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 113

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 113

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S. B. SARLES, of firm of George B. Burch & Co., Necedah A native of New York ; born in 1831. Came with his lather to Wiscon- sin in 1842, settling at Racine, where he lived until 1850, when he went to California, followed mining, and served in the Indian wars of 1853-5. Returned to Wisconsin in July, 1856, and has since made Necedah his home. On his return he was employed by T. Weston & Co., for three or four years, after which, in 1861, he commenced keeping hotel, which busi- ness he followed for five years. He then sold out. and engaged in logging one season, and the following Spring.went to Sabula, Iowa, carrying on a lumber business in co-partnership with George B. Burch and R. E. Pat- terson, until the Spring of 1868, when Mr. Patterson died, and Mr. Sarles returned to Necedah, since which time he has been a member of the firm of George B. Burch & Co. He takes but little interest in poli- tics. Was married in 1860, to Kate Lewis, a native of the State of New York. They have two children, Emma J. and Kate O., both attending school at the State University at Madison.

THOMAS WESTON, of the firm of Necedah Lumbering Company. Is one of the oldest settlers, as well as one of the most prominent and highly esteemed men of Northern Wisconsin. Born in Vermont, in ISIS ; was brought when quite young. by his parents, to the State of New York, where he received a common school education, and at the age of fifteen, commenced work in a woolen mill, and followed the same for three years, when he concluded to see some of the western country, and accordingly, traveled over a great part of the United States, until 1840, when he came to Wisconsin, settling first at Grand Rapids, where he followed Iumbering during the Summers, spending the Winters South for two years. He then purchased an interest in a mill, and was engaged in the same until 1846. In IS48. he came to Necedah, and was a mem. ber of the firm of T. Weston & Co. (of which a sketch is found in other parts of this book), until ISSI, when said firm changed to the Necedah Lumbering Company, of which he is now a stockholder. Is a Democrat, and has held various local offices, but takes more interest in his business than in public office. He is a man who will long be remembered in Necedah as the friend of everybody ; having no doubt done more forthe town than any other one man. In IS52. he was married to Elizabeth Dawes, a native of Maine. They have seven children-Helen, Hiram. May, Emma, Laura, Elizabeth and Dollie.

JOHN WILLIAMS, hardware merchant ; firm of Williams & Bro., Necedah, Was born in England, in May, 1846. When but two years of age, was brought by his parents to the United States, settling in Grant Co., Wis., where he received an academic education at the State Normal School of Plattville. In 1862, he went to California, and re- mained four years, when he returned to Grant Co., Wis. In IS68, he went to Boone Co., Iowa, and engaged in hotel business for about nine months, at the end of which time, in the Fall of 1869, he came to Necedah, and in partnership with 1. Oates, engaged in hardware business, under the firm name of I. Oates & Co., for about two years, when Mr. Oates withdrew, Thomas II. Williams taking his place, since which time the business has continued under the firm name of J. Williams & Bro. Is a Democrat in politics ; has been Deputy Sheriff two years, and held other local offices. Was married, in 1868, to Alice Cooper, a native of New York. They have four children-Ida L., Emil C., John and Frank H.

THOMAS WILLIAMS was born in Grant Co., Wis., in 1852. Received a common school education, and lived in said county until 1871, when he came to Necedah, and has since been a member of the

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HISTORY OF JUNEAU COUNTY

firm of J. Williams & Bro. Was married, in 1874. to Arabella Squires, a native of England, born in 1854. In politics, Mr. Williams is a Re- publican.

ELROY.

In 1860 Messrs. James and John Hutchinson built a grist mill in the town, around which the present flourishing village of Elroy has sprung up.

This village is situated in the township of Plymouth, on the line of the C. & N. W. Ry., 213 miles from Chicago and 197 miles from St. Paul. It is also the junction of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway, and is an impor- tant railroad town. The total valuation of the township and village reaches $215,754, and the tax rate is three per cent of this sum. The population of the township and village is 1,499. The Baraboo River flows through the town and furnishes abundant water power. The principal business interests are the Star and Eagle flouring mills, and general business enterprises are well represented.

The schools are in charge of Prof. H. M. Johnston. Value of school property $675. Number of children attend- ing school 168. Number of children of school age 294.

It has two churches, German Evangelical and Catholic. The former was built in 1880 but the organization of the society dates back some fourteen years. The church prop- erty is valued at $2,000, and the pulpit is at present sup- plied.

The Catholic Church was built in 1878, and has a mem- bership of nearly 500. Rev. Father Keller, of Union Cen- ter, is attending priest.

It has six secret organizations : Elroy Lodge, No. 202, F. & A. M., organized June 13, 1876, with a membership of twenty-seven ; Elroy Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 233, organ- ized May 15, 1874, with thirty members; Ancient Order of United Workmen, Elroy Lodge, No. 83, chartered April 8, 1880, with a membership of twenty; and Perseverance Lodge, No. 556, of the Legion of Honor, chartered April 30, 1881, with thirteen members.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

O. A. BABCOCK, merchant, Elroy, was born at Freeport, Ill., in 1851. Was brought by his parents to Wisconsin when eighteen months old and lived in Vernon County for twenty years, during which time he received a common school education and followed farming. He then came to Elroy and clerked in the store of E. Hart for about one year, after which he lived in several different localities for a few years, then clerked for Doudson & Co. of Grand Rapids, for four years, at the end of which time he returned to Elroy and has since been engaged in a grocery business. In the Spring of 1877, he was married to Emma Pot- ter, a native of Wisconsin, born in 1857. They have one child, Wert, born in February, 1879. Mr. Babcock is a Republican and a member of the I. O. O. F.

M. E. BARRINGER, liveryman, Elroy, was born in Reedsburg, Sauk Co., Wis., Feb. 1, 1853. Received a common school education, and followed farming until the Spring of 1873, when he came to Juneau County, purchased a farm of 100 acres, and worked the same about four years, at the end of which time he sold eighty acres of this farm, moved into the village of Elroy, and has since been engaged in livery business. He also owns a hotel and a good house and lot in said village. Was married, in November, 1877, to Clara M. (daughter of Daniel and La- mira Whicher), born in 1852, and died June 3, 1880, leaving one child, Lois Pearl, born May 13, 1878, and is now living with her aunt, Celes- tia Bush. near Reedsburg, Wis.

C. E. BOOTHE, M. D., Elroy, is a leading physician, and one of the most prominent men in Juneau County. He is a native of the State of New York, born in Dutchess County, in 1840, where he lived until eighteen years of age, during which time, when he was not attending school, he worked in his father's flouring and saw mill. In 1858, con-

cluding that he would like to see some of the western country, he went to Illinois, and spent the year in different localities in that State, and the following year he spent in Wisconsin, after which, in the Fall of 1859, he returned to his home at Binghamton, N. Y., to which place his parents had previously moved, and commenced the study of medi- cine with Dr. Hall, continuing the same with Dr. Dart, of Colesville, Chenango Co., N. Y., until September, 1861, when he joined the army as a non-commissioned officer in the 89th N. Y. V., and after reporting at Washington, was attached to the Burnside expedition during his North Carolina campaign, participating in the battles of Roanoke Island, South Mills, South Mountain and Antietam. At the last named battle he re- ceived a gun-shot wound, and remained upon the field, without cover, for ten days, at the end of which time he was conveyed to the hospital at Frederick City, where he remained about one month, when he was transferred to Camden Street Hospital at Baltimore, at which place he remained until the following February, in which month he was dis- charged from service on account of disability occasioned by the gun-shot wound. Returning home, he again resumed the study of medicine with Dr. O. G. Orton, of Binghamton, N. Y. (who was at that time demon- strator of anatomy in the New York University), as preceptor, and con- tinued the study until the Winter of 1863, when, with rank as second lieutenant, he enlisted a company of 100 men for the 14th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, which at that time consisted of only five companies, stationed on Rickor's Island, N. Y .; but on account of not applying for organiza- tion papers, the regiment was filled by other parties before he made ap- plication to it, and then, as the men were already mustered into the State service, in order that they might draw their State bounties, were distrib- uted among other regiments. Whereupon Mr. Boothe immediately pro- ceeded to Washington, joined the medical department, and was assigned to Auger General Hospital in Virginia, where he remained until the seventh day of January, 1865, at which time he returned to his home at Binghamton, N. Y. After remaining at home about two weeks, he went to Janesville, Wis., and obtained a situation as drug clerk in the store of George R. Curtice, and in connection with this and other occu- pations, continued the study of medicine, also attending lectures at the Rush Medical College, and in the Spring of 1870, located at Elroy, Wis., as a practicing physician, graduating in medicine the following Winter, since which time he has gained a good reputation as a physician and sur- geon. At the opening of the Elroy Seminary, he organized the depart- ment of physiology (which proved to be one of its chief features), and gave the instruction, by lectures and demonstrations, for five or six years. He was also president of the institution for several years from its organ - ization, and has been President of the village of Elroy ever since it was incorporated. He is a Republican in politics ; was elected as Assembly- man from Juneau County in 1876, receiving 1,531 majority, against a Democratic majority of about 300 the previous year. In January, 1865, he was married to Helen J. Shumway, of Rock Co., Wis. They have one child, Laura M., born in 1866.

E. ERICKSON, Justice of the Peace, is a native of Sweden, born in 1853; emigrated with his parents to the United States in 1854, and settled first at St. Charles, Ill., in which vicinity he lived for seventeen years, at the end of which time he came to Wisconsin, and lived in Grant County one Summer, then in Vernon County about five years, after which he came to Elroy, and attended school at the seminary for two years, graduating in the English course, in June, 1878. He then had charge of the public schools of Elroy one year, since which time he has held various agencies ; took the census of the town of Plymouth for 1880, and is at present Justice of the Peace. He was married, in March, 1877, to Mary Stone, a native of Wisconsin, born in Grant County, in 1860. They have two children, Edith, born Oct. 1, 1877, and Edward E., born Jan. I, 1879. Mr. E. is a Republican in politics, and is at present Town and Village Clerk.

R. A. FOWLER, farmer, Sec. 29, P. O. Elroy. The subject of this sketch is one of the oldest settlers of Juneau County. He was born in the State of Vermont, in 1821, and in 1836 the family moved into Illi- nois, where they lived about four years, at the end of which time, in 1840, they came to Wisconsin and settled in Racine County, where Mr. Fowler was engaged in the manufacture of lumber for eight years. Ile then purchased a saw mill in Jefferson County, and ran the same about one year, when he sold his mill and removed to Sauk County, and fol- lowed the manufacture of lumber at Baraboo for about two years, after which, in the Fall of 1851, he came to Juneau County, located where he now lives, and as soon as surveyed, purchased his present farm from the Government. He now owns 100 acres of choice land, most of which is well improved and has good buildings. Is a Republican in politics. Has been Postmaster and held various local offices. Has been twice married: in 1845, to Mary A. Pulford, a native of New York, born in 1826, and died in April, 1862, leaving five children - Dacatur, Delos, Mary, Mariah and Frank ; in the Fall of 1862, to Mrs. Phoebe Pearson, a native of New York, born in 1837, who had one child, Emma (Mrs. Walsh), now living at Kendall, Monroe Co. They have one child, Alice May, born Sept. 1, 1866.

GEORGE 1I. HOPPER, hotel keeper, Elroy, is a native of the State of New York, born in Jefferson County, in 1838. Was a resident

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

of the State for twenty-five years, during which time he attended school, worked on the farm, and learned the jomer's trade. In 1863, he came to Wisconsin, and was married to Martha A. Wentworth, born in the State of New York, in 1842, and the following Spring, returned to New Vork State, and remained about three years, after which, in the Fall of 1866, he went to Chicago and remained one year, when he came to Wis- consin, living in Rock Co., where he was engaged in farming until Jan- uary, 1874, when he came to Elroy and was employed in the railroad office for about five years, since which time he has been proprietor of the Railroad Eating House. Is a Republican, a member of the A.O.U.W. and a Mason. llas one child, Gertrude, born July 7, 1866.

J. MAEBY, carpenter and painter, Elroy. A native of Canada, born in 1827; learned the cabinet maker's trade, and in the Fall of 1850 came to Wisconsin, settling first at Ripon, where he worked at the car- penter and joiner trade for seven years, after which he removed to Co- lumbia County and followed the same line of work, also did some farm- ing, until 1873, when he came to Elroy and has since worked at carpenter work and painting. Is a Democrat in politics. Has held various local offices. Is a member of the American Legion of Honor, and a strict Temperance man, being a member of the Temple of Honor. Jan. 23, IS77, Mr. Maeby, J. W. Pulford, B. F. Nash, H. W. Nash and John Allison organized an association known as the Elroy Council of Honor, for the purpose of elevating the laboring classes, for mutual improve- ment, for charitable and benevolent purposes, and to better provide for the poor and needy in all honorable and legitimate undertakings, of which Mr. Maeby drafted the constitution and by-laws. He was married Sept. 5. 1851, to Selecta Burlinghame, a native of Wisconsin, born in Milwaukee in 1833. They have five children living-Willis, Mary Ella, Albert L., Emma A. and Edith L.

T. L. MOE, merchant, Elroy, is a native of Norway, born in 1852. Emigrated to the United States in 1872, and came direct to Elroy, Wis., and engaged in railroading about two years. He then clerked in the store of E. Hart for about four and a half years, since which time he has been carrying on a general mercantile business. Oct. 19, 1877, he was married to Julia 'Thompson, a native of Norway, born in 1858. They have one child, Lassineus, born in 1880. Mr. Moe is a Republican in politics, and is at present a member of the Village Board.

O. P. PIERCE, blacksmith, Elroy, was born at Rochester, N. Y., June 7, 1827, and in 1834 emigrated with his parents to Michigan, and resided in said State until 1857, during which time he received a common school education, and learned the blacksmith trade. He then came to Wisconsin, and settled in Sauk County, working at his trade, with the exception of two years, when he was selling goods, until 1877, and Dec. Io, of said year he came to Elroy, and has since carried on a blacksmith business. He has been twice married : Sept. 23, 1849, to Mary A. Evans, a native of Canada, born March 17, 1832, and died July 28, 1850; and Jan. 1, 1851, to Martha N. Hunt, a native of the State of New York, born in August, 1836. They have five children-Anna E., Mary E., Major T., Martha and Eva Maud. Is a Democrat. Has held local offices, and has been a member of the I. O. O. F. since 1860, being one of the charter members of the Westfield Lodge, No. 108, Sauk County, Wis.

E. S. ROGERS, merchant, Elroy, was born in Keyport, N. J., in 1842, where he lived until 1864, when he came West and settled first at Janesville, Wis., where he was engaged in railroading until the Fall of 1875, when he came to Elroy and followed the same business until the Spring of 1878, since which time he has been engaged in the mercantile business. He is also express agent, a Republican, a member of the I. O. O. F., the A. O. U. W. and a Mason, belonging to the Chapter. Ilas held various local offices. In 1863, he was married to Emma Sleeper, born in Erie County, N. Y., in 1845. They have two children, Minme, born Aug. 25, 1864, and Harry, born Oct. 30, 1868.

B. F. SMITHI, hotel-keeper, Elroy, was born at South Hadley, Mass., in 1824. At the age of 13, he went to Schenectady Co., N. Y., and lived with his brother for three or four years, after which he lived in different localities in the State until about twenty-five years of age, when he came to Wisconsin, settling first in Janesville, where he was engaged in farming most of the time for five or six years ; after which he was en- gaged in staging in different parts of ,the State until August, 1862, when he enlisted in the 31st Wis, V., and served until July, 1865. Re- turning to Wisconsin, he again followed staging until May 1, 1872; since which time he has been engaged in the hotel business, at Elroy. Is a Republican, but takes little interest in politics, and is a member of the American Legion of Honor. Dec. 2, 1845, he was married to Sarah A. Soper, born in the State of New York. They have four children living -Anna E., C. Augusta, William Chauncy and Hattie E.

E. B. STURDIVANT, foreman car repairs, Elroy, was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in 1829, and at the age of ten years, removed with his parents to Mellenry Co., Ill., where they lived two years. Then moved to Erie Co., Penn., and was engaged in the lumber business and worked in the oil regions until 1866, when he came to Wisconsin, living at Monroe, Green Co., until 1872, during which time he was en- gaged in drilling wells. He then moved to Fond du Lac, and worked

in the car shops one year ; at the end of which time, in February, 1873, he came to Elroy, and has since been foreman of car repairing for the C. & N. W. R. K. at that place. In November, 1857, he was married to Julia Gray, born in Erie Co., Penn., in October, 1836. They have four children-Ida, Clara, Frank and Edith. Mr. S. is a Republican in politics, and a member of the I. O. O. F.

O. C. WATERMAN, hotel-keeper, Elroy, was born at Beloit, Wis., in 1838. Received a common school education, and worked at lumber- ing on the Wisconsin River until the Fall of 1873, when he came to Juneau County, and lollowed farming near Elroy until the Spring of 18SI, when he moved into the village, and has since been engaged in hotel business. Was married to Hattie C. Elmer, a native of Wiscon- sin. They have four children living-William W., Herbert, Amelia and Charley.

DANIEL WHICHER, dealer in real estate, Elroy, one of the oldest settlers in Juneau County, was born in Vermont, in 1813, and was brought by his parents to the State of New York when three years of age. Was a resident of the State for about fifteen years, during which time he received a common school education ; after which, in 1831, he went to Indiana and attended school at the Institute of Hanover one year, after which he followed teaching school and painting, in Indiana and Illinois, until Nov. 13, 1836, when he was married to Lamira Car- rier, a native of Vermont, born May 14, 1815; and in 1838 came to Wisconsin, settling first at Beloit, where he was engaged in farming for about fifteen years, after which, in 1853, he came Juneau County and continued farming near New Lisbon-where he was one of the first set- tlers-until March, 1870, when he came to Elroy, purchased 100 acres of land, most of which he has since sold as village lots. He has built fourteen dwellings, and is at present engaged in real estate. Has four children living- Harriet (now Mrs. Fowler), Hester A. (now Mrs. Northcott), Laura A. and Inez Frances.

J. W. WIGHTMAN, druggist, Elroy, was born in New London Co., Conn., in 1551, where he lived until thirteen years of age, when the family came to Wisconsin, settling at Werner, Juneau Co., at which place he remained, helping his father-who was engaged in the lumber business-until Jan. 1, 1878, with the exception of one year which he spent in the State of Connecticut, attending school. At which time he removed to Wonewoc, where, in partnership with G. W. Bishop, he en- gaged in the drug business, under the firm name of Bishop & Wight- man, continuing the same until November, 1879, when they dissolved partnership, and the following May Mr. Wightman came to Elroy, where he is now engaged in the drug trade. He is a Republican, has served two terms as Superintendent of the Schools of Juneau County, a member of the A. O. U. W., and a Mason, belonging to the Chapter. In August, 1878, he was married to Belle Ager, born in Sauk Co., Wis. They have one child, Bessie, born Dec. 17, 1879.

JOHN WILCOX, car repairer, Elroy, is a native of England, born in 1849. Emigrated to the United States in 1863, and came direct to Wisconsin, settling first at Lavalie, Sauk Co., where he was engaged in farming for about eight years, at the end of which time he came to Elroy, and has since been engaged in repairing cars on W. Wis. Div. of the C., St. P., M. & O. R. R. Feb. 1, 1874, he was married to Miss M. E. Sprague, a native of the State of New York, born in 1855. They have one child, Ida, born Jan. 10, 1876. Is a Liberal in politics, a member of the I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W.

N. B. WILKINSON, attorney, Elroy, is a native of Delaware. Born Jan. 29, 1853 ; was brought by his parents to Pierce Co., Wis., in 1865, where he received a good education, and at the age of eighteen, went to Michigan, and attended the State University, at Ann Arbor, graduating in the law department, in March, 1874. He then returned to Wisconsin, and attended two years at the Stete University at Madi- son, after which he returned to Pierce County, and practiced law at River Falls about two years, when he came to Elroy, where we still find him, pursuing his profession in May, ISSI, in partnership with D. C. Talbot ; purchased the Plain Talker, and is now publishing the same. Is a Liberal in politics, with Democratic principals, a member of the I. O. O. F., and the I. O. G. T. Was married, in 1876, to Delia Atwater, born in the State of New York, in 1857. They have three children- J., Zillai and Norris.

WONEWOC.

George Willard was the first settler in what is now known as Wonewoc Village. In August, 1842, in company with Don Carlos Barry and Alexander Draper, he visited this locality and explored the country.

In the Winter of 1842-43, Willard, associated with J. Chrystie and Arch Barker, cut a logging road through to Pine Grove. Part of them worked a logging camp there, and Willard operated a camp near Rathburn's mill. During

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

the same year, they rafted the logs to Sauk City. From the Winter of 1842-43, Willard ran logging camps in the vicin- ity of Wonewoc, and in 1849 he rolled down the bluff just back of the residence of Hon. T. K. Dunn over a million feet of logs. In 1851, Mr. Willard cut a road from the State road in Sank County to Wonewoc, and built a log house on the place now owned by Samuel Veeder, in Plum Valley. In the Summer of this year, he built a saw-mill at Wonewoc, and also a frame building, now known as the Rock House, and moved his family into it. Mrs. Willard was the first white woman who came to this vicinity. Their son Fred, who was born in Wonewoc, November 18, 1853, was the first child born there. In 1854, Delando Pratt came to Wonewoc, purchased a water power from Willard, and the land now occupied by the village, whereon he had the site platted. At that time, the entire ground of the plat was a tangled jungle of bushes, trees and logs, without a house. In 1855, Pratt purchased additional water power from Willard, and built the first grist-mill. Joel Bishop arrived in 1854. He built the first hotel - a por- tion of the Frazell House-which he sold the following year to J. Clements. Mr. Clements was the first Postmas- ter ; he received his commission in the Summer of 1856. The office was kept in his hotel, and Willard carried the mail from Reedsburg twice a week for the proceeds of the office. John Grant, Sr., located at Willard's Prairie in 1851. Abram Tawney on the ridge, about a mile and a half from the village. Messrs. Fisher and Ganser located at Union Centre about the same time. When the town was first settled, Plymouth, Wonewoc, Summit and Seven Mile Creek were organized into one town. Then Plymouth and Wonewoc were consolidated, and in 1857, Wonewoc was organized into a separate township, in pursuance to an order of the Board of Supervisors of Adams County.

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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