The History of Dodge County, Wisconsin, containing a history of Dodge County, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc, Part 90

Author: Western Historical Co
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 774

USA > Wisconsin > Dodge County > The History of Dodge County, Wisconsin, containing a history of Dodge County, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc > Part 90

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GUSTAVUS STOLZ, general store, Beaver Dam; was born in Bohemia Nov. 22, 1827, and came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1854, locating in Watertown. Mr. Stolz received a mercantile education in Bohemia and then traveled as salesman for a wholesale vinegar factory; he was also special agent for the Nuremburg Toy Manufactory of Bavaria ; in May, 1854, he went to Watertown as clerk until 1855, when he came to Beaver Dam, where he opened a general store, in connection with Mr. Beichel, under the firm name of Stolz & Beichel, which he continued for three years ; he then opened a restaurant, which he continued for twelve years ; in 1870, he started a grocery store in connection with the restaurant ; he then sold out the restaurant and has continued the general store business on his own account up to the present writing with remarkable success. In 1858, he was Alderman of the First Ward, and has held this office, with a slight intermission, for the past fifteen years, now representing the Second Ward; he is also one of the Board of the Second Ward; in 1871, he was appointed Notary Public and still holds the same. Mr. Stolz is agent for the following insurance companies: Phoenix, of Hartford; Orient, of Hartford ; Traders', of Chicago ; Commonwealth of Boston ; Milwaukee Mechanics'; and Germania Life, of New York. He is also agent for the following lines of ocean steamers : American Red Star Line, Phila- delphia ; White Star Line. Hamburg American Packet Co., North German-Lloyd, Inman, State Line, National Line and Guyon Line .. Married, Dec. 26, 1855, Emiley Hamf, of Prussia ; he has six children -Otto, Emma, Martha, Ella, Ernst and Erma.

DR. GEORGE E. SWAN, Beaver Dam; fourth son of Alfred and Polly Swan, was born April 6, 1838, in Eden, Erie Co., N. Y .; his mother was the daughter of Trowbridge Benedict, the sixth generation of Thomas Benedict, born in 1617, in Nottinghamshire, Eng., the extensive printed genealogy of whose family contains many persons of note, and the Doctor holds it with much reverence; when 5 months old, his parents moved with him to Greenfield, Ohio; at 11 years of age, he took the first prize in a class of 100, for a composition, entitled "The Vices of Youth ;" from 13 to 17 years of age, his time was spent in the backwoods of Michigan, seven miles from Howell, doing farm work ; he then became inspired with the thought of obtaining an education, and, his father being unable to accede to the idea, he avowed independence, and left home in the fall of 1855 ; so the Doctor is truly a self-made man ; he at first lived with a Free-Will Baptist preacher (Elder Norton), on the banks of Bath Lake, Michigan ; in the woods

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again, attended winter country school, and studied geography and grammar for the first time ; in the spring, he went to Dale, N. Y., among his father's relatives, and in the fall attended a course at the Wyoming Academy, under Prof. Weed; passed examination, and taught school two miles west of Warsaw during the winter ; he then worked at farming until the fall of 1857, when he commenced attending Hillsdale College, Mich., which he continued three years, teaching winters in the country, and working at corn- husking, digging stumps, hoeing gardens, etc., on days of school vacation, much of this time boarding himself on 30 to 50 cents per week, living on bread and butter, and potatoes and salt, baking his potatoes on a box-stove under a pint basin ; he continued in this way three years, and by working in the wheat and hay fields each season, managed to keep in school pretty regularly two terms each year, until the fall of 1860 ; he saw tough times from the pinchings of poverty, but his desire for an education impelled him to face and surmount all obstacles, and, as his father was poor, with a family of ten children, he had no other recourse ; his wages for teaching were only $15 to $20 per month, and for days' work from 50 to 75 cents per day ; he had not a cent to pay for beer, whisky, tobacco, or other injurious practices, and had no incli- nation to do so, and the habits of temperance, economy and industry have ever since remained his best friends; during these years he pursued seven studies, frequently until 11 or 12 at night, commencing again at 4 or 5 in the morning, dreaming of them during sleep, and doing without sufficient food, because he could not afford it, and because he could the more rapidly commit his lessons; for his keen desire of an education, and such close application to get it, he in after years paid dearly, as a lethargy ensued, which continued for years, and prevented his again pursuing the collegiate course which he had so fondly dreamed to finish. In the fall of 1860, he went to his uncle-Rev. W. S. Lunt-in Fremont, Ohio, and there taught the Union School one year ; meantime, his prostration increased, so he could not apply himself to mental labors (except teaching winters) until 1863; he then commenced the study of medicine, with Dr. Bagg, at Owasso, Mich., and, upon his removal, continued with Dr. E. A. Lodge, at Detroit ; in the win- ter of 1864-65, attended medical lectures at Ann Arbor, Mich., and practiced medicine the six months following at Novi, Mich., and with the earnings attended lectures the following winter, at the Home- opathic College of New York City, receiving his diploma as a graduate Feb. 28, 1866 ; he then began practice at New Castle, Ind., until the fall of 1867, and then moved to Mt. Vernon, Ohio, where, May 17, 1870, he married Miss Mary Woodbridge, whose father was one of the wealthiest merchants of the place ; in 1871, he sought a larger field, at South Bend, Ind., but the climate being such as to keep his wife constantly ill, he removed to the beautiful little city of Beaver Dam, and took the practice of Dr. Thurber May 19, 1876 ; here he had a practice of over $3,000 the first year, and meantime perfected a remarkable specific for the cure of female weakness, which proved so effective, and its demand became so extensive, that he had no time to devote to the further regular practice of his profession, and has now, in 1879, a cash sale of this medicine, called pastiles, of between 3,000 and 4,000 boxes per month, with 1,600 lady agents, in all parts of the United States ; he has one child, Geo. Benedict, born June 4, 1878. On June 2, 1879, while looking about for a pasture for his cow, the Doctor inspected the spring from the stream of which the cow had been drinking in a lot below ; he discovered that the water was decidedly alkaline by taste and touch, and delightful as a beverage; the same morning he purchased the spring of A. Shipman, including about two acres of land, for $250, and, on further simple tests of the water, felt justified in additional purchases of land adjoining, so that in a few weeks he was in possession of seven- teen acres ; on July 28, he sent two gallons of water from the spring to Gustavus Bode, Chemist, of Milwaukee, for analysis, and, on August 12, received the result of the analysis, in which the Professor declares the water to be the same and fully equal to the far famed water of Waukesha; at this writing, in September, the work of improving the spring and grounds is being vigorously pushed, and, in the season of 1880, the Doctor will have a charming mineral spring and park; he is a public-spirited citizen, and will, no doubt, be the means of making Beaver Dam a widely known and well-patronized place for summer visitors. Prof. Bode's statement in regard to the water is as follows:

OFFICE OF GUSTAVUS BODE, CHEMIST, MILWAUKEE, August, 1879. C. E. SWAN, M. D. : Dear Sir-Herewith please find the result of my analysis made of the water you furnished. One gallon U. S. measure contains total quantity of solid substances, 28,0155 grains, consisting of

Chloride of Sodium.

0.1755 grains.

Bicarbonate of Iron

0.2047 grains.

Sulphate of Soda. 0.4563

Alumina. 0.1464 66

Sulphate of Lime 0.6435

Silica .. 0.9045 66

Bicarbonate of Lime .. 12.1212

Bicarbonate of Magnesia.

11.8638

Organic matter. 1.4098 66

You will notice that six-sevenths part of the salts contained in this water consists of the bicarbonate of Lime and Magnesia. The water resembles in this respect very much, in fact, seems to be the same, as the well-known waters of

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Waukesha, whose effectiveness is to be attributed to the almost total absence of Chlorides and Sulphates, and, so far as I can judge from my analysis, I have no doubt that you will find the water of your spring in every particular equal to theirs. Yours respectfully,

GUSTAVUS BODE, Analytical Chemist:

GEORGE E. TALBERT, physician, Beaver Dam ; was born in Fauquier Co., Va., Dec. 1, 1829, and came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1855, locating at Fall River, Columbia Co .; from Virginia, he moved to Greene Co., Ohio; he received his literary education at the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Dela- ware, Ohio, and graduated at the Ohio Medical College in 1853 ; he then moved to Lumberton, Ohio, and engaged in the practice of medicine for two years, and from there to Fall River, where he practiced up to 1875 ; he then went to Beaver Dam ; has practiced medicine there since. In 1858, he was Superintend- ent of Schools in Columbia Co., and, in 1864, was Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, of the same county. Was commissioned Surgeon in the army in May, 1863, and assigned to the 14th W. V. I., which position he resigned in 1864. He married, May 5, 1858, Aztalan F. Brayton, of Aztalan, Wis .; he has five children living-John A., Luella, George A., Willie B. and Elmer B. Mrs. Talbert is a member of the M. E. Church at Beaver Dam.

B. THORP, manufacturer of brick, Beaver Dam ; was born in Molton, England, May 27, 1816, and came to Wisconsin in June, 1849, locating at Watertown ; he was engaged in farming in England ; at Castleton, N. Y., he worked in a brickyard for three years; in Watertown he was a general workman, digging and drilling wells, lathing houses, etc. July 3, 1855, he came to Beaver Dam, and for about eleven years drove a dray, after which he engaged in the manufacture of brick, which business he is still carrying on. In 1873, he was Alderman of the Fourth Ward; in 1878, he was again elected Alderman of that ward for two years. He married, May 14, 1840, Mary Ann Hutchinson, of England ; he has five children-Henry, Sarah, Charles, Judson and Mary.

TABOR THURSTON, farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. Beaver Dam ; is a son of Samuel and Sarah Thurston, now of the town of Calamus ; born in Rensselaer Co., N. Y., May 5, 1846 ; when he was about 1 year old, his parents emigrated to Wisconsin, and settled at Watertown for three years; in 1850, they removed to the town of Calamus, Dodge Co., and settled on a farm of 160 acres, where Tabor made his home till his marriage to Miss Margaret A., daughter of Evan and Elizabeth Evans, of Beaver Dam, in the spring of 1863, since which time he has lived in the town of Beaver Dam. In the fall of 1878, he bought a farm of eighty acres, forty in Section 7, town of Beaver Dam, and forty in Section 12, town of Calamus, which is now his home ; they have three children-Frankie, William, and an infant not named ; they are members of the Baptist Church of Beaver Dam.

FRED M. VAN BERGEN, general store, Beaver Dam; was born in Madison, Wis , Dec. 15, 1850, where he received his early education ; after which he engaged as clerk at different times with the following firms of that place: R. L. Garlick, crockery ; Huntley & Wooten, groceries, and M. L. Daggett & Son, groceries ; then kept books for the Madison Democrat ; he then went to Clayton, Wis., and kept books for Humbird, Rogers & Co., millers, lumbermen and general store; in March, 1877, he came to Beaver Dam and engaged in business with Mr. Lawrence in the grocery department, under the firm name of A. P. Lawrence & Co., and, in September of the same year, Mr. Rees Evans bought Mr. Lawrence's interest, and the business has been conducted up to the present writing under the firm name of Evans & Van Bergen; their store is situated on Front street, corner of Center, where they are meet- ing with pleasing and profitable success. Mr. Van Bergen married, July 20, 1876, Annie Evans, of Beaver Dam ; he has one child-Morgan E.

WILLIAM E. WADLEIGH, farmer; P. O. Beaver Dam; was born in Lower Canada in 1830 ; spent his early life with his father, Mathias Wadleigh, on a farm in his native county ; in 1847, he went to Manchester, N. H., where he followed the machinist's trade for two years ; after which, in the same place, he followed various kinds of labor for seven years; in 1856, with his family, he emigrated to Dodge Co., Wis., and settled at Beaver Dam; three years after, he removed to the town of Trenton, Dodge Co., and lived there on a farm for seven years ; in 1866, he returned to Beaver Dam and bought a farm of ninety acres in Sec. 12, within the city limits, and has since made this his home. Sept. 20, 1852, he married Miss Sophia, daughter of Hiram and Sarah Stevens, of Chatham, N. H .; they have had seven children-Emily, Celestia (deceased), William (deceased), Albert, William, Jr., John and Lillie. The family is connected with the Assembly Presbyterian Church.

ANDREW WILLARD, retired, Beaver Dam ; born in Buffalo, N. Y., June 23, 1825 ; came to Wisconsin, May, 1841, and located at Waterford, Racine Co .; in 1847, moved to Watertown ; engaged in the manufacture of brick, and made the first white brick made at that place ; in 1855, came to Beaver Dam, carried on same business for three or four years; in 1859, with Mr. Newton, opened a

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· mercantile business which he continued until 1865, when, after first buying out his associate, he sold out and purchased two farms; in the fall of 1865 was elected to the State Legislature; in 1866, he built a store building and, with Mr. Vandercook in 1867, opened a general mercantile establishment, which con- tinued until 1871 ; has been County Commissioner ; was member of City Council six or seven years ; he is member of the I. O. O. F., also of Grand Lodge, and has been one of the Directors of the Odd Fellows' Insurance Company for eight years, Vice President, four years ; is one of the Directors of the Red Ribbon Club, and is a member of the Good Templars. Married at Watertown, Wis., Nov. 23, 1850, Miss Jane M. Temple, a native of Massachusetts ; has a family of three children-David, Rosa M. and Jennie.

JOHN J. WILLIAMS, was born in the town of Nelson, Madison Co., N. Y., July 28, 1820, and in 1837 removed, with his parents, to Brunswick, Medina Co., Ohio, where he remained at home on a farm until 21 years of age ; on attaining his majority he commenced life on his own account, with no capital except energy, honesty and industry ; he hired out to work in a woolen mill at $8 per month, following that business for three years ; then engaged in traveling through Ohio and Michigan with a wholesale Yankee notion wagon, and afterward clerk in a general store for North & Alcott, Medina, Ohio; in 1849, he came to Wisconsin and opened a general store at Lowell, Dodge Co., and continued in that business for fifteen years. In 1846, Mr. Williams married Miss Adaline Weed at Medina ; she was born in New York City; two of her sisters married Wisconsin men-one, Dr. Miller, of Lowell, Dodge Co., the other, the late Geo. B. Smith, of Madison ; during his residence at Lowell, Mr. Williams was Postmaster several years ; was a member of the Legislature in the years 1857 and 1861; in the spring of 1864, he removed to the city of Beaver Dam, where he has since resided ; he was Collector of Internal Revenue for the Fourth District of Wisconsin from 1867 to 1872, and was President of the National Bank of Beaver Dam from 1865, which position he now holds. Mr. Williams is now 59 years of age and is not engaged in active business except to increase the affairs of the bank and take care of his ample fortune. He has a pleasant and attractive home in Beaver Dam and, with his estimable wife, is reaping the fruits of an honest, industrious and useful life, enjoying the respect and confidence of his neighbors. ·

G. J. WARREN, harness-maker; was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., Nov. 19, 1819, and came to Wisconsin May 12, 1846, locating in Burnett ; his business career commenced in Castile, Wyoming Co., N. Y., where he carried on the harness business for two years, after which he moved to Burnett where, for nineteen years, he was engaged in farming 140 acres of land ; in 1865, he came to Beaver Dam and bought 107 acres of land in Trenton, which he farmed for ten years ; he then bought out the harness business of John Clark and has continued in that business up to the present writing. Mr. Warren was Justice of the Peace of Waupun for two years ; in 1879, he was elected Alderman for the Fourth Ward. He married, Sept. 22, 1842, Lorinda M. Fuller, of Warsaw, N. Y .; he has one child living-Frank.

O. F. WEAVER, photographer ; was born in Cambria, Hillsdale Co., Mich., Feb. 5, 1840, and came to Wisconsin May 8, 1879, locating at Beaver Dam ; Mr. Weaver learned his trade with Mr. E. L. Brand, the celebrated photographer of Chicago; in 1867, he commenced business on his own account at 337 W. Madison street, and continued until 1879, when he moved to Beaver Dam where he has the finest photographic parlors, and is said to be the best artist, in the county. He enlisted in 1861 in Co. E, 4th Mich. V. I., Col. Dwight A. Woodbury, and has been in the following battles; First Bull Run, Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Gettysburg, the seven days' battles in Virginia, Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg; he was was wounded slightly in the head at the battle of Fredericksburg; he received his discharge Oct. 27, 1863. Mr. Weaver married, Feb. 28, 1867, Annie Ryan, of Ireland ; he has two children-Ray and Eddie. Mrs. Weaver is a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church at Beaver Dam.

E. B. WIGGERT, harness-maker, Beaver Dam; was born in Germany. Nov. 5, 1844, and came to Wisconsin in November, 1865, locating in La Crosse; he received his early education in Ger- many, and served his apprenticeship with Otto Ohler, of La Crosse; in the spring of 1869, he came to Beaver Dam, and worked as journeyman with Mr. John Clark; afterward at Rio, a short time, and returned to Beaver Dam, and again worked for Mr. Clark ; in 1870, he started the harness business on his own account, and has continued the same up to the present writing. He was married, Jan. 2, 1874, to Miss Annie Weimer, of Westford, Dodge Co., Wis. ; he has two children living-Cecelia and Paulina. Mr. and Mrs. Wiggert are members of the Catholic Church.

REV. NATHAN E. WOOD, Principal of the Wayland Institute, Beaver Dam ; was born in Forcstville, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., June 6, 1849, and came to Wisconsin in 1853, locating at Wyo- cena ; he removed to Wyocena from Forestville and assisted his father on the farm until the fall of 1866, when he went to the Wayland Institute to prepare for college; from there he went to the Chicago University, graduating in 1872, and then to the Baptist Union Theological Seminary, of Chicago, gradu- ating in 1875 ; he then became Pastor of the Centennial Baptist Church, of Chicago, which he organized,

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and through whose instrumentality this church was built, and succeeded in two years in enlarging its mem- bership to over two hundred persons, and its Sunday school to about four hundred and fifty pupils ; he then went to Beaver Dam in June, 1877, and took charge of the Wayland Institute as Principal, which position he now holds. Mr. Wood married, June 27, 1873, Alice R. Boyce, of Chicago; he has three children living-Nathan R., Reuben S. and Sarah G. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are members of the Baptist Church at Beaver Dam.

JOHN C. ZANDER, merchant, Beaver Dam; was born in Germany Jan. 23, 1843 ; came to Wisconsin in the latter part of September, 1855, locating in Watertown, where he commenced working on a farm ; in 1858, he came to Beaver Dam and clerked for Krueger & Lehrkind for eleven years; in the spring of 1870, he started a general store on his own account; in the fall of 1870, he entered into partnership with Mr. Sherman, under the firm name of Sherman & Zander, which continued up to the spring of 1879, when Mr. Zander took entire charge of the business, which he is now carrying on suc- cessfully. Mr. Zander is essentially a self-made man. In 1876, he was Alderman of the Second Ward. He married, May 2, 1867, Minna Ladwig, of Germany ; he has three children-Agnes, Arthur and Olga.

OAK GROVE TOWNSHIP.

JOEL ADAMS, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Minnesota Junction ; born in Warren Co., N. Y., Dec. 2, 1822; son of Joseph Adams, who died about 1824; his father was from Philadelphia and of old Quaker stock ; in the town of Independence, Penn., is a church built by the Adams family over two hun- dred years ago. Mr. Joel Adams went to New York City in 1844; was there four years; then went to California by way of the Isthmus, and reached there Oct, 1, 1849; kept a bakery in San Francisco -; half the people lived in tents at that time ; afterward went to Marion Co. and went to raising stock ; left Cali- fornia in March, 1860, and went to New York, New Jersey and to Illinois, and came to Oak Grove in June, 1860 and settled on 120 acres and has been engaged in agricultural pursuits ever since ; has now one of the finest creameries and milk-houses in the county ; house 16x24 feet and 12 feet to roof; makes about one hundred pounds butter a week, all first-class and finds a very ready market. Married, Oct. 24, 1860, Elizabeth E. Winter, daughter of Daniel Winter, of New Jersey ; have had four children-Mary E., born Sept. 14, 1861 ; George, born Oct. 19, 1862; Frank, born May 28, 1864, and Alice, born April 4, 1866 ; Mary E. died in September, 1862. Mr. Adams has been on the Town Board.

J. G. ALLARD, firm of Allard & Martin, dealers in general merchandise, Juneau ; was born in Pierreville, District of Three Rivers, Lower Canada, Sept. 10, 1850 ; when he was 14 years of age, he came West with his parents, who settled in Dakota Territory; his father is still living; his mother, however, died in June, 1868; Mr. Allard remained with his parents, assisting them on the farm, until he was 16 years of age, when, having determined to carve out his own fortunes, he first came to Chicago and engaged as clerk in a grocery, and afterward in a dry goods and furnishing store, until he was 19 years of age, when he went to Menominee, Mich., and opened a grocery store, which he afterward sold out and engaged in the employ of Ludington, Wells & Van Schaick Co. until the year 1878, when he came to Juneau and formed a copartnership with Frank Martin (formerly of Whitehall, N. Y.), under the firm name of Allard & Martin, in the general merchandise business, which they have built up to be the largest at that point; they are engaged also in the buying and selling of produce mostly over the whole county, and run the only hay-press in the county for shipping purposes. Mr. Allard married Miss Margaret Morean, of Plattsburg. N. Y., May 31, 1876; they have one child-Henry D.

THEO. E. ALLEN, farmer, Sec. 18; P. O. Juneau ; born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., April 9, 1815 ; son of Tillinghast Allen, who came from Rhode Island and died about 1817; Mr. Theo. E. came to Wisconsin in 1845, settling on eighty acres in Oak Grove and built a shanty of only one room ; there were no fences and few roads ; no houses at Juneau and none this side of the river at Beaver Dam; Mr. Allen now has a fine farm and residence through his frugality and industry. Married, Dec. 1, 1840, Martha Jane Moulton, daughter of David Moulton, of New Hampshire; David was in the war of 1812; he died at the age of 75 in October, 1868; they have had four children-Eugene M. (married Betsy Farnsworth and is living in Colfax Co., Neb.), Emma Jane (married Cyril Vesper and is living in this town), Sandford B. (living in Nebraska), Myra (has been teaching school in this county. Eugene M. was a brave soldier in the 1st W. V. C., and was in engagements at Strawberry Plains and Cape Girardeau ; was honorably discharged.

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OAK GROVE TOWNSHIP.

JAMES ANDERSON, farmer, Sec. 12; P. O. Horicon; born in Manchester, Vt., Oct. 9, 1782; son of Andrew Anderson, who was born in New Hampshire; was of Scotch descent; he fell off a mountain-side in Ohio in 1816 and was killed, at the age of 57 years. James married, in Manchester, Nov. 27, 1814, Mabel Collins, daughter of Nathaniel Collins ; the family were from Connecticut ; they moved to Loraine Co., Ohio, at an early date when it was all woods; went through many hardships and came to Oak Grove in 1844 and have been here ever since, and through his frugality has now a comfort- able home and eighty acres under fine cultivation. Had four children by his first wife-Ralph R., Susan A., Andrew and Nathaniel C .; his wife died in the fall of 1821. Married Stacy Holt ; had five children -Calvin, Sarah, William W., Helen and Henry ; his second wife died April 29, 1835. Married, in 1837, Amanda Norton, of Connecticut ; had one child-Mary J .; she married A. Herrick and is living in Col- orado. Mr. Anderson was a brave soldier in the war of 1812 and is now receiving a pension for his valiant services.

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The History of Dodge County, Wisconsin, containing a history of Dodge County, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc, Part 90

Author: Western Historical Co Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Co. Number of Pages: 774

Author: Western Historical Co
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 774