USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth county, Wisconsin, Volume II > Part 8
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The house itself is full three stories high, about sixty-five feet wide and one hundred and seventy-five feet long. of dressed Bedford stone, beautifully finished with exquisite hand carvings. Inside, the structure is finished in fine stone, Tennessee marble, Mexican onyx and African marble, of which a mantel alone is said to have cost six thousand dollars. The sixteen bath rooms is an indication of the complete comforts of the place. and the bowling alley and the billiard hall provide means for healthful enjoyment. For pleasure upon Lake Geneva there is the beautiful steam yacht "Olivette," one of the most sump- tuous on the lake, of steel construction and richly finished.
Surrounding the house is a natural forest park, to which has been added many other trees and shrubs, the attractive grounds being in keeping with the house. The park is bordered on the east by Lakeside Drive. Along the driveway the park is enclosed by a wall of the same kind of stone of which the house is built, dressed stone, six feet high and about fifty rods long. Across the road lies the finely improved farm, belonging to the estate, the roadside fence being of split boulder, the same length and height as the wall enclosing the park, and costing about twenty thousand dollars for the fence alone.
Beside the main residence there are eight other buildings on the estate, one of which, known as "The Cottage." is deserving of special mention. It is three stories high, has sixteen large rooms and spacious verandas. It originally stood on the present site of the villa, but was moved some time ago to its present position on the east side of Lake Shore Drive. To accomplish this a number of large trees had to be taken up, but were afterwards replanted. Not far from the cottage are the large stone stables, handsomely finished, and containing a number of fine horses. There are flowers and vegetable gardens from which supplies are furnished to the residence in Chicago. About three hundred acres are included in the estate near the city of Lake Geneva and there are also other lands along the south side of the lake. The villa is conservatively estimated to have cost about two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the building alone. the furnishings, improvements and surroundings representing an outlay of about as much more.
Otto Young, the founder of the estate, was born in Germany, and he came to America as a poor boy. He worked for a time in a store in New York
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City, later traveling as a salesman for a jewelry firm. He was finally able to go into business for himself, and he located on State street, Chicago, where he built up the well known Otto Young Jewelry Company. He later went into partnership in "The Fair." one of Chicago's great department stores, and made some quite profitable deals in real estate. He started building his villa at Lake Geneva in the fall of 1898 and was two and one-half years completing it. His death occurred in 1906, at which time he was said to be worth about seventeen million dollars.
ERNEST A. WEST.
Not all men order their lives to their liking : nor yet are all men true to themselves in living as near to their ideals as possible and attaining to such heights as their opportunities and talents render accessible. We now turn to one who has done well what he undertook all along the highway of life, wherein all honor lies. Not a pretentious nor exalted life has been his, but one that has been true to itself and its possibilities, and one to which we may revert with respect.
Ernest A. West, farmer of Darien township, was born in Lafayette township, Walworth county, on September 21, 1859. He is the son of Jesse Pike and Elizabeth Ann (Northrop) West, both natives of the state of New York, where they spent their early years, the father coming west when a young man and settling in Lafayette township, this county, in 1838. He was among the earliest pioneers here, and found a wild and undeveloped country, but he saw a great future in Walworth county and set to work with a will to upbuild his own interests and those of the community. He took up one hundred and sixty acres of land from the government, which he later sold, and took up one hundred and sixty acres more-in fact he repeated this plan several times, securing fresh land, making some improvements and then selling the same to newcomers. He finally bought up the first claim and there spent the rest of his life, being very successful as a farmer. His death occurred in 1868, his widow surviving a half century, dying at an advanced age in 1908. He had been twice married, first to Lydia Skinner, to which union one son was born, William, now deceased. Seven children were born of the second union, namely : Allen and Laverne both died young : Ernest A., of this sketch; Clara B., who married Alfred Smith, is now deceased; Hat- tie died when nine years old: Mrs. Sarah J. married Arthur Millis, of White- water, and she is now deceased; A. Pike lives in Milwaukee, where he is assistant custodian of the federal building.
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Ernest A. West was united in marriage with Edna F. Foster, on Novem- ber 25, 1880. She was the daughter of Jay and Marcia (Leach) Foster, a highly respected family of this county.
Mr. West has devoted his life to farming and he has been very success- ful. He is now the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and fourteen acres in Darien township, also eighty acres in Taylor county, Wisconsin, and one hundred and sixty acres in Lyman county, South Dakota. He keeps his land well improved and raises a good grade of live stock. He has a pleasant home and good outbuildings on his home place.
Ten children have been born to Mr. West and wife, named as follows: Jay P. is a veterinary surgeon of Madison, this state; Clinton H. lives at Williams Bay, this county ; Arthur J. lives in Colorado; William died when eight years old ; Roscoe E. is at home; Milo died when three years old; Roy F., who also lives at home, is clerking in a store in Darien; Edna May died in infancy ; Lynn and Lyle W., twins, are at home with their parents. Mr. West graduated from the Elkhorn high school in the class of '78.
Mr. West is a member of the Congregational church. He belongs to the Masonic order at Darien, having transferred here from Elkhorn, where he first belonged. He is an independent voter.
EDWARD F. DUNN.
It is a well authenticated fact that success comes as a result of legitimate and well applied energy, unflagging determination and perseverance in a course of action when once decided upon. She is never known to bestow her largesses upon the indolent and ambitionless, and only those who seek her untiringly are recipients of her blessings. In tracing the history of the in- fluential business man and representative citizen whose name introduces this sketch, it is plainly seen that the prosperity which he enjoys has been won by commendable qualities and it is also his personal worth that has gained for him the high esteem of those who know him.
Edward F. Dunn, for many years one of the enterprising business men of Lake Geneva, was born in the eastern part of Walworth township, this county, on December 10, 1863. He is the son of Patrick and Ann ( Murray ) Dunn, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
Mr. Dunn grew to manhood under his parental roof-tree. When he was about twenty years old he went to Harvard, where he engaged in the gen-
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eral merchandise business for himself about four years, then took a position as traveling salesman, which he followed about ten years, selling groceries first, later specialties. His headquarters most of the time was at St. Paul, Min- nesota. He quit the road in 1893 and bought an interest in the feed business with Horace G. Douglass at Lake Geneva. They sold out in 1903 and bought the coal and feed business at Williams Bay from William Lackey. They had also purchased a similar business at Zenda in 1894. In June, 1911, they sold out their holdings at Williams Bay and in September of that year purchased a lumber, coal and feed business in the village of Walworth, known as the W. B. Merrium Lumber Company. The following December they sold out both at Walworth and Zenda. They have met with continued success at all these places and enjoyed a large trade with the people of those com- munities, in fact all over the southern half of the county. Mr. Dunn has resided in Lake Geneva since 1893. He has long taken an abiding interest in the public life of the city and has held several official positions, including that of mayor of Lake Geneva two terms, also alderman two terms, during which period he did much for the permanent good of the city, discharging his duties in an able and faithful manner and winning the hearty approval of all concerned by his judicious course. Religiously, he belongs to the Catholic church.
Mr. Dunn was married in January, 1893, to Mary Leahy. She was born at Marengo, Illinois, and she grew to womanhood there and at Howard and was living in Chicago at the time of her marriage. To the subject and wife one son has been born, Edward Dunn, whose birth occurred on August 25. 1898.
Mr. Dunn belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters, also the Knights of Columbus, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Modern Woodmen. He is a good mixer, a genial, obliging gentleman who makes and retains friends easily.
WILLIAM BROWN.
Among the representative business men of Walworth county, the name of William Brown should be mentioned here. He has devoted himself very largely to the implement business, having ever carried on the various depart- ments of his enterprise with that discretion, foresight and energy which are sure to find their natural sequence in definite success, having always been a hard worker, a good manager and a man of conservative habits, and being
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fortunately situated in a thriving new community, it is no wonder that he has won the position that he today enjoys in the business world. He grew up amid pioneer conditions here and has lived to see wonderful changes take place in this section of the great Badger state, always lending such aid as he could in the work of upbuilding this section, whose interests he has at heart.
Mr. Brown was born in Hudson (now Lyons) township, this county, on March 20, 1843. He is the son of John and Catherine ( Reid) Brown, the father born on the isle of Jersey in the English channel, off the coast of France. He was the son of George and Ann Brown. George Brown was a soldier in the British army and was stationed in the isle of Jersey for a num- ber of years. John Brown grew to manhood in Ireland, probably Inneskillen, where it is believed that George Brown and his wife lived before he was sent away as a soldier into the isle of Jersey. John Brown emigrated to America in 1838 and lived for a time in Michigan, spending his young manhood days there, then came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, locating in what is now Lyons township, entering a claim of government land along the south line of the township, east of Ryan's lake. Having entered two hundred acres or more, he there developed a fine farm from the wilderness and made his perma- nent home, becoming one of the influential men of his community. A year or two after he settled here his parents came over from the old country, and here entered land from the government.
John Brown was married to Catherine Reid, a native of Ireland, from which country she came to America when she was a mere child. This union resulted in the birth of seven children, namely : Valentine, George, John, Ann, Eliza, Margaret and William.
John Brown devoted his entire life to farming after coming to this county. He took considerable interest in public affairs, holding a number of local offices. He was one of the pioneers who built the first Catholic church at Lake Geneva. His death occurred in 1887.
William Brown, of this review, grew up on his father's farm in Lyons township, and there he lived until his marriage, in 1873, to Emma E. Lewis, daughter of William Lewis and wife, the father a native of the state of New York, probably the town of Herkimer, and he came to this county in an early time, about 1845. Mrs. Brown was born and reared in Linn township. this county.
After his marriage, Mr. Brown came to Lake Geneva and entered the agricultural implement business, also bought and shipped live stock, wool and other products, soon building up a lucrative and extensive business. For the past fifteen years he has been a traveling salesman in the flour and feed busi- ness, and he has been very successful in this line. He was postmaster at Lake
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Geneva for a term of four years, during which time he discharged the duties of the same in a most satisfactory manner, and at the same time carried on his live stock and wool business. He also served a term of two years in the city council. Politically, he is a Democrat.
Mr. Brown and wife are the parents of three children, namely: Lewis, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Catherine, who is keeping house for her father in Lake Geneva; John, who lives in Lake Geneva, is in the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company. These chil- dren have been well educated, John being a graduate of the Lake Geneva high school, and Catherine was graduated from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana, in 1907. Previous to attending that institution she had engaged in teaching in the public schools, both in the district and Lake Geneva schools. She attended normal school both at Whitewater and Oshkosh, and has also made herself proficient in stenography.
JOHN GRUNEWALD.
Distinguished for their thrift and honesty, which two qualities in the inhabitants of any country will in the end make that country great, no peo- ple who have cast their lot in Walworth county are worthier of our esteem and thanks than those of Germanic blood. This county, however, has been fortunate in securing such a goodly number of them. Of this excellent class is John Grunewald, well established farmer of Spring Prairie township, a man who, for many reasons, is eligible for representation in this work, not the least of which is the fact that he fought gallantly for his adopted country during its darkest hours, and, indeed, in all the relations of life he has been known as a man of sterling characteristics, consequently it is not surprising that he has succeeded in a material way and that he has won the confidence and respect of his neighbors and friends.
Mr. Grunewald was born in Germany, on July 13, 1842. He is the son of Henry and Elizabeth Grunewald, who were both natives of Germany, in which country they were married, having spent the greater part of their life there, after which they, with their youngest son, John, and one daughter, emigrated to America in 1855 and settled in East Troy township, Walworth county, Wisconsin. Here, through hard work, they became very comfort- ably established, and here they spent the balance of their lives, the father dying in 1865, and the mother in 1861. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom John, of this review, is the only one living at this writing.
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Politically, Mr. Grunewald was a Republican and religiously, a member of the Lutheran church.
John Grunewald was thirteen years old when he accompanied his par- ents to Walworth county. He had attended the public schools in Germany and he also went to school for some time in the town of East Troy, and early in life turned his attention to farming. He is now the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of excellent and well improved land in Spring. Prairie township, on which he built a fine residence in 19II. He has one of the choice farms of the township and he has met with a large measure of success as a general farmer and stock raiser. He deserves a great deal of credit for his success, in view of the fact that he has made his own property.
Politically, Mr. Grunewald is a Republican, but has not sought to be a politician or a leader in public affairs. He also is a survivor of the Civil war, . having enlisted on August 15, 1862, in Company K, Twenty-eighth Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry, in which he served very faithfully until the close of the war, principally in the Western Army, having fought at Helena, Arkansas; Mobile, Alabama ; Tallahatchie, Mississippi, and many other places of minor importance.
Soon after the war Mr. Grunewald was married on November 8, 1865. to Elizabeth Dietz, who was born in Germany. She is the daughter of Louis and Maria Dietz, natives of Germany, in which country they were married, having spent the greater part of their life there, emigrating to the United States in 1855 with their two children, a son and a daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Dietz located in Walworth county, where they spent the rest of their lives; however, Mr. Dietz's death occurred in Ohio, while the mother died in Spring Prairie township.
Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Grunewald, namely : Henry, who is deceased : Albert, Mary, William, Edward, Rose, Arthur and Frank, they having taken up their vocation in the various walks of life.
WILLIAM A. ERWIN.
In all that constitutes true manhood and good citizenship, William A. Erwin, farmer of Darien township, Walworth county, is a notable example and none stands higher than he in the esteem and confidence of the com- munity. His career has been characterized by duty faithfully performed, and by industry, thrift and wisely directed efforts he has acquired a liberal share of this world's goods, besides earning a reputation which has never been
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clouded by the commission of a single unworthy act, for he believes in making the Golden Rule his guide in his every-day life and in assisting his neighbors and friends on the onward march through the vales and over the steeps where the path of life leads for everyone. Because of his generous and kindly nature, he has won and retained the good will and esteem of all who have contact with him. He hails from the old Empire state, which great domain has sent such a vast horde of enterprising and worthy citizens to this and other sections of the great new West and reclaimed the same from the primeval state.
Mr. Erwin was born on March 29, 1842, in Franklin county, New York, and he is the son of P. A. and Jane (Erwin) Erwin. The father of the subject was a native of Vermont and he grew to manhood, married and spent the earlier part of his life in his native state and New York. He came to Minnesota in 1862 and settled in Wauseca county, where he engaged in farming until his death. He was a hard working man and led a quiet home life, not participating in public affairs.
To Mr. and Mrs. P. A. Erwin eleven children were born, namely : David A., who lives in Minnesota ; Eugene and Sydney make their home in Montana ; James A. lives in Minnesota ; Mrs. Catherine Ballard lives in Minnesota ; William A., of this review; Fin is deceased. The other five of the family reside in Adams county, Wisconsin, P. A. Erwin being dead.
William A. Erwin came west with his parents in 1862, being then twenty years of age, having grown to manhood and received his education in Franklin county, New York. He was married on July 31, 1866, to .Amanda R. Lockwood. Six children were born to them, namely: Lee Lewis, de- ceased : Rena R., deceased; Cora Wilday lives at Cumberland, Wisconsin : Nanie Bardeneo, who resides in Kansas; Allen N. Erwin lives in Chicago; Amanda Mills lives in Watertown, South Dakota. Mr. Erwin remained in the state of Minnesota for a period of twenty-two years engaged in general farming. developing a fine farm there and making a success of his chosen life work. Selling out his farm there. he came to Wisconsin and settled at Delavan Lake, Walworth county, where he ran a resort for about nine years, which became a favorite gathering place each summer for hundreds of tour- ists and visitors to the beautiful lake region. his place being known as Strow's Park, the present location of Woodlawn Bay Hotel. He sold out to August Melges, who still runs the place. Mr. Erwin then went to Green Lake. Wal- worth county, where he resumed farming, remaining there about thirteen years, with his usual success as a husbandman, then he located at Turtle
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Lake, where he continued farming for about three years, then sold out and bought a farm in Darien township. It consisted of one hundred acres, and here he was repaid with abundant harvests from year to year for his patient industry, having improved one of the best farms in this part of the county. On October 25, 1911, he moved to Adams county, locating ten miles north of Kilbourne City, which is his present home, being a pleasant location.
Mr. Erwin was married the second time on September 21, 1875, to Susie Higgins, daughter of Richard and Ann Higgins, of Minnesota, whose family consisted of nine children. Mr. Higgins is now deceased, and his widow lives in Janesville, Waseca county, Minnesota.
To Mr. and Mrs. Erwin eleven children were born, named as follows: Jannette, now Mrs. G. I. Saunders, of Lagrange, Wisconsin; Ethel May; Elizabeth is deceased; Honard R., Wilbur E., Bennie H., Dale William; George S. is deceased; Bruce H .; the next child, a daughter, died in infancy ; Marian was the youngest.
Politically, Mr. Erwin is a Republican, but he has never been specially active in public affairs. He is a member of the Presbyterian church.
MILTON M. MAYHEW.
For more than a half century the honored and venerable pioneer and substantial agriculturist whose name appears above has been a resident of Walworth county and a prominent factor in its material growth, playing well his part in the material, civic and moral upbuilding of the same. Few have been here longer than he and none have been more active during the past fifty-six years in making Spring Prairie township one of the most enter- prising and progressive sections of southeastern Wisconsin. He has noted many wonderful changes since he made his advent into the wilderness here and he talks interestingly of the early days when the great northern woods were still the homes of Indians and the haunts of many varieties of wild beasts. Originally the Mayhews were natives of the old Empire state, where the family was widely and favorably known during the ante-Civil-war period. In their veins flows the blood of English nationality, and the descendants of the present day exhibit many of the sterling qualities of that strong and virile people.
Milton M. Mayhew was born in Oneida county, near Utica, New York, on December 24, 1834. He is the son of William and Annie (Cook) May-
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hew, the father a native of England and the mother of New York. The father emigrated to the United States when young in years and located in the state of New York, where he met and married Annie Cook and there they spent most of their lives on a farm, finally coming to Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1876, and here the death of the father occurred in June, 1887, at the advanced age of ninety-two years, his wife dying in January, 1866. They were the parents of five children, Milton M., of this sketch, being the only surviving member. Politically, the elder Mayhew was a Democrat, and was a member of the Baptist church. He led a quiet, retired life and was known for his sterling honesty and old-time hospitality.
Milton M. Mayhew was reared on the home farm, where he began assisting with the general work when but a small lad. He received such edu- cation as the early schools of his locality in New York state furnished, and when a young man took up farming for a livelihood. Seeking a newer country, he came to Walworth county in 1856 and bought one hundred acres of good land in Spring Prairie township, and in 1857 settled on the same, began clearing and improving it, and by hard work and wise management had a good farm and a comfortable home in due course of time. Here he prospered and added to his original purchase until he owned one of the best farms in the eastern part of the county, consisting of two hundred and forty acres. For many years he engaged in general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale, during which he accumulated a competency, and, as age advanced, not caring to be burdened with too much to look after, he gave his farm to his children until he now has but ninety acres and lives practically retired from the active duties of life, having laid away enough of this world's goods to insure freedom from want the rest of his days. He is also the owner of two cottages at Mill lake, and he was one of the first to be attracted by the beauties of that now favorite resort and one of the earliest to live there.
Politically, Mr. Mayhew is a Democrat and has kept well posted on political and current topics. He has served on the town board for two terms. In religious matters he belongs to the Baptist church and has long been a liberal supporter of the same.
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