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 166

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 166

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).

DAVID ROBERTS, senior partner in the firm of Roberts & Graves, dealers in ready-made clothing, hats, caps, groceries, boots and shoes, Mosinee, was born in La Prairie, Canada, near Montreal, June 6, 1831. He came to Mosinee in 1850, and worked in the pineries and in the saw mills about four years. Then he engaged in the lumber business on his own account, which he followed ten years, after which he engaged in the tannery business four years, since which time he has followed farming and lumbering. He, in company with Mr. Graves, engaged in the mer- cantile trade, Jan. 1, 1881. He was married, May 11, 1863, to Jennie Morrey, who was born in Milwaukee, April 19, 1844. They have one daughter, Marion E., who was born Feb. 14, 1873. Mrs. Roberts died July 10, 1879. Mr. Roberts was again married, June 15, 1881, to Eliz- abeth Lemmer, a native of La Porte, Ind., and born May 23, 1857.

DELOS W. WORDEN, foreman in Mr. J. Dessert's saw-mill, Mosi- nee, was born in Middlefield, Otsego Co., N.Y., Feb. 15, 1832 ; came to Oshkosh in 1856, where he worked for C. N. Payne & Co., seven years, in the capacity of foreman in their saw-mill. He then worked for D. L. Libby, in the same capacity, one year. From there, he went to Big Su- amico ; engaged, as before, one year for M. E. Trumbull & Co .; also one year for J. H. Weed & Co. He then returned to Oshkosh, and worked in the saw-mill, for the first-named company, nine years, after which he came to Mosinee and engaged with Mr. J. Dessert. He was married in Tioga Village, Pa., Aug. 3, 1854, to Sarah J. Drake, who is a native of Steuben Co., N.Y., born 1834. They have five children-Na- thaniel J., Margaret A., Oscar B., William H. and Nellie C.

KNOWLTON.

This is a stirring village on the Wisconsin River, eight- een miles above Stevens Point. Including the mill hands there are 200 inhabitants.

It is a mill village. The town is not yet all taken up to farming, but as the lumber is cut up, it will be promptly under cultivation.

Stark Bros. have a saw mill near the village cutting 2,- 000,000 feet a year.

Wallace & Redford's mill is two miles south, and cuts 6,000,000 feet a season.

John Redfield's mill is three miles north, and cuts 3,- 000,000 feet a year.

The village proper has fifteen dwellings, a hotel, store, and Catholic Church supplied from Wausau.

Leonard Guenther settled here in 1848, when it was the center of a very valuable pine tract, some of the forties yielding 1,800,000 feet.

Guenther Brothers, sons of the old gentleman, who died in 1876, keep the hotel, store and post-office.

KNOWLTON STATION.

is on the Wisconsin Valley road, one mile west of the vil- lage.

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HISTORY OF MARATHON COUNTY.

C. E. & A. Guenther at this point are building a planing and a feed mill, all to be first-class in every respect, with ample steam power. A fine village must spring up here.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

LEONARD GUENTHER, the father of Charles E., Anton, Thomas, Mary and Leonard, Jr., was born in Baden, Germany, Nov. 30, 1828. He settled at Watertown, Wis., in 1844, when he followed the bakery business ; then he went to Beaver Dam and was engaged in the same business for some time; from there he went into the Wisconsin pine- ries about four miles above Knowlton, at Drake's mills, and engaged as head sawyer, where he remained four years. He afterward went to Knowlton, made shingles and followed the lumber business, run- ning the river, etc., for seven years. He was married in 1854 in Por- tage Co., Wis. They moved in their present home, and kept hotel and began the mercantile business about 1874, which is continned by the family. Mr. Guenther was the founder of the Catholic Church in Knowlton, he was one of the pioneer settlers in the then wilderness, and did much to improve it. He was a member of the County Board several years. Mrs. Guenther's maiden name was Rosalia Stark. She was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, Feb. 20, 1828. The family consists of five children. The two oldest boys are married. Charles E. lives near the old homestead, and is at present engaged in the lumber busi- ness. Anton, the next oldest, lives at home with the rest of the fam- ily. Mr. Leonard Guenther, the father of the family, died some time ago.

NEWTON W. HARVEY, millwright and foreman Wallace & Redford's saw mill, Knowlton, was born in Tioga Co., Pa., Dec. I, 1837. He came to Weyauwega, Oct. 4. 1855, and worked at the car- penter trade for ten years. He then went as repairer in Weed & Gum- ear's saw-mill, where he remained one year, then he took charge of the mill and remained in that capacity eight years, after which he went to Stevens Point and vicinity, and was employed principally as foreman, np to the present writing. He was married in Waupaca County, Oct. 31, 1861, to Elizabeth A. Tibbits, who was born in Gardiner, Me., Feb. 13, 1840. They have three children-Jessie L., Charles E. and William N.

ALOIS STARK, of the firm of Stark Bros., proprietors saw-mill, Knowlton, was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, July 29, 1838. He came with his parents to Knowlton in 1853. They first began logging and the shingle business, which they followed until 1863 ; then they began the erection of a saw mill one mile below their present site, which mill burned in 1870. Mr. A. Stark was married at Knowlton, October, 1870, to Josephine Wetzel, who was born in his native village in Germany, November, 1850. They have three children-Thomas, Helen F. and Agatha F. The other brothers, Anthony Stark and Wendell Stark are both married, and have families living near their saw-mill. They erect- ed this mill in the Summer of 1873. Its capacity is from 15,000 to 20,- 000 in one day, employing nine men.

HENRY R. WEED, lumberman, Knowlton, was born in Illinois, May 5, 1848. He came with his parents and settled at Bean's Eddy, three miles north of Knowlton, on the Wisconsin River, in 1856. He began work on his own account at the age of eighteen years, working in a saw mill by the month, and running a mill by the thousand until 1869. Then he began his present vocation. He was married July, 1869, to Ricky Pickard, who was born in Germany. They have one daughter, Carrie L.

SPRING BROOK AND EAU CLAIRE,

virtually one place, was first settled by W. L. Ackley, in 1859, who began lumbering, but soon settled down to farm- ing. Mr. Chancy Vaughn came in 1875, followed by Messrs. Moses Tinney, J. S. Nelson and O. J. Beardsley.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ERWIN A REDFORD, of the firm of Wallace & Redford, saw mill, Eau Claire River. Mr. R.'s father first went to Milwaukee, in 1833, and moved his family there in 1836. He kept a boarding house and boot and shoe shop for three years, then moved to Wankesha County, where his family were reared, they being the first family that moved in the country from Milwaukee, and raised the first crops of grain. They lived there until 1870, and followed farming and made themselves a good home. Mr. R., the father of Erwin A., was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., and died at the age of eighty at Monroe. Mr. E. A. Redford lived in Waukesha until 1850, then he went to the Wiscon- sin pineries and worked two years. Then he went into the logging business on his own account, which he followed until 1861. Then he went into the milling business in the capacity of engineer, and followed it until 1869. Then he went in company with Mr. R. G. Wallace and bought a saw mill. He was born in Perrysburg, N. Y., June 5, 1831. He was married in Marathon County, October, 1856, to Lora Ed-

wards, She died June 2, 1869. They had two children, Anna J., de- ceased ; and Nellie M., now Mrs. Chas, Guenther, of Knowlton. Mr. R. was married again, June 18, 1872, at Milwaukee, to Sophia A. Klein- stiber, born in Germany, May 10, 1842. They have two children, Anna J. and Erwin A., Tr.

ROBERT G. WALLACE, of the firm of Wallace & ; Redford, saw mill, was born in Belfast, Ireland, Oct. 24, 1839. His mill was erected in the Summer of 1871. The capacity is about 24.000 in one day, and after cutting lumber they manufacture usually about 40,000 shingles per day, employing about twenty-four men. He came to Stevens Point, April. 1862, and was there a short time, when he settled in his present place of business, thirteen and one-half miles north of Stevens Point, and three miles east of Hutchinson, township Eau Pleine. He has made lumbering his principal business since settling there. He was married at Stevens Point, April 22, 1871, to Ann E. Whitney, who was born in Miramichi, N. B., Sept. 19, 1846. They have five children-Sarah J., born March 13, 1873 ; Alexander Y., born Aug. 29, 1874 ; George W., born March 17, 1876; John H., born April 22, 1878 ; Ann G., born Dec. 17, 1879. Their first child, Robert G., was born Jan. 25, 1872, and died July 22. of the same year.

EAU PLEINE.

JOSEPH P. HANLEY, engineer in the Ean Pleine Saw Mill, Ean Pleine, was born in Newburg, Ohio, March 8, 1834. He came to Green Bay in the Fall of 1875, and began running an en- gine there, where he served a part of his apprenticeship. He lived there about two years, then went to Oshkosh on a steamboat plying on the Wolf River. He followed this during the proper seasons for two years, after which he went to Wausan, and engaged a short time as en- gineer with the Wausau Lumber Company. He came to his present place of business in the Spring of 1880.

THOMAS W. HILTON, fireman in the Eau Pleine Saw Mill, Ean Pleine, came to Sparta in 1872, and has followed the lumber busi- ness since living in Wisconsin. He was born in Boothby, England, May 14, 1845. He came to America in 1866, and first settled in Nova Scotia, where he lived two years, occupied as a foreman on the railroad. Then he went to Canada West and followed lumbering principally until 1872, when he came to Sparta. During the time he lived in Canada he visited England and remained a short time.

WILLIAM H. SKINNER, head sawyer in the Ean Pleine or Brick- ley saw-mill, Ean Pleine, was born in Big Flats, Stenben Co., N. Y., July 12. 1846. He came to Oshkosh in 1854, with his parents, and lived there twenty years. He began business for himself at the age of fifteen years, his first occupation being head sawyer. He went to Green Bay, and engaged in the same business, where he remained two years; then to Oconto, where he followed saw filing one year ; from there he went to Shiocton, where he remained two years; then to Stevens Point, also for two years ; from there he came to his present place of business in the Spring of 1881. He was married at Neenah, March 29, 1870, to Emma A. Jones, who was born in Neenah, July 24, 1849. They have four chil- dren-Eva M., Tina E., Carrie Z., and Grace M.

HUTCHINSON

is on the Wisconsin Valley Railroad, near south line of the county. It has two large lumber and shingle-mills, a planing-mill, a shingle and lumber yard, and a general store. It is strictly a lumber town.

HENRY CALVERT, operator and agent Wisconsin Valley Rail- road, Hutchinson, Mr. Calvert was born at Salesville, near Waukesha, Wis., Nov. 30, 1851, and lived there until he was twelve years of age, and from there he went with his parents to Durand, Wis., and where he worked on a farm for his father, Mr. Alfred Calvert, about four years. Then his father went into the mercantile business, and Henry Calvert clerked in the store six years; and from there he went to Tomah, and clerked for Kibby, Vincent & Co., about two years ; then he went to Me- nomonee, Wis., and went to selling pumps and wind-mills, ahont a year after which, he went to Watertown, D. T., and took a homestead, but not liking that country, soon returned to Tomah, where he remained a a short time ; then went to Hutchinson, where he has since lived. He was married at Durand, Wis., in 1873; his wife's maiden name was Eliza Baker. They have two boys, named Eddie and Harry Hutchinson, and an infant danghter.

JOSEPH T. DANIELS, one of the firm of Daniels & Hutchinson. Their saw-mill was erected about 1851, but has been re-built since. The capacity is 45,000 in eleven hours, and about 30,000 shingles. They manufacture about 6,000,000 annually, and employ twenty men. Mr. Daniels first located in Neenah, Wis., in Spring, 186S, and began the manufacture of shingles under the firm of Hungerford & Co., they having bought a mill there, which they operated five years ; then put in a rotary saw, at which time Mr. Daniels sold his interest. He still lives at Neenah, and after selling his mill he engaged in lumbering on the

572

HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

Wolf River three years, getting his logs manufactured at Oshkosh, after which he went to Hutchinson, Wis., and bought the saw-mill, June 1, 1856, calculating to let his son, Frank Daniels, run it ; but after operat- ing it until Nov. 19, 1877, his son died. Mr. J. T. Daniels was, there- fore, obliged to take charge of the business. Mr. Daniels was born in Paris, Me., Aug. 16, 1816. He was married, 1850, same village; his wife's maiden name was Sarah J. Richards. She was born in Oxford, Me., 1823. They had two children, named Frank W., now dead, and Alfred D. Daniels, M. D., now practicing medicine at Winneconne, Wis.

SAMUEL M. HUTCHINSON, of the firm of Daniels & Hutch- inson, proprietors saw-mill, three-quarters mile east of Hutchinson, a station on the Wisconsin Valley Railroad. He first settled in his present location with his brothers, Alpheus H. and Cyrus Hutchinson, in the Spring, 1870, where they bought the saw-mill and began operating the same. After a time, Mr. Daniels and son bought the interests of A. H. & C. Hutchinson, and Mr. S. M. Hutchinson has continued to operate the mill as mentioned above. Ile was born in Monterey, N. Y., June 17, 1842. He was married in Hutchinson, Dec. 18, 1877. His wife's maiden name was Azelia M. Bixby ; she was born in Norfolk, N. Y., Aug. 17, 1851.

GEORGE J. POWELL, of the firm of Powell & Slothower, propri- etors planing mill, Hutchinson, Wis. Their mill was erected in 1873 ; the capacity is 30,000 per day, in dressing all kinds of lumber ; they employ eight men. Mr. Powell first settled at Mill Creek, Wis., in 1847. He assisted to build the first wagon bridge across the Wisconsin River Dells, above Kilbourn City, in 1849. The whole country at that time was a complete wilderness, inhabited only by Indians and the wild ani- mals of the forest. He began lumbering, running the river, etc., remain- ing at Mill Creek two years. He has since spent his time in the lumber business, except five years, when he returned to England, July 18, 1851, and returning in Fall, 1856. He spent the following Winter at Stevens Point ; then he went into the vicinity of his present location, and remained there until the Spring of 1871, and visited England the second time; remained a short time and returned to Wisconsin. Mr. Powell was born in England, July 18, 1830. He was married in England, Dec. 25, 1856. His wife's maiden name was Mary Brooks ; she was born in the same vicinity, Aug. 18. 1830. They have four children, whose names are-George J., Ermina J., Roscoe R., and Frank J. Powell.

SAMUEL WELLAND, dealer in dry goods and groceries also, Postmaster. He came with his parents from New York City and set- tled in Knowlton, Wis., October, 1858. Mr. Samuel Welland was then fourteen years of age, and he remembers well the complete wilderness in which they had taken up their home. His father followed the business of bank note engraver, previous to going West. On his arrival he began the lumber business, building a saw-mill, and after his sons reached ma- turity they took charge of the business. The father was born in Wood- stock, England, in 1805. He died July 4. 1871. Mr. Samuel Welland was born in Bellville, N. J. He was married at Wausau, Wis., in 1871. His wife's maiden name was Eveline J. Humphrey; she was born in Eldred, Pa., November, 1850. They have six children, whose names are -- Thomas II., Maryette, Joseph, Margarette, Alicia Coral Wellar d.

TURFIELD LEMMA, saw filer in Curren Bros. saw-mill, Stevens Point. He first settled in Stevens l'oint in April, 1858, and has followed fil- ing during the Summer. He moved to Eau Claire River, and worked for C. Goodhue & Co., during the Winter of : 858 and 1859; then he went three miles above on the river and worked for M. Kelly the following Summer, then he went back to Scholfield's Mills and worked there, and for R. P. Mauson, of Wansan, about twelve years. Since that time, he has been engaged with different parties, at Wausau and vicinity, up to the present time, making filing his business. He resides at Scholfield and keeps a hotel, known as the Weston House. He was born in Poultney, Vt., July 3, 1836. He was married at the village of his birth. His wife's maiden name was Elmyra Peabody ; she was born in Vermont. They have four children, named-Jennie, Eugene, Feely, and Hugh Lemma.

JOIIN T. CALLON, lumberman and proprietor saw-mill on the Trappe River, eight miles north of Wausau, was born in Ireland, Sept. 12, 1828. lle first settled at Three Rivers, Mich., and was there a short time in the lumber business, in the Summer of 1850. He then went to Stevens Point in the same business, and remained until September, 1868, when he went to Wausau and remained there until the Fall of 1873, ex- lensively engaged in lumber. From there he went to Trapp River, and bought a saw-mill. Ilis mill was erected in the Fall of 1866, its capacity is 50,000 in twenty-four hours. 1Ie employs seventy-five men in the Winter and forty at other seasons of the year. He was married in Wausau, Oct. 7, 1866, to Martha A. Welland ; who was born in Bellville, N. J., Sept. 11. 1845. They have two children, John T., Jr., born Aug. 8, 1867, and Nellie, born July 7, 1876.

SPENCER.

The settlement of this village dates from soon after the completion of the railroad to this point. In May, 1874, the

erection of the Pioneer House was begun, and other build- ings soon followed.

Up to 1874, the town was a part of Hull. It was then set off as a part of Brighton, and in 1877, it became Spencer. April 2, of that year, the first town meeting was held at the house of M. Waters. It was voted to raise $600 for general town expenses, and a special sum of $1,000 as a road tax.

The following officers were elected ; the Inspectors being J. W. Lowe, H. M. Bennett, with C. K. Richardson, Clerk :

J. K. Hayward, Chairman ; Ch. McMiller, J. H. Mann, Supervisors ; Frank Whipple, Town Clerk ; John Dimond, Treasurer ; H. M. Bennett, W. S. Benedict, R. H. Wright, Justices of the Peace ; G. H. Reas, P. Crammer, Consta- bles ; Ed. Heath, Assessor.

Whole number of voters registered, 157. Town officers for 1878 :

H. H. Chandler, Chairman; John Gardiner, W. O. Wade, Supervisors ; Frank Mann, C. K. Richardson, W. S. Benedict, Justices ; J. W. Lowe, J. S. Sidmore, Constables ; James Wright, Assessor.

Registered voters, 193. Officers in 1879 :

A. J. Brock, Chairman ; F. M. Thompson, D. W. Bodle, Supervisors ; Frank Whipple, Clerk ; John Dimond, Treas- urer; A. J. Wood, F. H. Johnson, Justices ; George Houer, P. Crammer, Constables ; James Vought, Assessor.

Number of voters, 202.

Officers, 1880: P. A. Thayer, Chairman ; J. S. Damon and W. S. Benedict, Supervisors ; C. K. Richardson, Clerk ; J. Hanneywell, Treasurer; P. H. Coonon, W. S. Benedict, H. W. Raymond and C. H. Richardson, Justices ; George Hauer, P. Crammer and J. J. Campbell, Constables; F. F. Damon, Assessor. Number of votes, 228.

Present officers, 1881 : M. C. Clark, Chairman ; John Dimond and John Whiting, Supervisors; T. S. Norton, Clerk ; Frank Whipple, Treasurer; B. J. Dent, C. F. Pierce and T. S. Norton, Justices; George Hauer and Patsey Brusnihan, Constables ; P. P. Furguson, Assessor. Num- ber of votes, 352.

Among the earliest comers were Oscar Lattin, T. S. Norton and J. K. Hayward, who lived down the road a short distance.

In June, 1874, J. L. Robinson bought the eighty-acre tract where the village now is; A. J. Brock started a hotel; W. S. Meach, a butcher shop. Mr. Robinson began the mill in June, 1874. About the 4th of July four blocks were laid out of the village site, and called Irene, but this name has gone into desuetude.

Patridge, Truman & Co. came the same Fall, built a mill, ran it about one year, when it was burned. Blake, Wood & Co. soon rebuilt the mill, but it soon burned again. It was rebuilt by W. J. Clifford. This mill was again con- sumed by fire on the 5th of July, 1880, and reconstructed in about sixty days.

Frank Whipple came in the Fall of 1874. Soon after, John Gardiner, who went into general merchandising.

In 1875, Kerr, Kelter & Co. built a shingle mill, which

573

HISTORY OF MARATHON COUNTY.

afterward went into the hands of L Richardson. W. J. Clifford now has the machinery.

Hall & Co. have a hard wood saw-mill.

P. A. Thayer has a lumber and shingle mill, built in the Spring of 1881.

Joseph Mayer, saw-mill east of the village, on the Little Eau Pleine, run by water-power.

Blacksmith and Wagon Shops .- G. W. Wendall and Nel- son Ziegebour.

Shoe Shops .- Anton Schafer and William Hasfelbring. Jewelry, etc .- M. H. Du Cate.

Meat Market .- Miller, Kissinger & Co. and John Eich- ert.

Barber .- M. Langdon.

Brewery .- Knethe & Walter.

Hardware and Tin .- Neils Bros.

General Merchandise .- J. Dimond, John Gardiner, A. Prentice & C )., D. M. Hanson & Co., W. J. Clifford, W. J. Hallock & Co.

Millinery .- Mrs. O. K. Richardson.

Drugs and Medicines .- Frank Whipple and E. Heath.

Physician and Surgeon .- J. M. Adams, M. D.

Lawyer .- G. I. Follet.

Real Estate and Collection Agency .- Th. S. Norton.

Hotels .- Blackstone House. G. I. Follet.

Pioneer House. Mrs. H. Pool; P. J. Brusnehan, clerk.

Railroad House. Anton Schafer.

Spencer House, James Barber.

Newspaper .- The Spencer Tribune, A. B. Barney, pro- prietor. Started in the Fall of 1881.

Churches .- There are three churches.

This church was built in 1879, and has worshiping in the same temple the Free Will Baptist, with Rev. E. W. Stevens as pastor.

The First Baptist Church was built in 1878. Rev. Mr. Sweet is the pastor.

Spencer has good schools. In the Winter of 1881, the school-house was consumed by fire, but was at once rebuilt, improved and enlarged. It has two rooms, with two de- partments and three teachers.

Logging is a great business here, and among the suc- cessful loggers may be mentioned J. J. Kennedy, Ferguson Bros., Damon & Son, A. J. Black, J. W. Lowe, T. H. March.

The station agent is W. E. Young, with David Van Kecke, assistant.

Spencer is on the Wisconsin Central Railroad, in the southwest corner town of Marathon County. It is a level spot, surrounded by heavy pine and hardwood timber, and must have, at this time, at least 1,000 inhabitants, and is growing rapidly.

Mannville is in the town of Spencer.

C. J. Kershaw & Co. have a saw and shingle mill.

Buckstaff Bros. own a shingle mill.

Tyson & Pierce have a planing mill.

B. F. McMillan & Bro. have a mill on the Little Eau Pleine, and ship from Mannville.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

J.M. ADAMS, physician and surgeon, Spencer, born in New York, June 12, 1865. The family moved to Wisconsin in the same year, first to Sheboygan Falls and then to Fond du Lac, where he remained and began studying medicine, under the medical firm of Wyall & Gray. He went into practice in the Fall of 1877; then went lo Medford, in Taylor County, where he remained during the Summer, spending the Winter in Phillips, Price County. He then went to Negaunee, Mich. and afterward attended Wooster Medical College, at Cleveland. Return- ing, he practiced in Medford and Phillips again, and then went to Dakota. In 1879, came to Spencer, where he practiced till 18So, when he went lo Keokuk, and graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons there. Returned to Spencer in 1881, and resumed his practice. He has certificate for specialties on eye and ear, another on chemistry and an- alysis of the urine, also on anatomy and practice.

D. W. BODLE, boarding house, Spencer, born in Orange Co., N. Y., May 24, 1837, and was raised on a tarm in Pennsylvania, where his parents had moved. He entered the mercantile business, first in Green Lake County and afterward tried hotel keeping, opening the Adams House, which he kept till coming to Spencer in 1876. He kept the Max- well, Wood & Co.'s boarding house, then went into the Bodle House, and from that he built his present house on Main street. In 1867, he married Miss Anna Groff, of Green Lake County. They have two children, Jessie, three years old; and Harrie, eight. Mr. Bodle served as Supervisor in 1878, also in other town offices.

C. L. CLARK, foreman with W. J. Clifford, Spencer, born in Orleans Co., Vt., June 7, 1838. Removed to Canada with his parents, where his father ran a transportation train from Montreal to Stanstead Plain and to Vermont. C. L. attended school in Canada, and upon coming to She- boygan County, began farming. When twenty-one years of age he learned the millwright's trade, and went to work in Oshkosh. In 1861, he enlisted in the Wis. Ist I. V., Co. I ; was mustered out in the Fall of 1864. He then entered the quarter-master department, but later went to millwright- ing and running mills He tried farming in Sheboygan County, in 1868, and clerked the next year in Green Bay. In the great fire that devastated the pineries in 1871, he lost everything, scarcely saving the lives of his family. Under the most distressing necessity, they plunged into the mill pond, throwing in the women and children, and there they were kept for ten or twelve hours, with heads submerged part of the time. The women never recovered the shock and at the end of the year, were all numbered with the dead. He then once more started in lite and with varied experi- ence. At different times he worked at the mills along the line of the Wisconsin Central Railroad, from Chelsea down to Spencer, where he came in 1876, and built a mill for Blake, Wood & Co. He bought an interest which he soon sold, and went to Yellow River. In 1879, he returned to Spencer and built a mill for Clifford and acted as foremen, in which po- sition he is still. In 1866, married Miss Sarah Cady, of Omro ; who died in 1872, leaving three children-Frederic C., Bertha, and Blanche. He married Miss Emily Wood, of Spencer, in 1877. They have a family of two, Elmer and Bell. Mr. Clark belongs to the Temple of Honor.

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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