History of northern Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development, and resources; an extensive sketch of its counties, cities, towns and villages, their improvements, industries, manufactories; biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers; views of county seats, etc., Part 104

Author: Western historical co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1052

USA > Wisconsin > History of northern Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development, and resources; an extensive sketch of its counties, cities, towns and villages, their improvements, industries, manufactories; biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers; views of county seats, etc. > Part 104

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

358

HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

and was their candidate, in 1880. for Congress, and took the stump in the interest of the party.

H. G. TALBOT, lumberman, Berlin, was born in Onondaga Co., N. V., in 1825. He is a son of Alvin and Pauline (Hill) Talbot, his father a native of Massachusetts, and mother of Connecticut, and their ances- tors among the early settlers of New England. His father was a mer- chant in the boot and shoe trade. Mr. Talbot spent the early years of bis life in his native State, and learned the trade of carpenter and joiner; also the trade of millwright, which he followed for several years. He came to this State about 1850, locating in Milwaukee, where he engaged in manufacturing threshing machines. and built the first complete ma- chine built in this State. It was sold to Durling & Mills, who were resi- dents of this county. After five years, he bought the foundry of Charles Smith, and for the two succeeding years carried on a general foundry business in connection with the manufacturing of threshing machines ; then went to Dubuque, Ia., where he engaged in manufacturing ma- chines, remaining two years. He came to this city and carried on the same business until 1862, when he sold to Turner Bros., and laid the foundation for his present business, dealing in lumber. He was mar- ried in Rochester, N. V., to Miss Julia Danrill. They had five children; only son, S. Percy Talbot, assists in the business. Mr. T. has been a member of both the Town and County Boards; also, Alderman and School Commissioner, and Mayor of this city three terms.

HIRAM TAYLOR, farmer, Sec. I, Berlin, was born in St. Law- rence Co., N. Y., in 1827. His ancestors were early settlers of the State of New York, and his father a farmer. He came to the State in 1848, locating in Walworth County ; engaged in farming. He afterward moved to Sheboygan and Calumet counties, and came to this town in IS67, and bought the farm where he now lives. He was married in Cal- umet County, to Miss Margaret A. McMullen. They have five children. He enlisted, Aug. 15, 1862, in 21st Wis. I., serving and participating with the regiment in all its battles, and was honorably discharged in Milwaukee, in June, 1865. He was once taken prisoner, at the battle of Stone River ; but was paroled, and thus escaped. He has held nu- merous town offices.

GRIFFITH J. THOMAS, Postmaster, Berlin, was born in Wales, in 1847. He is a son of John G. and Mary (Williams) Thomas, natives of Wales. His father was a shoemaker by trade, and engaged in the boot and shoe trade in his native land. They emigrated to this country in 1851, and located at Remsen, near Utica, N. Y. They afterward moved to Utica, and to Fort Hill. where Mrs. Thomas died, in April, 1854. In 1855, he came to this city, where he still lives. Griffith J. came to this city with his father, and has made this his home ever since. He attended school until 1859, when he engaged as a farm laborer until 1862. In August of that year, he enlisted in Co. C, 32d Wis. I., but was rejected after one month's service on account of his age. He then engaged in the printing office of the Courant, to learn the trade, where he worked until July 27, 1863, when he went to Milwaukee and enlisted in Co. B, Ist Wis. H. A. He served until the close of the war, and was discharged at Madison, Sept. 4, 1865. In April, 1866, he entered the revenue service as quarter-master, aboard the Government steamer, " John A. Dix," stationed at Detroit, and cruising in Lake Su- perior. At the expiration of one year, by his own request, he was dis- charged. He then returned and resumed the printing trade, which he followed until 1876. During five years of the time, he was foreman of the office, and for two years manager and editor. Then he was elected City Clerk, and held the office until appointed Postmaster, in 1877, which office he still holds. Since his return from the revenue service, he has taken a deep interest in, and is an active member of, several so- cieties, prominent among which is the Grand Army of the Republic, and has occupied nearly every position in the gift of the order ; was adjutant of Post No. 4 from 1867 to 1873, also inspector of the department sev- eral terms. In 1879, was elected commander of the department, which includes three posts. Is also an active member of the Knights of Pyth- ias, keeping the records and seals from 1874 to 1881. Also recorder of the Temple of Honor two terms, and is also a member of A. O. U. W., No. 58, and Berlin Masonic Lodge, No. 38. He was married, Nov. I, 1874, to Miss Anna Griffith, a native of Utica, N. Y. They have two sons, George Ilenry and llarrie Griffith.

JOHN C. TRUESDELL, attorney and counselor at law, Berlin, one of the earliest settlers of this place, and, excepting Mr. Finch, of Milwaukee, the oldest practitioner in the State. He was born in Sus- quehanna Co., Pa., in 1825. llis father, Judge Truesdell, was a native of Litchfield Co., Conn., and a graduate of Yale College, after which he settled as a lawyer in Susquehanna Co., l'enn., and where for some twenty-five years he held the office of County Judge. His mother's name was Lucy Upson. Mr. Truesdell studied law with Judge Jessup, one of the oldest lawyers in the State of Pennsylvania, and was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Sunbury, in 1847. He came to Berlin in 1845, and entered some land where the city now stands, re- turning to Pennsylvania the same year. In 1847, he returned here and was very instrumental in giving Berlin a start, and through personal ef- forts contributed largely in building up the adjoining country. Ile built two steamboats-the " Puytona," which was afterward sunk on Lake

Poygan ; and the " Oshkosh," which he afterward ran down to the Mis- sissippi River and sold. He was married in Pennsylvania, to Miss Ju- lietta Smith. They have five children, three of whom are living-Lam- bert, Louis and Harry Clay.

ALFRED L. TUCKER, Berlin, was born at Chardon, Geauga Co., twenty miles from Cleveland, Ohio, April 28, 1843. His parents were Hosea and Mary (Larned) Tucker. Ilis father was a native of Ver- mont and a farmer, and died in 1859. Mr. Tucker was raised and ed- ucated in Ohio, and completed his education at Hiram College, located in Portage County, of which James A. Garfield was president. He came to this city with his mother, in 1861. During the same year. he enlisted in the 18th Wis. I., and was appointed second sergeant of his company, and served with the regiment until Angust, 1862, and was engaged with them at the battle of Shiloh and at the siege of Corinth, when bv a special order of the War Department, he was commissioned second lieutenant, and assigned to Co. C, 32d Wis., and was the first officer commissioned that way. In August, 1864, was promoted to first lieutenant, and served with the 32d until the Spring of 1865, when he was appointed assistant quarter-master of the First Div .. 17th Army Corps, and filled that position one month, when he was appointed quarter-master of ord- nance train of the 17th corps, where he served until mustered out at Washington, June 12, 1865. He then returned to this city. and, July 26, 1865, was married to Miss Laura C. Jones, who was a native of the State of New York. They have one daughter, Mildred May, born in August, 1866. He then located at Charles City, Iowa, where he engaged in the furniture business one year. He then returned, and for four and one half years took charge of a spring bed manufactory. Then, in com- pany with Mr. Chamberlain, established a pump factory. After two years, sold out and went to Chicago, April, 1873, where he was employed by the managers of the Exposition to collect the subscriptions, after- ward taking charge of the tickets. He returned in 1874, and was em- ployed as Assistant Postmaster for two years. He then went to Plain- field and opened a store for L. S. Walker. In the Spring of 1878, was elected City Clerk, and in August, 1880, established insurance business.

GEORGE D. WARING, general law business, Berlin, was born in Delaware Co., N. Y., in 1819. He is a son of Ephraim and Sally Brown Waring; his father was a shoemaker, and a native of Connecticut and his ancestors early settlers of that State, and participated in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Waring's early years were spent in New York, and there received his preliminary education. In 1836, he came west, locating at Angola, Ind., where he studied law with R. L. Douglas and D. E. Palmer, and also engaged in teaching school. He established practice for himself in 1850, and has followed it ever since. He came to this city in the Fall of 1855 and established his present business. Dur- ing the war was appointed provost marshal, and was the first Mayor of this city, which office he held four years ; has also been District Attor- ney three terms, and two years State Senator. He was married in An- gola, Ind., in 1842, to Miss Harriet A. Hopkins, a native of New York, who died in 1873. He married Miss Luzela White, formerly of New York. They have one son, George.

ROBERT M. WEBSTER, pastor of the Union Congregational Church, was born in London, Eng., in 1840. He is a son of David and Isabella Massey, both natives of London. He emigrated to this country, with his parents, in 1848. They located near Cleveland, Ohio, and en- gaged in farming. In 1856, they moved to Lucas Co., Iowa, and in 1876 his parents moved to Los Angeles, Cal., where they now live. Mr. Webster received his preliminary education in Ohio, and graduated in 1864 at Hanover College, Ind., and in theology at Oberlin University, in 1868. A few months before graduation he came to Brandon, Fond du Lac Co., and took charge of Presbyterian Church there. After gradua- tion he returned, and remained their pastor for three years. In 1871 he was called to the Congregational Church, at Grand Rapids, Wood Co., Wis., remaining until 1875, when he came to this city. He was married in 1864, in Iowa, to Miss Margaret Webster, also a native of London, Eng. They have four girls.

RER. SIMON WIECZOREK, Berlin, was born in Russian Po- land, in 1838. His father was a farmer, with whom he spent the early years of his life, and received his preliminary education. He pursued his theological studies at Orleans, in France, and completed them at the college in Rome, in 1868. The same year he came to this country, locating in Michigan, where he remained four years, building two churches. He then went to Chicago, where he remained one year, when he came to Milwaukee diocese, and took charge of St. Stanislaus Church, of this city, where he has rendered valuable services in building up the church and increasing its membership.

WILLIAM D. WILLIAMS, general wholesale produce dealer, Ber- lin, was born in Wales, in 1844. IIe is a son of David D. and Ann Evans Williams, whose ancestors were inhabitants of Wales for many generations. Hecame to America, with his parents, in 1857. They located in Columbia County, where they bought land and engaged in farming and where they still live. Mr. Williams lived with them until 1861, when he went to Milwinkee and commenced his business career in the commission house of Samuel Brown, remaining with him five years,

359

HISTORY OF GREEN LAKE COUNTY.

when he came to this city, and established his present business, in 1868. He was married here. in 1869, to Miss Jennie Howell, a native of Ohio. They have three children.

STILLMAN WRIGHT, owner and proprietor of the Golden Sheaf flouring mill, Berlin. The mill was built in 1866 by Carhart, Dorman & Co., Mr. Wright taking an interest in 1868. The mill is furnished with the latest improved machinery, gradual reduction rollers, etc., and has a capacity of 200 bushels per day. Mr. Wright makes his own cooperage and employs twenty-five men. The products are sold in nearly every Eastern city, and also manufactures largely for export trade, shipping to Liverpool and Glasgow. The motive power is a 150 horse-power en- gine. Mr. Wright was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., in 1827. He is a son of Samuel W. and Sarah Wilkie Wright, who were natives of Ver- mont. He came West in 1843, locating in Dodge County, where he en- gaged in farming. He came to this city in 1853, and kept the Union Hotel nearly two years, and also was also in mercantile business three years at Markesan, and for ten years in general produce business. He was married in Rock County, in 1854, to Miss Mary D. Humphry. They have two sons, Charles H. assists in the business ; Frederick is the youngest. He was the first City Treasurer, and has been School Com- missioner several terms.

PRINCETON.

This village is situated on both sides of the Fox River, ten miles due west from the county seat, and is the present terminus of the Fond du Lac & Western Railroad. The east division lies on a neck of land in the shape of a horse- shoe, formed by the river which makes a sharp curve at this point. Most of the business houses are in this part of the town, while the principal manufactories are on the west side near the river. A number of fine dwelling houses ex- tend back to the elevations beyond, which form a sort of background, and are so located as to command an excel- lent view of the surrounding country. Princeton is the second town in size in the county, and has a population of 1,000, three-fourths of which number are Germans; the re- maining fourth is composed of Irish and Americans. The town was first settled by Yankees. The ground was surveyed by L. G. Wood. Henry B. Treat and Nelson M. Parsons, were the first white settlers, having located lands as early as 1848. They laid out the town plat in 1849. The fol- lowing year their little settlement had increased from three to twenty-four families. Mr. Treat experienced rather hard times, his rude shanty furnished but little protection from the thieving propensities of the Indians, who several times committed depredations upon his flour and pork barrels ; not content with provisions, they appropriated his bedding and cooking utensils. A few of the old settlers still remain, but all agree that the palmiest days of Princeton were when the village was in its infancy, wrestling bravely with the obstacles to be met with in all new countries, and each year proudly measuring itself with the rival pioneer sister towns. The village at one time succeeded in securing the county seat, but the jealousy existing in the towns in the east part of the county led to such a bitter strife, that it was finally compelled to give up the records in favor of Dartford. Princeton has excellent water power, obtained by a canal six miles long and ten feet wide, brought from the Mecan River. This canal in connection with a substantial stone grist mill four stories high, was built by W. S. & A. L. Flint, in 1857. The mill has at present a capacity of 100 barrels of flour per day, and is owned by D. W. Green, who keeps constantly making improvements. In addition to the grist mill the village contains one large foundry for heavy cast

ings ; one planing mill ; three wagon shops ; one tannery ; one brewery ; one bank of exchange; two hotels, the largest of which is the American House, kept by John P. Schnee- der, formerly of Berlin City. The City Hotel is a comfort- able inn kept after the German fashion. There are six churches, one Methodist, one Congregational, one German Lutheran, and three Catholic, all of which have neat and cozy church edifices. There are two public school build- ings, one on each side of the river. The schools are graded and are supplied with a good corps of teachers. The Ger- man Lutherans have a private school in connection their church, which receives a liberal support, its enrollment of pupils numbering over 100 during the past year. The soci- eties represented at present in the village, are the Masons, Odd Fellows, and the Good Templars. The regular monthly fairs for the sale and exchange of all kinds of produce, merchandise and live stock, are held in this place on the third Wednesday of every month. The County Agricult- ural Society, now established at Berlin, held its regular annual fairs at this place for quite a number of years. The merchants of Princeton are live, wide-awake men, and keep up with the spirit of the times in the quality and style of goods purchased. The display on their counters embrace all the latest novelties, besides a good supply of the more substantial fabrics.

The post-office, established in 1850, is now in charge of Mr. J. C. Thompson.

Until the past two years the village had three weekly newspapers, one German and two English. The German paper was started in July, 1876, by the German Printing & Publishing Company, under the name of the Princeton Merkur. In November of the same year, it was sold to Messrs. Leske, Warnke & Markstadt, who continued its publication for several years, when it was discontinued. The Merkur was ably edited, by P. S. Warus, and was Democratic in politics. The Princeton Independent, was founded in 1876, during the same year the stockholders changed its name to that of the Green Lake County Democrat, when it became Democratic in politics, under the editorial management of L. Truesdell and S. D. Goodell. The paper was subsequently moved to the village of Markesan where it now flourishes under the same name and politics. The Princeton Republic, the oldest paper in the village, still holds its place foremost among the many enterprises, and is the largest paper in the county. The Republic was established by Thomas McConnell, Feb. 21, 1867 ; a few years later it was purchased by its present proprietors, J. C. & A. E. Thompson, who, by their able management, have succeeded in making it the leading Republican newspaper in the county. Princeton, with her excellent facilities for trans- portation, both by rail and the Fox River, her fine pastures and rich farming lands, and a water power unequaled by any town in the county, has certainly a bright and promis- ing future.

The town of Princeton is situated on the west side of the county, north of Marquette and south of St. Marie, in Town 16, Ranges 11 and 12. The surface is rolling and

HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

partially timbered with the several varieties of oak common to this region. In the central part of the town a chain of limestone bluffs makes a prominent feature in the landscape. Fine pastures and haying fields lie along the banks of the Fox River, which passes through the center of the town. The town of Princeton was organized in connection with St. Marie in 1849. The town separated from St. Marie, in 1852, when N. P. Smith was elected Chairman and R. P. Lawson, Town Clerk.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HENRY S. COMSTOCK, lawyer, of the firm of Fish & Comstock, Princeton, was born at Waupun, Dodge Co., April 7, 1857. His father, Isaac Hf. Comstock, was a native of Lockport, N. Y. His ancestors were English, and among the earliest settlers of Rhode Island. He was one of the first settlers of this State, locating at Green Bay. and after- ward at Sheboygan, where he was Sheriff two terms under the old Ter- ritorial government, and also Register of Deeds for Marquette County, which then included Green Lake County. He eventually settled at Kingston, in this county, and at the time of his death was Clerk of the Court. Mr. Comstock's mother was Miss Susan Rankin, a native of Augusta, Oneida Co., N. Y. Her ancestors were Scotch, and for several generations were residents of the State of New York. They were obliged to leave their native land on account of religious persecution, fleeing to the North of Ireland, and from there emigrating to America. Mr Com- stock was elected to the office of County Clerk in 1876. serving in that capacity four years, and at present holds the office of District Attorney. He was admitted to the Bar, September, 1879.

FREDERICK W. COOKE, Deputy Sheriff and live stock dealer, Princeton, was born in Quebec, Canada, in 1829. His father, John T. Cooke, was a farmer, and a native of England. His mother's maiden name was Mary Glanvil, also a native of England. Mr. Cooke was educated and raised in Canada, and was employed at farming and saw milf business. Ile came to Wisconsin in 1854, and located at Ripon, where he kept the Shepard House and carried on fivery business until he came to Berlin, in 1860, and engaged in hotel and fumber business. He was elected Sheriff of Green Lake County in 1871, and with the ex- ception of two years, has held the office of Deputy since the expiration of this term of office of Sheriff. He was married in Canada, in 1852, to Miss Jessie J. Hargrave, a native of Canada. They have six children.

T. S. CHITTENDEN, of the firm of Chittenden & Morse, buyers and shippers of produce, live stock, hides, furs, etc., Princeton, was born at Granville, Ohio, in 1848 ; came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1855. They located at Berlin, Wis., where his father established a general produce business, in which he is now engaged. Thomas J., his father, was a native of Vermont, and a lineal descendant of Gov. Chit- tenden, the first Governor of that State. His mother's maiden name was Mary Chittenden, who was also born in Vermont, and also a de- scendant of Gov. Chittenden. The parents both live in Berlin. T. S. Chittenden commenced his business career in Berlin, in 1864, as a clerk for Reese & Whiting, remaining with them three years. He then went to Chicago, and engaged with Field, Leiter & Co. four years, when he returned to Berlin and re-engaged with Reese & Whiting, remaining with them four years, when he came to Princeton, in 1875, and established his present business. He married in Berlin, Dec. 30, 1875, Miss Sarah McMillan. They have three children. Mr. Chittenden is an industrious, energetic and successful business man, and self-made.

ADOLPH G. U. HOYER, assistant pastor of Lutheran Church, Princeton, is a son of John August Hoyer, pastor, who was born in the city of Hamburg, Germany, where he was educated and graduated in theology, and married Miss Agnes Morah. Had ten children ; four sons are living. The family emigrated to America in 1865, locating, as pastor of Lutheran Church, at Monroe County, Wis., where he remained two years. Ile then removed to El Dorado, Fond du Lac Co., where he had charge of the Lutheran Church two years, and in 1870, located in Prince- ton. Adolph was educated at Northwestern University, at Watertown, Wis., being there four years, and two years at St. Louis Theological Seminary, and graduated at the theological seminary in Milwaukee, when he came to Princeton as assistant pastor. They include in their pastor- ate the churches of Princeton, Montello, Mecan, Dayton and Marquette. Adolph was born in the city of Hamburg, in 1856, and was married to Miss Clara Thiel, a native of Princeton, May 19, 1881.

OTTO H. LICHTENBERG, druggist and stationer, Princeton, was born in the eastern part of Germany, May 29, 1852. His father, William Lichtenberg, is a native of Germany, his occupation that of forester. Mr. Lichtenberg came to America in 1871, and commenced his business career as a clerk in a retail grocery store at Ripon. Ile came to Princeton in 1875, and engaged as clerk in a general store, which positioo he occupied untif he established his present business, in

1877. He first associated in business with Dr. D. Voe, who retired from the business in 1878. During the same year, he married Miss Matilda Zobeł.

MESSING & ERNST, proprietors Princeton Brewery, have been engaged in the business three years. John Ernst was born in Germany, in IS48, and learned the business of brewer in Germany. He came to America in 1875, and since his arrival has worked for the Ph. Best Brew- ing Co. at Milwaukee, and has also worked in brewery at Prairie du Chien. Messrs. Messing & Ernst make about 400 barrels a year, and make their own malt. Mr. Ernst was married at Stevens Point. in 1878, to Miss Mary Lutz, a native of Wisconsin. They have one daughter. Mr. Ernst served one year in the Franco-Prussian War, before emigrat- ing to this country.

ABRAM HENRY MYERS, Princeton, was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., Jan. 12, 1829. His father, Ralph Myers, was a native of Ulster County, N. Y., and a farmer. His paternal ancestors were Hollanders, and among the early settlers of the State of New York. His mother's maiden name was Nancy Philips, of English ancestry and a native of New York. Mr. Myers tived with his parents until twenty- one years of age. At the age of eighteen he engaged in teaching schoof, which he followed until he came to Wisconsin, in 1851. He located in this township ; it was then called Pleasant Valley. He bought a farm and engaged, for five years, in teaching school Winters and working his farm Summers. He then gave up teaching, and gave his entire attention to farming until the Winter of 1864. when he moved to the village of Princeton. In 1869, he was elected to the office of County Judge, which he held for four years. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace every year except three, since 1860, and nearly all of the town offices, and is now engaged in a general law, collection, real estate and convey- ancing business. He was married at Fort Plain, N. Y., Nov. 3, 1850, to Miss May H. Eygabroad, a native of New York. They have four daughters.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Author: Western historical co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1052

Author: Western historical co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1052