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 110

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 110

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IRA H. STEWART, Mauston, son of William Stewart a pioneer of 1840, proprietor of livery stable and dealer in horses, and agricultural implements, was born in Rock County near Janesville, Jan. 7, 1843 ; while quite young went his parents to Dane County, where he lived nine years, then came to Juneau County, 1853, and located in what is known as the Stewart Settlement, four miles south of Mauston. In 1873, he engaged in the sale of agricultural implements at Mauston, being also an extensive dealer in horses, handling upward of 200 horses annually. In 1878, he established a livery stable at Manston. His stock of agri- cultural implements includes the Champion Ohio Reaper, Minneapolis Reaper, Warrior Mower, Aultman & Taylor Thresher, Chicago Pitts Thresher. the Courtland buggies and wagons, also the Watertown wagons, Moline plows and cultivators and Mishawaka chilled plows. Mr. Stewart was married at Mauston, Nov. 25, 1865, to Miss Ellen E. Ilarrison, a daughter of John Harrison. Two children were born to them, Bertha and Allie. Mr. S. is a member of the Village Board of Trustees, was a candidate for Sheriff in 18-, and lost his election by only thirty votes.

MARSENA TEMPLE, son of Barnard and Sally Temple, President of the village of Mauston, farmer, and dealer in wood and ties, was born in Middlefield near Cooperstown, N. Y., Dec. 11, 1812. He re-

ceived an academic education, and was married in April, 1840, in his native town to Miss Caroline P. Stillman, daughter of George W. and Phebe H. Stillman. He studied law in the office of Judge Morehouse at Cooperstown, and was admitted to practice at Albany, after passing an examination before the committee appointed by the Supreme Court of the State. He continued in the practice of his profession three years when he was elected Superintendent of Schools for Madison County for two years. In 1850, he was elected to the Legislature during the ad- ministration of Gov. Seymour. He continued the practice of his pro- fession until 1855, when he came to Wisconsin and located in the then flourishing town of Newport, Sauk Co., now a "deserted village," there he engaged in the mercantile business with Dr. Cross, as dealers in drugs, groceries and provisions. Ile was elected Justice of the Peace several terms and Chairman of the town of New Buffalo, now Dillon, six times in succession. In 1860, he was elected to the Wisconsin Legislature from the Northern District of Sauk County, and attended the extra ses- sion at the opening of the war, and was appointed by the Governor Draft Commissioner for Sauk County. In 1865, he came to Mauston and bought an interest in a warehouse in partnership with Mr. Lyon. They converted it into an elevator and engaged as commission mer- chants, dealing in hops, grain and produce, continuing this business about four years. He next engaged in the wood and railway tie trade. and has retained his interest in the business until this time, though for the past three years it has been managed by his sons. On coming to Maus- ton he was appointed Justice of the Peace to fill a vacancy, subse- quently he was elected to the same office several times. When the county government was composed of three Supervisors, he was elected one of the three. Has served two terms in the County Board as Super- visor from Mauston, was elected President of the village and re-elected the second time. Mr. and Mrs. Temple were blessed with three sons and three daughters. The eldest, Ada, is now Mrs. J. K. Lillie, of Mauston ; the second, Helen M .; third, Marvin F., is now in the employ of the A. T., & S. F. R. R. as civil engineer in New Mexico : the fourth Carrie E., is now Mrs. M. H. Case of Wonewoc ; Henry S, at home ; the youngest son, Edwin G., is a cadet midshipman at Annapolis, Md.

O. F. TEMPLE, undertaker and dealer in furniture, Opera Block, Mauston, son of William Temple, was born in Madison Co., N. Y., Dec. 14, 1829. When quite young, moved with his parents to Muns- ville, same county. Here he learned the trade of carpenter and builder. Was married, Dec. 25, 1850, to Miss Eliza A. Willard, daughter of An- drew and Jemima (Dean) Willard. Mrs. Temple was born in Mary- land, Otsego Co., N. Y. They have four children-the eldest, Elenora, is now Mrs. H. E. Hoard, of Tawas City, Mich .; May and Willard are at home ; Jessie died at the age of two years. In 1854. Mr. Temple moved with his family to Newport, Sauk Co., Wis., where he was ex- tensively engaged as a contractor and builder, during the palmy days of the ill-fated city. In 1864, he came to Mauston and engaged in the same business. Among the many buildings of his construction, may be mentioned the court house, jail, and many business block's and dwell- ings. In 1866, he opened a furniture store ; carried on this business successfully until March 15, 1872, when the entire property was de- stroyed by fire, by which he sustained a moneyed loss of $3.500, besides being severely burnt while trying to save his books, the scars of which he will carry through life. IIe resumed business again, and in 1875. he joined with Capt. H. G. Penniman, and built the Opera Block, a building 51x75 feet, thirty eight feet high, containing two good stores, and a commodious hall, well furnished, and having a seating capacity of 600. Mr. Temple was architect and builder. The cost of the building was $8,500. Mr. Temple has served as a member of the Village Board six or eight years ; as Justice of the Peace two years, and Treasurer of the school district nine years.

JOHN TURNER, attorney at law, Mauston, son of John Turner, was born in the county of Kent, England, Nov. 3, 1828. Having at- tained a suitable age he became a law student in the office of Sir Rich- ard Thornton, of London. When near twenty years of age he attached himself to the Society of Chartists at Blackfriars, London, and was elected secretary of its council. He was subsequently connected with what was known as the Potters' Emigration Society. As the operations of this society led them to establish a station in Wisconsin, it is deemed appropriate to give some explanation of the object of the organization. This was to effect the deportation of skilled laborers from Europe, and to provide for their settlement in the New World, with a view of forcing, by the law of supply and demand, better terms for those at home, when employed. Acting in the interest of this society, Mr. Turner visited Paris. Happening to hit the time of the emeute and the abdication of Louis Philippi, though only a spectator of the turbulent scenes of the day, he received a saber cut across the face at the hands of a careless trooper. Returning to England by the same ship that carried the royal fugitive, Louis Philippi, he found the political situation such that his blackened and disfigured face was very much to his advantage in con- cealing his identity. Being assured that the choice lay between trans- portation, and emigration, he chose the latter and made his way to the United States, commissioned to act as hook-keeper and store-keeper for the society. Ou reaching Fort Winnebago, May 4, 1348, he selected a

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

site, eight miles below the fort, and on the opposite bank of the Fox River. Here a store-house was built on the unsurveyed Indian lands. and the town of Port Hope was founded. On completion of the store Mr. Turner proceeded to Galena, Ill., where a large stock of goods was purchased, and shipped on the steamers " Tiger " and " Enterprise " and landed at Fort Winnebago, and thence carried overland to Port Hope. The plan was to give each immigrant forty acres of land a team and tools, and credit of $200 at the store without security. About 2,000 skilled lahorers were so deported, quite a portion reaching the station at Port Hope and becoming settlers of the country. Like many another plan that has been adopted by earnest enthusiasts in the cause of over- worked and poorly paid labor, it proved a beautiful thing in theory, but a failure in practice. The gigantic efforts of the few intelligent earnest workers were not equal to carry the many selfish, shiftless, or indifferent members, so after disbursing many thousands of dollars, the cause was abandoned. Mr. Turner spent two years at Port Hope and then moved to Fort Winnebago. In 1854. he came to Mauston and opened a law office. June 10, 1857, he began the publication of the Mauston Star, a weekly Republican paper, which he published for twenty-one years and then, in 1878, sold it to the present proprietor, Mr. Sprague. In the Fall of 1857, he was admitted to practice in the Circuit Court. He was elected Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of the town of Lemon- weir for several years. Served one term as a member of the Wisconsin Legislature (1859), and on the organization of the village of Manston he was elected the first President, and re-elected eight or ten times. Jan. 2, 1863. he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Wisconsin. Aug. 31, 1870, he organized the first military company of this section, and was elected its captain. The company has retained its organiza- tion to this time. The old captain now being its quartermaster. He was elected District Attorney for Junean County for the years 1873-74- 75. On the division of the State into two districts he was appointed United States Court Commissioner for the District and Circuit courts. Mr. Turner was married in Portage City, June 14. 1853, to Miss Ann Towers, of Sterling, Scotland, daughter of Walter and Janet Towers. Mrs. Turner was born in Sterlingshire, Scotland. Seven children were born to them-Rose (now the wife of Dr. E. C. Rogers, of La Crosse), Louis K. (married to Mabel Phillips, of Mauston), Lilly (now Mrs. Ken C. Sharp, also of Mauston), Alice (now Mrs. Nelson Carter, of Lisbon), Walter D. McI. (deceased), John, Edna and Richard.

FREDERICK S. VEEDER, of the firm of Winsor & Veeder, attor- neys at law, Mauston, son of Samuel Veeder, was born in the town of Virgil, Cortland Co., N. Y., Nov. 1, 1846 ; moved to Illinois, with his parents, in 1855, but, not being suited with that climate, they left that State the following September and came to Wisconsin, locating in the town of Woodland, on the north line of Sauk County. In January, 1865, he enlisted in Co. C, 47th Wis. Vols .; served until the close of the war, and was mustered out September, 1865. He was married, Nov. 5, 1869, to Miss Rena Horton. Three children were born to them-Adelbert, Daisy and Fred. I. In 1870, Mr. V. moved to Mauston, and began the study of law in the office of Judge Winsor, of this place ; was admitted to practice in the Circuit Court of Juneau County, in May, 1871, and to the Supreme Court of Wisconsin, April 24, 1877. On Sept. 22, 1877, he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. He was elected to the office of District Attorney for the years 1877-78. Oct. 19, 1878, he was married at Mauston to Miss Nellie M. Bury, daughter of Frank Bury. Two children were born of this marriage, Harry and Nellie.

NEW LISBON.

In the Fall of 1837, Hon. John T. Kingston and Samuel B. Pilkington explored the Lemonweir Valley. They started from Racine with an outfit packed upon an Indian pony. Their route carried them through the present site of the city of Madison. From the Rock River they saw no signs of white men, except a blazed line of trees, indicating the road to the future capital of the State. From Madison they went to Ft. Winnebago, now Portage City. Procuring a supply of provisions, they proceeded on their journey ; passed the trading post of Silas Wadsworth, at the high point of land near the present railroad bridge over the canal, and also Provonsal's trading post, about two miles above the mouth of the river. On the morning of the seventh day they ate their breakfast upon the present site of the village of New Lisbon, and, on the 29th of December, started on their re- turn journey, reaching the fort December 31st, the third day after turning back, weaker, but not much wiser, men, merely learning that a supposed extensive pine forest was a

myth, and that their anticipated lumber speculations was a failure.

It is shown in the preceding portion of this history that in October or November, 1838, Amasa Wilson, C. B. Smith and R. V. Allen began the work of getting out square tim- bers at Dells Eddy. After disposing of their timber in the Spring of 1840, Messrs. Smith and Wilson, leaving Mr. Al- len in possession of the claim and shanty, at the foot of the dells, made a claim in Sauk County, about two miles below the present village of Newport. Remaining on the Sauk County claim only two years, they returned to Juneau County, in the Fall of 1842, and logged on the Lemonweir until the Spring of 1843, when they drove the logs down the river and boomed them at the present site of New Lisbon. Here they made a permanent location, and commenced the erection of a saw mill, which they completed and put into operation the same season.

In the Spring of 1846, J. H. Findley and William Arm- strong came up from Portage and contracted to run Smith & Wilson's mill by the thousand, but they afterward bought the property, agreeing to make certain annual payments, which failing to do, the mill and other property reverted to the original proprietors. Mr. Wilson subsequently became sole owner by purchase. He still resides at this place. Mr. Smith removed to Portage in 1846, where he became a prom- inent merchant, and continued to live there to the time of his death, which occurred in 1855. Mr. Armstrong also returned to Portage, which is now his home. Mr. Findley subsequently settled on a claim near the mill, and remained in the neighborhood until 1851, when he removed to the Black River country, and settled in the present county of Clark.

In 1847, Andrew Dunn, of Portage, made a claim and located on the Lemonweir, in the town of Clearfield; com- menced the erection of a saw-mill and other improvements, preparatory to engaging in the lumber business. The men who were employed to build the mill tried to claim it in their own right, but this course not suiting the views of Mr. Dunn, he obtained a crew of men and took forcible pos- session. Mr. Dunn employed D. L. Ward and Harris Searles to run his mill on the Lemonweir. They continued to live there until 1850, when they both located and built mills on the Yellow River, in Wood County.

Andrew Scott and Thomas Buckley came into the Lem- onweir Valley in the Fall of 1847; logged for Mr. Dunn about four years, then bought the mill, running it for a num- ber of years. Mr. Scott now lives in the town of Lisbon, and Mr. Buckley in the town of Clearfield. The first set- tlement made in the latter town, for other than lumber pur- poses, was in the year 1854. John Sandford, deceased, was one of the oldest settlers in the town. Mr. Dunn bought an interest in the mill with Mr. Wilson, in 1856, and after- ward, in 1866, Mr. Wilson sold his entire interest to him and Thomas Folvey. Mr. Dunn removed his family to New Lisbon, and became prominently identified with the county in business as well as politics, and at the time of his death, was widely known through the State.

In 1844, Mr. Wilson built the first frame house, black-

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HISTORY OF JUNEAU COUNTY.

smith shop, and barn erected at New Lisbon, near the pres- ent site of the mills of J. & E. Smart. During the same year he broke a few acres of land near the fair grounds, which is probably the first attempt of farming made in Juneau County. In 1850, George Hinton, Peter Webster and W. I. Webster located in the town of Lisbon, and are properly recognized as the first settlers for other than lum- bering purposes. In 1851, Erastus Emmons made a location within the present limits of the village. In 1852, S. D. Mc- Comber, H. M. McComber, M. C. Kenyon, J. A. Chase and G. Heriman arrived and located a short distance outside of the present village. From this date the Lemonweir Val- ley began to attract settlers for agricultural purposes, par- ticularly those portions lying south and west of the river.

New Lisbon was organized as a town, April 13, 1853, by the Board of Supervisors of Adams County. The first town meeting was held in the house of J. H. Findley, and A. P. Ayers was elected chairman.

In 1853, a post-office called Mill Haven was established about a mile south of the present village. Ephraim Kings- bury was appointed Postmaster.

In 1855, Amasa Wilson platted the village of New Lis- bon. The addition of J. A. Chase was platted a short time after. During this year Wm. McDara, Dr. Little, L. Van Slyke, W. P. Carr, W. B. Surdam, John Boyler and several others settled in the village. Next year the post-office was moved to the village, but retained for a long time the orig- inal name of Mill Haven. L. Van Slyke was Postmaster after the removal.

The village of New Lisbon was incorporated by act of the Legislature, in March, 1870, and organized the follow- ing April. At the first election under the charter, E. C. Sage was chosen President of the village.

The towns of Clearfield and Fountain were originally a part of the town of New Lisbon, since changed to Lisbon. The latter was organized into a new town under the name of Fountain, November 16, 1855.

The first settlement made in the town was by Abijah Ayers, in 1844. A few years afterward he sold the claim to Joel Bogart, who settled in the town in May, 1848. R. J. Clark came to Fountain in 1849, and built the house then known as Clark's Tavern. John Parks made a settlement the same year. But few settlements were made in Fount- ain until the years of 1852 and '53, when it began to fill up, and the town of Orange was organized by order of the County Board, to take effect April 1, 1857. The village of Orange is a small place on Section 34.

The village of New Lisbon is located on the line of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, thirty-five miles west of Milwaukee, sixty miles east of La Crosse, and is the junction of the Necedah Branch Railroad. It presents the appearance of a neat, thrifty village, well supplied with public institutions, societies and hotels, and all branches of business are well represented. It has a popu- lation of nearly 1,200, composed of all nationalities, the Americans and Germans being the leading elements. The Lemonweir River flows through the village, and furnishes abundant water-power for manufacturing interests.

The assessed valuation reaches $215,900, and the tax for village purposes is two per cent of this sum. The sur- rounding country is composed of excellent farming land and valuable marshes, adapted to the production of grains and the culture of cranberries.

It has four churches-Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic. The Methodist is the oldest, and organized its first class, with Rev. John Green as pastor, in 1856. Mr. O. B. Chester, of New Lisbon, was the first superintendent of the Sabbath school, which was organized in 1857. The church was built in 1856; has a seating capacity of 200, and is valued at $2,000. Its membership reaches forty, and at present the pulpit is supplied.

The Presbyterian Church was organized from the fol- lowers of two missions-one Presbyterian, the other Con- gregational-in 1865, with Rev. H. S. Clark as pastor. It has a membership of seventy-five, a Sabbath school num- bering 125 scholars and fifteen teachers. The pastor, Rev. A. A. Young, is now serving his sixth year. Church prop- erty valued at $2,000.

The Catholic Church has nearly 200 members; was built in 1860, and is attended by Rev. Father Gilbert, of Mauston, on alternate Sundays.

The Baptist Church and Sabbath school were organized in 1853, with Rev. Mr. Knapp as pastor, and is the strongest society of the village. The present pastor is Rev. Cyrus Thomas, and the church property is valued at $2,cco.

New Lisbon can justly take pride in her schools. They are acknowledged to be the first in the county, and among the best in the State. Prof. G. T. Foster is principal, and in charge of the advanced departments. He is assisted in the grammar department by Miss Dedie Beebe. The in- termediate departments are in charge of Misses Sarah Mc- Kinstry and Frances Ball, and the primary are in charge of Misses Helen Vandercook and Roxana Brewster. The town owns two large school buildings, with a seating capac- ity of 400. Number of pupils attending school, 309; num- of school age, about 400; number attending High School, 66 ; number in graduating class, 11 ; average age of enter- ing High School, 14; of leaving, 18. Amount paid teach- ers, $2,440. Among the names of its past teachers are H. H. Hatch, of New Lisbon; Prof. Johnson, of the White- water Normal ; Prof. John Breckenage, now of Iowa.

It has five charter organizations-Juneau Lodge, No. 103, A. F. & A. M., with sixty members; Siloam Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 267, forty-five members; Ancient Order of United Workmen, New Lisbon Lodge, No. 38, with about fifty members ; New Lisbon Lodge I. O. G. T., with forty * members. All are in a healthy working condition.

The principal and pioneer industry is the New Lisbon Mills, which are run by water power, furnished by the Lem- onweir River, and have a head of eight feet fall. They consume, on an average, 8,000 bushels of wheat, and grind for customers 15,000 bushels, a year. Two million feet of logs are sawed annually. The proprietors, Messrs. J. & E. Smart, are gentlemen fully conversant with the milling busi- ness, and are energetic men.

It has three wagon and sleigh manufactories, and one of

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

the best equipped breweries in the State, owned and oper- ated by Mr. Henry Bierbauer.

The sash, door and blind business is well represented in the manufactory of Mr. William McKnight.

&BANK OF NEW, LISBON

The Farmers' and Merchants' Bank is owned and con- ducted by Messrs. H. E. & W. D. Macomber-H. E. Ma- comber, president, and W. D. Macomber, cashier. This is a safe, reliable institution, established upon a sound basis, and possesses the confidence of all here, as elsewhere, and does a general banking business.

H.E Maconha

The stock and produce business is well represented by Mr. Ole Oleson and Messrs. Carpenter & Butterfield. Country products include hay, grain and general farm pro- duce, and stock raising, and the culture of cranberries re- ceives special attention.

The village possesses three public halls, is adorned with many handsome residences, and the whole is replete with large and beautiful shade trees. The extension of the Necedah Branch Railroad is contemplated north and south, and in the near future New Lisbon bids fair to become an important railroad point.

The present officers of the village are: J. M. Barlow, President of the Village; Lars. Balgord, John Smart, C. E. Newman, Fred Boynton, Peter Klein, Trustees; John H. Crandal, Clerk; M. F. Carney, Treasurer; William Mc- Knight, Assessor; F. P. Butler, William McKay, Justices of the Peace; Henry Clow, Matthew Horrigan, Marshals.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

J. M. BARLOW, merchant. A native of the State of Massachu- setts. born in 1833. was a resident of the State for seventeen years, during which time he received a good common school education. In 1850, he came to Wisconsin, and settled first at East Troy, Walworth Co., where he clerked in a store about six years. He then lived in Waukesha County until 1864, when he went to the State of New York and was en- gaged in the mercantile business in said State until 1870, at which time he returned to Wisconsin, and has since carried on a general mercantile business at New Lisbon. April 18, 1862, he was married to Miriam Evans, born at Williamsport, N. Y. They have three children-Harvey B., Miriam Lois and Lewis M. Mr. Barlow is a stalwart Republican in politics. Has held various local offices, and is at present serving his sixth term as President of the Village Board. He is also agent for the American Express Co.

BENNETEAU & MACOMBER, attorneys, New Lisbon. E. T. Benneteau, the senior member of the firm, was born in the State of New York, in 1847. His father, Samuel Benneteau, was an attorney, and with him he commenced the study of law. In 1863, he enlisted in the 5th N. Y. Artillery, and served until the close of the war, when he was mustered out as major of artillery. He then returned to the Columbia College, of New York, where he graduated in 1866, after which he prac- ticed law in the State of New York until 1875, at which time he went to Chicago, and followed law practice until 1879, during which time, in 1878, he was married to Eliza Hudson, then of Chicago, but formerly of Canada. In 1879, he came to New Lisbon, where he carried on a law practice alone until March, 1881, when he formed a law partnership with E. C. Macomber, and are now carrying on a general law and col- lection business. Mr. Benneteau is chairman of the Republican com- mittee.

E. C. Macomber, the junior member of the firm, was born in New Lisbon, Wis., in 1857. Attended the high school of New Lisbon and the Wayland University of Beaver Dam, graduating at the latter in June, 1879, and in the Spring of 1880, commenced the study of law, reading with Judge Elwell, of Beaver Dam, about one year, after which, in March, ISSI, he was admitted to the Bar. He is a promising young man, and will no doubt soon be among the leading members of the Bar.

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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