E. Cowles, proprietor of the "City View Farm," of the vicinity of Elkhorn.
Mr. Cowles was born in north Geneva township, this county, on May 19, 1861, the son of John A. and Lucy (Hathaway) Cowles. The father, born April 29. 1832, in New Hampshire, the son of Seth and Harriet (Steel) Cowles. The latter was born on June 17, 1795, in Canaan, New York, and she died in this county on May 12, 1879. The Cowles family is descended from one of two brothers who came to America in the "Mayflower" and set- tled in New England in 1620, and the family has been prominent in both army and navy and in public life. Seth Cowles and family came to Wal- worth county. Wisconsin, about 1843 and settled in the northern part of Ge- neva township. Lucy Hathaway was born on May 6, 1842. She was the daughter of James and Martha (VanBurgan) Hathaway ; the father was from New England and the mother from Pennsylvania, of Dutch ancestry. James
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Hathaway and wife came to this county about 1847 and settled in the town of Delavan. Seth Cowles entered his land from the government, in section 9, Geneva township, owning two hundred and forty acres there. He there im- proved a fine farm and made a good home. He experienced the usual hard- ships and privations incident to pioneer life. He had to haul lumber from Milwaukee with which to build his house. Wolves and other wild animals were numerous. Here Seth Cowles spent the remainder of his life and reared his family, his death occurring on February 2, 1867, and there John Cowles and wife began their married life. They were the parents of five children, four sons and one daughter, namely : Fred, Minnie, Carl, George and Elmer E. They lived there until the children were grown up and in later life lived in Elkhorn, where the father died on November 13. 1901, his wife having pre- ceded him to the grave on January 4, 1894.
Elmer E. Cowles, of this sketch, grew up on the home farm, and he received his education in the local schools. Early in life he turned his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits and he farmed the home place until two years after his marriage, which event took place on April 22, 1885. to Fannie M. White, daughter of William and Emily (Shepard) White. The subject's wife was born at Hartford, Washington county, Wisconsin, and the family moved to Walworth county in September, 1878, and settled in the southwestern part of Lafayette township, and two years later moved to near Springfield, where they spent two years, then moved to section 7, Geneva township, where Mr. White bought a farm and lived a number of years. The mother of Mrs. Cowles died in 1877. Mr. White moved to Elkhorn about 1893 and has lived there ever since. Mr. White was born in Ireland, and the mother of Mrs. Cowles was born in New England, and she lived a short time in Canada. later returning to her childhood home.
About two years after his marriage, Elmer E. Cowles bought part of his father's farm and remained there about seven years, then sold out and went to Lafayette township, where he spent three years, then returned to Geneva township and rented the farm of his father-in-law in section 7. and here he has since resided, having purchased the place in 1909. It is near the city of Elkhorn and hence he named it "City View Farm." He has kept it under a fine state of improvement and cultivation and handles some good stock, carry- ing on general farming successfully.
Mr. Cowles was a member of the Good Templars as long as it lasted. He assisted in organizing the State Long Distance Telephone Company about 1901, and he has been president of the same for the past three years, dis- charging the duties of this capacity in an able, conscientious and satisfactory
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manner, and much of its large success has been due to his able handling of its affairs. Religiously he is a member of the Methodist church.
Mr. and Mrs. Cowles had but one child of their own, a son, who died in infancy. They have adopted two children-Percy Weymouth and Marguerite Cocroft. The latter was the daughter of Harry and Georgia Cocroft. The former was the son of Daniel Weymouth and wife, and he was born in Texas, from which state he and his mother came to Walworth county on a visit and here she died. 1
Mr. Cowles is a man who delights in doing favors where they are needed, but it is always done in a quiet manner, for he does not seek the approval of his fellow men by such acts, merely that of his own conscience.
HIRAM SEARS BELL.
Standing today among the representative citizens of Walworth county, which has been the arena of his interesting and successful life work, Hiram Sears Bell, now living in retirement in the village of Walworth, has per- formed well his part in the local drama of civilization, having been active in the various stages of development here from the pioneer epoch.
Mr. Bell was born in Walworth township, a little over a mile northwest of the village of Walworth, this county, June 28, 1844. He is the son of William and Sarah (Mosher) Bell, the father born at Berne, Albany county, New York, June 20, 1806, being the fifth child of Robert and Clara Bell. Robert Bell was the third child of James Bell and he was born in Rhode Island in 1776. James Bell's father, also named James, was born near New- port, Rhode Island, and from there he moved to Rensselaerville, New York. According to family tradition he was descended from John Austin, of Scot- land, who was a noted metal worker and designer and made a great improve- ment in the composition of bell metal and bells during the reign of James I, King of England. He was the first to make a tulip shaped bell, having dis- covered a process of moulding it in one piece. For his skill as a bell maker and scientific metal worker he was knighted by the King and called Sir John Bell and given a crest.
William Bell, father of Hiram S. Bell, received a good common school education and for a number of years he followed teaching in early life. In 1828 he moved to Albany, New York, where he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for eight years. He and Sarah Mosher were married
MR. AND MRS. HIRAM S. BELL
TSITE Y YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
THE NEW YORK PUBLIE ARRARY
ASTER LENOX TIDEN FOUNDATIONS
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June 10, 1829. She was born at Queemans, Albany county, New York, December 14, 1808. She was of English descent and the daughter of David and Anna ( Irish) Mosher, being the seventh of nine children, namely : John, Ruth, Nathaniel, Peter, Polly, Nancy, Sarah, Thankful and Harriett. Her mother died about 1818 and her father about three years later. Mrs. Bell was adopted by a Mr. Palmer, after the death of her parents, and she grew. up in New York. Wisconsin was still a territory when, in 1837. William Bell and wife came to Walworth county, thus being among the earliest set- tlers. Locating at the head of Lake Geneva, they lived two years at what is now Glenwood Springs, then Mr. Bell entered a farm at what is now known as Bell's Corners, Walworth township, his place having contained eighty acres of prairie and forty acres of timber and later he got eighty acres of school land. He took an active interest in public affairs, and was the first justice of the peace in this locality, which office he held many years. He established the first postoffice and was postmaster at Bell's Corners for fourteen years, thus being the first postmaster in the township. He was also the first county as- sessor of this county. He was a member of the first constitutional convention of Wisconsin. He was very influential in public life and was a man of exemplary character, a zealous lover of liberty, an independent thinker, both in regard to religion and politics. During the Civil war he was loyal to the government. Two sons, William James and Lucius, died in the service, the former having been a private in Company A, Tenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and the latter was in the Second Regiment of Colonel Berdan's Sharpshooters. William J. was killed in the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862. Lucius died at Columbia College Hospital, Washington City, January 11, 1862. The other children of William Bell and wife were Almira, born at Albany, New York, December 7, 1830, and died when six- teen years old; Robert, born at Berne, New York, August 8, 1832, died at Shenandoah, Iowa. September 27, 1881, leaving three sons and one daughter ; Florence, born at Albany, New York, July 18, 1835.
Clara Anna Bell, born July 8, 1837, at Fontana, was the first white child born in Walworth township, and her death occurred here on October 21, 1858; Harriett, born at Walworth, April 1, 1839, died April 25, 1890; Will- iam J. and his twin brother, who died unnamed, were born May 10. 1840, at Walworth; this was the son that was killed in battle at Perryville ; Lucius. the other soldier from this family, was born at Walworth, July 23, 1842; Hiram S., of this review ; Manley and Amanda, twins, were born at Walworth on September 2, 1847 ; the former, who lives at Fresno, California, married Nellie (68)
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Betridge, September 17, 1875, and has two daughters, also a son who died when twenty-two years old; Amanda lived only about a month ; Jane Almira, born at Walworth, February 25, 1850, died March 24, 1888; Lola Bell, born at Walworth, March 23, 1854, died in Elkhorn, April 23, 1891.
In 1870 William Bell moved to Lawrence, Kansas, and engaged chiefly in raising fruit. He was a member of the Horticultural Society, in which he took an active part. His death occurred on November 8, 1876, after an illness of several weeks.
Hiram S. Bell, the immediate subject of this sketch, lived on the home farm until he was twenty-one years old. He received his education in Big Foot Academy at Walworth, also attended the academy at Allen's Grove. He began life for himself by teaching school a year, then learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed ten years at Elkhorn. While there, on January 27, 1869, he married Lucilia C. Bailey. She was born at Walworth, this county, December 5, 1847, and she was the daughter of Joseph and Mary Catherine (Siperly) Bailey. Her father was born at Havre-de-Grace, Maryland, July 19, 1797, and he located in Walworth county probably as early as 1838, having entered a quarter section where the village of Walworth now stands and the quarter section west of it. He was a son of Aquilla and Rachel (Barnes) Bailey. Aquilla Bailey was the son of Josiah and Margaret ( Os- born ) Bailey, of Havre-de-Grace. Rachel (Barnes ) Bailey was a daughter of Gregory and Elizabeth ( Mitchell ) Barnes. Catherine Siperly, born Feb- ruary 27, 1820, in Dutchess county, New York, was a daughter of Peter and Betsey (Fradenburg) Siperly. Betsey Fradenburg was born January 30. 1795. Peter Siperly and wife located just south of Delavan lake in this county.
Mrs: Bell was one of six children, two sons and four daughters. Her father farmed in Walworth all his life, and died October 12, 1873, his wife dying April 9, 1901.
After his marriage Hiram S. Bell lived at Elkhorn until 1876, in which year he bought a farm west of the village of Walworth, on which he lived until Igco, when he moved into the village and organized the Walworth Exchange Bank, as a private institution, and when it was incorporated as a state bank he was elected its president, remaining about six months longer. then sold out and retired. The success and prestige of this popular institu- tion has been due very largely to his efforts. He has been very successful in a business way and has a comfortable competency. In 1904 he built a very substantial and attractive residence in Walworth, modern in its appointments and tastily furnished and this has since been his home. About eight or ten
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years prior to going into the bank he was manager of the Farmers Co-opera- tive Creamery Company. He was also president of the Lake Geneva Land Company, the founders of Glenwood Springs, for about fifteen years.
Mr. Bell has been active and influential in public as well as business affairs and for a period of sixteen years he was a member of the Walworth high school board, and was president of the village board for two terms; he was clerk of the local camp of Modern Woodmen for five years, and consul for an equal length of time. He is also a member of the Masonic order.
Mr. Bell and wife had one son, Clifford Wentworth Bell, born at Elk- horn, September 22, 1873, and he died at the Palmer Hospital, at Janesville. Wisconsin, January 9, 1895, after an illness of three years, resulting from an injury to the spine ; he was just past his twenty-first birthday.
Mrs. Sarah Bell, mother of Hiram S. Bell, died October I. 1904, at Walworth, when almost ninety-six years of age. She was one of the county's pioneer women, who endured the hardships of the first settlers. She was a grand character, charitable, obliging. always doing something for her neigh- bors. She was always sent for at births, in sickness of a severe nature and whenever a strong-minded and willing person was needed in times of distress, and her skill was often solely depended on in thie days when doctors were scarce. She lived a very active life.
Mr. Bell has always been known as a man of broad intellect, progressive, hospitable and perhaps no one in the county has more friends.
LEWIS A. CAMPBELL ..
One of the substantial citizens of Lyons, Walworth county, is Lewis .A. Campbell, a man who has succeeded in his life work because he has always worked earnestly and honestly, doing well whatever he undertook and keeping himself well posted on the trend of the times in material, civic and moral evo- lution. His conduct has been such as to inspire the confidence and respect of his fellow men. He represents one of the oldest families of the county.
Mr. Campbell was born in Lyons, this county. January 29. 1863. He is the son of Wesley J. and Harriet A. ( Spoor) Campbell and the grandson of Daniel and Mary (Nichols) Campbell. Daniel Campbell was one of the pioneers of Walworth county, coming here in 1836, from Franklin county, New York, where he was born. He selected a claim in Spring Prairie town- ship which he later sold before land came into the market, and in 1839 he
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settled in section 4. Lyons township. He endured the hardships of the pioneer life and worked hard to establish a home here, but through grit and persever- ance he succeeded. His death occurred on July 23, 1879, his wife having pre- ceded him to the grave on February 27, 1872. Of their five children not any survive. They were: Mrs. Melissa R. Smith, who died December 2, 1911 ; Catherine, William R., Melissa, Nichols D. and Wesley J. Catherine married a Mr. Brand, lived in Montevideo, Minnesota, and died there; William R. lived at Whitemore, Iowa, where he died; Nichols D. died at Plymouth, Cali- fornia, where he resided up to his death.
Wesley J. Campbell was born in Franklin county, New York, January 25, 1835. He married Harriet A. Spoor, daughter of John S. Spoor, one of the early settlers of Troy township. Two children were born of the first marriage, Lewis A. and Harriet A. The latter married Robert H. Butler and lives in Minneapolis. Lewis A. is the subject of this sketch. The mother of these children died on November 13, 1868, and the father later married Marie Mo- ran, a native of Lyons, and two daughters were born to them, Mabel and Ethel. The former married Edward Pendergast and lived in Springfield, later in Canada, where she died in June, 1910. Ethel married P. F. Siler and lives in Chicago.
The death of Wesley J. Campbell occurred on November 9, 1891, at Lyons. He had been a member of the board of supervisors and was township clerk for twelve years, and he also served as justice of the peace. He farmed in early life, spending his later years in the mercantile business in Lyons.
Lewis A. Campbell has always been a resident of Lyons. In his early life he taught school several years and for many years he engaged in the mercantile business here. . He has been clerk of his township for a period of nineteen years, which is evidence of his high standing in his home community.
Mr. Campbell was married on February 20, 1895, to Tillie Emmerling, daughter of Anton Emmerling and Mary (Young) Emmerling. She is a native of Lyons. Her parents were both born in Germany. Her mother first married Michael Sherman, and she came from northern Indiana to this county in an early day, his father, Sebastian Sherman, having come to Walworth county in 1845. After Mr. Sherman's death the mother returned to Indiana and married Anton Emmerling on Christmas day, 1858, at Valparaiso, Indi- ana. She had a farm here and about two years after her second marriage she and Mr. Emmerling returned to Lyons and here spent the rest of their lives. Her death occurred on January 2, 1889, and that of Anton Emmerling on August 17, 1903. Mrs. Campbell was one of five children : George, who lives at Menominee, Michigan; Martin J., who lives at Henderson, Colorado;
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Tillie is the wife of Mr. Campbell of this sketch; Joseph is farming in section 12, Lyons township; Agnes Catherine died in infancy about 1871. Mrs. Campbell's mother came from Germany with her widowed mother and eight children, five boys and three girls, all of whom are dead. The subject's step- mother is living in Chicago. Mr. Campbell has a pleasant home in Lyons, and presonally he is an obliging, friendly gentleman who is well liked over the county.
WILLIAM F. RANDALL.
Success has come to William F. Randall, one of the progressive citizens of Geneva township, because he has been willing to keep plodding steadily onward even though obstacles beset his way and his surroundings were at times none too favorable. He has always been a hard worker and has lived an upright life, so that he has the friendship of his neighbors and all who know him, which, as all will readily acquiesce, is a most valuable asset in the world of business.
Mr. Randall was born at Janesville, Rock county, Wisconsin, November 17, 1863, and is the son of William F., Sr., and Mary M. (Madden) Randall. The father was born and reared in Batavia county New York, and was the son of Samuel and Sarah (Wright) Randall, also of Batavia. Mary M. Madden was born in Pennsylvania and was the daughter of Irish parents, who emi- grated to America from Dublin, Ireland, in an early day.
It was in the fall of 1870 that the Randall family came to Walworth county, Wisconsin. Here the father bought a farm near Darien, and he also owned three farms nearby in Sharon township, and was one of the leading farmers and influential citizens of his community.
William F. Randall, of this sketch, grew to manhood on his father's farm and there assisted with the general work when he was a boy, and he received his education in the public schools of his community. His parents now live at Allen's Grove, his father having sold his farm, and is now retired from the active duties of life.
The subject is one of a family of five children, four sons and one daugh- ter, namely: William F., of this sketch; Samuel F., of Darien : George W. and Clarence W., both of Darien; all have farms in that vicinity ; the daugh- ter, Mora, died when seven years old.
When the subject was only seventeen years old he worked a farm for himself and boarded at home, in fact, continued thus most of the time until
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his marriage, which took place on July 3, 1886, to Bertha Steinke. She was born at Stettin, Germany, and was the daughter of Carl Steinke. She spent her childhood in the fatherland, emigrating to the United States when seven- teen years of age, and located at Allen's Grove, Walworth county, Wisconsin, where she lived until her marriage.
After his marriage William F. Randall continued farming in the same community, most of the time until 1909 with singular success when he bought a farm of one hundred and eighteen acres near Como, in Geneva township, where he now resides. He is bringing his land up to a fine state of cultivation and improvement, and has a very comfortable home and convenient outbuild- ings. He has farmed most of his life, with the exception of about a year in which he engaged in the meat business in Elkhorn.
To Mr. and Mrs. Randall four children have been born, namely : Mary Maude, who married Frank Hoelzel, lives in Sharon township, and she has one child, Marion; William and Bessie Randall live on the home farm; Bell, who is married to John Abbott, lives in Springfield. Mr. Randall is a member of the Modern Woodmen.
CHARLES HERMAN DOPKE.
The commercial system has come to recognize the importance of the farmer and has surrounded him with many conveniences and utensils un- thought of one hundred years ago. The inventor has given him the self- binder, the riding-plow, the steam-thresher, and many other labor-saving devices. And the farmer has not been slow to take advantage of these blessed improvements. He everywhere has utilized them and made them add to his wealth and his comfort. It has been thus with the subject of this sketch.
Charles Herman Dopke was born near where he now lives in Geneva township, this county, a short distance north of Lake Como. March 8, 1876. He is the son of Herman and Minnie (Grossclark) Dopke. The father was born in Pommern, Germany, where he grew to manhood and married Minnie Grossclark, and there they lived until 1870, when they came to America, locating first at Burlington, Wisconsin, and there worked at farming four years, then bought part of the farm now owned by the subject, and here spent the rest of his days, dying on November 18, 1900, at the age of fifty-six years. His widow now lives in Lake Geneva. They became the parents of twelve children, nine of whom are living, namely: Albert lives at Tremelo, Clay county, Iowa ; Louise married Arthur Taylor and they live at Hinton, Iowa;
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Annie married Herman Bear and they live at Spring Prairie; William lives in Chicago; Charles H., of this sketch; Laura is unmarried and lives in Chicago; Minnie is the wife of Lawrence Kohn and lives in Lake Geneva ; Dora married Frank Miller and they live in Chicago; Julia is unmarried and lives with her mother at Lake Geneva.
Charles H. Dopke, of this sketch, grew up on the home farm and he re- ceived his education in the public schools, and he has spent his life farming in his native community.
The subject was married on December 28, 1898, to Elizabeth Kreuger, daughter of Frank and Elizabeth ( Walbrant) Kreuger, of Lafayette town- ship. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dopke, namely : Laura, Violet, Charles and Donald.
Politically, the subject is a Republican, and he has been assessor of Geneva township for five years, filling the office most acceptably. He is a member of the Lutheran church at Elkhorn.
JOHN MICHAEL KULL.
The career of the sterling pioneer, John Michael Kull, for a long lapse of years one of Walworth county's leading citizens, who is now numbered with the "innumerable caravan that moves to the pale realm of shades," but whose influence still permeates the lives of those who came into contact with him and who yet live in Walworth county, is well worth setting forth in detail here, for he was a man who believed in progress and wholesome living in all the relations of life, his career being that of a faithful and devout man, a kind husband, an indulgent father and a citizen in whom all reposed the most implicit confidence and trust.
Mr. Kull was one of the first settlers of Bloomfield township, this county. and he was an American by adoption only, his birth having occurred in Wurtemberg, Germany, November 15, 1814. He was a son of John Michael Kull, Sr. He grew to manhood in his native land and there attended school, emigrating to America in 1833 with his brother Andrew. The latter was born in Wurtemberg in 1808; he married Gertrude Pfrommer, of that place, and he emigrated to America in 1833.
John M. Kull spent six or seven years in Massachusetts after reaching our shores, working for five or six years in the woolen mills there, and one year with a gunsmith. He was married on January 8, 1841, to Synthia
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Slafter. She was born May 25, 1824, and was the seventh of a family of eight children. She is descended from John Slafter, who came to this country from Great Britain, a vague tradition says from Wales, probably about 1680. He appears to have settled at Lynn, Massachusetts, and reared a family of at least ten children. He was prominent in the early settlement of the colony and took an active part in public affairs of his community. Of his descend- ants, sixteen are known to have been in the wars of America prior to the Civil war, some in the French and Indian war, some in the Revolution and others in the war of 1812, and there were no less than one hundred and sixty-five of his descendants in the Civil war. Among those distinguished in the world of literature and political life was John Godfrey Saxe. Calvin, Eliezer, Samuel and John were the line of her ancestry. Her father, Calvin Slafter, was the son of Eliezer, who was the son of Samuel, who was the son of John. All seem to have been substantial people and of much influence in the affairs of their respective communities.
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