USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth county, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 41
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The father of Mrs. Rachel Weed was Henry L. Cherevoy, a silversmith by trade, born October 24. 1789; he married Millie Abbey, who was born
WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN. 1159
February 20, 1791. His parents were Philemon and Rachel Cherevoy, the father born January 5, 1749, and the mother April 27. 1754.
Julius Derthick and Esther Monroe were married at Sharon, Connecti- cut. December 20, 1821. The former was born at Winchester, Connecticut. September 30, 1795. and the latter's birth occurred at Cornwall, that state, March 26, 1799. Mr. Derthick was a school teacher and they resided suc- cessively at Warren, Washington, Cornwall, Connecticut, and at Chatham. Morris county, New Jersey, and from there they moved to Shalersville, Portage county, Ohio, with their four children. There three others were born, including John Henry, the youngest, the immediate subject of this sketch. The father of Julius was Anninias Derthick and the mother was known in her maidenhood as Tryphena Skinner.
LEGRAND ROCKWELL, JR.
Among the representative agriculturists of Walworth county is LeGrand Rockwell, who is the owner of a fine landed estate where he carries on the various departments of his enterprise with that tact, foresight and energy which are sure to find their sequel in a definite degree of material success, having always been a hard worker, economical and straightforward in his dealings with the world. His land, which lies in the outskirts of Elkhorn, receives his careful attention and is one of the most desirable pieces of property in the vicinity, being not only productive but well improved and conveniently sit- uated. Mr. Rockwell has been fortunate in being able to spend his life on the old homestead, which has been the home of the family since the pioneer period.
Mr. Rockwell was born on the farm where he now lives on August 7, 1861. He is the son of LeGrand Rockwell, Sr., and Frances ( Hickox) Rock- well. The father was one of the first settlers at Elkhorn, in fact, one of the most prominent and influential of this city's pioneers. A full sketch of him appears elsewhere in this work.
LeGrand Rockwell, Jr., grew to manhood in Elkhorn and here attended the public schools, later the college at Racine. After finishing school he went to Colorado and was on a sheep ranch for four years in Kansas and Colorado near Colorado Springs. He then returned to his father's farm at Elkhorn and has remained here ever since, keeping the old place under a high state of cultivation and improvement, and carrying on general farming and stock rais-
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ing in a very successful manner. Politically, he is a Democrat, but he has never been specially active as a public man.
Mr. Rockwell was married in April, 1893, to Clara Kent, who died the following year, in February, 1894, and on June 7, 1899, he was married a second time, his last wife being known in her maidenhood as Mary Golder Fairchild, daughter of David Lupe Fairchild and Cornelia ( Luce) Fairchild, a sketch of which family will be found on another page of this work. Mrs. Rockwell attended school at Elkhorn, then the normal school at Whitewater, from which she was graduated in 1882, then took a course in the State Uni- versity at Madison, from which she was graduated in 1890. She also took a post-graduate course at the Chicago University. While at Madison she specialized in the ancient classics, and in French while at Chicago. She made an excellent record in these universities. Before her graduation at White- water she taught one year, and three years after her graduation from the normal. After finishing at Madison she taught Latin at Superior, Wisconsin, for seven years. She taught a year at Clinton, Iowa, after leaving the Chicago University, and the day her school closed there she and Mr. Rock- well were married. She had been very successful in educational work, being well equipped for the profession, and her services were much in demand.
Mr. Rockwell has followed farming since his marriage. He is a member of the Masonic order, and he and Mrs. Rockwell belong to the Order of the Eastern Star ; they are members of the Episcopal church, of which he is senior warden.
Edward Henry Rockwell, brother of the subject, also lives on the old homestead, where he was born on March 11, 1847, and this has always been his home. Politically, he is a Democrat, and a member of the Episcopal church, in which he was a vestryman for a time. He is a successful farmer and, like his brother, is well known and highly respected as a citizen.
LEGRAND ROCKWELL, SR.
Walworth county was especially fortunate in the character of her pio- neers, who, save in rare instances, possessed the pluck, fortitude and genius of the true Anglo-Saxon-that race which appears to delight in difficulties, because thereby an opportunity is afforded to conquer them. The founders of this county were brave, strong-armed, far-seeing, God-fearing, law-abiding citizens, patriotic and true to their native land, and conscientious in the dis- charge of their every duty toward their fellow man.
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Of such a stamp was the worthy early settler of Elkhorn, LeGrand Rockwell, Sr., the second son of Ard Starr Rockwell and Elizabeth ( Shaw), Rockwell. He was born at Butternuts, Otsego county, New York, March 21. 1812. His brothers and sisters, who were well known at Elkhorn, Oconomo- woc and Portage, were : John Starr: Elizabeth, who married Edward H. Aus- tin; Lester Ruggles; Abilene, who married Delos W. Dean; Mary married John Russell Wheeler ; David Henry and Jennie, who married Amasa Gordon Cook.
LeGrand Rockwell, Sr., grew to manhood in his native community and when a young man moved to Bainbridge, Chenango county, New York, where he engaged in merchandising for some time, then, in 1836, came to Milwaukee. where he remained until in February, 1837. He formed a company for found- ing a county-seat village at the central point of a county not yet created, and early the next year began the settlement at Elkhorn. He selected his own farm in the southwestern quarter of the town, and much of it is still held by his sons. In 1839 he was register of deeds and clerk of the territorial court for the county and was the earliest postmaster here. He came here with enough money and credit and his former business training enabled him to take the leadership in the early affairs of the village, and he was one of the promoters and organizers of the Bank of Elkhorn, of which he was president until its suspension and reorganization. David D. Spencer, his cashier, made his short career at Elkhorn memorable, but no taint of commercial or fiscal dishonor would adhere to Mr. Rockwell. With his brothers and J. R. Wheeler. his brother-in-law, he established a private banking house, which closed at his death, December 23, 1869. He was an exception to the rule as a banker and often accommodated the needy and irresponsible, trusting to their sense of honor for security rather than refuse them on account of inability to furnish the customary indorsement or security, and he was very seldom a loser by misplaced confidence. Of all public enterprises of merit he was a champion His liberal efforts in behalf of the best interests of Elkhorn were well known to the people of this part of the locality. His generous nature, the purity of his public and private life commanded the respect and esteem of all who knew him. In the family circle he was a kind and loving husband and affectionate father. He was a member of the Protestant Episcopal church from its be- ginning and was one of the first board of vestrymen.
Mr. Rockwell was married on August 22, 1844, to Frances Amelia Hick- ox, daughter of John and Clarissa (Danforth) Hickox. Their oldest son. John Clinton, a promising young man, was killed accidentally in his twenty- second year : the other children were : Edward Henry : Ella Lavinna married
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Oliver W. Shephard: LeGrand. Jr .; these are all living at this writing. Mrs. Rockwell was born in March, 1824, and her death occurred on February 20, 1877. Her ancestors were : William, Samuel, Stephen, John, the latter being of the sixth generation. Her sister, Catherine Jane, married Edwin Hodges. Mrs. Rockwell was born in Batavia, New York, but lived in Connecticut in her younger days with a married sister, and she came here with her sister, Mrs. Edwin Hodges.
The loss of his son and financial troubles, growing out of the robbery of his bank, weighed heavily upon the subject and undermined his health. He started the first store in Elkhorn in 1838, and in that year he was appointed postmaster, being the first at this place; he was also the first clerk of the court, having been appointed in April, 1839, and the first register of deeds, having been appointed in February, 1839. He started the first bank, August 10, 1856. The first postoffice, the first store and the first court were held in the building built by him. He was one of the first vestrymen of the local Episcopal church, that was organized in 1841. This excellent citizen was called to his rest at Elkhorn on December 23, 1869, and in his death Walworth county lost one of her foremost, influential and highly esteemed citizens.
LEGRAND F. MALANY.
One of the well known and progressive young business men of Wal- worth county is Legrand F. Malany, of Delavan, business manager of the Delaran Republican, a paper that has done a most commendable work for the community and the Republican party, especially the progressive wing. Under his management the paper has grown constantly in circulation and in im- portance as an advertising medium, and it is universally recognized as one of the leading papers of its type in this part of the state. It was established in 1863. and is published every Thursday. It has a complete job department, modernly equipped for prompt and high-grade work of machine composition and the neatest possible printing.
Legrand F. Malaney is a native of the city of Chicago, and has been a resident of Delavan for twelve years. He received a public and high school education and became a clerk in the Delavan postoffice and later deputy post- master. He began newspaper work three years ago, when he became business manager of the Delavan Republican, which is owned by Maurice Morrissey.
Mr. Malaney married Ida M. Leonard, of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and they have one child, Leonard Foster.
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DAVID LUPE FAIRCHILD.
Back to old New York state must we turn in tracing the lineage of David Lupe Fairchild, one of the influential and highly esteemed citizens of Wal- worth county of a past generation. That section of the country which was the cradle of so much of our national history became the home of his ancestors in early times, and he seems to have inherited many of their sterling character- istics, since his life was one of industry, integrity, forbearance, filled with good deeds to others and charitable acts through the impulses of a generous nature, rather than for any desire for the plaudits of his fellow men.
Mr. Fairchild was born in Hunter, Greene county, New York, July 2, 1830, in the Catskill mountains. He was a son of Edward and Sally ( Win- ter) Fairchild, his parents coming from Connecticut, his paternal grandfather being John Fairchild.
When seven years of age David L. Fairchild's parents brought him to Cattaraugus county, New York, where he grew to manhood. In 1850 he went to Nashville, Tennessee, where he remained four years. On June 20, 1854, at Randolph, Cattaraugus county, New York, he was united in marriage with Cornelia Maria Luce, daughter of Robert and Philomela (Seager) Luce. She was born at Conewango, Cattaraugus county, New York, May 8, 1833. Her father was born at Binghamton, New York, and her mother at Simmsbury, Connecticut. The mother came to New York with her parents, Micah and Lois (Graham) Seager. Michael Seager's wife was the daughter of Alex- ander Graham, a surgeon in the American Revolution.
After their marriage Mr. Fairchild and wife moved to Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1854, coming by way of the Great Lakes, while cholera was epidemic, there being cholera on board their vessel. Among other things which the subject brought on this trip was a feed-box, which was finally used as a coffin in which to bury a cholera victim, being sunk beneath the waters of the lake.
The subject and wife settled in Walworth township, this county, buying a farm which they improved and established a good home His brother, Reuben Fairchild, and also his brother-in-law, Capt. Ira Morton, who died in the Civil war, and his father all settled there about the same time. The subject was active in the early affairs of the county and for a number of years he was superintendent of schools. He enlisted for service in the Union army during the Civil war, but was rejected owing to poor health. In 1865 he moved to Elkhorn and retired from farming. He was in the school-book business a
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few years. In 1868 he was elected county treasurer and held office eight years, beginning in 1869, much to the satisfaction of all concerned, for he discharged his duties faithfully. After going out of office he moved to White- water, and there his death occurred on January 7, 1885.
Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild, namely: Two died in infancy; Laura married Elliott Boardman and they live in Madison ; David Luce Fairchild lives in Duluth, Minnesota; Mary Golder married LeGrand Rockwell, of Elkhorn, a sketch of whom appears herein.
Mrs. David L. Fairchild is still living, making her home in Madison. this state, with her daughter, Mrs. Boardman. This has been one of the leading families of Walworth county ever since they settled here some sixty years ago.
HERMAN F. SMITH.
Among the self-made men of Lyons township whose efforts and influence have contributed to the material upbuilding of his section of the county is Herman F. Smith, successful farmer and thresher. He has gradually sur- mounted every unfavorable environment and rose to a place of importance in the industrial affairs of the community, besides winning the confidence and goo:1 will of his neighbors and acquaintances.
Mr. Smith was born in the township where he has continued to reside on February 2, 1861. He is the son of Frederick and Henrietta (Vorpagel) Schmidt (the name later being changed to Smith). The father was born in Germany in 1814 and he came to this county when about thirty-eight years old, in 1856 or thereabouts. His first wife had died in the old country and he came with his two brothers, Fred and Charles, and their father, the family locating in Brighton township, near Boner's lake, Racine county, where they spent two years, then Frederick married Henrietta Vorpagel, a native of Ger- many. They moved then to Lyons township, this county, and devoted the rest of their lives to farming. The subject is one of five children now living, two sisters having died in infancy and one brother died when five years old; those living are, Herman F., of this sketch; Emma, who married Frank Huns- hersher, of Darien: Fred lives in Lyons township; Paul is in the grocery busi- ness in Lake Geneva, of the firm of Smith & Lock: Hulda married Charles Lock. partner in the grocery business at Lake Geneva with Paul Smith. The mother of the above named children died on November 17, 1873. and the father joined her in the spirit land on August 15, 1896.
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Herman F. Smith, of this review, grew to manhood on the home farm and was educated in the home schools. In March, 1889, he rented a farm in Lyons township on which he farmed two years, then in 1891 bought the place where he now lives a mile southwest of Lyons, owning here a finely improved and fertile farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres, on which is a nice big house, a good barn and other substantial buildings and modern improvements, and he is making a success as a general farmer and stock raiser.
Mr. Smith began the threshing business in the fall of 1899, at first with a partner, but the following year he bought out his partner and has been in the business alone ever since, and is one of the best known threshing machine men in the county.
Mr. Smith was married on July 31, 1889, to Tracy Schneider, daughter of William and Otelia (Mavis) Schneider. She was born in the east part of Lyons township, and her parents were from Germany. Mrs. Smith was one of nine children, of whom two died in infancy and four sons and three daugh- ters are now living, namely: Wendell lives two and one-half miles south of Lake Geneva in Linn township: Mrs. John Held, of Lyons township: Valentine lives in Dover township, Racine county; Mrs. Katherine Timm, of Geneva Junction ; Mary's whereabouts are unknown; Tracy, wife of Mr. Smith of this sketch; John lives in Burlington, this state. Two children have been born to the subject and wife, Della and Andrew. Mr. Smith belongs to the Lutheran church and Mrs. Smith is a member of the Catholic church.
MAURICE MORRISSEY.
Among the professional men of southern Wisconsin whose efforts have contributed to the general progress of the community, the name of Maurice Morrissey is entitled to specific mention. He is a worthy representative of one of our honored pioneer families and a native son of Walworth county, whose interest he has ever had at heart and sought to promote while ad- vancing his own. He is one of the best known attorneys at the local bar, and is also editor and proprietor of the Delavan Republican.
Mr. Morrissey was born on a farm in the town of Walworth and there he grew to manhood and made himself generally useful during the crop sea- sons in his boyhood days, attending the local schools in the winter time. He was graduated from the Walworth high school and the State Normal School at Whitewater, also from the University of Wisconsin, at Madison. He
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taught in district schools at Elton, Sharon township, was principal at Fon- tana, Monticello high school and Boise, Idaho, as head of the department of mathematics. Mr. Morrissey is looking forward to an active legal career. He is active in the Republican ranks and is a member of the Republican state committee, and is known all over Wisconsin.
JEROME INGALLS.
It is no very rare thing for a poor boy in our country to become a pros- perous man and occupy a commanding position in the business world, but many who have fought their way from poverty to wealth, from obscurity to prominence, retain some marks and scars of the conflict. They are apt to be narrow and grasping, even if not sordid and unscrupulous. Jerome Ingalls, of Linn township, although he did not come up from the ranks of the poverty stricken and has not reached the affluence of the rich, yet he has worked his way from a modest beginning to a comfortable station in the world of affairs, being an instance of a man who has achieved success without paying the price at which it is so often bought. His success has not removed him farther from his fellow men, but has brought him into nearer and more intimate relations with them, and, although he has led a busy life, he has yet found time to devote to those interests which develop the intellectual and moral nature of man, living not to himself alone, but laboring to aid his fellow men.
Mr. Ingalls was born in Linn township, Walworth county, May 1, 1857. He is the son of Silas and Helen (Snell) Ingalls, pioneers of the southern part of the county, a record of whom appears at length herein.
Mr. Ingalls lived on the home farm until he was seventeen years old. He went to California in 1876, remaining there a little over two years, then re- turned to Linn township, this county, and located where he is now living, hav- ing engaged in the boat business for the most part for the past thirty years, and is one of the best known men in this line in the county. About 1896 he purchased a place along the shore of Lake Geneva, and he has a comfortable home and several large substantial boat houses, also considerable land nearby.
Mr. Ingalls was married about 1885 to Olive Van Allen, daughter of Abraham and Olive ( Ransome) Van Allen. She was born near Richmond, Illinois, and was living at Crystal Lake at the time of her marriage. Her par- ents were old settlers near Richmond, Illinois, having come from Herkimer county, New York. One daughter was born to the subject and wife, Edna
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Blanche Ingalls. 'The wife and mother was called to her rest in August, 1903. and in September, 1904, Mr. Ingalls was married again, his last wife being known in her maidenhood as Emma Munson, and she was from near Rich- mond, Illinois. Her parents died when she was a little girl, she being the daughter of Charles and Catherine Munson, both probably natives of Sweden. Mrs. Ingalls was born at DeKalb, Illinois. She has a brother, Charles Mun- son, living at Davenport, Iowa, and also three sisters, Mrs. George Hill and Mrs. Aaron Simpson, both of Richmond, Illinois, and Ellen, who married a Mr. McPherson and lived at Omaha, Nebraska, at last accounts. After the death of her parents Mrs. Ingalls lived most of her life at Richmond, Illinois, with the McConnell family and also with her sister, Mrs. Hill. Fraternally. Mr. Ingalls is a member of the Modern Woodmen.
JOHN W. PENDERGAST.
Among the men of Walworth county who have appreciated present-day conditions and profited by the opportunities offered here, through their ingenu- ity and perseverance, is John W. Pendergast, well known hotel man of Spring- field. He has been content to spend his entire life in his native locality, wisely deciding that no better country could be found for the man willing to work honestly for the material things of life.
Mr. Pendergast was born in Springfield, Wisconsin, December 11, 1856. He is the son of Patrick and Margaret (Tolan) Pendergast, both natives of county Connaught, Ireland, where they grew to maturity and were educated, and from there they emigrated to America and located in Elizabeth, New Jer- sey, where they were married. They came west in 1855, landing at Racine, then came on to Springfield. Walworth county. Here Patrick Pendergast worked at various employments for nearly twenty years. About 1876 he pur- chased the old Orrell farm, adjoining Springfield on the east, which F. P. Orrell had homesteaded from the government, and there the elder Pendergast lived until about 1889, then sold out to F. Rittman. He then moved into Spring- field, where he lived the rest of his life, dying on July 18, 1902. His family consisted of four children, namely : Mary, who married a Mr. Moran, lives in Chicago; John W., of this sketch; James died at Aberdeen, South Dakota, while a young man : Edward is farming in Saskatchewan, Canada.
John W. Pendergast grew to manhood in Walworth county and here re- ceived his educational training. He went to Aberdeen, South Dakota, in
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1883 and entered land from the government, between Aberdeen and Ipswich. In 1888 he was united in marriage with Flora Johnson, who was born in Canada, and in 1890 the subject and wife returned to Springfield, this county, to make their home. Her father remained in Dakota and lived there until his death, in the spring of 1911. Mrs. Johnson is still living at Rolla, North Dakota.
Upon returning to Springfield, Mr. Pendergast opened a saloon and in 1894 bought the hotel adjoining and has run it ever since, making a pronounced success of this popular hostelry, which is a favorite stopping place with the traveling public in this part of the state, for here his many guests always re- ceive every consideration and courtesy. He sets an excellent table, which wins many compliments from the public.
About 1903 Mr. Pendergast went into the wholesale oil business, which he operates from Springfield, having built up a large business, his trade extending into several counties in this state and northern Illinois. He has been very successful in whatever he has attempted, and is now one of the substantial men of this part of the county.
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Pendergast, namely : James H., Mary, Gladys, Marguerite and Patrick. Mr. Pendergast is a member of the Catholic church, as are also his two oldest children. Mrs. Pendergast is a Presbyterian.
GUY MADISON TAYLOR.
The subject of this sketch is a representative of one of the sterling pioneer families of Walworth county and is personally identified with the agricultural interests of Troy township where he has spent his life, being the owner of a fine farming property, the old homestead, which he has kept well improved and under a high state of cultivation.
Guy Madison Taylor was born on the place upon which he now resides in 1879. He is the son of James Madison Taylor and Agnes ( Beard ) Taylor, the father born in Cayuga county, New York, and the mother in Walworth county, Wisconsin. The paternal grandfather, Morris Taylor, was twice married, his first wife, the mother of the father of the subject, dying when her son, James Madison, was about two years old. Morris Taylor subsequently married Serena MacMillan, sister of his first wife. Morris Taylor came from New York to Walworth county, Wisconsin, in the early fifties, settling on the place now owned by his grandson, the subject of this sketch. Later he
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