USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth county, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 39
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G. Hart Hollister grew up on the home farm and there assisted with the general work when young, and he received his education in the common schools of Delavan township and the high school in Geneva. He engaged in farming until he was about twenty years old, then went to South Dakota in 1882 and continued to reside there until 1890, when he returned to Walworth county, Wisconsin, having been very successful in his ventures in the land of the Dakotas.
Upon his return here he took up the stone masonry business and has continued the same to the present time, having built up a very satisfactory business, which is constantly growing. He has a pleasant home at No. 313 South Second street, Delavan.
Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Delavan. He is alderman from the second ward. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Hollister was married to Libbie Williams on February 20, 1884. she being the daughter of James R. and Ann Williams, of Walworth county. To the subject and wife one child has been born, Harriett E., who has re- ceived a good education and is a successful teacher. She is living at home with her parents.
WALWORTH COUNTY. WISCONSIN.
ALBERT EUGENE SMITH.
Amother of the sterling old soldiers and pioneers of Walworth county whose Bife has been such as to be eminently worthy of recording in the pages of this work is Albert Eugene Smith, of Delavan. a man who has sought to do his full duty in all the relations of hie. whether on the field of battle in attempting to save the nation from disgrace or in the humble sphere of private tizen, and he has ever borne himself in such a manner as to gain the respect and esteem of his fellow men.
Mr. Smith was born on October 28. 1836. at Cape Vincent. Jefferson county. New York. He is the son of John and Lucy (Andrews) Smith. the father born in England. from which country he emigrated to America when about sixteen years of age and settled at Cape Vincent. New York, and there engaged in farming. His wife was born in New York and there grew to womanhood and was married These parents came to Walworth county. Wisconsin, when the subject was about twelve years old. and they settled in Geneva township, buying a farm there. which they later sold and moved to Delavan. where the parents of the subject spent the rest of their lives.
Albert E. Smith received his education in the district schools of New York. Leaving home when sixteen years of age. he worked in the pinery in winter and on the lakes in the summer. He then became a deep sea sailor. Both on the lakes and on the ocean he became second mate of the vessel. sailed to South America. Spain, Liverpool. England, and had a terribly stormy voyage. About a year before the breaking out of the Civil war he returned to Walworth county. Wisconsin. and in 1861 he enlisted in Company K, Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in which he served very faithfully and participated in fourteen battles, including the siege of Vicksburg. Corinth, Black River Bridge. Jackson. Henderson Hill. Fort Drussey. the Red River Expedition and others. Soon after enlistment he was commissioned first Gentenant, and in 1862 he was promoted for coolness and bravery in action on the 9th and 28th of May to be captain of Company B. same regiment. He was mistered out in January. 1865. After the war he returned to Wisconsin and engaged in farming for about a year. then went to Colorado and engaged in mining for a year. then undertook to go up into the Wind River country in Montana. ilet he an! his companion were captured by the Indians. The red men decided to burn them the morning after their capture. but the two cap- tives finally induced the Indian that guarded them by making a "good In- dian " of him i to let tilem escape. Returning to Colorado. the subject fell in
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with a mining engineer. Prof. E. E. Burlingame with whom he remained for seven years. in Colorado. Arizona. New Mexico. Montana. and other states He spent three years at Silver City. New Mexico a thousand miles from any railroad. While there he and a sergeant and three cavalrymen were sur- rounded by Apache Indians in Cock's canyon, and, killing their horses the men made a barricade and fought the Indians off rover a hundred of them for six or eight hours. till rescued by a large troop of cavalry. Again. in 1895. in southwestern Durango. Mexico. he and one companion were at- tacked b- bandits. nearly twenty in number. Fortunately the two were nea: a huge piece of rock that formed a fine barricade and the bandits were in the open. In a few minutes they picked off eight bandits and put the rest to flight. While in charge of the Columbus quartz mill at Columbus, Colorado. he scored a signal success in the treatment of silver ores by the chlorination process. making a saving in value of ninety-fire per cent. on the whole run of over two years. This record was never beaten. Mr Smith returned to Dela- van about 1906. and retired from active mining operations His career has indeed been a varied and interesting one. fraught with much danger and hard- ship. but. being a man of superior mettle. he has faced it all courageously and won.
Mr. Smith was married on January 14. 1874. to Elizabeth Reek. wf Linn. Wisconsin. and to this union one child was born. Mrs Tenette Gormley, of Milwaukee.
The subject has a beautiful home on Racine street Dela an. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and in religious matters a Uni- versalist. He belongs to the Masonic order. having attained the thirty-secondi degree. He belongs to the Loyal Legion.
Both the subject's grandfather. Stephen Andrews, and it's great-grami- father Andrews served through the Revolutionary war and fought at Bunker Hill.
Politically. Mr. Smith is a Republican He was once electe ! president bi the village board of Delavan before Delavan became a cry. Since then be bas served two terms as mayor of the city. In :ooo he was elected to the Less- lature and was re-elected in 1002. During his two terms in the Legislature he devoted his chief energies to opposing the primary election law He also caused the old war flags to be returned to their wace in the rotunda of the state capitol, where they are permanently on exhibition to those who vist the capitol.
In another way he proved a public benefactor. when, in 18-1. he and Professor Burlingame instituted the first manufacture of assavers fire-sliv
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goods made in the United States. Previous to that time crucibles and scorifiers used in assaying were all imported from England, France or Germany, but these men, after several months experimenting and unnumbered failures, suc- ceeded in turning out crucibles and scorifiers equal to the very best imported ones. This was done at a little shop back of a drug store at No. 411 Laramie street, Denver, Colorado.
HERMAN A. BRIGGS.
One of the best known and successful citizens of Delavan and vicinity is Herman A. Briggs, who has been content to spend his life right here at home, rather than seek uncertain fortune in other fields, wisely deciding that, nature having done so much for Walworth county, he could secure the largesses of Fortunatus here as well, if not better, than anywhere else. He is the representative of an excellent old pioneer family, members of which have done much for the general upbuilding of this section of the Badger common- wealth.
Mr. Briggs was born in Delavan on June 22, 1851. He is the son of Adam and Jane (Hollinshead) Briggs, both born in the state of New York, where they spent their early childhood, the father coming west in 1842 and the mother in 1837, while yet single, and they were married in Wisconsin. The father located on a farm in the township of Sugar Creek and here he and his wife spent the balance of their lives. They were the parents of six chil- dren, named as follows: Alice, Nettie (deceased), Ida, Jennie, Edwin H. and Herman A., of this sketch.
The subject grew to manhood in this county and received his education in the local public schools and the high school at Delavan. He was married April 20, 1880, to Elizabeth Hollinshead, daughter of William Hollinshead, who was one of the oldest settlers in Walworth county. This family has been a well known one here for three-quarters of a century and a highly re- spected one. Here the subject's wife grew to womanhood and received her educational training in the common schools, also at Rockford and Fox Lake Colleges.
Mr. Briggs has farmed all his life and has been very successful, owning one of the choice and valuable farms of the county, consisting of four hundred and twenty acres on the road from Delavan to Elkhorn, on one of the best sections of the county. He has brought his land up to a high state of im- provement and cultivation, and Delavan township can show no more desirable
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landed estate. In connection with general farming and stock raising on a large scale, Mr. Briggs has long been a fancier of Percheron and Belgian horses, and is well known among the horsemen of America, having kept at times a large and valuable assortment of horses, importing many pure bloods. It would be hard to find a better judge of a horse than he in Walworth county. After spending twenty-seven years on his farm he retired from the active duties of life and moved to a beautiful home in Delavan, which he built at No. 202 Main street. Mrs. Briggs died a short time after moving into the new home. He sold his farm and horses in 1910.
Mr. Briggs votes the Republican ticket, and religiously he is a member of the Baptist church. He cast his first vote for General Grant. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias of Delavan.
HENRY JAMES DALTON.
Many of the largest farms of Walworth county were made wholly by the owners thereof, not a cent having been received from the parents of such owners. It is also true that many of the best farms were almost wholly in- herited from parents. It would seem at first glance that the latter holders were the ones to be congratulated, but this is not always the case, for very often they did not receive in youth the proper training as to thrift and in- dustry that would enable them to save and manage their large inheritance. On the contrary it may be set down as an unqualified truth that the man who by hard knocks made all his property, beginning as a poor boy, learned at the same time how to take care of it. To know how to save money, as well as to know how to make it, is of the greatest importance, in the rearing of a boy. Such training was received by Henry James Dalton, one of the best known and most highly honored pioneers of this locality, who, after a long, active, in- fluential and useful life here, spent principally in agricultural pursuits, is now living retired in the city of Delavan. He has taken an active part in the general development of this favored section of the Badger state whose interests he has ever had at heart.
Mr. Dalton was born on June 17, 1842, in Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence county, New York, and he is the son of John and Ellen ( Waddell) Dalton, the father born in England and the mother in Glasgow. Scotland. They emi- grated to America when young and married in New York. They spent their lives on a farm, living in St. Lawrence county, New York, many years, mor-
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ing to Wisconsin in 1844, and here they spent the balance of their lives, the father dying on January 5, 1887, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, his birth having occurred on June 2, 1800; his wife preceded him to the grave about ten years, dying at East Delavan, Wisconsin. They were excellent peo- ple, established a good home here and had a host of friends. The following children were born to them: John, deceased; Margaret Bradley; Elizabeth West, deceased ; George, deceased; Matilda Hollister, deceased; William lives in Kansas; Henry James, of this review; Ellen Redford lives in Nebraska ; Nathan lives in Indianapolis ; Washington makes his home in Kansas.
Henry J. Dalton, of this review, grew to maturity on the home farm, where he assisted with the general work during crop seasons, and he at- tended the district schools during the winter months. On June 3, 1866. he was married to Celia Yost, daughter of John and Ester (Hollister ) Yost, natives of the state of New York, from which they came to the state of Wisconsin in 1844, settling at East Delavan, where they became well estab- lished and spent the rest of their lives engaged in agricultural pursuits, the father dying on July 3, 1890, and the mother on January 16, 1908.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dalton, namely: Maude Frances is married and lives at Beloit, Wisconsin; Ervin is engaged in farm- ing at East Delavan, this county; Dr. Charles lives at Albion, Wisconsin ; Harold is a lawyer and lives at Bowden, North Dakota.
Mr. Dalton is one of the honored veterans of the Civil war. Having been in the West when the war broke out, he enlisted at Jacksonville, Oregon, in Company A, First Oregon Cavalry, on November 27, 1861, in which he served three years, but he was never sent to the arena of war in the East, serving only against the hostile Indians of the Pacific coast, being discharged on November 27, 1864, at Fort Vancouver, Washington, with the rank of corporal under Capt. William Rinehart, being then nineteen years of age.
After his career as a soldier, which was a most faithful one, Mr. Dalton went to Walla Walla, Washington, where he had charge of a pack train, freighting to the mines, for one year. Then he returned to East Delavan, Wisconsin, and was soon afterwards married. About this time he purchased a splendid farm in section 35, Delavan township, comprising one hundred and ten acres, which he improved and on which he successfully carried on general farming and stock raising until in August, 1910, when he sold it to his son, Erwin, and moved to his pleasant home in the town of Delavan.
Mr. Dalton is a Republican, but has never been especially active, al- though always interested in the welfare of the community. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
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WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
ERNEST JACOB HOST.
The life of Ernest Jacob Host, of Lake Geneva, illustrates what one can accomplish in his earlier years through persistent application of proper meth- ods and well-formed ideas, coupled with a proper sense of honor. He is one of our worthiest native sons, having been born in Lyons, Walworth county, on August 20, 1876. He is the son of Julius Sebastian Host and Katherine (Moran) Host. The father was born in Lyons township, this county, April II, 1844. He was the son of Michael and Anna Maria (Westrisch) Host. he being the son of Joseph Michael Host, Sr., a native of France, and a high officer in the army under Napoleon Bonaparte, and after the defeat at Water- loo he fled to Germany to save his life and there established his home. There his son, named for him, was born and lived until about eighteen years of age. then emigrated to America and lived in New York city about ten years, en- gaged in carpentering. He then married Anna M. Westrisch, a native of Bavaria, who came to America when young with her parents, who now live at Frank's Postoffice, Seneca county, Ohio. It was about 1840 that James M. Host brought his wife and two children to Walworth county, Wisconsin, and bought a farm in the northeastern part of Lyons township, almost on the Racine county line, within two miles of Burlington. After living there about fifteen years he moved to a farm a mile and a half southeast of the village of Lyons and resided there probably thirty years, then retired and spent the remainder of his life in the village of Lyons, dying there about a year and a half later, at the age of seventy-six years. He was one of the early pioneers of the county and was a successful farmer and a highly respected citizen. He was the father of ten children, all sons but one, Julius S., father of the subject. being the fourth in order of birth.
Julius S. Host grew to manhood on the farm near Lyons and he lived there until 1895, with the exception of two years, which he spent in Lake Geneva. Returning to this city in 1895, he made his home here until July, 19II, when he moved to Kenosha, where he now resides. His wife, known in her maidenhood as Katherine Moran, was born in the village of Lyons in 1852, the daughter of Thomas and Katherine Moran, natives of Ireland.
Ten children were born to Julius S. Host and wife, namely: Arthur J. lives with his father in Kenosha: Ernest J., of this sketch: Nora married Albert Napper, lives in Lake Geneva and has two children, Catherine and William: Elizabeth is the wife of Richard Keyser, lives at Rudolph, Wiscon- sin, and has one child. Helen: Joseph M. is traveling for Roberts & Oak, meat
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WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
packers of Chicago; Dr. Walter Robert, dentist of Lake Geneva, married Theresa DeGrass, of Wheaton, Illinois, and they have one daughter, Helen Marie; Leo Julius, who lives at Williams Bay, married Nellie Carr ; Ralph A. lives at Kenosha, having previously lived in Lake Geneva eighteen years; Frances lives with her parents in Kenosha, as does also Raymond.
Ernest J. Host, of this sketch, was reared at Lyons and lived there until he was eighteen years of age. When thirteen years old he began working out on the farm, following that until he was sixteen, then began working in the meat business for various parties, with Hague & Bucknall from 1896 to March 1, 1901. On March 6th of that year he went into business for him- self. His brother, Arthur, started with him, but withdrew in nine months, and the subject has since continued alone. He started at first with only a meat shop. In the fall of 1903 he built a packing house southeast of Lake Geneva, near the tracks of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, and here he has since killed and butchered for the home trade and is doing a large and growing business, being well equipped in every respect for his work and dealing fairly with his hundreds of customers.
Mr. Host was married on November 26, 1902, to Tillie E. Kohn, daugh- ter of John Kohn and wife, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere. Three children have been born to the subject and wife, namely: John Julius, born January 2, 1904; Ernest Joseph, born April 20, 1905; Katherine, born Sep- tember 27, 1906.
Mr. Host and family belong to the Catholic church. He is a member of the Foresters, Knights of Columbus and Knights of the Maccabees.
JOSIAH BARFIELD.
The gentleman to a brief review of whose life and character the reader's attention is herewith directed is among the favorably known and representa- tive citizens of Walworth county. Mr. Barfield has by his indomitable enterprise and progressive methods contributed in a material way to the advancement of his community during the course of an honorable career, and he has ascended through his individual efforts from the bottom of the ladder to a place of importance in financial circles in this locality, having ever been known as a man of unswerving industry, sound judgment and honesty of purpose. His career may well be studied with profit by the youth whose fortunes are yet matters for future years to determine, for it shows what
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WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
one may accomplish, although foreign born and thrown in none too favorable environment, if one has courage, fortitude and energy, backed by right prin- ciples.
Josiah Barfield, well known cashier of the First National Bank of Lake Geneva, was born March 30, 1855, in London, England. He is the son of Thomas and Esther (Clears) Barfield. His people were tillers of the soil who had lived in southeastern England for several hundred years. The parish register at Langham, near Bury, St. Ermunds, has a record of births, deaths and marriages of this family for two hundred years back.
When the subject was eight months old, he was brought by his family to Chicago, which city they reached on January 1, 1856, after a very hard journey. They went to Turner Junction, now called West Chicago, and there Josiah lived with his parents until he was fifteen years old, then became a newsboy on the Freeport passenger train on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, but he soon changed to the division from Chicago to Dixon. A year later he became brakeman on the same train, later baggageman and express messenger, and he continued railroading for ten years, during which time he was regarded as one of the company's most faithful and reliable employes. When the Westinghouse air brakes were introduced in 1874 he was transferred to the line running to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Owing to ill health he resigned in 1880 and for three years he was unable to work.
Mr. Barfield became cashier for the Equitable Life Assurance Society of New York, in 1883, at Madison, Wisconsin. A year later the office was transferred to Milwaukee and he continued there in the same position. ren- dering most praiseworthy service until June 1, 1886, when he came to the First National Bank of Lake Geneva as cashier, which position he has held ever since in a manner that has been eminently satisfactory to the stock- holders and patrons of the bank and which has reflected much credit upon himself. He is also secretary and treasurer of the Lake Geneva Sanitariums at this place, there being three separate sanitariums, each modernly equipped and up-to-date in every respect under a superb system, popular with hun- dreds of patients. Fraternally, he is a Mason, a member of the blue lodge and the chapter.
Mr. Barfield was married on May 15, 1879, to Nellie M. Hale, a native of Lake Geneva, where she has spent her life. Her father, L. D. Hale, was a prominent merchant and farmer here in the early days of this vicinity.
One son was born to the subject and wife, Allen B., who is engaged in the electrical business at Lake Geneva for himself. He has been well edu- cated and is an electrician, deals in electric supplies, and makes installations.
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WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
He is chief electrician for the electric light company here. He is a young man of much promise.
The wife and mother passed to her rest on August 22, 1909. She was a woman of beautiful attributes and Christian character, a member of the Episcopal church. Mr. Barfield is also an Episcopalian and has been treas- urer of the local church for fifteen or twenty years. He is one of the founders of the Lake Geneva public library, and has been treasurer ever since it was established. He takes much more than a passing interest in every movement having for its ultimate goal the betterment of the community in any way.
CHARLES G. FLEMING.
If a list could be made of the original homes of the old settlers of this portion of Wisconsin it would be found that a very large number of them came to this state from New York. Their ancestors would be found to have settled in the Empire state both before and after the Revolution, and would be found also to have come originally from the British Isles or Germany. Thousands of our best citizens are of such descent and blood.
Charles G. Fleming, retired farmer of Darien, this county, is a de- scendant of such a worthy old family, many of whose commendable charac- teristics seem to have outcropped in him. He was born in Darien township, this county, on November 28, 1865, and he has been content to spend his life here. He is the son of Henry Fleming, who was born at Lockport, Niagara county, New York, in 1830, and there he spent his boyhood and received his education in the common schools. He came to Wisconsin in 1849 and first settled in Waukesha county, where he followed teaching school for several terms. He came to Walworth county in 1855 and here worked as a farm hand for several seasons, teaching school in the winter months, finally buying a farm which the subject now owns in section 3, Darien township, and there he continued to reside until his death in 1899. He had been very successful both as a school teacher and as a general farmer. He had little desire to be a leader in public affairs and consequently led a quiet home life. He was a man of excellent character.
Charles G. Fleming, of this sketch, grew to manhood on the home farm and there assisted with the general work when he was a boy. He received his education in the public schools of his district and the high school at Dela- van. Early in life he took up farming for a livelihood and continued the
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same with a larger degree of success than falls to the average tiller of the soil, up to 1909, when he retired and is now living in his pleasant, substantial home in the town of Delavan. He is the owner of one of the choice farms of the county, consisting of three hundred and sixty-seven acres, which he brought up to a high state of improvement and cultivation and on which he carried on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale for a number of years.
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