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 284

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 284

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).

1157

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

THOS. NEVILLE, firm of Neville & Holden (established July 10, 1880) Carriage Works. Mr. Neville has been engaged in the business nine years; he was born in Mount Forest, Canada, May 24, 1852; he lived there until he was about nineteen years of age, but was absent one year during the time in Detroit, Chi- eago, Cleveland, etc .; he went to Detroit in 1871 and followed working in a carriage shop about one year; then to Chicago and worked four months ; then went home and lived five or six months ; returned to Chicago in the winter of 1873 and worked as before six months ; then went into business there one year alone until January, 1879, after which he went to Oshkosh, Wis., and began business under firm name of Parsons, Neville & Co., and operated from January, 1879, to April, 1880; he began in his present shops July 10, 1880, and the first year turned out 150 carriages and sleighs. He was married August 18, 1879, to Miss Katie L. Donnelly ; she was born in New York City Jan. 18, 1854. Mrs. Neville died August 21, 1881. Mr. Neville served an apprentice- ship of three years in Mount Forest, Canada.

GEORGE W. NEWMAN, proprictor saloon and billiard hall, 51 Main St .; he was born in Germany Sept. 2, 1836 ; emigrated to America in 1847 with his parents, and settled in Washington Co., Wis. Some time after, he went to Milwaukee and lived sev- eral years, and followed shoe making, after which he came to ()sh- kosh, began the same business and followed it until the fall of 1861. Then enlisted, in December, in Co. F. 19th Reg. Wis. Vol. Inft .; served about three years and was mustered out at Madison, Wis., April 29, 1865 : during his service he was promoted to Second Lieutenant. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Fair Oaks, Oct. 27, 1864, and was exchanged March 4, 1865; after he was mustered out, he soon returned to Oshkosh ; he began business January, 1866, and has since followed same ; he was married in Oshkosh, Wis., in 1859, to Miss Catharine Scherff, who was born in Germany; they have six children-Hellen, Martin J., William J., George F., Katie and Anna.

J. W. NICOLAI, engineer. O. D. Peck, was born in Perth Amboy, N. J., Oet. 9, 1843; came to Wisconsin with parents in 1853, and located in Oshkosh, where they engaged in farming. Mr. Nicolai has been engaged in engineering about eight years ; had charge of that department in State Hospital over two years ; was also engaged in same building, laying steam pipe with Baylis, of Chicago, some twelve months. He was married in Oshkosh, Feb. 28, 1868, to Miss Nellie Knight, of Oshkosh, formerly from Illinois ; they have one child, a daughter-Iola. Mr. Nicolai belongs to the Temple of Honor.

ANDREW OERTEL, expressman, etc .; was born in Germany August 22, 1828; came to the United States in 1865 and located at Two Rivers, Wis., where he worked in a tannery and peddled goods over Wisconsin. In 1869 he moved to Oshkosh and engaged in his present business ; also carries the U. S. Mail between depot and post office. Was married in Germany Oct. 11, 1855, to Miss Amelia Zwengee ; they have three children-Henry, Moritz and Ida.

MORITZ OERTEL, jeweler; was born in Germany March 1, 1859; came to the United States with his parents, and to Osh- kosh also with them. Learned his trade in this city and has fol- lowed it about nine years ; commeneed present business in 1879.

SEBASTIAN OSTERTAG ; was born in Wurtemberg, Ger- many, April 21, 1839; came to Wisconsin with his father in 1847, and remained on a farm near Oshkosh until the rebellion began ; enlisted in Oshkosh in April, 1861, in Co. E, 2d Wis. Vol .; served three years and was mustered out at Washington June 16, 1864. He came home on a furlough in 1862, and was married in Osh- kosh to Miss Sophia Kuebler, a native of Bavaria ; they have five children-Albert J., Eddie S., Ida M., Theodore L. and Litta H. S. Mr. Ostertag is a member of the Turners' Society, the Sons of Hermann and the G. A. R.

SIMON BAILEY PAIGE, a native of Wentworth, Grafton Co., N. H., was born Aug. 26, 1824. His father, James K. Paige, a prosperous farmer, an honest, industrious Christian man,

was born in the same town, and was of English descent ; his an- eestors coming to this country at an early day, settled in and about Newburyport, Northeastern Massachusetts, and in his early man- hood was imbued with a military spirit, and for some years was Colonel of a Regiment of New Hampshire Militia. His mother, Aun Maria Ramsay, was born in the adjoining town of Rumney, was of Scotch descent, and came from the distinguished " Ramsay Clan," of Scotland ; was a woman of marked ability, with sterling traits of character, possessing a memory which retained everything she saw or read, being able to quote verbatim passages of Scripture in any part of the Bible; so of history, poetry, hymns, etc .; she was a school teacher when in her " teens," before her marriage. Both of his parents were for many years, until their death, mem- bers of the Congregational Church of Wentworth; his father being first deacon of the same. Mr. Paige was brought up a thorough farmer and in all other ways in a manner strictly in ac- cordance with the views held to by Christian parents of that pe- riod. Winters he attended the district school, receiving additional instructions in his lessons from his mother. After attending seve- ral terms at a private school he entered Plymouth Academy, elos- ing his studies with the fall term of 1844; having taught a dis- triet school several winters, commencing at the age of seventeen. Of his class at the Academy in Latin, algebra, geometry, survey- ing, intellectual philosophy, ete., were a brother and two sisters of Hon. James F. Joy, the celebrated lawyer and railroad man of Detroit, Mich .; also, William and Alfred Russell, the latter an able and distinguished lawyer of the same city. In December, 1834, soon after leaving the Academy, his father giving him his freedom, being then past twenty, he started for Lowell, Mass., and in two days after reaching there was at work for Messrs. G. J. & D. Bradt, extensive bakers, continuing with them and Isaac F. Scripture, another extensive baker, for three year+, then form- ing a copartnership with Matt H. Cochran, now a manufacturer of boots and shoes at Montreal, and prominent breeder of blooded stock upon his extensive farm at Hillhurst, Canada ; went into the grocery trade, continuing in it several years. In 1852, he received the appointment of Deputy Sheriff for the County of Middlesex, holding the office until the overthrow of the Whig party by the Know Nothings in the fall of 1855. In April, 1856, he left Lowell, for the West, meeting in Chicago his brother John A. Paige. Coming through Milwaukee and Fond du Lac, parties desired them to locate at each of those places, but they continued on to Osbkosh. Arriving here the last day of April, were received at the dock, foot of Main, then Ferry street, as were all strangers of that early day, by almost the entire population of the town, who were accustomed to go there daily at the arrival of the boat. Within one week they had bought out the extensive business of general merchandise and lumbering carried on by Messrs. Cottrill, Peaslee & Johnston, in Mark's building, corner of Ferry and Ceape streets. They then formed the firm of S. B. & J. A. Paige, which has not changed since and is the oldest firm in this city, taking possession on the 10th day of May. In just three years they were burned out by the great fire of May, 1859, losing their entire stock, on which there was no insurance. This was almost disheartening, but in three days after the fire they leased, for a term of years, forty feet Iront through to Shonaon street of Mr. Griffin, adjoining the Marks property, erecting thereon a two-story build- ing containing two stores, with offices above and a fire-proof ware- house for the storage of their heavy goods upon the back end of the lot. After turning over to their creditors all their lumber, logs, land and other proporty, it was found insufficient to pay in full by several hundred dollars, and they gave their notes bearing in- terest for the balance. With this load upon them, actually worse than nothing, they commenced a severe struggle for existence, and well did they, by industry, economy, sobriety, integrity and good management overcome all obstacles, such as the hard times then existing, want of capital to do business with, etc. Their in- tegrity has been such that they never have been asked by any bank when wanting money to put up a dollar of collateral, or an

1158

HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

indorser outside their firm. Mr. Paige has always taken a deep interest in the development and improvement of this eity, having always been a firm believer in the benefits which ample and com- peting railroad facilities give to a place, has from the commence- ment of his settling here taken an active part in assisting in the bringing of all the railroads now here to this place, and with a few others tried all that was possible to prevent the Oshkosh & Wau- sau Railroad -now the Wisconsin Central-from being permitted to change its initial point to Menasha. His firm has contributed several thousand dollars in taking stock ( usually proving worth- less, or nearly so) and in other ways to these enterprises, himself devoting a large amount of time and labor in accomplishing their entrance into this city. In 1866, a bill was passed, through the instrumentality of Hon. Gabriel Bouck, Hon. Joseph Stringham and himself, incorporating the Oshkosh and Mississippi River Railroad Company, they being the only corporators in this part of the State. At the first meeting of the organization, Mr. Paige was chosen a Director, which place he has occupied ever since, and at the first meeting of the board of directors was elected the Treas- urer of said company, holding the same until after the comple- tion of the road from here to Ripon. Through his hands passed all the moneys and bonds used in its construction, collecting the subscriptions made by individuals, towns and eities to the capital stock, which with the bonded debt amounted to several hundred thousand dollars. For all this labor he never charged or received one eent, but gave a heavy bond with sureties for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office, and upon giving up his trust in 1874 to his successor, the committee appointed to examine the accounts, as was done yearly, found them correet to a cent. Many thousand dollars would not now tempt him to do the labor and talking given to the enterprise.

During the several years previous to and during its con- struction, it is well remembered that the N .- W. R. R., backed by many of our leading citizens, opposed the building of this road, and actually put it back several years. In the last enterprise- that of bringing the M., L S. & W. R. R. into our city, he took an active part in favor of it, both in the meetings of the board of directors of the O. & M. R. R. Co .- which was mainly instru- mental in making the connection-and by urging our citizens to vote in favor of the city lending its aid.

For many years previous to 1872, the firm of S. B. & J. A. Paige did a large wholesale trade in groceries, employing several traveling men. and their sales exceeded those of any other house in Northern Wisconsin. In addition to this, they continued to carry on their logging operations. Mr. Paige's health commenced to fail him in 1872, and, by the advice of his physicians, he elosed out his merchandising concern, and, during the following six years he traveled continuously and extensively, visiting nearly every Stato in the Union. He passed a year on the Pacific Coast between Oregon and Mexico, and visite I every place of interest in California. He next visited Europe, and traveled over the con- tinent three times. Egypt and the Nile he visited twice, and made an extended trip through the Holy Land, Syria, Turkey, Greece and the islands of the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus, Malta, Sicily, Corfu, etc -his last travels being a tour around the world. In all his travels he was accompanied by his estimable wife. This was the same trip recorded by Miss Risley, who accompanied the Hon. William IJ. Seward in his tour around the world.

Since his return two years ago, he has again applied himself to business. From November, 1879, his firm has sold over 100,000 worth of logs, taken from their lands on the Wolf River and its tributaries, and in the same time have purchased $237,000 worth of pine land, mill property and logs-the latter being for their extensive mill at Davenport, Iowa, which they purchased last February at a great bargain, from the administrator of the estate of John L. Davies, the former owner, who refused 8100,000 for this property previous to his death. The firm of Paige, Dixon & Co., composed of S. B. Paige, J. A. Paige, E. W. Dixon and R. F. Paige, was formed, and are now actively operating

this mill. The magnitude of their business is indicated by the trial balance from their books Nov. 30, being 8226,845.48. Mr. Paige, with his brother, John A., own large tracts of pine lands in this State and Minnesota. A large tract in the vicinity of Pine Lake, head-waters of the Wolf River, is said to contain a body of the best quality of pine in the State, and is also owned by them. Mr. Paige is an owner in the store of J. M. Rollins & Co., hav- ing been a member of that firm since its establishment in 1865. He was instrumental in getting the stock of the Commercial Na- tional Bank subscribed in 1865, his firm taking one-fifth of the capital stock of $100,000, and at its organization he was elected a Director and Vice President, which office he held for several years. The bank always paid a semi-annual dividend of 5 per cent, and at its elosing up the stock sold for 40 per cent above the par value. The firm of S. B. & J. A. Paige are large owners in the Wolf River Boom Co .; the latter is and has been its President and Treasurer for some years, since the company went into bank- ruptey. He is looked upon by all as one of the best business men in the country, seldom making a mistake, possessing foresight, good judgment, honesty and integrity to a remarkable degree. His word is a bond to any one who gets it. As one illustration of many, showing his business qualifications : In the season of 1869. the Wolf River Boom Co., through bad management, became bankrupt ; in April, 1870, Judge Miller, of the U. S. Distriet Court, appointed him assignee of the bankrupt estate. On taking possession of the same, there was found to be less than one dollar in its treasury. He conducted the operations of the company, paying, in sixteen months all the debts in full, with interest, all costs and fees, amounting to $53,563.22, leaving a balance besides, which sum he paid over to the old stockholders. On receiving his discharge as assignee in the court of bankruptey, the Judge took occasion to compliment him as having made the best showing of any assignee ever in his court. His firm has been among the largest tax payers in the city for many years, and with the taxes upon the many thousands of acres of pine lands which they own- paid in the several towns where located --- make their yearly taxes very heavy. He is a member of the Paige-Sexmith Lumber Co., of Superior, Douglas Co., Wis., a corporation with $200,000 cap- ital.

Mr. Paige is strictly a temperate man in all things, using no in- toxicating liquors of any kind, or tobacco in any form. His moral character is without a taint. His extensive travels, with a clear perception of men and things, and with a retentive memory, make him one of the best-informed men in the State.

Mr. Paige is quite a connoisseur of art, particularly of paint- ings and sculpture. In his several visi's to Europe, he gave a good deal of time to a careful examination of these works, in the many galleries of art throughout that country, also visiting great numbers of studios where he saw hundreds of artists at their work with the brush and the chisel. During his last visit to Europe, he collected about sixty paintings, many of them very fine ones ; also several pieces of fine marble statuary and Florentine Mosaics, which are stored, remaining in the shipping cases unopened. Mr. Paige is a lover of good horses, and is the owner of a dozen or so, possessing the best strains of high-bred trotting blood in the coun- try ; among them the noble horse "Akbar," and the celebrated mare, " Lady Mac," the fastest five-miler in the world, are well known. In politics, he was in his early years a Henry Clay and Daniel Webster Whig. When that party passed out he became a Republican. During the war he was very active in assisting in putting down the rebellion, and filling the quota by a free use of his money and time. Sinee coming to this city he has never sought nor accepted a political office ; is not, although thoroughly Republican in his views, a " machine " devotee, and, in local affairs, would rather sec in places of trust, a good, honest Democrat, than a dishonest, bad Republican.

He was married to Leafy Cushing Bean, in Lowell, Mass., in January, 1848. They never had any children born to them. She came. on her mother's side, from the distinguished Cushing fam-

1159

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

ily, who were early settlers in Eastern Massachusetts. She was a most estimable woman ; by her remarkably sweet disposition and Christian graces, she won the hearts of all her acquaintances, and was beloved by every one who knew her. They were never sep- arated from each other but a few weeks at a time, during their long and happy married life of nearly thirty-three years. until her tragic death, which occurred on the 3d of December, 1880, from the burning of the Beckwith House. This sad and awful loss to her kind and affectionate husband falls with a crushing force on him, carrying sorrow and mourning to thousands of hearts.

Since coming to this city, the fire-fiend has been unrelenting toward him, burning out the firmn's business, entire and in part, five different times, the firm of J. M. Rollins & Co. twice, and of R. Ash & Co., once, in which he was a partner. His residence was destroyed a few days after returning from Egypt and the Holy Land, with all its contents, and last, the awful and sad calamity of burning his wife alive, in the destruction of the Beckwith House, thus closing an eventful and happy period of many years in his life.

He is a Mason of the thirty-second degree. Is kind to the poor and unfortunate, contributing liberally to their assistance. Mr. Paige is, by force of his early training, a constant attendant upon church, although not a member of one, always giving freely toward their building and support, more especially the Episcopal, it being the church of his late lamented wife. Possessing no big- otry, he is pleased to see all denominations prosper, lending a help- ing hand to them when in need.

CHARLES C. PAIGE, proprietor of foundry and machine shops ; was born at Wentworth, Grafton Co., N. H., April 6, 1835. He learned machinist's trade at Manchester, N. H., in the Amoskeag locomotive works, where he was employed for four years ; came to Oshkosh in 1856, clerked for his brothers until the spring of 1959, when he removed to Freeport, Ill., and ran a lumber-yard there four years; in the spring of 1863 he returned to Oshkosh, having purchased an interest in machine shops at this place in 1862 ; since October, 1872, he has carried on the busi- ness without a partner. He manufacturers saw-mill and flour- mill machinery, steam engines, steam pumps, turbine water wheels, steamboat machinery and general jobbing work ; he is one of the directors of the Wolf River Transportation Co .; he also owns a steamboat and is interested in other enterprises. He is a member of A., F. & A. M., Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery, and of the A. O. U. W. Mr. Paige was married at Oshkosh, in Novem- ber, 1862, to Lizzie J. Brayton, a native of Turner, Oxford Co., Maine. They have three children-Annie M., Leafie C. and Lizzie B.

J. A. PAIGE, lumberman; was born in Wentworth, Grafton Co., N. H., May 16, 1826. He and his brother, Simon B. Paige, are associated together in extensive lumbering operations, opera- tors in pine lands and logs ; they are also members of the firm of J. M. Rollins & Co., boot and shoe merchants, of Oshkosh, and of the Paige-Sexmith Lumber Co., of Superior, Douglas Co., Wis., a corporation with $200,000 capital. J. A. Paige is President and Treasurer of the Wolf River Boom Co .; he is also a member of the firm of Paige, Dixon & Co., lumber manufacturers, of Dav- enport, Iowa.

NATHAN PARKER, superintendent and manager of Sher- ry's mill ; was born in Lower Canada, in 1825 ; parents originally from Vermont, U. S. In 1844, he came to the United States and located in Massachusetts ; remained one year, and then removed to Michigan. In 1846, he came to Wisconsin and located at Hartford, Washington Co., where for twenty years he was en- gaged in mercantile business, and at the same time, running a saw and grist-mill ; was then for five years on the Chippewa River, engaged in the logging business ; moved to Fond du Lac, engaged in the lumber business ; his health failing about 1875, Mr. Par- ker moved to Nevada and engaged in silver mining, returning to Fond du Lac in 1879; In 1881, took present position. Mr. Parker was married in Dodge Co., Wis., in 1852, to Miss Mary

Taylor, of that county. They have two children-Edward H. (engaged in the practice of medicine, at Eau Claire ) and Willard N.

REUBEN PARKINSON, dealer in real estate, residence, 88 Algoma street. He located in Oshkosh in September, 1850 ; he first engaged in the grocery business with another party ; followed the same two or three years, then sold out; he also practiced law with his son, D. J. Parkinson, who was an attorney ; he has made the real estate his principal business since. There were not over 300 inhabitants in Oshkosh when he settled here, and only two or three small variety stores. He was born in Schoharie Co., N. Y., in 1808; he was married in Erie Co., N. Y., in 1833, to Miss Esther A. Woodard ; she was born in Erie Co., N. Y. They had one son and one daughter-Hannah J., now married to Mr. Samuel G. Norton, and living in Jasper Co., Mo .; Joseph Park- inson died in January, 1881, in Missouri. Mrs. Parkinson died in Erie Co., N. Y., in 1838; he was again married in 1840, in Erie Co., N. Y .; his wife's maiden name was Chloe L. Pratt; she was born in New York, near Waterloo. They had four children -D. J. Parkinson, who practiced law in Oshkosh, Wis., about eight years, who died Dec. 22, 1878; Morris B., now living in Brooklyn, N. Y., practicing music; Clara, married to Walter R. Barns, a lawyer, and living in Stevens' Point, Wis .; Nellie mar- ried Mr. James Cavhnagh, living in Kenosha. Wis., also a lawyer. Mrs. Parkinson died in Oshkosh, in April, 1873.

JOHN G. PARSONS, carriage manufacturer ; was born at Halbeach, Lincolnshire, England, March 16, 1841 ; removed to Canada in 1851; lived there eight years, then located at Chicago. He commenced working in a carriage shop when he was twelve years of age, and has since been connected with that branch of business, carriage building. He was first married at Ann Arbor, Mich., in August, 1866, to Elsie Starks ; she died in February, 1877, leav- ing one child-Charles Johnson Parsons. Present wife was Isabella Nicol, a native of the city of New York ; they were mar- ried at Chicago in June, 1871. Mr. Parsons came to Oshkosh, Jan. 1, 1870 ; he is a member of A., F. & A. M., and K. of P.

WILLIAM PAUL, yard foreman. Mr. Paul was born in Germany, in 1843, and came to the United States in 1856, coming to Wisconsin ; located in Wausau; came to Oshkosh in 1867 and engaged in lumbering ; has been foreman of the yards some six years. He was married in Wausau, Dec. 22, 1865, to Caroline Schweighusen ; they have had eight children, of whom survive-Mary, Liddie, Lizzie, William, Emma and Ida.

WORTHIE H. PATTON, Assistant Postmaster ; was born at Deansville, Oneida Co., N. Y., Jan. 26, 1841 ; came to Apple- ton, Wis., in 1855, with his parents, Henry F. and Eliza J. (Ser- geant) Patton. In June, 1861, he enlisted in Co. E, 6th W. V. I .; he was mustered out of the service July 15, 1864, being Orderly Sergeant of his company at that time. He came to Osh- kosh in October, 1864, and for two years was employed in the mercantile establishment of Bigger & Hill, then was at Appleton about six months. In the spring of 1867. he returned to Oshkosh, and has held his present position since that time. For the last two years, he has been Captain of the Oshkosh Guards; he is prominently connected with the A., F. & A. M. Mr. Patton was married at Oshkosh, in October, 1869, to Susie MI. Heath, who was born here ; they have one child-Sadic A.

OSCAR D. PECK, lumber manufacturer and proprietor of planing-mill and sash, door and blind factory ; was born at Lima, Livingston Co., N. Y., Jan. 3, 1827; he was reared at North Norwich, Chanango Co., N. Y., and lived there until he came to West Troy, Wis., in 1849; lived there two years, then removed to Palmyra, Jefferson Co., Wis., and was connected with the Mil- waukee & Prairie du Chien Railroad for eighteen years ; came to Oshkosh in July, 1867, and engaged in the manufacture of lum- ber, which business he has since continued ; after coming here he built the l'ortage & Madison Railroad. Mr. Peck was married at Palmyra, Wis., in May, 1852, to Mary Starrett, a native of Vermont ; she died in 1854, leaving one son-Merrick J., now a

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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