The History of Dodge County, Wisconsin, containing a history of Dodge County, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc, Part 95

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 95

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J. T. HILLYER, retired farmer; born in Portage Co., Ohio, March 19, 1819 ; son of Daniel Hillyer, who was from Connecticut ; he was a prosperous farmer, and also for many years a popular hotel keeper ; he was among the first settlers in Portage Co., Ohio, and kept tavern nearly thirty years in that county, and held numerous offices of trust; he died in 1875 at the age of 80; Joseph, at the age of 21, went to Cincinnati and to New Orleans, taught school at different times, also became a skillful trader, and made large sums of money at times ; after something of a roving life, came to Waupun, Wis., in 1845 ; helped build the first frame house built in East Village ; used to work for $10 per month in those days ; his next move was to engage in the mercantile business with his brother, Edward Hillyer, which they car- ried on successfully about ten years ; he then purchased a farm in Columbia Co., Wis., and engaged in agricultural pursuits ; was there nine years, and returned to Waupun and purchased ten acres, and now has one of the finest residences and homes in the city, and has retired from active service. He married

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Hepsie S. Bly, she was a sister of George W. Bly; the family was from Huron Co., Ohio; the children by this union were Mary B., born Feb. 18, 1851, and married and living at Rock Falls, Iowa ; one child, died in infancy, Oct. 23, 1857 ; Josphine, born March 19, 1862, and living at home. Mr. Hillyer was on the Town Board most of the time while in Columbia Co.

L. D. HINKLEY, of the firm of Althouse, Wheeler & Co. ; born in Rockville, Conn., Nov. 8, 1835 ; son of Lucius Hinkley, a woolen manufacturer ; his father was Scottaway Hinkley, and was also a cloth manufacturer, he made the first blue cloth for the United States Army; he was a descendant of the Hinkleys, who came from Trenterden Kent, England, in 1635, and settled in the vicinity of Boston, at Cape Cod and Barnstable ; the original purchase was in the possession of the family for 200 years ; one of the family was Thomas Hinkley, Governor of Plymouth Colony, a man of sterling integrity, of the good old Puritan stock of that day; Lucius Hinkley married Laura Waterman, whose ancestors were among the first settlers in Norwich, Conn. ; she was a descendant, on the mother's side, of the celebrated Hyde family, whose descendants now lay claim to many millions of dollars that have been stored away in the Bank of England for years ; Laura Waterman was, from her father's side, a descendant of the Breusters, who came over in the Mayflower ; Mr. Hinkley takes a laudable pleasure in tracing back the genealogy of the family, and few can be as successful as he has been, for he follows the line back to Egbert, the earliest Saxon King of England, and has the papers to show for it. Lucius Hinkley and his family came to Wau- pun, Wis., in the fall of 1848, and followed agricultural pursuits ; Lucius D. Hinkley, at the age of 17, went into a carriage-shop and served an apprenticeship. In the fall of 1861, enlisted in the 10th W. V. I., C. K; was Orderly Sergeant; was in all the hard-fought battles that the regiment engaged in; was taken prisoner and sent to Libby Prison, then to Macon and afterward to Charleston, he made his escape and got to within a few miles of the Federal lines, but was re-captured, and while trying to escape the second time, in the fall of 1864, at Columbia, was shot while near the dead line, and lost his arm; the same year was exchanged, and came back to Waupun, and shortly after went into the office of Secretary of State at Madison, and afterward engaged in the insurance business in Waupun; in 1870, went to Chicago, and was with the Republic Insurance Co. of that city; in 1871, accepted a position in office of the State Penitentiary ; in 1874, became partner in the large manufacturing concern of Althouse, Wheeler & Co. Mr. Hinkley married, Dec. 28, 1870, Lola T. Gillett, daughter of M. S. Gillett; had one child, which died in infancy ; his wife died Jan. 22, 1878.

HORATIO H. HOARD, merchant; born in Wyoming Co., N. Y., Jan. 26, 1855 ; son of Harry Hoard; he was the son of Henry Hoard; the family were among the first settlers on the Holland Purchase and were of English descent; they took up a claim at the foot of Buffalo Hill; Henry Hoard lived and died on the old homestead; he delivered a Fourth of July oration when 86 years old; Mr. Harry Hoard was a Captain in the militia when he was but 18 years old; he was Postmaster sixteen years and Justice of the Peace till the time of his death, which occurred in 1862; he was engaged in the mercantile business at Sheldon Center, Wyoming Co., N. Y., which he carried on successfully many years. Mr. Horatio Hoard graduated at the Oshkosh High School and came to Waupun in August, 1872; was with John Roberts four years, and in September, 1876, formed a copartnership with A. S. Clark, under the firm name of Clark & Hoard; they have been very successfully engaged ever since; they carry one of the best assorted general stocks in this part of the country. Mr. Hoard married, Oct. 9, 1877, Elsie - Wilcox, daughter of the first settler of Waupun.

NELSON HOLLENDYKE, lumber merchant; born in Holland Jan. 16, 1821, son of William Hollendyke, who was a farmer in the old country ; he died in 1852, at the age of 72; Nelson worked at the carpenter trade at home three years for his board, and came to New York Aug. 1, 1844 , went to Westfield, Chautauqua Co., Aug. 12, 1844, and did his first day's work in this country ; in the spring of 1845, he went to Milwaukee, and, in the spring of 1846, went to Fond du Lac Co. and settled on 160 acres and engaged in farming; moved, in 1848, to Waupun and worked at his trade; in 1851, went to Portage City, and, in 1862, returned to Fond du Lac Co. and kept a lumber-yard in the town of Brandon ; June 9, 1868, came to Waupun and has been successfully engaged in the lumber business here ever since. Married, April 12, 1845, Eliza B. Loomis, daughter of John William Loomis, a well-to-do farmer, who is now living in the town of Alto, at the age of 86. Mr. Hollendyke was a Trustee of the city of Waupun in 1869-70, and again in 1876-77. Mr. Hollendyke came to this country a poor boy and now has a competence through his untiring industry and good management. Himself and family are members of the Dutch Church in the town of Alto.

ELI HOOKER, attorney at law ; born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., Sept. 17, 1820 ; son of Heze- kian Hooker. The family were among the earliest settlers in New England ; Eli's great-grandfather was born in Medbury, Conn., about 1720 ; he married Louisa Roe, who belonged to a numerous New England

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family. Eli's younger years were largely devoted to educational pursuits ; he attended Ithaca Academy in all about four years, teaching school winters ; he prepared for College at Ithaca, but, having an offer to remove to the West and start a newspaper, went directly to Fond du Lac Co., in September, 1846, and, with J. O. Henning, started the Journal, which was the first paper in Fond du Lac Co .; six months later, he sold out and bought an half-interest in the Whig; he wrote for that paper until January, 1848, when he removed to Waupun and read law with J. J. Brown ; April 17, 1854, was admitted to the bar of the Circuit Court of Fond du Lac, and was afterward admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the State, and in all the courts of Wisconsin ; for twenty years or more, he has had a large and remunerative business ; he is a first-class court and jury lawyer, excelling in both departments of the profession, and has all the avidity for study of his younger years. Law, the chosen pursuit of his later years, has completely absorbed his time with the exception of fourteen months, from August, 1866, to October, 1867, when he purchased . the Waupun Times, a Republican newspaper, for which he is still acting as corresponding editor as a means of recreation ; he is a vigorous and strong writer, as well as an able advocate. With the exception of a membership in a local School Board, which he heid many years, has kept clear of politics ; he owes his suc- cess to having stuck to one thing. Mr. Hooker is a member of the Temple of Honor, a strong advocate of temperance, and has lectured more or less on the subject, being an expert speaker. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for twenty-five years, and Steward and Trustee of the same ; all his influence is on the side of good morals, and a pure type of Christianity ; in early days was a strong anti-slavery man, his sympathies always being on the side of the oppressed. All of his wealth is the hon . est proceeds of his energies and talents well expended. He never advised persons to go to law, who had not in his opinion a good case, invariably declining to be an advocate of a bad cause ; never made a propo- sition of law to a jury that he did not believe to be correct. The course which he has followed has given the people the greatest confidence in him, and to it he attributes his success in legal practice and in life. The wife of Mr. Hooker was a Miss Catharine R. Sharp, daughter of Rev. John Sharp, who was for sixty years a Baptist preacher, now living in Waupun at the age of 86. Mrs. Sharp was a descendant of the Townly family, whose property was largely confiscated at the time of the Restoration-when Charles II came to the throne of England. Mr. and Mrs. Hooker were married Feb. 19, 1851 ; they have had four children, three of whom are living-Viola A. Hooker (the eldest child, was educated at Lawrence Univer- sity, Appleton), Culver E. Hooker (the only son, graduated at the State University, in June, 1878), and Lillie Kate (the youngest, is being educated at the graded school of Waupun). Mrs. Hooker is one of the leaders in the humane and benevolent enterprises conducted by the women of Waupun, and is President of the Ladies' Temperance League of the place, and Treasurer of the State Alliance.

A. R. HOPKINS, machinist ; resides on Madison street in Waupun, just south of the Prison ; was born April 13, 1841, in the town of Farmer, Williams Co., Ohio ; son of O. R. Hopkins, a native of St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., who removed with his family to Wisconsin in July, 1845, and settled in Exeter, Green Co., where he resided until the fall of 1847 ; he then went to Mukwonago, Waukesha Co., and, in April, 1851, to Madison, Dane Co., then to Milwaukee in the fall of 1853. A. R. Hopkins, when only 12} years of age, commenced his apprenticeship in the thrashing machine works of M. & M. Stone, in Milwaukee, and remained in the same shop till April, 1862. August 29, 1861, he married in Milwaukee, Georgiana H. Calef, who was born in Lowell, Mass., Feb. 13, 1843, and died in Milwaukee, Wis., March 25, 1868; in the spring of 1862, Mr. Hopkins went to Madison, Dane Co., Wis., as foreman in the machine-shop of E. W. Skinner, but returned to Milwaukee the next December, to resume work in the shop where he learned his trade, which he continued till May, 1863, and then formed a partnership with C. E. Steller & Son, firm name " Steller, Hopkins & Co.," for the purpose of carrying on a general manufacturing business at McGregor, Iowa, to which place he removed, continuing in this business till Feb. 20, 1862 ; he then trav- eled as general agent for E. W. Skinner, of Madison, till November of the same year, when he returned to Milwaukee ; in the spring of 1865, he went to Chicago, Ill., and went into business with his father and brother, S. R. Hopkins, firm name O. R. Hopkins & Sons, manufacturing zinc washboards ; he returned to McGregor, Iowa, in October, 1865, and engaged in the grocery business with W. H. Field (firm of Hopkins & Field) ; July 6, 1866, he rented the Mendon House, in North McGregor, and kept it in company with T. J. Gilmore, of the McGregor News ; left the hotel Sept. 15, 1866, and lived a short time in Dubuque, Iowa, Mukwonago, Wis., and Manistee, Mich; then, in the spring of 1867, returned to McGregor and formed a partnership with Davis, Shores & Co., in a planing and flouring mill, and in November of the same year, went into the grocery business again, which he followed till March 1, 1868, then went to Milwaukee, thence to Manistee, Mich., and back to Waukesha Co., Wis., in September, 1868 ; Feb. 20, 1869, and remained until November, 1871, then went to Kansas and was connected with the Rossville Manufacturing Company, of Rossville, Shawnee Co., Kan .; came back to Chicago in November,

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1872, and returned to Waupun March 20, 1873 ; he then acted as general agent for M. J. Althouse, and afterward for Althouse, Wheeler & Co., till November, 1878, when he formel a partnership with Carlton Jennings (firm Hopkins & Jennings), for retailing windmills and pumps ; Sept. 13th, 1879, Mr. Hopkins formed a partnership with his brother, S. R. Hopkins, of New York City (firm name Hopkins & Co.), for the publication of a new method of book-keeping called " Exhibit Book-Keeping." Mr. Hopkins married for his second wife Mrs. Eliza Warner, who was born Sept. 20, 1846, in Kent Co., England ; has five children-Truman, Eugene, Allie, Arba J., Alma and Alba C.

O. R. HOPKINS, mechanic; was born in the town of Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., March 1, 1818; son of Truman and Laura Hopkins, natives of Vermont; when he was about 16 years of age, his father died, leaving a family of six children, who, with their mother, removed to Ohio in the fall of 1835, and settled in what was then Williams Co .; O. R. Hopkins was one of the four men who built the first log house in the town of Farmer, in that county. On the 23d of July, 1840, Mr. Hopkins mar- ried Artemissa Sawyer, who was born March 8, 1823, in Rushville, Yates Co., N. Y., daughter of Prescott and Zeruia Sawyer. In July, 1845, he came to Wisconsin and settled in Green Co., where he remained till the fall of 1847, when to Mukwonago, Waukesha Co .; in April, 1851, he went to Madison, Dane Co,, Wis., and, in November, 1853, went to Milwaukee and took charge of the woodwork department of the Milwaukee Thrashing Machine Company, where he remained about fourteen years in the same business ; in the spring of 1865, he removed to Chicago, Ill., and went into the manufacture of zinc washboards, in company with his sons, A. R. and S. R. Hopkins (firm name O. R. Hopkins & Sons) ; in the spring of 1866, he bought a farm in the town of Vernon, Waukesha Co., Wis., and followed farming four years, then rented his farm and returned to Chicago, where he again went into manufacturing, and continued in that till the great " Chicago Fire," in October, 1871, when he lost his house and shop by fire, losing about $8,000; after the fire, he rebuilt his shop and continued the same business with the addition of sash, doors and blinds ; in August, 1872, he went to Rossville, Shawnee Co., Kan., but only remained till fall, when he returned to Chicago and stayed till the next spring, then built a residence in Jefferson, one of the suburbs of Chicago, and occupied it one year, then broke up housekeeping and spent some time in Ohio and Indiana ; in May, 1875, he removed with his family to Denver, Colo., but renrained only three months, then returned to Chicago for the third time; stayed about three months, then went to Ohio, locating in Edgerton, Williams Co., and engaged in selling agricultural implements, which he followed till -May, 1876, then removed to Waupun, Wis., where he still lives ; owns a brick residence on Mill street, north of Main. Mr. Hopkins has lost five boys -- Oney R., Ettlebert R., Mason H., Ozro B. and Charles F., and has three liv- ing-Arba R., Seldon R. and Truman P.

CARLTON JENNINGS was born in Lima, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 18, 1846 ; son of L. D. and Caroline Jennings, who removed, when he was quite young, to East Rush, Monroe Co., N. Y., where they lived till 1856, then went to Calhoun Co., Mich., where his mother still lives, his father hav- ing died Jan. 23, 1873; in the spring of 1868, Carlton Jennings came to Wisconsin and settled in Markesan, Green Lake Co., where he resided till September, 1872; he then came to Waupun and engaged as traveling agent for M. J. Althouse, which position he retained for two years, then traveled for Althouse, Wheeler & Co. in the same capacity for four years. Nov. 25, 1878, Mr. Jennings formed a partnership with .A. R. Hopkins, of Waupun, for the purpose of retailing windmills, pumps, etc. (firm name Hopkins & Jennings); in this business they now employ from eight to ten men, and run from five to seven teams successfully. Was married, Nov. 22, 1877, to Mrs. E. M. Davis, daughter of David and Hannah Rorce, of Waupun, who are both natives of Hudson, N. Y .; has one child-Elmer C., born Dec. 29, 1878.

GEORGE E. JENNINGS, merchant'; Mr. Jennings has been engaged with C. & E. W. Jones many years ; he is a man of fine literary taste, an able writer, and is generally esteemed and respected by all who know him ; he is a man of family, and owns one of the prettiest residences in the beautiful city of Waupun, where he keeps open house; his latch-string is always out; he is a liberal entertainer ; may his shadow never grow less.

GEORGE JESS, banker and capitalist, and Mayor of the city of Waupun ; born Oct. 13, 1819, in Kings Co., Nova Scotia ; son of John L. P. Jess, who was a respected citizen of that county, and lived to be 90 years old ; Mr. Jess came to Walworth Co, Wis., in the spring of 1842, and, in 1845, came to Dodge Co .; he soon purchased a tract of land in Columbia Co., and, in the fall of 1845, went to Fox Lake, Dodge Co .; he purchased the American House, which was but partially completed, finished it and kept tavern till the spring of 1846 ; he had been, all this time, improving his property in Columbia Co .; he became engaged in loaning money and trading, and, in 1850, went across the Plains to California and car ried on an extensive drover's business ; handled cattle from Southern California to San Francisco ; also shipped from Mexico in large droves ; through his energy, made a success, and returned to Fox Lake in

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the fall of 1853, and engaged in loaning money and speculating in land, cattle and hogs; in 1876, went to Waupun and erected one of the finest buildings in the city, and engaged in the banking and exchange business, under the firm name of Geo. Jess & Co .; the concern is on a sound basis and enjoys a prosperous traffic. Mr. Jess married Maria T. Judd, daughter of Stoddard Judd, who was one of the earliest and most prominent settlers in this part of the State; he was one of the framers of the State Constitution, and was in the Assembly and Senate at different times ; he was largely interested in railroads, and was esteemed one of the leading men of those times. Mr. Jess is the father of one child-Stoddard Jess, born Dec. 3, 1856. He married a daughter of B. Chenoweth, one of the first settlers of Monroe, Wis., who is now a prominent merchant of that place. Stoddard Jess is cashier of the bank of Geo. Jess & Co., and has almost the entire charge of the business. Mr. Geo. Jess has been a member of the County Board and held other minor offices, but he is now Mayor of the city of Waupun, and is a prominent Mason.

CHARLES JONES, merchant ; born on Long Island, N. Y., April 30, 1831 ; son of Gen. David W. Jones, who was a soldier in the war of 1812; Mr. Jones, together with his brother, E. W. Jones, under the firm name of C. & E. W. Jones, are extensively engaged in business in Waupun; they carry the largest stock of dry goods, fancy goods and notions in that part of the country ; also deal largely in groceries, hats and caps, in fact, carry a very full and complete line of all goods that are to be found in a first-class establishment of that kind; the firm is favorably known for its fair dealing and earnest endeavors to please its customers, and the fact that they have met with such abundant success is strictly owing to their untiring industry, good management and discretion in purchasing such salable goods as always find a ready market and quick sale.

WILLIAM M. JONES, foundryman ; born in Cortland, Westchester Co., N. Y., June 12, 1822 ; son of Samuel Jones, who was a brave soldier in the war of 1812; his father was Smith Jones, a New York State man, and his father was from Wales; Samuel Jones was a farmer and mechanic ; he died in 1843, at the age of 64; William, when 15 years old, commenced to learn the iron-molder's trade in Peekskill; worked at that trade three and a half years; then went to Lawrenceville, Penn. Married, in 1842, Angelina Herrick, daughter of Job Herrick, who was a native of Vermont ; children are Mary E., now Mrs. Walker, early developed a fine voice for music and is now considered one of the fine singers of the country ; she is now in Chicago; William A., died in 1878; Frances, married A. Freeman and is living in Minnesota; Emma A., married J. H. Robbins and is living in Michigan ; William M., died in infancy ; Evia D., is living at home ; Edgar H., married Emma Baldwin ; he is a molder by trade ; Delia, living at home; Jeff, married a Gamble. Mr. William Jones, after marriage, went to Peekskill and to Port Chester, and then to Troy, N. Y., and to Painted Post, where he engaged in the stove and tinware business; then went to Knoxville, Penn., and to Waukesha, Wis., in 1854, and, in 1856, to Horicon, and, in August, 1873, came to Waupun and has been engaged in the foundry business ever since. Mr. Jones was elected Constable when in Knoxville, and, in Horicon, was Supervisor and on the Village Board. Mr. Jones is a Royal Arch Mason; has been connected with Masonry thirty-five years. Mr. Jones is a man of earnest convictions : if he believes he is right, he " sticks to it;" he has a competence through his hard work and attention to business.

E. W. JONES, merchant ; born in Long Island, in January, 1834; son of Gen. David Jones, who was engaged in the war of 1812. Mr. E. W. Jones commenced business for himself when 16 years old, being engaged in a general store at Huntington, L. I .; then went to New York City, and was there about three years, and came to Waupun, Wis., in August, 1858, and became interested in trade with his brothers under the firm name of C. & E. W. Jones ; they have built up a large and successful business through their honorable dealing and good management, and now carry one of the largest and best assorted stocks of dry goods, boots and shoes, groceries, notions, etc., to be found in this part of the country. Mr. Jones married, in 1864, Margaret Forrest, of New York City ; their children are David W. Jones and Frederick E. Jones. Mr. Jones is a thorough business man, and owes his success to his own personal efforts, guided by shrewd and careful industry.

F. S. KEECH, druggist; was born in the town of Waupun, four miles north of the village, May 28, 1845, and has always lived in the county ; was engaged in the livery business in Waupun, from Aug. 1, 1871, to Aug. 18, 1872; he then went into the drug business, and has followed it ever since in the city of Waupun, where he now resides. Was married, Dec. 24, 1873, to Helen Markle, who was born Dec. 1, 1852, daughter of Thad W. and Nancy Markle, natives of Indiana. Mrs. Keech is a member of the Congregational Church ; has one child-Bessie, born July 27, 1878. Mr. Keech is a son of Isaac and Celinda Keech. Isaac Keech was a native of Susquehanna Co., Penn., and his wife of Cattaraugus Co., N. Y.

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JAMES McELROY, retired farmer; born in County Armagh, North of Ireland, Oct. 17, 1809; son of William McElroy ; his father was John McElroy, and the family originally came from Scotland. William McElroy and family came to Canada in the fall of 1821, and engaged in farming; William died Oct. 8, 1871, at the good old age of 93. James was brought up to work, and, at an early age, earned his own living; he used to chop wood, cleared land for from $2.50 to $6 per acre ; by dint of industry, he accumulated enough money to buy fifty acres of wild land in Canada, which he cleared and sold ; he then bought 100 acres of Church reserve land, worked that till 1836, when he sold out and went to Michigan to settle on ninety-three acres-paid $10 per acre, and afterward sold for $30 per acre, and came to Wis- consin in 1848 (he had been here in 1845 prospecting), and settled on 160 acres in the town of Alto, Waupun and Trenton, then added eighty acres more, and afterward forty more. He now owns one of the finest farms in this part of the country. In May, 1872, he moved in to the city of Waupun; through his industry and untiring energy, now has a competence. Mr. McElroy, in the town of Alto, was Supervisor two years, and County Commissioner two years, and was ten years Chairman of Board of Supervisors. In 1863, was elected to the Assembly, and served on several committees. Married, Jan. 16, 1834, Harriet E. Taylor, daughter of Capt. John Taylor, who was a soldier in the war of 1812; their children are Eliza (married A. Roney), John W. (is farming in the town of Trenton), R. B. McElroy (is in Milwaukee in the commission business, he married a Miss Burnham), Allen T. (married a Miss Ackerman), two children died in infancy. Mr. McElroy and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have been for about forty years ; he has been Class-Leader, Trustee and Steward, most of this time. He has been President of the Old Settlers' Club ever since its organization ; has been President of the Waupun Mutual Insurance Co., ever since it started. He has been an Odd Fellow many years, and has taken all the degrees, and attended the General Lodge, and Mrs. McElroy is a member of the Rebecca Lodge, and she has held all the offices. Mr. McElroy has also been a Mason many years, also belongs to the Temple of Honor and Good Templars. Mr. McElroy owes his success in life to his unceasing hard work, indomitable. perseverance and untiring industry.

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The History of Dodge County, Wisconsin, containing a history of Dodge County, its early settlement, growth, development, resources, etc, Part 95

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