The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Part 108

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 108

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).

ALLEN P. LOVEJOY was born at Wayne, Me., March 21, 1825, and is the son of Nathan Lovejoy, a pioneer of that State. The family is of English Puritan origin, and has produced some of the most noted men in American history. The distinguished Elijah and Owen Lovejoy, of Illinois, were of the same lineage, and educated in the same academy with our subject, who received his education in the Wesleyan Seminary of Readfield, Me. He was raised on a farm and early imbued with habits of industry and self-reliance, which have been among the leading characteristics of his life. At the age of 18, he taught a public school in his native State, and, in the year following, was apprenticed to learn the carpenter and builder's trade, at which he subsequently worked in Maine for some years, but the larger possibilities of the undeveloped country of the great Northwest induced him, in 1850, to break loose from his Eastern home, and come to the promising State of Wisconsin. At the age of 25 years, he landed in Janesville with a very small stock of this world's goods, having made the journey from Milwaukee to Janesville on foot. For nine years after his arrival, he was engaged in building, and being a superior mechanic, as well as a man of stern integrity and high business qualifications, his success was in proportion to his merits. In 1859, he added to his business a lumber-yard, which proved so successful, that he resolved to dis- continue building, and devote himself exclusively to the sale of lumber, in 1863, 1870, 1874; since then, he has enlarged his business, until he is the head of several extensive lumber firms in this State, and is largely engaged in the lumbering business of Northern Wisconsin, having purchased about twenty-five thousand acres of valuable pine land there. He is also connected with various other industries and enterprises in Janesville. He is a large stockholder in the Harris Manufacturing Company, of which he was elected a Director, in 1870, and President, in 1875, which position he now holds. Mr. Lovejoy now represents. this district in the State Legislature, having been elected by a flattering majority, in 1878.

ALEXANDER McALPIN, harness-maker; born in Cazenovia, Madison Co., N. Y., Aug. 22, 1842; came to Beloit in 1850; attended Beloit High School ; settled in Janesville thirteen years ago, and has been in present business seven years at this place. Married Ellen Lawler Oct. 6, 1865 ; she was born Sept. 13, 1842. Mr. McAlpin enlisted March 12, 1862, in Battery M., 2d Ill. Light Artillery, and was mustered out June 26, 1865; was in the battles of Knoxville, Blue Springs, Greeneville, Harper's Ferry and Rogersville; was 2d Sergeant in Battery ; is a Republican.

REV. T. W. MAC LEAN, Rector of Trinity Church ; born in Cheshire, England, March 6, 1848; came to America in 1854 ; graduated at Racine College, in 1871, and at Nashotah Theological Seminary, in 1874 ; was ordained at Indianapolis same year, and immediately took the position as assistant minister of St. Paul's Cathedral, at Indianapolis, serving in this capacity one year and a half, then had charge of the Missions at Lawrenceburg and Aurora, Ind., and built the church at Aurora; came to Janes. ville July, 1878, where he now presides, in charge of Trinity Episcopal Church. Married Fannie Apple- ton, September, 1877 ; she was born in San Jose, Cal., in 1856.

DR. GEORGE H. McCAUSEY, Janesville; was born in Marcellus, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Aug. 28, 1843, his parents being Charles and Mary (Watts) McCausey; his father was descended 2

714

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

from Scotch ancestors, who were among the first settlers of New York City, and was a man possessed of forethought, sagacity and a stern persistence; his mother was possessed of exquisite tastes, being an enths- siastic lover of the fine arts and an incessant reader, and showed more than ordinary interest in the educa- tion of her son; she kept him in some of the best institutions of learning in New York State until her death, which occurred in 1860, when his studies were temporarily interrupted; he had been an ardent student of different branches of natural science, having a special partiality for the study of chemistry and the modern languages, his early intention being to prepare himself for teaching ; the next four years of his life, however, were devoted to farm labor, which was contrary to his natural tastes, accordingly, at the age of 21 years, being free to follow his inclinations, he bid farewell to the home of his youth, and entered upon the study of the profession of which he is now one of the foremost members; his education in the art of dentistry extending over a period of nearly nine years, was thorough and complete ; he removed to Janesville in the fall of 1872 with small means, but full of youthful vigor he procured an office and com- menced work ; he soon made numerous friends, and established a profitable business; now, after seven years effort, he finds himself enjoying a lucrative practice, with the growing respect and esteem of a constantly widening circle of friends and patrons. He is a member of the Janesville Chapter, No. 5, R. A. M .; Western Star Lodge, No. 14, A., F. & A. M .; Memorial Lodge, Knights of Honor, No. 318; Wisconsin Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 14, and a member of the Crystal Temple of Honor, No. 32, an advanced temper- ance organization ; he is also incumbent of the chair of Junior Warden of Western Star Lodge, A., F. & A. M. On the 25th of June, 1872, he married Miss Estelle A. Reynolds at Auburn, N. Y., she being a native of Lowell, Mass. ; he resided at Auburn, being connected with the office of Dr. G. W. Tripp (one of the most prominent dentists of Central New York ) prior to removing to Janesville in the autumn of that year.

H. D. McKINNEY, born in Tolland Co., Conn., March 1, 1833, but lived till his 19th year in Springfield, Mass .; then went to New York City and spent nine years in mercantile business ; from 1861 to 1865, was general contractor for the Government; among the large contracts, Mr. Mckinney delivered to the United States Government Post at Nashville 56,000 cords of wood in the brief space of twenty-one months. He married Laura Irwin in January, 1864 ; she was born at Nashville in 1843; they have three children-Harry, Maude Irwin and Laura Theresa, aged 14, 12 and 10 years. Mr. M. came to Janesville in 1867, and was soon after elected Alderman, in which office he served two years. He is a Mason, and also a member of the Royal Arcanum.

CAPT. WILLIAM MACLOON, real estate; born in town of Bath, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Province of Maine, Nov. 20, 1807 ; son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth Macloon; came to Rock Co. from Boston, in 1845, and settled at Janesville, after having sailed the ocean as master of many vessels for years in general freighting business between Boston, the South of Europe and the West Indies. also in the cotton trade from New Orleans to Buenos Ayres, Cape of Good Hope, Soldina Bay, Bahia, St. Thomas, and back to Boston ; on his last trip on the Atlantic he lost the bark Juan, on the south side of Cuba, from Montego Bay bound to Fagua to fill up for Bremen-(on the coral reefs ); he was part owner: he made a purchase of a saw mill situated on Rock River, at Janesville, and continued there till 1853; built his present residence in 1846, the first substantial frame house west of the river, and no doubt it was built after the ship-builders' style, to stand the gales, and weather the storms of ages ; there is not a crack or a rent in it; in 1853 he entered the real-estate business. purchased a quarter-section in Town 3, Range 12, Sec. 33, in 1845, and has been improving it since ; he raises horses, sheep, cattle and hogs; owns the Philadelphia Drug Store building and Post-office building one-half with O. B. Ford. Married, in 1832. Miss Christianna Bennett; have two children-William H. Harrison and Helen A .; family attend the Congregational Church.

PERCY F. MaGEE, farmer, Sec. 9; P. O. Janesville; born in 1857, in Warren Co., Penn .. near Oil City ; came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1865, resided here ever since ; was educated at Janesville High School; owns 160 acres all pretty much under cultivation ; is a son of the deceased Mr. Henry Magee, who was born in 1827 and died February, 1866; was in the lumber and oil business in Pennsyl -. vania before coming to Wisconsin. Mr. P. F. Magee's mother, whose name was formerly Morrison, is also a native of Pennsylvania ; his brother, Master Arland E. Magee, born in 1862, also resides with him on his farm.

DR. C. LOFTUS MARTIN, veterinary surgeon ; born in Nottinghamshire, England, May. 1804, and son of John Martin, a farmer by occupation, and, what was a very unusual thing in his country. owned the land which he cultivated ; Charles passed his youth upon this farm, walking four miles to the village school ; at that time, the only schooling to be obtained was at colleges ; Dr. Martin, not being the eldest son, had no claim to the landed estate, and, at the age of 18, started for London, where, for three

715

CITY OF JANESVILLE.

years, he was a student of St. George's Hospital, thence to the Veterinary College, London, from which he graduated, then went into business and two years after married the daughter of his partner, and lived in one house nineteen years, till 1847, when he emigrated to America ; after spending one year in traveling through different parts of the United States he settled in Beloit, in 1848; here he purchased a fine farm. and lived upon it six years, when, upon the death of his wife, he sold his property and removed to Janes- ville, his present home; in 1857, he established himself as a veterinary surgeon ; he rapidly grew into an extensive practice, and has obtained a good reputation as a thoroughly qualified surgeon ; Dr. Martin has been identified with the Republican party from its beginning in the State, and is a hearty supporter of its principles but not such an enthusiast as to at all times and at all places indorse its acts ; he has been honored with places of trust; was appointed, by Governor Randall, Colonel of Militia; assisted in the organization of the Rock County Agricultural Society, of which he was President ; has also been connected with the State Agricultural Society as an active officer from its beginning, being at this time its Vice President; he has long been prominently connected with the Masonic fraternity of Wisconsin, bringing with him high testimonials from the Grand L dge of England, and has implicit faith in the teachings of the Order; has belonged to the Masons from their beginning in Wisconsin ; in 1853, was elected Grand Master of Royal and Select Masters of the State of Wisconsin, and was three times re-elected ; he is at present a permanent member of the Grand Lodge; was elected Grand Senior Wurden in 1873, also Grand Scribe in Grand Chapter; was many years High Priest of Janesville Chapter, and also Master of Janesville Lodge; has been Eminent Commander of Janesville Commandery, and is now an officer of the Commandery ; he is an Episcopalian. and has been for many years one of the Vestrymen of Christ Church ; he is warmly attached to its prin- ciples, and labors for its interests. Dr. M. married Miss Ann Crenk, the daughter of his former partner ; Mrs. Martin died at Beloit in 1855, leaving no children ; the Doctor, however, adopted a niece, Miss Ann Cronk, daughter of his wife's brother, who repays his care of her with filial affection ; she is now Mrs. James Hemming, and resides with her adopted father in Janesville; Dr. M. was the first President of St. George's Society.

JAMES R. MOLE, farmor, Sec. 26; P. O. Janesville; born in Otsego Co., Butternut Township. N. Y., in 1830; came to Wisconsin in 1844, locating in Fulton, Rock Co .; in 1863, moved to Albion, living there five years; moved back to Fulton, then moved and settled on present homestead of fifty seven acres, all under cultivation. Married Elmira M. C'con, daughter of Nelson Coon, of Fulton Township, 1863; she was born in 1840.

SYLVESTER MORGAN was born in the town of Scott, Cortland Co. N. Y .. Jan. 10. 1828, and is the son of Horatio N. and Minerva Hardy Morgan. both of whom were natives of New York State and of English descent. The subject of this sketch was educated at the Cortland Academy, taught school in his native county several terms ; in 1849, I.e was Superintendent of Schools for the town of Scott, a position which he held for two years, also teaching during the winter months; in the month of April, 1852. he was married to Miss Sarah M., daughter of Rev. Henry Anthony, a Baptist clergyman of his neighborhood, and soon afterward settled on a faim, to which he devoted his undivided attention for three years ; in the spring of 1854, he made a prospecting visit to Wisconsin, and purchased a quarter-section of land in the town of Lima, Rock Co., and in the autumn of the same year he removed with his family to what has since been his home; in 1857, he was e'ceted Justice of the Peace, and since then he has held various positions-Superinten lent of Schools for the town of Lima, Chairman of the Board of Supervi- sois of his town, holding the position in all seven years: he was President of the Lima Mutual Fire Insurance Company from the time of its organization in 1872 until January 1, 1877 ; in 1876, he was first elected Clerk of the county of Rock, re-elected in 1878, being the present incumbent of that office. Ilis umon with Miss Anthony has been blessed with two children-Willis Benton, born in April, 1853, aud Harold, April 1856.

CHARLES E. MOSELEY, of Moseley & Bro., booksellers and stationers; born in Glas- tonbuy. Conn .: erme to Janesville in May, 1856, and has been engaged in his present business ever since.

PETER MURTY, Janceville (sul uils) ; P. O. Janesville; torn in county Louth, Ireland, 1823; came to America in 1848, locating in Oswego Co., N. Y., having there four years; moved to Wis- cousin, Iceating in Janesville ; lived here ever since. except what time he was engaged in the timber business in the pincries of Wisconsin : bought his present homestead in 1870. Maricd Anna Ilernon, a native of Kings Co., Ireland ; have five children-Themas, Jeseph, Mary Anne, Elizabeth Agnes and Mary Theresa. Politics, Irdependent : religion, Roman Catholic.

PETER MYERS, owner and propricter of the Myers Ilouse ; born in France; is the son of Peter Myers, who served in the grand army of Napoleon the First. Peter Myers, Jr., came to Stark Co., Ohio, in 1832; in 1833, he removed to Buffalo, N. Y., and Icarned the business of a butcher, which he-

716

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

carried on until he came to Janesville, in March, 1844; carried on the same business here for fifteen years ; Mr. Myers then built the well-known hotel, the Myers House, and erected one of the most elegan. opera-houses in the Northwest, and is the owner of some of the finest buildings, both for residence an business purposes, in the State ; he has been prominently connected with various business enterprises like to result in benefit to the city ; he is a Director of the Janesville Cotton Manufacturing Company. Ma ried Julia Blakeslee, a native of Pennsylvania, in July, 1846; they have four sons and one daughter. N. NEWELL, retired; born in Bradford, Vt., July 6, 1799. Married Elizabeth Peabody N. 14, 1828, who was a distant relative of the London bauker by the same name; she was born in Bradford Mass,. Sept. 24, 1802. Mr. N. first came to Janesville in 1836, and was the second man who settled in this vicinity, Mr. Janes being the only one before him. Mr. N., after one year, went to La Porte, Ivod., and lived ten years ; then returned to Rock Co., and lived in Johnstown Center ten years, and, in 1854, settled permanently in Janesville; Mr. N. spent some time, during these carly years, in traveling on the various rivers of the Western wild+; was up and down the Maumee River in 1834, and, in traveling through these sections, often forded streams, and then, in this drenched condition, would sleep out of doors. exposed to cold and rigorous weather ; he traveled up and down the entire length of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, as well as others; often met large bands of Indians in the wilds of the forest, but was never molested. They have three children-Eliza Jane, born Sept. 22, 1829; married Dr. Theodore Treat ; they have one son-Theodore N., born July 10, 1851, and now practicing law in Ottawa, Ill .; also, one daughter, Kittie, born March 23, 1853. The second daughter, Julia N., was born Nov. 2, 1832; she married Dr. Abraham Jackson ; the third daughter married B. G. Webster; they have one son- Frank N., born Aug. 17, 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Newell are members of the Baptist Church.

E. NEWMAN, head miller in Ford's mills; came to Janesville in 1859 from Akron, O., where he was also head miller. Mr. N. was born in England Aug. 2, 1833; served seven years apprenticeship there and had charge of a sixteen-run mill at Bridgewater, Eng .; has been thirty-three years in present business. Married Elizabeth B. Leaver in 1853; she was born in Bridgewater, Somersetshire, Eng., in 1834; they have one child, Henry J., born in February, 1854; he now has charge of a large mill in Kansas. Mr. E. Newman is a member of the Court Street M. E. Church, and belongs to the Odd Fel- lows Lodge No. 90, also to the Western Star Lodge of Masons.

DR. M. A. NEWMAN, dentist; born in Alexandria, Jefferson Co., N. Y., April 16, 1841. In 1857, he moved to Binghamton, N. Y. In May, 1861, he enlisted, under the first call of the Presi- dent, in Co. D, 27th N. Y. V. I .; was in the first battle of Bull Run; he afterward re enlisted as Orderly Sergeant, in Co. F, 155th N. Y. V. I .; served one year in this regiment and was then transferred to the Provost Marshal's Department of New York, serving thus till the close of the war. Dr. N. prac- ticed dentistry eight years in Binghamton, N. Y .; in 1873, graduated at the Pennsylvania Dental School, and came to Janesville in the spring of the same year, where he has since devoted himself more especially to operative dentistry, performing all the various surgical operations upon the natural teeth, Dr. N. is a member of the Odd Fellows, and is, at present, First Lieutenant of the "Janesville Guards."

JAMES O'FLAHERTY, farmer, Sec. 17; P. O. Janesville; born in Franklin Co., N. Y., in 1844; came to Wisconsin with his parents the same year ; always followed farming as an occupation; owns 160 acres of land, and on his father's death, succeeded him in his farm adjoining. Married Miss Elizabeth Britt, a native of Worcester, Mass., May 1, 1878. Raises barley, oats, wheat and corn. Are members of the Roman Catholic Church.

HENRY PALMER, M. D. One of the most distinguished and successful physicians and surgeons of Wisconsin ; is a native of New Hartford, Oneida Co., N. Y., where he was born July 30, 1827. His father, Ephraim Palmer, who, at this writing, is living at Edgerton, in this State, was a farmer, and from early boyhood until he reached the age of 13, Henry worked on the farm with unceasing indus- try, the only relaxation being his attendance at the district school in the winter season. At 19, he began an academic course at the Whitestown and Cazenovia Seminaries, and from these he entered upon a course of teaching, and the money he obtained from this source was judiciously used in paying the cost of his early medical studies. By the time he was 21, his health gave way, and, as a means to restore it, he took passage on a vessel which accompanied the Grinnell Expedition to the Arctic Regions, in 1849, and was absent six months, and during the time touched at many points in Greenland and Hudson Bay.

In 1851, with good health, powerful energy, and well-directed ambition, he entered the office of Drs. March & Armsby, at Albany, N. Y., who, at that time, were eminent physicians, and Professors in the Albany Medical College. In this year, he was married to Miss Edna A. Hoyt. He was graduated from the Albany Medical College in 1854, and so conspicuous was he in high standing in the graduating class, that he was immediately appointed resident surgeon at the Marshall Infirmary at Troy, N. Y., a position

717

CITY OF JANESVILLE.

which he had the honor of filling for two years. He decided to enter a broader field, however, and with his family, he came West in 1856, and settled in Janesville. His ambition did not slumber, and his zeal for his profession did not abate ; and, of course, prosperity attended him from the start, not only pecuni- arily, but in his treatment of complicated diseases, and in successfully performing the most difficult surgical operations. His reputation soon became State-wide, and every year increased the demand for his services, and added laurels to his professional career.

Soon after the war broke out, in 1861, Dr. Palmer was commissioned Surgeon of the 7th Wisconsin Infantry, and joined the Army of the Potomac. His prominence in the profession gave him a command- ing influence, but without seeking the position, he was commissioned a Brigade Surgeon by President Lincoln, on the 4th of April, 1862, and assigned for duty to the famous " Iron Brigade." But he did not stop here. He was next placed on duty at York, Penn., when the construction and the superintendency of the largest hospital in the United States were placed in his hands. Mrs. D. L. Dix, a distinguished hospital nurse, who was appointed Superintendent of hospital nurses by a special act of Congress, in 1861, pronounced the York Hospital, as conducted by Dr. Palmer, the best in the United States.

In the summer of 1863, and only a few days before the battle of Gettysburg, Gen. Early, with a force of several thousand rebel raiders, made an attack on York for the purpose of capturing the Government stores and taking the convalescent prisoners This movement of the rebels met with prompt resistance on the part of Dr. Palmer, who was in command of the post. He quickly armed his convalescents-several hundred in number-and gallantly defended the post until the Government stores and the hospital supplies were removed beyond the reach of the Confederates. It was at this time that Dr. Palmer was taken prisoner, but, during the battle of Gettysburg, he successfully made his escape, took command of the York post, and the charge of the hospital, which was soon filled with the wounded from Gettysburg.

In July, 1864, rebel Gen. Gilmore made a devastating raid into Maryland and Pennsylvania, and threatened to inflict considerable damage in and about York. Appreciating the necessity of prompt action, and the importance of protecting the railways, Dr. Palmer armed his convalescents and organized a force of several hundred citizens, and with these and a few regular troops, he proceeded into Maryland to pro- tect the roads and to hold the rebels in check. This movement proved eminently successful ; for, by the wisdom and the promptness of his judgment, and by his energy and courage, he saved a large amount of property from being destroyed, besides securing to the Government other important military advantages. The valuable services rendered by Dr. Palmer, in this instance, were made the subject of a well-deserved and congratulatory letter from Maj. Gen. D. N. Couch, then in command of the Department of the Sus. quehanna, to Surgeon General Barnes, of the United States Army.

His health being considerably impaired by overwork, Dr. Palmer attempted to resign in August, 1864, but the General commanding. in forwarding the resignation to the War Department, indorsed it with the request that a leave of absence of sufficient length of time to recruit his health be granted, " as the interests of the service demanded that officers of his ability and disposition should be retained." In the fall of 1864, he was appointed Medical Inspector of the Eighth Army Corps. with headquarters at Baltimore. He held this position until June, 1865, when he was ordered to take chargeof Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., and close up the affairs of that hospital. This he did, and, at last, was mustered out on the 7th of October, 1865. For faithful and meritorious services, which were frequently brought to the notice of the War Department, he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel by brevet, by President Johnson, on the 13th of March, 1866, the rank to date from March 13, 1865.

In 1877, Dr. Palmer carried out his long-fixed purpose of visiting Europe. The war then raging between Russia and Turkey made it an auspicious time for such a visit, as it would afford him an oppor- tunity to examine the hospitals of the Russian army. He left Janesville during the latter part of May, and returned the following August. During his stay abroad, he visited Liverpool, London, Paris, Berlin, . Vienna, Leipsic, Dresden, Antwerp, Brussels, Munich, and many other places of historic interest. He was with the Russian army at Bucharest and through Roumania, and also when it crossed the Danube, and saw the engagement at Nicopolis, and witnessed the ever-memorable battle, which resulted in the downfall of Plevna. He also visited the chief art-galleries of Europe, and returned home with the finest art col- lection to be found in Southern Wisconsin. While in Europe, he wrote several very interesting and graphic letters concerning persons, places, and things, of that country, which were published in the Janesville Gazette, and were widely read, and universally praised. On his return, he was urgently requested to address public audiences on what he saw in Europe. Amid his arduous professional duties, he prepared a lecture describ- ing his trip to the Old World, and what he saw in the principal cities of the continent ; and especially noted the habits and the customs of the people in Roumania, Turkey, and that portion of Europe. The lecture was intensely interesting, and, as a literary production, it commanded the admiration of all intelligent.

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.

The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Part 108

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