The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Part 104

Author: Wesern historical company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 899

USA > Wisconsin > Rock County > The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc. > Part 104

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The Lodge has now a membership of about fifty, and is in a very flourishing condition, hav- ing property, including cash, worth $700. The present officers are : P. G., N. E. Maxon; N. G., H. H. Stockman ; V. G., Fred Brandt; Secretary, John Stockman ; Treasurer. Joseph King.

Sons of Temperance, Welcome Division, No. 102, was organized March 22, 1875, with the following charter members : Mrs. M. V. Waldron, Hannah Spence, Anna Nelson, Mary Nelson, Cora Holmes, Rev. J. A. Waldron, A. W. Maxon, George H. Butz, M. A. Cornwall, Henry Waldron, J. Wood and Henry Wood. The following is a list of the present officers: W. R., J. S. Badger ; W. A., Miss R. H. Stockman ; R. S., C. E. Badger ; A. R. S., George Mi so; T., R. HI. Stockman ; F. S., C. F. Lane; Chaplain, Mrs. G., W. Barrett; Conductor,

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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

John Stockman ; A. C., Will J. Stockman ; I. S., W. J. Stockman ; O. S., G. W. Barrett; P. W. P., A. M. Miller.

Ladies' Golden Star, I. of T., was organized June 5, 1878, with the following charter members and officers : Mrs. I. J. Greenman, Matron ; Mrs. H. R. Hinkley, R. M .; Mrs. M. Hazard, L. M .; Mrs. George H. Button, Treasurer; Mrs. S. C. Button, Secretary, and Miss Maggie Mouat, C. S. The Lodge now comprises thirty-four members, who meet in Odd Fel- lows' Hall, on the second and fourth Tuesdays in each month. The present officers are the same as those with which the Lodge was organized, with the exception of the office of Treasurer, Secretary and Corresponding Secretary, which are respectively filled by Mrs. Button, Mrs De Lancey Rogers and Mrs. Nettie Mullin.

THE CEMETERY.

The lot (one acre) upon which the quiet little city of the dead is located, was donated by Mr. Henry B. Crandall, and was placed under the control of Trustees on February 6, 1871. They were Stephen E. Butz, Lester F. Rogers, and A. S. Crandall.

On April 15, 1872, it was enlarged by the addition of three-fourths of an acre, and the whole divided into 253 lots, 15 x13. It is a handsome ground, naturally, and its beauty is much heightened by a row of evergreens planted on three sides, and a row of elms on the fourth. It is also intersected with well-kept walks four feet in width, which add very much to its neat appearance. The present trustees are S. D. Butz, I. P. Morgan and L. F. Rogers.

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.

In the year 1861, Mr. I. P. Bullis started a carriage factory in a blacksmith's shop 22x30 feet, but in the course of a few years was obliged to enlarge it to its present capacity of 30x68 feet. He now gives employment to four men, and turns out in the course of a year ninety carriages.

Owing to the inducements held out by the residents of Milton Junction, who promised to give a lot and $250 in money to any person who would erect a planing-mill in the place, Mr. J. C. Rogers, in 1869, built the present structure, but in consequence of his taking into partner- ship Mr. I. D. Tetsworth, whose only crime consisted in his having money, the $250 was never forthcoming.

It was intended originally as a door, sash and blind factory, and the firm invested $1,500 in it, but the business not coming up to his expectations, Mr. Rogers sold out, in 1874, to I. D. Tetsworth & Co., who thereupon invested $20,000 in improvements, principal among which is a two-run feed mill, and turned it into a planing-mill. The firm, as at present constituted, con- sists of Messrs. I. D. Tetsworth, B. F. Tetsworth, and G. S. Larkin, the latter a son-in-law of the old gentleman.

EXPRESS OFFICE.

The first office in Milton was established at the old town in 1852, by the American Express Company, Mr. W. P. Morgan being the agent. He remained in charge until 1864, the greater portion of the time at Milton Junction, when Mr. A. O. Perkins assumed charge of it, and was succeeded by Mr. Charles Potter, who kept it until 1866, being in turn succeeded by Mr. H. R. Hinkley, the present incumbent, under whose administration the two companies, United States and American, do a joint business of $5,000 per annum.

FULTON VILLAGE.

Away off among the hills and in a sequestered nook on the banks of the Catfish Creek, called by courtesy a river, stands this little village of 150 souls. Its communication with the outside world is held by way of a good road to Edgerton, four miles distant, where it comes in connection with the iron road of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway.

Its first introduction to civilization was made in 1846, when Mr. Emanuel Corker arrived from Whitewater and erected a frame house upon the site now occupied by Mr. White, the pro- prietor of the mill. While living there, and before he was disturbed in his solitude he

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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

commenced the erection of a grist-mill, the same which still, by the creaking of its wheel, reads to mankind the ever-to-be-remembered proverb, " The mill can never grind again with the water that is past." He was not permitted, however, to enjoy his seclusion long, for he was speedily joined by James Merwin, Edward Hyland, Nelson Coon, David L. Mills and Stiles Hakes, all of whom located in that neighborhood.

About that time, also, came Mr. Henry M. Dickinson, who was destined to play an important part in the administration of affairs in the settlement, inasmuch as he, very soon after his arrival, opened the first store in the village.

As the place had so soon attained to the dignity of a store, the propriety of openings tavern impressed itself upon the minds of the residents, who thereupon aided and abetted Mr. Nelson Coon in the erection of a hotel, which was subsequently opened by Mr. Phillip Davault, under the sign of the " Fulton House," which name it still bears, although it is now under the proprietorship of Mr. Spencer Gove.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

With an increased population, came a desire for some of the comforts incidental to & gath- ering together of old-time friends, principal among which was the wish to celebrate divine worship in a becoming manner. Accordingly, in 1851, the following persons assembled and organized a Church of the above denomination, viz. : Mr. and Mrs. Thaddeus Bowman, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Raymond, Mr. and Mrs. E. J. K. Wallen, Mrs. T. E. Green, Mr. Robert T. Powell, Mrs. Lucius H. Page and Mr. and Mrs. F. G. Green.

For some time, religious worship was held in the schoolhouse, the first ministers in the place being the Rev. Mr. Reese, a Baptist minister, and the Rev. Levi Schofield, a minister of the Presbyterian Church, who preached on alternate Sundays. This mode of keeping the Sabbath Day holy did not long continue, however, for, in the following year, the residents commenced the erection of the present brick church upon a lot, the property of Mr. Webster Pease, for which they had traded one, the gift of a Mr. Keep, a resident of New York City. It is a hand- some little building, capable of seating two hundred persons, and, when finished, cost $3,000. The present membership is about one hundred and twenty persons.

Following is a list of the ministers from the date of the organization to the present time: Rev. Francis Lawson, Rev. Robert Sewell, Rev. Franklin Sherrell, Rev. D. W. Comstock, Rev. Hanaford Fowle, Rev. Milton Wells and Rev. Oscar J. May, the present incumbent.

The Church has now a membership of about one hundred and twenty-five members, and is in a very prosperous condition.

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.

Down upon the banks of Catfish Creek, already mentioned, stands an unpretentious build- ing which, as far as looks are concerned, might be anything but the creamery of Mr. James Clough, which has not only the honor of being the first if not the only one in Fulton Town- ship, but has the additional honor of being the first in Rock County. It was established in 1857 by the present proprietor, who, in that year, turned out 38,000 pounds of butter, and, last year, made no less than 50,000 pounds and a similar number of pounds of cheese. The material necessary for the manufacture of such large quantities of butter and cheese is obtained from the farmers within a radius of from six to eight miles, and gives constant employment to six teamsters drawing it in.

The arrangement of the interior is very systematic, and must have cost considerable time and skill in the carrying-out of the plans. There are two large milk-rooms, containing four wooden tables, with a ledge around them, upon which the cans of milk are placed. Around them is permitted to flow large quantities of water, which is pumped from the creek by a force- pump attached to a shaft driven by water-power. This has the effect of cooling the temperature of the milk, which, when ready, is placed in a large churn holding about fifty pounds, which is then set in motion by a large dash attached by a centrifugal wheel to the shaft before mentioned.

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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY.

A better idea of the magnitude of the business may be gained, perhaps, when it is stated that, last year, Mr. Clough paid out $700 per month for milk and wages-the latter to ten per- sons. He has now about $2,000 invested in it, and is shipping his product to Boston, Phila- delphia and New York, and expects, this fall, to send a quantity to Europe, a market with which he is not entirely unfamiliar, inasmuch as he has already sent large quantities of cheese there. He gives employment to ten persons.

The grist-mill now owned by the Messrs. White Bros. was purchased by them some ten years ago. As before stated, it was built by Mr. Corker about 1846, and, after passing through numerous hands, was purchased by them for $15,500. It is now a four-run mill, with a capacity of fifty barrels per day. They ship to Buffalo, N. Y., and give employment to four men. The firm have about $20,000 invested, and are doing a very good business.

THE FIRST SCHOOLHOUSE

was established in a frame building erected in 1847, by Mr. David L. Mills, now a resident of Evansville, which remained in use until 1864, when the present brick building was erected at a cost of $3,400. The present Principal is Miss Etta Warner, who has dominion over forty-five of the little ones who give their attendance there.

The first Sunday school was started in 1849, under the superintendency of Mr. Frank Sayre, who has retained charge of it ever since. He has an average attendance of about fifty scholars.

THE CEMETERY

was located in 1861, upon two acres of ground donated by Mr. Ephraim Sayre, who had it divided into lots. It is well taken care of by the residents of Fulton, and contains many handsome monuments. The present Trustees are Messrs. Fred Green and Frank Sayre.

COOKSVILLE.

in the town of Porter, was laid out in 1842, by Mr. John Cook, who purchased the west half of Section 6, and platted a few acres which he called by the above name. In the same year, he built a saw-mill on the Bad Fish Creek, and, in 1844, sold out to John Shepard, who forthwith commenced the erection of a grist-mill, which is still standing. It was completed in 1847, and. after numerous changes, passed into the hands of the present owners, Messrs. Rice & Barber. As at present constituted, it is a three-run mill, with a capacity of from thirty to forty barrels per- day. In 1845, two years prior to its completion, a room in it was used as a meeting-house by the Free Baptist Society.

The first store in the village was opened in 1845. by John D. Chambers, who did a thriv- ing business. In the same year, the owner of the east half of Section 6 platted the ground on the east side of Main street, and laid out the village of Waucoma.

The first post office was established in 1849, the mail being carried on horseback from Union, on the main stage-road from Janesville to Madison, the officer in charge being J. D. Chambers, who held it for a number of years, when he was succeeded by John Collins. The. present Postmaster is B. S. Hoxie-C. H. Woodbury, Assistant.

One of the first doctors to settle in the place was a Swede, named Smedt, who was as much noted for his piety as for his profanity. Upon one occasion, he was engaged in sewing up the throat of a man named Buzzell, who had concluded not to remain longer in this vale of tears. The man being nearly unconscious, resisted somewhat, when the doctor asked, "What you cut your froat for, Bossell ? do you know you go right straight to hell ?" which was, to say the. least of it, consoling.

The Church has always been represented here. In 1847, the Methodists established a cir- cuit preacher, and organized a class, and, about the year 1860, the Congregationalists organized a church, holding regular service in the commodious brick schoolhouse. This year, they com- menced the erection of a church edifice ; B. S. Hoxie, architect and builder.

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HISTORY OF ROCK COUNTY. .

The village at present supports two stores, one grist-mill, two blacksmith-shops, one agri- cultural implement shop, one tin-shop, and a cheese factory. The other buildings are a Masonic Hall and Good Templars' Hall, and a brick schoolhouse.

The early settlers now remaining are Joseph K. P. Porter, J. D. Seaver, John Savage, Harrison Stebbens, Thomas Morgan, F. W. Seaver, J. T. Dow, B. S. Hoxie, Earle Woodbury and Hamilton Wells. Among the early settlers were also A. Wells, Allen Hoxie, Daniel Cook, Ahel Shepard and George Cook.

INDIAN FORD.

so called because, in 1836, Black Hawk and his braves forded the Catfish River on the site of what is now the village-owes its existence to a Mr. Guy Stoughton and his brother Clouden Stoughton, who obtained a charter of the water-power from the Government; erected a dam there and built a mill, in 1843. Mr. Guy Stoughton, the gentleman to whom the credit of the latter work must be given, was the first bona-fide settler and claim-holder on the village plat, and erected the first house thereon. Mr. Silas Hurd and Mr. George E. Cowan were the first settlers in the neighborhood, Mr. Hurd selecting the site of his present farm one mile from the ford, in 1838.

The first store and tavern in the village were kept in 1840, by a man named Ellett, in a portion of the building now occupied by Mr. Robert Johnson.

The first school was opened about 1842, in a frame building, which was erected at a cost of $500, the money being all collected by subscription. The first Trustees were Messrs. James White and Silas Hurd. The present are Messrs. R. N. Johnson, Edwin Schofield and Silas Hurd. The present Principal is Mr. John Call. The manufacturing interests are represented by two grist-mills, each of which is a three-run mill, and does a small amount of business. The rest of the business is confined to a blacksmith-shop run by Mr. E. H. Rogers, and a store and saloon combined, run by a gentlemen known to his compatriots as " Bob " Johnson, who, how- ever, is a very popular man, and has the respect and friendship of every one in that locality.

JANES' SETTLEMENT.

near Johnstown, derives its name from the settlement there, in 1842, of the Janes family. It at present consists of the residences of about a dozen families and a church, erected in 1861 by the Free Will Baptists, at a cost of about $2,000. It is a frame building, with a seating capac- ity of about two hundred, but the present membership is not more than one hundred.

OLD JOHNSTOWN.

so called in contra distinction to Johnstown Center, is a village of about one hundred persons in the town of Johnstown. It owes its existence, in a great measure, to the presence of Messrs. Carter, Fletcher. Cammell and Hill, who settled on the location of the village about 1839, and built the first house. In the matter of religion, the people are not behindhand, as they have a very good frame church, erected by the Presbyterians some years ago.

The business portion of the village consists of a blacksmith-shop, wagon-shop and a shoe- maker's shop.

JOHNSTOWN CENTER.

was first located in 1837, by Norman Smith, who made a claim on the present site of the village, on the property owned by Henry P. Johnson. The residents now number about one hundred and fifty persons, and appear very well to do. Among the institutions of the village is a fine frame church, built in 1847 for a Free Church, at a cost of about $2,000. The first minister was Elder Mills, who came and preached there about the time the church was finished, but the pastorate is vacant at present.

The business portion of the village consists of two blacksmith-shops, two stores, a very good frame hotel-the Johnson House-a shoemaker's shop and a post office.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ABBREVIATIONS.

... Company or county

....... dealer

P. O ......

W. V. I. Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry

Pust Utilice W. V. A ............ Wisconsin Volunteer Artillery

8. or Sec.

.. Section

st .. street W. V. C .... . Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry

CITY OF JANESVILLE.

J. G. ALDEN, grocer ; born in Union, Knox Co., Me., March 1, 1819 ;. was in grocery business in Bangor till 1846, then came to Janesville, where he continued in the same business. Married Alvitia Miller, of Bangor, in October, 1842; she was born in Wiscasset, Me. They have two children-Frank and Louise. Mr. Alden has been Coroner of Rock Co .; Deputy Sheriff four years ; Supervisor of Rock, ten years, and Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms, one term in Madison Legislature.

JAMES M. ALDEN, brickmaker ; born in Claremont, N. H., Feb. 9, 1813. Married Cath- erine Alden May 1, 1837; she was born Aug. 14, 1811. They have six children living-lost two; those living are Albert, Edward, Levi, Emma, Mary and Rose, aged 41, 39, 37, 35, 29 and 28 years, respectively. Mr. Alden came to Janesville in the fall of 1845 ; he made the brick for the first church built in Janesville.

E. C. BAILEY, Superintendent of cotton-batting mills; came to Janesville March 17, 1875 ; was previously engaged in same business in North Adams, Mass., where he also manufactured carpet warp and wrapping twine. He was born in Williamstown, Mass., Nov. 11, 1845. Married Jane E. Tower March 13, 1845; she was born in the town of Petersburg, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., March, 1847. They have two children-Arthur E. and Walter R., aged 12 and 8 years, respectively. The family attend M. E. Church. Mr. Bailey belongs to the Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and Sons of Temperance.

JOSEPH BAKER (deceased ), Janesville. The subject of this sketch was born at Concord, N. H., June 13, 1806; his father shortly afterward removed to Canada, and engaged in farming in that new and primitive country. Here the boy grew up to manhood, with no educational advantages except such as the district schools of that time afforded, save, perhaps, one term at an academy. At the age of 21, he shouldered his pack and made his way back to New Hampshire. After hard work and many dis- couragements, he returned again to Canada. In time, he studied theology with Rev. Joseph Ward, a Universalist minister, and was ordained at Stanstead, L. C., Oct. 3, 1833, as a minister in the Northern Association of Universalists. He married Alzina Ward, a daughter of his preceptor, May 12, 1836 ; preached in Vermont, Canada, and different points in New York, coming to the village of Janesville in June, 1850, from Glens Falls, N. Y. He was for ten years, or more, the Pastor of the Universalist Society in Janesville, the services being held in the old wooden Court House surmounting the hill, which primitive temple of justice was finally destroyed by an incendiary fire. In January, 1853, Mr. Baker enteredupon his dutiess aeditor of the Janesville Free Press, a paper published by an association of Free Democrats. By a notable coincidence, the first number of the sheet in question was issued on the day of the celebration of the first arrival of a train on the railroad, then the Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad. He remained at the head of this paper until 1866, striking vigorous blows for human freedom, and against the exactions of the slave power. Afterward, he was editor of the Delavan Messenger, Albany Times and Janes- ville Republican, from the sanctum of which last paper he went into the army, enlisting as a private in Co. E, 13th W. V. I., notwithstanding that his age, 55, exempted him. As a soldier, he did duty in the hospital department, caring for his sick comrades until his health gave way, and he was mustered out in 1863. Ait

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

the war, he was twice elected Justice of the Peace, in Janesville. He died Feb. 20, 1873, and his funeral services were conducted by the Odd Fellows, of which Order he had been many years a prominent mem- ber. His remains rest in Oak Hill Cemetery.

" After life's fitful fever. he sleeps well."

Joseph Baker, in the language of his cotemporaries, was " a clergyman of unusual power, and a rig. orous newspaper writer; " " a man of ability and influence ; his integrity and moral character were never called in question." He was a self-made man, working his way up in the face of all the obstacles incident to pioneer life, such as we in this later day know nothing of, except by hearsay. His widow died in November, 1878. His son, C. W. Baker, is still a resident of Janesville.

CAPT. C. W. BAKER, printer ; son of Rev. Joseph Baker, a Universalist clergyman, who edited the first Republican paper in Janesville; Capt. B. was born in Cambridge, Vt., March 10, 1842; has followed the printing business more or less since 1853. Enlisted in 1861, in the 13th W. V. L., Co. B; in 1862, was transferred to the 22d Wis .; afterward promoted to Captain of Co. A, 14th U. S. C. I .; served till April 26, 1866; about this time, was promoted to Brevet Major of U. S. V. for distin- guished gallantry at Decatur, Ala., and Nashville ; was taken prisoner March 5, 1863, and confined in Libby Prison until paroled ; belonged while in service to the Department of the Cumberland, and was through the various campaigns of this Division. Married Texanna Burgess on Christmas, 1865; she was born in Janesville March 14, 1845 ; they have had three children, one living-Nellie C., born June 2, 1877; Gage B. and Mary V. deceased. Mr. B. lived several years in Chattanooga after the close of the war ; was most of the time engaged in the newspaper business. He was commissioned first Captain of Janesville Veterans, but has recently resigned.

JOSEPH P. BAKER, of the firm of Stearns & Baker, druggists; was born in Philadel- phia; came to Rock Co. with his parents in 1854, and is a son of John and Margaret Baker, now resi- dents of Janesville; Mr. J. P. B. learned the drug business in the store of Andrew Palmer, of this city: was with him nine years; afterward for three years was a commercial traveler; in October, 1878, formed a copartnership with Henry C. Stearns. Married Janet M. Galletly Oct. 23, 1874 ; she was born on Long Island, N. Y .; have one daughter-Jennie M.

GEORGE BARNES, flouring-mills; came to Milwaukee in October, 1842; remained there till December, 1843, when he came to Janesville; engaged in business as contractor and builder till 1871. when he commenced his present business. Mr. B. served one term as Alderman of the Second Ward. two terms in Third Ward, serving in that position at the present time. Married Jane E. Allen in July, 1843 ; they have one daughter-Mary A., now the wife of C. W. Hobson, of Janesville.

DR. L. J. BARROWS, born in Otsego Co., N. Y .; he is a graduate of Williams College. N. Y., and the Buffalo Medical University ; for a short time previous to his removal to Janesville, he practiced in the N. Y. State Lunatic Asylum ; came to Janesville in 1850, and has been engaged in the practice of his profession ever since; he also carried on a drug business from 1853 to 1858. Has been Trustee of the Wisconsin Blind Institute, Clerk of the School Board, Director of the First National Bank ; was for several years Chairman of the Inspecting Committee of the Wisconsin State Hospital for the Insane.

JOHN M. BAUMAN, proprietor of saloon and bottler of beer, etc .; born in Germany July 14, 1839; came to Watertown, Wis., in 1862 and to Janesville in 1863; engaged in farming for two years, afterward for eight years was foreman of Rogers' (now Buobs') Brewery ; since then, he has been engaged in the saloon business, and, in 1878, added the bottling department. He is President of the Concordia Society, and has been connected with it since the first year of its organization ; he is also a member of the A. O. U. W. Married Miss Hannah Stenge Sept. 25, 1868; she was born in Germany: they have four children-Augusta, born Aug. 5, 1869; George, July 30, 1871 ; Edward. Dec. 30, 1872; John, Dec. 2, 1875.

ENSIGN H. BENNETT, capitalist ; born in Batavia, Genesee Co., N. Y .; removed from there to Janesville in June, 1844; engaged in general merchandise business in September, 1844, which he carried on until 1850; from then to 1854, was in dry-goods business exclusively. In 1852, he was elected President of the S. Wis. R. R. Co., and had control of the business of that Company for about two years ; since then he has devoted his attention to real estate and other investments.

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The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Part 104

Author: Wesern historical company, Chicago, pub Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co. Number of Pages: 899

Author: Wesern historical company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 899