USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth county, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 72
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Sherman U. Phelps, of this sketch, grew to manhood on the farm at Delavan lake, and after attending the public schools there he entered the nor- mal school at Whitewater where he spent some time, after which he resumed farming, working different places near his home. About 1903 he bought a farm of eighty acres near the Phelps homestead. In 1904 he removed to the village of Walworth. The year previously he had begun carrying the mail on the rural route from Walworth, route No. 2, and he has continued in that capacity ever since, giving entire satisfaction to the people and the depart- ment. In September, 1905, he moved into his present home, a good residence which he had just completed. He also owns other property in the village.
Mr. Phelps was married on August 2, 1893, to Myrtle Holston, daugh- ter of Henry and Alice (Bunnell) Holston. She was born at Covert, Michi- gan, and she came here with her parents in 1880, the family settling south of Delavan lake Her father died in November, 1902. He was a carpenter and builder. He was a soldier in the Civil war for four years, during which he saw much hard service. He was promoted to captain of a company of Michi- gan volunteers for gallant service. His widow is still living near Walworth. One son has been born to Sherman U. Phelps, William Emmons Phelps, whose birth occurred on September 3, 1901.
Mr. and Mrs. Phelps are members of the Congregational church He is a member of the board of directors of the Howard Lincoln Chautauqua, and he is active in promoting the public welfare.
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CARLOS H. BURNS.
Carlos H. Burns is a man whom everybody likes because he is uniformly friendly and obliging. He has spent his life in Walworth county, identified with agricultural pursuits. He is thoroughly practical and stands high in the community as a man and neighbor, in fact, the Burns family is eminently re- spectable and its members are held in high regard by all who know them.
Mr. Burns was born in Linn township, this county, November 7, 1867. He is the son of Robert L. and Maria ( Hardendorf) Burns, both natives of New York, from which state they came here with their parents when young and they were married at Big Foot. The father followed farming all his life.
Ten children were born to Robert L. Burns and wife, named in order of birth as follows: Cora, who married William Menges and lives at Fontana ; Carlos H., of this sketch; Josephine married Harry Root and lives in Mil- waukee ; George R. lives on a farm near Walworth; Alice married Jacob Noe and lives south of Sharon, in McHenry county, Illinois ; Anna married Frank Henry and lives at Fontana; Jessie married Sylvanus Beguin and lives near Hebron, Illinois; Robert Burns lives in Rockford, Illinois.
While Carlos H. Burns was a small child the family moved to Rock county, Wisconsin, and lived there until he was nineteen years old. Then they moved two and one-half miles north of Walworth on a farm and remained about two years, then moved to near Big Foot, on the Illinois side of the line. About 1897 the father sold out and bought a home in the village of Lawrence, Illinois, where he lived until his death, in December. 1899, his widow surviving until in August, 1908.
Carlos H. Burns lived at home until he was eighteen years of age, then began working out by the month, continuing thus for a year, then worked a year for the town of Alden, McHenry county, Illinois, then farmed a year with his father, southeast of Big Foot, then went to farming for himself in that same neighborhood. He was there three years and during that time he was married, in August, 1892, to Anna May Swartz, daughter of Oliver Perry Swartz and Eva (Weaver) Swartz. She was born at Twin Grove, Green county, Wisconsin. Her father was from Pennsylvania and he came west when a small child with his parents, John and Susan (Cupp) Swartz. They located at Twin Grove, where he grew up and married Eva Weaver. She was from Ohio and came west in childhood with her parents, Josiah and Anna (Benage) Weaver. Mrs. Burns's parents moved to near Sharon when she was four years old, and there she grew up and lived until her marriage, hav- ing received her education in the high school at Sharon. Her mother died
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in February, 1899. Her father now lives in Walworth and has engaged both in farming and carpentering.
After Mr. Burns's marriage he remained in Illinois two years, then moved to a farm one and one-half miles south of Walworth and farmed there ten years. On July 2, 1904, he bought out the livery barn then owned by Charles Kirk in the village of Walworth and he has been in the livery business ever since and also deals in buggies. He has been very successful in what- ever he has undertaken and is now very comfortably established.
Mr. Burns is a member of the Walworth township board of supervisors. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen and the Equitable Fraternal Union. One daughter, Ora May, has been born to the subject and wife. She is attending school in Walworth.
OLIVER P. SWARTZ.
When a man works as persistently and unselfishly as has Oliver P. Swartz, success is bound to attend his efforts. He is a man who believes in keeping the grass from growing under his feet, and in helping his neighbors along life's highway, while he is laboring for his own advancement. .
Mr. Swartz was born in Milheim, Center county, Pennsylvania, October 25, 1851. He is the son of John M. and Susan (Kupp) Swartz. John M. Swartz was born in Pennsylvania, where his father, George Swartz, was also born. The father of George Swartz came from Germany. The mother of John M. Swartz was named Musser before her marriage.
John M. Swartz grew to manhood in Pennsylvania and married Susan Cupp, who was born in Union county, that state. In 1854, when Oliver P., of this review, was less than three years old, the family came west and set- tled in Green county, Wisconsin, where the father farmed for a number of years, but he spent the last eighteen years of his life in Stephenson county, Illinois. He was very successful as a farmer.
Oliver P. Swartz grew to manhood in Green county, this state, and there received his education in the public schools. There he was married to Eva Weaver, daughter of Jesse and Anna ( Benage) Weaver. She was born near Wooster, Ohio, and there her maternal grandparents also lived, the grandfather, Samuel Benger, having been a soldier in the war of 1812, serving on the Great Lakes under the famous Commodore Perry.
It was in 1871 that Mr. Swartz was married. Two years later he moved
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to Stephenson county, Illinois, and farmed there for five years, then came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, continuing farming in Sharon township, buying two farms there, one of eighty acres and one of one hundred and forty acres. In the spring of 1892 he sold his farm and moved to McHenry county, Illinois. where he remained two years, then moved to Rock county, Wisconsin, and spent six years there., While there, on February 6, 1899, Mrs. Swartz died. Mr. Swartz continued farming two years, then gave it up and at times re- turned to the carpenter's trade, at which he had worked some when a young man.
Ten children were born to Oliver P. Swartz and wife, namely: Anna is the wife of Carlos H. Burns, of Walworth ; Oliver F. lives with his sister, Mrs. George Burns, in Walworth; Mary J. is the wife of George Burns, a farmer near Walworth; James Emerson lives at Mt. Vernon, Illinois; John J. lives at Clinton, Rock county, Wisconsin ; Charles Elmer died in January, 1906; Susan Alice married Elmer Latta and lives at Clinton Junction ; Luella is the wife of Henry Rodman and lives in Sharon; Grover C. lives at Clinton with Mr. and Mrs. Latta; Carrie is the wife of Lester Hogle and lives at Buryen, Illinois, near Chicago.
Mr. Swartz now lives in Walworth. He belongs to the Lutheran church and the Modern Woodmen.
WILLIAM H. WILEAR.
It is an axiom demonstrated by human experience that industry is the keynote of prosperity. Success comes not to the man who idly waits, but to the faithful toiler whose work is characterized by sleepless vigilance and cheerful celerity and it has been by such means that William H. Wilear, farmer, carpenter and builder of Sugar Creek township, Walworth county, has forged ahead despite obstacles.
Mr. Wilear was born in Pennsylvania January 10, 1847. He is the son of Ervin and Kate (Heights) Wilear, both natives of Germany, where the father spent his boyhood and was educated, emigrating to the United States when twenty-one years of age. The mother was brought to this country by her parents when three years old, in 1854, the family locating in Walworth county, Wisconsin. Ervin Wilear learned the trade of stone cutter in Ger- many and he followed the same for some time in Pennsylvania, but after he came to Wisconsin he engaged in farming, starting in when the country was new, and, by hard work he carved a very comfortable home from the prim-
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itive. owning a good farm eventually, which consisted of one hundred sixty- three and one-half acres, which he kept well improved and well tilled and here he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1910, his wife having pre- ceded him to the grave about 1899. They were the parents of twelve chil- dren, four sons and two daughters of whom are still living.
William H. Wilear, of this review, grew up on the farm and worked hard when a boy. He received his education in the common schools of this coun- ty, having been a child when he was brought here from Pennsylvania. He has devoted his life to farming and.carpentering, and many of the best and most substantial buildings in Sugar Creek township and vicinity stand as monu- ments to his skill.
L. B. BARKER.
The old-fashioned notion that hard work, patient industry and far- sightedness make for success in the various avenues of life, does not seem to be accepted so universally in our day. The spread of pessimism engendered by many phases of our complex life is in a great measure responsible for lack of faith in the old idea. However, if we observe conditions closely we will find that the intelligent individual who leads a practical and industrious life, will reach a point of success commensurate with his efforts. The life of L. B. Barker, one of the leading agriculturists and stock men of Lafayette town- ship. Walworth county, will afford us an instance of this, for he is an advo- cate of persistency, honesty and the adoption of modern methods in his voca- tion. the economy of labor, and he therefore gets the largest results possible from the minimum amount of labor and expense. It is a delight to look over his well-cared-for acres, his sleek, well-bred live stock and to visit his neatly kept home, for he believes in having system about everything he does, and this is perhaps very largely due to his large success in his chosen field of en- deavor.
Mr. Barker was born in Racine county, Wisconsin, on August 20. 1868. He is the son of Carl and Julia Ann (Kreager) Barker, both natives of Ger- many. he born on October 24, 1826, and she on June 25. 1838. There they grew to maturity and received their education in the common schools, and from there they emigrated to the United States, he in 1862 and she a year later, locating in Walworth county, Wisconsin, where he got work on a farm, also spent a short time in Racine county, this state, then came back to Walworth county, where he became the owner of a good farm of one hun-
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dred and fifty acres, in Lafayette township, also owned land in East Troy township, and through hard work and good management he became well es- tablished and had a comfortable home. Politically, he was a Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His family consisted of six children, three of whom are living at this writing.
L. B. Barker of this review was reared on the home farm where he as- sisted with the general work when old enough, and in the wintertime he at- tended the district schools in his neighborhood, and when young in life took up farming for a livelihood, and he has been very successful as a general farm- er and stock raiser, now owning one of the most productive, valuable and de- sirable farms in Lafayette township, consisting of four hundred and twenty- eight acres, his fine place being known as "Union Stock Farm," and is well located ten miles northeast of Elkhorn in one of the choice vicinities of the county. He has made all the improvements on the place, which are modern in every respect. He has a large, pleasant home and substantial and conve- nient outbuildings.
Politically, Mr. Barker is a Republican and more or less active in the affairs of his party. He has served his district as school director. He and his wife belong to the Lutheran church.
Mr. Barker was married on June 18, 1902, to Theresa Liebnow, who was born in Germany on October 15, 1879. She is the daughter of Leopold and Pauline (Leightsow) Liebnow, both born, reared and married in Ger- many, and from there they emigrated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1881 and they lived there until 1896 when they moved to Walworth county and bought a farm on which they lived until 1906, then returned to Milwaukee where they now reside. To Mr. and Mrs. Barker four children have been born, namely : Alice. Louise; Truman and Zennor.
FRANKLIN JOHN COOK.
Another of our worthy native sons who has been content to spend his life in Walworth county is Franklin John Cook, who owns and operates the farm in Troy township on which he was born November 20, 1865. He is the son of Jerome Madison Cook and Marjorie U. (Pierce) Cook. The father was born in Oneida county, New York, in 1828, and was reared there. He and his brother Henry, when still single young men, came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1856, and purchased together the farms on which the
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subject of this sketch and his brother, A. J. Cook, now reside. The former gentleman improved these farms and set a row of maples on either side the road which have grown up and now shade a beautiful driveway. The father of the subject was married in Jefferson county, this state, to Marjorie U. Pierce, who was born in Michigan, and who came with her parents, Richard and Grace (Uglow) Pierce, and located on a farm north of Palmyra. The parents later moved to Chickasaw county, Iowa, where they died. Jerome M. Cook and wife retired to Palmyra in 1889. He was an active member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. His family consisted of three children.
Franklin J. Cook, of this sketch, was educated in the common schools and the Eagle high school. He has always resided on the home place and has engaged in general farming, with the exception of three years when he was in the ice cream business at Ironwood, Michigan. He is a breeder of Guern- sey cattle, and makes dairying a specialty.
Mr. Cook was married on December 12, 1889, to Mary Etta Durham, who was born in Troy, this county, the daughter of Robert Durham, a well known pioneer of this community. Here Mrs. Cook grew to womanhood and received her education in the public schools. To the subject and wife three children have been born, namely : Willard Franklin, Robert Jerome and Harley John.
Politically, Mr. Cook is a Republican, but has never been especially active in public affairs. In religious matters he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.
HALMUTH HUTH.
No people that go to make up our cosmopolitan civilization have better habits of life than those who come originally from the great German empire. Those people, as well as their descendants, are distinguished for their thrift and honesty, and these two qualities in the inhabitants of any country will in the end alone make that country great. When with these two qualities is coupled the other quality of sound sense, which all the German descendants possess, there are afforded such qualities as will enrich any land and place it at the top of the countries of the world in the scale of elevated humanity.
One of this excellent class is Halmuth Huth, a farmer of Troy town- ship, Walworth county, who was born in Germany on September 25. 1852. He is the son of Carl and Sophia Huth, both of whom lived and died in Ger- many. There were nine children in their family, eight of whom are living.
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The son, Halmuth, was educated in Germany; there he spent his early life and was married on October 3, 1872, to Minnie Rohda, who was born in Germany, January 16, 1854, the daughter of Fred and Mary ( Wolff ) Rohda. both spending their lives in Germany.
In 1882 the subject and wife came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, and settled in Troy township where he worked by the year for a Mr. Swoboda for a period of seven years, then he rented land three years and in 1893 bought the farm of two hundred acres which he still owns and where he has been successfully engaged in general farming. He has made all the modern im- provements now seen on the place, erecting a good dwelling in 1906, and in 1899 he built a substantial barn. He has made a specialty of dairying and keeps on an average of twenty-five cows, the products of his well conducted dairy finding a very ready market.
Politically, Mr. Huth is a Republican and he and his family are members of the Lutheran church of East Troy.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Huth, namely : Fred, born in Germany, September 28, 1873 ;. August, born in Germany, July 23, 1877: Willie, born in Germany, October 17, 1880; Carl, born in Troy township, this county, May 14, 1883: Rossa, born in Walworth county, May 29, 1888; France, born here October 12, 1895. They are all living.
CHARLES D. WESTPHALL.
Since the earliest historical times it has been the custom for households to scatter and as civilization has advanced and means of transportation easier. this severing of home ties has gone on to a greater extent ; the young men of all lands and climes heed the call of the wanderlust and strike out to other scenes and other lands in search of better conditions. Some find them, others do not. We often find a man who has been content, and we might add, wise enough, to stay at home and devote his attention to the things with which he is most familiar. Such a one is Charles D. Westphall, farmer of Whitewater township. Walworth county, who was born on the old homestead here, on April 1, 1858. He is the son of John Nicholas and Lucinda (Taft ) Westphall. the father a native of Ohio and the mother of New York. The paternal grand- father Westphall spent the latter part of his life in Ohio and died there. Sam- uel Taft, the maternal grandfather, was a native of New York who came to (93)
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Walworth county, Wisconsin, with the earliest settlers, about 1839. He was the first blacksmith in the village of Whitewater and here his death occurred. His wife was known in her maidenhood as Rachael Hanson, a native of New York, who also died in Whitewater. They were the parents of five children, all now deceased. John N. Westphall, mentioned above, came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, in the early forties and ran a trip-saw mill, later engaging in farming. In 1857 he bought the farm of eighty acres in Whitewater town- ship which has since been the family home, and which his son, Charles D., of this sketch, now owns. The father moved to Portage, this state, in 1898 and there his death occurred. The mother is also deceased. Their family consist- ed of three sons and six daughters.
Charles D. Westphall was reared on the home farm and was educated in the public schools of his district and he has farmed all his life. He has kept the home place well improved and well tilled. Politically, he is a progressive Republican. His wife belongs to the Catholic church.
Mr. Westphall was married September 8, 1898, to Catherine Hodgins, who was born and reared in Richmond township, this county, the daughter of Patrick and Margaret Hodgins, now deceased.
ALBERT STORK.
An enumeration of the enterprising and representative German citizens of Walworth county would be incomplete without special mention of Albert Stork, of Richmond township, for since casting his lot with us he has stamped the impress of his individuality upon the community and benefited alike him- self and his neighbors, for while laboring for his own advancement he has not been selfish and neglected his duties to the public in general, but he always sup- ports such measures as make for the general good.
Mr. Stork was born in Germany on January 17, 1864. He is the son of Ferdinand and Fredericka (Rocke) Stork, both born in Germany, reared and educated there, and there they were married and spent their lives, both being now deceased.
Albert Stork grew to maturity in his native land and received his educa- tion there. Early in life he formed the desire to come to the United States. and he made the long trip to Janesville, Wisconsin, in 1883, and there he worked two and one-half years, then came to Walworth county and rented a farm. He saved his earnings and in 1899 purchased one hundred and twenty
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acres in Richmond township. This he has greatly improved with buildings, fences, etc., and here he has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, understanding well the proper rotation of crops and the scientific nature of soils, seeds and their relations and the influence of climatic condi- tions, so that he has enjoyed a comfortable income from year to year. Politi- cally, he is a Republican, and he belongs to the Lutheran church.
Mr. Stork was married in 1885 to Augusta Renike, who was born in Ger- many, the daughter of William Renike, who came to Rock county, Wisconsin, in 1887, later coming to Walworth county. He is now deceased. Most of his life was spent in his native fatherland, but he lived in America long enough to establish a good home. To Mr. and Mrs. Stork seven children have been born, namely : Willie, Otto, Lizzie, Mattie, Eddie, Lillie (deceased) and an infant.
GEORGE E. RANDALL.
Among the successful native sons of Walworth county who have been content to spend their lives in the same, well knowing that no better commu- nity could be found for those who desired to follow the bent of agriculture, is George E. Randall, of Darien township, a man who has used his influence in every way possible to advance the prosperity of his locality. He is a whole- souled gentleman and a public-spirited citizen, and is ready at all times to use his means and influence for the promotion of such public improvements as will conduce to the comfort and happiness of his fellow citizens, and, like his father, he is held in high esteem by the population, regardless of all sects, poli- tics or professions, for his life has been led along such paths as insure the re- spect of people in all climes. He has been industrious and has been a close observer of whatever pertains to his chosen life work, consequently has suc- ceeded.
Mr. Randall was born on January 15, 1873, in Lagrange, this county. He is the son of William F. and Mary M. (Madden) Randall, the father born in the state of New York. They now live at Allen's Grove, this county, having come to Troy from the East. The father has spent his life in farming and auctioneering.
George E. Randall grew up in this county and he received his education in the district schools and at Darien city. Early in life he turned his attention to farming and he is now the owner of ninety acres of excellent land in section 34. Darien township, which he has kept under an excellent state of improve-
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ment and cultivation. He keeps a good grade of live stock and has a good home and good outbuildings.
Mr. Randall was married on December 2, 1909, to Nina E. Ames, daugh- ter of Clarence and Sara Ames, of Michigan. This union has been without issue.
The subject of this sketch is one of a family of four children, named as follows : William lives at Lake Como: Samuel lives north of Allen's Grove, this county ; George E. was third in order of birth ; Clarice is living in Darien township, this county.
Politically, George E. Randall is a Republican, but he has never been specially active in public affairs. Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Wood- men.
JAMES J. THORPE.
Of the second generation of settlers in Walworth county from the Emerald Isle, the name of James J. Thorpe, of Darien township, should re- ceive special setting in a biographical work of the nature of the one in hand. for in him are outcroppings of many of the characteristic traits that have made the Celtic race famous and successful wherever they have dispersed. He has tried to keep before him the aphorism, expounded by one of our wisest and best men, "That the wise make of their failures a ladder, the foolish a grave," and he has refused to recall the doing of past years except their lessons, which he has used as guides for present-day actions, refusing to permit obstacles to thwart him in his race for a given goal. In thus advocating sound and whole- some principles of life for himself. he has inadvertently had a palliative influ- ence on the lives of those with whom he has come into contact, the people of this locality knowing him as an honest, earnest, energetic and public-spirited citizen, worthy of their confidence and respect.
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