USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth county, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 48
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Mrs. Denison was born at Homer, New York. She was the daughter of Samuel and Mermoa M. (Williamson) Perkins, the father a native of Connecticut and the mother of Vermont, but they spent most of their lives in the state of New York.
Politically, Mr. Denison was a Republican and was influential in local public affairs. He was a member of the Congregational church and a lib- eral support of the same.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Denison, namely : Mary, married Frank W. Winchester; Helen E. was next in order of birth; John J., who died in 1886; Harriet is the wife of William C. Safford, of Boston. The only grandchild is Frances Winchester, wife of Ralph W. Wells, of Menomonee, Michigan.
DAVID F. ZUILL.
One of the most enterprising and up-to-date business and stock men of Walworth county is David F. Zuill, who has succeeded as a result of well applied energy and a persistent zeal that knew no defeat, in fact, opposition and adversity seemed to foster in him new determination and courage, and while laboring for his own advancement he has not been neglectful of his duties as citizen, being the present popular mayor of Whitewater.
Mr. Zuill was born at Johnstown, Rock county, Wisconsin, May 4. 1861, the son of John and Elizabeth ( Purvis) Zuill, both natives of Scot- land, from which country the father came with his parents to Johnstown. Wisconsin, when young, they being pioneers there. Locating on a farin. they broke the raw land, owning originally two hundred and forty acres.
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They became well known among the early settlers and were influential. The father of the subject was the owner of six hundred and thirty acres and was considered one of the leading farmers of that locality. There he spent the rest of his life, dying on August 8, 1898, having lived the last year and a half of his life retired at Janesville. He was a man of many sterling characteristics, a good and useful man. His wife came from Scot- land with her parents when a young girl and located in the same community where they were also pioneer farmers. Later the Purvis family moved to the northern part of the state, and there became well established.
David F. Zuill was educated in the common schools and he spent one year in Milton College and made a very good record. He has followed in the footsteps of his father in a business way and he farmed on the home place until 1896, carrying on the various departments of the farm in a very successful manner. His father was an extensive breeder of Shorthorn cat- tle and Clydesdale horses, being among the first breeders of the latter in his locality, and his sons have continued this line of work. In 1896 David F. started a creamery, which he continued until January, 1910, enjoying a lib- eral patronage all the while. In 1900 he entered the elevator business with a Mr. Shephard, under the firm name of Zuill & Shephard, which was con- tinued with a fair measure of success until 1906. On January 1, 1907, he began buying live stock under the firm name of Hanson & Zuill, the firm name changing on March 1, 1911, to Hanson Zuill & Hawes, making a specialty of dairy cattle; they also handle large numbers of horses and their constantly growing business extends to all parts of the United States. They also conduct a large livery business. No better judge of live stock could be found in this locality than Mr. Zuill. In connection with his many in- terests in this line, he also operates two hundred and four acres of excellent farming land three and one-half miles from Whitewater, which he rents as a dairy farm. He has managed well, been progressive and alert and a large measure of success has attended his efforts.
Mr. Zuill was married on January 26, 1887, to Flora A. Wood, of Johnstown, Wisconsin, the daughter of a prominent family. To this union four children have been born, namely: J. F., who is employed by the firm of which his father is a member; Frances L., Flora A. and D. W. are at home.
Fraternally, Mr. Zuill is a member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica. As a Republican he has been unfaltering in his allegiance to the party and has been active in local affairs. He is at present filling the responsible
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office of mayor of Whitewater, and is discharging the duties of the same in a manner that reflects much credit upon himself and to the entire satis- faction of all concerned. He had been incumbent of this office prior to the term preceding the present one, and before that he was councilman for four years. As mayor he has done much for the permanent good of the town and the general upbuilding of the community.
F. H. WILLIAMS.
The enterprising citizen whose name introduces this sketch is one of the painstaking farmers of Whitewater township, of which he is a native, having spent his life here and taken part in the great development of the same during the past half century, for his parents came here in the pioneer epoch and established the permanent home of the family. He has been taught to do well whatever was worth doing and he is therefore very comfortably situated, having a finely developed farm, a part of the old homestead, and he has led such an exemplary life that he has won and retained the good will and respect of all with whom he has come into contact. keeping untarnished the good name of the family.
Mr. Williams was born here on September 28, 1855, and is the son of Jonathan M. Williams, a complete sketch of whom will be found on another page of this work.
F. H. Williams grew up on the home farm and assisted with the gen- eral work on the same during his boyhood days, and he received his education in the public schools of his district and in the Whitewater Normal School. Early in life he turned his attention to farming and this has continued to be his occupation. He owns one hundred and forty-five acres of the old home- stead, which he has managed with such skill as to retain its original fertility. and he is one of the leading general farmers and stock raisers of his com- munity, making a specialty of Guernsey cattle. His is the only farm between Whitewater and Ft. Atkinson which is owned by the descendants of those who entered land in this locality from the government.
Politically, Mr. Williams is a Republican and he has been more or less active in party affairs. Something of the implicit confidence in which he is held by his neighbors is ascertained from the fact that he was clerk of Whitewater township for a period of twenty-two years consecutively. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
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Mr. Williams was married in November, 1885, to Lucy E. Holcombe, who was born in Lagrange township, Walworth county, this state, on Sep- tember 16, 1856, the daughter of Richard and Rhoda (Newell ) Holcombe, pioneers of Walworth county, both now deceased. To the subject and wife four children have been born, namely: Frank H., Jr., Wilfred H . Lawrence (deceased) and Clara B.
JUDGE CHARLES R. GIBBS.
For a number of years Judge Charles R. Gibbs was numbered among the representative citizens of Walworth county, and in his death the entire community felt that an irreparable loss had been sustained by the public. He was a leader in public affairs, an attorney of few peers and no superiors, and his indubitable talent resulted in the accomplishment of much good to the vicinity honored by his residence. His whole career was marked by signal integrity, justice and honor, and no word of detraction was ever heard from those who knew him well. Although he has long been a pilgrim to that "undiscovered bourne" from whence none ever return, he is well remem- bered here and his influence still pervades the lives of those with whom he came into contact who still fight the battle which poets have been pleased to call Life.
Charles R. Gibbs was born in Granville, Washington county, New York, in 1813. He was the son of Dr. Leonard and Lucy (Roberts ) Gibbs, who were reared in New York, where they were married and spent their lives, dying at Granville. Their family consisted of three sons and four daughters. none of whom are now living.
Charles R. Gibbs was reared in his native state and was educated at the Granville Academy, and early in life he began reading law. When twenty-one years old he went to Georgia, where he practiced law, becoming a leader at the bar, and he was at one time county judge while living in that state, filling the office in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the satis- faction of the people. He finally came north, locating in Rock county, Wis- consin, in the town of Janesville, where he continued practicing law under the firm name of Bennett, Cassidy & Gibbs. He remained in Janesville until 1867, enjoying a good practice, then came to Whitewater, Walworth county, locating on a farm in Whitewater township, a mile west of the city, owning there one hundred and sixty acres, on which he continued to reside until 1902, when he came to Whitewater and purchased a pleasant home on Main
JUDGE CHARLES R. GIBBS
PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LEHOX TILBEN FOUNDATIONS
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street, where his widow still resides, and here his death occurred on Novem- ber 30, 1907, at the advanced age of ninety-four years, after a useful, suc- cessful and honorable life, one of which his descendants may well be proud.
Politically, the Judge was a Republican, and he was active in party affairs. He was a member of the state Legislature in the year 1872, making a most commendable record. Mrs. Gibbs is a member of the Congregational church.
Judge Gibbs was married in 1860 to Frances (Clark) Birge, who came to Walworth county early, being among the very earliest settlers, in fact, and she has thus lived to see the wonderful changes that have taken place here. She was the widow of Leander Birge, who came to Whitewater in the year 1836 and here devoted himself to farming. He and Frances Clark were mar- ried on April 15, 1851, and the death of Mr. Birge occurred in 1853. Julius Birge was the first white child born in Whitewater township.
One daughter was born to Judge Gibbs and wife, Fannie. The Judge had also been previously married to Martha Pope, by which union six chil- dren were born, three of whom are living, namely : Pope, John and Helen.
The widow of Judge Gibbs was born in Pawlet, Vermont, on April 25, 1831. She is the daughter of John M. and Julia ( Beckwith ) Clark, a complete sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
CHARLES HARRIMAN WISWELL.
An enterprising and public-spirited citizen of Walworth county who believes in doing his work well and in advocating right living in the home and society and purity in public life is Charles H. Wiswell, one of the lead- ing farmers of Sugar Creek township. He was born in Lafayette township, this county, on February 17, 1865. He is the son of Philip Stephen and Mary Louise (Harriman) Wiswell, both natives of Walworth county, he of Lafayette and she of Geneva township. The paternal grandparents were Christopher Wiswell and Almira, daughter of Stephen Gano West and Rebecca Pike, all early settlers in this county. He was a native of Worcester county, Massachusetts, and his wife of Chenango county, New York. Here he followed farming for some time. He assisted in organizing the First National Bank at Elkhorn, and was for many years its president, and he was also interested in the hardware business for a number of years at Elk-
(78)
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horn. He was a prominent man in this locality and influential in business and public affairs. He was a stanch Republican, and held many township offices, and was a member of the county board. The maternal grandparents of the subject were Dudley and Mrs. Mary Howard (-) Harriman. Mr. Harriman was born in 1814 at Lachute, province of Quebec, of a Ver- mont family. He came early to a farm near Elkhorn, eastward, and died there in 1884. He was a sturdily-built man, full of sound common sense, a thriving farmer, and an excellent citizen. His wife, who was born Cor- bett, was married a second time in 1839. She was born in 1808 and died in 1889.
Philip S. Wiswell, father of the subject, was educated in the common schools of Walworth county and early in life began farming, later taking up merchandising, but at present he gives his entire attention to agricultural pursuits. His family consists of five sons and two daughters. He is a Republican and takes an active part in public affairs, and he and his wife have many friends throughout the county, having lived here all their lives.
Charles H. Wiswell, of this sketch, was educated in the district schools and the Elkhorn high school, and when a young man he took up farming, which he has since followed successfully, being now the owner of two hun- dred and five acres which he manages in a manner that brings large annual returns, having kept his place well improved and under a high state of cultivation, and he raises an excellent grade of live stock. He makes a specialty of dairying, keeping a fine herd of Holstein-Friesian cattle. He has been president and is a director of the State Long Distance Telephone Company, since its organization, and its large and growing success has been very largely due to his efforts and judicious management. He has been chairman of the township for the past three years, and has been supervisor for several years. He is president of the Walworth County Agricultural Society, and also president of the Walworth County Farmers' Protective Association, in which he has taken much interest and done a great deal for its usefulness and success.
Mr. Wiswell was married on March 19. 1889. to Julia R. Potter. daugh- ter of Joseph Potter and Rosina Ellsworth. Her death occurred on Octo- ber 5, 1902, and on September 8. 1903, Mr. Wiswell was united in marriage with Anna E. Hart, and to this union two children have been born, Flor- ence L. and Wyman W.
Politically Mr. Wiswell is a Republican, and is loyal to his party. He is also an active worker in fraternal circles, being a member of the Elkhorn
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Free and Accepted Masons, the Elkhorn chapter and council and the com- mandery of Delavan, Wisconsin, also the Modern Woodmen of America at Elkhorn and the Royal Neighbors of that city, and is now manager of the latter.
RALPH TRATT.
The Tratt family has long been one of the best known in Walworth county and, having assisted in the general upbuilding of the community and led lives of industry and integrity, they have always had the confidence and respect of all classes. A creditable representative of the present generation is Ralph Tratt, who was born in Whitewater, this county, on February 18, 1879. He is the son of Frank W. and Elizabeth (Cobb) Tratt, the father born in England, June 20, 1839, and the mother a native of the state of New York. Thomas Tratt, the paternal grandfather, was born in England, there grew up and married and in 1846 came to America and settled in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, on a farm where they spent the rest of their lives. The father of the subject was seven years old when he came to Jefferson county, and there he grew to manhood and was educated in the public schools. When young he began working for W. L. R. Stewart, of Whitewater, and later bought a team and followed teaming for some time, then rented land, later buying and selling many farms, and at his death, on January 4, 1909, he owned six hundred acres of valuable land in Whitewater township, and was one of the substantial and influential men of the county. Part of his land lay in Jefferson county. Most of his life was spent in Whitewater. He was interested in the banks of Whitewater for a number of years and was also interested in the wagon works here. He was active in all public enterprises and was a loyal Republican. He was at one time mayor of Whitewater and was a member of the Congregational church. as was also his wife. The latter's death occurred in 1885. They were the parents of eight sons, and now there are six grandchildren, all sons. Of their children, four are living, namely: Clarence W., of Whitewater; Paul, an attorney of Ft. Atkinson ; Ralph. of this sketch; Julius Simeon is farming in Whitewater township.
The maternal grandfather, Simeon Cobb, came to this county in an early day and settled in Whitewater township, and here he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. The father of the subject was twice married. his second wife being Mrs. Helen M. Wright, of Whitewater, which union was without issue.
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Ralph Tratt, of this sketch, was educated in the schools of Whitewater, but he worked on a farm in vacation time. He was graduated from the local high school, and he spent two years in the agricultural department of the State University. He took up farming for a livelihood and he has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, now owning an excellent farm of two hundred and eighty acres, two hundred acres lying just west of the limits of Whitewater and eighty acres in Jefferson county. In 1901 he began breeding Guernsey cattle, his fine stock being greatly admired by all. He now has eighty head, pure bred Guernseys. He is a stockholder in the White- water Manufacturing Company. He has made most of the improvements on his farm, and has a splendid residence and substantial outbuildings.
Politically, Mr. Tratt is a Republican, but has not been an aspirant for office. When at the university he was a member of the Beta Theta Psi, a college fraternity.
Mr. Tratt was married on August 12, 1902, to Ruth E. Salisbury, a native of Whitewater, born here on February 10, 1881, the daughter of WV. S. and Mary (Earll) Salisbury, who were early settlers of Walworth county and here they still reside. To the subject and wife three children have been born, Walter Salisbury, Ralph Winfield and Earll, the last named dying in infancy.
FERNANDO C. KIZER.
Among the men of sterling attributes of character who have impressed their personality upon the community of their residence and have borne their full share in the upbuilding and development of Walworth county, mention must not be omitted of Fernando C. Kizer, prominent citizen of the city of Whitewater, where he has long maintained his home and where he has exerted a strong influence for good to the entire community, being a man of upright principles, industrious in business affairs and public matters, always desirous of seeing the advancement of the town and county along moral, civic and material lines, and now, as the twilight of his years gathers around him, he can look backward over a well spent life, with no compunction for misdeeds, and forward into the land of the unknown with no apprehension.
Mr. Kizer was born in Monroe county, Pennsylvania, at the town of Chestnut Hill, April 27. 1833, and is the son of Charles and Sarah Jane (Gress) Kizer. The father was born at Ross Commons, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, in September, 1800, and the mother's birth occurred in that
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county in 1809. The paternal grandparents of the subject were Valentine and Ann Elizabeth ( Vonsaums) Kizer, he born at Ft. Allen, Pennsylvania, in 1766 and she in 1764. They moved to Wyoming Valley, that state, in early times and there spent their last days, his death taking place in 1845.
The father of the subject was a carpenter and millwright by trade and a very skilled workman. His death occurred in Hanover township, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, on December 23, 1862, his wife having preceded him to the grave in 1850. They were the parents of nine children, four of whom are living at this writing. Politically, he was a Democrat and, religiously, a Lutheran.
Fernando C. Kizer was reared on the farm and educated in the public schools in Pennsylvania and the Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. He began life for himself by teaching school two years in his native state. He came to Wisconsin in 1854, passing through the town of Whitewater on July 4th of that year, and here he located in 1857 and this has since been his place of residence. During this period of fifty-five years he has noted wonderful changes in the town and county, playing no incon- spicuous role in the comedy-drama of local civilization, having had the in- terests of the locality at heart all the while and unbounded faith in its future. He worked for George Esterly the first year, then, having decided to take up the study of law, he entered the office of N. S. Murphy, remaining with him until 1861. Then the war between the states coming on, he offered his services to the Union, becoming first lieutenant in Barstow's Third Wiscon- sin Cavalry, on August 20, 1861, and he served very faithfully in the same until in February, 1865, having participated in many important campaigns and engagements, in all of which he conducted himself in a manner befitting an officer under the Stars and Stripes. For meritorious conduct he was promoted to captain in 1863, in which capacity he served gallantly until the close of the war, principally in Missouri and the west, having taken part in the engagements at Cane Hill, Prairie Grove, and in his raid after General Price in October, 1864, lost fifty-nine horses. After being honorably dis- charged, he returned to Wisconsin and engaged in business with Mr. Esterly in a machine shop in Whitewater for a number of years.
Taking an active interest in political and public affairs, Mr. Kizer was elected to the Legislature in 1888 and he served two terms in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the general satisfaction of his con- stituents, making his influence felt for the good of his community. He has been justice of the peace since the year 1892, discharging his duties most faithfully, his decisions being characterized by fairness and a broad knowl-
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edge of the fundamental principles of jurisprudence. He has been a loyal Republican all his life, having cast his first vote for Fremont.
Fraternally, Mr. Kizer is a member of St. John's Lodge, Free and Ac- cepted Masons. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, having been active in the local post since its organization.
On November 5, 1862, Captain Kizer was united in marriage with Artarista Caswell, who was born in Cleveland, Oswego county, New York, in 1839. She is the daughter of Horace and Lucretia (Ford) Caswell, the mother having been the daughter of Capt. John Ford, of Washington's army, thus serving in the Revolutionary war. Horace Caswell died in Cleveland, New York, and his widow came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, late in life, dying in the town of Whitewater at the advanced age of ninety- four years.
To Fernando C. Kizer and wife have been born four children, namely : Leora L., who married David Leishman, died in 1892, leaving one child, Merrill F .; Evalyn is deceased; F. Henry is mentioned elsewhere in this work ; Fernando C., Jr., died on July 25, 1910, at the age of thirty-one years.
ELMER A. PETERSON.
That life is the most useful and desirable that results in the greatest good to the greatest number and, though all do not reach the heights to which they aspire, yet in some measure each can win success and make life a blessing to his fellow men. It is not necessary for one to occupy eminent public positions to do so, for in the humbler walks of life there remains much good to be accomplished and many opportunities for one to exercise one's talents and influence which in some way will touch the lives of those with whom we come in contact. In the list of Walworth county's successful busi- ness men and public-spirited citizens Elmer A. Peterson, of the town of Walworth, occupies a prominent place. In his career there is much that is commendable and his life forcibly illustrates what a man of energy can ac- complish when his plans are wisely laid and his actions governed by right principles and wholesome ideals.
Mr. Peterson was born at Rockford, Illinois, on June 28, 1869. He is the son of Charles G. and Sophia (Anderson) Peterson, both natives of Sweden, who emigrated to America in early life. When the subject was about a year old the family moved to Worth county, Iowa, and the father
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bought land from the government at two dollars and fifty cents per acre, and lived there four years, then returned to Rockford and spent several years there. In 1879 they moved back to lowa and there the subject grew to manhood and was educated. When the family first went there the land was just being settled and the family lived amid true pioneer conditions on the Iowa prairies. There Elmer A. Peterson lived on the farm until 1896, when the family again moved to Rockford, Illinois. The father had died in Iowa when Elmer A. was fourteen years old, and the mother died in the spring of 1903 at Rockford. They were the parents of five children, two sons and three daughters, namely : Elmer A., of this sketch; Edward A., of Rock- ford; Mabel married Welcome A. Brown and they live at Rockford: Lillian is the wife of John C. Brooks and they also live at Rockford; Amanda is unmarried and lives at Rockford.
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