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 280

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 280

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R. P. EIGHME, lawyer; came to Oshkosh in September, 1850 : engaged in the practice of law until 1865, when he engaged in the manufacture of lumber at Oconto, Wis., and continued in that business for five years ; he carried on logging business until 1876. In 1877 he resumed the practice of his profession ; Mr. Eighme was born in Hamburg, Erie Co., N. Y., Sept. 20, 1823 ; read law with Geo. W. Clinton and Nichols. of Buffalo, N. Y. He has held various offices since coming to Wisconsin, Register of the State Land Office, member of the Assembly and several city and town positions. He was candidate for State Senator on the Demo- cratie ticket when the district was Republican by a majority of 1,500, and was defeated by ouly 45 votes. Mr. Eighme was mar- ried at Buffalo, N. Y .. to Sarah M. Tanner ; she died in May, 1877, leaving three children-Anna Lydia, now Mrs. John A. Bishop, of Deadwood; Carrie E., now Mrs. ('has. N. Black, of Chicago : and Richard S.

COOK ELY, photographer, No. 2 Elm street. His business amounts to 85,000 per annum ; established in 1876. He was born in England, near Boston, June 21, 1847. His parents emi- grated to America in 1852 and located at Ripon, Wis. Mr. Ely was about fifteen years of age when he began learning his trade in Ripon, with a Mr. William Lock wood, where he remained about four years ; then went to Peru, Ill., and worked for W. E. Bow- man in the photographie business about two years. Then he went to Racine, Wis., and began business in company with Mr. William Lockwood, his former instructor, where he continued until 1876, at which time he sold his interests and moved to Oshkosh, Wis., where he has since remained, and has built up a splendid business and secured a good reputation as an artist of the first water. He en- listed in Co. B, 41st W. V. I. He was married in Ripon, Wis., in 1870, to Miss Lucy J. Snyder, of the latter place. They have four daughters-Mary L., Dora, Grace and Florence.

1145

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

WILLIAM H. ENGLEBRIGHT, firm of King & Engle- bright, proprietors of a saloon and billiard tables in west end Tremont House. Established in June, 1881. Mr. E. was born in England Jan. 16, 1857. He emigrated to America in 1873, and settled in Oshkosh, Wis. He first engaged as clerk in the liquor business, and was in that capacity until December, 1880, when he went in company with Mr. K., and opened a liquor store on Main street, which they operated until June, 1881, when they moved into the Tremont House, as above noted.

T. B. FAIRCHILD, mechanie, working in the machinery department of Parsons & Goodfellow's carriage works. He was born in Chenango Co., at Bainbridge, N. Y., Aug. 13, 1821. He settled in Marquette, Green Lake Co., in 1857 ; he lived there until June 1, 1879, and followed the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds. Mr. F. came to Oshkosh in June, 1879, and moved his family in September of the same year. He was married in Guilford, Chenango Co., N. Y., Aug. 4, 1847, to Miss Laura A. Humphrey, who was born in Greene Co., N. Y. They have two children living-Georgiana T. (now married to Edward Armes, and living in Guilford, Chenango Co., N. Y.) and Mary L. (now married to Mr. E. S. Knight, and living in Hebron, Thayer Co., Neb.) ; Luella A, deceased; Margaret E., deceased.

ANDREW FELKER, deceased, was born in Ontario Co., N. Y. In 1844, he removed to McHenry Co., Ill .; in 1846, he came to Wisconsin and selected a location on Sec. 35, in the town of Omro, and removed his family to that place in 1847. He died there in 1849; then his family returned to New York. His widow, Maria Pixley, returned to Wisconsin in 1860 and resided iu Oshkosh until her death, in July, 1881. She was a native of Columbia Co., N. Y. Four children survive her-Charles W., residing at Oshkosh ; William B., residing at Oshkosh ; Mary, now Mrs. Dr. MeMennamy, of Indianapolis, Ind., and Henry, of Nashua, Wis.

CHARLES W. FELKER, lawyer, was born in Penn Yan, N. Y., Nov. 25, 1834 ; came to MeHenry Co., Ill., in 1844; came to Wisconsin in 1847, and lived in the town of Omro, Winnebago Co., until 1849. He then went to Hudson, N. Y., where he attended school and commenced the study of law, which he re- sumed in the office of Judge Edwin Wheeler, and was admitted to the bar in 1858; engaged in practice at Omro until 1864. During the late war of the rebellion, he served one year in the 48th W. V. I., being Captain of Co. A. He came to Oshkosh March 1, 1866. ITis father, Andrew Felker, came to Wisconsin and located ou Sec. 35, in the town of Omro, in 1846, and removed his family there in 1847. Charles W. Felker was married at Omro, Wis., in January, 1862, to Sarah C. Douty, a native of Maine. They have five children-Lillian, Fred, Carl. Mollie and Sadie. Mr. F. was Postmaster in 1866 and 1867; he has been Alderman, School Commissioner, School Superintendent, etc.

WILLIAM B. FELKER, lawyer ; is a native of the State of New York ; born Feb. 9, 1837 ; came to MeHenry Co., Ill., with his parents, Andrew and Maria Pixley Felker, in 1844; lived there until 1847, when they removed to Omro, Winnebago C'o., Wis. In 1857, he came to Oshkosh, and read law with Judge Wheeler ; admitted to the bar in 1860; practiced at Shawano four years ; Omro six years ; since then at Oshkosh. He was married. at Omro, in December, 1859, to Sara J. Sprague ; she is a native of New York. They have one child living-Willie Bright. Lost two children-Charles, died at the age of two years, and Eva was seventeen years old at the time of her death in 1878.

EARL P. FINCH, lawyer; was born in the town of Jay, Essex Co., N. Y., October 27, 1828. He was employed in the nail factory and iron works of J. & J. Rogers, at Au Sable Forks, N. Y., for three years prior to his removal to Neenah, Wis., in 18-19. He was employed by John and Harvey Kimberly as a elerk at Neenah, and was Deputy Postmaster there. In 1851, he entered the preparatory department of Beloit College ; spent one year there ; then entered Middlebury College, in Vermont, where he remained until the beginning of the last term of junior year.

He then went to Union College, and graduated from that insti- tution in 1856. In 1857. he was appointed Entry Clerk of land office of United States Register for this district. In 1859, he came to Oshkosh, and entered the office of Judge Edwin Wheeler, where he continued the study of law, which he had commenced while in the land office. In 1860, he was admitted to the bar, since which time he has practiced in Oshkosh. He is a member of A., F. & A. M., and K. of H. He was married, at Menasha, Wis., to Anna E., daughter of Judge John A. Bryan. They have seven children living-Herbert G., Earl P., Edgar Bryan, Fannie E., Mary, George C. and Julia Lost one child, which

died in infancy.

E. M. FLYNN, filer for Paine ; was born in Waterford, Ire- land, March 27, 1849; came to United States in 1861, and located in Baraboo, Wis. ; worked in stave factory for a time, and was with Baraboo Manufacturing Company about four years; from there he went to Neenah, Wis., where he engaged as filer with John Hungerford about six years; moved to Oshkosh in 1873, and has been engaged as filer with a number of firms. He was married, in Portage City, Wis., Sept. 9, 1871, to Miss Mary Drinkwater, of Stark Co. They have four children-Ephraim, John, Edmund, Mabel.

J. H. FOLSOM, filer for J. H. Weed; was born in Penobscot Co., Maine, Oct. 15, 1837. His parents, James and Deborah (Adams) Folsom, where originally from New Hampshire; came to Wisconsin in 1862, and, after stopping about one month in Ripon, settled in Oshkosh, and engaged with Beach Bros., sawing ; went to Chippewa Falls in 1872, remaining about three years ; then returned to Oshkosh, and engaged with Beach & Conlee, remaining with them about five years. He then engaged with J. H. Weed. Married, in Ripon, Wis., Aug. 30, 1862, to Eliza A. Knofsker, of Vinland, Winnebago Co. They have one child- Cora

FRANK G. FOOTE, of the firm of Foote, Bros. & Co., pro- prietors of flouring-mill; was born at Eureka, Wis., March 21, 1854; lived there until 1876, then came to Oshkosh. He is a member of the K. of P.

Argalus I. Foote was born at Danesboro, Berkshire Co., Mass., March 23, 1817; lived there until he came to Eureka, Wis., in the fall of 1849; engaged in farming and lumbering until he came to Oshkosh in 1876. He was engaged in flouring-mill business here until 1877, then sold out. He was married at New Haven, Conn., in March, 1848, to Adelia M. Gregory, a native of Chester. Conn. They have three children-Andrew D .. William A. and Frank G.

CARLETON FOSTER, lumber manufacturer, was born in Essex Co., N. Y., August, 1826 ; son of Auran and Chloe Fos- ter, natives of New York. Carleton passed his early life in farm- ing, receiving a common school education in Essex and Clinton Counties; at the age of twenty-one he commenced at the business of mill-wrighting at Keeseville, N. Y .; during the next ten years he was actively engaged in this business, and he built mills at a great many points in New York State and in Canada, the firm by whom he was employed doing the largest business in that section. In 1855 he left his native State and settled in Oshkosh, Wis. ; here he engaged in the same business, and until 1859 carried on some extensive operations ; in the spring of that year he bought Ira Griffin's saw-mill, located at the foot of Nebraska street, and his connection with the lumber trade dates from that time. Com- mencing the manufacture of lumber, he cut 2,000,000 feet that year, and maintained this average until 1865. when he formed a copartnership with J. V. Jones, his present partner. The busi- ness at once increased, and the product of the mill was 4,000,000 feet. In the fall of 1872 the firm of Foster & Jones tore down the old Griffin mill and built the present Conlee Bros.' mnill ; this increased the capacity to 6,000,000 feet. In 1876 they sold this mill to Beach & Conlee : in 1866 they purchased of P. Z. Wilson his sash, door and blind factory, which they enlarged, Mr. Jones having direct supervision of it; in 1870 this mill was burned, and

1146

HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

they immediately commenced the erection of their present mill ; from 1876 to 1879 they manufactured no lumber, but in the lat- ter year they bought the Sheldon mill, and re-built it to produce 50,000 feet per day. In the past ten years the business of man- ufacturing sash, doors and blinds has grown to enormous propor- tions, and the firm of Foster & Jones ranks among the largest manufacturing concerns in Oshkosh. Their factory contains all the best and latest improved machinery and every facility for the manufacture of their product at the lowest possible cost. In November last this firm introduced gas into their immense work- shops and all their buildings are lighted with it. This firm shipped the first car-load of sash, doors and blinds billed from this town. Mr. Foster is one of the liberal, progressive men of Oshkosh, and foremost in enterprises that will enable the city to maintain its prestige. In 1861 he was elected Alderman from the Third Ward, and re-elected to the same position in 1863, serving four years continuously ; in 1865 he was elected Mayor of the city of Oshkosh, and re-elected in 1866. While filling his second term he vetoed the " Bill of extras on bridge contracts," which saved the city over 83,000. In the fall of 1872 he was elected to the Legislature as Assemblyman from the Third District, running against Nelson Beck with, whom he defeated by 400 majority ; in 1873 he recived a marked compliment from his fellow townsmen by being nominated and indorsed by both parties, and he ran without an opponent. While in the Legislature he served as Chairman of the Lumber and Manufactures Committee, and on other committees ; during his second term his party was in the minority, but he enjoyed the confidence of his colleagues and was called to the chair to preside over Committee of the Whole. While always a liberal and conservative Republican, he has, since 1875, taken no part in politics. In 1854 he was married to Sybil Storrs at Keeseville, N. Y.

JOHN S. FRAKER, shingle manufacturer, was born in the town of Edinburg, Saratoga Co., N. Y., Feb. 10, 1836 ; came to Oshkosh in December, 1857 ; engaged in mercantile business until 1869, when he engaged in present business. He was married at Oshkosh, June 5, 1862, to Carrie R., daughter of Thomas T. Reeve ; she was born at Goshen, Orange Co., N. Y. They have one child-Mary R. Mr. Fraker is a member of A., F. & A. M.

H. P. FREDERICKSON. general blacksmithing and horse- shoeing a specialty. He learned his trade in Denmark. He was born in Denmark Sept. 25, 1853; emigrated to America in June, 1871, and settled in Manistee, Mich., and followed his trade one year ; then to Clem Lake a short time; then to Detroit Mich., where he followed his trade about eighteen months; then to Grand Rapids, Mich., and worked at his trade a short time; then to Ft. Wayne, Ind .; worked a short time and in various places some time; also in Chicago, fifteen months, and finally located in Oshkosh, Wis., where he is doing a fair business.

O. F. FREEMAN. engineer, was born in Washtenaw Co., Mich., in 1840. In 1864, engaged in milling in Flint, Mich., firm of Flanders & Freeman ; sold out about two years later, and for some ten years off and on was engaged in livery business ; went again into quilling firm-Freeman Bros., and sold out in 1877 ; then moved to Greenville, Montcalm Co .; opened livery, and also bought a saw mill; burnt out same year. Mr. Freeman then went to Bangor, Mich., and built and started chemical works for H. M. Peirce & Co., of New York ; continued in charge for about one year, when he moved to Wisconsin ; located in Oshkosh, in 1880. For about one year, was with the Wisconsin Manufacturing Company ; then took present position. He was married in Bangor, Mich., March 16, 1879, to Miss Melinda Crowner, of Bangor. They have one child-Alda L.

JAMES. FREEMAN, lawyer, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, March 19, 1828 ; read law there with Mr. Starkweather, and was admitted to Supreme Court of Ohio, in 1850, and to Illinois Su- preme Court at Ottawa, in 1851 ; engaged in the practice of law in Chicago and Waukegan up to 1854, when he removed to Osh- kosh, Wis., and l'ormed a partnership with L. P. Crary. In Sep-

tember, 1862, he raised a company of volunteers in Oshkosh, which were mustered into the United States service as Co. D, 32d Reg. Wis. Vol., and of which he was Captain ; served until June 12, 1865, then returned to Oshkosh and engaged in practice of his profession. He was married in Oshkosh in 1856, to Miss Emily A. Granger. They have six children-Shepherd, Netta, Emma E., Sarah G., Charles N., Margaret. Mr. F. is a member of the Methodist Church and of the A., F & A. M. Lodge, and chapter ; has held office of City Attorney three years.

HON. GEORGE GARY, County Judge ; second son of Eli B. and Frances O. Gary ; was born at Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., March 16. 1824. When he was five years old, his parents removed to Clintonville, in Clinton Co., and afterward to Keeseville, Essex Co. His father was a carpenter and builder, and also engaged somewhat in lumbering at various points, which caused frequent changes of location, and therefore a considerable part of his boyhood was spent in the woods among mountains and trout streams, and remote from any regular schools. When two years old, his eyes were attacked with a violent inflammatory dis- ease, from which they have never recovered entirely, which dur- ing his life has seriously impaired his sight, and which during his boyhood and youth rendered any steady application to any occu- pation impossible. His early education was therefore only such as could be acquired by very irregular attendance at the common schools, and three terms at an academy in Keeseville. In the spring of 1845, when twenty-one years of age, acting upon the suggestion of physicians that a sea voyage might benefit his eyes, he shipped before the mast on board a Nantucket whaler bound around Cape Horn. After varions adventures, which included a residence of seven months at Callao, in Peru, he returned home in the fall of 1847, with eyes and health somewhat improved. He was engaged teaching school winters, and in various tempo- rary employments until the spring of 1850, when (after a surgical operation by which his eyes were further improved), he came to Wisconsin. In June, 1850, he landed in the then village of Oshkosh, without any trade, profession, capital or business ex- perience. Two years before, he had declined a proposition from Hon. George A. Simmons, of Keeseville, one of the leading law- yers of Northern New York, to enter his office as a student, be- cause it was believed the condition of his eyes would not permit the necessary application to books. After a short employment as clerk in a general store at Oshkosh, he took charge of the for- warding and commission house of W. A. Knapp & Co. from the fall of 1850, until the spring of 1854, when he became cashier and book-keeper for the steamboat line of Fitzgerald & Moore, which then included all steamers on Lake Winnebago and the Wolf and Fox Rivers. He had participated as a Whig stump-speaker in the Presidential campaign of 1852. In the spring of 1853, he was an unwilling and unsuccessful candidate of the opposition to the Democratic party for City Clerk at the first election in the young city of Oshkosh. In the fall of 1853, he was nominated and elected a member of the Assembly for the First District, com- prising the city of Oshkosh and south half of Winnebago Co. During the session of the Legislature the ensning winter, a break - ing up of political parties in consequence of the Kansas-Nebraska agitation in Congress, laid the foundation for the organization of the Republican party in Wisconsin ; and the next fall he was nominated without opposition and re-elected to the Assembly of 1855. Of this body, he was elected speaker pro tem. (which was then a permanent office for the session), and served as the presiding officer at various periods during the session. In the spring of 1855, he became connected with Hon. Horace Rublee in the publication of the State Journal at Madison, but retired the following spring and engaged as clerk and book-keeper in the forwarding and transportation business at Green Bay. That business being ruined by a low stage of water, and suspension of navigation on the Lower Fox River, in the fall of the same year he returned to Oshkosh, and engaged in the forwarding and com- mission business in partnership with M. E. Tremble, now of

1147

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

Suamico. In the fall of 1857, he was elected without opposition to fill a vacancy in the office of Clerk of the Circuit Court of Winnebago Co., caused by the death of the Clerk. To this office he was re-elected in 1858, and having declined a re-nomina- tion in 1860, retired from it in Jan. 1, 1861. In 1859, he had purchased the Oshkosh Democrat, which under his control was devoted especially to sustaining the national and conservative view of the then much agitated question of State Rights. In December, 1860, he sold this paper to the proprietors of the Northwestern with which it was consolidated. During and pre- ceeding his term as Clerk of the court, he had devoted considera- ble time to reading law, and on the 17th of April, 1861, was ad- mitted to the bar at the age of thirty-seven. In 1862, on the passage of the Internal Revenue Act, through the friendship and influence of Senator T. O. Howe, he was appointed Assessor of Internal Rev- enne for the old Fifth District of Wisconsin, comprising thirteen counties. Physical debility following a severe attack of . dipli- theria, and the duties of editor of the Northwestern, of which he had become proprietor with B. F. Davis, induced him to resign the office of Assessor a few days before the assassination of Presi- dent Lincoln in the spring of 1865. In the summer of the same year, he sold his interest in the Northwestern to C. G. Finney, and in company with G. W. Burnell, Esq. ( now District Attor- ney ), engaged exclusively in the practice of law. In the fall of 1866, he was elected State Senator for Winnebago Co. On the passage of the bankruptey act in 1867, he was appointed Regis- ter in Bankruptey, the acceptance of which required his resigna- tion as Senator after serving one session. This position he resigned in 1860, to take the office of County Judge of Winne- bago Co., which he has held since Jan. 1, 1870. The court over which he presides, besides the general probate jurisdiction, has an extensive eivil jurisdiction under a special statute. Judge Gary is the author of "Gary's Probate Law," a work published in 1879, which has been well received and spoken of by the bar in this State and elsewhere, and is the only standard work on the subject, as adapted to the Northwestern States. Judge Gary is able writer and a clear-headed thinker, and possesses the confi- dence of the people to a remarkable extent. He was married Aug. 24, 1854, to Georgiana Enery, then a resident of Berlin. Wis., but who was born near Frederickton, in the Province of New Brunswick ; they have two children living-Mary Frances and Paul ; lost two children-George H., died September, 1877, aged twenty-one years ; Ann Eliza, May, 1862, at the age of five years.

JAMES GILLINGHAM, firm of Gillingham & Son, manu- facturers lumbering and logging tools, sleighs, boat and mill blacksmiths. Mr. G. was born in England, Dec. 14, 1832. He emigrated to America at the age of twenty-one years, in 1852, and settled in Rochester, N. Y., and followed his trade about two years. Went to Oshkosh in 1854, and worked at his trade until 1869, then began business for himself. Ile was married in Osh- kosh June 30, 1855, to Miss Louisa Clark, who was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., June 7, 1834. They have three children- Thomas E., assisting and in company with his father ; Ida May, and Alma Alice, at home. They employ from six to ten men the year round, and do a fine business.

JOHN GLATZ, proprietor Union Brewery, erected in 1873; capacity 3,500 barrels per year ; employs eight men. The first brewery Mr. Glatz bought was burned in December, 1872. He was born in Germany Sept. 24, 1829; emigrated to America in 1853, and located first in Cincinnati, Ohio; lived there about three years. following brewing business; he learned his trade in Germany ; he then went to Philadelphia, Pa., and was five or six months at work brewing ; then he went to Milwaukee, Wis., and was foreman in South Side Brewery about twelve and a half years ; then he went to Oshkosh and bought the brewery, since burned; he built the new Union Brewery in 1873. He was married in Milwaukee, Wis., in 1861, to Miss Louisa Elser ; she was born in Germany, July 12, 1842. They have three children

-J. William, born May 25, 1862; Emma L., born Feb. 20, 1867; Pauline R., born Jan. 21, 1870.

JOSEPH B. GOE, firm Goe Bros. & Basler, dealers in gen- eral line hardware, stoves and tinware, also make a specialty in tin roofing ; established in 1878 ; employ five men ; trade amounts to $25,000 per annum. He was born in Clarion Co., Penn., March 6, 1842 ; he lived there until spring of 1861, and enlisted in Co. E, 111th Penn. V. I. ; engaged in battles Cedar Mountain, Ang. 9, 1862; all through the retreat from Cedar Mountain to Bull Run, and was in second fight there; then at South Mount- ain and Antietam, Gettysburg; then followed through to the sea under Gen. Sherman ; he was wounded at Atlanta ; he was taken to the hospital, aud was mustered out at Washington, D. C., 1865. He then came to Oshkosh, Wis., and engaged in lumber- ing about four years ; then went to Michigan, was in the same business there two years ; then returned to Oshkosh, and clerked in a hardware store three years. He was married June 16, 1874. After elerking in the hardware store, he went to Deadwood, Dakota, and followed mining about fifteen months; sold out and returned to Oshkosh, and formed a copartnership with Mr. J. F. Basler, under the firm name of Basler & Coe; dealt in stoves and tinware about two years. Then the present firm was established. His wife's maiden name was Minnie Hutchinson ; she was born in Waukegan, Ill. They have one son, Harold H. Goe, who was born Aug. 13, 1880.

THOMAS REED GOE, firmn Gue Brothers & Bassler, dealers in a general line hardware, etc., tin roofing a specialty, 41 Main street. Mr. G. was born in Armstrong Co., Penn., June 10, 1828 ; left Pennsylvania in 1851 and went to California, where he engaged in mining, mercantile and various pursuits for twelve years. He returned in 1863 to Pennsylvania to his father's, James Goe, who then lived in Meadville, Penn. He remained in Penn- sylvania the following summer, and, in fall of 1863, came to Osh- kosh, Wis., and first engaged in lumbering. under the firm name of H. W. McCoy & Co. They bought a saw-mill same fall on south side, and operated it until 1875 ; sold same, but still con- tinued under the firm name of Kellogg, Rumery & Co., who owned a large tract of pine land, and did an extensive business in logging, etc. ; continued until spring 1881. Mr. G. engaged as one of the firm in store in March, 1881. Was married, in Oshkosh, Feb. 22, 1865, to Miss Abbie J. MeKoy, who was born in Nashua, N. H. They have four children-Arthur B., Walter R., Gertrude M., Phebe C. MIr. G. lives in Algoma Township, on Sec. 16, west of city limits, and has 13 acres land in a fine location, all im- proved.

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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