USA > Wisconsin > Rock County > Rock County, Wisconsin; a new history of its cities, villages, towns, citizens and varied interests, from the earliest times, up to date, Vol. II > Part 28
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Our subject, Lawrence E., received a good common school edu- cation in his home town, and after completing his studies he took up the business of his father, that of carpenter and contractor, with his brother John, and later commenced the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds, and in 1900 added to his already pros- perous business a retail lumber yard. Mr. Cunningham has been very successful in business and is a man who has the confidence of all who know him. His methods are to be absolutely honest with everybody, and he has never owed or borrowed a dollar from any man-has never asked for a loan or refused to pay a bill. His ideas of business may be considered by some as con- servative, but he has combined a kindly disposition with an ear- nest endeavor to adhere to the "square deal" with every person with whom he has come in contact. He has always taken a great deal of interest in public affairs and in the welfare of his home town has served faithfully for eighteen years as alderman of the Third ward, and is at present mayor of the city of Beloit. He is a member of the school board, member of Beloit Lodge, Knights of Columbus; the Elks, and Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, Camp No. 348. In religious faith he is a Catholic.
On February 4, 1883, Mr. Cunningham was united in marriage with Miss Josie Rice, daughter of Lawrence and Margaret (Baldwin) Rice, of Beloit. There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham four children, viz .: Libbie, who is now Mrs. Henry J. Love and resides in Beloit ; Forrest and Florence, twins,
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students of Madison, Wis., University; and Lawrence Rice, Jr., who attends the Parker school at Beloit.
Rex J. Dowd, widely known as the head of the R. J. Dowd Knife Works, of Beloit, Wis., and one of the prominent, public- spirited and enterprising citizens of that city, is a native of Sandisfield, Berkshire county, Mass. He was born on October 24, 1833, to Jared B. and Sally (Smith) Dowd, both families of whom were of English origin, settling in New England in early colonial days. The first representative of his father's family in this country was Henry Dowd, who emigrated from England in 1639 and settled at Guilford, Conn., where some of his descend- ants still reside. Later members of his family moved to Berk- shire county, Massachusetts, where our subject's father was en- gaged as a farmer. His maternal grandfather, Dr. Amos Smith, was a surgeon in the Revolutionary army, and a man of promi- nence in his profession.
Our subject passed his boyhood at home, receiving his prelim- inary education in the common schools of his native town, and supplemented it with a course of study in the ordinary English branches, algebra and bookkeeping at the Connecticut Literary Institute at Suffield. After finishing his studies there he worked for a time on a farm, but in November, 1851, went to Lee, Mass., and learned his trade, that of making edged tools and machine knives in all their various branches, finally acquiring an interest in the business. Mr. Dowd continued in business at Lee until 1877, when, with a view to establishing a business in his own name and widening the scope of his operations, he sold his in- terests at Lee and moved to Beloit, Wis., where he has since made his home. The time was most opportune, and as to the place, none more favorable could have been selected. Beginning in a modest way, and increasing his facilities to meet the requirements of the constantly growing business, Mr. Dowd has by faithful, persistent and conscientious work, fair and honorable dealing, and unfaltering purpose to succeed, made for himself and for the business which bears his name a reputation of which any man might justly be proud. For many years the R. J. Dowd Knife Works has been recognized among the leading industrial institutions of Beloit, and its founder as one of her substantial, honorable, reliable and most esteemed citizens. While the ex- acting duties of his business have engaged Mr. Dowd's chief at-
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tention, he has yet found time to devote to other affairs. For fifteen years he was president of the Beloit Savings Bank, being one of its incorporators, and for more than twenty years has been one of its trustees; and he has also for ten years or more been president of the Beloit Water Company.
In physique Mr. Dowd is of medium height, strongly and firmly built, and in his frank, open face reflects those admirable qualities of mind and heart that have characterized him in all his varied relations with his fellow men.
Alive to all that pertains to the welfare of others, and in sympathy with whatever relates to the good of the community, he cheerfully does his part in aid of every worthy cause that appeals to him. He has never had any inclination to engage in political affairs more than to perform his duty as a good citizen. but in political sentiment has always been a Republican. In re- ligious faith he is affiliated with the Congregational church at Beloit.
On March 9, 1857, Mr. Dowd married Miss Sarah A. Kelsey. of Lee, Mass., who died on February 5, 1905. Their two sons, Glenville A. and Robert I., are both associated with their father in business.
John A. Love, who has held political honors in this municipal- ity at various times and who is held in high esteem by the citi- zens of Beloit, was born in Delaware county, New York, October 7, 1850. His father, Richard C. Love, and his mother. Harriett E. (Alverson) Love, were both natives of New York state. They moved to Beloit, Rock county, Wis., in 1870, and settled on a farm, following the business of farming and stock-raising suc- cessfully for many years and until their decease. The father died in 1895 at the age of seventy-seven years and the mother in 1885 at the age of sixty-one.
John A. received his early education at Walton, N. Y., and completed his studies in the Beloit schools, after which he en- gaged in the grain business, which he followed for some twenty years; but for the past five years he has been actively engaged in real estate in Beloit. In 1903 Mr. Love associated himself with Mr. Don Van Wart and the firm name became Love & Van Wart.
Mr. Love has been the trusted custodian of the funds of Be- loit for a number of years. He was elected treasurer in 1889 and held the office three terms by reelection. He was also elected
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to the office of assessor at different times and is now chairman of the board of public works of the city.
In societies Mr. Love has also taken a prominent part. He is a member of the Masonic order and also of the Knights of Pyth- ias, and for seventeen years has been clerk of the Modern Wood- men lodge.
In 1874 Mr. Love married Miss Jennie E., daughter of Isaac Sanders, a member of one of the first families of Beloit.
Horace Josiah Leonard was born November 27, 1836. in St. Johnsville, Montgomery county, N. Y., not far from Gloversville. His father, Horace K. Leonard, came to Beloit, Wis., with his family about 1848 and was the first to establish a practical tan- nery in this section. He was a man of strict integrity and ster- ling business qualifications. Coming as he did from that section of New York state even then famed for its glove and mitten manufacturing enterprises, he brought with him a thoroughgoing knowledge of this industry. Originally as an adjunct to his tan- nery business he began the manufacture of gloves and mittens in 1861, probably the first industry of its kind in Wisconsin. His two daughters, Minerva and Josephine Leonard, were as- sociated with him in this newer undertaking and materially con- tributed to its growth and enlargement. It soon came to absorb all their attention to the exclusion of the tannery business, which was eventually discontinued.
It was on June 13 of this year, 1861, that Horace Josiah Leonard enlisted and went to the front with Company L, First Iowa Cavalry, under command of Colonel Fitz Henry Warren. During this war period Mr. Leonard engaged in the battles of Prairie Grove, Pea Ridge, Little Rock, Bayou Metoe and Jenkins Ferry, Ark., also at Lexington, Mo., and on the road between Little Rock and Camden. In the latter engagement he was under fire forty consecutive days. He was engaged in scouting during the latter days of the war and was mustered out April 1, 1866.
On his return to Beloit he engaged with his father in the glove and mitten business the latter had already established, the firm being known as H. K. Leonard & Son and continuing such until the death of the elder Leonard in 1877. Acquiring full ownership of a business that was now well under way, Mr. Leon- ard took it up as his chosen life work, giving to it his best thought and endeavor. It was his great satisfaction to see it grow and
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expand under his careful and yet progressive management. He eventually incorporated under the title of the H. J. Leonard Manufacturing Company, at which time he was doing business with the retail merchants of fifteen states, the growth in his home city of Beloit being evidenced by the erection of a fine factory building of hard-burned brick and brownstone trimmings espe- cially designed to meet the requirements of his glove and mitten trade. It is a structure showing in all its details the painstaking thought of a man who knew just what he wanted and was sat- isfied with nothing short of the best.
On February 23, 1887, Mr. Leonard was married to Emily Allen Wheeler, the daughter of Rev. Leonard H. Wheeler, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this volume. She was a woman of discriminating judgment in business matters, so much so that her husband was wont to attribute his success in a large degree to her faithful and efficient cooperation; and yet, on the other hand, most deeply beloved by all who knew of her noble traits of character. Mr. Leonard thoroughly enjoyed the sunshine of a delightful Christian home, and though not blessed with children, the mutual devotion to one another of this hus- band and wife was an open book to all their friends.
He was a man of large physique, better than six feet in stat- ure, with the expression of one who had had his wrestle with the verities of experience. Strongly social in his make-up and most kindly thoughtful for those in need, and his sense of humor and expression of it was entirely original, a genuine Yankee drol- lery flavoring it all. Experience had distilled for him many a wise epigram and philosophical deduction to which he was wont to give a terse expression peculiarly his own. And so outside of business hours he was companionable and much enjoyed by a large circle of friends.
In religious matters he had the advantage of a good early training and at the time of his marriage was a member of the Second Congregational church. Later, however, when he re- moved his residence to the east side of the river, without re- moving his membership, he was a constant worshiper at the First Congregational church, where his wife was a member, up to the time of his death. He was also a member of the local Ma- sonic fraternity and of the L. H. D. Crane Grand Army post. He died at his home in Beloit in the sixty-seventh year of his
HAMILTON RICHARDSON.
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age on August 14, 1903, and the church, the Masonie order and the Grand Army post united in paying their respect to one they all sincerely loved. His beloved wife followed him on October 4 of the following year.
Robert H. Clinchy, of 936 Harrison avenue, Beloit, Wis., is a native son of this place, born on June 4, 1852, to John and Anne (Henry) Clinehy, who left their home in Ireland in 1845 and came to Wisconsin and bought a farm six miles northwest of Beloit, where they made their home until 1872, when the father retired from active life and resided in his city home until the time of his death, which occurred in 1898 at the age of seventy- nine years. Mother Clinchy died in 1886 at the age of seventy- one years. They were very worthy and industrious people and are still well remembered by the older residents of the county.
Our subject, Robert H., started ont as a carpenter, after re- ceiving a fair education in his home schools. He continued in this line of business until about 1880, after which he worked for the Eclipse Wind Engine Company, and in 1884 was pro- moted to the position of directing the erection of railroad water- ing stations for the Eclipse company. He held this position until 1894, when he opened a grocery store, which he sold out in 1900. Since then he has refrained from taking an active part in busi- ness, devoting his time to the care of his real estate.
Mr. Clinehy was married on January 8, 1890, to Mrs. Sarah Haskins, who had lived in Beloit for many years.
Sereno T. Merrill was born September 24, 1816, in Gill, Frank- line county, Mass., and was the eldest of eight children of Par- don H. Merrill and Emily Taylor. His father was a blacksmith, machinist and inventor, whose shop, with its triphammer, lathes for turning wood and iron, emery-wheels, etc., was famous for its facilities for doing heavy mill work and as a factory for "Merrill's goose-necked hoe," patented in 1814 and now univer- sally used instead of the clumsy old eyed hoe, proved a fit nur- sery for developing the ingenuity which the four sons inherited from the father; it was also a natural progenitor of the more pretentious iron works of O. E. Merrill & Co., of Beloit, Wis., a firm composed of three of the four brothers, and now merged in the Beloit Iron Works, whose paper machines and water-wheels are extensively used not only in this country but also in foreign lands. Mr. Merrill's maternal ancestors were prominent actors
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in the settlement of the Connecticut River valley. Mr. Taylor came from England as early as 1639, and his descendants, each in his time, to the third and fourth generations sealed with his blood his fidelity to his country.
The parents of the subject of this sketch moved during his infancy to Hinsdale, N. H., where he passed his early life, re- ceiving in the common school the rudiments of an education. At the age of seventeen he spent one quarter at the Fellenberg Acad- emy, Greenfield, Mass. Soon after his return from Greenfield he was engaged to teach the winter session at the Hinsdale vil- lage school. After this winter's experience in teaching he at- tended the academy at Amherst, Mass., for one term, where he commenced the study of Latin. For four successive winters he taught in the same school, his father making the bargain and receiving the compensation for his services.
Having attained his majority, with an outfit of a new suit of clothes and $100 in money he started for Georgia, where he spent two years teaching in the Sparta Female Model School, one year at the female college at Fort Gains, and five years as prin- cipal of the academy at Cuthbert. Diligent and methodical in his habits, much of his leisure while in Georgia was devoted to the study of languages, especially Latin and French.
In 1844 Mr. Merrill married, at Leyden, N. Y., Miss Mary H. Kimball, and in 1846 came to Beloit, Wis., seeking occupation more congenial to his inclinations than teaching, but disappointed at not finding a door open for his mechanical turn of mind, he became the successor of the Rev. L. H. Loss as principal of the Beloit Seminary, in which position he continued till his school was merged into the Beloit College of 1849. (See the account of Beloit College. That Beloit Seminary was the school for which Major Charles Johnson and Cyrus Eames obtained a char- ter from our territorial government at Burlington, Iowa, in 1837.)
During the years 1850 and 1851 Mr. Merrill, in connection with Mr. T. L. Wright, built at Rockton, Ill., the first paper mill erected on the Rock river. It was under his instructions and at his suggestion that the first strawboard for sheathing, both saturated and plain, was made into rolls, under an invention made and patented by Mr. S. T. Merrill. From this beginning the immense trade in building paper that has conferred such in- calculable benefits upon the country has been built up.
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In March, 1852, Mrs. Merrill died, and in September, 1853, he married Miss Jane G. Blodgett, daughter of Rev. L. P. Blodgett, of Cooperstown, N. Y. Both Mr. and Mrs. Merrill have been very active and honorable members of the First Congregational church of Beloit during all their life here.
In 1873 Mr. Merrill, having been appointed by Governor Washburn as commissioner to represent Wisconsin at the World's Exposition at Vienna, in company with his wife spent the sum- mer in Europe.
In 1873 Mr. Merrill helped to organize the Eclipse Windmill Company and was president of that and also of the Merrill & Houston Iron Works, and of the Citizens' National Bank. In 1875, while visiting his old home at Hinsdale, N. H., he became interested in the Savings Bank of Cheshire County, and planned to establish one in Beloit. While serving as a member of the state legislature in 1876 he introduced a bill to legalize the same and in 1881 the bank was organized, and he became president, which office he filled for three years. His prophecy that he ex- pected to see the deposits amount to $500,000 has been more than realized; the annual report for 1907, December 3, gives the amount of deposits on that date as nearly twelve hundred thou- sand dollars ($1,194,195.25).
Among the many offices of trust held by Mr. Merrill may be mentioned: School commissioner of Beloit, superintendent of schools, alderman of the city of Beloit, state commissioner to the World's Exposition at Vienna in 1873, member of the Wiscon- sin legislature in 1876 and 1877, honorary commissioner to World's Exposition at Paris in 1881, curator of Wisconsin edu- cational exhibit at the New Orleans Exposition in 1885, member of Rock county board of supervisors eighteen years, trustee of Rock county insane asylum twelve years, trustee of the First Congregational church of Beloit for twelve years, trustee of Be- loit College for thirty-six years, member of the city school board for a number of years prior to 1873, president of the Eclipse Windmill Company for six years, president of the Merrill & Houston Iron Works for eight years, president of the Beloit Sav- ings Bank for three years, president of the Rock River Paper Company for fifteen years. His mental and physical powers were active to the end.
Beloit has had many noble citizens, but the life of S. T. Mer-
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rill in its manifestation of ability, availability, integrity and long continuance of service may well be called a record citizenship. His earthly career ended at his residence in Beloit, Wis., on the 22d day of October, 1905. Public funeral services were held in the Beloit College chapel and a tall granite shaft marks the rest- ing place of his remains in the Beloit cemetery. Mrs. Merrill passed away in the fall of 1906, November 17, and the family is now represented by the five children-Mary Isabella, George Spencer, Louis Blodgett, Helen Colt and Robert Taylor Merrill.
Charles Frederick Rau was born August 4, 1845, at Gross Bottwar, Württemberg, Germany. His parents, Charles Fred- erick Rau and Rosina Brosi, were born in 1804 at Gross Bottwar. The father was a cabinetmaker by trade. His parents, with their six children-three sons and three daughters-came to America in the spring of 1853. The first year was spent at Newark, N. J. In June, 1854, the family removed to Beloit, Wis., which has ever since been the family home. The father died in 1876 and the mother in 1886.
At the age of six years C. F. Rau, Jr., was placed in the Ger- man schools, where he remained for two years, and then came to America. Here he attended the public schools until 1861, when he entered the printing office of the Beloit "Journal" as an ap- prentice for three years. At the close of that apprenticeship he was made foreman of the office. In 1865 he returned to the Be- loit high school, then in the charge of Prof. Alexander Kerr. In 1866 he left school and became a clerk in the book store of Jo- seph Brittan. After a year's work he went to Chicago, where he was employed by Mr. John R. Walsh in the Western News Com- pany. In 1868 he returned to Beloit and opened the Enterprise Furniture Store, which was a success from the start to its close. In 1871 he built a substantial brick building at 326 State street, which was finished on the day of the Chicago fire. This building was his business home till 1892, when he retired from active mer- chandising.
Mr. Rau has always been deeply interested in the develop- ment of Beloit and in its manufacturing interests, having been a holder of stocks in several of the manufacturing companies. He is at present a director of the Second National Bank of Beloit.
He was a member of the Wisconsin National Guards from 1877 to 1882. .
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Mr. Rau has always been an ardent Republican from the days of Fremont and Lincoln through the years of Blaine, Mckinley and Roosevelt. While never seeking office for himself, he was always active in securing the best men for office.
In 1866 he became a member of the Second Congregational church of Beloit, with which church he was connected during the twenty-five years of Dr. H. P. Higley's pastorate. Later he has identified himself with the First Congregational church.
In 1881 he was married at Dubuque, Iowa, to Miss Sarah M. Belden, daughter of Dr. C. W. Belden. They have three chil- dren-Belden Brosi, a member of the office force of the United States Steel Specialty Company, New York city; Irene Fred- ricka, who was graduated from Beloit College in 1907 and is now (1908) attending Simmons College at Boston; and Edward Ritsher, who is attending Beloit high school. By industry, econ- omy, integrity and perseverance he has surrounded himself with some of the comforts of life-a home among the trees and flowers with an outlook over the beautiful Rock River valley.
Proud as Mr. Rau is of being a German, he is first and fore- most a loyal American citizen.
John Thompson is one of the prosperous and successful manu- facturers of Beloit, Wis., whose achievements are the result of his own untiring efforts. He has a genius for hard work, and with unusual clear-sightedness he has been able to avail himself of opportunities when they occurred and to make them when they did not, with the result that he now ranks among the leading substantial citizens of his city. He is a native of Birkenes, Nor- way, and was born July 15, 1828.
During his boyhood he attended the district schools of his native place, the only school privileges he had, and when a young man learned the blacksmith trade, at which he worked for sev- eral years while in Norway. In 1850, when twenty-two years old, he came to the United States, making the voyage in a sail- ing vessel and landing in New York after being seven weeks on the water. Thence he traveled via the Erie canal and around the lakes, reaching Milwaukee at the end of five weeks with 25 cents in his pocket. A stranger in a strange land, unacquainted with the language of the people, he had many difficulties and dis- couragements to overcome; but, nothing daunted, he started out into the country with a brave heart to find work. The change of
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climate from his native land to the intense heat that then pre- vailed brought on an illness from which he suffered most of that summer, but he kept his courage and finally made his way to Whitewater, where he found some of his own countrymen, who readily befriended him. He remained in Whitewater till the fol- lowing year and then removed to Beloit and resumed work at his trade, being employed by various parties. A little later he secured employment at the Skinner Plow Works at Rockford, Ill., and made the first plow that was turned out of that factory, and continued there until 1860. Having accumulated a small capital, Mr. Thompson now returned to Beloit and opened a shop and began the manufacture of plows on his own account. His business, small at first, gradually grew and prospered so that in a few years he added the manufacture of wagons, and so con- tinued until 1870, when Colonel O. C. Johnson became a partner, and the scope of the business was enlarged. Up to this time, and till 1873, only hand work was done in the establishment; but during that year a steam plant was built and power machinery installed. In 1874 Mr. John A. Johnson, of Madison, was ad- mitted into the firm, and the business continued to grow till a de- structive fire on July 24, 1876, wiped out the entire plant. Re- construction was commenced at once and one year later new buildings were completed, the plant was in working order, and the business went on without material change until 1880, when Mr. Thompson purchased the interests of his partners and asso- ciated with himself his sons, the firm now changing from J. Thompson & Co. to J. Thompson & Sons. In 1886 the business was incorporated under the laws of Wisconsin as the J. Thomp- son & Sons Manufacturing Company, with Mr. J. Thompson as president and O. T. Thompson as secretary and treasurer.
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