USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth county, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 62
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1369
WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
ASA FOSTER.
The day of the pioneer in this country is gone and we are in the midst of a settled stability and permanency. Nevertheless as we look about us we find a few representatives of the early days who become at once the center of interest because they carry in their minds recollections of our hardy fore- fathers. In this connection we make reference to one of the sturdy farmers of Sugar Creek township, Walworth county, Asa Foster, who has spent over a half century here, during which time he has taken an active part in the great transformation of the country, and it is interesting to hear him recall reminiscences of the early days.
Mr. Foster was born in East Fairfield, Vermont, in 1830. He is the son of Nathaniel and Sallie (Leach) Foster, the mother born in Fairfield, Connecticut, and the father in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Nathaniel Foster devoted his life to farming. He came to Walworth county, Wiscon- sin, on a visit and here he died at the age of eighty-four years, his wife hav- ing died in Vermont. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, being captain of his company under General McDonald and attached to General William Henry Harrison's army. Their service was mostly about Lake Champlain. He was never wounded or taken prisoner. For his services to his country he was given a land warrant. He took an active part in the Democratic party and he was a strong Freesoiler, but he would never accept office. His family consisted of thirteen children, of whom Asa of this review is the only one living, in fact, he is the last surviving member of his family, once numerous. In religious matters he was a Universalist. Great-grandfather Foster was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Some of the maternal ancestry were also soldiers in the Revolution.
Asa Foster was educated in the old log school houses of the early days at East Fairfield, Vermont, the work in which he finished at the early age of fourteen. Then he went into the woods, and drove two yoke of oxen about the lumber camps. When twenty years old he came west and first settled in Ohio, in 1851, later coming to Michigan and on September 20, 1852, he started with sixteen pounds of cloth in a bag for a walk of over one thousand miles, working along the way to support himself, through Ohio, Michigan, northern Indiana and Illinois, finally reaching Big Foot Prairie, Wisconsin. On Christmas day of that year he returned to his sis- ter's home in Michigan, having walked over one thousand miles. He re- turned to Vermont, and in 1853 he came direct to Walworth county, Wis-
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consin, and here he has resided ever since. He has bought and sold much land and once he operated over six hundred acres of his own land and three hundred acres elsewhere. In connection with general farming on a large scale he raised cattle, hogs and sheep, always handling stock of all varie- ties, and in an early day here he drove cattle overland to Minnesota, in fact, he has borne the reputation for several decades of being one of the leading cattle and sheep men of southeastern Wisconsin.
In 1858 Mr. Foster was married to Clarissa L. Tibbets, the daughter of Samuel and Sallie (Pattee) Tibbets, pioneers of Sugar Creek township, this county, having driven in wagons from Toronto when the wife of the subject was only one year old. This was about 1841. She got the first badge issued to the old settlers. To the subject and his first wife the following children were born: Mrs. Emma Nott, of Elkhorn; Mrs. Jennie Culver and Samuel T. The wife and mother passed away in 1891, and in February, 1898, Mr. Foster was united in marriage with Mrs. Emma (Sugden) Chafin.
For a period of sixty years Mr. Foster has been a member of the Meth- odist church. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was formerly an advocate of the Knownothing element. He helped or- ganize the Republican party and was a Fremont supporter. He has been ac- tive in politics and public affairs of his county for the past fifty years, but he has never been an aspirant for public office.
ALFRED D. SMITH.
In all the relations of life Alfred D. Smith, one of the successful agri- culturists of Walworth county, has been true to every trust reposed in him, and because of his past honorable record, his public spirit, his genial dispo- sition and his honesty of purpose he is held in high esteem by all who know him. He has had the good fortune to spend his life on the old home place, being content with the environments into which he was born, and in this he has shown a wise discretion, for in the first place all will agree that "home is best," as a great writer long ago said ; then, too, it would be hard to find a more favored locality for the exercise of the husbandman's talent than in this locality, where nature always does her part, meeting the laborer more than half way: So Mr. Smith could have found no real excuse for hying to other cliines and remote scenes in order to find a suitable locality in which to exer-
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cise his talents. Judging from the success he has achieved on the home place which he is managing so tactfully, he has been wise in remaining here.
Mr. Smith was born in Lafayette township, this county, on December 24. 1855. He is the son of D. Y. and Caroline (Clark) Smith, both natives of Otsego county, New York, the father born in 1816 and the mother in 1820, and there they grew up and received such education as the early schools afforded and there they were married, emigrating to Walworth county, Wis- consin, in 1839, and took up one hundred and sixty acres of land where Al- fred D. Smith of this review is still living. Here they began life as true pio- neers, clearing the land, building a rude house and undergoing the usual hard -. ships, and, through economy and hard work, they had a good home and a fertile farm in due course of time, and here they spent the rest of their lives, the father dying in 1899 and the mother in 1889. Politically, he was a Re- publican, and he took an interest in the affairs of his county, assisting in any way he could in its development. His family consisted of seven children, of whom five are living.
Alfred D. Smith, of this sketch, was reared on the home farm where he worked during the summer months when a boy, attending the district schools in the winter-time, and early in life he decided to make farming his vocation. He purchased the homestead in 1900 and here he has engaged in general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of dairying, keeping an excellent grade of Jersey cattle. He has kept the place well improved and very carefully tilled.
Politically, Mr. Smith is a Republican, but has not been specially active in public matters and has never sought office, though he has served his dis- trict as school director. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Wood- men of America, the Knights of Pythias, Mystic Workers and the Equitable Fraternal Union, in all of which he takes considerable interest and stands high.
Mr. Smith was married in 1879 to Clarabel West, who was born in La- fayette township, this county, grew to womanhood and was educated here. She is, the daughter of Jesse Pike West and Elizabeth (Northrup) West, who were among the first settlers of Walworth county and a well known and highly respected family here. Mrs. Smith's parents are now both deceased. One child, Clarabel, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith. She is the wife of Robert W. Knapp, and they have one child, Roberta.
The subject's first wife was called to her rest in 1885, and in 1887 he was united in marriage with Lavina Hicks, daughter of Thomas and Lavina
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Hicks, both born in England and early settlers of Walworth county and an excellent family, prominent here since the pioneer days. Mrs. Smith's pa- rents are now both deceased. Four children were born to the subject and his last wife, named as follows: Kenneth, Lucius, Harlin and Carol.
ALBERT BROWN.
In reading over the record of the lives of many leading citizens one becomes impressed with the fact that certain families show at the outset their strong inclination toward books and learning generally or in at least keeping up with the times on current topics, especially dealing with national affairs. Among the farming community it is the rule and not the exception to find ordinary educations, but occasionally a family is met with that rises above the others in the scale of education and the capacity to grasp the larger ques- tions of mental improvement. Such families are numerous in Walworth county, and it is a sign that this locality is equal to any in the Union in point of citizenship. One such is that represented by Albert Brown, a retired farmer of Lafayette township, where he has long been a potent factor in agricultural, civic and moral affairs, and one of the citizens who links the present opulent epoch here with the pioneer period, a man who is in every way deserving of the large success that has been his and the high esteem in which he has ever been held, for his life has been one of industry and honor.
Mr. Brown hails from New England, from whence so many of our sterling citizens have come, his birth having occurred in Vermont on April 5, 1836. He is the son of Neland and Lusannah (Hoten) Brown, both natives of Vermont, he born at Pittsfield, and there the father's death occurred in 1841 at the early age of thirty-four years, his widow surviving him many years, reaching the age of eighty-six. They were the parents of five sons, two of whom are living. The father was a carpenter by trade.
Albert Brown was reared on the farm where he worked hard when a boy and he received his education in the public schools. He left his New Eng- land home when a young man, coming to Walworth county, Wisconsin, on March 28, 1856, and here he began working on a farm and in 1862 he pur- chased forty acres. to which he later added until he became the owner of one hundred and eighty acres. He now owns one hundred and forty acres in Lafayette township, which he has kept well improved and well tilled and on
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which he has carried on general farming and stock raising successfully, but is now living retired, having laid by a competency.
Politically, Mr. Brown is a Republican and has been active in public affairs, having been a member of the county board for three terms and clerk of the district for many terms, and while a member of the building committee built one school house. He has given general satisfaction as a public servant. He and his family attend the Congregational church.
Mr. Brown was married in October, 1857, to Julia Rockwell, a native of Ohio, born there in 1839, the daughter of Silas and Caroline (Hatch) Rock- well, who came to Lafayette township, Walworth county, in 1845 and here they both spent the rest of their lives.
Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Albert Brown, two of whom died in infancy ; they were named as follows: Lena died in early life; Carrie mar- ried James Cheney, a farmer of Lafayette township and they have three chil- dren, Neland, Ruby and Ira, all living. Millie Brown married Tony Belk, of Lagrange township, this county, and they became the parents of five chil- dren, Orlo, Jessie, Viola (deceased), Mariam and Hershel.
The first wife of Albert Brown died in 1905, and in that same year Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Mrs. Alice Prosser, whose maiden name was Flint, the daughter of James and Jane Flint, who were early settlers in Walworth county. They are still living, Mr. Flint being now eighty years old and his wife seventy-two years of age.
Three daughters were born to Mrs. Brown by her first husband, Mr. Presser, namely : Ethel, Janey and Syrena.
DONALD F. MATHESON.
There is a great deal in being born under a good eye, one that watches and guards off the error and folly that overtake so many young men. The par- ents that are able to infuse unto their children the spirit of the Spartans-the spirit that can meet any fate and make the most of the world-will see their children grow to years of maturity with excellent habits and splendid prin- ciples and see them become exemplary citizens. Donald F. Matheson, one of Walworth county's progressive farmers, was fortunate in having broad- minded, honest and painstaking parents. He was taught from the start the duties of life-not ordinary instruction, but the higher duties which all owe
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WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
to each other and to society. The result has been to give him broad ideas of life and its responsibilities and to fit him for honorable citizenship.
Mr. Matheson was born in Lafayette township, this county, October 27, 1860, and is the son of Duncan and Catherine (Buchanan) Matheson. The father was born in Ross-shire, Scotland, in 1814, and the mother was also born in that country in 1832. There they spent their early days. He came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1841, in pioneer times, and took up one hun- dred and sixty acres of land from the government, and, prospering by hard work and close application, he added to his original purchase until he became the owner of two hundred and twenty acres. He became one of the substan- tial men of his community, was well known and highly respected, and here he spent the rest of his life, dying in 1871, his widow surviving until 1905. They were the parents of eight children, six of whom are living at this writing. Politically, he was a Republican, being one of the first to ally himself with that party, and he was a strong Lincoln man. He was one of the organizers of the first Congregational church in Lafayette township, and he was always active in church matters. He and Catherine Buchanan were married in Illi- nois in 1855.
The paternal grandparents of the subject were John and Jessie ( Macrae ) Matheson, who were natives of Scotland, where they grew up and were mar- ried. John Matheson died in Scotland and the grandmother emigrated to the United States in 1841, with her four sons, and she kept house for the father of the subject for a number of years; the grandmother died in 1860, at the age of eighty-two years. John Matheson, grandfather of the subject, was born the same year that saw the advent of the great poet of the common people, Robert Burns, into this world. The subject visited the grave of his grand- father while on a visit to Scotland. He also saw the birthplaces of his parents and many places of interest.
Donald F. Matheson was reared on the home farm where he assisted with the general work when a boy, and he received his education in the district schools. Early in life he turned his attention to farming, and he is now the owner of one hundred and eighty acres, a part of the old homestead, and he carries on general farming and stock raising successfully, having kept the place well improved and well cultivated. He always keeps a good grade of live stock, and he makes a specialty of dairying, for which he is exceptionally well equipped.
Politically, Mr. Matheson is a Republican, and he has been a member of the town board. He belongs to the Congregational church and stands high in the estimation of the congregation and his neighbors. He has never married.
1375
WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
THOMAS W. TURNER.
Few men of a past generation in Walworth county were held in higher esteem than the late Thomas W. Turner, who, now that life's fitful fever is over, is sleeping serenely in the "windowless palaces of rest." His memory will long be revered by the vast host of people who knew him and admired him for he was a man in whom all took a delight owing to his sterling honesty, his charitable nature and his readiness to help in the furtherance of any move- ment looking to the general upbuilding of the community. He was one of our sterling pioneer citizens whom we owe so much to, for he came here when the land was little more than wilderness, and, working long and hard, redeemed, with others, the fertile fields and the fine farms which we of today enjoy and which are now so valuable. We can never say too much regarding these splen- did, brave and courageous pioneers who literally took their own lives in hand and, not counting the cost, cast their lot in the new country, away from the pleasant hearthstones of their childhood and the advantages of civilization.
Mr. Turner was born in Yorkshire, England, on September 9, 1822, the son of William and Mary Turner, the father born on October 17. 1790, and the mother on July 10, 1789, both in England, and there they grew to maturity and were married, and from there emigrated to New York in 1832, when the subject was ten years of age, and they came on to Walworth county, Wiscon- sin, in 1842, locating in Lyons township and there began life in true pioneer fashion. In a few years they had a good home established and there they continued to reside for many years, and there the death of the mother occurred. after which the father moved to Portage, this state, where he lived until his death.
Thomas W. Turner, of this sketch, spent his early youth in New York City where he attended school, and from there he came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, with his parents, being then a grown young man. He purchased a farm of eighty acres in Lyons township and made farming his life work. Later selling this, he purchased one hundred and twenty acres in Spring Prairie township, which he subsequently sold and moved to Lafayette township in 1891, where he bought one hundred and forty-five acres. and here he met with his usual success as a general farmer and stock raiser, developing a good farm on which he spent the rest of his life, dying on March 23, 1909.
Politically, Mr. Turner was a Republican and he took a good citizen's interest in whatever pertained to the general good of the county which he selected as his permanent place of abode ; however, he preferred to lead a quiet
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WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
home life, leaving the emoluments and cares of public office to others. In religious matters he supported the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Turner was married in 1856 to Hannah Gott, to which union four children were born, named as follows: Ellen Isabelle, born October 3, 1857; Mary Estelle, born March 29, 1859; Charles Lee, born June 5, 1861; Frank G., born June 20, 1864.
The wife and mother was called to her rest on July 9, 1873, and on March 19, 1874, Mr. Turner was united in marriage with Hester Toomer, who was born in Somersetshire, England, on April 5, 1839, the daughter of John and Eliza (Gadd) Toomer, both born in England, where they grew up, received their education and were married, and there they continued to reside until 1848, and the same year came on to Burlington, Racine county, Wiscon- sin, where Mr. Toomer purchased a farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres and here established a good home and spent the rest of his life, dying on September 7, 1887, his wife passing away in 1897. Five daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Toomer, of whom four are living, all well established in life.
Politically, Mr. Toomer was a Republican, but, while he took much more than a passing interest in the affairs of his adopted country, he was not a public man, preferring to devote his attention to his home and his individual affairs. He and his wife were members of the Episcopal church.
To Mr. Turner and his second wife two children were born, namely : Mary E., born September 19, 1878, and Herbert Eugene, born November 8, 1880, and died in 1892.
CARLOS LAVALETTE DOUGLASS.
The most enduring monument which can be erected to the memory of loved ones is not made of marble or granite, for time, alas! crumbles these . away ; and, precious as are the cherished memories in the hearts of friends, within a few years these associations will be sleeping in the silent churchyard. Naught endures save the written record, the page glowing with the chronicles of the noble life and kindly deeds,-these alone hand down to the generations of the future the history of the past. of the hardy pioneers whose brave patriot- ism and undaunted hearts paved the way to posterity and civilization.
One of this sterling band of a past generation in Walworth county was the late Carlos Lavalette Douglass, an early settler of the town of Walworth, who contributed much to its subsequent development. He was born in Cat- taraugus county, New York. November 4, 1827. He was the son of Christo-
CARLOS LAVALETTE DOUGLASS
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOM LEHOX TILDEN FOUNDA TIONS
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WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
pher and Phoebe ( Douglass) Douglass. The father was born February 22, 1787, at New London, Connecticut, and the mother was born at Chelsea, Vermont, February 28, 1787. Their ancestry has been traced in unbroken line to William and Ann ( Mattles) Douglass, who came from the north of England, both born in the year 1610, and were the first of the family to come to America. Their first child was born in 1637, probably in New England, for it is known that they came to New London, Connecticut. One of their sons, Robert, had a son, Thomas, whose son, Robert, was the father of Capt. Daniel Douglass. The latter was born in 1752 and it is probable that he was with the New York troops in the Revolutionary war, but he may have been in the Vermont troops. Captain Douglass married Lydia Douglass, who, like her husband, was in the fourth generation of descent from the original Will- iam Douglass that came to this country from England. Lydia was the daughter of William, whose father was Richard, the son of William, of the second generation, who was the son of William, the emigrant from England. Capt. Daniel Douglass' son, Christopher, who headed the family in Walworth county, Wisconsin, married Phoebe Douglass, daughter of Ivory, whose father, William, was a brother to the Lydia that was the wife of Capt. Daniel Douglass, and he was therefore a son of William, descended from the emi- grant. Therefore Carlos Lavalette Douglass was descended in three ways from William, the emigrant. Christopher Douglass, father of the subject of this memoir, was born in New London, Connecticut, February 22, 1787, and when a young man he moved with his parents to Vermont and was reared on a farm. He obtained a common school education and returned to Con- necticut, where he taught school, and while there he was united in marriage with Phoebe Douglass. They afterwards moved to New York. Later he was a soldier in the war of 1812, then settled on a farm near Buffalo, then an almost unbroken wilderness. In the midst of the forest he cleared his land and developed a rich farm. His nearest neighbor was twenty miles away. In 1828 he moved to Macomb county, Michigan, and in the spring of 1837 he sold his farm in Michigan and for about six months rented land near Chicago. Leaving his family there, he came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, and began breaking land and preparing for a home to which he brought his family in the fall of that year. Christopher Douglass broke a vast amount of wild prairie land in Walworth county in 1837 when they plowed furrows two and one- half miles long on Big Foot Prairie. He entered a farm in section 28, which he sold, later settling on another which he purchased at a land sale. Here he farmed and in 1842 established a tavern at what was soon to be known all
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WALWORTH COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
over this part of the country as Douglass' Corners, now called Walworth. In 1857 he sold a part of his farm and bought land at the head of Lake Geneva where Fontana is now located. In 1839 Christopher Douglass was one of three county commissioners and he continued in that capacity nearly four years and served as chairman of the board He was one of the first judges of election in 1839 and was on the first grand jury in this county. He was a leader in local affairs and one of the best known and influential of the pio- neers. His death occurred in 1866, at the age of eighty years, the community losing one of its best citizens at that time. His wife died at Fontana at the age of seventy-four years. Their family consisted of ten children, of whom Carlos Lavalette. of this sketch, was the ninth in order of birth.
The subject of this sketch was ten years old when the family moved to Walworth county, thus he grew to manhood under pioneer conditions. His early experiences developed qualities of leadership, and in 1846, at the age of nineteen, he was overseer of a gang of men in the copper mines of Superior, spending about eighteen months there. He then returned to Walworth county and took charge of the farm and business matters for his parents until they died. In 1855 he drove a herd of beef cattle from Walworth county to Houghton, Michigan, through an unbroken wilderness, inhabited only by Indians and wild animals. The following year he took another drove to the same place. crossing the lake on sail boats. He built what was known as the old Douglass homestead at the head of Lake Geneva in 1857, and, in com- pany with his father and one brother, built the Douglass grist mill and a saw mill which became celebrated throughout all this region. Everybody for many miles around were permanent patrons of the mill until the great flour mills of the present time became overpowering competitors. He and his son repaired and greatly improved his mill in 1881, introducing the latest and most approved machinery known at that time. They operated this mill until about 1893. Besides milling, he engaged in farming and stock raising, which he followed successfully all his life. He owned an excellent farm of three hundred and sixty acres. He was one of the substantial men of this part of the county.
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