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 35
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Some twenty years ago he bought his present pleasant home at No. 259 South Main street. He was married on June 1, 1881, to Miss Emma A. Scofield, daughter of Theodore and Catherine Scofield, of the town of Center, Rock county.
There were born to Mr. and Mrs. James A. Fathers three chil- dren : Rosa May, Elsie June and John Thurston. Rosa May died in infancy. Elsie June is the present assistant treasurer of Janes- ville, Wis. John T. is employed on construction work for the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company.
Joseph M. Bostwick, who is counted among Janesville's pioneer merchants and substantial citizens, is a native of Bethany, Genesee county, New York. He was born February 3, 1834, the son of Joseph Bostwick, who removed with his family to Staf- ford, in the same county, in 1836, and eleven years later settled at Janesville, Wis. Joseph attended the common schools in his earlier boyhood, but at the age of fourteen years engaged as a clerk in the general merchandising store of Messrs. Bailey and Dimock. In 1849 Mr. Bailey withdrew and Mr. H. O. Clark came into the business, the name changing to Dimock & Clark, and still later became H. O. Clark & Co. and so continued until 1854, when the business failed and young Bostwick entered the employ of Mr. J. W. Wheelock, whose business he, in connection with Mr. William Knowles, bought at a later date, but sold again within six months. He next associated himself with Mr. O. K.
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Bennett, and under the firm name of Bennett & Bostwick pur- chased and carried on the business of H. O. Clark & Co. Four and a half years later this firm was dissolved, the stock of goods being divided between the partners, and Mr. Bostwick formed with Mr. M. C. Smith the firm of Smith & Bostwick, which dealt in dry goods, carpets and clothing and continued in business until 1881, a period of twenty-one years, when the stock was divided and Mr. Bostwick, taking his share, returned to his former stand on South Main street and opened a large store for the sale of dry goods, carpets, cloaks and gent's furnishing goods. In 1882 Mr. Bostwick associated with himself his sons, Robert M. and Joseph L., under the firm name of J. M. Bostwick & Sons, which still continues, being known as one of the most reliable houses in the city.
Mr. Bostwick is a Republican in politics and has served as a member of the city council of Janesville.
On November 30, 1855, Mr. Bostwick married Miss Harriet M. Allen, of Genesee county, New York. Of eight children born to them, six, viz. : Frank M., Robert M., Joseph L., Harry, Marion and Harriet, are living; two, Henry Clark and Edward, are de- ceased.
John Douglas King, whose life on earth ended on March 8, 1906, was a native son of Wisconsin. He was born at Janesville, in Rock county, November 18, 1845, and was a son of John and Margaret (McKay) King, both now deceased. He married, when twenty-seven years of age, June 20, 1872, Miss Amorette M. Wil- son, only daughter of Mr. Henry O. Wilson, of Janesville, and by her had one son, H. Douglas King, who was born July 9, 1873, and who is now (1908) with the National Surety Company, of New York city.
On attaining his majority, Mr. King, in 1866, entered the service of the United States government and for forty years, until his decease, was connected with the postoffice department in various capacities, filling some of the most difficult and re- sponsible positions. He served first as chief of inspectors of the Omaha (Nebraska) division, then of the Denver (Colorado) divis- ion, and later the Washington, D. C., and New York divisions. His native fitness for the work and his love of it, combined with a practical knowledge gained from his years of experience, made him one of the most alert and valued men in the service, and in
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his death it was felt that the department with which he was so closely identified, suffered a great loss. With Colonel James E. Stewart, then of the Chicago division of postoffice inspectors, he was instrumental in ferreting out and disclosing the infamous "Star Route" frauds, in which Colonel Robert G. Ingersol gained world-wide fame by his notable defense of John W. Dorsey and others.
Mr. King was endowed with noble qualities of mind and heart. When necessity required, he was brave as a lion and firm as the rocks; but the sight of helplessness and suffering melted him to tenderness. He loved the beautiful in life, and by musie he was moved to tears. He was a dutiful son, a thoughtful and tender brother, an affectionate and indulgent husband and father, and a loyal friend, and in the generosity of his unselfish nature, he was never happier than when doing some service for and giving pleasure to others. His manliness and nobility of character were impressed upon all who came within the range of his influence, and to know him inspired confidence and trust and admiration akin to love. He was loyal to all that was good, pure and clean in all that he thought and did, and faithful in the discharge of every private or public trust. To his friends the world seems lonesome without him, but there shines upon the dark cloud a bright light, the reflection of his manly deeds so nobly wrought, and the memory of his pure, unselfish life shall abide like the sweet influence of a hallowed benediction.
March 8, 1906.
Gentlemen :
Complying with your request of this date as to the record in the postal service of Mr. John D. King, I have to say that the records of this department show Mr. King, born in Janesville, Wis., in 1845, was appointed a postoffice inspector January 22, 1880, and that with the exception of two intervals during which he was out of the service, he continued as an inspector until the 4th of April, 1902, when he became chairman of the Civil Service Board, rural delivery service, retaining that position under the postoffice department until June 30, 1905, when he was trans- ferred to the same position to the rolls of the Civil Service Com- mission. Mr. King served in the field as an inspector with such record for efficiency that he was made inspector-in-charge of division, and in this capacity was stationed successively at
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Omaha, Denver, Washington, New York, Spokane and St. Paul. It is understood that from the time he was fourteen years of age until his appointment as an inspector he was employed in the postoffice at Janesville, Wis. During his entire connection with this department, Mr. King rendered very faithful and meri- torious service.
Very respectfully, GEORGE B. CORTELYOU,
Postmaster General. W. J. V.
The Honorable,
The Civil Service Commission.
Copy of minute of the United States Civil Service Commis- sion, March 9, 1906, on the death of John D. King:
COMMISSION. John D. King, chief of Board of Examiners of Rural Carriers, died on March 8, 1906. Mr. King was in the service of the government upwards of forty-five years, beginning as a messenger in the postoffice at Janesville, Wis., and rising by successive promotions to the position of assistant postmaster of that office.
In January, 1880, he was appointed postoffice inspector, and served with such a record for efficiency that he was made in- spector in charge of division, and in this capacity was stationed successively at Omaha, Denver, Washington, New York, Spokane and St. Paul. The postmaster general states that "During his entire connection with this department Mr. King rendered very faithful and meritorious service."
Mr. King was chief of the rural carriers' board from April 4, 1902, to the time of his death. The commission desires to place on record its tribute to his high character and fidelity.
Abel L. Fisher, oldest son of Seth and Mary Ann Fisher, was born in the town of Center, Rock county, Wis., on Decem- ber 6, 1850. He received a common school education from the public schools of his town. Later he attended the Evansville seminary, Beloit academy and Milton college, all of Rock county.
In 1873 he engaged in farming, and in stock raising in the town of Center. In this occupation he continued until the spring of 1892, when he removed to Janesville, Wis., to engage in the business of buying and selling leaf tobacco. Since 1897 he has had associated with him in business his younger son, Everett C. Fisher, the firm being Fisher & Fisher, dealers in leaf tobacco.
As state secretary of the Wisconsin Tobacco Growers and
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Dealers' Association, Mr. Fisher has taken an active interest in collecting for distribution to the tobacco growers and dealers of the state, statistics and information, pertaining to the growing and culture of tobacco.
As a citizen, he has been public spirited and enterprising, and ready to contribute of his time and means to the advancement of the public interest and general good.
Mr. Fisher was married in 1873 to Mary, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Cleland, of the town of Center, Wis. They have four children : Arthur M. Fisher and Everett C. Fisher, both of Janesville, Wis .; Mrs. Samuel N. Braden, of Minneapolis, Minn., and Minerva M. Fisher, of Janesville, Wis.
Charles V. Kerch, city engineer of the city of Janesville, Wis., was born on March 3, 1866, at Loran, in Stephensen county, Illi- nois. His parents were Jacob H. and Eliza (Giddings) Kerch. The former was a native of Germany, and came to this country with his parents when he was four years of age. They settled in Pittsburg, Pa., where they remained for eight years and then removed to Stevensen county, Illinois, in 1855. He married Miss Eliza Giddings, reported to be the first white female child born in that county. Her family were people of prominence, among them being the great American author, Nathaniel Hawthorne; Rufus Choate and Joshua R. Giddings, whom James A. Garfield succeeded in congress.
Mr. Charles V. Kerch, of this sketch, began his studies in the district schools around his old Illinois home, and after acquiring the usual amount of education furnished there, he entered the normal school at Dixon, Ill., from which he graduated in the scientific course with the degree of B. S., and in the civil engineer- ing course with the degree of C. E. He then obtained employ- ment as a civil engineer in Dixon, where he continued for one year; from there he entered the engineering department of the Chicago & Northwestern railway, but left that to enter the en- gineering department of the World's Columbian Exposition Com- pany in Chicago. After closing there, he came to Janesville and was again employed by the Northwestern Railroad Company, and then did private work for three years. He returned to Dixon, Ill., again and was city engineer there for three years; he returned to Janesville, however, in 1900, to accept the position of city engineer in that city, which position he has held ever
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since and is also at present (1908) the county surveyor of Rock county.
Mr. Kerch has always been a Republican in politics, and is a thrifty, enterprising citizen, ever ready to assist in any move toward the betterment of his community. He is a man of sound judgment and good business qualifications, and an all round man of affairs.
On April 2, 1864, Mr. Kerch was married to Miss Mary Hobart, daughter of Alexander and Anna M. Hobart, of Toronto, Kan., highly respected citizens of that place.
Mr. Kerch is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in religious faith both he and Mrs. Kerch are members of the Congregational church of Janesville.
Fenner Kimball, a pioneer resident of Rock county, Wiscon- sin, was a native of Scituate, R. I., where he was born to Dean and Lydia Kimball on October 6, 1822.
His father was a hard working farmer with a large family to support, and in his endeavors to support them on the stony hillside farm he owned, he had a hard struggle, and the children were compelled to help just as soon as they were old enough. The subject of our sketch found employment in the cotton mills at eleven years of age, where he worked, except such time as he helped on the farm. His schooling had to be worked in winters and at odd times, but he had a genuine taste for learning and all of his life he devoted his odd moments to study and reading.
At the age of 16 he was bound as an apprentice until he was 21, to Otis Potter, a painter and carpenter of North Scituate, R. I., and it was during this time he learned the trades of both carpenter and painter. After coming of age he worked at car- pentry in Boston and Fall River, Mass., for short periods until he moved to East Greenwich, R. I., in 1846 and then he pursued the painting trade for ten years.
In 1847 he was married to Miss Adeline Allen, a daughter of Abraham and Rachel Allen, both natives of Fall River, Mass. One son, Frank D., now engaged in the furniture and undertak- ing business in Janesville, was born to them.
In 1856 they moved to Rock county, Wisconsin, and settled on a farm in La Prairie, three miles south of Janesville on the Beloit road, said farm now being the old Hugunin home. He
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was one of Rock county's thrifty and hard working farmers. In 1867 he sold his farm and moved to Janesville and engaged in the furniture and undertaking business with Colonel W. B. Britton, under the firm name of Britton & Kimball, of which firin his son Frank D. is the successor. About this time he also became interested in the formation of the Bower City band, and having a talent for musie he became very proficient on several different instruments and at once became a very active and zealous member of this organization, which soon became famous throughout the West as one of the crack bands of the country.
He bought himself a home at the corner of Main and South Second, where he lived until 1893, when he moved to the home now occupied by his widow, corner Bluff and South Second. He soon was recognized as a very valuable addition to the city and became very active in all public affairs as well as interested in many business enterprises, and the benefit of his experience and advice proved very valuable to the many business organizations in which he was interested as well as to the county, on the board of supervisors of which he served seventeen years. He was elected to represent his district in the legislature, onee in 1878 and 1879, and again in 1895-1896.
In 1881 he retired from the furniture business and bought out F. G. Stevens' interest in the firm of Thoroughgood & Co., manufacturers of cigar boxes and cigar box lumber, in which business he took quite an active part, until 1898, when he retired and sold his interest.
About 1884 he also became a partner in the retail hardware business under the firm name of Kimball Hardware Company, but in this business he remained only a few years. He was very successful in all of his business ventures and formed a very large cirele of both business and social acquaintances and friends. He was president of the Bower City bank from its start to his death. He was a member of the Unitarian church, a generous supporter thereto and an active leader therein, being superintendent of the Sunday school for some time.
He enjoyed music, literature and all outdoor recreations. He was a good performer on both piano and organ, as well as being a skilled band musician. He enjoyed Shakespeare and other great writers of all ages and of all lands and accumulated a very good library. He was for many years and at his death a mem-
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in the local lodges and as in all other things into which he en- ber of the Masonic fraternity and held all of the highest offices tered, he played an earnest and important part in all their social and ceremonial gatherings; as advancing years crept upon him he retired from active participation in business and devoted con- siderable time to travel and recreation. He became quite an enthusiastic bicycle rider after he had passed the seventieth milestone of life's journey.
Surrounded by his family of wife, and his son and his family, he passed into that undiscovered country on March 6, 1899, at peace with the world and at rest with his God, sincerely mourned by all who knew him. He was a very generous and kindly man, always willing to assist those in want or distress, and was a con- tributor to all the charitable organizations which asked his aid. He never sought public office, it always sought him, and while in public office he performed duties thereof as consistently as he did his own affairs. He was probably better known to men in every walk in life, in the city he made his home, than any other man of his day and generation. Certainly he was as favorably known and as well liked as any man of his time, and he was at his death sincerely mourned. His sound character gave the ele- ment of purity and honesty to his every motive and act and he had high standards and worked to attain them rather than to merely make money. His motto was to do good in the world, and certainly at the close of his well rounded life, he left the memory of a noble life and of a work well done.
Levi Alden, the son of Levi and Boadicia (Warner) Alden, was born at Claremont, N. H., July 24, 1815. He was of May- flower ancestry, being sixth in descent from John Alden, one of the signers of the compact in the cabin of the ship Mayflower in 1620. His father, Levi Alden, removed with his father, John Alden, from Warwick, Mass., to Claremont, N. H., between 1781 and 1790. He was a man of extensive business. Besides con- ducting a large farm, he operated a brickyard, manufactured earthenware and carried on blacksmithing. His maternal an- cestors were early settlers in Connecticut, several of them serving in the Revolutionary war. Levi Alden, the subject of our sketch, was educated at Unity Scientific and Military academy at Unity, N. H., and at Union college, at Schenectady, N. Y., graduating with the class of 1844. After leaving college he was principal of
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Cayuga institute, at Cayuga Bridge, N. Y., for one year. In 1845 Mr. Alden removed to Janesville, Wis., arriving on July 4. In August, 1845, in partnership with E. A. Stoddard, he established the "Janesville Gazette," the first copy appearing about August 14, 1845. The "Gazette" was published by Alden & Stoddard, Alden & Tompkins, Alden & Grattan, Levi Alden and Alden & Holt, successively, until March 17, 1855, when Mr. Alden sold out his interest to Charles Holt. During a portion of this time, Mr. Alden was principal of the Janesville academy. He operated the first telegraph line between Janesville and Milwaukee. In 1856, he served as a member of the ninth session of the Wisconsin state legislature. From 1858 to 1866, he was clerk of the circuit court for Roek county, and was admitted to the Rock County Bar Association, December 3, 1866. He was auditor of public printing for the state of Wisconsin, at Madison, Wis., from 1867 to 1873, when he engaged as associate editor of the "Wisconsin State Journal" (David Atwood, proprietor), at Madison, till 1890. He belonged to the Whig, afterward the Republican party, and was a staunch Republican to the day of his death and never failed to cast his vote. He was a regular attendant of the Uni- versalist services in Janesville till the society became merged into the Unitarian church (All Souls), which he also attended. He was a charter member of the First Unitarian church at Madi- son, Wis., and one of its trustees. Levi Alden was married, July 26, 1843, at Fleming, N. Y., to Sarah Ann Leach, daughter of Winslow and Esther (Southworth) Leach. Mrs. Alden died at Madison, Wis., January 23, 1873. Their children were: Mary E., who married George Judkins, of Claremont, N. H .; Frances B., who married Frank C. Cook, of Janesville, Wis .; Louisa J., who married Dr. Theodore W. Evans, of Madison, Wis .; Sarah L., who married Dr. Henry S. Hall, of Washington, D. C., and Hattie L. Alden, unmarried. Levi Alden died at Madison, Wis., November 23, 1893.
Edward Amerpohl, Janesville, Wis., was born at Brodhead, this state, on May 25, 1871, to Christ and Elizabeth Amerpohl, natives of Germany, and who emigrated to America and settled at Baraboo, Wis., in the early forties, and later resided at Madi- son and Brodhead, where he died in 1891 at the age of seventy- one years.
Edward is one of a family of eight children, all of whom,
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with the mother, are still living. He received his education in the public schools of his native town and followed the trade of a carriage painter until 1900, when he came to Janesville, Wis., and became owner and proprietor of the Janesville Floral Com- pany, located at 214 South Main street. He has rebuilt and added to his original buildings until now (1907) he has 12,000 feet of glass-covered greenhouses. He is the originator of the Nephrolepis Amopolilii fern. He does a large retail and ship- ping business in fresh cut flowers and design work.
In political sentiment he is a Republican; as candidate for alderman from the Third ward in the spring of 1907, he was de- feated after a hotly contested campaign. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, B. P. O. E. Eagles and Unique Club.
Mr. Amerpohl was married in 1894 to Miss Aida Colby, of Brodhead, to whom has been born one child, Harold E.
Edward Burton Heimstreet, druggist of Janesville, established business in this city in 1868, and has carried it on continuously since with marked success. His stock comprises a full line of drugs, patent medicines, paints, oils, glass and artists' materials, and in the last mentioned class of goods he does both a retail and wholesale business. His establishment is one of the largest and finest drug houses in the state.
Mr. Heimstreet is a native of New York, and was born in Lansingburg, Rensselaer county, on January 3, 1848. His father, Stephen Heimstreet, was born in New York, November 24, 1813, and was a well known druggist at Lansingburg. His mother, whose maiden name was Emeline Spicer, was born at Charlotte, Vt., and was descended from an old New England family, her father, the Rev. Tobins Spicer, being a prominent Methodist itinerant minister of New England. In January, 1867, his par- ents. became residents of Janesville, where they made their home until October, 1886, at which time they returned to the East on a visit. The death of the father occurred at Troy, N. Y., in Janu- ary, 1887, at the age of seventy-four years. His mother died at Troy, N. Y., in October, 1901. Both were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
The subject of this sketch received a liberal education, at- tending the Methodist Episcopal college at Poultney, Vt., and subsequently became a student at Jonesville academy at Jones- ville, N. Y .; later at Mechanicsville academy. He then studied
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medicine under Dr. HI. B. Whiton, of Troy, N. Y., for two years; also attended Albany Medical college.
He served in the latter years of the war as a private of Com- pany F, of the Fourteenth Regiment, United States regulars, until August following the close of the war, when through the influence of his father, who had been trying to induce him to leave the service since he had entered it, he was honorably dis- charged.
Mr. Heimstreet was employed in his father's drug store from early boyhood, and became thoroughly instructed in the busi- ness. In 1867 he removed to Janesville, Wis., intending to per- feet himself in the study of medicine, but finding an opportunity to buy a drug store at a good advantage, he did so and has carried on the business continuously since.
On January 14 1868, Mr. Heimstreet was married at Janes- ville to Miss Stella Howard, daughter of William H. Howard, then sheriff of Rock county. The lady was born at Shullsburg, Grant county, Wisconsin, where her parents were among the early settlers. Two children have been born of their union, Alice M., of Janesville, and Charles S., of Lake Mills, Wis., where he is engaged in the drug business.
Mr. Heimstreet has been identified with the leading interests of Rock county since becoming one of its residents. He was one of the foremost movers in seeuring the state pharmaey law, and worked long and faithfully to secure its passage. He is eredited with being the founder of the pharmacy law, and Wisconsin Pharmaceutical Association, of which he was the secretary for twenty-one years, and also secretary of the State Board of Pharmaey, in which position he served for twenty years. He was secretary of the Janesville City hospital for many years; for three years was secretary of the Rock County Agricultural Society, and treasurer for several terms; for ten years served as secretary of the Janesville Horticultural Society ; for thirty-three years held the office of secretary of the Janesville fire police, and five years was collector of the Janesville fire department. He is also past commander of the W. H. Sargent Post No. 20, G. A. R .; a charter member and past chancellor of Oriental Lodge No. 22, K. of P .; P. G. of Wisconsin Lodge No. 14, I. O. O. F., and saehem of the Order of Red Men. For many years has been president of the Humane Society and Associated Charities of Janesville.
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