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 272

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 272

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).

1116

HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

artillery-men's jackets, more than were charged to him. The elerks stated that was the first case of the kind they had ever known of, and that they were at a loss how to report it, when the Captain made an affidavit that he had over-drawn six jackets, issued them to his men, and presented their receipts. He returned to Wautoma in December, 1864, and commenced farming in the spring of 1865; has continued to live on and work his farm, hiring most of the work done, ever since. Has been in public office most of the time since 1865, as Chair- man of the towns of Dakota and Wautoma, as Justice of the Peace a number of years, member of the Wisconsin Assembly, 1869-79. President of the Wanshara County Agricultural So- ciety since 1874; Deputy Clerk of the ('irenit Court since 1879; doing a general insurance business and attorney and claims agent. He was married at Woodstock, Ill., Feb. 11. 1864, to Miss Char- lotte S. Parker, who was born in Dansville, N. Y., in 1841. His wife returned with him to camp in Virginia, and nursed him through a very severe sickness of inflammation of the stomach. The children of this union are Vinnie, Mabel G. and Robert K.

IRA P. COON, Sheriff of Waushara Co., Wautoma, settled at Berlin, Wis., with his parents and their family in 1856. They lived there until 1861 ; then they moved to Wautoma, where they have since lived. He was elected County Sheriff in 1874; was re-elected in the fall of 1880. He was born in Milan, Ohio, June 25, 1850. He was married at Wautoma in 1872, to Mary E. Lyman, who was born in Wayne Co., N. Y., Nov. 16, 1851. They have two children-Carrie F. and Ira L.

JACKSON J. HAWLEY, Register of Deeds, Wautoma, was born in South New Berlin, N. Y., Dec. 25, 1843; settled at Prairieville, Wis., with his parents in 1844, where they lived about two years and then moved to Waukau, Winnebago Co., and lived two years. They then moved to Poysippi, where his parents still live. He enlisted in Co. D, 8th Reg. Wis. Vol. Infy , Sept. 18, 1861, and served until Sept. 16, 1864. He re- turned to Poysippi, and in Jannary following, clerked in Land Com- missioner's office, at Madison, remaining about one year, and re- turned home and assisted his father, Mr. Geo. Hawley, in his mill, etc. In January, 1875, he took his office of Register of Deeds, being elected in fall of 1874, and he has been elected the succeed- ing terms, including 1880. He was married in Waushara Co., January, 1868, to Marion H. Chamberlin, who was born in New York, September, 1844. They have one son-George F.

ROBERT L. D. POTTER, attorney at law and Circuit Court Commissioner for the County of Waushara, Wautoma, was born in Hillsdale, Columbia Co., N. Y., Feb. 5, 1833. Here he spent his early school days and attended the Academy at Great Barrington, Berkshire Co., Mass., his parents having moved in that county, in 1842. In 1853, he became Tutor in the Eastern High School in Northhampton Co., Pa., three years; during that time he also read law in his leisure hours. He was admitted to the bar at Eastern Pennsylvania, in 1857. He came West jn October of the same year, and settled at Wautoma, where he has since remained. He immediately began the practice of law. He was elected to the State Senate in the fall of 1872, and served two terms. being re-elected in 1874. Ile was the author of the cele- brated Potter law, enacted at the session of 1874, that being the law that created a great interest at the time for the reduc- tion of tariff on the railroads throughout Wisconsin. He was married at Wantoma, Feb. 5, 1861, to Emeline Bingham, who was born in New Milford, Pa. They have four children- Clara E., Ellen E., Sherman G. and Mary A.

CHARLES P. SOULE, printer and farmer, Wantoma, was horn in Potter Tp., Yates Co., N. Y., Dec. 23, 1843 ; he emigrated to Wisconsin with his parents and lived with them until he was twenty-five years of age. He helped print the first paper that was edited at Wautoma. He was married at this place, March 28, 1868, to Nancy A. Kent, who was born in Pierpont, N. Y., Sept. 23, 1850. They have two children-L. L. Soule

and Lewis M. Mr. S. enlisted in the 3d Wis. Vol. Infy .. at Nee- nah, Dec. 23, 1863, and served until July 18, 1865, and was mus- tered out at Louisville, Ky.

ALLEN L. TRUFANT & SON, dealers in groceries, crock- ery, etc., Wautoma ; first settled here in January, 1856. He fol- lowed manufacturing boots and shoes two years, after which he went into general merchandise, which he followed untill 1874. He was born in Charlestown, Mass., Oct. 15, 1824, and was mar- ried to Miss Delia A. Joy, in Winthrop, Me., May, 1845. She was born in Winthrop, November, 1828. They have three chil- dren-Ella F. (now married to Mr. A. Walker and living in Wautoma ), Mary E. (married to A. Benum and living in St. At- kinson, Wis.), Allen L., Jr. (in company with his father in the store ). Allen L., was born in Winthrop, Me , May 19, 1850. He was married Dec. 27, 1872, to Miss Attie E. Brown, who was born in Lima, Wis., Dec. 17, 1854. They had two children- Stella F. and Mary B. Mrs. Allen L. Trufant, Jr., died Feb. 9, 1881.

JAMES M. WHITMAN, physician and surgeon, also pro- prietor of drug store, Wautoma, settled in Rock Co. in 1844, with his parents, and lived there about ten years on a farm. From there they moved to Waupaca Co. and lived on a farm. The doc- tor followed teaching until 1859. Prior to this he began the study of medicine. He attended the Rush Medical College of Chicago and received his deploma in 1861. He soon went to Marquette Co. and practiced medicine about one year, then he came to Wautoma, where he has since resided in the practice of his profession in connection with the drug business. Ile was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., March 19, 1832; was married in Port- age Co. in 1859, to Miss Adaline M. Taylor, who was born in Allegany Co., N. Y., June, 1842. They have three children- Addie B., Ella F. and Hattie M.

PLAINFIELD.

One of the most wide awake and driving villages on the line of the Wisconsin Central Railroad is Plainfield, situated in the western part of Waushara County. In 1852 E. C. Waterman settled on land which is now the site of the village and erected a shanty, 16x12. which he used as a dwelling-house and " hotel." This building was afterward enlarged into the nucleus of the Plainfield House, still standing on Main street. Mr. Waterman died in the vil- lage. In March, 1855, W. W. Beach, still living and one of the most honored of her citizens, settled in the village and built the next house. Charles Hamilton was among the very earliest settlers of the town. He, with Messrs. Waterman and Beach, built the first schoolhouse, and Mary Chester taught the young ideas how to properly grow. The very first settler in the town was William Kelley, who lo- cated on a piece of land just south of the village in 1848. For some time after, the little settlement which was collect- ing on the present site of Plainfield was called Norwich ; but when a post office was to be located and it became nec- essary to choose a name, " Plainfield " was decided upon, at the suggestion of E. C. Waterman, the Postmaster, whose home in Vermont was so called. This was in 1855. About this time came G. W. Sheardown, present Postmaster, and Charles Mann. The former erected the second house after Mr. Beach's, and the latter the third. The location of a post office and platting of a village is always the signal for a fresh growth. Having been named, the village was plat- ted the same year by S. W. Hall, Surveyor, for E. C. Waterman, proprietor. Other additions have since been made, the most important being Hamilton's addition. Pre- vious to 1855, quite a number had located in the town,

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HISTORY OF WAUSHARA COUNTY.

among the most prominent being Judge T. H. Walker, the first County Judge, who came in 1850; Jesse Bentley and family, in the same year, and Samuel Westbrook in 1852. The first grist-mill, a saw-mill being run in connection with it, was erected by Cady & Chamberlain in 1856. This was burned in 1857 and rebuilt. The first general store in the village had been opened the previous year (1855) by Beach & Chester. Thus the groundwork was laid by 1856 for the present energetic little village, which now has half a dozen flourishing general stores-hardware, drug and miscellaneous establishments, several manufactories and hotels, a school, two churches and a newspaper. One of the best buildings in the village was erected by J. B. Mitchell in 1880. His hotel is one of the best in this section.

The village school has two grades. The Baptist denom- ination has a society, but no settled pastor. The Method- ists have a new church building, dedicated in the summer of 1881, and a society of seventy members, whose pastor is Rev. W. H. Chynoweth.

J. W. Durham operates a grist and planing mill, and James Ingell is about to put a feed and flour mill in opera- tion. O'Cain & Williams run a flour-mill. There are two wagon-shops, owned by J. L. Kretzer and McKeague & Brother. A mere mention of the leading features and busi- ness men of the place gives some idea of the life and energy to be seen daily on its streets.

J. T. Ellarson is proprietor of the Plainfield Times, which has now entered its sixth volume, and is Republican in politics.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

SHERMAN BARDWELL, dealer in general merchandise, real estate and stock, Plainfield ; first located at this place May 22, 1856, and began the mercantile business in 1862; he started the first printing office in the village in 1877, and built the first grain elevator in 1876, and started the first manufacturing inter- ests iu the place ; he was born in Allegany Co., N. Y., Aug. 17, 1828, and came to Wisconsin at the age of twenty-six years ; he was a member of our Legislature in 1872. He was married in Allegany Co., N. Y., April 22, 1856, to Roxana Swift who was born in Avon, Genesee Co., N. Y .; she died leaving one daughter-Charlotte M., now Mrs. George B. Fox, and living in Plainfield. Mr. B. was again married at the same place in New York to Esther Sherman ; they had four children-Mary A., Frank D., Jay and Grace. Mrs. Bardwell died July 16, 1875 ; he was again married in March, 1876, to Alice H. La Selle, who was born in Swanton, Vt., Feb. 5, 1850.

WALTER W. BEACH, Deputy Sheriff of Waushara Co., Plainfield ; was born in Chittenden, Vt., Oct. 3, 1823, and lived in that State until he was twenty-two years of age, then went into Canada with machinery for the first woolen factory ever operated in the eastern part ; he remained about two years, then went to his native home and farmed two years, after which he came West and spent the winter of 1849 at Kingston, Green Lake Co .; the following spring he settled on what was then ealled Big Prairie, in Marquette Co .; he got a mail route established between Port- age City and Stevens' Point, and named the first post office Oasis ; he also followed farming and Inmbering ; in the fall of 1854, he went to the pineries, and, in the spring of 1855, settled at Plain- field, sinee which he has followed farming and lumbering. He was elected Sheriff in the fall of 1858, and served one term ; he was re-elected in the fall of 1876 ; he has done much to help the town, and to make Plainfield the thriving village that it is; he was one of the leading spirits to induce the Wisconsin Central Railroad, running from Stevens' Point to Portage City, to build through the village ; he was also one of the early pioneers, and took an active part in the organization of the township. He was married, Jan. 13, 1845, in Chittenden Co., N. C .; his wife's

maiden name was Isabunda I. Dodge ; she was born in Addison Co., Vt., Dec. 24, 1823; they had eight children-Lorinda T. (deceased) ; Clara B. (married to J. B. Mitchell, of Mitehell Hotel, Plainfield, and she died July 19, 1881), Martha A. (now deceased ), John T. (now United States Postal Clerk between Chicago and La Crosse), Lucius W. (at Plainfield), Lotta J. (married to Dr. Frank P. Nourse, and living at Cable, Bayfield Co.), Lucy A. and Walter J. (living at home).

BISHOP B. BORDEN, dealer in drugs, groceries and faney ware, Plainfield; settled in Plainfield in May, 1869, and followed farming three years; he then went, in company with Mr. G. W. Sheardown, in the drug, grocery, boot and shoe busi- ness in an old store house (moved from Campbell's Corners, in Plainfield, about twenty years ago) ; they continued in company about three years, but only a short time in the old store; Mr. B. then bought the entire interest, and has since conducted the busi- ness; he was born in Steuben Co., N. Y., Jan. 19, 1838. He was married in Tioga, Penn., in June, 1865 ; his wife's maiden name was Jennie E. Mitchell ; she was born in Tioga Co., Penn., in October, 1843; they have three children-T. Ernest, Ella M. and Frank R. Mr. Borden enlisted in Co. F, Eleventh Regt. Penn. Cavalry, in August, 1861, and during the following winter he was mustered into the the regimental band ; served in that capacity until he was captured on the Wilson raid in June, 1864 ; he was confined in Andersonville Prison until the close of the war, and was mustered ont at Annapolis in June, 1865.

JAMES BREEN, M. D., physician and surgeon, Plainfield ; born in Holton, Me., Jan. 20, 1840 ; he attended the school in his village, and at the age of twelve years he went with his brother, John Breen, to Washington, D. C., and lived until 1870; in 1865, he began the study of medicine, and afterward attended the Georgetown University, and graduated from that institution in the class of 1870; he then went to Chicago, and there began the practice of medicine, which he followed until 1875; losing his health, he came to Wisconsin to reeruit, and finally located at Plainfield, where he continued until 1879; in 1880, he went to California ; also visited Oregon, W. T., Arizona, and the Sand- wich Islands ; he remained in the Western World fifteen months, three months of which he spent on the Grand Round Reserva- tion in Yam Hill Co., Oregon ; he returned to Plainfield in 1881, and since then he has been engaged in the practice of medicine. He was married in Stevens' Point, June 20, 1877, to Mary E. Moody, who was born in North Hampton, Mass., July 20, 1849.

CALEB GREENFIELD, proprietor of the Greenfield House, Plainfield, was born in Utica, N. Y., June 19, 1823. He emigrated to Wyocena, Wis., in 1857; he lived there three years, and followed blacksmithing, after which he moved to Plain- field, and followed the same trade until he enlisted, March 4, 1864, in Co. D, 37th W. V. I .; he served one year, and was dis- charged on account of a wound received in the battle of Peters- burg. Va., after which he returned to Plainfield, and began farm- ing. This he followed until 1874; then he kept a hotel two years, farmed one year, then he went to Wantoma, bought the Coon Hotel, kept it fifteen months, sold it, moved to Montello, and lived until fall of 1879. Then he returned to Plainfield, and bought his old stand, kept it one year, and bought the Plainfield House. He was married in Tompkins Co., N. Y., Aug. 23, 1842, to Lydia Cheney, who was born in New York, June 21, 1822 ; they have had four children, named Daniel W. Greenfield, John W., Mary L., and Lydia J. (now deceased). Mrs. Greenfield died March 5, 1861. Mr. Greenfield was again married Sept. 19, 1870, to Mrs. Emily J. Baker ; she was born in Wells, Penn., March 10, 1833. Mrs. G. formerly lived in Acton, Meeker Co., Minu., and her former husband, H. Baker, was massacred by the Indians, Ang. 17, 1862. Mrs. Greenfield made a very narrow eseape with her two sons, David E. and William H., she falling in the cellar as one of the ladies was shot and fell against her. Her son, William 11., is now living at Plainfield, and assisting in the hotel. Mrs. Greenfield settled in Plainfield first in June, 1854.

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

ARTHUR B. KILBOURN, tinner and overseer in the hard- ware store of C. E. Storm, Plainfield, was born at Wautoma, Wis., Jan. 21, 1859. He lived there with his parents until he was twenty years of age, attending school, acquiring a good business education. He came to Plainfield in 1879, and began business.

JEFFERSON B. MITCHELL, proprietor of the Mitehell House, Plainfield, was born in Tioga, Penn., March 31, 1837, and lived there until 1864 with his parents on a farm. He began elerking in a store at seventeen years of age, and remained in that capacity for his father, Thomas K. Mitehell, and others, about ten years. He came to Plainfield in 1864, where he lived about nine years, engaged in the mercantile business. He was elected County Treasurer in 1872, and served one term. . He went to Centralia afterward, and took charge of a dry goods store two years; then he engaged in the mercantile business for himself for eighteen months ; he then returned to Plainfield, and engaged in the same business, and in buying grain, etc., in company with Mr. L. S Walker, which was continued about three and a half years. In the spring of 1880, he began the ereetion of his hotel, a large briek building, aud began business in it December, 1880. He was married in Plainfield June 9, 1866, to Clara B. Beach, who was born in Canada West, June 16, 1847 ; they have had fonr children, named Charles M., Maude E., Guy W., and Thomas W. Mrs. Mitchell died July 19, 1881. Mr. Mitehell enlisted in Co. I, 1st W. H. A., Oet. 14, 1864, and was discharged Feb. 10, 1865.

GEORGE OCAIN, of the firm of Oeain & Williams, pro- prietors of steam grist mill, Plainfield. The capacity of the mill is sixty barrels of flour and twenty tons of feed per day. Mr. Oeain was born in Mitchell, Sheboygan Co., March 28, 1846 ; he lived there with his parents until he was eight years of age ; they moved to Ripon, and from there to Saxeville, Waushara Co .; his father, I. H. Ocain, followed the milling business ; George lived there until April, 1879, when he moved to Plainfield, and began milling. He was married at Pine River, Waushara Co., Aug. 13, 1871, to Rosa M. Skeel; she was born in Crawford Co., Penn .; they have had four children-Willie and Eddie (deceased ), Eddie and Lewis. at home. Mr. Oeain enlisted in Co. A, 16th W. V. I., Jan. 1, 1862, served about nine months. and was discharged at Madison, October, 1862, for physical disability.

G. W. SHEARDOWN, Postmaster, dealer in stationery, also keeps a collecting and exchange office, Plainfield; first settled in Plainfield, May, 1856 ; heelerked in a general store for Charles Mann about one year ; he engaged in the mercantile trade, and continued until 1876 with Mr. B. B. Borden ; he was appointed Postmaster in May, 1861, and has held the office ever since. He was born in Seneca Co., N. Y., April 17, 1822. He was married in Tioga, Penn., Jan. 31, 1849, to Mary E. Mitchell ; she was born in Tioga, Penn., Dec. 11, 1827 ; they have one son, named Ward B., born June 23, 1858, and he is now employed at Stevens Point by the W. C. R. R. Co.

HANCOCK.

Hancock was organized, in 1856, by the legally quali- fied voters of the territory comprising the town, by electing Sylvester Richmond, Jefferson Abbott and H. B. Lewis, Supervisors, and Hiram Barnes, Town Clerk ; L. A. Bab- cock, Assessor, and Benjamin Chamberlain and H. B. Lewis, Justices of the Peace. Among the early settlers were William Sylvester, H. Barnes, L. A. Babcock, Storys Abboots, J. F. Wiley, Chauncey Wiley, John Rawson and family, S. R. Dunham, J. E. Tilton, C. E. Manger, John Laselle, Samuel Hutchinson, Stillman Ordway, Isaiah Moors, Heyward, William O'Connor, Thomas O'Connor, A. J. French and Walter Ware.

Hancock is situated on the Wisconsin Central Railroad, in the western tier of towns in Waushara County, and con

tains about 700 inhabitants. Up to the time of the build- ing of the railroad, the town seemed to be on the retrograde. The building of the road seemed to infuse new life and en- ergy into the people of the town. Farmers turned their attention to raising stock and clover, and have succeeded, by the use of plaster, in enriching their lands and raising crops that would compare favorably with any portion of the State. About two-thirds of the territory comprising the town is under cultivation. Quite a large proportion of the land not improved would make good farms. There is room for at least 100 families more. To any one that wants to get a good home cheap, and one that they would be proud of in the future, here is a good opportunity. E. Mont- gomery will answer all communications addressed to him, and give gratuitous information in regard to soil, products, markets, schools and churches. Prominent among the set- tlers at present, we would mention the Hon. J. F. Wiley, Hon. C. W. Moors, Hon. E. Montgomery, F. Chafee, C. Chafee, H. E. Heyward, A. K. Edwards, J. B. Rawson, Lorenzo Rawson, C. and G. Hutchinson, Yont and Abbot D. Ostrum, Samuel and Henry Clark, Lewis Manley, Sel- den Minor, J. E. Tilton, B. S. Hales, O. J. Wiley, C. C. Chollar, F. R. Jones, J. P. Wetmore, Z. T. Laselle and W. D. Weld.

Hancock Village is on the line of the Wisconsin Cen- tral road, and has a population of 200. Although settle- ment commenced over thirty years ago, the growth of the place has occurred within the last ten years-since the rail- road was put through it. A Mr. Sylvester was the first settler, and erected a small house, called a hotel, in 1850. About 1855 quite a number came-J. F. Wiley, Levi Bab- cock, G. and C. Hutchinson, J. B. and L. Rawson, and G. T. Yont. Mr. Wiley opened a store, and is now the lead- ing merchant of the place, owning also an elevator and warehouse. Most of the other settlers of 1855 took up land and cultivated it. The Moors Brothers, who also run a warehouse with their general store, are pioneers and sub- stantial business men.

Hancock is not incorporated as a village, but was sur- veyed and platted by C. F. Atwood in 1877, J. F. Wiley being its proprietor. It has a number of stores. a first-class hotel, built by Frank Chafee in the spring of 1877-present proprietor, Thomas Eubank ; a village school and a Congre- gational Church, organized ten years ago, by Elder J. W. Donaldson. Several congregations worship in its neat edifice, the attendance being about fifty. Rev. H. T. Beach is the present Pastor. Everything taken into ac- count, Hancock is one of the pleasant and live little stations, scattered all through Northern Wisconsin, on the line of the Wisconsin Central Railroad.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

CALVIN CHAFEE, farmer, Sec. 3, Hancock Township; settled, with his parents, at Watertown in 1847. They lived there one year, then moved to Utiea, Winnebago Co., being among the first settlers there. The children were all quite small at that time. They lived there about nine years, and moved to Waushara Co., and settled in Plainfield Township on a farm. Mr. Calvin Chafee lived with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age. He then alternated farming with work on the river. He went to Minnesota and returned October, 1859, and during the following winter he attended school. In the fall of 1863, he enlisted in Co. G, 30th W. V. I., served about twenty-two months, and was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., Sept. 20, 1865. He returned home and moved on his present

HISTORY OF WAUSHARA COUNTY.

farın, where he has lived since. lle was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., Oct. 25, 1836. He was married in June, 1861, to Tamer E. Rozelle. She was born in Pennsylvania in October, 1842. They have had five children, Robert E., Catharine E., Frank, deceased, Leonard H., living at home, and Letta, deceased.

FRANKLIN CHAFEE, proprietor Chafee House, Hancock, settled at Watertown, with his parents, in 1847. They lived there about one year, and from there moved to Winnebago Co., and lived about nine years. The father followed shoemaking, and the boys worked a farm until 1855, and from there they moved to Waushara Co. and lived on a farm. Mr. F. Chafee lived at home until he was nineteen years of age. Ile enlisted Aug. 21, 1862, in Co. G, 30th W. V. I., served until Sept. 20, 1865, and was mustered out at Louisville, Ky. He returned to Plainfield, fol- lowed various kinds of business about five years, then followed farming until 1875. He kept hotel in Hancock, known as the Hancock House, about one year. He erected his present large hotel in the summer of 1877, moved in and opened the same to the publie Aug. 15 of that year. He was born in Orleans Co., N. Y., Dec. 16. 1843. He was married at Hancock in the fall of 1870, to Caroline A. Whitmore, who was born at Port Chester, N. Y .. July 15, 1842.

EUGENE B. JENNINGS, general merchandise, Hancock, was born in Wautoma, May 20, 1861, and resided there until May 10, 1881. He visited New York in February, 1880, and remained until November of that year. He clerked for Mr. A. D. Mclntyre, of Wautoma, about six years. His parents live in Wautoma. He entered Eastman's Commercial College, of Pough- kepsie, N. Y., Feb. 15, 1880, and graduated from that institution Sept. 7, of that year.

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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