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 123
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WILLIAM MILLER, Alma Center House, was born in Cortland Co., N. V .. Feb. 11, ISII. Left New York State in 1856 and came to Mclfenry Co., Ill., where he settled on a farm, remaining there until 1865. Came to Jackson Co., Wis., and started farming in the town of Alma ; in 1875, opened a hotel in Alma Center, where he still is. Mr. Miller was Justice of the Peace, in town of Alma, for the year 1873, was married in June, 1836, to Miss Rachael Heath ; she was born in Cort-
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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.
land Co., N. Y. They have nine children-Joel S .; Ann, now Mrs. Oscar Heath, of La Crosse Co., Wis .; Amy M., now Mrs. Joseph Med- calf; Jerome B .; Helen A .; Adeline M., now Mrs. II. Riggs, of Bradford, Penn .; Myron J., Albert E. and Edwin A.
HENRY W. NORTHROP, wagon maker, Alma Center, was born Oct. 12, 1842, in Allegany Co., N. Y. Came West with his parents when twelve years of age, and settled with them in Grant County, going to school part of the time and working for his father until he went to the war. Enlisted in 1861, in Co. C, 2nd Wis. V. I., at Bloomington and served for three years and three months, being in nearly all of the prin- cipal battles of the Potomac. In June, 1864, returned home to Grant County, went to Prairie du Chien, where he clerked in a store a short time, and then came up the Black River and engaged in the lumber business. In 1876, moved to Alma Center; is a member of the I.O.O.F., Alma Lodge, No. 294.
HIXTON.
This is a village of seventy-five inhabitants, on the rail- road, and near the head waters of the Trempealeau River, about twelve miles west of Merrillan. It has a post-office, A. Clinton being in charge. There is a flouring-mill, built by Stewart & Hoffman, in 1874. It was purchased by George F. Seger, in 1878, who sold it to William T. Price, in 1880, who still operates the mill. It turns off forty bar- rels of fine flour each day, and has a capacity of twenty-five tons of feed. D. G. Thomas is miller. There was formerly another mill in the center of the village, but it was suffered to go to decay, and was finally removed to Sechlersville.
In March, 1854, J. L. Hicks, Milton Buell, Adolphus Dart, and Wheeler Robbins arrived in what is now the vil- lage of Hixton, direct from Galesville. Robbins continued on to Minnesota, and Hicks, after camping out all night, erected a board shanty, 12 x 16 feet, in which he lived for some months, the first building erected in the town of Hix- ton. The same year came Abner Holmes, P. R. Hoffman, J. R. Sechler, I. B. Allen, and J. H. Berto, and in a short time the entire valley was converted into farms.
The place was first settled in 1854. The persons com- ing here about that time were: J. L. Hicks, J. H. Berto, H. B. Newell, John Curran, Peter Hoffman, Joseph Hoff- man, J. R. Sechler and Almer Holmes, and others later.
There is one church, the Congregational. It was organ- ized and a church built under the charge of Rev. S. S. Norris, in 1875. After him, Rev. Henry Lee entered upon the work, and he still remains. There is a Sunday-school connected with the church.
Hotels .- Railroad House-Joe D. Hoffman ; Mrs. Hoff- man, matron.
Seger House-George F. Seger, proprietor.
Trade .- O. F. Hoffman, general merchandise.
H. G. Newell, drugs, medicines and sundries.
Aaron Clinton, drugs and groceries.
Miss Mabel Rhodes, dressmaker.
Mrs. Van Waters, millinery.
Mr. Van Waters, printer.
Hixton Lodge, No. 254, I. O. O. F., instituted April 26, 1876; Thomas Willoughby, N.G .; Henry Hoffman, V. G .; A. Shauble, secretary. Present officers: Frank Newell, N. G .; George Dageits, V. G .; F. Larson, secretary. Meet- ings are held on Saturday nights, in a well furnished hall.
J. T. White is station agent. About $400 is received
each month for freight forwarded, and $200 for freight re- ceived, and $50 for passengers.
Cheese Factory .- F. M. Richardson makes 40,000 pounds a season, charging one and a half cents a pound.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
WILLIAM BURTON, farmer, Sec. 6, P. O., Hixton, was born in Ireland, in 1842. Left his native land in 1857 and came to America, where he worked on a farm near Cleveland, Ohio, for eighteen months; went to Black River Falls, Wis., in 1859, and commenced to work in a saw- mill for Jacob Spaulding, the first settler there. Continued to work for him some time and then went into the woods and started to work for Thomas Hall, until 1873. Then bought the farm where he now lives, and owns 360 acres. Was married July 12, 1871, to Miss Lizzie Daurghty, she was born in Ireland, June 2, 1850, and by whom he has two sons, Hugh E. and William R.
AARON CLINTON, Postmaster, Hixton, was born in West Troy, Albany Co., N. Y. Came to Black River Falls, Wis., in 1855. started a store, keeping a stock of general merchandise, in company with John K. Quail, said gentleman being drowned on the " Lady Elgin." Mr. Clinton continued at the business until 1860, when he was burnt out, at the time of the big fire in 1860, at Black River Falls, losing the whole of his stock. He then commenced clerking for Mr. Bump, after which he came to the town of Hixton and entered into co-partnership with Merrill & Ice, and remained with them two years, when he was appointed Postmaster under Grant's administration, and has held that office ever since. Is a member of the I. O. O. F., Hixton Lodge, No. 259, and was married in 1840, to Miss Frances J. Hitchcock; she is a native of West Troy. They are both members of the Congregational Church at Hixton, and have one daughter, Edith A., now Mrs. C. E. W. Raymond. They mourn the loss of three children, Mary A., died Feb. 9, 1843, Eugenia A., died Aug. 14, 1867, and James H., died May 30, 1848.
TULLY DORRONCE, farmer, Sec. 6, P. O. Hixton, was born in Vermont, Sept. 23, 1836. Came to Wisconsin in 1853, first going to Fond du Lac County, where he worked one year for J. H. Berto on a farm, then worked one year for Henry Lake, until 1860, came to Hixton, Jackson Co., and pre-empted a claim from the Government, consisting of 160 acres of good farm land. Mr. Dorronce has been a member of Town Board in Hixton three terms, also of District School Board, for nineteen years. Was married Dec. 31, 1862, to Miss Margaret A. Hoffman ; she was born in Pennsylvania, March 22, 1838. Their family consists of three chil- dren-Charles M., born March 20, 1867, Joseph H., born Dec. 4, 1868, and Jennie V., born May 11, 1871. They have also lost two children one infant son, died May 27, 1864, and one daughter, died Feb. 27, 1867,
JOSEPH D. HOFFMAN, hotel and farmer. Hixton, was born in Lycoming Co., Penn., Sept. 14, 1812. Came to Wisconsin in 1856, and settled at Ilixton, Jackson Co., on the place where he now lives, which contains 200 acres. Being anxious to see his country improve, he donat- ed a piece of land on the Trempealeau River, to James Deval and Sidney Brow, who erected a mill in 1858, according to agreement. This mill has since been destroyed by fire. Mr. Hoffman has been a member of the Town Board for three years, and is also a member of Congregational Church, at Hixton, said church being built in 1876, Mr. Hoffman being a liberal contributor to the erection thereof. Was married to Miss Susan Vanhorne, in Nov. 3, 1844; she was born in Pennsylvania, May 14, 18IS. Their family consists of six children-Margaret A., now Mrs. Darnce; Charles C. Dabary, now Mrs. Joseph King; Willard C .; Norah B. now Mrs. G. Shaw. They have lost four children, Mary E., died in 1870; William F., died in Pennsylvania, 1851; Samantha, died 1871; and Eliza D., died in 1875.
OSCAR F. HOFFMAN, general merchandise store and stock buyer, Hixton, was born in Lycoming Co., Pa., April 20, 1843. Came West with his parents at the age of eleven years, and settled on a farm in Ilixton, Jackson Co., which he bought from the State school lands. Remained with his parents until 1878, when he started stock buying, and started the store where he now is, April 15, ISSI. Mr. Hoffman is a member of the Congregational Church, and also of the I. O. O. F., Ilixton Lodge, No. 259. He was married to Miss Almira B. Wilson. She was born in Pennsylvania, Jan. 10, 1851 ; she being also a member of Congregational Church, at Hixton. Their family consists of four children-Leslie M., Sarah P., Fred C. and Jessie. They have also lost three children, Rebecca, and two infant daughters, unnamed.
PETER HOFFMAN, farmer, Sec. 16, P. O. Hixton, came to Wis- consin in 1854 ; was born in Pennsylvania, March 14, 1817. Himself and family, consisting of wife and three children, came from Milwaukee to Jackson County with a yoke of oxen. Ilere he bought 360 acres from the State school lands and erected a house, which was nearly on the site where his present residence stands. When he first came to Hixton, there was plenty of game, and as he was very fond of hunting, he used to often have as many as twenty-six dressed deer hanging up at his home in the Winter. But the hunters and trappers, who made a
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421
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
business of it, soon killed off the game. Sparta was his grain market before the railroad run through here; he purchased his first groceries and general supplies at La Crosse. He is now engaged in raising hops on his farm, and raises annually from five to six tons ; and has a natural trout stream running through his farm, which is situated in the Trem- pealeau Valley, being one of the finest stock farms in the county. Mr. Hoffman erected the saw-mill at Merrillan. which is now operated by Wakefield & Trow, in 1859, and has served three years as County Com- missioner in Jackson County.
MATTHEW R. LETSON, farmer, Sec. 33, town of Hixton, P. O. Taylor, was born in New York, Feb. 27, 1810. Came to Wisconsin in 1850, and settled in Marquette County, where he remained until 1859 ; then moved to Jackson County, which has been his home ever since. Was married, in 1832, to his first wife, Miss Lorance Wilcox. She was a native of New York, and died June 16, 1835, leaving one son, Calvin W. In 1837, was married the second time, to Clarinda Whipple, by whom he has eight children-Mary E., Lucy V., Juliett, Charles E., George W., Edgar, Emily J. and Clarence D.
JOHN PETERSON, grain dealer, Hixton, is a native of Norway, being born Jan. 29, 1847. Came to America in 1869, and landed at La Crosse, Wis., on the twenty-second day of May. Remained there until 1873. engaged with C. J. Lambert in the lumber business four years ; then going to the town of Hixton, Jackson Co., where he hought wheat for Mr. Lambert for two years. Mr. Peterson then went to buying wheat for himself until engaged by Cargell & Wand at the same business, also running his farm, and the hotel now known as the Seger House. IIas held the office of Supervisor four terms, in town of Hixton, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 259, at Hixton. Was married, Oct. 22, 1875, to Miss Julia A. Dehl. She is a native of Norway, born Sept 22, 1853. They have two children, Edmund R. and Johnnie W.
EDMUND PRATT, foreman of Hon. W. T. Price's farm, Sec. 9, P. O. Hixton, was born in Washington Co., N. Y., Aug. 15, 1826. Has been engaged with Mr. Price for seventeen years, first at lumbering, then as road agent, and in 1873 took charge of the farm, which consists of 1.963 acres, being nearly all under cultivation. On it, in the year 1877. they raised 29,000 bushels of oats, 3,000 bushels of barley, and 4,000 of wheat ; and this year, 1881, have in 200 acres of corn, 90 acres of wheat, 160 acres of barley and 250 of oats. Have cut as high as 650 tons of lay in one season. Employ twenty-eight men the year round, working them in the pineries Winters, and generally employ fifty during harvest, working twenty teams They have a blacksmith shop on the farm, and do all their own machine repairing right there. Their stock consists of 460 hogs, 117 head of cattle, 175 head of sheep and 96 horses. There is a fine trout stream running through the farm.
GEORGE F. SEGER, hotel, farmer and stock raiser, Ilixton, is a na- tive of New London, Canada West, born March 15, 1846. In 1858, he came to Wisconsin with his parents, settling in Waukesha County, where he lived until 1866, being engaged with a surveying party on western rail- roads. In 1869. moved to Green Bay, Wis., where he was for several years employed by N. C. Foster, as general manager of his lumber busi- ness, and in 1873 started a hoot and shoe store at the same place. At this he continued till 1877, when he removed to Hixton, Jackson Co., and bought the farm on which he now lives. Mr. Seger also bought in a mer- cantile store, with James Ice as partner, at the same time buying for himself the Hixton mill, from Steward & Hoffman, continuing to run it until October, ISSo, when he sold out to William T. Price. He then started in his present business, hotel keeping ; he is a member of I. O. O. F., Hixton Lodge, No. 249. On Oct. 31, 1874, was joined in matri- mony to Miss Sarah J. Hardenbergh. She was born in New York in 1851, and was a graduate of Madison University, in the class of 1871. Their family consists of three children - Mary E., Georgia H. and Sarah H.
WILLIAM D. SHERWOOD, farmer, Sec. 27, P. O. Hixton, was born in New York, March 2, 1837. Left his native town in 1858, and came to Wisconsin and bought 640 acres of land, in town of Alma, Jackson Co. Mr. Sherwood is now Chairman of the Town Board at Hixton, and has held that office for five years. Is a member of the Presbyterian Church at Sechlersville, and is also a member of the I. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 259, at Hixton. Was married, in 1864, to Miss A. M. Coleman. She was born in Illinois, in 1838. They have one adopt- ed son, Charles,
SECHLERSVILLE.
This village is one mile west of Hixton, on the rail- road. The place was settled by J. R. Sechler and others, soon after Hixton, as a rival village. It is on the river, and has a good water-power.
Business .- A flouring-mill, owned by J. R. Sechler, who also has a store with general merchandise.
J. H. Lounsbury, general merchandise and farming im- plements.
Blacksmiths-James Babcock, Henry Hartman. Wagon Shop and Furniture-George Raas.
Shoemaker -- John Johnson.
There is a good school-house and a good school.
Churches .- Presbyterian. Organized in 1862, by Rev. J. G. Wells, with seven members, who is still pastor. The church was finished in 1879; numbers fifty members.
Methodist .- The church was built in 1868. This soci- ety was early in the field, and the following ministers are remembered as having labored here: Revs. Mr. Cody Webster, Woolley, Cooley, Cummings, Woods, Mead, Holt, Springer, Nichols, Taylor, Chariton, Richardson and the present pastor, William E. Doughty.
Sechlersville Lodge, No. 301, I. O. O. F., organized Sept. 15, 188t. Charter members: S. H. Van Gordon, N. G .; G. M. Hull, V. G .; F. M. Taylor, secretary : R. W. Upton, treasurer. Monday evening, Sechler's store. Twenty members.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
LYMAN T. BRANCH, physician, Sechlersville, was born in Gene- see Co., N. Y., Nov. 19, 1841 ; was a graduate at Eclectic Medical Col- lege, at Philadelphia, in 1871 ; had read and practiced medicine with Dr. Sherman Lunn, of Ossian, Iowa, eight years previous to that time. Dr. Branch has practiced his profession at Dunleith, Ill., two years, and at McGregor, Iowa, one year, from there going to Auburn, Iowa, where he remained until 1879, then came to Sechlersville, Wis. He is a mem- ber of the National Eclectic Medical Association ; also. of the Medical Society of Elgin, and of the I. O. O. F. He was married to Miss Emma L. Dykens, of Crawford, Wis., Dec. I, 1872.
SAMUEL M. CURRAN, farmer. Sec. 26, P.O. Sechlersville, came to Wisconsin with his parents, in 1848, settling in Waukesha County ; was born in Pennsylvania, Aug. 23, 1833. He remained in Waukesha County until 1856, farming ; then removed to Jackson County, and pre- empted a claim of eighty acres from the Government, and has since added to it 120 acres, also owning eighty acres of timber. He was mar- ried in October, 1876, to Miss Lydia E. Voose. She was born in Wan- kesha County. They have two children, William F. and Mary E. Mr. C. enlisted in Co. H, 48th Wis. Reg. V. I., in 1865, and served for eleven months on the frontier. His father, the Rev. John Curran, died at the old homestead, May 18, IS81, aged seventy-five years and six months. For more than a quarter of a century the deceased resided in Jackson County, and contributed his share toward its welfare, prosperity and development. He was born in Pennsylvania, in 1805, and in 1847, came to Wisconsin, settling in Waukesha County, where he remained eight years. In 1855, he came to Jackson County, town of Hixton. In all the relations of life, the deceased was most exemplary, a kindly Chris- tian man. He lived for others more than for himself. The early settlers of Trempealean Valley often shared his hospitality, and the more needy ones often called upon him for help, which he was ever ready to give. The deceased spent nearly half of his life in the ministry of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and died having full faith in an immortality be- yond the grave. A wife and six children survived him. Samuel Curran's mother died April 14, 1865, being fifty-seven years old.
GEORGE M. HULL, miller, Sechlersville, is a native of Pennsyl- vania, being born in November, 1846. Left his native State in 1866. and went to Warsaw, Ind., where he commenced to learn the trade of milling with his brother. He was married there, in 1869, to Miss Han- nah Baker. She was born in Warsaw, Ind., in 1848. In 1871. Mr. Richardson moved to Sechlersville, Wis., which place has been his home since. He is a member of I. O. O. F. Their family consists of four children-George M., Russell, Maggie and Effie.
JAMES H. LOUNSBURY, general merchandise store, Sechlersville, was born in Westchester Co., N. Y., July I, 1824 ; came to Wisconsin in 1847, and farmed for two years at Madison, Dane Co. He then went to Green Lake County, near Princeton, and engaged in the lumber busi- ness, at the same time buying wheat, until 1862. In 1864, he enlisted in Co. F, 36th Wis. V. I. ; served his country until the close of the war, and then returned to Princeton, where he farmed until 1867. Mr. Louns- bury then sold his farm and went to Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., where he went on the road selling farm machinery, at which he continued until 1872, when he moved to Sechlersville, which was then a comparatively new town, and commenced business, keeping agricultural implements, and
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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.
in 1879, started the store where he now is, in connection with his other business, and does a business of from $10,000 to $15,000 per annum. Mr. Lounsbury has held the office of Notary Public for eight years, in Sechlersville, and Justice of the Peace two years, and has always taken an active part in the public interest of his town.
THOMAS P. MARSH, School Superintendent of Jackson County, Sechlersville, was born in New York, Sept. 16, 1838 ; left his native State in 1864, and came to Jackson County, where he taught school for eight years, being elected to the office of County School Superintendent in 1872, which position he has held ever since. He was a student of Gales- ville University, Trempealean Co., Wis., and was married, in 1868, to Miss Mary Allen, by whom he has three children living-Thomas E., Minnie M. and Cora L. ; also one daughter, Grace I., who died in Au- gust, 1879.
HENRY NOLOP, farmer and blacksmith, Sec. 26, Sechlersville, was born in Canada, in March, 1834; left there in 1861, and came to Jackson County, town of Hixton, where his parents had come one year previous to his arrival. Henry rented a farm, on which he lived until 1863, when he enlisted in Co. I, 4th Wis. V. C., and served till 1865. He then returned to Jackson County, and bought a farm of eighty-three acres from one Mr. Cody, who was the original purchaser of the land from the Government, Mr. Nolop having since added forty acres to it. 1Te was put in Constable in 1866, and held that office four years, being then elected Justice of the Peace, which office he has held ever since. He is a member of the Good Templars at Sechlersville, and is an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church of that place. He was mar- ried, in 1854, to Miss Elizabeth Gard. She is a native of England. They are the parents of seven children-Fannie M. (now Mrs. E. Morti- boy), Caroline (now Mrs. C. H. Berto, of Amherst, Portage Co.), George H., Hattie, Allie, Frank T. and Minnie. Mr. Nolop's father is now in his seventy-eighth year, and his mother died, in 1874, at the old home- stead, being seventy-one years of age.
ISAAC B. RICHARDSON, Sechlersville, was born in Canada, Oct. II, ISI4, being the son of Joseph Richardson who served in the Provin- cial Dragoons in the war of 1812, under General Brock, Isaac being named after said General. He left his native country in 1838, and came to Hudson, Mich., where he worked at the carpenter's trade, being en- gaged part of the time in building railroad bridges on the Michigan Southern Railroad, and helped lay the first mile of superstructure on that road. Left Hudson in 1844. and returned to Canada in 1847. He was or- dained as deacon in the Methodist Episcopal Church by Bishop Orlander Smith, at Beverly, being also ordained as elder by the same bishop, in 18.49, at Kilsworth, Canada. Mr. Richardson was the founder of the Progression- ist, a paper published at Marpeth, Canada, and also of the Western Union, edited, in 1861, at Chatham, Canada, and which he sold out in IS64, to Corman Bros. Mr. Richardson came to Jackson County in 1866, being received into the West Wisconsin Conference by Bishop M. Simp- on, in 1867. He is a member of the Sons of Temperance.
SCHUYLER H. VAN GORDEN, dealer in pumps and windmills, Sechlersville, was born in Erin, Chemung Co., N.Y., Jan. 22, 1852. In 1868, left his native State and came West, going first to Illinois, where he worked by the month for a time, leaving there to go to Bradford, Iowa, where he attended school, afterward teaching until 1874. Mr. Van Gorden then removed to Sechlersville, where he taught school for three Winters, at the same time heing engaged in his present business. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and has been Treasurer of Hixton Town- ship for four years : was married in July, 1870, to Miss Clara E. Potter. She was born in Freeport, Ill., Oct. 12, IS51. They have two children living. Burt L. and Harry, and one daughter (deceased), Nellie May, who lied March 11, 1881.
MELROSE,
Situated in Melrose Township, sixteen miles south of the Falls, is a thriving little suburb of 200 inhabitants and upward, with little beyond the natural beauties of the loca- tion to commend it to capitalists or mechanics. It is but a few years since that it was, so to speak, a backwoods clear- ing, hardly worth the name of hamlet. It was settled in 1839, by Robert, Thomas and William Douglas, a trio of the original party who first came into Jackson County for permanent settlement. They were the first of the army of homesteaders who have located from time to time in that portion of the county, but men of shrewdness and capacity, who have made success their goal and attained its real- ization.
For nearly six years these brothers remained alone in
this section, engaged in opening farms and making such other improvements as occasion afforded, or convenience demanded. But in 1845, they were joined by Thomas Douglas, Sr., their father, who, accompanied by sisters, the late Mrs. O'Neill, of Neillsville, and Mrs. Wason, still living at the Falls, and Mark and David Douglas, younger brothers, landed at the farm of those who had preceded their arrival in the New World, from Scotland.
In 1852, Hugh Douglas conceived the idea of surveying and platting the present village, which he accomplished that year. There were then no improvements of any description, but before 1852 had fully waned, Mr. Douglas began the erection of a hotel, which was finished before Winter fairly set in, and for years under the name of the " Douglas House," was known to all who ever traveled in that direction. The name selected for the place was " Bris- tol," after the flourishing city of that name in England, which name was retained until, say 1854, when " Melrose " was substituted, and has since been borne,
Soon after the building of the Douglas House, David Douglas erected a residence within the present village boundaries, to which a blacksmith shop was added, the first in the place, and, with these improvements, Bristol, or more properly speaking, Melrose, enjoyed a quiet, uninteresting experience until 1854. During that year a school-house was erected near the village, and in this connection it may not be improper to observe the care that has always been taken in Jackson County, of the cause of education. Correspond- ing to the enterprise and indomitable energy in business affairs displayed by the early settlers, was their zeal in the cause of education and the advancement of religion ; and it is safe to state that a larger per cent of cultured minds and well-educated people were found among the early set- tlers of this county than usually falls to the lot of new Western settlements. This was the first school established in Melrose Township, and served its purpose until suc- ceeded by the new school-house, in about 1870.
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