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 292
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THOMAS PRICE, foreman of Menasha Wooden Ware Company ; he was born in Cararvonshire. Wales, May, 1818. In 1842, he came to America and stayed in N. Y. State until 1845. when he came to Wisconsin, and stopped in Milwaukee till 1846; he then went to Watertown and stayed until 1849, when he came here and has been identified with the manufactur- ing industries of the place since, principally as foreman of this Company ; he had formerly carried on the chair furniture manufact- uring. having built two factories here. In 1845, he was married
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
to Miss Elizabeth Humphries, who was boru in Wales. They have a family of two sons-Joseph, finisher in the employ of the company, and Byron Ed., of Star and Times, Hudson. In con- nection with this family biography we record the sad loss of Mr. and Mrs. Price's son William T., which occurred on the eve- ning of the 5th June, 1869, by the capsizing of the boat upon which he was sailing on Lake Winnebago.
FRANK A. SCHRAGE; was born in Westphalia, Prussia, Aug. 16, 1825; came to United States in 1843 and located in Baltimore. In 1845, moved to Wisconsin ; located in Milwau- kee, and was there several years, studying under Bishop Henni; then moved to Rochester, N. Y., where he was employed in dry goods business. In 1858, he came to Menasha, and was engag. d in hotel-keeping up to 1879. Was married, in Raeine, Wis., to Miss Catherine Schott, of Washington Co .; she died leaving seven children-Frank, George, Edward II., August H., Charlie H., Matilda, Mary M. Was married, in Menasha, in 1874, to Miss Maggie Derfees, of Washington Co., Wis .; they have two children -Hattie Bell, Levrette O:to. Mr. S. is a member of the Con- cordia Society.
WILLIAM SILL, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 9; P. O. Menasha. Mr. S. was born and rearcd in Otsego Co., N. Y. In 1854, he came to Wisconsin and took up a regular pioneer course of life, which he has successfully conducted since, in the mean- time taking an active part in the political life of his municipality. In 1865, he was married to Miss Elizabeth A. Stowe, who was born and reared in Franklin Co., N. Y. They have a family of two sons-Edward P. and William L. Edward P. Sill, father of the subject of our sketch, lives with him, at the age of ninety- two ; he was born in Connecticut ; at the age of five years, he went to New York ; at the age of sixty-five, came to Wisconsin ; has lived here since.
JAMES SLOVER Mr. S. was born and reared in Greene Co., N. Y. In 1846, he came here, after a tedious trip through the wilds of Wisconsin, and entered the second piece of land in Township 20, and, after returning for his mother and brother, he came here and began an active pioneer life; he established the brick and lime industry, with which he was prominently connected for several years. In 1864, he enlisted in the 43d W. V. I., and remained in the service till the end of the war, when he was hon- orably discharged as 2d Sergeant of his company. In 1852, he was married to Miss Emma G. Milnes, who was born in York- shire. England, and who came to this country about 1842; they have one daughter-Etta-living, and one son and daughter bur- ied in the Neenah Cemetery.
P. VERBECK, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Neenah. Mr. V. was born in Pennsylvania Nov. 9, 1816. In 1846, he came to Washington Co., and, after following farming there for nine years, he came here, and has been successfully identified with that industry sinee, in the meantime taking an active part in the polit- ical life of the place In 1848, he was married to Miss Cherissa Holcomb, who was born in Windsor, Conn., July 10, 1826 ; they were married in Owego, N. Y .; they have a family of four sons. all grown to man's estate.
H. A. WHITNEY, hotel; was born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., in 1835, and from their moved to Wisconsin in 1861, loeating in La Crosse ; engaged in millwrighting ; came to Menasha in May, 1881.
OMRO.
The early history of the region in which the village of Omro is situated has been given in previous pages. With Neenah, Menasha and Oshkosh, it is situated in the course of that stream of historic travel which poured for two cen- turies through the Fox River Valley. The village is situated on the south bank of that river, and is surrounded by a fine agricultural district, of which it is the business center. Previous to 1845, Charles Omro, a half-breed, had
put up a log hut and established a trading post near where the Compound Company's building afterward stood. But Edward West, who is the builder of the canal in Appleton and a prominent business man, is regarded as the first white settler in the town. Having purchased 500 acres of land, he erected two log cabins, and in the spring of 1845, having cut through a wagon-road from Rosendale, Fond du Lac Co., to his new home in Butte des Morts, removed his family. Mr. West having thus opened the way, Myron Howe, H. Gifford, Isaac Germain, A. Beals, George Stokes, David Hume, Al. Pease, M. C. Bushnell, A. Quick, George Beck- with, William Remington, Joseph Whitehead, Lenman Scott, John Monroe, J. H. Perry, N. J. Forbes, Richard Reed, John Johnson, W. O. Giddings and others settled in the town and at or near the village in 1846-49. The town of Butte des Morts was organized in 1839, while it was yet a part of Brown Co., and in 1843 Winnebago Co. having been created, the name was changed to the town of Winne- bago. In 1847, the towns of Winnebago, Butte des Morts, Boughton, Neenah and Rushford were organized. From the records of the first town meeting of Butts des Morts, held in April, at the house of Edward West, it appears that twenty-one votes were polled, and Nelson Olin was chosen Moderator and elected Clerk, while Edward West, John Monroe and Fred Tice became Supervisors. In 1848, Win- neconne was set off from the town, the next year the name Butts des Morts was changed to Bloomingdale, and to Omro in 1852. Mr. West continued to lead in the village's march of improvement. In 1848, Elder Pillsbury preached the first sermon in Richard Reed's " big house"-18x22 feet-and Mrs. George Beckwell taught the first school. In the spring of 1847, David Hume settled upon the present site of the village, built him a home and returned to Janes- ville for his family. Nelson Beckwith, son-in-law of Mr. Humes, erected a saw-mill the same year. In 1849, the original plat of the village was laid out by Elisha Dean, who had been associated with Mr. Beckwith in his saw-mill enterprises, Joel V. Taylor and Nelson Beckwith, the " Western addition," being laid out the following year. In 1850, the first hotel was built. The building has been since enlarged and improved and is known as the Larrabee House. During the winter of that year Henry Purdy taught the first public school. Within the next ten years the village so increased in population and trade that it sighed for the advantages of a railroad. Through the de- termination of its citizens the track of the St. Paul Com- pany's branch was extended to Omro by Jannary 1, 1861, it having reached Waukau soon before that time. Omro did not have to depend longer upon the irregular running of the boats up and down the river, and took a fresh start. The village now has a population of about 2,000 people, and next to Menasha, is the most important business point in the county. J. M. Beals is President of the Board of Trustees.
Its schools, three in number, are well conducted. The Principal of the High School is H. W. Rood. The North Side School is conducted by Walter Case and the East Ward by D. L. Barnes. The graded system is in vogue.
In May, 1865, the first permanent newspaper in the vil- lage was established, called the Omro Union, by S. II. Cady. In 1870, the name was changed to the Omro JJour- nal. In April, 1878, Platt Wright, its present editor and proprietor, came into possession. The Journal is a five- column quarto weekly, independent in politics. The Stal-
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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.
wart was established September 25, 1880, by Charles Carter and W. A. Hilton, its present editors and proprie- tors. It is a seven-column folio, weekly. Republican in politics.
Omro has several flourishing church societies. The Baptist Church was built in 1859, the first pastor of the society being Elder Theodore Pillsbury. The present mem - bership is 113, and Elder O. W. Babcock has the society in charge. Elder Pillsbury preached the first sermon in the town at Richard Reed's " big house." A Methodist Epis- copal Church was formed at an early day, and a vigorous one of 180 members still exists, under the pastorate of Rev. Jesse Cole. The Presbyterian Church was organized May 10, 1851, by Rev. L. Robbins. A good building was erected in 1867, at a cost of $3,500, which has since been improved and enlarged. The present membership of the society is ninety. Rev. F. Z. Rossiter, pastor. In addi- tion to the above there is a small Episcopal Mission, Rev. Charles T. Susan, rector, and a Catholic society in charge of Father Mazzeaud, of Berlin.
Being in the center of so fine an agricultural district the general trade of Omro is large, as is evident to any visitor by the general busy appearance of her streets. Several large manufactories serve to increase her reputation as a thriving village. The Northwestern Burial Case Company commenced to erect their building in March, 1881, and put the factory in operation in July. It turns out not only cof- fins of every varicty, but manufactures moldings, sash, doors and blinds. An annual business of $100,000 is being conducted. The company owns two large buildings, one being used as a factory and the other for finishing work. Over thirty men are employed. Its members are C. C. Morton, M. E. Small, J. D. Trelevan, J T. Orchard, S. Leighton and S. D. Gilman.
H. W. Webster's mill manufactures 35,000 feet of lum- ber, 5,000 of lath and 30,000 sliingles per day ; employs fifty hands and was built in 1867. Mr. Webster, who is one of Omro's early settlers, took charge in 1868.
D. Grossman's cheese factory was built in 1873, and manufactures 180,000 pounds of cheese annually. It is one of the busiest institutions of the place.
George Challoner's Sons foundry and machine-shop was established by George Challoner, father of Frank and John Challoner, present proprietors, in 1862. It was burned in 1871. George Challonor conducted it alone up the time of his death in 1880, when the firm became as above. From thirty to thirty-five men are employed. The product of the manufacture is $52,000 yearly, and its nature shingle and saw mill machinery, steam engines, pumps and general work.
A small grist-mill, several busy wagon-shops and a bar- rel factory, run by A. Gray, complete the manufactories.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
MILO C. BUSIINELL, real estate, rents buildings, ete .; first located in Omro Township, See. 27, in 1846, and farmed until 1866, since which time he has been occupied in fruit-raising, farm - ing. ete .; he is also engaged in settling estates. He has been Chairman of Board of Supervisors, also Assistant Internal Rev- enue Collector, Town Treasurer, etc. Ile was a member of the Wiseonsin Legislature in 1867, again in 1868; has also been Chairman of County Board, and has held inany other offices and positions of trust. Was born in Waitsfield, Washington Co., Vt., May 2, 1824. Married in Vermont, in 1851, to Miss Marey G.
Taylor, of Vermont, who died in 1852. Was again married, in Omro, Wis., in 1853, to Mary S. Bidwell; she was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y .; they have one daughter-Linnie A., living at home; Ervie J., deceased. Mis. B. died in 1866. He was again married, in 1867, at Omro, Wis., to Mary J. Bradish, who was born in Vermont.
WILLIAM BLACKBURN, re ired ; was born in Woolwich, England, Aug. 11, 1806 ; enlisted in the British Army at the age of fourteen years, and served thirty-five years and forty-one days, being all through the Crimean war; spent seven years in East Indies, and has evidently experienced mueb of military life; he was discharged July 27, 1856 ; he now draws half pay as an officer of the army, from the British Government. Ile emigrated to America to settle in 1857, and located in Omro and farmed until 1881. Was married in Newcastle, on the River Tyne, Jan. 3, 1829, to Miss Aon Blackburn, who was born in Northumberland, Hexhamshire, England, April 27, 1805; they have one son- William H., now married and living on their farm, near Omro.
FRANK CHALLONER, of the firm of Challoner's Sons, proprietors of a foundry and manufacturers of Challoner's Shingle and Saw-Mill Machinery, for cutting shingles, etc., established in 1862 by their father, George Challoner. They did work to the amount of $52,000 during the season of 1880-81, in one year ; employ from twenty to thirty-five men, whose wages amount to from $10,000 to 812,000 per year. Sales extend over the whole United States and Canadas, where lumber is manufactured. He was born in Omro, Wis., July 6, in 1853, and worked for his father until he was twenty-seven years of age. His father died Oet. 4, 1880, since when himself and brother have operated the above. He was married in Ouro, Sept. 27, 1876, to Miss Addie Hieks, who was born in the latter place ; have two children, one of whom is named Grace, and the other an infant not yet named. Mr. C. is a member of the Knights of Honor, a beneficiary asso- ciation.
F. A. COLE, firm of S. M. & F. A. Cole, dealers in a gen- cral stock of dry goods, clothing, notions, ete .; established Jan- uary, 1870. Peter Cole, the father of F. A. Cole and husband of S. M. Cole, was born in the State of New York Feb. 18, 1821, and lived in Allegany Co. of that State the greater part of the time, and followed the mercantile business until 1869, and, in the spring of that year, he removed with his family to Omro, Wis., where, in the following January, he established the mercantile business, which has been increased from year to year, and, at the present time, his wife and son have one of the finest stores in Omro. Upon his death, which occurred Oet 25, 1880, the style of the firm was changed to S. M. and F. A. Cole. He was mar- ried in 1841, to Sarah M. Ellis, of the same place, but whose par- ents were from Connecticut; they had a son whom they named F. A. Cole, born in Allegany Co., N. Y., in 1854. He elerked in his father's store until he became one of the firm with his mother. F. A. Cole is a member of the Presbyterian Church, also of the I. O. O. F.
SERENO D. GILMAN, member of the firm of North- western Burial Case Co .; established in the spring of 1881; capacity, 200 coffins per week ; also do a jobbing business in sash, doors and blinds, moldings, brackets, and planing lumber, etc., with a capacity of dressing 60,000 feet per day ; he was born in Tamworth, Carroll Co., N. H., June 22, 1832; lived there until 1853; then went to Boston, Mass., and engaged in pattern mak- ing for steam engines about one year, then went to Richland City, Wis., and was in the building business about two years, then went to Bradford, Chickasaw Co., lowa, and followed millwrighting seven years, and followed the same business in different portions of Wisconsin about one year; then to Chicago, Ill., and worked about seven years house building ; went to Omro, Wis., in 1872, and engaged in the lumber business three years, then into the mereantile business six years ; then into his present business. He is a member of the Knights of Honor, a beneficiary association ; also a member of the Village Board.
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
DR. J. GIBBS, physician and surgeon ; located at Omro, Wis., on North Side, in 1855 ; he bought an interest in a lumber mill, intending to discard his profession ; was engaged in lumber- ing five years, when he disposed of his lumber interest and again took up his profession, and has since followed it. He was born at Sturbridge, Mass., Nov. 8, 1816; he graduated at the Hudson Medical College, located at Cleveland, Ohio, in 1848; wasin Bos- ton, Mass., in 1851 and 1852, where he took an honorary degree from the Cambridge Medical College. He practiced medicine in Avon. Lorain Co., Ohio, some time, then came to Omro, Wis., as above stated. He was married in Deerfield, Ohio, in 1839, to Miss Harriet Reed, who was born in Deerfield, Ohio ; they have three daughters, Gertrude R. (living at home) ; Mary J. ( married to Mr. F. W. Hart and living in Atlanta, Ga., manufacturer and dealer in sash, doors, blinds, etc.); Carol A. (now at home, but formerly married to Mr. George Carter). The Doctor is a mem- mber of the M. E. Church ; he is also a strong temperance advo- cate. He was appointed as Assistant Surgeon 19th W. V. I., Feb- rnary, 1865, and served until November, 1865. He is a member of the Sawyer Grand Army, Post No. 7.
A. B. HALL, carriage manufacturer, painting and black- smith shops ; employs five men, and does trade and jobbing to the amount of $6,000 per annum; located in Omro in February, 1870, and began house and carriage painting, which he carried on about five years, and began his present business in 1875; Mr. H. was born in Orwell, Vt., Feb. 26, 1840. Was married at Omro, Wis., Jan. 5, 1871, to Miss L. M. Drake, who was born in the State of New York ; they have two children-Edgar A. and Leo D. Mr. Hall enlisted in Co. F, 14th Vt. V. I., Oct. 21; was mustered out ; was engaged in the battle of Get- tysburg.
EMMET E. HENRY, of the firm of Henry & Charles- worth, dealers in a general line of drugs, paints, oils, lamps, notions, etc. ; established in February, 1880; also have a branch store at Ledyard, Wis .; trade amounts to from 810,000 to $12,- 000 per annum; employ one clerk, besides their own help ; he first settled at Rushford Township in 1857, and lived there until 1867 ; he afterward followed steamboating three years on the Mississippi River ; was two years in the flouring-mill at Cleve- land, Ill., then went to Omro, Wis., and took charge of a grocery store of Henry & Carter two years ; he then purchased an insur- ance agency and followed the business one year ; sold out and engaged as clerk in the Omro Post Office eighteen months, then went in the drug business. He is a member of the Knights of Honor, a beneficiary society. He was born in Medina, Medina Co., Ohio, Dec. 23, 1847. Married at Omro, Wis., May 9, 1880, to Miss Edna I. Crawford, who was born in Omro, Wis.
ABIJAH B. LARRABEE. proprietor of the Larrabee House ; established in 1854; he located in Omro in 1854; clerked six years in a general store, then bought an interest- firm name of Larrabee & Schimmerhorn-and continued two years ; in 1862, he clerked on the steamer Fountain City, run- ning from Oshkosh to Green Bay ; he soon after engaged in the livery business ; since continued in company with his brother, A. J. Larrabee ; he bought the hotel in 1858, and began operat- ing the hotel in June, 1879 ; he also bought the Northwestern Hotel of Omro in January, 1881 ; he was born in Mckean Co., Penn., June 13, 1832. Married in Omro July 19, 1865, to Miss Jennie Blackburn, who was born Jan. 12, 1842, at New- castle, on the River Tyne, Eng. ; they have three children-Leo L., Irvie M. and George M.
CHARLES C. MORTON, a member of the Northwestern Burial Case Co. ; they also manufacture sash, blinds and doors ; erected during the season of 1881 ; employ thirty men, and have all of the latest improved machinery ; Mr. M. settled in Winne- conne, Wis., in 1854, followed farming and carpenter and joiner trade until 1871, at which time he went to Omro and engaged in the sash and door business until the spring of 1881, when he became a partner in the above-mentioned company; was
born in Canton, N. Y., Sept. 7, 1837. Was married in Winne- conne, Wis., June 3, 1863, to Miss Lois S. Olin, who was born in Waukesha, Wis. ; they have three children-Lucy, Irene, George Edwin and Mary Altha. Mr. M. enlisted in Co. E. Ist Wis. V. C., and was mustered in the United States service Sep- tember, 1861, and his regiment was principally employed in skir- mishing and guerrilla warfare in the States of Arkansas, Mis- souri and Tennessee; he was discharged at Memphis, Tenn., in December, 1862 ; he again enlisted in Co. H, 48th Wis. V. I., in February, 1865 ; the regiment was sent to the Far West on the plains, where it did duty ; he was mustered out in December, 1865. He has been a member of the Board of Supervisors at Winneconne, Trustee of Omro Village two years, and was Presi- dent of the Board in 1880. He is a member of the Grand Army Post.
JOHN T. ORCHARD, member of the Northwestern Burial Case Company. They occupy two large buildings, one of which is 40x110, being the manufacturing department; the other (the finishing department ) is 40x90 ; the capacity, 200 coffins per week ; the other particulars will be found in the bi- graphy of C. C. Mor- ton Mr. O. was born in England May 30, 1849, and emigrated to America in May, 1869, and settled in Otro; he first engaged as merchant tailor, which he now continues under the firm name of Treleven & Orchard ; Mr. O. is book-keeper and Secretary of the first mentioned company. He was married in Omro, Wis., in May, 1875, to Miss Elizabeth Ross, who died July 1, 1876 ; he was again married, Ang. 18, 1880, to Miss Lizzie C. Peaselee, who was born in Oshkosh, Wis .; he has one son by his first wife, named Frank Orchard. Mr. O. is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Masons of Omro.
P. H. PATTON, M. D., located at Omro, Wis., in July, 1878 ; was born in Franklin Co., Vt., Nov. 13, 1855, and was about eighteen years of age when he began the study of medicine at Burlington, Vt., entering the Medical Department of that Uni- versity, and graduating in July, 1876; he then went West, and finally located as before stated, and began the practice of medi- cine. He was married in Omro, Wis., in July, 1879, to Miss Hattie C. Medberry, who was born in Omro, Wis., in 1860. He is a member of the Knights of Honor, a beneficiary association.
WILLIAM W. RACE, dealer in a general line of hardware ; established in 1863. He first settled in Waupun, Wis., in 1851. with his parents, where he lived until the spring of 1864, at which time he enlisted in Co. C, 41st W. V. I., that being a 100-days' regiment ; was mustered in in May, 1864, and served until the ex- piration of his time, when he was mustered out at Camp Wash- burn ; was disabled for some time on account of sickness. He then went to Cambria, Wis., and worked as a jour in the tin shop, having previously worked at the same business in Waupun, Wis .; he was engaged wholly three years ; he went to Omro, Wis., in the spring of 1865, and began his present business ; he was pre- viously engaged in the same business in Omro. He was born in Clarkson, Monroe Co., N. Y., May 4, 1839. Ile was married in Seott Township, Columbia Co., Wis., June 14, 1866, to Miss Elizabeth Thom, who was born in New York City ; they have one son, Archie D. Race.
RICHARD REED, JR., dealer in a general line of grocer- ies, provisions, crockery, etc .; established in April, 1876; trade amounts to $13,000 to $15,000 per annum : employs two clerks. His father, Richard Reed, Sr., settled at Omro, Wis , in October, 1847, and has since lived there, engaged in farming, until 1873 : Mr. Reed, Jr., lived at home until he was cighteen years of age, at which time he went to Pike's Peak, Colo., and was there two years, mining ; then returned to Fond du Lac, Wis .; engaged there in the hardware business, under the firm name of Edwards & Reed, where he continued one year. He enlisted in Co. C, 14th W. V. I .; was mustered in at Madison, in the latter part of Feb- ruary, 1864, and engaged in the Atlanta campaign, under Gen. Sherman ; he was soon transferred from the 17th to the 16th Army Corps, and engaged in the battles of Franklin, Nashville
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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.
and the seige of Spanish Fort, opposite Mobile; was mustered out at Mobile, Oct. 9, 1865 ; returned to Omro, bought a farm, and followed farming until 1873; then moved into the village and formed the company of Davis & Reed ; continued two years, then sold his interest to his partner; then engaged in business on his own account. Ile was born in Pottsdam, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Sept. 12, 1841 : married, in February, 1863, at Fond du Lac, Wis., to Miss Maggie Edwards, who was born in Scotland ; they have three children- Frank R., Howard E. and Grace M. Mr. R. is a member of Post No. 7, Grand Army of the Republic, also the Knights of Honor.
JAMES W. SAMPHIER, of the firm of P. Samphier & Bro., retailers and jobbers in all grades of boots and shoes, trunks, va- lises, etc. Mr. S. was born in Ogdensburg, N. Y., Jan. 13, 1845; he came to Omro, Wis., with his brother, P. Samphier, in 1857 ; they farmed until the breaking-out of the rebellion, when he enlisted, Oct. 21, 1861, in Co. F, 18th W. V. I .; was mustered in the following January, and participated in the battles of Pitts- burg Landing, siege of Corinth, battle of Corinth, Iuka, siege of Vicksburg, Missionary Ridge and all through that campaign; was taken prisoner at Altoona, Ga., and was held as such two months in Andersonville and Milan, Ga .; was exchanged and came home, but soon rejoined his regiment at Raleigh, N. C .; was at the grand review at Washington, D. C., and was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., in July, 1865 ; there were only five men of his company that returned and were mustered out; he returned to Omro, Wis., and since has been in trade there as above stated. He was married, at Ogdensburg, N. Y., Nov. 25, 1877, to Miss Senora Snyder, born at the same place, in May, 1847 ; they have one son-Charles J. Samphier. Mr. S. is a member of the Masonie Lodge of Omro, Wis.
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