USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth county, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 55
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About the time of his marriage Mr. Lackey bought eighty acres of farm land in Dane county and he farmed there until 1866. Toward the close of the Civil war he enlisted in the Union army, but was not mustered into service. In 1866 he moved to Missouri where he spent five or six years, then returned to Wisconsin and purchased a farm in Troy township, this county, and lived there three years, then sold out and bought one hun- dred and three acres in Delavan township, where he established his per- manent home and reared his children, this being his residence for forty years before he retired from the active duties of life and moved to Will- iams Bay.
The death of Mrs. Lackey occurred on December 9, 1908. She was
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a good woman, tried to make others happy, and held firmly to her relig- ious faith, setting an excellent example to those around her.
ยท Seven children were born to Thomas Lackey and wife, named as fol- lows: John T., a retired farmer, lives in Williams Bay; he married Nellie Lake, daughter of John and Ann (Byrnes) Lake: she was born at Troy, this county, at which place her father spent his life and where her mother still lives; John T. Lackey and wife have one daughter, Viola. William Archibald Lackey, second son of the subject, was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, December 9, 1865, and he lived on the home farm until he was nineteen years old, then after working out one year began farming for him- self at Williams Bay, also farmed two years in Iowa, returning to Williams Bay in 1889 and went into the livery business. Six years later he also started in the lumber and coal business here, continuing these lines until 1904, when he sold to Douglass & Dunn and began building the Lackey block in Williams Bay. It is a three-story building of pressed brick, has three store rooms fronting the east and the same number fronting the south, with flats upstairs for residence. In June, 1905, he put in a stock of hard- ware, dry goods and other lines and has a large store. On October 7, 1897, William A. Lackey married Angie Virgil, daughter of Henry and Elma (Smith) Virgil. Her father was born in Delaware county, New York, in 1832, and is a son of William and Alma (Simpson) Virgil. William Virgil was born in Columbia county, New York, and his wife was a native of Otsego county, that state. Alma Simpson's father, William Simpson, came from Rhode Island. Elma M. Smith, mother of Mrs. William A. Lackey, was the daughter of Seth and Lucinda (Lewis) Smith and was born in Pennsylvania and came here with her parents. Mr. Virgil has a farm in section 2, Walworth township, and lives in Williams Bay. William A. Lackey and wife have one daughter, Very Evelyn.
Mary Isabel Lackey, third child of the subject, married Edwin Brown, November 6, 1888. He was born October 19, 1857, and is the son of George W. Brown and wife, a sketch of whom appears in this work. Edwin Brown went to work on his father's farm in 1886, buying a half interest in the same in 1900, remaining there until 1905 when he began running a hard- ware, tin work, plumbing and furnace business at Williams Bay, in which he is now engaged. Edwin Brown was town treasurer and was also a member of the board of supervisors. He and his wife have two children, Cornelia and Lyle J. The former married Fred B. Adams and lives in Williams Bay. Edwin Brown and wife also had a son that died in infancy.
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Lorenzo Lackey, fourth of the subject's children, who is engaged in the furniture and undertaking business in Delavan, married Kittie Clark, daugh- ter of George Clark; she was born in the town of Walworth, and they have two children, Mildred and Esther.
Homer D. Lackey, who is engaged in the real estate business at Wal- worth, married Jennie Whitiver, of Monroe, Wisconsin.
Walter Joseph Lackey, who lives in Walworth, was a farmer until recently : he married Ethel Hatch, daughter of Oliver Hatch. She was born and reared at Delavan.
Reuben Lackey, the youngest of the subject's children, lives on the Conway place at Delavan Lake, being superintendent of a large estate at a good salary. He married Lulu Hatch, sister of Walter's wife, and they have two children, Volna and Theodosia.
Thomas Lackey, the immediate subject of this sketch, is now seventy- eight years old, but is an unusually well preserved man, his hair being hardly grey, and he has the good cheer and genial humor of youth, making him an agreeable companion to his wide circle of friends. He has taken an interesting part in the growth of the county which he has seen develop from the wilderness and tells many important anecdotes of the early days.
RUTHFORD DOUGLASS DAVIS.
The gentleman to a review of whose life the reader's attention is here respectfully directed is recognized as one of the energetic young business men of the southern part of Walworth county, being now engaged in mill- ing in the village of Fontana on the western shores of Lake Geneva. In the course of an honorable career he has been successful in his chosen voca- tions and has enjoyed the confidence and good will of those whom he has been associated with either in a business or social way.
Ruthford Douglass Davis was born at Fontana, Wisconsin, July 12, 1880. He is the son of James Bond Davis and Ruth Warren (Douglass) Davis, the latter a sister of Carlos S. Douglass, in whose sketch, appearing elsewhere in this work, the Douglass ancestry may be found. A complete sketch of James Bond Davis and the Davis ancestry appears on another page in this volume.
When the subject was only five days old his mother died and he was reared by his grandparents, C. Lavalette Douglass and wife. After spend-
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ing two years in the high school at Whitewater and half a year at Geneva, he began working in his father's store at Fontana, where he remained for a time, meanwhile making his home with his grandparents, who desired that he remain in their home, they being old. Soon after Ruthford D. Davis was twenty-one years old his grandmother died, and the Christmas following he started to California, where he joined his father, who had then a lemon ranch there.
On March 28, 1903, Mr. Davis enlisted in the United States navy, as a member of the crew of the United States steamship "Alert," having been enlisted as landsman or yeoman. About three months later he was rated as third class petty officer, and about two years later he was advanced to second class, and about nine months later he was advanced to first class, although it was customary to remain at least a year in second class before reaching first class. His duties, outside of drills, were of a clerical nature. He traveled a great deal, visiting many places of interest, all up and down the Pacific coast, from Puget Sound to Cape Horn and up the east coast of South America and in the Gulf of Mexico and among the West Indies; along the east coast of the United States; to Clerbourg, France, to convey the body of John Paul Jones to America. He then made another trip to the Mediterranean where he spent the winter. This was all valuable exper- ience for him and, being a keen observer by nature, was educational to a high degree. The greater part of his enlistment was spent on the United States steamship "Tacoma," and while on that ship they took the Japanese peace commissioners to Oyster Bay, where President Roosevelt officially introduced the members of the commission to the members of a like com- mission of Russians, prior to the negotiation of the treaty of peace which closed the war between Russia and Japan.
On April 15, 1907, Mr. Davis was honorably discharged from the United States naval service at Norfolk, Virginia, with an absolutely clear record. Returning to Fontana, Walworth county, he took an active inter- est in the Douglass Mills Company, of which he was half owner. In Feb- ruary, 1909, he bought Mr. Douglass's interest and since then has owned and operated the historic old mills alone, having enjoyed a large trade and an ever-increasing business.
Mr. Davis was married on November 9, 1907, to Anna Marie Wodrich, a native of Barth, Germany, from which place she came with her parents, William C. and Frederica (Voss) Wodrich, to America in her childhood. Her father has a good farm along the south edge of Walworth county, a mile and a half east of Big Foot.
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To Mr. and Mrs. Davis one child, a daughter, has been born, Ruth Frederica, whose birth occurred on January 7, 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Davis are members of the Congregational church at Fontana.
JAMES BOND DAVIS.
One of Walworth county's well known and highly respected men of affairs is James Bond Davis, who was born at Milton, Rock county, Wis- consin, August 12, 1850, and is the eldest living son of Amos Wells Davis, native of New Jersey, and Hannah Randall Davis, native of New York, descended many generations back from Scotch-Welsh stock. On May 15, 1863, he, with his parents, left Milton, going to Marshfield postoffice (now Marshland), Gaines township, Tioga county. Pennsylvania, where they resided among the beautiful mountains clad in the evergreen of majestic pines and hemlock, the home being close to the bank of Elk run, an attractive mountain stream. The family moved again in October, 1865, going to Portville, New York, where they were dissatisfied with the environment, and decided to return west and get in touch once more with their church denom- ination, being Seventh-Day Baptists. They arrived at Walworth, Wiscon- sin, July 4, 1866, where his parents continued to reside until called to their. final rest, the mother on August 27, 1899, and the father on April 9, 1909.
James B. Davis's schooling was acquired in the common schools, fol- lowed by a course in Big Foot Academy at Walworth, and following this, he passed the winter of 1871-82 in Iowa City, Iowa, and returning to Walworth in March, went from there to Chicago in November to seek some occupation, Walworth furnishing very little during the winter.
The greater part of the next four years was passed in Chicago, though he refused to acquire citizenship there by voting, claiming Walworth as his home because of the residence of his parents there and his intention to re- turn, which he did in the summer of 1876. On tendering his ballot at the presidential election November 7, 1876, his vote was promptly challenged by Will Henry Coon, who was the watch dog of the Democratic party in Walworth, carrying that party's vote in his vest pocket. Hon. C. L. Doug- lass, then chairman of the board of supervisors, knowing the situation better than others present, accepted the ballot, and as he placed it in the ballot box, said, "I will vouch for the past, present and future intention of Mr. Davis as a citizen of Walworth." At eight o'clock that evening (November
A
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7, 1876), at the home of the bride's parents, James Bond Davis and Ruth Warren Douglass, the only daughter of Carlos Lavalette and Margaret (Stewart) Douglass, were united in the holy bonds of matrimony, the Rev. L. E. Livermore officiating. Scarce four years of supreme happiness was passed by this couple when a son, Ruthford Douglass Davis, was born to them on July 12, 1880, and five days later, on July 17th, the death angel called the spirit of the mother to her eternal rest, depriving her of the joys of motherhood after only one all too short year in the new home which she had enjoyed so much with its fine view of the entire length of beautiful Lake Geneva, and this fair world became one of sorrow to the bereft hus- band and father with his tiny babe.
The few official positions held by him have been unsought. The mak- ers of tickets, thinking to strengthen them in some directions, in the spring of 1882, placed his name as a candidate for town treasurer of Walworth, to which office he was elected, and re-elected in April, 1883, O. P. Clark being elected his successor in April, 1884. However, Mr. Clark resigned a few months after election, and Mr. Edgar Maxon, then chairman of the board of supervisors, came to Mr. Davis and asked him, as a favor to the board, to accept an appointment as treasurer to fill out the unexpired term, which he did, though at some inconvenience to himself.
In the spring of 1892 some highways along the shores of Geneva lake having been vacated, and it being known that there was a desire to have more vacated, the hot issue was the retaining to the people of the highways left, so they would not be entirely shut off from the water's edge. At a caucus, which was not attended by Mr. Davis, he was nominated for chair- man of the board of supervisors. This came to him as a great surprise, as no thought or desire had ever entered his mind for a place on the board, and no word of intimation had been given him that his name was to be used. He was elected by a small majority, but decided to pay a fine of ten dollars and refuse to qualify as his business needed his entire attention. However, before the legal time elapsed in which to qualify, his friends brought so much pressure to bear that he yielded. The same issue being in the minds of the people, he was re-elected in April, 1893, by more than two- thirds majority, and again in 1894 without any opposition. Many of his friends insisted that he go to the front for a fourth time, but he firmly and positively refused, saying three terms and out, unlike Bryan, with McCutch- eon umpiring, in the Chicago Tribune, who called, "Stroike three, yer out."
In October, 1885, he bought one-half interest of his father-in-law, C. L.
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Douglass, in the general merchandise business of C. L. and L. C. Douglass, at Fontana, Wisconsin, and the firm name was changed to Davis & Douglass. On May 1, 1896, he bought the remaining one-half interest in the business of his partner, Louis C. Douglass, and continued the business on an en- larged scale as sole owner until December 17, 1900, when he sold his stock, fixtures and good will to Olcott & Radebaugh, resigning his commission as postmaster at Fontana, which office he had held for many years, in favor of H. L. Radebaugh, who was appointed as his successor.
Deciding to again make a home for himself and motherless boy, the marriage of James Bond Davis and Mrs. Lollie Kaye Radebaugh, of River- side, Iowa, was solemnized at the home of the bride's mother, Mrs. A. L. Kaye, at Keithsburg, Illinois, September 19, 1889. Mrs. Radebaugh had been for some years the widow of Mr. Davis's own cousin, and they brought with them to their new home at Fontana, her son Roy, who made a model step-son for Mr. Davis, as well as legal cousin, first removed, a lad of four- teen years, full of willingness and determination to do things, who soon be- came useful and indispensable in the store, and who, with his family, resides at Walworth, where he is a member of the firm of Cooper & Radebaugh.
During the winter of 1899-1900, Mr. and Mrs. Davis, accompanied by her mother, Mrs. Kaye, were in California with headquarters at Berkeley. On disposing of his business at Fontana, December 17. 1900, he closed his affairs in Wisconsin as quickly as possible and on February I, 1901, left for California to locate a future home, having an orange grove hobby in his mind, and San Diego as their destination, though they investigated many other locations, including Fresno, Los Angeles, Redlands and Riverside, in the meantime concluding that there was as much health and more financial returns in raising lemons instead of oranges, and on September 15, 1901, bought a lemon orchard at Highland avenue and Twenty-seventh street, National City, California, with a beautiful view of the mountains to the east and the grandeur of the mighty Pacific to be seen across San Diego bay to the west, where it roars across the reef at Point Loam. This property was given the name of "Bide-a-Wee" ranch, was in a high state of cultiva- tion, and produced over eighteen tons of lemons per acre the first year, with larger possibilities, and to that end he gave citrus culture much study, and as a result, got twenty-two and a half tons to the acre during his last years, the fruit being picked fifteen times during twelve months. The orchard was written up as the best lemon orchard in California by the San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco papers at different times, and experienced fruit
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men who knew the state, made the same assertion while on the ground. His ambition was to make a record that could not be surpassed, twenty-five tons to the acre per year, but on February 14, 1907, he sold the property to Dr. R. J. Higings, a retired physician of Oklahoma City.
When buying this property, Mr. Davis did so with the hope that he might pass the remainder of his life there, but when the Master's call came to the home nestling among the lemon trees on August 23, 1904, it was not for him, but for the loved wife who had been his companion for fifteen years. The remains were placed temporarily at rest in La Vista cemetery at National City.
After selling the ranch in 1907, he concluded to go east, and the re- mains were prepared to accompany him, starting July 17th, and they were placed in their final resting place in his lot where the remains of his first wife rest in the First-Day Baptist (better known as the Brick Church) cemetery of Walworth, Wisconsin.
Among other reasons for going east that summer were to see friends, and the trip was extended to the homes of his youth in Pennsylvania and New York, where he located some of his schoolmates of forty-two years before, but the trip was mainly at that date to help repair the home where his baby was born, that the baby, Ruthford Douglass Davis, then a young inan of twenty-seven, might bring a bride to it in November. After this work was done he returned to California, but only for the winter, and on July 3. 1908, started east again, expecting to be away from National City only twelve weeks, but on his arrival at Fontana, found his brother, W. S. Davis. who then owned the business that he had formerly sold to Olcott & Radebaugh, in such condition of health that he was obliged to remain six- teen months, taking entire charge of the business for ten months.
This made necessary the loss of a return ticket to California, also, what cut deeper, the loss of his presidential vote in November, 1908, the first time he had lost his vote in state or national elections since becoming of age. However, California went Republican.
Departing from Fontana October 9, 1909, he returned to the state of his adoption and only love, and for one year after his arrival took up the work of assistant city engineer of National City, but the severe strain on failing eyes in such work is too great, and he severed his connection with the city service with the close of 1910. His brothers live as follows: Edwin W., at No. 1844 West Adams street, Chicago, Illinois; C. Edgar, at Lake Mills, Wisconsin ; Will S., at Fontana, Wisconsin; and his only sister, Mrs.
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Ella V. Davis Robar, at Walworth, Wisconsin. Mr. Davis is now living a retired life at Highland avenue and Thirty-first street, National City, Cali- fornia. in the most perfect climate in this world, where the humming birds hum, the meadow larks sing, and roses bloom every day each year, and in touch with the work now progressing in preparation for the Panama-Cali- fornia Exposition, San Diego, 1915.
MICHAEL TOBIAS PETERSON.
The subject to whose life history the reader's attention is now directed has, by ceaseless toil and endeavor, attained a marked success in business af- fairs, has gained the respect and confidence of men and is recognized as one of the distinctively representative citizens of his community. In pur- suing the history of Mr: Peterson it will be seen that he is a man of strong convictions of right and duty, and that once having made up his mind as to his proper attitude on any subject, he acts accordingly and is undeterred by opposition and difficulties.
Michael Tobias Peterson; merchant at Williams Bay, was born at Bremnes, Norway, February 18, 1885. He is the son of Peter O. and Bertha (Thompson) Peterson, who now live at Madison, Wisconsin, men- tion of whom is made in the sketch of Miss Anna Peterson, postmistress at Williams Bay, who is a sister of the immediate subject of this sketch.
Michael T. Peterson was about a year old when his parents brought him to America in 1886, and he grew to manhood at Williams Bay, this county, and here received his education. When only nineteen years old he came into partnership with Henry W. Granzow, under the firm name of Granzow & Peterson, dealers in general merchandise, chiefly staple and fancy groceries, gents furnishings, hats, etc. They were then in one store room, but their trade was constantly growing and about 1908 they took in the adjoining store room and they now have two good large business rooms, well arranged and neatly kept, and they carry a large and carefully selected stock of up-to-date goods, and have a high class and extensive trade, their customers coming from remote sections of this part of the county.
Mr. Peterson was married in May, 1906, to Lelia Ackley, daughter of Albert H. and Mary Ackley. She was born at Troy Center, this county, where she spent her childhood and where her parents still reside. Albert H. Ackley was born in Troy township, Walworth county, May 30, 1849,
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and is the son of Charles B. and Louisa (Bunker) Ackley, the former born about 1820 in the eastern part of the United States, he having been the son of Gen. Gad Ackley, who was an officer in the Revolutionary war.
Charles B. Ackley was a sailor on the Great Lakes in his younger days. He was among the earliest settlers of Troy township, this county, and he lived there until he was about eighty-three years old. Albert H. Ackley grew up on his father's farm and he married Mary I. Lackey, a daughter of Joseph and Agnes (Murdock-Baird) Lackey. Joseph Lackey was born in county Down, Ireland, and he came to America in his youth, locating in Troy township, Walworth county, Wisconsin. Agnes Murdock was of Scotch ancestry, and she was a native of Troy township. Albert H. Ack- ley and wife have lived in Troy township, this county, all their lives. He had spent his life engaged in farming, and he takes a due interest in public affairs and has held various township offices.
Mrs. Peterson has two sisters, namely: Olive Louisa is now the wife of Guy Taylor, a farmer of Troy township, and they have three children, Mildred Belle, Donald Ackley and Volney Guy: Agnes Alberta is the wife of Romeo Dingman and lives on a farm in Troy township, and they have three children, Isabel Rominia, Helen Alberta and Oscar Lyle.
Three daughters have been born to Michael T. Peterson and wife, of this sketch, namely: Marian, Gladys and Vivian. Mr. Peterson belongs to the Modern Woodmen, the Masons and the Mystic Workers.
GEORGE W. BROWN.
The life of an honest, industrious and fair-minded man is always an example worthy of imitation by the younger generation for it cannot but contain many valuable lessons which, if studied rightly, will save others many a pitfall and many a heart-break as they go through this cold, indiffer- ent, battle-arrayed world, where one must indeed be a fighter to win. Thus the career of George W. Brown is most commendable.
Mr. Brown was born in Carlisle, Schoharie county, New York, Novem- ber 24, 1824. He is the son of Charles and Nancy (VanDresser) Brown, the father probably a native of Rhode Island, and was the son of George and Susan Brown, who came from England. Nancy VanDresser was born in Cobalskill township, Schoharie county, New York, and was the daughter
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of John and Annie (Ferguson) VanDresser, her ancestors having been Hollanders, Scotch, English and French.
George W. Brown's parents came to Michigan in 1836 and on to Wal- worth county, Wisconsin, in 1841, and settled in Walworth township, in section 3, which land he entered from the government, and there the sub- ject's parents spent the rest of their lives. The father had been a black- smith in New York, but later in life he followed farming. His family con- sisted of seven children: George W., of this sketch; Henry lived all his life in Walworth township engaged in farming, married and reared his family here; Rial Brown died when thirteen years old; Charles K. lived in Chippewa City, Wisconsin, until his death in 1908, at the age of seventy- seven years; Joseph I., who is now about sixty-eight years old, lives in Colorado; Lucy married Reuben Wessel and first lived in Elkhorn, then Walworth, later in Sharon, where her death occurred; Helen Marr, the youngest of the children, married Lewis Getty, now deceased, and she lives in British Columbia, being now seventy-six years old.
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