USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth county, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 43
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Mrs. Frank Walsh grew to womanhood at Elkhorn where she attended the public schools, also the high school, and she taught school for two years in Linn township, also for a time at South Grove.
Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Walsh, namely: Edward James, born January 6, 1896, and Franklin Eugene, born May 15, 1906. The former is now completing his course in high school, and the latter, now five years old, is engaged in adding his quota of sunshine to the Walsh home. The subject and wife are both faithful members of the Catholic church at Lake Geneva.
Mrs. Walsh is a well educated woman, possessing much native tact and a pleasing nature which renders her popular with a wide circle of friends. She and Mr. Walsh are known for their hospitality, charitable and neighborly attributes.
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SYLVESTER TANNER WEBB.
Ot the many New Yorkers who came to Walworth county in the days of the logging camp and the "new ground," of the log cabin and the primitive methods of tilling the soil, Sylvester Tanner Webb has profited by the change, for through his individual efforts he forged to the front in the midst of dis- couraging surroundings, developed a fine farm and is today enjoying the fruits of his earlier years of toil and spending his old age in quiet in his cozy home in the town of Springfield.
Mr. Webb was born on August 26, 1824, at New Lebanon, Columbia county, New York. He is the son of Sylvester P. and Julia Wickem (Tanner) Webb, the father a native of the state of New York and the mother of Rhode Island. The father came west in 1846 and settled in Columbia county, Wis- consin, where he resided for two years, then moved to Walworth county, locating in Lafayette township, where he spent the remainder of his days, being well known among the pioneers here.
Sylvester T. Webb, of this sketch, grew to manhood in his native state and there received such education as the early times afforded, and there he was mar- ried to Eliza Harrington, daughter of Alonsen and Bettys (Wright) Harring- ton, both natives of the state of New York, of which state her grandfather, James Harrington, was also a native.
Mr. and Mrs. Webb lived in their native state until 1849 when they emi- grated to Geneva township, Walworth county, Wisconsin, arriving here in September of that year and there they began farming. The country was new and accommodations not what they are today and here the death of Mrs. Webb occurred in 1855. Three children had been born to this union, namely : Robert Bruce, who lives in Clay county, Minnesota ; William is now deceased ; Silas O. lives in Forest City, South Dakota.
After farming in Geneva township for six years, Mr. Webb moved to Lafayette township where he met and married Elizabeth Clark, daughter of William and Ollie (Smith) Clark, who came to Walworth county in an early day from the East, though they had first settled in Michigan, before coming here. The subject purchased land in Lafayette township, owning at one time over two hundred acres, later purchasing a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, for which he paid fifty dollars per acre, it being a well improved farm. Here he resided and successfully carried on general farming and stock raising until about eleven years ago, when he retired from active farming and moved to a pleasant home in the town of Springfield where he still resides. While on the farm he kept a large herd of sheep and also did a good dairy business.
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Politically, Mr. Webb is a Republican, but he has never been much of a public man, preferring a quiet life. He is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church.
Two children were born of Mr. Webb's second marriage: Mark T. is deceased ; Ava married Mr. Isham, and they live on the old homestead of her mother's in Lafayette township.
ESEK D. SMITH.
One of our honored retired farmers who has led a worthy life and done much for the betterment of his community, while advancing his own interests, is Esek D. Smith, of Delavan. He has led a quiet life and his integrity has always been unassailable. He is one of the substantial and worthy men of this part of the county, with no ambition for anything but - the sphere of private citizen, and his many friends bear willing testimony to his amiable qualities and sterling characteristics.
Mr. Smith was born on November 6, 1841, in Landingburg, New York. He is the son of Peter and Sarah (Murry) Smith, who were natives of the state of New York, where they grew up and were married, and there they lived untit 1873, when they emigrated to Wisconsin and settled in Darien township, about a mile and a half west of Delavan, buying a farm there of one hundred and sixty acres. There they established a comfortable home and spent the rest of their lives, the father dying in 1892 and the mother in 1904. They were the parents of seven children, named in order of birth as follows : Mrs. Sarah Ells, of Delavan, this county; Esek D., of this sketch; Mrs. Jane Allen lives in Alhambra, California; Augustus lives in Delavan : Thomas L. lives in Nashua, Iowa; Mrs. Fannie Merrill lives in Hinkley, Illinois; Delia is deceased.
Esek D. Smith was reared on the home farm where he assisted with the general work during the crop seasons, and he received his education in the public schools of Landingburg. New York, and there he spent his boyhood, coming to Walworth county, Wisconsin, and settling on a farm in Sugar Creek township, in March, 1870, buying one hundred and twenty acres of good land there. This he improved into an excellent farm, and there he lived until 1896, when, having accumulated a competency through his good management, he retired from the active duties of life and moved to the town of Delavan, where he purchased a cozy home at No. 222 South Main street, and here he is spending his declining years in quiet and comfort.
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Mr. Smith proved his patriotism during the Civil war by enlisting on August II, 1862, although but a mere.boy, in the One Hundred and Twenty- fifth New York Volunteer Infantry, in which he served with gallantry until in June, 1865. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He belongs to the Baptist church.
Mr. Smith was married on December 17, 1873, to Marion Bell, the daughter of Joseph and Sallie Ann ( Reynolds) Bell, natives of the state of New York, and to this union one child has been born, Carrie E., who lives at home.
CHARLES RAYMOND FISH.
Americans are not hampered by shackles of class distinction and it is every one's privilege to build the structure of his life as he sees fit. This gives us what is often termed the self-made man, a good example of which is found in Charles Raymond Fish, one of the leading young farmers of Geneva town- ship, and the creditable representative of an excellent old Walworth family, members of which have played a conspicuous part in the affairs of the county through its several stages of progress.
Mr. Fish was born in section 12, Geneva township, this county, June 4, 1878. He is the son of Jasper M. and Temperance (Hand) Fish, a sketch of whom will be found on another page of this work.
Charles R. Fish grew up on the home place and there assisted with the general work during his boyhood days, in fact he has spent nearly all his life in that immediate vicinity, being content to remain at home, which, as most will admit, is the best place after all. He received his education in the common schools of his neighborhood.
In the spring of 1901 he went to Reedsburg. Wisconsin, renting a farm near there, which he operated a year for himself. Returning to the old home farm in the spring of 1903, he farmed three hundred and twenty-one acres of his father's land on the shares, a quarter section in section II and one hundred and sixty-one acres in section 12. In 1903, a few months later, he bought the sixty acres in section II where he now lives, adjoining his father's quarter section on the south, having purchased his land here from Henry Guif. AAbout 1904 he rented out his sixty-acre tract for three years and during this time lived with his father and in 1906 he again returned to his father's quarter section in section II, remaining there one year. In 1907 he returned to his own farin, and his sister, Mrs. Vant, came and kept house for him, as she had done while he rented his father's farm.
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On November 4, 1909, Mr. Fish was united in marriage with Elsie May Vant, daughter of Henry and Ruth (Waters) Vant. She was born and reared in Lafayette township, this county, and there received her education in the district schools. In that township both her parents were born and reared on adjoining farms, and her grandparents on both sides were very early settlers there. Mr. and Mrs. Fish have one little daughter, Olive May Fish, born October 4, 1910.
Mr. Fish is a man of energy and progressive ideas, who believes in progress in material things, as well as civic and moral, and he gives his support to the governments calculated to advance his community.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SKIFF.
If a list could be made of all the old settlers of Walworth county it would be found that most of them came here from the state of New York. This has been a fortunate thing for southern Wisconsin, because these people have not been soldiers of fortune and adventurers, but homeseekers and builders of empire. They knew well for what purpose they came here, and they began working with a will to develop the country, and in due course of time had established good homes and also started and carried successfully onward the moral and civic upbuilding of the country, and as soon as they could take up the work, school houses and churches, court houses and other evidences of advanced civilization could be seen on every hand.
One of the worthy gentlemen who came from the old Empire state and assisted in this commendable work is Benjamin Franklin Skiff, for many years a leading farmer of Lafayette township, now living in retirement in Elkhorn. Mr. Skiff was born in 1836 in Cattaraugus county, New York. He is the son of Stephen and Mehitabel (Fisk) Skiff, both natives of New York. There they grew to maturity and were married and continued to reside until 1850. when they brought their family to Walworth county, Wisconsin, locating at Lyons, where the father followed farming and continued to live until his death, in 1863. In his early life he was a Democrat, but when the Republican party was organized he espoused its principles. He was reared in the Presbyterian faith. His family consisted of eleven children. His father and his wife's father both served through the Revolutionary war.
B. F. Skiff grew to manhood on the home farm and received his educa- tion in the district schools, and when a young man took up farming, which he
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has always followed. In March, 1860, he was united in marriage with Martha Gillett, daughter of Rinaldo and Abigail (Boughton) Gillett, natives of the state of New York. Mr. Skiff was very successful as a farmer. In 1850 his father purchased one hundred and fifty acres, for which he paid eleven dollars per acre, and in 1885, B. F. Skiff, who had succeeded to the land, sold it for sixty dollars per acre, which was considered a high price for land here in those days. He then moved to Elkhorn and purchased a fine farm one mile south of that city, containing one hundred and eighty-seven acres, for which he paid fifty dollars per acre, and here he continued to reside for twelve years, then sold out for seventy dollars per acre, and bought a farm in Lafayette township. consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, which he still owns and which he keeps rented. He lives now in the city of Elkhorn.
In 1904 Mr. Skiff was united in marriage with Iris Emeline Stowe, daugh- ter of Cyrus C. and Iris W. (Arnold) Stowe, both from the state of New York. Mr. Stowe came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1848 and settled in Elkhorn where he followed his trade as carpenter, spending the rest of his life here, dying in 1895. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Skiff, one of whom died in infancy; a son died when thirty-two years old; three daughters are still living.
B F. Skiff was a Republican until the Prohibition party was organized. since which time he has been a supporter of the same. He has been assessor of his township for three terms, and he was a member of the school board while at Lyons for a period of seventeen years. He is a member of all the local temperance societies. He is a Universalist in belief and active in the work, although there is no church of this denomination at Elkhorn.
DAVID THOMAS DUNHAM.
We are always glad to meet a character like David Thomas Dunham, one of the well known farmers of Troy township, Walworth county, for hie has been true to the higher ideals of life and has sought to promote the general good of his community while advancing his own interests ; thereby his example is worthy of emulation.
Mr. Dunham was born on the farm which he now occupies on August 5. 1877. He is the son of Robert Dunham, an account of whose life work is given in the sketch of George Dunham, appearing elsewhere in this volume.
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The subject worked hard on the home farm when he was a boy, and during the winter months attended the district schools. With the exception of three years, he has spent his life on the homestead, which he has kept well improved and well tilled. He has two hundred and twenty acres on which he carries on general farming and stock raising. He has recently begun feeding Guernsey cattle, and he carries on dairying somewhat extensively, finding a very ready market for his products.
Mr. Dunham was married in March, 1899, to Mary Hubbard, who was born in Troy township, this county, where she was reared and educated. She is the daughter of Frank A. and Sarah (Morrison) Hubbard. a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Dunham two children have been born, Roland Frank and Herschel Hubbard.
Mr. and Mrs. Dunham attend the Methodist Episcopal church, and they are both members of the Mystic Workers. Mrs. Dunham is also a member of the Royal Neighbors. Politically, Mr. Dunham is a Republican.
HAROLD H. ROGERS.
One of the best remembered and most highly respected citizens of Wal- worth county in a past generation, who, after a successful and honorable career, have taken up their journey to that mystic clime, Shakespeare's "undis- covered bourne from whence no traveler e'er returns." leaving behind him a heritage of which his descendants may well be proud,-an untarnished name,- was Harold H. Rogers, who came to this locality when the early settlers were redeeming the rich soil from the primordial state, and here he played well his role in the drama of civilization. He was a man of industry and public spirit, willing at all times to do his full share in the work of development, never neglecting his larger duties to humanity, being obliging and neighborly, kind and genial, which made him popular with all classes and won the respect and good will of those with whom he came into contact. Thus for many reasons, not the least of which was the fact that he was one of the worthy veterans of the great army that saved the national union, we are glad to give his biography here.
Mr. Rogers was born in Oneida county, New York, on August 15, 1843. He was the son of Adam and Harriet (Wiggins) Rogers, who grew up and were married in the East and in 1853 the family came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, and here established their permanent home. Here the subject .
HAROLD H. ROGERS
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LEMOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONE
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grew to manhood and received his education in the public schools. He began clerking for Clark, Church & Company, of East Troy, where he remained two years, and then went to Lincoln Commercial College at Milwaukee. He then clerked in Whitewater and Milwaukee, and in 1864 he enlisted in Company G, Third Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry, and he served faithfully until the close of the war. He made such a commendable record that he was mustered out as sergeant-major.
After his career in the army Mr. Rogers returned to East Troy, Wis- consin, and clerked for H. B. Clark until 1866, and later became a partner in the firm, under the name of H. H. Rogers & Company. They sold out in 1868 to Austin & Willis. He then became proprietor of the East Troy hotel in partnership with H. B. Clark, selling out in 1893 to his brother, Oscar Rog- ers, now of Elkhorn. In 1881 Harold H. Rogers and John Matheson erected the Bell telephone line from East Troy to Mayhew. He was very successful as a business man, being a man of keen observation, good judgment and well posted, and he left behind him considerable valuable property, including a very pleasant home.
Mr. Rogers was a Democrat in his political relations and was loyal to the party. He took considerable interest in local affairs, and he was for some time chairman of the town board in 1881.
Mr. Rogers was one of the organizers of the State Bank at East Troy and was its first president, which position he held in a manner that reflected much credit upon his ability as a financier and to the eminent satisfaction of the stockholders and patrons, in fact, his able management and wise counsel were responsible for the rapid growth and general popularity of this sound institution. He remained head of this bank until his death. He bought and improved Beulah island and the properties thereon, from 1882 to 1885, and made this a valuable and attractive place.
Mr. Rogers was married on February 22, 1866, to Susan B. Clark, who was born in East Troy, Wisconsin, on February 22, 1846. She is the daugh- ter of H. B. and Charlotte (Stewart ) Clark, the father born in Southbury, . Connecticut, May 21, 1814. He was a tailor by trade, which he followed until 1836. In 1843 he came to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, thence to East Troy, Walworth county. In 1845 he married Lottie H. Stewart, a native of Wellsville, New York. He was a merchant tailor until 1858. then engaged in general merchandising under the firm name of Clark. Church & Company, afterwards as Clark & Houghton. As stated, he remained in business until 1868, when he sold out to Austin & Willis. Mr. Clark then bought the East
(75)
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Troy House, which he operated successfully until his death, on October 12, 1875.
Mr. Clark was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the encampment. The death of his wife occurred on July 23, 1896. They had one child, Susan B., widow of Harold H. Rogers, of this sketch.
To Mr. and Mrs. Rogers two children were born, namely : Henry C., born March 20, 1872, died December 11, 1880: Edgar A., born March 30, 1874, died November 1, 1906.
Fraternally, Mr. Rogers was a member of St. James Lodge No. 41, Free and Accepted Masons, and of Elkhorn Chapter, Royal Arch Masons. The death of Harold H. Roberts occurred on March 23, 1897.
ALBERT H. ACKLEY.
One of the best known citizens of Troy township, and one of the pioneer children of Walworth county, is Albert H. Ackley, a man whom every one honors and likes, for his life has been fraught with much good to his native locality. He was born in this township, May 31, 1849, and received his education in the old-fashioned log cabin, later attending the Milton Acad- emy, which finally became Milton College. He grew up on the home farm, worked hard when a boy and has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, being now the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres, besides owning valuable property in Troy Center. He has been very indus- trious, has accumulated a competency and is now living retired. Politically, he is a Republican and he has been assessor of his township three terms; for a number of years he has been a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He was at one time clerk of the local school board. He attends and supports the Methodist church.
Mr. Ackley was married in 1877 to Mary J. Lockey, a native of Troy township, the daughter of Joseph and Agnes Lockey, pioneers of this town- ship, and here Mr. Lockey died; his widow is now living in Troy Center.
To Albert H. Ackley and wife the following children have been born : Olive, who married Guy Taylor, of Troy township; Alberta married Romeo Dingman, of this county; Leila Pearl married Mike Peterson, of Williams Bay, Wisconsin.
Capt. Charles B. Ackley, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Ellusburg, New York, April 22, 1821. He was the eldest son of Gad and
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Mary (Pond) Ackley. The son remained at home until he was sixteen years of age, then turned his attention to the life of a sailor on the great lakes. Coming to Wisconsin, he sailed with Captain Ripley in 1837 on the boat "Victor," which belonged to Solomon Juneau. He followed sailing for twenty years, becoming a very able and trustworthy seaman. When nine- teen years of age he went to Europe and in 1841 to the West Indies, and visited many of the seaports of Europe. He spent one Christmas in Lon- don. He was a man of strong personality, courageous, adventurous and of cool nerve. His father was a brigadier-general in the war of 1812. Capt. Charles B. Ackley came to Wisconsin in a very early day, when he was a young man, and while on his way here met Louisa M. Bunker, a sister of Nath. Bunker, and they were married on March 8, 1845. Her death occurred on July 31, 1871. Two children were born to them, Mrs. William A. Logan, of Eagle, Wisconsin, and Albert H. Ackley, the immediate subject of this sketch. Captain Ackley gave up sailing after coming to Wisconsin and turned his attention to farming in Troy township, where he spent most of his life, living the last five years with his daughter at Eagle. He and his wife are buried at Evergreen cemetery. He was a picturesque character and his stories of the life on the lakes in the early days and tales of deep sea sail- ing are very entertaining.
The maternal grandparents of the subject were Alexander and Sarah (Mead) Bunker, early pioneers of Walworth county, where they established a home and spent the rest of their lives.
JOHN VOSE SEYMOUR.
The name of John Vose Seymour, of Lake Geneva, does not need to be introduced to the readers of this chronicle, for it has been intertwined with the history of this locality for a half century. The splendid success which has come to him is directly traceable to the salient points in his character. With a mind. capable of planning, he combined a will strong enough to execute his well-formulated purposes, and his great energy, keen discrimination and perse- verance have resulted in the accumulation of a handsome property, which places him among the substantial citizens of Walworth county. He carries to successful completion whatever he undertakes and his business methods have ever been in strict conformity with the ethics of advanced industrial codes, so that he has ever enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
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Mr. Seymour was born in Lake Geneva, this county, May 13, 1859. He is the son of John and Olivia ( Vose) Seymour, both natives of Vermont. They came to Troy, this county, in the fifties where they located, becoming owners of four hundred acres of land at what is now called Turtle Lake. The farm was later sold and the family moved to Lake Geneva about 1856, and here their three children were born. They were, Fred Sanford, who lived on a farm at Winthrop, Iowa, is now living at Manchester, Iowa; Charles Everett lives part of the time in Eldorado county, California, and part of the time at Single Springs, also spends some time at Kenyon, engaged in mining ; and John V., of this sketch.
The death of John Seymour occurred in January, 1859, a few months before the subject was born, and the mother afterwards, in 1861, married John Haskins, and they continued to reside in Lake Geneva or near here on Mr. Haskins' farm. He and his brother owned one hundred and sixty acres, which is now known as Crawford's addition to the city of Lake Geneva, and on this farm the subject grew to manhood. The following children were born to the subject's mother by her second marriage: William and Walter died in childhood; Mary Olivia and Herbert Eugene, who are living, the former being the widow of Frank Blakesley, deceased, and she lives in California, where Herbert E. Haskin also resides. The death of the mother of these chil- dren occurred in the fall of 1877.
John V. Seymour, of this sketch, lived on the farm with his mother and step-father until he grew to maturity. When twenty years old, in 1902, he began buying land on which there was timber and selling it. He fenced in a half acre and built a wood shed and a tread power machine for sawing the wood. He had had some experience in the old Crawford foundry after leav- ing high school, which he had attended two years, leaving school when sixteen years old, to go into the foundry of which his step-father was part owner. He learned pattern making, molding, foundry work and machine shop work rapidly. So he was enabled to make the castings for his wood-sawing outfit. In making the machine he cast a fly-wheel of three hundred and sixty-five pounds, dressed it down and made a good machine, cut the timber in pole lengths and cut it into stove wood, which he sold at seven dollars per cord. Later he added the cement culvert and tile business at Lake Geneva. His experience in the foundry at moulding and pattern making was excellent train- ing for him in making the form for his work and he did a good business. He shipped his products to various parts of the country. He made concrete pipe in eighteen different sizes. While in that business he also built up a large trade in ice, which he began in 1890, and he soon had all he could properly attend to.
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