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 270

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 270

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MERRICK T. ALLEN, P. O. Rural; the only son of George and Julia (Richmond ) Allen ; was born Ang. 15, 1850, in Winehester, Winnebago Co., Wis. Married Miss Jennie Col- lins, by whom he has three children, all born on the Dayton farm. Mr. Allen has managed the farm since the removal of the parents to Waupaca. He was elected one of the Supervisors of Dayton, in the spring of 1881, an office formerly held by his father.

W. C. BARLOW, farmer, Sec. 10, P. O. Rural ; was born in 1832, Greene Co., N. Y .; moved to Herkimer Co. in 1839, thence to Oneida Co. in 1850. He came to Waupaca Co., Wis., June, 1855, and made it his home in and about Wanpaea and Parfreyville till he bought his present farm of 160 aeres. He has made all the improvements except about 10 acres ; has a large frame house, upright, 20x30, and wings 20x16 and 16x22. In 1875, he built a barn 40x60, with 18-foot posts ; he also has a fine horse-barn and hop-house. July 4, 1859, he was married to Miss R. Collins, of Dayton, who was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., Jan. 29, 1840 ; She died March 26, 1880. The parents of this sketch, James and Malvina, were married in Greene Co., N. Y .; his father died in 1839; his mother is still living with her son. Mr. Barlow has been Chairman of his town three terms in sue- cession, and was again re-elected in 1881, and is one of the sub- stantial men of the county.

PHILIP' A. HAM, farmer, See. 33, P. O. Crystal Lake, was born in Ava, Oneida Co., N. Y., 1843. In 1853, his family moved to Columbia Co., Wis., and in 1856 he came to Waupaca Co. Aug. 13, 1862, he enlisted in Co. G, 21st W. V. I .; went into camp at Oshkosh, thence to Covington, Ky., where the regiment joined the Army of the Cumberland; was engaged in the battles of Perryville and Stone River, and in minor battles in which his regiment was engaged. From Murfreesboro he con- tinued south till taken siek, when he was sent back to Murfrees- boro, thence to Jeffersonville, Ind., thenee to Chieago, where he was transferred to the V. R. C., and placed in charge of seven hundred working prisoners, where he remained till close of war. Jan. 30, 1869, he married Ester A. Steinemates, of Dayton. He moved to lowa and remained two years, then came back to Dayton and took charge of homestead. In 1876, his brother John, who had remained with his parents, died. In June, 1877, his father died, and in August, 1878, his mother followed him. His parents were born in New York, his father April 24, 1807, and his mother Jan. 1, 1807. Mr. Ham has two children, Lottie E. and Marian B. He is a Granger, and Master of Crystal Lake Lodge. Ile owns two hundred acres of land, of which one hundred acres are improved.

CLARK E. HOLMAN, farmer, See. 22; P. O. Rural; was born in Springville, Erie Co., N. Y., in 1840; came to Wisconsin in 1849, and lived in Jefferson Co. tid he came to Wanpaca Co. In October, 1861, he enlisted in Co. D, 16th W. V. I. ; went into camp at Madison ; moved to Pittsburg Landing, arriving

there one week before the battle; was in the battle at that place, April 6 and 7, 1862, his regiment losing 291 men. He was also in the battles of Corinth, Holly Springs and Jackson, under Gen. Grant; was with Gen. Sherman in his march to the sea. He was in seventy-one battles and skirmishes, and escaped with hardly a scratch. Ile seems to have been providentially protected for future good. In one fieree charge he was left standing alone, the three in front and the ones on his left and right having been shot down at the same time. He served nearly four years. March 6, 1867, he married Miss Anna Hawley, of Jefferson Co., Wis. She was born February, 1845, at Milford, Jefferson Co., Wis. They have had four children-Luzern, Katie, Elma and Hawley. Mr. Holman bought his land of Joseph Edwards. He has 270 aeres, of which 240 acres are under cultivation. He has enlarged his house and built a barn, 40x70, with stone basement and twenty-feet posts ; has a wind-mill, and all the conveniences a man can ask for. Hle justly prides himself in having one of the best farms in the county, which stands as a monument to his untiring industry. His parents were natives of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Holman are both members of the Presbyterian Church. Has been Supervisor two years; is a Granger and a member of the Crystal Lake Lodge.

ROBERT McCROSSEN, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Rural ; was born in the Province of New Brunswick, March 17, 1821 ; lived there till he was twenty-one years old. In 1842, Mr. McCrossen and his brother came to Oshkosh, walking nearly the whole length of the Erie Canal. In Oshkosh he worked one year in the lumbering business. From Oshkosh went to Weyauwega and engaged in lumbering two years. He then went to Stevens Point and engaged in Inmbering for A. Brawley, then running the Land Office at that place. While there he entered seven forties of land. He now has two hundred acres under cultivation ; he also has fifty aeres in southwest part of town. Mr. MeCrossen has made very substantial improvements on his farm. In 1872, his house was burned ; he immediately erected a house 16x24, 14x24 upright, with L 20x24; has a large barn, wind mill, etc. In 1855, he married Miss L. Story, of Dayton, who died in 1862. May 10, 1863, he married Miss Libbie Wilkins, of Dayton. Mr. MeCrossen has four children by first wife, and six by the second. He has lost two. His children are Jennie, now Mrs. Proctor, of Boston, George, Ira, now at Warsaw, Hattie, Katie, Gurtie, Alfred, Nettie, Maggie and William, at home. Mr. MeCrossen commenced without a dollar, but by hard blows and good man- agement, he has secured an enviable position.

SUMNER PACKARD, farmer, See. 27; P. O. Crystal Lake ; was born in Massachusetts April 6, 1824. In 1833, his family moved to Licking Co., Ohio, where he learned the wagon-maker's trade, and worked at it for five years. In 1852, he came to Win- neeonne, where he stopped a few months, and in February, 1853, he settled in Dayton. He bought from the Government 120 aeres of land, his father 160, and his brother, E. C., 120 acres. Mr. Packard sold his place to O. Stratton, and then moved upon his father's place, which is now his own. In 1850, he was mar- ried to Miss E. J. Eaton, Ohio, who died in May, 1856. May 31, 1860, he was married to Juliett Ham, of Dayton. His chil- dren are Esterbell, now Mrs. Radley, of Dayton, and Katie, now at home. Mr. Paekard has been Justice of the Peace seven years, and Assessor, one; is a Granger, and belongs to Crystal lake Lodge. He has a fine place, and may well feel prond of it.

W. P. QUINT, merchant, Rural, born Dec. 1, 1818, in Anson, Kennebec Co., Me. When he was seven years old, the family settled on the St. John's River in New Brunswick. At twenty-one he returned to Calais, Me., and was boom-master for the Union Mills. In 1851, he went to St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., and a year later removed to the Indian lands of Wisconsin. For seven years he was engaged at job work in the saw-mills at Stevens Point. In 1861, during the lumber crash, he sold out and bought an interest in the grist-mill at Rural; was in partnership with James MeCrossen ten years in the mill. In 1875, Mr. Quint sold out

HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.

the mill, and has since been merchandising. In 1878, he was Chairman of the Town Board of Dayton. He is a Master Mason of Waupaca Lodge, A., F. & A. M. Married Isabella McCrossen in St. John, N. B., 1845. Mr. Quint is a veteran business man of Waupaca County, and one of its best and most favorably known pioneers.

FREDERICK SHOEMAKER, farmer, Sec. 5; P. O. Rural ; was born in Alsace, France, 1826; came to the United States in 1846; stopped at New York City a few weeks, and then went to Wyoming in New York, and hired out on a farm for three years and a half. Nov. 6, 1850, he married Miss Jane Lewis, of Orangeville, N. Y. In May, 1853, he came to Waupaca Co., and bought eighty acres; he now has 290 acres in one body. His improvements are of a substantial character ; his location is excellent. His house stands upon the bank of a beautiful stream, and his lawns are shady and lovely. He has been Supervisor two years. Has four children-Lewis F., Lucy, Truman and Corunia, all at home. Lewis and Lucy are teachers. Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker and three of their children are members of the Pres- byterian Church.

HELVETIA.

This town is south of Shawano County, and west of Dupont and Union, being six miles east and west, and twelve north and south. The first settlement was made in 1853, by Andrew Poulson and Nels Jacobson. The first post office was established in 1868, with Cyrus Churchhill for Postmaster.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JOHN H. LEUTHOLD, farmer, Sec. 31; P. O. Iola ; was born in Switzerland in 1821. His early life was on a farm ; he belonged to the standing army of Switzerland from 1842-47. In 1851 he came to Wisconsin, and settled on his present place. He now has 440 acres in his farm all in one body ; he also has about 2,000 acres elsewhere. Hle has great faith in the future of Northern Wisconsin, and he finds that dealing in real estate is re- munerative ; he is building a large stone house, 34x34, and two and a-half stories high. In 1872 he married for his second wife Miss Emma Staub ; she was born in Switzerland, in 1854; they have had three children, two of whom are living. By his first wife he had four children, two of whom are living. In 1880, Mr. Leuthold and family made a visit to their old home in Switzerland. He is now serving his third term as Chairman of his town.

BEAR CREEK.

The town lies south of Larrabee, and west of Outagamie County, its first settler being Welcome Hyde, who came in 1854. In the spring of 1856, upon the organization of the town, Welcome Hyde was chosen Chairman, and C. Clinton and C. Bennett, Supervisors. A. B. Phillips received the first post office appointment, in 1857. Rev. S. Peet preached the first sermon at Mr. Hyde's house in 1857, the Lutherans erecting the first church ten years thereafter. G. House kept the first store, while J. J. Demming built the first saw-mill-a steam power-in 1865. The first school taught was in the summer of 1856, by Mrs. L. G. Williams. It was a " high school," situated in the attic of L. E. Phillips' house, the scholars (two boys) entering and departing by means of a ladder placed firmly on the out- side. Three years later a schoolhouse was built.

BIOGRAPHICAL SHETCHES.

I. S. INGERSOL, farmer and lumberman, Sec. 23; P. O. Bear Creek ; came from New York to Illinois in 1852, and farmed it there until he came to Wisconsin. Ile spent one year at Shawano, and lumbered ; he came to Waukau in 1866 ; in 1868 he came to Waupaca Co., and in September, 1869, to his present

place. He had nothing at the time of coming here, and bought his place in five years' time. He bought an old steam saw mill of Demming, and commenced lumbering ; he now owns 200 acres of good land, with good buildings, beside bis mill, has about 60 acres cleared, and is prospering finely ; his mill has a capacity of 20,000 feet per day. In 1864, he went to California to mine it; his wife died shortly after leaving there, and he was obliged to return and attend to his children, who were becoming scattered. He has managed to keep them together, and they are now a smart, busi- ness family.

JOE LONG, farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Bear Creek ; was born in Austria, Feb. 25, 1835. He was apprenticed three years to learn the tailor's trade; he followed his trade several years after completing his apprenticeship, aud in 1857 came to Wisconsin, $20 worse off than nothing. He worked out several years, but finally bought 80 acres of land ; he now owns 420 acres, and has 70 acres improved; has been a member of the Town Board several years. In 1859, he married Miss Verimka Elft; they have six children.

J. W. RAISLER, farmer and lumberman, Sec. 23, P. O. Bear Creek ; was born in Prussia in 1842; in 1857 he came to America and settled with his father on Sec. 29; he remained at home and helped his father clear his farm till the fall of 1861, when he eulisted in the 15th U. S. Inft .; he was in the army three years and four months ; he was in engagements at Elizabethtown, Bowling Green, Stone River and Chickamauga, where he was wounded in the leg and captured ; he was a prisoner fourteen months, during which time he visited Libby, Danville, Anderson- ville, Macon and Savannah prisons; he has held several local offices, and is at present Chairman of bis town; Jan. 9, 1867, he was married to Miss Molly Klemm ; he moved onto his present place in 1867; he owns forty acres of land, thirty of which are improved. In 1869-70 he built a saw-mill, of which he owns one half interest.

LUDWIG SCHOEPKE, farmer, Sec. 28, P. O. Nicholson; was born in Prussia in 1825 ; he was married March 21, 1851, to Christana Hille; in 1853 he came to America and stopped in Dodge Co., Wis., and worked till he earned enough to buy a yoke of cattle; in November, 1855, he came to Bear Creek and bought from the Government eighty acres of land ; he returned to Dodge County, but returned with his family to his land in the spring of 1856 ; he was the first German to settle in the town ; his hard- ships and privations were very great, at times being two weeks without seeing bread. Several of his brothers and relatives fol- lowed him, and are now his neighbors and are well off. Mr. Shoepke now has 180 acres of good land, seventy acres of which are cleared and have good buildings on them; he made all the shingles that cover his buildings, and has thriven wonderfully ; he has one boy and six girls.

AUGUST F. SHOEPKE, merchant, Bear Creek Corners ; was born in Prussia in 1840; in 1856 he came to America and settled in Bear Creek, on Sec. 29; he remained with his father and helped to clear his farm till December, 186], when he enlisted in the 17th Wis. Vol. Inft., where he served for three years and three months ; he was discharged at Goldsboro, N. C., in April, 1865 ; he took part in the battles of Corinth, Vicksburg, siege of Vicksburg, Red River expedition and the battle of Nash- ville; he was married Oct. 28, 1865, to Miss Charlott Tischler, who was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1850; they have four chil- dren ; he has held nearly all the town offices of his town and has been Postmaster several years.

CHAS. G. WITT, farmer, Sec. 31, P. O. Union ; was born in New Hampshire in 1833; in 1845 he came to Wisconsin with his father and settled in Sheboygan County, and helped his father clear a farm ; in 1857 he came to Royalton, and after numerous attempts at hiring out at anything he could do, finally secured a chance to teach the Royalton school, at 835 a month and for which he secured $20 in cash, the balance in tax-certificates ; in 1859 he secured 160 acres of swamp land from the State (a part of his

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

present farm , and commenced his future home; he now owns in one body 360 acres, of which 160 acres are improved ; he owns about 700 acres of land ; he is one of the substantial farmers of the county and owns the best farm in Bear Creek ; his buildings are numerous and of the best character ; he was a member of the 49th Wis. Vol. Inft., and served till the close of the war; he com- menced with nothing but his hands and plenty of pluck ; he is living with his third wife ; he has one son.

LEBANON.

The town is situated south of Bear Creek and east of Little Wolf, claims for its first settlers Samuel Kerr, Jere- miah Eagan and the Smiths, who arrived in 1850. In 1854 the town was organized, with Myron Moore as Chairman of the Board and Samuel Kerr as Town Clerk. The first school was taught by Miss Sloane, in 1855. Rev. Father Herman had charge of the first church, built in 1860.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

EDWARD DAWSON, farmer, Sec. 36, P. O. New London ; was born in Yorkshire Co., England, Nov. 8, 1810; he is a car- penter and joiner by trade ; in 1842 he came to America and took charge of his father's farm in Washington Co., Ohio. From there he went to Indiana and remained there four or five years, working at his trade; he then secured a lot and built a house upon it. From there he came to his present place in 1855, and bought from the Government 200 acres of fine land, of which about one hundred acres are now improved ; he has erected fine build- ings upon it, and they bear the impress of thrift. In December, 1861, he enlisted in the 17th Wis. Vol. Inft. He had the choice of being First Sergeant or head teamster for his company, the latter situation he accepted. He was at the battle of Cornith, and shortly after Gen. MeAlister sent for him to become his head teamster ; he had a stroke of paralysis, and was sent to the hos- pital and discharged in 1862; he is true blue and loyal to the core ; his limbs are in such a condition that he has walked hardly a step in five years; he was married Aug. 15. 1855, to Miss Johan Roseman. Ile has two children-J. C., now an artist in New London, and Mary A., now teaching school.

LUKE B. KELLY, former, Sec. 28, P. O. Northport, was born in Roscommon, Ireland, Oct. 1, 1813. He served at ap- prenticeship of five years as a miller under William MeLaughlin, one of the best millers in England, and who was his father's land- lord. He had charge of a large merchant mill for several years in the old country. In 1840, in the city of Dublin, and just be- fore starting for America, he, with 27,000 others the same day, took the pledge from Father Thebold Mathews, to abstain from intoxicating liquors, a pledge that he has never broken. He came to Wilmington. Del., and took charge of the celebrated Brandy- wine Mills, of Revolutionary fame. They were then owned by Price & Sons, and were the mills that supplied Washington's army while in that vicinity. He had charge of those mills fif- teen years. At the end of that time his health failed, and having worked at milling thirty years he concluded to come West. In 1855 he came to Waupaca Co. and settled on his present place of 280 acres. He has 120 acres under cultivation, and good build- ings. IJe is a great student and his delight is to gain knowledge. He has a library of 150 volumes, mostly history and religious books. In 1843 he was married to Miss Catherine Murphy, of Wilmington. She was born in 1813. They have had five chil- dren. Their two oldest boys were drowned at Northport in 1860. They have one son and two daughters at home.

CALEDONIA.

This town, situated south of Mukwa, north of Fremont and west of Ontagamie County, is less than six miles square, a portion of the land having been taken from it when Fre-

mont was formed. It was organized in 1854. the first offi- cers being Thomas Gore, Chairman ; John Fife and Jacob Whittaker, Supervisors ; John Littlefield, Town Treasurer. James Mellugh was the first settler, locating in 1849. He built the first house. In 1854 the first schoolhouse was built, the first school being taught by Miss Phoebe Little- field. The first sermon in the town was preached by Elder Mitchell, the first church being erected in 1867, by the Lutheran denomination. Readfield was the first post office, established in 1854, with John Littlefield as Postmaster. The first saw-mill was built in 1870, by C. Ruggles, he also erecting the first grist-mill in the same year.

UNION.

The first settlement in this town, which is south of Du- pont and west of Bear Creek, was made in the fall of 1855, by Isaac Ames ; date of organization, April 6, 1858, the first town officers being Ensign Sprague, Chairman ; N. W. Baldwin, Clerk ; Samuel Norton, Treasurer. Rev. Joseph Hammond, of Northport, preached the first sermon in 1861; George Scoville opened the first store in 1873, and Messrs. E. A. Scott and Ogden the first saw-mill dur- ing the same year. The post office, established in 1862, had J. Townsend as Postmaster.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

CHARLIE ANDERSON, lumberman, Ogdensburg, was born in Rock Co., Wis., July 6, 1850. His father was born in Ohio in 1824. His mother is a native of New York. His parents were early settlers in Rock Co. They removed from Rock to Adams Co., where they remained some time. In 1865 they moved to the town of Union, Waupaca Co., and settled on a farm in Sec. 35, where they have since remained. Our subject's father was a member of the 6th W. V. I., and served in the old Fifth Army Corps. He came out of the army diseased, and died May 31, 1874. Charlie's boyhood days were spent on a farm. Since twenty-one years of age he has farmed it and lumbered. In 1881 he bulit a steam saw-mill at Ogdensburg, with a capacity at pres- ent of 6,000 feet per day. He intends to increase its capacity. He also owns a farm on Sec. 35. town of Union. He is a young man of pleasing address and with an abundance of energy and pluck, and we predict for him a snecessful life.

CHRIST. WAGNER, farmer, See. 24, P. O. Nicholson, was born in Prussia, in 1827. Hle went to school until he was fourteen, then worked out till he came to Dodge Co. in 1842. He came to Waupaca Co. in 1856, and settled on See. 24. He bought 80 acres ; now has 200 aeres, 45 acres of which are improved. He was drafted, but was rejected on account of disabilities. In 1863 he was married, and has seven children.

MATTESON.

The first settlement in this town which is north of Outagamie County and east of Larrabee, was made in July, 1855, by Roswell Matteson, from whom it derives its name. The first schoolhouse was built in 1859; the first mistress. Emma Dodge. The first church, Christian, was organized January 18, 1874, and the first sermon preached by Rev. Mr. Sharpe, a Baptist elergyman, in 1860. The first post office was established in 1856, with E. D. Matteson as Post- master.

John White opened the first store in 1862. The Wolf, Embarrass and Pigeon Rivers run through the town, and a cranberry marsh is situated in the northern part, which will prove of value to its owners.

HISTORY OF WAUPACA COUNTY.

The village of Embarrass in the northwestern portion of the town, has sixty people. July 10, 1868, Post No. 78, G. A. R., was organized with forty members, and a lodge of Good Templars in May, 1875.

LARRABEE.

The town of Larrabee is one of the northern tier, west of Matteson and north of Bear Creek, and was organized April 2, 1861. Norman Clinton, from whom the thriving village of Clintonville took its name, was the first settler, locating in March, 1855. He died April 7, 1875, his son, U. P., coming to Clintonville in 1857. He still resides there. Rev. Alfred C. Lathrop preached the first sermon at the funeral of Mrs. U. P. Clinton, whose death in June, 1858, is the first recorded in the town of Larrabee. U. P. Clinton was the first Postmaster, commencing his service in that year, and also kept the first store during 1858. His father built the first saw-mill (burned in 1861) the year before, and, upon the organization of the town in April, 1861, the following were chosen its first officers: U. P. Clinton, Chairman : H. P. Turesdal and G. Smith, Super- visors ; E. W. Bennett, Treasurer. The first school was taught by Jenny Marsh in 1861, in the Clintonville log schoolhouse built two years before.

The village of Clintonville is a thriving and growing place in the southeastern part of Larrabee, on the Pigeon River. According to the last census, its population was 583. The name Clintonville, as stated, was imposed by Norman Clinton. The village has six church societies, the Congregational, Lutheran, Methodist and Roman Catholics having edifices. The German Methodists and German Baptists are to build. J. W. Chamberlain is Pastor of the Congregational Church ; Rev. Martindale, of the Methodist Episcopal ; Rev. Walker, of the Lutheran ; Rev. Tinger, of the German Methodist Episcopal, and Father Sholz, of New London, of the Roman Catholic. Clintonville possesses a school of 135 pupils. Fred N. Bowman, Principal, Miss Dora E. Squiers, assistant. There is also a German school controlled by the Lutherans, and consisting of fifty-five pupils. Two lodges have been organized of late years ; No. 197, A., F. & A. M., June 11, 1874, G. S. Doty, W. M. ; No. 85, T. of H., December, 1877. During the early part of the year 1881, the village was unfortunate in the extent to which it was visited by fire. In February, the McNeil House burned, in April several buildings opposite on Shawano street, there having been two minor fires in January. Accordingly, in May, Embryo Hook and Ladder Company was organized with fifteen charter members. Among the leading business men of Clintonville are the following : Stacey & Lawson, Meiklejohn & Ilatton, manu- facturers ; II. A. Meilike, Sutherland & House, drugs ; A. A. Knapp, groceries (also Postmaster); Bentz & Alft, drugs and groceries; G. W. Jones, grain dealer ; F. M. Young, station agent ; E. Brix, A. Bucholtz, general merchants ; N. Ottermark, II. Winters, hardware; A. Spieer, photo- graphic gallery ; H. G. Lutsey, jeweler; George McCor- rison, furniture ; W. II. Cook, foundry and machine shop ; Gustavus Ruth, general merchant; E. W. Knapp, restan- rant; A. Sholtz, N. Nemocde, harness maker; Messrs. Clin- ton & McNeil, livery. Five daily lines of stage run to Shawano. The place has the usual complement of boot and shoe shops, wagon establishments, etc., and two saloons. The professions are well represented in Drs. John Finney

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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