USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth county, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 59
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Willis D. Eckerson was born on January 24, 1847, at Ames, Montgomery county, New York, and he is the adopted son of David Eckerson, of New
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York, who came to Wisconsin, and settled on a farm in Sharon township, Wal- worth county, in 1849, having purchased the same from the government, and here, by hard work and perseverance, he established a good home and here the elder Eckerson and his wife spent the balance of their lives, his death occurring in 1903, and the mother's in 1905, having attained ripe old ages.
The subject received his education in the district schools of Sharon town- ship, and here grew to manhood. Early in life he took up the trade of painter and decorator, at which he has become expert and his services have always been in great demand.
Mr. Eckerson owns a beautiful modern home on the hill commanding an inspiring view of the city of Delavan and surrounding country. Politically, he is a stanch Republican and is more or less active in party affairs. He be- longs to the Grand Army of the Republic.
Mr. Eckerson enlisted in the Thirteenth Wisconsin Infantry under Cap- tain Crummel in the Army of the Cumberland. He was a good drillmaster and served as a private for three years. The subject was in the following battles : Fort Donelson, Nashvile, Fort Henry and Lookout Mountain.
On November 18, 1861, Mr. Eckerson was united in marriage to Thersa Stupfall, of Sharon, and they had two children, Mary Elizabeth, who died May 20, 1897, and Bertha E., at home. The wife died June 30, 1906. The family attend the Episcopal church and are very active in church affairs.
JAY B. GOULD.
One of the most enterprising of our younger generation of farmers in Walworth county who has believed from the outset of his career that the "wisdom of yesterday is sometimes the folly of today" and that while the methods of our grandfathers in tilling the soil were all right in their day, yet in the twentieth century we are compelled to adopt new methods and farm along different lines, in view of the fact that conditions of climate, soil, grains, etc., have changed since the days of the pioneers. He has been a close observer of modern methods and is a student at all times of whatever pertains to his chosen life work and he has therefore met with encouraging success all along the line, and, judging from his past record, he will undoubtedly achieve much in the future years and take his place among the leading agriculturists of a com- munity noted for its fine farms and adroit husbandmen
Mr. Gould was born at Midway, LaCrosse county, Wisconsin, on Novem-
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ber 28, 1880. He is the son of John and Augusta (Ayers) Gould, the father a native of the state of New York and the mother of Mineral Point, Wisconsin. The former came to the Badger state when young and here he was married.
The subject received his education in the district schools of his native state. When two years old he went to Trempealeau county, later coming to Walworth county, locating at the town of Troy. He remained on a farm three years in that vicinity, then moved south of Elkhorn, in Delavan township, where he spent four years, then moved to section 6, where he lived six years, then pur- chased the Wrinkleman farm, on which he lived two years, then bought the Rockwell place in section 16, Delavan township, where he still lives. Here he has met with encouraging success as a general farmer and stock raiser, and has added many important improvements on the place. He keeps a good grade of live stock, and everything about his place indicates good management.
Mr. Gould was married on May 9, 1906, to Alice Emma Conklin, who was born on Deceniber 30. 1884, the daughter of Albert H. and Elizabeth (Ball) Conklin, natives of this state. The father lives at the town of Delavan where Mr. Conklin has charge of the high school, and is known widely and greatly admired as both an educator, having made school teaching his life work. The mother of Mrs. Gould passed to her rest on September 18, 1901.
The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Albert H. Conklin : Edith died in infancy, May 8, 1877; Addie Wallace, born January 19, 1881, lives in Elkhorn ; Alice Emma, wife of Mr. Gould; Ethel, who married a Mr. Williams, was born on February 26, 1888, is living at Williams Bay, this county : Mary. who was born on September 9, 1902, is living with her father in Delavan. The father of these children was born on August 24, 1853. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Conklin was married to Mary Sweet, of Allen's Grove. The subject and wife have no children. They are both mem- bers of the Rebekahs.
John Gould, father of the subject, was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, and he is now a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, by virtue of that fact. He was formerly a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is still living on his fine farm in the vicinity of Elkhorn, having devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and accumulated a competency thereby. He was born on April 27. 1845, and his wife was born on August 9. 1853. They are the parents of the following children : George, born May 27. 1875; Albert, born December 7. 1876: Libbie, born July 7. 1878; Jay B., subject of this sketch: Mattie, born May 28, 1883: William, born April 24. 1885 : Nellie, born October 27, 1887: Ayer, born May 20, 1890
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DEACON JOHN READER.
The good resulting from such a noble, self-sacrificing and public-spir- ited life as that led by the well remembered pioneer. Deacon John Reader, can not be adequately reckoned or properly expressed in words; it is too far-reaching in its ameliorating effects and will continue to grow more and more bright "unto the perfect day."
John Reader, who is believed by many to have been the first white settler in the town of Walworth, was born in Headcorn, Kent. England, February 21, 1803. He was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Colison) Reader, both natives of Headcorn, the father born on February 21, 1780, and the mother on June 12, 1781.
When eighteen years old John Reader married Elizabeth Featherstone, who was born at Headcorn on October 18. 1803. Their eldest daughter, Elizabeth, was born November 1, 1822, in England. In 1824 John Reader brought his wife and daughter to America and located at Waterville, Oneida county, New York, and later his parents came over and settled at the same place. In 1836 John Reader came to Walworth township, Walworth county, Wisconsin, and entered land from the government, in the southeast quarter of section 18, also entered land in Sharon township, being the first settler there and he broke the first ground in that township, having settled first in section 27, where he built a small log cabin at what is now known as Reader's Grove. He had no neighbors and could not finish his cabin alone, so he went back to New York for his family, finishing his rude home upon his second coming when he brought his family, in the fall of 1837. The Godfrey family came at the same time and were his first neighbors, Mr. Reader help- ing them build their cabin, sleeping in his covered wagon meanwhile; in turn the Godfreys helped him roof his cabin. Here he prospered, having worked hard, and he became the owner of four hundred acres or more of good land. and he became prominent in various local affairs, holding a number of offices in the township. Later in life he moved into the township of Walworth. He endured all the hardships and privations incident to a life in the wilder- ness in those days. At one time he went to Chicago for provisions, being away from home longer than he had anticipated, being delayed on account of bad roads and other circumstances, and when he reached home his fam- ily had been four days without anything to eat but a few dry crusts of bread.
John Reader and his wife were baptized and joined the Delavan Bap- tist church in 1841, and in 1844 they helped organize the Walworth Baptist
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church, and Mr. Reader was its first deacon, which office he held with much credit until he moved to Delavan in 1864.
Thomas and Elizabeth (Colison) Reader, parents of John Reader, came to New York in an early day and later moved on to Walworth county, Wis- consin, their son, John, building them a house in a corner of his yard and there they made their home until Thomas Reader died on June 2, 1856. his widow surviving until 1876, reaching the advanced age of ninety-six years. A family picture shows her and four generations of her descendants, the five generations in one picture being published in a number of papers. Thomas Reader was a soldier in England when his son, John, was a little boy.
Deacon John Reader was an active and influential member of the new and growing settlement and he was held in the highest honor and esteem by his neighbors and friends, and he had scarcely an enemy, for he lived a blameless life, and as a neighbor and citizen his record is without blemish, and he was a devout Christian. He was the first person baptized in Wal- worth county and the first person received into the church at Delavan on a profession of faith. He was one of the constituent members of the Wal- worth Baptist church, the building of the brick church devolving largely upon him, and to that he gave his time and attention, money and counsel, his services to the church being held in grateful remembrance. His old age was beautiful because found in the way of the righteous. His wife was called to her rest on October 22, 1868, at Delavan, in her sixty-sixth year. The death of Deacon John Reader occurred at Delavan on Christmas Day. De- cember 25, 1878, at the age of seventy-five years and ten months.
They were the parents of a large family, fifteen children, one of whom, William, died in childhood soon after the family came here. John Reader went alone to the lake and dug the grave, burying the child in a coffin he had made himself ; also an infant, Mary, died two or three years after the arrival of the family here. The other thirteen children all grew up and married. Elizabeth married Edward Hall, a merchant who kept a store in Walworth, later one at Delavan, then at Beloit and finally at Janesville, where he and his wife died. Phebe, the first of the family born in America. married James Bending of Chicago, and they lived at various places. Mr. Bending died in Chicago, and his wife died later in Beloit. John J. Reader lives in Delavan. Richard was a soldier in the Civil war, having enlisted from his home town, Rochester, Minnesota, and he died of disease while in the service. Mary married Dwight Searle and lived for years near Walworth, then moved to Beloit and there they both died. Jamies lived a short time in Illinois, where
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he married, and he and his wife spent the rest of their lives at Sweetland, California. Martha married Franklin Trahern, of Rockford, and there they spent their lives. Caroline married David Jacobie and they spent their lives in Sharon township on a farm. Eliza is the widow of Robert Spensley, de- ceased, and lives in Walworth. Rebecca married Jasper Voorhees and they spent their lives at Vallejo, California. Richael married Elias Harris, of Delavan, later moved to Rockford where he died; she now lives in Wal- worth. Stephen married in California and he died in Rockford. Amanda married Andrew Harris, and he died, leaving two children, and she is now the wife of Richard Wilson, of Delavan. At one time all these thirteen children lived within a day's drive of their father's home, and they all used to gather there on the 21st of February to celebrate the father's birthday. Now all are scattered, some dead. These children were reared carefully and the result of their wholesome home training is seen in their daily lives, making them popular and highly respected in the communities in which they live.
JOHN A. SCHWARTZ.
Of the many sterling citizens sent to Walworth county, Wisconsin, from the state of New York, few have led lives more commendable than John A. Schwartz, of Troy township, a man who believes in being of some service to his fellows while passing through the world and not in merely striving for selfish ends, and thus he has always enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the people who came into contact with him.
Mr. Schwartz, as the name implies, is of German descent, indeed he is only of the second generation in America, his birth having occurred in Celia, Holt county, New York, on April 8, 1840. He is the son of Paul and Eliza- beth (Wagner) Schwartz, both natives of Germany, he of Mince and she of Worms. There they spent their early childhood, the father being eighteen years of age when he emigrated and she but a girl when she came to New York state, and they both went to the town of Celia where he found employment in the salt works. They came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1843, with the carly settlers and located on a farm of eighty acres in Troy township, to which he later added until he had a fine farm of three hundred and forty acres. It was all raw land and consequently much hard work was necessary to develop it. About forty acres of one eighty had been improved before he came here, his first eighty having no improvements whatever. Here Paul Schwartz en-
JOHN A. SCHWARTZ
THE NEW 1 PUBLIC LIBRAS
ASTOK, LENOX TILBEN FOUNDATIONS
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gaged in general farming and stock raising on a large scale until his death, in 1894. His family consisted of nine children, seven of whom are still living. His wife died in the summer of 1881. He was a member of the Catholic church.
John A. Schwartz, of this sketch, grew to manhood on the home farmi and he received his education in the public schools of this county and a commercial school in Milwaukee. After his graduation there he attended Milton Acad- emy, working his way through school. He found plenty of work on the home farm, helping to develop the same. He remembers well the erection of their first home here, a rude log cabin, also remembers seeing his father cast the first furrow in his new farm.
The subject was a young man when the Civil war came on, but he did not go to the front, though he belonged to a local club that sent many substi- tutes into the army. Upon leaving school he followed teaching for six win- ters, then entered the mercantile business in East Troy for one year ; the next year and a half was spent in trucking. In the fall of 1871 he erected a general merchandise establishment at Troy Center (the same year that the railroad was built here). He operated this store for ten and one-half years, enjoying a good trade. In the meantime he had purchased the home farm, all excepting eighty acres, in 1881, and he moved thereto in the spring of 1882 and there farmed until the fall of 1906, when he moved again to East Troy. In con- nection with general farming he was a breeder of thoroughbred Merino sheep, also general stock raising. While he was in the store at Troy Center he bought and sold the warehouse there, and he entered into partnership with his eldest son, Albert A., under the firm name of J. A. Schwartz & Son, and they dealt in grain, lumber, coal, lime, etc. Mr. Schwartz has been very successful in whatever he has undertaken, being a man of industry and sound judgment and always on the job.
In the spring of 1868 Mr. Schwartz was united in marriage with Eliza- beth Wilmer, who was born, reared and educated in Walworth county, being the daughter of a well known old family here. This union has resulted in the birth of the following children : Albert A., Bernard F., Florence, Edna, George. John J., Susie, Roy R., Walter W. and Nellie E.
Politically, Mr. Schwartz is a Republican, and the entire family are Cath- olics and faithful in their support of the mother church. He has been chair- man of Troy township eight different terms, clerk of the district school, and has held other local offices, always with satisfaction to the people, though he has never been an office seeker.
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WILLIAM LYMAN SEAVER.
One of the best known and most successful contractors in Walworth county is William Lyman Seaver, of Walworth, a man who has led an active and useful life in every respect and therefore enjoys the esteem of a wide circle of friends.
Mr. Seaver was born in Darien, this county, November 24, 1868. He is the son of James E. and Phoebe L. (Dodge) Seaver, the father having come from Darien, New York, in 1839, among the early settlers, being two years old when he came here with his parents, Lyman Hunt Seaver and Sallie (Woodard) Seaver. Lyman Seaver was here a year or two before bringing his family. He probably entered land from the government.
The subject grew to manhood on the farm in Darien and lived there until he was married, on March 15, 1896. to Lydia Seaver, daughter of Horace Everett Seaver and Orinda (Lippitt ) Seaver. Her father was born in Darien, New York, in 1832, and when about eight years old he came here with his parents, Joseph Warren Seaver and Mary (Long-Hastings) Seaver. Joseph Warren Seaver, Mrs. Seaver's grandfather, and Lyman Hunt Seaver, grandfather of William Lyman Seaver, were brothers. They were sons of William Seaver. The last named was born in 1763 and died in 1828. He served in the Revolutionary war five different times. The original muster roll at Boston, Massachusetts, shows that he was a private in Colonel Greaton's regiment in the Continental army, and he was detailed as one of the guards at the execution of Major Andre, the British spy. William Seaver was in the sixth generation of the family in America and was educated in this county. The first one came on the ship "Mary and John" in 1634. He was a young Englishman named Robert Seaver, from near London. He landed at Boston and two or three months later married and began farming on ground that is now in the heart of Boston. His son Joshua was the father of Joshua, Jr .. born in 1678, the latter a lieutenant in the state militia, and he fought the Indians. He was a weaver by trade, and was a slave holder ; he kept a tavern, sold New England rum, and he was a church member. Lieut. Joseph Seaver had a son William, who had a son William, who was a potter, made wooden shoe heels, taught singing school, and was a major in the American army dur- ing our war for independence, from Massachusetts. He was very successful as a business man. He was a major in the Bristol county brigade. His son William was in the sixth generation, as mentioned above, the one who guarded Major Andre. He was also in the navy during the Revolution, then followed
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a seafaring life. He was six feet tall and weighed two hundred pounds, and excelled in athletic feats, at one time defeating the champion wrestler of Ver- mont. At Arlington, that state, he was captain of the local military company. He is described as a man above the average in intelligence and character. Phoebe L. Dodge, the mother of William Lyman Severance, was the daughter of Josiah and Julia (Long) Dodge. She came from near Darien, New York, coming to Walworth county, Wisconsin, with her parents.
James Everett Seaver was born at Darien, New York, June 13, 1837. He was a son of Lyman H. and Sarah ( Woodard) Seaver, the former born at Arlington, Vermont, October 26, 1796, and the latter was born at Hebron, New York, in April, 1797, and they were married on April 29, 1819. When James E. Seaver was two years old the family came west and located in Darien township, one mile west of the village, the father entering his land from the government. James E. Seaver grew up in Darien township, and on November 16, 1859, he was united in marriage with Phebe Dodge, daughter of Josiah and Julia (Long) Dodge. She was born at Darien, New York, June 20, 1841, and came here with her parents when she was two years old. They also located in Darien township.
After James E. Seaver was married he and his wife lived in Sharon township about seven years, he having bought a farm there, then moved back to Darien and bought a farm near the village and there he continued to reside until near the end of his life. His death occurred on April 2, 1909, his wife having preceded him to the grave on October 11, 1906. They were the parents of five children, four of whom are living; Josi died when he was eighteen years old ; Marcus D. lives at Los Angeles, California ; Bertha is the wife of John S. Topping and lives in Delavan; William L. lives in Walworth; Clara M. is the wife of Leander Wright and lives at Los Angeles, California. Joseph Warren Seaver was a member of the state Legislature at one time.
Orinda Lippitt was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, and came here when two years old with her parents, being among the very first settlers of Darien township. Her parents were Cyrus and Lydia (Bruce) Lippitt. The father came to this county in 1837 and settled in section 35, Darien town- ship. Lydia (Bruce) Lippitt had two brothers, John and William Bruce, who were among the earliest settlers in Darien. Adelai Seaver, sister of Horace Everett Seaver, was one of the three earliest school teachers in Darien town- ship.
Henry Dodge, the first territorial governor of Wisconsin, was of the same Dodge family as the subject. He was governor in 1836, also in 1845.
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After his marriage the subject of this sketch moved to Richmond, Illinois, where he was manager of a lumber yard until the spring of 1903, when he went to Spring Grove, that state, where he was half owner of a lumber yard, re- maining there three or four years. Then he sold out his interests there and took up contracting in concrete work. He moved to Walworth, this county, in October, 1908, and here he has since made his home, continuing contracting in concrete work. He has five children, Lucy, Everett. William, Kenneth and Stuart. He is a member of the Masonic order, both the blue lodge and the chapter.
M. E. CUSACK.
One of the most progressive farmers of Walworth county is M. E. Cusack. whose large, well improved landed estate lies in Darien township. There are farmers here who farm on a more extensive scale, but few if any of them have a better idea as to the modern methods of agriculture. He has always been a close observer and a deep student of soils, climatic influences, in short, all the elements that go toward making husbandry successful, and he is well informed as to the findings of experimental stations and does not discard the government reports when they come to his mail box, for he realizes that one never knows where a good idea may be obtained, often in the place that we least expect it. He is also a public-spirited man, and while laboring for his individual advancement he lends his influence to the support of such measures as make for the general upbuilding of the community.
Mr. Cusack was born on August 24, 1863, in Darien township, this county. He is the son of Patrick and Ellen (Sullivan) Cusack, both natives of Ireland, where they spent their earlier years and from which country they emigrated to Canada in the year 1851 and there was their home until 1857, when they moved to Darien township. Mr. Cusack worked out in order to get a start until 1870 when he purchased a farm and there established a comfortable home in which he spent the balance of his life, dying in November, 1906, leaving an excellent and well improved farm on which his widow still resides.
Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Cusack, namely : Mary, now Mrs. Moran; John ; Nellie is deceased ; M. E. of this sketch : James : Julia : Frank is farming in this county ; Agnes is deceased.
M. E. Cusack grew to manhood on the home farm and there he made him- self useful when a boy. He received his education in the rural schools of Darien township. Early in life he turned his attention to farming for a career
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and with the exception of three years spent in the grocery business in Chicago he has followed farming continuously. After his experience in Chicago he returned to his native county and purchased three hundred and seventy-five acres in section 22, Darien township, and here he is successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of breeding full-blood Holstein cattle, which, owing to their superior quality find a very ready market when offered for sale. He has brought his place up to a high standard of improvement and cultivation. He has a convenient, well furnished home.
For a period of ten years he was manager of the Darien Creamery Com- pany, the large success of which was due to his able management.
Politically, Mr. Cusack is a Republican and has been more or less active in public affairs. He was assessor of Darien township for four years, which office he filled to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen and in religious matters is a faithful member of the Catholic church.
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