USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth county, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 50
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John Weld came to Wisconsin in May, 1838, and made a claim on sec- tion I, in what is now LaGrange township, and returned to the East in the fall of that year. In 1830 he started for the West, but on reaching Orleans county, New York, he decided to live there a while, consequently that was his place of abode until early in October, 1841, when he came on to his new home here. He was one of the early pioneers who started in log cabins and cleared the raw land. Deer were plentiful and Indians were numerous, though peaceful. Here John Weld established his permanent home and spent the rest of his life, reaching the advanced age of eighty-nine years. He be- came one of the substantial farmers of the community and owned nearly two hundred acres of good land. He was well known, took a lively interest in public affairs and held various minor offices, spending two terms as a men- ber of the board of supervisors. His death occurred in April, 1884, his wife having preceded him to the grave in the fall of 1878.
Capt. John W. Weld accompanied his parents to Orleans county, New York, in 1839, when he was seven years old, and to Wisconsin in 1841. He grew to manhood on his father's farm in Lagrange township and lived there most of the time until 1858, in which year he returned to Orleans county, New York, and spent two years on a farm. The Civil war coming on, he enlisted on October 2, 1861, in Battery M. First New York Light Artillery. His rise from a private was rapid owing to his meritorious service. He was promoted to duty sergeant soon after enlistment and six months later to first sergeant, then second lieutenant January 1.4. 1863, and assigned to Company K, and he was promoted to first lieutenant of that battery on September 27.
(79)
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1863. He served until the close of the war, participating in the following battles and skirmishes: Cedar Creek. Edinburg, Newtown, Winchester, Cedar Mountain, Beverly Ford, Sulphur Springs, Antietam, Kelley's Ford. Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. In some of the greatest battles of modern times he served his country well, winning the commendation of his superior officers and the confidence of his soldiers. He was honorably discharged at Elmira, New York, June 20, 1865. After returning home he received a brevet captain's commission in recognition of his meritorious conduct.
At the close of his military career Captain Weld returned North and engaged in the insurance business in New York for two years, then came to Lagrange township, Walworth county, Wisconsin. In February, 1867, he purchased a farm in section 13. Lagrange township, and moved thereto in 1868. He remained on the farm, successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising until 1894. when he removed to Whitewater, where he has since resided, owning here a pleasant home.
Politically, the Captain is a Republican and takes an active interest in party affairs. He was a delegate to the state convention, but refused to serve and he was frequently a delegate to county conventions. He has re- peatedly refused to accept public offices. He was once made a candidate against his wishes, to strengthen the ticket, and was elected, but refused to qualify.
Captain Weld was married in Orleans county, New York, in October, 1856. to Nancy Weld, daughter of Elisha and Laura (Parker) Weld. To this union two children were born, Hattie J. and Irving W. The former is a bookkeeper and stenographer in Chicago. The latter married Alice Barry and lived at Ridgeway, Orleans county, New York. His death occurred in Yates township, in 1905. leaving two children, Harriet Jane and Irving Wal- lace.
The Captain's first wife died on April 27, 1859, in Ridgeway, Orleans county, New York, and he was again married on December 3, 1867, in Ridge- way, to Catherine Amittai Williams, daughter of Philo and Amittai (Blake) Williams. She was born in Raynham, Bristol county, Massachusetts, and she was an infant when her mother died, being the youngest of seven children. When about two years old she was taken to New York and was reared by an aunt, for whom and her husband she cared during their old age, until their death.
Captain Weld's second marriage resulted in the birth of three children, namely : Ella Rena, who took a course in the Whitewater Normal School, is now teaching in the public schools of Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Katherine
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Alma married John E. Scholl and they live in Whitewater; Alice Blake mar- ried Jolin L. Husebo, and he died in February, 1901, leaving a son, Wallace Weld Husebo, whose death occurred when twenty-three months old, in June, 1901. Alice B. now lives with her parents in Whitewater. Captain Weld is an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
SEYMOUR H. WELCH.
As one of the elderly citizens of Walworth county and one of hier worthy native sons, one whose life has been of signal usefulness and honor, the publishers of this work realize that even more distinct representation in this connection would not do justice to this well known agriculturist and worthy scion of one of our sterling pioneer families whose examples have enriched this locality for many decades, for all the while they have labored to advance the material interests of the same, maintaining sterling traits of character, and ever standing ready to uphold righteous and just laws and, if needful, to lay down their lives upon the altar of her liberty and maintenance.
Seymour Welch was born August 7, 1847, in Sugar Creek township, this county, and he grew up under pioneer conditions, received such educa- tion as the old log school houses of his day afforded and here he has spent his life engaged in agricultural pursuits, living on the same farm a period of over thirty-five years. He is the son of Joseph and Eliza (Havens) Welch, both natives of the State of New York where they spent their child- hood years and were married, coming to Walworth county in an early day. They located in Sugar Creek township in 1846, buying a farm there, which they improved by hard work and on which they spent the rest of their lives. the father dying in September, 1900, and the mother in September, 1893. They were the parents of twelve children, namely: Saphrona, Sydney and Clara, all deceased; Seymour, of this sketch: Joseph, Ida and Aaron, all de- ceased; Burt, Mark, Emma, William and Chet.
Seymour H. Welch began farming when but a boy and this has con- tinued to be his life work. He is now the owner of a fine farm of two linin- dred acres in Sharon township, which he has, through his industry and per severance, brought up to a high state of cultivation and improvement, and on which he carries on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. He has a pleasant home and good outbuildings.
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Mr. Welch is a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted in 1864 in Company F, Forty-second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in which he served faithfully for one year and was mustered out at Madison, Wisconsin. He is a member of Sharon Post, Grand Army of the Republic. Politically, he is a Democrat.
Mr. Welch was married on March 9, 1870, to Sarah West, daughter of Joseph and Jane West, natives of the state of New York. Eight chil- dren have been born to the subject and wife, named as follows: Two who died in infancy ; Delbert, Herbert, Grant, Louis, Pearl and Floyd.
DAVID TUFT.
Among the individuals of the class that may be called progressive in Walworth county is David Tuft, farmer of Sharon township. His record is the account of a life which is uneventful, indeed, as far as stirring incident or startling adventure is concerned, yet is distinguished by the most substantial qualities of character. Like his father before him, his life history exhibits a career of virtuous private industry, performed with moderation and crowned with success. It is the record of a well balanced mental and moral constitu- tion, strongly marked by those traits of character which are of such essential value in such a state of society as exists in this country.
David Tuft was born on September 10, 1857, in county Down, Ireland. He is the son of William and Faithful (Graham) Tuft, both born in Ireland, where they were reared and educated and there they were married and spent their lives, never coming to America, and they are now both deceased. William Tuft followed farming during his active life.
David Tuft grew to manhood in his native land and there received his education. Believing that greater opportunities existed for him in the United States, he crossed the great Atlantic in the year 1880 and settled first in the state of New York and there worked out as a farm hand for three years, then came to Wisconsin in 1884 and bought a farm of eighty acres in section 25, Sharon township, Walworth county, which place he has retained to the present time and where he still lives, having developed the same into an ex- cellent place, carrying on general farming and always keeping some good live stock. He has rotated his crops so as to keep the original strength of the soil, and has made a careful study of modern agricultural methods.
Politically, Mr. Tuft is a Republican, but he has never been especially
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active in public affairs and evinced no desire to be a politician, though he tries to cast his vote for the best men for the various offices sought. Frater- nally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen, and in religious affairs be- longs to the Lutheran church.
Mr. Tuft was married in early life to Jane Steele, a daughter of Joseph Steele and wife, natives of Ireland, where they grew up, were married and established their permanent home, and there Mrs. Tuft was born and spent her earlier years, coming to America when young. To Mr. and Mrs. Tuit two children have been born, namely: James, who is at home, and Harry, who is studying medicine at Madison College.
STEPHEN RODAWALT.
There is no class of men of whom the biographer delights to write about more than the old soldier or the pioneer and when he finds a subject who is both he feels that he cannot say too much of such a character, for it took bravery, fortitude, and many of the best elements that go to make a man to induce the youth to leave the old home and go to the seat of conflict and risk his life for his country's sake. Indeed, it took but little less courage for him to brave the wilderness, where lurked many an unseen. foe and still more obstacles and hardships awaiting to be subdued before his humble home could rise and he could get established in a way that would insure his happiness and freedom from want through the years to come. It is doubtful if the young men of today, we of the second generation at least, would leave the pleasures of advanced civilization and go out to fight Indians, kill the snakes, cut down the giant forest trees, drain the swamps and do a thousand and one things that this worthy hand had to do.
Of this sterling band were Stephen Rodawalt, farmer of Sharon town- ship, Walworth county, and his honored father before him. The subject was born in Albany, New York, on February 20, 1844 He is the son of Henry and Sabiah (Walley) Rodawalt. The father was born in Germany, where he grew to manhood and was educated in the common schools, and where he spent his life until he was twenty-five years of age. He then enti- grated to the United States in an old-fashioned sailing vessel which required a voyage of many weeks. He landed in New York, in which state he settled and devoted himself to farming. After remaining there a few years he came to McHenry county, Illinois, and there purchased a farm in 1856. He made
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that his place of abode for about thirty years, during which time he became very well fixed from a material standpoint. He died in 1888, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. His wife reached the remarkable age of one hun- dred and one years and nine months. They were a fine old couple, always worked hard, lived economically and yet were hospitable and kind to their neighbors so that they were well liked wherever they lived. They had but little of this world's goods upon arriving at our port of entry, but they soon became very well established in the New World. They liked to take a new piece of land, clear it, break it and see things of their own planting grow on it: They were scrupulously honest in all their dealings.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Rodawalt, named in order of birth as follows: John H., now deceased; W. J. lives at Sharon, this county: Stephen, subject of this sketch; Margarite J. is the widow of P. B. Shufelt and they live at Sharon, this county.
Of the life record of Stephen Rodawalt, of this sketch, there is little to tell, notwithstanding it has been replete with action and duty well performed. He grew up on the home farm in northern Illinois, having been about twelve years old when the family moved west from New York. He received his education in the district schools of Illinois. Early in life he turned his at- tention to agricultural pursuits and has continued the same to the present time with encouraging success. When the Civil war came on he enlisted in the Ninety-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in which he served faithfully for a period of one year. Receiving an honorable discharge, he returned home and resumed farming.
Politically, Mr. Rodawalt is a Republican, but he has never been especially active in public affairs. He has never married.
ELLIS S. BARRETT.
A man of strong convictions, ever ready to maintain the soundness of his opinions on any subject, but who is by no means unreasonable in his views, according every man the same rights which he claims for himself, is Ellis S. Barrett, now living in retirement at his home at Darien, after a successful life as a farmer. He came here in the pioneer days and has lived to see the great changes which have taken place during the past half century and he has been one of the active transformers. Among his fellow citizens throughout the county he is highly regarded and his life has been singularly
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free from faults. Brave and daring on the field of battle, he has ever been kind and courteous in the sphere of private citizenship, and all who know him speak in high terms of his many excellent qualities and praise him for his beneficial influence in the community, whose interests he has had at heart since casting his lot in Walworth.
Mr. Barrett was born on October 20, 1836, in Bedford, Westchester county, New York. He is the son of Jesse and Margaret (Smith) Barrett, natives of New York state, where they grew to maturity and were married and where they resided until 1857, when they came to Wisconsin and settled in Green Lake county, where they remained ten years, then came to Wal- worth county and settled on a farm, the father dying at Sharon and the mother at Sturgeon Bay, where she had been making her home with a daughter, Mrs. Dr. MacEachan. The father was a farmer all his life.
Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Barrett, namely : Julia, Ellis, Phoebe, James J., Samuel, Rosco, Jennie, William J. and Carlton. Three are living, Ellis, the subject of this sketch ; James J., of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and William, of Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Ellis S. Barrett was educated in the schools of the East district and Mt. Kisco Institute, New York. He came west with his parents and has re- mained in this locality, engaged in farming, all his life, owning eighty acres in Walworth township, which he sold in 1909 and moved to Darien, where he bought a pleasant home and now lives retired. He is filling the office of justice of the peace, to which office he was elected in April. 1910, the duties of which he has discharged in a most faithful manner, to the satisfaction of all concerned.
Mr. Barrett is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic by virtue of the fact that he enlisteed for service in the Federal army in a Green Lake company, on August 12, 1862, and he served very faithfully for a period of three years, in the Army of Tennessee, taking part in many trying cam- paigns and hard-fought engagements. He was honorably discharged from the service on June 12, 1865, after which he returned to his home and re- sumed the duties of farming. Politically, he is a Republican and he voted for Lincoln.
Mr. Barrett was married on January 10, 1872, to Maria Cook, daugh- ter of John B. and Sarah A. Cook, natives of New York state, where they spent their earlier years, coming to Darien, Wisconsin, on July 25, 1841. where they remained until 1848 when they moved to Green Lake county and from there they moved to Columbia county in 1849 where they spent the
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rest of their lives. Mr. Cook was a carpenter by trade and he made the first ballot box used in Darien. He was a first cousin of General Butler, prominent in the Civil war, especially the earlier stages of the same on the Virginia coast.
There were five children in the Cook family, namely : Kneeland B., El- bert F., Maria (wife of Mr. Barrett), Seth C. and Clara E., all of whom are living. Mr. Cook tells interesting stories of conditions here when he first came to this locality, the country being wild and all kinds of game in abun- dance.
To the subject and wife one child has been born, a son, LaVerne Bar- rett, who is engaged in farming in Sharon township, this county.
RUFUS COOLEY.
Those who know Rufus Cooley well are not surprised that he has won success at his chosen vocation, that of tilling the soil, for he is a man who has been a close student of whatever pertains to his chosen life work, believing that the best methods are none too good. He has kept the old home place in Sharon township in fine condition, so that it has retained its old-time rich- ness of soil and the same abundant crops are annually gathered from its fields. He has considered himself fortunate, and indeed he might well do so, that he has been permitted to spend his life on the homestead, for, in the first place, as one of our great writers said long ago, "There is no place like home," and also because his home happened to be in a country greatly favored by nature. It is true that it took a great deal of hard work to get Walworth county in proper shape for agricultural purposes, but once in condition, there is no better.
Mr. Cooley was born in this township, on the farm which he now owns, as above intimated, on November 2. 1858. He is the son of Adam and Katherine ( Peters) Cooley, pioneer settlers of Walworth county. The father was born in Germany and there grew to manhood, and received his education in the public schools. When about twenty-one years of age he emigrated to America, coming on to Walworth county. Wisconsin, and here purchased a farm of eighty-four acres in section 10, Sharon township. The land was raw, but he was a hard worker and soon had it under cultivation and in time had established a good home here, in which he spent the rest of his life,
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dying on April 13, 1907, having outlived his wife thirty-seven years, her death having occurred in 1870.
Adam Cooley was a weaver by trade, but after coming to America he abandoned the same and followed farming, which he found much more to his tastes.
Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Adam Cooley, two of whom died in infancy, and two others, Julia and Caroline, died later in life: the two living are, Mrs. Katherine Horch, of Sharon, and Rufus, subject of this sketch.
Rufus Cooley was reared on the home farm where he worked during the summer months in his boyhood, and in the winter time he attended the district schools of Sharon township. He has devoted his life to farming, as already stated, and has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser. He has a good home and is very well fixed in every way.
Mr. Cooley was married on July 17, 1884. to Mary Victoria Wilheim. daughter of Andrew and Mary Wilheim, both natives of Pennsylvania. To the subject and wife four children have been born, namely : Charles, deceased : Bessie May, born May 6, 1886; Frank R., deceased; the fourth child died in infancy unnamed.
Politically, Mr. Cooley is a Republican and he was at one time town- ship treasurer and is now assessor of Sharon township. In religious matters he belongs to the German Evangelical church.
HAROLD N. O'BRIEN, M. D.
The medical profession of Walworth county has an able exponent in Dr. Harold N. O'Brien, of Darien, who, although young in years, has firmly established himself in his vocation and won the confidence and esteem of the people and his professional brethren in this part of the state. for he has the natural endowments that go to make up the twentieth-century medical man. and also the necessary training, having been a close student all his life and leaving no stone unturned whereby he could advance himself, deeming it a rare privilege to be able to bring surcease for humanity's multiform ills. He has also shown a public spirit that is commendable, ever willing to do his full share in the development of his community, and so ordering his course as to keep untarnished the honored escutcheon of a worthy old family name. there
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being in him the blood of sterling New England ancestors, many of whose commendable characteristics outcropping in him. He is a man of sociable nature, straightforward, obliging and unassuming.
Dr. O'Brien was born on March 25, 1876, at Plymouth, Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, and is the son of Dr. J. N. and Anna (Smith) O'Brien, the father a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Vermont. They grew up, received their educational training and were married in the East, coming to Wisconsin in 1845, and settled in Milwaukee where the father became a well known and successful physician. The family lived for some time at the town of Plymouth, this statee. The elder O'Brien was a fine type of the old-school physician and met with a greater degree of success than the aver- age medical practitioner. A man of intelligence, perseverance, whole-heart- edness and an untiring student, he was respected and admired wherever he was known.
Three children were born to Dr. J. N. O'Brien and wife, namely : Daisy, Mrs. Sarah Green, and Harold N., of this sketch.
The subject received his education in the high school of Milwaukee. Early in life he decided to follow in the footsteps of his father in a profes- sional way and took up the study of medicine, under his direction, later taking the course of lectures at the Marquette Medical School of Milwaukee, where he made an excellent record and from which he was graduated with the class of 1900. He soon began the practice of his profession at East Troy. Wal- worth county, Wisconsin, where he remained about two years, being success- ful from the first, but observing a better field at the town of Darien, this coun- ty, he came here in 1903 and has since been engaged in the practice at this place, building up a large and constantly growing patronage with the sur- rounding country.
The domestic life of Dr. O'Brien began on April 4, 1900, when he was united in marriage with Lydia Meist, daughter of William Meist, a native of Holland, who came to this county in an early day and here became well es- tablished. Two children have been born to the subject and wife, namely : John Nelson and Mary Stafford.
Fraternally, the Doctor belongs to the Modern Woodmen and in relig- ious matters he affiliates with the Episcopal church, and takes more than a passing interest in both. Politically, he is a Democrat and while he keeps well advised on public issues, he does not find time from his large practice to take a very active part.
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WILLIAM H. WILLIAMS.
Eighty-six years have dissolved in the mists of the irrevocable past since William H. Williams, venerable pioneer, first saw the light of day. He has lived through one of the most remarkable, and in many respects the most wonderful, epoch in the world's history. There will never be another like it, for it embraced the period when the strong-armed homeseekers from the Eastern states invaded the great West (he being among the number ) and re- deemed it from the wilds, bringing it up through various stages to the present high state of civilization. To all this he has been a most interested, and by no means a passive, spectator, having sought to do his full share in the work of progress in the locality which he selected as his place of abode. He talks most interestingly of the early days when customs and manners were differ- ent, men and women were different, everything, in fact unlike what our civil- ization is today. He and other early settlers are of the opinion that those were better, at least happier, times than now, and this is, in the main, true.
Mr. Williams was born on November 15, 1826, in Genesee county, New York. He is the son of John and Ann (Carter) Williams, the father a native of Connecticut and the mother of Vermont, each representing old New Eng- land families, and there they grew to maturity and were married. The father devoted his life to farming and merchandising. In an early day they came West and settled in Darien township, Walworth county, Wisconsin, taking up land from the government in section 1, and here developed a good farm from the wilderness, which the elder Williams continued to operate until within a few years of his death, which occurred in Darien township. He was an honest, hardworking man who preferred to lead a quiet life on his farm or in his little store.
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