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 51
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
George E. supplemented his common school education by a course of study at the Henderson Academy in his native place, and after leaving school, entered the employ of his father in the tobacco trade. A little later he was employed by Mr. J. P. Tay- lor, an exporter, and in 1897 worked for the American Tobacco
1057
BIOGRAPHICAL
Company in South Carolina. In 1898 and 1900 he was employed by the same concern in New York, and then was transferred to Madison, Wis., where he remained until 1902. Mr. Gary then settled in Edgerton as manager of the American Cigar Company, Edgerton leaf department, and continued in that position till 1906, when the Gary Leaf Tobacco Company capitalized for $20,000, was organized with Colonel William T. Vilas of Madison as president ; Dr. C. II. Vilas of Madison, as vice-president, and George E. Gary as secretary and treasurer, the warehouse of the company being located at Edgerton from the first.
Mr. Gary has brought to his business the results of his thor- ough business training and adding to this native abilities of a high order, together with a well-earned reputation for honorable and fair dealing, a successful and influential business career is assured. He is a man of fine social qualities, open-handed and generous, loyal to his friends and charitable to all.
In 1902 Mr. Gary married Miss Elizabeth Day, daughter of Judge Levi M. Vilas of Madison, Wis., a cultivated lady of re- fined tastes and womanly virtues.
George Wesley Doty, one of the strong financial men of Edg- erton, Wis., was born in Fulton township, near that city, Janu- ary 16, 1852, to Daniel R. and Luanna (Coon) Doty, who removed from New York, their native state to Albion township, Rock county, Wisconsin, in 1847. Our subject's father, on settling in Wisconsin, first ran a saw mill; later engaged in the lumber trade, and still later settled in Edgerton, where he was employed by the Chicago, Milwaukee & Saint Paul Railroad Company as freight man at the depot, and for some years as road master. He died at Edgerton in 1886 at the age of sixty-seven years. His widow survived him three years and died at the age of sixty-five.
George W. attended the public schools of Edgerton and from his fifteenth year till after he attained his majority, 1867 and 1873, elerked in the drug store of Dr. Stillman at Edgerton. During the next three years he was employed by Mr. George R. Curtis and his successor, Mr. F. Z. Sherwood, at Janesville. The next two years he worked for Messrs. Dunway & Sumner at Madison, then clerked for Mr. E. M. Babcock at Milwaukee one year, after which he spent two years as traveling salesman for the wholesale house of Messrs. Tolman & King. In 1876 Mr. Doty entered the employ of Messrs. Stearns & Smith at Monroe,
1058
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
Wis., where he spent six and one-half years. Returning to Edg- erton in 1885 Mr. Doty opened a store on his own account and for nineteen and one-half years carried on a successful business in general merchandise and drugs. On the organization of the First National Bank at Edgerton in 1903 Mr. Doty was made its president and still (1908) fills that office. In all his business re- lations Mr. Doty has been known for his business integrity and his adherence to principles of fair dealing. His recognized abili- ty as a financier combined with his clear foresight and his high ideals of business ethics, have won for him the confidence of his fellow citizens, and given him a place among the leading men of his city. Mr. Doty is a Republican and has served his city two terms as mayor, and four years as a member of the city council. He has been a member of the Masonic Order since 1873 and has filled the various chairs of his chapter and commandery.
On January 19, 1876 Mr. Doty married Miss Marie M., daugh- ter of Thomas Bintliff of Monroe, Wis. Of four children born to them three, viz. : Willard B., Florence May, and Marion B. sur- vive. The eldest, Charles B., died in 1901 at the age of twenty- one years.
Mr. Doty is one of a family of seven children, all of whom ex- cept himself and one sister Ida, who lives in Janesville, and one brother William, living at Edgerton, are deceased.
John Copley, one of Edgerton's retired business men, was born on November 2. 1839, at York, England, and is the second of a family of three children born to Charles and Jane (Marshall) Copley, both natives of England. Their other children were Will- iam, who died at Omaha, Neb., in 1904, and Jane Ann, who was married to Mr. John Thorpe, and died in 1874. Our subject's father, a miller by occupation, settled in Rock county, Wiscon- sin in 1866 and died in York, England in 1871 at the age of six- ty-five years. His mother died ten years later aged seventy-five.
The family have been famous in England for many genera- tions and the names John, Charles and William have been handed down from generation to generation for 600 years.
Our subject was educated in the public and private schools of his native place, and after leaving school served an appren- ticeship of seven years as a machinist after which he worked at his trade twelve years.
Mr. Copley settled in Edgerton in 1868 and until 1873 was
1059
BIOGRAPHICAL
engaged in the milling business. He then opened a general store which he conducted with good snecess for fifteen years. In all his business relations Mr. Copley has been governed by the high- est principles of fair and square dealing and through his npright and honorable conduct, has gained and held the confidence and esteem of all classes. He is a man of modest demeanor, qniet and unassuming, and in all the relations of life. carries himself as a high-minded Christian man. He retired from active business in 1887, and lives in the enjoyment of a liberal competence and a well-earned esteem of all who know him.
Mr. Copley is a Republican in politics ; has been a member of the Masonic fraternity since 1867, and in religious faith is affil- iated with the Congregational church.
In 1865 Mr. Copley married Miss Anna, daughter of Mr. Will- iam Simpson of York, England. Mrs. Copley died in 1867 at the age of twenty-six years, leaving one son, Charles A., who died in July, 1907 at the age of forty years. In 1871 Mr. Copley married Miss Mary, daughter of Mr. James Finney of Edgerton, who died at the age of forty years in 1881, leaving a daughter Annie J., who is married to Mr. Mortimer L. Carrier of Edger- ton. In 1884 Mr. Copley married Isabella White of Fulton town- ship, Rock county, Wisconsin.
Henry Anthony Keenan, M. D., a native of Dane county, Wis- consin, though he belongs to the younger class of Edgerton's professional men, during his comparatively short residence there, has attained a most satisfactory degree of success. He was born August 20, 1877 and is the eldest of a family of four children of William and Alvira (Collady) Keenan, both natives of Dane county, Wisconsin.
His maternal grandfather, William Colladay, was a man of prominence in his community and served as a member of the general assembly of Wisconsin one term and three terms as state senator from Dane county.
Henry A. was reared on his father's farm and received a good preliminary education in the public schools. He supplemented this with a course of study at the University of Wisconsin and was later graduated from the Rush Medical College of Chicago with the elass of 1903. He received a thorough hospital training in the St. Mary's hospital at Milwaukee, where he spent two
1060
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
years and then began his professional practice at Solan Springs, Wis. In 1906 he settled at Edgerton.
Dr. Keenan was formerly a member of the Illinois State Guards and was also a member of Company G, Wisconsin Regu- lars. He is a member of the Rock County Medical Society, the State Medicial Society, and is an active member of the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America.
In 1905 Dr. Keenan married Miss Pearle, daughter of Mr. C. W. Netherwood of Oregon, Ill., a young woman of cultured tastes and many womanly virtues.
Fred W. Coon, editor and proprietor of the "Wisconsin To- bacco Reporter," is a native son of Wisconsin, his birthplace be- ing in Dane county on June 14, 1850. He received an excellent education in the public schools of his town which was rounded out and finished in the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he graduated with high honors in 1873, taking the degree of A. B. Shortly after completing his studies he went to Ocono- mowoc, Wis., and founded the "Oconomowoc Local," a weekly newspaper which he conducted successfully for nine years, when he sold the property and removed to Edgerton in 1883 and pur- chased the "Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter," a weekly publication devoted to the interests of the tobacco industry, and has a cir- culation in the eastern market places and the tobacco growing regions of Wisconsin. By strict attention to the needs of the tobacco industry and reliability of the information furnished his subscribers, Mr. Coon has succeeded in building up a substan- tial and constantly increasing circulation for his enterprising "Reporter," which is well housed in a good building with all the inodern appliances which go to make up an up-to-date newspaper plant. Mr. Coon is one of the leading Republicans of this vicini- ty, and has had a great deal of experience in political affairs. He has always worked for the best interests of his party and for the community at large. His position as a prominent editor has brought him in contact with many of the leading men of the state, and he has frequently been called to fill positions of trust and responsibility. He was for ten years secretary of the State Press Association, and has served as assistant clerk of the house in state legislature for eight terms, and for two terms held the same position in the state senate. He is an active member of several fraternal orders, among which may be mentioned the A.
1061
BIOGRAPHICAL
F. and A. M. Fulton Lodge No. 69, Modern Woodmen of Ameri- ca Camp No. 440, and the Knights of Pythias.
Andrew Jenson, one of Edgerton's most successful business men and respected citizens, started in life with little save his native abilities, and by patient industry and firm adherence to manly principle and regard for the rights of others, has won a place in the business world of which he may justly be proud.
He was born in Norway, June 4, 1843, and there spent his early life working on a farm. He came to Rock county, Wiscon- sin in 1869, and stopped a short time with Mr. Johnson, from his immediate neighborhood in Norway. Soon afterward he went to Albion Prairie, in Dane county, and worked six months for Mr. Samuel Clarke. He next lived with the family of Clark Crandall a short time, working on the farm for his board while attending school. In 1870 he rented of Mr. Ole O. Anderson a farm which he worked on shares, and familiarizing himself with tobacco cul- ture, he resolved to make that his work. In 1871 Mr. Jenson sent to Norway for a friend with whom he raised tobacco on shares for Mr. Thomas Thoranson, and cleared about $600. During a part of 1873 he worked for Messrs. Carr and Taylor for $25 per month, and the remainder of that, and the following year was employed as a packer by a Mr. William Sawyer, who was en- gaged in the tobacco business in Chicago. He then carried on a farm at Wheeler Prairie a short time with Mr. Martin Mason, but sold his interest to his partner, and with the capital accumulated from his five years of hard work and saving, removed to Edger- ton, where he formed with Mr. Thomas Hutson the firm of Hut- son & Jenson, tobacco dealers, which continued until 1880. On the dissolution of this firm Mr. Jenson as a partner with Mr. Osmund Gunderson of Stoughton, erected a warehouse there, and extended the business. In 1882 another building known as ware- house No. 12, was erected at Edgerton, and three years later still another, a brick structure, costing $12,000, and equipped with every convenience, was built.
With the continued growth and development of his interests Mr. Jenson in 1885 erected a warehouse at Westby in Vernon county, Wisconsin, and established there a local branch of his business. While Mr. Jenson's career has been marked by con- stant advancement, he has made his way in the face of many ob- stacles. Starting here without capital and with no knowledge
1062
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
of our language, and ignorant of business methods, he has per- sistently persevered, manfully meeting and mastering every dif- ficulty and attaining the goal of a worthy ambition.
He is a man of unassuming manners, modest, generous, thoughtful of others, and withal public-spirited and loyal to all that relates to the welfare of his city.
Mr. Jenson has served as a member of the city council, and as mayor six terms; was a presidential elector in 1892 and in 1896 was a prominent Democratic candidate for state treasurer. He is also president of the Tobacco Exchange Bank at Edgerton. Associated with him in business are his two sons, Joseph A., and Oscar J., popular, enterprising young business men, worthy sons of their worthy sire.
On January 1, 1877, Mr. Jenson married Miss Hannah, daugh- ter of Mr. Jacob Johnson of Edgerton. Of ten children born to them, nine are living, viz .: Joseph Alfred, Oscar Jacob, Adolph Herman, Lydia M., Clara M., Carl Andrew, Clarence O., Paul H. and Gerhardt O. Their third child, Clarence M., is deceased.
Lawrence Clarke Whittet, a prosperous and progressive busi- ness man of Edgerton, Wis., is of Scotch-English ancestry, and was born at Albion, Wis., June 16, 1871, the son of James Donald and Sarah Louise (Clarke) Whittet, the former a native of Perth, Scotland, and the latter of English parentage. His father came to the United States with his parents when he was four years old.
Lawrence C. acquired a good English education in the com- mon and high schools of Edgerton, and supplemented this with a civic historic course at the University of Wisconsin, where he was graduated with the class of 1893. After his graduation, he associated himself as a partner with his father, and engaged in the lumber coal and grain business at Edgerton, and so continued until his father's decease in 1902. The business thus established, was carried on by himself and his brother Thomas, under the firm name of Whittet Brothers until the death of the brother in 1904, since which time he has conducted it in his own name. Mr. Whittet is a careful and thoroughly up-to-date business manager, clear sighted, prompt, reliable and honorable with all, and under his control the interests he represents have grown to large pro- portions. He is now president of the Whittet-Culton Cypress Company, and secretary of the Wisark Lumber Company of Edgerton, and has large financial interests in the East. Aside
1063
BIOGRAPHICAL
from his personal business, Mr. Whittet has taken a commenda- ble interest in public affairs, and has been honored with various public trusts. He is a Republican in polities, and during the years 1897-1901 served on the county board of supervisors, and from April, 1901 to June 1, 1906 filled the office of postmaster at Edgerton. He is also officially connected with the Edgerton public library. Among the fraternal, benevolent and social or- ganizations with which he is identified may be mentioned the Masonic Order, the Knights of Pythias and Delta Upsilon, his college fraternity.
On November 28, 1895 Mr. Whittet married Miss Katherine Hain, whose womanly graces and domestic virtues combined with fine intellectual endowments, richly qualify her for the position she is called to fill. They have one child, James Lowell Whittet, born August 28, 1896.
Gove D. Wixom, who resides on the farm of 185 acres, which he owns in Section 19, Milton township, where he is engaged in general farming and stock raising, is the second son of a family of five children born to Benjamin D. Wixom and Emily (Austin) Wixom; the other children being Colonel R., now of Janesville ; John C., a farmer in Harmony township, Rock county, and who occupies the position of town clerk; Anna, wife of William E. Shoemaker, a farmer of Janesville township, and Cora, the wife of Henry Cutter, of Red Cloud, Neb.
The father, who for many years has been actively and suc- cessfully engaged in farming, is now retired and resides in the city of Janesville. The mother, who was possessed of many womanly virtues and beloved by a large circle of acquaintances, died on June 14, 1902, at the age of fifty-seven years, and her remains were laid at rest in the cemetery at Edgerton.
Gove D. was born in Fulton township, Rock county, Wiscon- sin, March 24, 1870. He received his early education in the dis- trict and common schools of his native township, and afterwards spent four years at Milton and Beloit Colleges. At the con- clusion of his college course he engaged in farming, and in 1894 purchased his present home and immediately set to work making extensive improvements. He has replaced all the old buildings with new ones, having but recently completed a large and com- modious frame residence of modern design. He has also built a large hay and stock barn. In addition to his general farming,
1064
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
he is an extensive grower of tobacco and has recently completed two large sheds capable of accommodating his large crop of tobacco. Mr. Wixom's farm is considered one of the most com- plete and well equipped farms in Rock county. All accomplished by his own efforts, untiring and persistent industry.
On April 11, 1894, Mr. Wixom was united in marriage to Miss Teresa Conway, who was born in Fulton township, the daughter of Malichi Conway, who died in 1882. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wixom, four of whom are living : Clifford, Mary G., who died at the age of six months; Malichi. who died at the age of four days, and Paul G., Mary G., and James C., all of whom were born on the home place in Milton township.
In politics Mr. Wixom affiliates with the Republican party, but takes no active part in political affairs only to performn his duties as a good citizen.
Ormond N. Dutton, who has been a resident of Rock county. Wisconsin, nearly half a century, and who ranks among her prosperous and substantial farmers, was born in Windsor coun- ty, Vermont, on June 2, 1841, and is the younger of two children of Noah and Nancy (Wilson) Dutton, and a grandson of Samuel Dutton, all of whom were natives of the Green Mountain state. Noah Dutton, who was a tanner and currier by occupation, set- tled in Rock county in 1857, and followed his trade and en- gaged to a limited extent in farming-owning some land-until his decease in 1904, at the advanced age of ninety-three years. He was twice married and had by his first wife, who died in 1844, besides our subject, a daughter, Mary Ellen, who is mar- ried to Mr. Joseph Simmons, of Milton Rock county, Wisconsin. By his second wife, Caroline Blanchard, now deceased, he had three children, viz .: George, Julia C. and William H.
Our subject lived at home and attended school in his native state during his early boyhood, but at the age of sixteen came to Janesville, Wis., where he finished his education and worked with his father till he attained his majority. On August 12, 1862, in response to President Lincoln's call for troops, he en- listed in Company E, Twenty-second regiment, of Wisconsin Vol- unteer Infantry, and went into the war. While not in any regular battle, he participated in many skirmishes and served until 1863, when ill health necessitated his discharge from the
1065
BIOGRAPHICAL
service. After his return from the army, Mr. Dutton settled on a farm of fifty-two acres, adding 120 later on, in sections 1 and 12, Janesville township, the most elevated point in Rock county, and there made his permanent home. Besides engaging in general farming, Mr. Dutton has given special attention to breeding high grade sheep, hogs, horses and short-horned cattle. He has always been a man of influence in the community, commanding the confidence and esteem of all, and has served as justice of the peace and for ten years was weed commissioner of Janesville township. IIe is a Republican in politics and in religious faith is, with his family, affiliated with the re-organized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, located at Lamoni, Iowa, and known as the Josepite branch of Latter Day Saints, who were re-organized according with the original church, having no part or lot with the Salt Lake Val- ley church, under the leadership of Brigham Young.
In 1864 Mr. Dutton married Miss Ellen F. Burnham, daugh- ter of John Burnham and Julia (Thayer) Burnham, who set- tled in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, in 1844. Both are now de- ceased. Mrs. Dutton is a native of Penobscot county, Maine. Of six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Dutton, the eldest, Julia, is a teacher in one of the Janesville schools; John B., the second child, is deceased; the third, Hattie M., lives at home; Joseph O. married Miss Audrey Hadley and resides at Evansville, Wis. Ezra W. is single and lives at home, and Ava E., the youngest child, is married to Mr. Jerome E. Wildermuth, of Fargo, N. D.
Stephen C. Boss, for many years a progressive and enter- prising farmer of Rock county, Wisconsin, was born at Rich- mond, R. I., in 1828, and passed his early life there. On attain- ing his majority he, in company with his brother, Ashel G. Boss, settled in Rock county. He first engaged in farm work. He worked on numerous farms throughout the county and spent his life in that occupation, and was always known as an indus- trious and thrifty farmer, and an upright, honorable citizen. He was a devoted member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Milton and in politics a Republican. He died in 1886 and his remains are interred in the Rock river cemetery in Milton town- ship.
In 1857 Mr. Boss married Miss Lucinda, daughter of Chris-
1066
HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY
topher and Lydia (Coon) Saunders, a native of Allegany county, New York.
Mr. and Mrs. Boss had one child, Louie Lee Boss, was born on November 12, 1865, in Dane county, Wisconsin. He was edu- eated in the public schools in Roek county and in Milton Col- lege, and is justly classed among the younger generation of in- telligent and substantial farmers of his seetion. He is engaged in general farming, stock raising and dairying.
Solomon C. Carr, one of the early settlers of Milton, Wis., is a native of Stephentown, Rensselaer county, New York, and was born December 19, 1830, to Peleg S. and Deborah (Goodrich) Carr, both natives of that county. In 1839 his father settled on a farm at Milton, traveling via the Erie canal to Buffalo and thence around the lakes to Milwaukee and from there by wagon. He died at Milton in 1846 at the age of fifty-three years. His widow died at the age of seventy-eight, in 1874. They had a family of six sons and four daughters. The family is of English ancestry and one of its members, George Carr, was a ship car- penter on board "The Mayflower," and the subject of this sketch now has in his possession the coat of arms of the Carr family in England.
Solomon C. passed his boyhood on the farm and received sueh education as the district school afforded. When eighteen years old. after the death of his father, he, with a friend, went to New Orleans, arriving there the day that Zachariah Taylor was elected president of the United States, and witnessed the public display in honor of the event. While there he worked hauling bales of cotton and other manual labor. Returning to Wisconsin, he bought the interests of the other heirs of his father's estate in the home farm and settled down to farming. Here Mr. Carr lived sixty-seven years and his farm, Pioneer farm, under his intelligent and careful management, with its modern applianees and equipments and fine buildings, became known as one of the best and most productive farms in that part of the state.
Mr. Carr has always been a man of progressive ideas, as shown by his improved methods of farming and his active, wide- awake interest in affairs has always made him a conspicuous figure in his community. He is a Republican in polities and be- sides filling numerous local township offiees, he was, in 1865,
1067
BIOGRAPHICAL
elected to the state legislature and again in 1874. He was a leader in the Grange movement in both the local and state or- ganizations, being for ten years master state Grange chairman of the executive committee and twelve years lecturer of the state Grange. Mr. Carr has traveled extensively throughout the various states of the Union and also in Europe and Africa, and being a man of careful observation, has accumulated a vast fund of information. He has made a special study of historical data, and both in that line and as a collector of rare and valuable specimens and relics, is known as an authority.
In 1851 Mr. Carr married Miss Isabella, daughter of Mr. G. T. Mackey, of Belvidere, N. J. Mrs. Carr died in 1900 at the age of sixty-nine years, and two years later Mr. Carr married Alice Butler, daughter of Mr. John Butler, of Phillipsburg, N. J. She is cousin of his first wife.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.