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 229

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 229

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DANIEL PHILLIPS, Somerset. Was born in Rochester, Wis., Dee. 28, 1848. Lived on a farm until sixteen years old, when he learned the trades of carpenter, joiner and mason ; has worked at the trades about eleven years. During this time, he worked two years in La Salle Co., Ill., six years in Iowa, and the balance of the time in St. Croix Co., and is conceded to be one of the best mechanics in this part of the State. Is not married.

JERRIE REVORD, Somerset, is a native of Canada. Came to Somerset in June, 1855, and located where he now lives. Owns 180 acres. Was married in April, 1860, to Miss Mary Martell. They have twelve children-Jerrie S., Francis D., Louis N., Israel, Adelphus, Jerry R., Joseph N., Mary L., Mary E., Mary R. and Mary.

BALDWIN.

This is a manufacturing village on the railroad in the town of the same name. It is near the edge of the hard wood lumber region, and on the other three sides has good farming land. Ove Oleson, H. C. Thompson, Amos Crip- pen, Syner Nelson and others were the first comers. D. R. Bailey laid out the village, and has been untiring in his endeavors to build it up.

The village was incorporated December 4, 1874. D. R. Bailey was the first President, T. W. Glasspool, Clerk, which position he still occupies. He was also the first Police Justice. L. M. Bailey was Constable. Amos Crip- pen, S. E. Farnsworth, J. M. Bartlett and A. Taylor have since been Presidents.

D. R. and L. M. Bailey started the business now car- ried on by Bartlett & Robinson, including the saw and flouring mills.

A stave-inill was started by Capt. Allyne in 1875. It is now owned and operated by the Hall & Dunn Barrel Co. of Minnesota, who got their material here and at other places in Wisconsin.

O. A. Dahlburze is the owner of a tannery, and is doing a good business.

C. J. Woolsey has a new custom flouring-mill.

Hill, Kilsing & Co. have a capacious elevator, which has been enlarged this season.

There are several stores of each variety found in a country village, and the village is in all respects an active one.

There are three churches-Episcopal, Presbyterian and Norwegian Lutheran-with good buildings.

There is a Masonic Lodge, No. 192, in a flourishing con- dition, a lodge of Odd Fellows, No. 235, with a good membership, and a Good Templars' Lodge.

The Baldwin Bulletin was first printed by Ed. Bur- churdt, January, 1873. It has been edited by several parties, but for some time has been under D. R. Bailey's control. The firm name is now Bailey & Peachman. It is a first-class Republican paper.

An average month shows ninety-eight tons of freight received, and 405 forwarded. Receipts from passengers, 8600 a month. E. L. Stark is station agent.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

IIANS BORCHSENIUS, grain dealer, real estate, etc., Baldwin. Born in Denmark in 1832. He came to this country in 1874, and settled at Madison. He published the Nord Stern newspaper for the years 1858-59. He entered the army during

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

the rebellion as Adjutant of the 15th Wis. Reg. He served about one year. when, his health failing, he resigned. lle was in the State Land Department at Madison for six years ; was elected County Clerk of Dane County in 1868, and again in 1870. Mr. Borchsenius has been a Republican since the war. He bought the Capitol House at Madison, which he kept for some years, when he sold ; was appointed United States Gauger, a position which he held one year. He was State Agent for the Protection of Railroad Lands, and served five years in that capacity. He attended the law school at Madison one year and was admitted to the bar in 1876. He came to Baldwin in April, 1877 ; has been engaged here in grain buying, real estate business, loaning money, etc. His wife was Martha M. Bukke, born in Norway. Her parents settled in Dane County in 1849. They have three children, two sons and one daughter. Their oldest son, William C., is Cashier for Knapp, Stout & Co., at Rice Lake. Their other children are Dora H. and George W.

SILAS E. FARNSWORTH, M. D., Baldwin. Dr. Farns- worth was born in the town of Bakersfield, Franklin County, Vt., in 1837, where he was brought up. He began the study of medicine in 1860. Ile enlisted in 1862, as a private in Co. F, 10th Vr. V. I .: was in the service three years. Ile graduated at the Medical Department of the University of Vermont in 1867. He began practice to his graduation ; came to Baldwin in November of the latter year, where he is favored with a large practice and is a popular and successful physician. His wife is a native of Vermont : has one daughter. Lou. The Doctor is also Local Surgeon for the eastern division of the C., St. P., M. & O. R. R.

REV. JOHN HOFFMAN, Pastor of Presbyterian Church, Baldwin, was born in Holland, Ottawa Co., Mich., in 1849. He was educated at Hope College, where he graduated in 1871 ; took a course at the theological department of that college, graduating in 1874 ; began preaching in the Reform Church at Oostburg, Wis .; was pastor of that church for nearly seven years ; came to Baldwin August, 1871. He married Everdina Snitseler, born in Ottawa Co., Mich. They have three children-Lawrance S., Lneia Minnie and James Julius.

DR. J. L. IRWIN. Baldwin, was born in St. Louis, Mo., May 31. 1837, but was brought up in Illinois. He began the study of medicine when, seventeen years of age, at St. Louis. He was Surgeon of the 122d III. V. I., during the rebellion. After the war he practiced in Illinois about seven years, during the last four of which he was located at Quincy. Ile came to Wisconsin in 1877, and located at Janesville ; thence to Cannon Falls, Minn., one year ; settled in Baldwin November, 1880. Dr. Irwin lost his first wife at Pleasant Hill, Ill. His present wife was Mrs. Sarah Kennedy of Arkansaw, Wis. The Doctor has a son and daughter at. St. Louis.

HARTSON F. WOODARD, attorney, Baldwin. was born in the town of Dunham, in the province of Quebec. Hle studied law at St. Albans, Vt .; was admitted to the bar in 1869; began the practice of his profession at Richford, Franklin Co., Vt .. where he remained five years. He studied law in the office of D. R. Bailey, Esq., now of Baldwin. Before beginning the prae- tice of law he was engaged for some time in teaching ; was also Superintendent of Schools. He located in Baldwin in 1874. He is present District Attorney of St. Croix Co., elected in 1879. llis wife was Miss Eunice E. Whitney, daughter of Alloway Whitney. They have one daughter. May.

HIERSEY.

This village is located on about the highest point reached by the railroad between St. Paul and Chicago, although the village itself is in a slight depression. The name was given in honor of a gentleman now living in Stillwater, who owned large tracts of land both north and south of the village. The village plat was owned by S. T. Adams, and, although

the mills were established here several years ago, it was not until within two years that the idea of a village seemed to have taken form.

Now, there are about 340 people in town, with five stores of various kinds, and quite a number of fine resi- dences surrounded with fences, ornamental trees and flowers.

The streets are regularly laid out; but, on account of the numerous stumps, locomotion through them is by devious ways. On the outskirts of the village, the primeval forest still stands in a somewhat straggling way. There is no village organization ; it is still a part of Springfield, the town in which it is located.

There is a good schoolhouse, which is also used as a meeting-house by several religious denominations, who make a missionary field of the new village.

E. S. Austin is the proprietor of a mill for the manu- facture of soft and hard lumber. It has a circular saw which turns out from forty to fifty-five thousand feet a day. Fifty thousand shingles and twelve thousand lath is the product of a day in those articles. Felloes, plow-beams and other irregular sawing is done.

A barrel stave-mill is owned by Henry Peters. This mill turns out staves and headings. The logs are first sawed into proper-sized blocks, which are then thoroughly steamned, and the staves slashed off with great rapidity, and after being seasoned are jointed and packed in bundles containing enough for a barrel and a half each. The headings are mostly of basswood, and are packed in immense stacks to dry.

W. A. Durrin is proprietor of a head- linings and basket factory, which is a busy place.

These establishments are rapidly denuding the land of the pine and hardwood, and it is evidently a question of time as to their removal or transformation into shops putting more work into the material, and using less than at present.

Already the hauling is quite a distance for the most desirable timber, and it is done in winter when the snow renders this kind of transportation easy and inexpensive.

R. Adams is Postmaster. Stamps to the amount of $60 a month are sold. The amount of freight forwarded is 1,722 tons a month ; received, 80 tons : passenger tickets. 8230 a month.

Two stage lines run from Hersey, a tri-weekly to Maiden Rock and intermediate points ; a semi-weekly to Clear Lake. There is one hotel, kept by S. Woodworth.

If' the owners of the timber lands, when the Inmber is exhausted, exercise a liberal policy to induce settlement for farming purposes, the country will be likely to quietly fill up, and thus preserve and enlarge these mill villages ; but if not, they must decline or remain at a standstill for years to come.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

SARLES TRAVERS ADAMS. Hersey; was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., May 21, 1812. His grandfather, Gilbert Adams, immigrated from Massachusetts to New York in 1770; he was in the French and Indian war, and also served under Wash- ington in the Revolution ; died in September, 1826. Philip Adams, the father of S. T., was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., in October, 1776; immigrated to Ohio in the fall of 1824 ; settled in Warren Co., thirty miles north of Cincinnati; remained there until December, 1832, when he moved north into Miami Co., four miles west of where Pigna now stands. Philip Adams died in his ninetieth year, and Pheba Adams, his wife, died when about ninety years of age. S. T. Adams purchased a farm in Miami ('o., in the year 1835, but, owing to the exceeding hard times,

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HISTORY OF ST. CROIX COUNTY.

he was obliged to labor incessantly, and, by his labors, managed to pay for his farm and improve it; in 1856, he sold the old home and purchased another near Troy, in the same county, but, tiring of the locality, he again sold out there and purchased a splendid farm of 80 acres ten miles west of Piqua. in Darke Co. He was married to Mary Harrison, daughter of Richard Harrison, in the year 1832, and bis family were all born on the old homestead in Miami Co. In 1866, his family being grown up and married but four, and wishing to procure homes, they started for Wiscon- sin in May, 1866. The family consisted in all of eleven chil- dren, viz .: Richard, Albert, John T., Hannah, Pheba. Mary E., Sarah J., David, Louisa, Reuben and Tamer L .; all the children, except the four youngest, came to Wisconsin in May, 1866, S. T. and the balance of the family arriving in the present town of Springfield on Nov. 23, 1866. Richard Adams was the first per- manent settler of the town of Springfield; he took a homestead on Sec. 22, and, having erceted a bark shanty, moved his family into the then dense forest on May 25, 1866 ; his family consisted of himself, his wife and two children ; his whole family numbers seven children, two having died previous to his coming to Wis- consin and the rest having been born in Wisconsin. The children now living are Thomas A., Mary F. ( Devore) and A. Lawrence, all residing in the town of Springfield. Albert Adams also took a homestead on Sec. 22 in the same town, and has made the same his permanent home; he now has the best cultivated farm in the town ; his family is a wife and two children - Anderson Grant and Anna Belle. Thomas J. Ross, the husband of Mary E. Adams, F. M. Linton, the husband of Hannah Adams, and William Ran- dolph, the husband of Sarah J. Adams, all came to Wisconsin in May, 1866, taking homesteads and making homes for their fam- ilies. S. T. Adams, the father of the Ohio Settlement (as it was called), purchased 80 acres of land in the same town with his children, and commenced improving, and, with his sons and sons- in-law, to develop the country, clearing land, cutting roads, build- ing, etc., etc. In 1868, he bought a balf interest in a saw mill with Mr. L. L. Curtiss, who afterward became his son-in-law, by marrying Louisa Adams. The mill was erected where Hersey own stands. S. T. Adams, in 1876, became full owner of the mill, running it in this wise until the fall of 1877, when the prop- erty was sold to a Mr. W. L. Spooner; after this, the mill was soon after consumed ; was rebuilt and burned again, and, on being rebuilt once more, went into the hands of Mr. E. S. Austin, Mr. Adams was quite a heavy loser in the burning of the mill, not having received the purchase money in full for the property. Mr. Adams had two sons, Richard and John T., in the late war. John returned from the army, but survived but a short time, dying from the effects of the service to his country. Richard was hon- orably discharged. but received such injuries as to almost ruin his health for life. Losina was married to W. W. Hopkins, who has since invented the Hopkins Calculator and the Hopkins Wagon Scale, which he is now manufacturing at Thorntown, Ind. David Adams, having married, has one child-Albert A. Adams. Is a first-class workman (carpenter and joiner ), now residing in Her- sey. Reuben Adams married Miss Hattie Erb; has two chil- dren-R. Durand and Lilly. He worked for his father around the mill for several years, finally keeping his books, and is now Postmaster and Notary Public in the village of Hersey. The family have ever elung together as seldom a large family do, ever ready to aid in a brotherly manner. They have done much to develop the country, in which they have taken great pride, always making their mark by their cleanliness and tidiness in their work and the thorough manner in which it is done. The family are direct descendants of the old Adams family-John and John Quincy-and still hang to that determined American principle for which the family have long been noted.

C. D. LAMPORT, bookkeeper for Mr. Henry Peters, Her- sey ; he was born in Lake Co., Ohio, in 1841. Ilis parents re- moved to Chicago, Ill., in 1845 ; thence to La Salle Co. They removed to Crawford Co., Wis., in 1856. Elis father afterward

removed to Pierce Co., where he died in 1880. C. D. was en- gaged for many years in teaching in Crawford Co .; he taught there not less than seventeen winter terms, and was usually en. gaged in a lumber mill in the summer. He went to Pierce Co- in 1875, and came to Hersey in 1879; taught the village school bere in the winter of 1879-80, and engaged with Mr. Peters in the following spring. His wife was Susan J. Sherman ; they have three children.

HENRY PETERS. manufacturer, Hersey ; Mr. Peters en- gaged in the manufacture of lumber, also of staves and heading ; was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, in 1834. He came to this country when sixteen years of age ; lived in Pennsylvania four or five years, then removed to Minnesota; he lived at Mendota, St. Paul and Hastings, where he was engaged in barrel-making ; after- ward located at Ellsworth, where he kept a lumber yard for a time ; came to Hersey in 1873 and engaged in his present bus- iness ; he makes about 75,000 set of staves and heading per year, and saws about 2,000,000 feet of hard timber. His wife was La- setta Schraeder, of La Crosse, a native of Germany ; they have three children.

STEPHEN WOODWORTH, proprietor of Woodworth House, Hersey ; was born in Massachusetts in 1834; came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1856, and located at Manitowoc, where he was engaged in the lumber business for about three years; he then removed to the Chippewa Valley, where he was engaged in lumbering about four years; afterward engaged in farming. He removed to Chippewa Falls, where he kept hotel one year, but re- turned to farming. He came to Hersey in May, 1879, and en- gaged in keeping present house. Married Anna Bell Wheeler, daughter of Volentine Wheeler; they have four daughters; lost a son and danghter.

WILSON.

This is the last town on the Chicago, St. Paul, Minne- apolis & Omaha Railroad. It is in the town of Springfield and has no village organization. The earliest settlers were S. T. Adams, Henry Mathews, Frank Devine, Thomas Carroll and Thomas Riley, who came in 1865, 1866 and 1867. It was not, however, until October, 1872, when Wilson, Van Vliet & Co. built a saw-mill and a stave and heading factory, that the place assumed any importance.

Several years afterward the stave and heading mill was sold to La Pointe & Co., but now both mills are operated by Wilson, Van Vliet & Co. They cut up about 5.000,000 feet a year of hard wood lumber into staves, headings, head linings, felloes and other stoek for manufacturing pur- poses.

The supply of lumber within reasonable distance, will last for ten years or more at the rate it is now cut up. The capital stock of the company is $100,000. The store oper- ated by the company does a business of $80,000 a year.

The station agent is John H. Fleming. He reports the amount of freight received at 105 tons per month. The amount forwarded, 865. Passenger business, $300 per month.

The population is about 450 at the present time. As the timber disappears, the land is taken by farmers, and there seems to be no reason why the place should not con- tinue prosperous. The cereals grow finely and potatoes are a most excellent erop. There is a good-sized Catholic Church at Wilson which is used as a mission under the care of Rev. Father White, of llammond. It was erected in 1880.

The wells for domestic purposes are sunk to the depth of 100 feet or more, and the water is hard.

HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

BIOGRAPHIE AL SKETCHES.

R. E. ARNOLD, book keeper for Wilson, Van Vliet & Co., Wilson. Born in Corning, Steuben Co., N. Y. in 1844. Removed with his parents to Wabasha, Minn .. when twelve years of age. He has been engaged for a number of years as accountant and book-keeper. He was a student for a time at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College. Chicago. He was accountant for a time for the railroad company at Red Wing, and at St. Paul, in the State ageney of the North Western Life Insurance Company for about two years. Previous to this time had some experience as a drug and prescription clerk. Was also for a time cashier in a bank at Wabasha. Came to Wilson and assumed his present position in 1876.

WILLIAM L. HUNTER, filer for Wilson, Van Vliet & Co .. Wilson. Born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., in 1842. Went to Minnesota when twenty years of age. Enlisted in the 5th W. V. I., and served two and a half years during the war. Was at the battle of Iuka, both battles of Corinth, siege of Vicksburg. etc. Was also in Sherman's march to the sea. Came to Wisconsin after the war, and engaged in the furniture business at Durand. for the firm of Scott & Harding, thence to Baldwin, where he filed one year for Bailey & Bartlett. Afterward bought a shingle mill at Wilson, which was burned in 1876 ; has been engaged with present firm since that time. Married Elizabeth Stockman, born in Indiana. They have three children.

COL. GEORGE W. LA POINTE, Wilson. Born in Mon- roe, Mich., in 1842. He enlisted in April, 1861, in the 7th Mich. V. I. He was in active service in the field during nearly the whole of the late war and his rapid promotion from the ranks to Colonel by brevet in the volunteer service of the United States proves him to have been a gallant and worthy soldier. The date of his promotions were as follows : He was made a Sergeant Nov. 1. 1861; Second Lieutenant Sept. 18, 1862; First Lieutenant May 20, 1563 ; Captain Sept. 21, 1863 ; Lieutenant Colonel Oct. 12, 1864, and Colonel Nov. 18. 1864 ; and Colonel by brevet in the volunteer service of the United States April 2, 1865, for gal- lant service in front of Petersburg. At the time of his last pro- motion he was only about twenty-two years of age. He was in MeClellan's peninsular campaign, participating in all its battles. Ilis regiment was connected with the second corps, commanded by Gen. Sumner. afterward by Gen. Hancock. He was severely wounded in one of his legs the day following the battle of Gettys- burg, from the effect of which he has not recovered. After the close of the war he returned to Michigan. In 1866, he went to Detroit, where he was connected with the custom house for seven years. C'ame to Wisconsin in 1874, and soon after engaged in the manufacture of staves at Wilson. Ile is also engaged in the real estate business and as railroad agent. His wife was Jennie II., daughter of Capt. William Wilson, of Menomonee. They have two boys -- George W. and William W.

JAMES W. VAN VLIET. of the firm of Wilson, Van Vliet & Co., Wilson. Born in Vermont in 1839. Removed with his parents to Raeine C'o., Wis., in 1815. In 1856, removed to Lake City Minn. Ile was engaged there in the book and stationery business for a number of years. Was afterward railroad agent at that place for several years. Came to Wilson in Decem- ber. 1872, and engaged in present business. Ilis wife was Mari- ette Wilson, a sister of his partner, Mr. J. A. Wilson. They have two children -- Elizabeth and Julia.

J. A. WILSON. of the firm of Wilson, Van Vliet & Co., Wilson. Born in Oakland, Henry Co., Iowa, in 1847. His father, James Wilson, was a brother of Capt. Wilson, of Menom- once. Ilis father died in Iowa. He afterward removed with his mother to Pennsylvania ; thence to Minnesota in 1865. Hle came to Wilson in 1872, and engaged in business as a member of this firm. His wife is a native of Detroit. They have three children - James Perry, Alice and Hattie.

STAR PRAIRIE.

This little village is on Apple River five miles from New Richmond, and in the midst of a wheat-growing region.

It was settled in 1855 by T. and T. B. Jewell, with J. R. Barnhart and others.

It has a single business street with the usual number of stores for a village of 300 people, which it contains. It has a good hotel. There are two churches-Episcopal and Congregational.

Thomas Jewell is Postmaster.

Silas Staples has a saw-mill and flouring-mill.

Charles Dowie has a custom mill.

Millard, Bro. & Co. have a foundry, machine shop, etc., make plows, fanning-mills and other implements.

North Star Masonic Lodge at Star Prairie, was insti- tuted several years ago. The officers are D. H. Minier, W. M .: S. S. Coney, S. W .; H. E. Smith, J. W .; B. F. Powell, Secretary.

The mills are run by water-power which very rarely fails. The rivers in the county are mostly fed by springs and the rains do not affect them very sensibly.

This village has the elements of prosperity. A brick yard is in operation by J. T. Fuller. C. F. Millard man- ufactures a patent plow.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

J. R. BURNHART, Star Prairie; was born in St Lawrence Co., N. Y., 1812; worked in his father's mills until the spring of 1854, when he went to Davenport, Iowa ; remained a few months and in the spring of the same year came to Hudson, and in August following came to Star Prairie and entered 160 acres of land, and the following spring broke a few acres, paying 812 per acre, and in the fall following built his log house, lathed and plastered it, and in January following moved his family into it. Was obliged to go to Iludson, a distance of 25 miles, for every article he used in his family. He had no neighbors near him. but was full of pluck, courage, and with an indomitable will. and now in his old age is enjoying the fruits of his hard-earned fortune. Helped build the first grist-mill in Huntington. Helped to organize the first school ; was the first Road Overseer and built the first road in the town. The first preaching by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Armitage was held in his house.

E. B. CROMMETT, M. D., Star Prairie, was born in Sebec, Me., Nov. 20, 1838, the youngest of nine children, father now living at the age of 86. He lived with parents four or five years after maturity : enlisted in 1864, as private ; was in the battle of Cold Harbor ; after two months went into the hospital, siek, where he remained until discharged. Came to Star Prairie in 1870, remained one year, then returned and took a full course of lectures at Bowdoin Medical College. Came back and formed a partner- ship with Dr. Hoyt, of Hudson ; remained one year, when he went to Chicago, took another course and graduated. Practiced one year in Cottage Grove, Minn., when he returned to Star Prairie. Married Miss Hannah B. Kidder, of Star Prairie. They have one child, Herbert B.

CHARLES DOWIE, Star Prairie, was born Nov. 20, 1817, in Fife Co., Scotland, emigrated to America in 1849; came to Hudson, St. Croix Co., in 1850, and worked at carpentering, building the first saw-mill in the town; remained in Hudson until the spring of 1855, when he engaged in farming and speculations of various kinds, until 1868, when he sold his farm and engaged in buying and selling lands, in which he was very successful. In June, 1879, came to Star Prairie and bought a half interest in the saw-mill, also a half interest in the Star Prairie flour- mill.

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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