USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth county, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 66
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Otto R. Zaspel was reared on the farm where, when but a boy, he assist- ed with the general work during the crop seasons, and attended the public schools in his neighborhood during the winter months, in the schools of Racine county and of Spring Prairie township, Walworth county. He took up farming for a livelihood when a young man and he is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of fine land, fertile, well improved and well cultivated, and he has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, making a specialty of dairying, being well equipped for this business. He keeps a good grade of live stock, especially cattle. He has a pleasant home and good outbuildings, everything about his place being in "ship- shape." Politically, Mr. Zaspel is a Democrat, but has never been especially active in party affairs.
On September 13, 1882, Mr. Zaspel was united in marriage with Anna Griffith, who was born in Rochester, Wisconsin, on January 14, 1859. She is the daughter of John and Mary (Laird) Griffith, the father a native of Wales and the mother of Ireland. They spent their childhood in their respective countries, emigrating to the United States when young and un- married, each locating in Racine county, Wisconsin, where they met and marriedl, and there began life on the farm, becoming very comfortably estab- lished. The death of Mr. Griffith occurred there in 1901, at the advanced age of ninety years, his widow surviving until 1909, having reached a good ripe age also, eighty-five years. They were a grand old couple, highly esteemed by a wide circle of friends. Politically, he was a Republican. There were six children in the Griffith family, four of whom are living.
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Zaspel, namely : William,
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Alex, Nora, Clara and Ernest, all living. The above named children are being given every chance to secure a good common school education in the schools of their home community, their parents being advocates of education, in fact, all that makes for progress in any phase of life.
CHARLES PORTER GREENE.
One of the most conspicuous figures in the present-day history of Wal- worth county is Charles Porter Greene, of Elkhorn, a man actively identified with the business and industrial interests of this locality and for many years widely known as one of the representative men of the southern part of the Badger state. Equally noted as a citizen whose useful career has conferred credit upon the community and whose marked abilities and stirring qualities have won for him much more than local repute, he holds today distinctive precedence as one of the most progressive and successful men that here ever inaugurated and carried to successful termination large and important un- dertakings. Strong mental endowment, invincible courage and a determined will, coupled with an honesty of purpose that hesitates at no opposition, have so entered into his composition as to render him a dominant factor in the business world and a leader of men in important enterprises. He is essen- tially a man of affairs, sound of judgment and far-seeing in what he under- takes; and every enterprise to which he has addressed himself has resulted in liberal financial returns, while at the same time he has won and retained the confidence and esteem of all classes.
Mr. Greene was born in Muskego, Wisconsin, September 19, 1844, and is the second of eight children born to George and Sarah A. (Clark) Greene. This family has an honored and distinguished ancestry, which may be traced back to Sergt. Thomas Ellsworth, born in England in 1629. and who emi- grated to America, locating at Windsor, Connecticut, where he married Eliza- beth Holcomb in 1654. Their daughter, Eunice Ellsworth, born in 1665, married Timothy Greene, Sr. She was a first cousin to Capt. David Ells- worth, and was first cousin once removed of his son, the famous chief justice, Oliver Ellsworth. Her son, Timothy Greene, Jr., was, therefore, second cousin to Chief Justice Greene. Timothy Greene, Jr., was born in 1748, mar- ried Eunice Clark, and to them was born Clark Greene in Amherst, in 1776, who married Submit Hastings, daughter of Thomas and Hannah ( Billings) Hastings. Hannah Billings was the daughter of Deacon John Billings, who (89)
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was born in East Amherst in 1749. Clark Greene, mentioned above, was the grandfather of Charles P. Greene, of Elkhorn. He was a farmer, gen- ial, honest, upright and was highly respected. He and his wife were mem- bers of the Congregational church, and they reared their children to be self- reliant, honest and sincere. George Greene, one of their children, was born in Amherst, June 19, 1811, was reared on a farm and when a young man moved to New York state where he farmed and also worked in the lumber mills. In June, 1836, he came to Wisconsin when the present great city . of Milwaukee was only a small village and he lived on a farmi near there until 1864. On March 31, 1841, he was united in marriage with Sarah Ann Clark, who was born in Portland, New York, May 13, 1823. Her father was of English ancestry and was in the war of 1812. George Greene and wife lived on the farm there until they came to Walworth county in 1864 and here purchased a farm in section 30, Spring Prairie township, on which they lived until the death of George Greene. June 2, 1885, when he was killed by a stroke of lightning. After that his wife made her home with their son, Charles P. Greene, until her death, September 26, 1894. Both these parents were active members of the Free-Will Baptist church in Spring Prairie, the father having been clerk of the congregation there for several years.
George Greene spent his life in agricultural pursuits, and he was also a bank director for many years. He was quiet and unassuming, and was a stanch friend and good neighbor. He was not much of a public man, pre- ferring the serenity of his home and association of his family. He was loyal to the principles of the Republican party and was decided in his views as a Christian, and he gave liberally to the church. His wife was a teacher be- fore her marriage, having been educated in the public schools of New York. She was a woman of beautiful personal characteristics: she was a great reader, but read only the best books.
Charles P. Greene, the immediate subject of this review, spent the major part of his youth on his father's farm, where he assisted with the general work during the crop seasons, and he received his education in the common schools and the academy at Milton. Upon reaching manhood he joined his father in business, continuing with him until the death of the elder Greene, when the subject bought the interests of the other heirs in the old homestead. His careful management of his affairs, his persistency and close application brought prosperity, and he kept the old place well improved and under a high state of cultivation. He owns over three hundred acres of as choice and valuable land as the county affords, all in Spring Prairie town- ship. He is also one of the stockholders in the First National Bank of Elk- horn. and he has been president of this popular and conservative institution
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ever since about 1886, its ever growing success having been due very largely to his able and judicious management.
Mr. Greene is a Republican and has long been active in the ranks, and is regarded as a leader in local affairs, but he would never consent to run for office. The greater part of his life has been passed in Walworth county, whose interests he has ever had at heart and played well his part in prompt- ing, and those who have known him from boyhood number him among their warmest friends, a fact which indicates that his life has been exemplary in all its relations with his fellow men.
Mr. Greene was married on September 12, 1898, to Lillian B. Webster, daughter of David Putnam Webster and Jane ( Stillwell) Webster. She was born in the town of East Troy, this county, February 8, 1862. This family also has an interesting ancestry. Nathan Delano was born in Schoharie county, New York, November 16, 1764, and he married Phila Wilson for his second wife, and his death occurred on April 3, 1841. Sally Ann Delano, daughter of Nathan Delano, was born April 16, 1816, married Joseph Mur- ray Stillwell, May 31, 1836, and died March 22, 1900. Joseph Murray Stillwell was born in December, 1812, and died on March 4, 1890. Jane Stillwell, daughter of Joseph Murray Stillwell and Sally Ann Delano, was born in Manchester, Ontario county, New York, February 11, 1838, and was married to David Putnam Webster on March 6, 1861.
Caleb Douglas Webster, descended from the same family as Noah Web- ster, of Webster's Dictionary fame, was born in Ontario county, New York, November 20, 1810; he married Nancy Putnam, August 20, 1832, and died January 13, 1905. He and his wife came to Wisconsin in 1846. Nancy Put- nam was born in Oneida county, New York, April 16, 1812, and she died on December 5, 1904.
David Putnam Webster, son of Caleb Douglas Webster and Nancy Putnam, was born in Webster, Oneida county, New York, January 13, 1834. married Jane Stillwell. March 6, 1861, at East Troy, and they resided in that town until March 20, 1877, when they moved to Whitewater. Wiscon- sin, for the purpose of educating their daughters in the normal school there. They as well as their parents lived to celebrate their golden wedding. The Webster home has remained at Whitewater ever since. Mrs. Greene was graduated from the above named institution in 1886, but before completing her course she taught school for a time, and for fourteen years after her graduation she continued teaching with much success. In 1896 she came to Elkhorn and has lived here ever since. On July 25, 1896, Mrs. Greene was nominated by the Republican party as their candidate for county superin-
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tendent of schools. After receiving the nomination she spent the next three months in teaching in the schools of Milwaukee. She has had experience in all kinds of school work except kindergarten up to and including high school, and she taught three years in Colorado before her nomination. She was duly elected the fall of 1896 to the office above named, and she had the distinction of being the first woman to hold that office in Walworth county. She very ably and conscientiously discharged the duties of the same for one term, winning the hearty approval- of all concerned, and taking her place among the notable educators of her day and generation in southern Wiscon- sin. She has kept fully abreast of the times in all matters pertaining to edu- cational work, and is a lady of talent and refinement, a profound student, familiar with all branches of literature. To Charles P. Greene and wife two children have been born, namely: George Webster Greene, born July II, 1899, and Charles Porter Greene, Jr., born May 2, 1902.
HENRY J. SHAVER.
It is a pleasure to meet an old settler, one who came here in early days when much of the Badger state was a wilderness, and then learn from his lips of the trials which were endured for the sake of the happy homes which now dot the county of Walworth. Such a man was Henry J. Shaver, the late venerable and well known merchant of Spring Prairie. Many of his earlier impressions were gained in the woods of the pioneer period in this and the old Empire state and he related many interesting reminiscences of those times. The pioneers were happy. It is singular how easily a person can adapt himself to any surroundings and derive comfort therefrom, and yet it fails to be at all singular when account is taken of the selfish desire to be comfortable. If we have enough to eat and enough to wear and little ahead and an outlook for some good books, we can manage to worry along and derive some satisfaction out of life. So the old settlers were happy; they were more sociable, neighborly, obliging, as everyone will emphatically tell you.
Mr. Shaver was born in Chautauqua county, New York, November 7, 1832, and there he grew to manhood and received such educational advan- tages as the early schools of the county afforded in those days. He came to Elkhorn, Wisconsin, in 1853. He learned the blacksmith's trade in early life and also engaged for some time in the manufacture of wagons and buggies. He was a very skilled workman and his services were in great demand, his
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vehicles, owing to their superior quality, finding a very ready market. He came to Spring Prairie, eastern Walworth county, in 1865 and engaged in blacksmithing. He maintained his shop here many years, building up a wide trade with the surrounding country. In 1897 he bought the store building in the village of Spring Prairie and he and his son, William H., engaged in the mercantile business, in which they were successful from the first, enjoy- ing a liberal patronage. Old age coming on, he desired to give up active busi- ness and lead a quiet life, so in 1910 he sold out to his son and lived in retire- ment in his pleasant home here, surrounded with the comforts of life as a result of his long years of close application and honest dealings with his fel- low men.
Politically, Mr. Shaver was a Republican, and while he was always ready to support any measure looking to the general welfare of the com- munity in which he resided, he was not a seeker after political favors.
Mr. Shaver was married in 1856 to Julia Hay, who died in Spring Prairie in 1876. She was the daughter of Horace M. Hay, and a native of the state of New York. She came to Elkhorn, Wisconsin, in early life, with her father, who engaged in the mercantile business here, in fact he was one of the early pioneers of this section. In 1852 he went to California, as a result of the gold excitement and his death occurred on the Pacific ocean the same year. Mrs. Shaver's mother was known in her maidenhood as Mar- garet Fuller, who was born in New York, and whose death occurred on April 8, 1870, in Elkhorn.
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hay. Mr. and Mrs. Shaver had two children. One of the sons, William H. Shaver, mentioned above, was born April 8, 1870, and was educated in Spring Prairie public schools and Lawrence University. In early life he learned the blacksmith's trade under his father and became a skilled workman, but, as before stated, he took up merchandising at Spring Prairie some fifteen years ago and here he still maintains his store, carrying a carefully selected stock of general merchandise and enjoying a good trade with the surrounding country, hav- ing always done an increasing business. Politically, he is a Republican, but not an active partisan. He was married in 1894 to Ada E. Cole and they have two children, Lyle and Warren. Julius, the other child, died in infancy.
The first wife of Henry J. Shaver died in 1876 and in 1878 he was united in marriage with Martha M. Hay, a sister of his former wife, and to this second union one daughter was born. Mabel I., who married Herbert E. Ball, and they have one child. Robert K. Mr. Shaver died March 29. 1912.
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SILAS INGALLS.
For over sixty years Silas Ingalls was a prominent figure in the history of Walworth county and aided materially in its development. By a life of uprightness, industry and square dealing,-a life devoted to the support of whatever was good and true,-he won the admiration and genuine regard of a large circle of acquaintances, who sincerely mourned his loss, when, a few years ago, he was called upon to lay aside the burdens, joys and sorrows which had fallen to his share, as to all, in the journey of life.
The birth of the late Silas Ingalls occurred at Norton Hill, Greene county, New York, April 12, 1823. He was the son of Enoch and Nancy (Bishop) Ingalls. His paternal grandparents were Jacob and Susannah (Goff) Ingalls. Enoch Ingalls was born at Norton Hill, New York, June 9, 1794, and on November 11, 1819, he married Nancy Bishop, daughter of James Bishop and wife. She was born at Hemlock, New York, June 8, 1798, and her death occurred in Walworth county, Wisconsin, October 27, 1889. He moved to Wisconsin in 1850 and died here April 25. 1872. His family consisted of seven children, of whom Silas, of this sketch, was the second in order of birth. .
Jacob Ingalls, mentioned above, was the son of Joseph and Roby (Nor- ton) Ingalls, and he was born at Rehoboth, Massachusetts, June 27. 1764, and he and Susannah Goff were married on October 9. 1793; she was born July 29, 1766, and her death occurred September 23, 1839. Jacob Ingalls was a soldier in the American Revolution. He arrived in Springfield, Massa- chusetts, July 10, 1779, and served in several campaigns up to March 15. 1781. In 1793 he moved to Westerlo, Greene county, New York, and bought a farm, working four days out of each week for the former owner in an effort to pay for it. He cleared his land, built a cabin and then married. In 1818 he won a prize of one hundred and fifty dollars at the Albany Agricul- tural Society for the best farm. His death occurred at the town of West- erlo in 1841. Jacob's father, Joseph Ingalls, was the son of Joseph and Cor- dellay A. (Bullock) Ingalls. He was born in 1744 at Rehoboth, Massa- chusetts, and upon reaching manhood married Roby Norton. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war from Massachusetts, in Capt. Samuel Bliss's company in 1775. in Capt. William North's company in 1777 to 1779 and was in several other companies up to 1780. In 1791 he left the town of Rehoboth and settled at Norton Hill, Greene county, New York. Joseph's father, who also was named Joseph, was a son of Edmund and Eunice (Lud- din) Ingalls. He was born at Rehoboth in 1718, and he married Cordellay
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Ann Bullock. He probably moved to Otsego county, New York, about 1790. This Joseph was the son of Edmund Ingalls, and the latter was the son of John and Elizabeth ( Barrett) Ingalls, and he was probably born at Bristol or Cumberland, Rhode Island. In 1705 he was united in marriage with Eunice Luddin, daughter of Benjamin Luddin, of Braintree. Edmund was the son of John Ingalls, the latter being the son of Edmund and Ann Ingalls, and he was born at Skirbeck, England, in 1625, and in 1667 he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Barrett of Salem. He left Lynn before 1687 and settled at Rehoboth, Massachusetts, and it is recorded "Old John Ingalls died December 31, 1721." John was the son of Edmund Ingalls, who was the son of Robert and the grandson of Henry Ingalls, and he was born at Skirbeck, Lincolnshire. England, about 1598, and he emigrated to Salem, Massachusetts, with Governor Endicott's company in 1628, and with his brother Francis and four others began the settlement of Lynn, Massachusetts, in 1629. and he became a prominent citizen there. The name is found much earlier in English history and is believed to be of Scandinavian origin and meant "by the power of Thor." The Ingalls family is now a large one in the United States and wherever they have dispersed have been influential in their communities.
Silas Ingalls, the immediate subject of this memoir, grew to manhood in his native state and about 1845 emigrated to Walworth county, Wisconsin, locating in the northeast quarter of section 19, Linn township, entering land from the government. He told his children in after years that the only house between his land and Racine at that time was Seymour Hatch's residence. The country was little improved and wild game was in abundance He started out breaking raw land all over the community and plowed with eight or ten yoke of oxen at a time. He had received a good education for those days and he taught the first school on Big Foot prairie, in a log house. He also ran the first threshing machine in that part of the country.
Here Mr. Ingalls was married to Helen Snell. daughter of John P. and Mary Ann (Sconton) Snell. She was born September 26. 1836, and died September 14, 1887. Her father, John P. Snell, was from Herkimer county, New York, and before coming here was a member of the New York Legis- lature. He settled in Linn township among the pioneers, and he was the first chairman of the county board of supervisors of Walworth county, and for many years he was chairman of the board of supervisors of Linn township. He had a son, Amos J. Snell, who lived in Chicago and became a millionaire, and who was mysteriously murdered by a man named Tascott, the case attracting world-wide attention.
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After his marriage, Silas Ingalls continued to reside on his farm where he had first settled, and it is said that there were few if any in the county of those who entered their land from the government who lived so long a time on the same land. He became one of the leading farmers and sub- stantial citizens of the county.
Seven children were born to Silas Ingalls and wife, namely: Jerome, who lives on the southern shore of Lake Geneva, engaged in the boat busi- ness; Wallace was a lawyer and was district attorney of Walworth county three terms and in 1888 went to Racine, where he has practiced law ever since, and from which place he served as assemblyman in the state Legisla- ture : John P. is practicing law in Elkhorn : Henry A. is a lawyer at .Bakers- field, California, having been graduated from the Northwestern University Law School; Frank is farming near Walworth: Hiram is engaged in farm- ing in Illinois, just across the line from Wisconsin, between Harvard and Big Foot : Amos still resides on the old homestead, in which he has an inter- est, and he also owns an adjoining farm.
The death of Silas Ingalls occurred on August 26. 1907. He was a life-long farmer and took a great pride in keeping up his farm in a neat and attractive manner, and he aided in any way he could in making Lake Geneva the beautiful resort that it is today, spending much of his time along the lake- side. In later life he traveled a great deal, spending one winter in New York and two years in California. He enjoyed life thoroughly, and con- tributed to the enjoyment of others whenever possible, being a man of kindly nature, obliging, hospitable. He was a good supporter of the church at Fon- tana, although not a member, and his influence was always for good citizen- ship.
ROYAL JOY WILLIAMS.
Royal Joy Williams, whose family gave the name to Williams Bay, and one of the pioneers about the shores of Lake Geneva, was born in Conway, Franklin county, Massachusetts, May 1. 1818. He was descended from Robert Williams, a shoemaker, who settled at Roxbury, Massachusetts, dur- ing the early settlement of New England. Robert's son Richard, who set- tled in Taunton, had a son named Daniel, who was born about 1682, and Daniel's son was named Daniel, the latter born in 1718 at Taunton, Massa- chusetts; Daniel, the second, married Rebecca Hunt, and one of their ten children was Ephraim, who was born December 27, 1747, old style, or Jan- uary 7, 1748, new style calendar. Ephraim married Mercy Daniels, of Men-
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dor, and moved to Ashfield; their eighth child, Israel, was born September 24, 1789, married Lavina Joy, and they were the parents of Royal Joy Will- iams and six other children, of whom William died young, while the family lived in the East; Francis, Moses Austin, Israel, Festus, Royal, Lavina and Hannah came to Walworth county, Wisconsin.
Royal J. Williams lived in Massachusetts until his nineteenth year, then, in August, 1836, he came to Walworth county with his younger brother Austin, their two brothers Moses and Israel having preceded them in July of the same year, and had entered a claim for the subject, comprising the north half of section 13, Walworth township. As soon as the subject came he took possession of his claim. Moses' wife, Lucinda S. Williams, taught the first school in the town of Walworth during the winter of 1838 and 1839. At that time no settlement had been made on the prairies, only a few claims having been made on the lake shore. In 1837 Israel Williams and wife came here and located along the south shore of the lake, opposite Will- iams Bay, having brought with them the rest of their children and Mrs. Lavina Williams' mother, Hannah L. Joy. Mrs. Joy died in 1839. The Williams family owned a large amount of land, and they moved to different locations, finally gathering about what has since been known as Williams Bay. About 1840 they began building the first house in what was later Will- iams Bay; it is still standing. For this they cut timber on the south side of the lake and rafted it down to the village of Lake Geneva and had it sawed into lumber for their house, all of oak but the floor. They added to their original holdings until they had about one thousand acres at the bay near there, some lying across the bay on the south shore.
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