USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth county, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 53
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Mr. Alrick was born in Norway on March 16, 1849, and he is the son of K. O. Alrick and wife. The subject grew up and received his education in his native land, and he and his father emigrated to America in 1866, locating at Cambridge, Wisconsin. A brother of the subject came five years later. The father lived here until his death a few years ago.
A. K. Alrick lived on his father's farm in Norway until he was eleven years old. At the age of thirteen he left for the city of Bergen and there became an apprentice in the shoe business for three years. He had had little schooling, but was a close observer and became practical. After coming to America he worked on the farm in the summer and at the shoe trade in the winter at Cambridge. He came to Whitewater. Walworth county, in 1868
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and found employment in the shoe business in a local concern, and at this he worked for several years, then purchased part ownership in the store, the firm name becoming Arveson & Alrick, and they built up a very satisfactory business, from 1879 to 1895, when Mr. Alrick assumed full proprietorship and has since continued. He enjoys a liberal patronage with the town and surrounding country, for his honesty and courtesy have won the confidence and good will of the people and he always carries a full, up-to-date and care- fully selected stock of goods which he sells at reasonable prices and a customer once gained is always retained.
Mr. Alrick was married in 1873 to Carry C. Dahl, and to this union two children were born, Clarence B., and Alma B., the latter being now deceased. Mr. Alrick has been twice married, his second marriage being with Florence Whitehead.
Mr. Alrick was reared a Lutheran. He is a Republican and is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons.
ELLS BROTHERS.
One would find it necessary to search long and far to find a farm kept in better condition or managed under more up-to-date methods than that of the Ells Brothers, for they have not only worked hard and persistent in keep- ing everything in its proper place, but have been students of local conditions and have widely read such literature as pertains to twentieth-century methods of husbandry, so that they have been enabled to reap just rewards for their pains and labors from year to year, and, owing to the system of their opera- tions, they accomplish more at a less expenditure of labor than do most men. They have learned that "haste makes waste" very frequently, and while they try to do everything with dispatch as well as neatness, they realize that there are times when rushing methods are not the best, when patience must be exercised. They are representatives of one of our sterling old families, mem- bers of which have sought to do their full duty in the affairs of the county since casting their lot here very many years ago.
The Ells Brothers firm, well known farmers and stock raisers, of the vicinity of Elkhorn, is composed of C. W. and F. W. Ells, sons of W. B. and Mary (Barker ) Ells, the father born in Nova Scotia, February 15. 1851, and the mother born in Millard, Sugar Creek township, this county, March 25, 1855. She is the daughter of J. B. and Almeda ( Barker ) Barker. he a
THE ELLS FAMILY
r THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTON, LEHOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
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native of Batavia, Genesee county, New York, born .August 1. 1823, and from there he came to Sugar Creek township, this county, in 1838 among the pio- neers, with his parents, Joseph and Lucinda Barker, who settled on a farm here, where they spent the balance of their lives. Their family consisted of three daughters and six sons.
J. B. Barker was educated in the schools of his native community in New York and in those of Walworth county, Wisconsin. Early in life he took up farming for a livelihood and became the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of land here, and here' he spent the balance of his life, dying in 1898, the death of his wife occurring on November 5, 1901.
The family of W. B. Ells consisted of four sons, named as follows : E. J., born August 17, 1877; C. W., born October 11, 1879: F. W., born April 17, 1882; E. F., born June 5, 1884.
W. B. Ells was less than a year old when his parents brought him to Sugar Creek township, Walworth county, he being the son of George and Eliza (Borden) Ells, who settled on a farm here, establishing a very com- fortable home in which they spent the rest of their lives, the death of the father occurring in July, 1889, and that of the mother in January, 1887.
WV. B. Ells grew to manhood here and received his education in the public schools, and here he became a farmer and owned one hundred and twenty acres, which he brought up to a high state of improvement and culti- vation, and on this his sons still live, ably carrying forward the work which he inaugurated. He was a strong prohibitionist, and he and his wife be- longed to the Wesleyan Methodist church, which he served as local clerk and as secretary at the annual conference. He was an active member in the church, and a liberal supporter of the same.
The elder Ells was for some time secretary of the State Telephone Com- pany, also secretary of the Silver Lake Creamery and the local cemetery. He held about all the township offices, and he attended county, district and state conventions of the Prohibitionists, always making his influence felt for the good of the party. . As a public servant he was always faithful to every trust reposed in him and worthily discharged his every duty. The death of W. B. Ells occurred on November 19, 1909, after a successful and useful life. Ile was a man whom to know was to admire and respect and he numbered his friends only by the limits of his acquaintance.
C. W. Ells, mentioned above, was born and reared in Sugar Creek township, and here he received his education in the public schools, and when a boy worked on the home farm during the crop season. Later he attended
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Wheaten College, and early in life he took up farming for a livelihood. Politically, he is a Prohibitionist, and he attends the Methodist church. He was married on June 25, 1908, to Carrie A. Kellar, who was born in Belle Plaine, lowa, November 22, 1881. He has remained on the home place, which, as stated, he is operating successfully, with his brother, carrying on general farming and stock raising.
F. W. Ells, who, with his brother, conducts the homestead, was also born and reared in Sugar Creek township, and here he received his education in the public schools, and he has devoted his life to farming. Politically, he is a Prohibitionist. He has remained single.
The Ells brothers, in connection with general farming, are making a specialty of dairying, for which they are exceptionally well equipped. han- dling good stock and having excellent buildings. They keep a fine herd of thoroughbred Holstein cattle, which, owing to their superior quality, find a very ready sale when offered on the market. They are each young men of much business promise and they have led exemplary lives, so that they have the respect and good will of their fellow men.
WILLIAM J. COX.
The subject of this review enjoys distinctive prestige among the citi- zens of the town of Whitewater, Walworth county, where he now lives in honorable retirement after a life of unusual industry, which was crowned with success, and as a neighbor and citizen he is highly esteemed by all who know him. He earned the right to be called one of the progressive men of his community, having fought his way onward and upward to a position of honor in the circles in which he elected to move and in every relation of life his voice and his influence have been on the side of right as he has seen and understood the right.
William J. Cox was born in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, on August 18, 1864. He is the son of Walter and .Ann (Smith) Cox, both natives of England, where they spent their childhood, and from there they emigrated to the United Statees in 1848, locating in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and in 1856 they bought a farm three and one-half miles north of Whitewater, in Jefferson county, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres, and there they became very comfortably established. The elder Cox was a brick and stone mason by trade and this and farming constituted his life work. He was ac-
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cidentally killed on his farm in 1880. His widow survived many years, dy- ing in 1899. They were the parents of five children, all of whom are living at this writing. Politically, the father was a Republican, and his wife was a member of the Methodist . Episcopal church. The family has long attended the church of this denomination at Whitewater.
William J. Cox, of this sketch, was reared on the home farm, where he made himself useful in his boyhood days, and he received his education in the common schools of his district. He made farming his chief life work, which he followed successfully until in March, 1909, when, having accumu- lated a competency through his industry and good management, he pur- chased an attractive residence at No. 206 South Cottage avenue, Whitewater, Wisconsin and here he has since lived retired from the active duties of life. His fine farm, which he still owns, lies two and one-half miles northeast on the county line, in the vicinity of Coldspring, Jefferson county. He has two hundred acres, which he has brought up to a high state of improvement and cultivation, and on which stand a splendid set of buildings He formerly made a specialty of Holstein cattle.
Mr. Cox is a Republican, and he held the office of treasurer of the school board for seven years in Coldspring. He is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belongs and which the entire family attends. He is a liberal supporter of the church.
Mr. Cox was married on February 9, 1892, to Mrs. Jennie Marshall. daughter of Morris Horton, an early settler of Walworth county, who lived in Delavan and died in Whitewater on October 16, 1910, at the advanced age of eighty-four years.
To Mrs. Cox three children were born of her union with Mr. Marshall. her first husband, namely: John; Raymond, who is now operating the sub- ject's farm, and Olive, who is at home.
EMERSON A. BRIGHAM.
The biographies of enterprising men, especially good men, are instruc- tive as guides and incentives to others. The examples they furnish of patient purpose and steadfast integrity strongly illustrate what is in the power of each to accomplish. Some men belong to no exclusive class in life ; apparent- ly insurmountable obstacles have in many instances awakened their dormant faculties and served as a stimulus to carry them to ultimate renown. The
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instances of success in the face of adverse fate would seem almost to justify the conclusion that self-reliance, with half a chance, can accomplish any rea- sonable object.
One of the men of Walworth county who has won success when his en- vironment seemed none too encouraging is Emerson A. Brigham, an early resident of this county, now living quietly in the town of Darien, where he owns valuable property, which he has accumulated through his individual efforts.
Early in life the subject turned his attention to farming and this has been his principal life work. However, he learned the broom-manufacturing business, which he followed for some time. He is now living practically retired from active work, and is living in the town of Darien where he owns a splendid home and twenty acres of good land, at the edge of town.
Politically. Mr. Brigham is a Republican, having voted no other ticket since reaching his majority. He is a worthy member of the Baptist church, in which he is active, and he has been superintendent of the local Sunday school for the past seventeen years, having done a most commendable work in this connection, and he was assistant superintendent for a period of seven years prior to becoming superintendent.
Mr. Brigham was married on April 5, 1871, to Rosepha Meacham, daughter of Edwin Meacham and Emeline (McCracken) Meacham, the father being an influential citizen of Troy, this county, who came to Wiscon- sin in 1836.
Mr. Brigham was born on November 25, 1848, in Hadley, Massachu- setts, representing a sturdy old family of the great Bay state, being the son of Abel and Emeline (Hibbard) Brigham, natives of Massachusetts, where they grew to maturity, received. their education and married. They came west in 1850, but did not remain long, until they went back to Massachusetts. In 1356 the family moved to Troy, Walworth county, Wisconsin, where they established their future home, buying a farm in that vicinity which they im- proved and on which they made a very comfortable living, remaining there the rest of their lives, the father dying in 1884, the mother of the subject surviving until 1892. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Abel Brig- ham, all living at this writing but two.
Emerson A. Brigham, of this review, was reared on the home farm where he assisted with the general work when a boy, and he received his edu- cation at Troy. a union of several districts, which bought a church house in which school was held.
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Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brigham, one of whom died when two and one-half years old: the living are, Fred E., a traveling salesman for the Harter Shoe Company of Chicago; Edna Pearl, the wife of Dr. J. F. Rood of Darien, this county; T. R. is a carpenter and lives at Darien : Guy is a rural mail carrier.
GEORGE W. HUREY.
The people who constitute the bone and sinew of this country are not those who are unstable and unsettled; who fly from this occupation to that : who do not know how to vote until they are told, and who take no active and intelligent interest in affairs affecting schools, churches and property. The backbone of this country is made up of the families which have made their homes; who are alive to the best interests of the community in which they reside; who are so honest that it is no trouble for their neighbors to know it; who attend to their own business and are too busy to attend to that of others; who work on steadily from day to day, taking the sunshine with the storm and who rear a fine family to a comfortable home and an honest life. Such people are always welcome in any community and any country. They are wealth producers, and this country is blessed with many of them. among which is that of the subject of this sketch.
George W. Hurey was born on February 26, 1856, in Delavan town- ship, Walworth county, Wisconsin, near the place he now owns. He is the son of Martin and Katherine (Viles) Hurey, the father born in Ireland and the mother in England. The former emigrated to the United States about fifty-seven years ago, coming straight to Delavan township. this county, when the country was not very much developed. About eight months after his arrival he purchased forty acres of land in section 24, and on this he lived about seven years, then sold out and bought another farm of seventy- three acres in the same township and there he spent the balance of his life. his death occurring on November 2, 1902. He had outlived his wife some thirty-seven years, her death having occurred on May 22, 1865. They were the parents of four children, of whom only George W. of this review sur- vives.
George W. Hurey grew up on the home farm and worked on the same during his boyhood days, and he received his education in the common schools of his district. He has spent his life in his home community and has
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always engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is now the owner of a fine farm of two hundred twenty-seven and one-half acres in section 24. Dela- van township, where he is carrying on the various departments of general farming and stock raising with that care and discretion which stamps him as one of the progressive farmers of his locality and his efforts are annually repaid by abundant crops. He has a pleasant, substantial dwelling and large, convenient outbuildings and all kinds of up-to-date farming implements.
Mr. Hurey was married on December 18, 1884. to Millie Young, the daughter of Nelson and Jane Young, the father a native of the state of New York and the mother of Canada. They came to Sharon, Walworth county, Wisconsin, many years ago and there they both died. To Mr. and Mrs. Hurey one child has been born, May, who married a Mr. Sutton, and she is living with her parents at this writing. Politically, the subject votes inde- pendently, and in fraternal matters he belongs to the Woodmen.
GEORGE KISHNER.
It is doubtful if we of the present generation fully realize what the old soldiers of the great Union army of a million brave men had to sacrifice "in order that the nation might live, under God," in the language of Mr. Lin- coln's incomparable Gettysburg speech, and it is also doubtful if we fully ap- preciate what they have done for us, leaving us a broad. rich, populous and beautiful country, so strongly cemented together that there will never again be any North or South, any East or West, but one splendid union, the great- est of the nations of the earth, progressing ever to one golden end, the future of which no man can see or even dream. Had it not been for the "grand army," of which George Kishner of the village of East Delavan, Walworth county, was a member, conditions would have been today far different. We therefore owe to him, and them, all the respect and gratitude possible.
Mr. Kishner was born in Oswego, New York, May 26, 1845. He is the son of George Kishner and wife, nee Smith. Both were born in Ger- many, from which country they emigrated to the United States when quite young, locating first at Oswego, New York, then they moved to Chicago where the mother of the subject died. The father subsequently moved to Wisconsin, and located in the town of Janesville, where he was interested in a meat house, also a similar business at Kenosha and Geneva, and finally set-
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tled in East Delavan, and here bought a farm of sixty-eight acres which he operated until his death in 1891, having become very well established here.
Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. George Kishner, Sr., three of whom are deceased: those now living are, Charles, Edward, Fred. James, Emma and George, of this review.
George Kishner, Jr., received his education in the public schools of Janesville, Wisconsin, and he helped his father with his work when growing to manhood. He now lives in East Delavan. He has never married.
Politically, the subject is a Republican, but he has never been active in political affairs. In religious matters he is a member of the Episcopal church.
The subject enlisted in the Forty-ninth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Cheney, on February 8, 1865. and he served very faithfully during the war.
OLIVER PERRY SOUTHWICK.
It is a compliment worthily bestowed to say that Walworth county is honored by the life-long citizenship of Oliver Perry Southwick, of Williams Bay, for he has achieved definite success through his own efforts and is thor- oughly deserving of the proud American title of self-made man, the term be- ing one that, in its better sense, can not but appeal to the loyal admiration of all who are appreciative of our national institutions and the privileges afford- ed for individual accomplishment, and it is a privilege, ever gratifying in this day and age, to meet a man who has the courage to face the battles of life with a strong heart and steady hand and to win in the stern conflict by bring- ing to bear only those forces with which nature has equipped him, self-reli- ance, self-respect and integrity.
Mr. Southwick was born in Walworth township, this county, near where Yerkes Observatory now stands, August 26, 1869. He is the son of George and Emma ( Russell) Southwick. The father came from Ohio with his pa- rents, Jonas Southwick and wife, and settled in Turtle Prairie, this county.
Lawrence Southwick was the first of the family to come to America, ·having emigrated from Lancashire, England, in 1627, later returning to his native land and bringing over his wife Cassandra and their son John and daughter Mary, settling with his family in Massachusetts in 1630. locating with William Bradford and others at Salem. In 1639 his family was ad mitted as members of the First church of Salem and two acres of land were
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given him by the town of Salem on which to manufacture glass and earthen- ware, he being one of the first manufacturers of glass in America, his land being called the "Glass House Field" and it has remained in possession of the Southwicks to this day. This entire family was fined, whipped, impris- oned and finally banished for being Quakers, and two younger children of Lawrence Southwick, Daniel and his sister Provided, were sentenced by the general court to be sold into slavery. When banished in 1659 Lawrence Southwick and wife went to Shelter Island, Long Island sound, and died there the following year of privation and exposure. Their son Joseph went to Rhode Island and established a home for himself and family. In 1660 he returned to Salem to look after his parents' property and was whipped for returning to Massachusetts. The instance of Puritan intolerance by which Daniel and Provided Southwick were sentenced to be sold into slavery in Virginia or Barbados because they were unable to pay a fine of ten pounds each for non-attendance at church, is told in John G. Whittier's poem "Cas- sandra," named for their mother, wife of Lawrence Southwick. An attempt was made to sell them into slavery, but no ship was found willing to take them to the West Indies and they were given their liberty.
Joseph Southwick of the second generation was born in 1632 and died in 1693. He married and reared several children. In 1659 he and John · Small, also John Burton, were arrested at Deadham, Massachusetts, for be- ing Quakers, while on their way to Rhode Island to provide homes for their families and to escape the Puritan persecutions, but being released they re- sumed their journey.
Solomon Southwick, who was of the third generation, was born in 1672, married in 1712 and was the father of several sons and daughters. One of his sons, Solomon, was born in 1731 and died December 23, 1797. On June 20, 1769, he married Ann Carpenter, a widow, and a daughter of Lieut .- Gov. John Gardiner of Rhode Island. This was the first member of the branch of Southwicks to become identified with the printing business. When in 1735 James Franklin, a brother of Benjamin Franklin, died, his printing office passed into the hands of his son James and the latter established the Newport Mercury. The paper was later transferred to Samuel Hall, and from him to Solomon Southwick, who published it until 1776, when, fearing the British, who were preparing to land on the island, would destroy his type and press, he had them buried in the rear of an old building on Broad street. Learning this fact the British had them unearthed and removed to a confiscated building where they were used to print the Rhode Island Ga-
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zette. After the Revolutionary war, the Mercury was again issued by Henry Barbour, who bought the property. When the British took possession of the island Solomon Southwick and family tried to escape in an open boat, but in an engagement with the invaders the latter captured his wife and son Solo- mon. Later they were released and joined the husband and father. He was one of a committee of four appointed to receive General Washington when he visited . Newport in 1781. Volumes of the Mercury and other memen- toes, among which is a diploma from the College of Pennsylvania (now the University of Pennsylvania) for proficiency in philosophy and mathematics, dated 1757, and conferring on him the degree of Bachelor of Arts, are now in possession of his descendants at Albany. George Southwick was killed in the battle of Lexington, when he was twenty-five years old, and his name is on the marble slab erected in memory of those that fell there.
Henry C. Southwick, who was of the fifth generation, was born at New- port, Rhode Island, in 1772 and he died in 1821 ; he married, in 1797. Mar- garet Wood, daughter of Capt. Josiah Wood of the regular army and a cousin of General Wood. Henry C. Southwick was at one time associated with his brother, Solomon, in printing in Albany and there he became editor of a number of papers at different times. Solomon Southwick was twice nominated governor of New York and he was also state printer and was associated with Thurlow Weed for some time.
Henry Collins Southwick, of the sixth generation, was born in 1806 and died in 1879. In 1825 he married Mary Parkinson, of Mayfield, Fulton county, New York. He went to Albany when a child and worked as a hatter's apprentice. At one time he was collector of tolls at Albany and he was public spirited and prominent in many ways. It is believed that Caleb Southwick was a brother of Solomon Southwick, who ran for governor of New York, though he may have been a cousin ; but it is known that he is of the same ancestry. The death of Caleb Southwick occurred on January 19. 1856 when eighty-two years old, his birth having occurred on June 17, 1773. He married Ann Carpenter. After living some time in Bombay. New York. he moved to Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1851 and located in the south- eastern corner of Delavan township. His family consisted of two sons and two or three daughters. One of his sons, Jonas G., was born at Rutland. Vermont, in 1810. He married at Bombay. New York, Mary Brown and three children were born to them. Two of the sons came to this county. Jonas G. moved to Ohio and his first wife lived there. Later he married Mary Reese, who was born in 1815 at Sinking Valley, Perusyhvama, and she
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