The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Part 129

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

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JAMES PRICE, farmer, Section 21; P. O. Milton Junction; born in Montgomeryshire. Eng., June 29, 1826 ; son Thomas and Elizabeth Price, who came to America with nine children July 24. 1845, via Canada to the West, and located near Albany, Wis., April 11, 1859. James Price married, May 14, 1854, Mrs. Olive Corliss, daughter of Luke and Tamar Lanphere, natives of New York ; had six children, five living -Chevalad J. Corliss, born Jan. 21, 1852, by first husband ; James C. Price, born Dec. 29, 1855 ; Olive A., Jan. 25, 1857 ; Varnum W., Sept. 7, 1859; Avery B., Nov. 24, 1864, died Feb. 26, 1867 ; buried at Rock River Cemetery ; Hattie B., born Feb. 27, 1867. Member of the Seventh-Day

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Baptist Church; has been a teacher over twenty-five years; Superintendent ten years; Treasurer for District School ; Treasurer and Trustee of the Methodist and Congregational Churches at the Junction three years. His homestead contains 120 acres in Sections 20 and 21, and 135 acres on Section 17 ; raises gen- eral produce of the county, and stock.

E. B. ROGERS, Milton ; born Sept. 12, 1827, in Waterford, New London Co., ConD. ; son of Zebulon and Lydia. Mr. Rogers left his native place for New York in 1842; came to Rock Co. in the fall of 1853; settled on Section 33-a quarter-section; has seventy acres on Section 32, and a homestead at Milton Village, where he retired in the fall of 1867. Married Miss Asenath B. Osgood, daughter of Luther and Lucy, of Preston, N. Y. ; had three children ; two died very young; one living-Frederick, born June 24, 1847, who is studying medicine. Mr. E. B. Rogers was elected Chairman of the Board of Town Supervisors in 1871, and has held the office nine or ten years. Member of the Seventh-Day Bap- tist Church. Republican.

L. T. ROGERS, carpenter and joiner and farmer ; P. O. Milton Junction; born in Waterford, New London Co., Conn., Nov. 8, 1821 ; son of Isaac and Elizabeth Rogers, and is of eighth generation from the celebrated John Rogers, who suffered at the stake for his faith in the time of Queen Mary, of England, in the year 1565, or thereabouts. His father was one of the first to cross the plains to California, about 1846. He took the scurvy for want of proper food, and died in 1848, he having located where now stands the present city of San Francisco. His mother died when he was 5 years old. Mr. L. T. Rogers came to Wisconsin in 1854, on a prospecting trip, and settled in Rock Co. permanently, in 1855; came from Madison Co., N. Y. He has built most of the houses in Milton Junction. Married, Jan. 7, 1845, Elizabeth Miller, of Chenango Co., N. Y., daughter of Erastus and Mary Miller ; she died March 11, . 1848, leaving one child-James L., born Oct. 31, 1846, died March 20, 1849; buried in Waterford, Conn. He married again April 8, 1854, Miss Sarah M. Coom, daughter of Pardon and Esther Coom, of Madison Co., N. Y. Had three children-Delinia F., born Oct. 9, 1857; Benedict W., born Oct. 9, 1859; Eliz- abeth A., born Sept. 9, 1867. Has held the office of Supervisor several terms; Justice of the Peace, four years; Notary Public, nine years, which he still holds; Secretary of County Grange, two years ; Secretary of County Central Association Patrons of Husbandry. Member of Seventh-Day Baptist Church.

GARDINER SAUNDERS, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Milton ; born in Verona, Oneida Co., N. Y., June 29, 1824 : son of Russel and Susanah (Peckham) Saunders. They have four sons-William R., Alborn, Gardiner and Andrew J. Gardiner, the third son, came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1846, to Rock Co. in the fall of 1874; located where he now resides ; owns forty acres. . Mr. Saunders has held the office of District School Clerk three terms; Treasurer, two terms; elected Constable in the early days. Married Miss Sarah Crosby March 5, 1844-daughter of Elisha and Sally, of Smithfield, Jefferson Co., N. Y. ; born June 2, 1824. Had five children-Mary S., born Oct. 19, 1846; A. G., born May 2, 1849; C. F., born July 15, 1851; A. C., born May 14, 1853; R. H., born June 22, 1860. Belongs to the Seventh-Day Baptist Church ; Republican.

EDWARD SEARING was born at Aurora, Cayuga Co., N. Y., July 14, 1835. His boy- hood was passed mostly on a farm, and the rudiments of his education were received at the district school; he was about equally proficient in all the common branches, but, perhaps, excelled in grammar, which he began at an carly age, and which he liked from the first. For the very thorough groundwork laid in the common branches, he was under obligations to two or three exceedingly skillful and conscientious teachers -all ladies (not merely in sex, but also in culture and manners). Toward these early instructors, of whose subsequent career he knows nothing, he has always entertained a lively sense of gratitude. His higher education was obtained solely by his own efforts. At the age of 16, he taught his first school, receiving $15 per month, and " boarding around." Resolving soon after to obtain a collegiate education, he became a student in Cortland Academy, Homer, N. Y., then under the charge of Prof. S. A. Clark, of grammati- cal fam :. He then began the study of Latin under the instruction of Prof. H. H. Sandford, now of Syra- cuse University ; two years were passed at the Academy, the student meeting his expenses by teaching winters. He then went to Cazenovia Seminary, where his classical studies were continued under the instruc- tion of Prof. Hyde, interrupted only the first winter by a term in teaching in Orleans Co., at the head of a graded school. Soon after returning to the Seminary, he accepted the offered position of assistant teacher of Latin, held for a year or so thereafter, and until his removal to Michigan, where he was for a time Principal of the graded schools at Bay City. Before leaving New York, he received the unsolicited honor of a permanent State certificate from the Department at Albany. In 1857, he came to Wisconsin, and opened a private school at Union, Rock Co., which was continued with much success for two or more years, after which he returned to Michigan. Devoting the summer of 1860 to the study of French in the city of

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Detroit, he, in the fall of that year. entered the Senior Class of the State University at Ann Arbor, and graduated the following year.

Returning to Wisconsin in the fall of 1863, he re-opened the private school at Union, where he remained until he accepted a position in Milton College (then Academy) in the fall of 1863; a systematic course of historical study, begun immediately after graduating, was continued after removing to Milton, and several historical lectures were prepared; while thus engaged, the assassination of Lincoln occurred. Having been jointly invited by the Churches at Milton, to deliver a discourse on the character of the mar- tyred President on the Fast-Day (June 1) following the nation's bereavement, he presented an address which was published at the time in the Janesville Gazette, copied into other papers of the State, and favorably noticed by the New York Independent and other journals of that city. To supply the demand for the printed address, it was published in pamphlet form. This unexpected and gratifying success sug- gested a more ambitious undertaking, and soon after, the plan of a new school edition of Virgil's ÆEneid, with several peculiar features, was conceived. This having met the approval of eminent teachers, the work was undertaken and the new Virgil was published in the spring of 1869. The book met with instant and unqualified success, has had a large and steady sale, and is now widely used in schools in every State in the Union. The assured success of this venture, led the publishers, A. S. Barnes & Co., to request the author to prepare for them a series of classical text books. Work was accordingly soon com- menced upon a proposed edition of Homer's Iliad, and the recent election surprised the Professor in the midst of preparation for the approaching publication of this volume, upon which, we understand, he has bestowed great labor, and of which he and his publishers have corresponding hopes. During the past year, the Professor has given his attention mostly to his literary work, having had during this time but few classes in the College under his personal instruction.

Although in tastes, in intellectual conviction and in personal interest, a warm friend of classical studies in their proper place and relations to others, yet Prof. Searing is not a " one-idea man ; " he has not forgotten what he owes to the common schools; he has had a varied experience as teacher in all ranks of his profession, and in three States, and, during a portion of his residence at Union, he held the office of Town Superintendent of Schools; he has preserved a warm sympathy with teachers; he knows their trials, and, unless we are mistaken, he will know how to point out wisely to them their means of triumph. Prof. Searing, until 1872, acted with the Republican party ; in that year, in common with many Repub- licans, he supported Horace Greeley for the Presidency, and was himself nominated on the " reform " ticket for the Assembly. In 1873, he was elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction; in 1875, some disposition was manifested by educational men of the Republican party to have his name placed upon the ticket, on the ground that the office should be taken out of politics, and one in which experience is valuable; he was re-elected for a second term, and unanimously renominated for a third term in 1877, receiving the vote of nearly all the educational men of the State, irrespective of party, and running con- siderably ahead of his ticket. While serving as State Superintendent, Prof. Searing earnestly urged the policy of a State School tax, the general adoption of town school system, a system of free high schools, aided by the State, a State Library system, an appointed system of county superintendency, instead of an elective one, uniformity in the matter of teachers' examinations, and the plan of district purchase of text- books.

During his incumbency, laws were passed, upon his recommendation, for establishing and aiding free high schools ; for rendering women, eligible to hold all school offices except that of Superintendent ; for making the school month uniformly twenty days, and for the district purchase of text-books. In his capacity as a member ex officio, and Secretary of the Board of Normal Regents, and as a member ex officio of the Board of University Regents, he labored actively and usefully to promote the interests of the Normal Schools and Teachers' Institutes, and of the State University. Considering the small amount of money placed at his disposal for the purpose, he was largely successful in securing a creditable educational exhibit at the Centennial, in 1876, and a portion of the same exhibit was forwarded to the exhibition in Paris, in 1878, where it received honorable notice. As a public officer, Prof. Searing was faithful and incorruptible ; he is brilliant as a writer, popular and successful as a public speaker and lecturer, and skill- ful as a classical teacher. Since his retirement from official life, he has been engaged in work again as Pro- fessor of the Ancient Languages, in Milton College, and in the preparation of classical text-books. He also bestows some attention upon horticulture, of which he is particularly fond.

MILO SMITH, farmer, Sec. 15; P. O. Milton ; born in Ellers, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., March 13, 1815; he was the son of James and Olive Smith, who had six children; Milo was the oldest son ; came to Rock Co. in October, 1872. Married Miss Elizabeth Tourtelotte March 7, 1854; she was the

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daughter of Amos and Elizabeth Tourtelotte, of Fulton, Wis .; had seven children, six living-James M., born Feb. 9. 1855; Jessie L., June 19, 1857 ( married J. M. Marquat, of Milton ) ; Clara E .. Sept. 16, 1858; Fremont H., Aug. 10, 1863; Carrol L .. Aug. 4, 1871; Lynn D., Aug. 13, 1874. Mr. S. was elected Constable in 1849; Clerk of School Board in 1849; Assessor in 1850; Supervisor in 1866; was Director and Treasurer several terms. Contributed about $100 to build Universalist Church. Mem- ber of Grange Lodge, No. 72; Republican.

DAVID D. SOWLE, farmer; P. O. Milton ; born in Macedonia, N. Y., Nov. 3, 1807; son of James and Abbie Sowle ; Mr. James Sowle came to Rock Co. and settled on Sec. 26 in November, 1843; purchased 240 acres of Mr. Strunk ; the said land was deeded to him from the Probate Court in the fall of 1843. David D. came to Rock Co. in 1842, and settled on Sec. 27-eighty acres ; sold two acres to the Milton Cemetery at $100 per acre; his farm now consists of about one hundred acres; he raises fine quality of domestic sheep and hogs, also horses and cattle, and products of the county. Married Miss Adeline J. Atherton, daughter of Simon and Roxey, of Tolland Co., Conn., July 9, 1840; had four children-Nellie A., born April 24, 1841, (married Rev. J. Richards, of Jefferson ) ; Isaac A., born Nov. 12, 1844 (married Mattie Carlton, of Kenosha); Willie E., born June 26, 1849; Josie R., Aug. 9, 1853. D. D. Sowle is a member of the Masonic Fraternity and of the Methodist Church.

A. C. STANNARD, blacksmith and patent-right dealer, Milton ; born in Almond, Allegany Co., N. Y., June 19, 1822 ; came to Rock Co. Dec. 2, 1857; on commencing business, he rented a shop from Mr. G. Hall, at Milton ; in 1861, built the shop he now occupies, manufacturing washing machines. Married Hannah T. Kinyon, daughter of J. Kinyon, of Wirt, Allegany Co., N. Y .; had six children- Edgar N., Marvin B., Fremont P., Joel V., Ettie M. and Grant U. S. Mr. A. C. Stannard and his son, Marvin B., enlisted as private in Co. K, 13th W. V. I., under Capt. P. Norcross, of Janesville, Wis., in the fall of 1861; Mr. Stannard was taken sick at Lawrence, Kan., and discharged in April, 1862; re-enlisted in June, 1862, in Co. G, 1st U. S. Sharp-Shooters. Marvin was taken sick at Fort Donelson, TenD., and died March 29, 1863; participated in the following battles : Last Bull's Run and Manassas Junction ; was wounded at second Bull's Run by a Southern sharp-shooter hid in a tree ; Mr. Stannard spied him, and both parties fired at the same time; the rebel was shot dead, and Mr. S. had the toes on his left foot shot off; was discharged Dec. 2, 1863, and returned home; was promoted to 2d Lieutenant by Gov. Fairchild, for bravery on the field of battle. Was Deputy Sheriff of Rock Co. in 1873 ; served two years; appointed again in 1876. Is member of I. O. O. F. Lodge, No. 66, Milton, Rock River Encampment, Daughters of Rebecca, and of the Seventh-Day Baptist Church.

ROBERT STOCKMAN, farmer, Sec. 32 ; P. O. Milton Junction ; born April 3, 1833, in County Antrim, Ireland ; came with his parents to Philadelphia in 1834; son of James and Rebecca Stockman ; they had six children, five are living-Jane, Rebecca, John, Hugh and Robert; their father was a mason, which trade he followed in Philadelphia until about 1837, then went to Saratoga Co., N. Y., and purchased a farm of 100 acres, well improved, which they worked successfully; in 1843, they sold their farm and came to Wisconsin ; in the spring of 1843, they located in Milton Township; bought an excellent farm, which his father worked successfully until his death, in September, 1872; his mother died in September, 1876. Robert attended school in Saratoga Co., N. Y., also in Milton ; at an early age, he commenced farming ; now owns 160 acres of fine land, well improved ; has 100 acres under cultivation, and the rest is woodland; raises the usual crops of the county, also Durham grade of cattle, Poland China hogs, and Clyde and Messenger horses ; he also owns 160 acres of wild land on Chippewa River in Pepin Co., Wis .; Mr. Stockman is industrious and prosperous.

ANDREW JACKSON SUTHERLAND, mail manager, Milton Junction; born in New York May 24, 1817, living there till 19 years old. when he came West and settled at Monroe, Wie. ; was engaged in the mill business, owning a saw-mill till 1856, when he went into politics; was elected Sheriff, serving seven years, then was appointed Deputy U. S. Marshal, serving until he was appointed to the U. S. Mail Service, April 17, 1871. Married Mary M. Bentley, of Kenosha Co., in 1853; have four children-David E., James W., William F. and Ella.

PETER TOMKINS, station master, freight and ticket agent and telegraph operator, Milton ; born in Ireland Feb. 17, 1829 ; came to America spring of 1851, locating in Rock Co., Wis., and went to work on farm for Mr. Vincent for four years ; in 1853, went into employ of the Milwaukee & Missis- sippi R. R., now C., M. & St. P. R. R., and has since been engaged there. Married Miss Annie Lee Minifie, a native of England, November, 1863; have five children-Bessie M., born April 2, 1863; Mary A., March 20, 1865; Anna L., April 25, 1869; Charles F., Feb. 23, 1871 ; William H., May 19, 1874. Family attends Congregational Church : liberal in politics.

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ROLLIN THORPE, farmer, Sec. 11 ; P. O. Milton Junction : came to Rock Co., Wis., in fall of 1841, and purchased 160 acres in Sec. 11, Town 4, Range 13; was born in Southington, Hartford Co., Conn., Nov. 9, 1809; son of Joel and Lydia Thorpe; in the fall of 1842, Mr. Rollin Thorpe came to Wisconsin, settled on his land and broke the first ground. Married, April 1, 1831, Miss Henrietta Densmore, of Warsaw, N. Y .; had seven children-Lydia A., Gilbert D., Devolsen, Helen, Warren R., Carmie G., Ada H. Mrs. Rollin Thorpe died June 27, 1877 ; buried at Milton. Mr. Thorpe was one of the prime movers in building the Universalist Church at Otter Creek, of Milton; contributed $250 cash for its completion. His homestead consists of 160 acres; has disposed of a quarter on Sec. 10, on Sec. 1, 80 acres, Sec. 2, 80 acres, for the benefit of his sons, and still holds homestead. Religion, Uni- versalist; Republican.

B. F. TITSWORTH, grist-mill, Milton Junction; born in Cumberland Co., N. J., Septem- ber, 1843; son of I. D. and Hannah A. Mill; came to Rock Co. in the spring of 1869; engaged in the manufacture of doors, sash and blinds; in 1871, he added the grist-milling business ; the building was erected by J. C. Rogers, in the winter of 1868, and was the first mill for the Junction ; the firm is now I. D. Titsworth & Co .; they still manufacture door frames, also " the Barnhart " practical improved bee- hive, planing-mill, etc. Mr. B. F. was elected District School Clerk in 1877; Town Clerk in 1878; re-elected in 1879. Married Miss Emeline A., daughter of John A. and - Langworthy; she died Nov. 19, 1873; he again married at Plainfield, N. J. Mr. B. F. enlisted as private in the 11th N. J. V. I., Co. D, under Capt. Palmer, Aug. 2, 1862; was assigned to detached service in the Army of the Potomac as Clerk for Inspectors and Adjutant Generals at brigade headquarters; returned to his regiment and accepted the appointment of Quartermaster's Sergeant; honorably discharged June 15, 1865; was mus- tered out at Trenton, N. J.

HARVEY B. WARD, Milton House (Ellis & Ward); born in Jefferson, Schoharie Co., N. Y., Nov. 12, 1820; son of Chapman and Mary Ward : came to Wisconsin in October, 1866 ; settled in the town of Portland, Dodge Co. ; came to Milton in July 20, 1878. Married, in 1842, Miss Clarissa A. Spencer, daughter of John and Jennie, of Worcester, Otsego Co., N. Y. They have had four children -John S., born Jan. 15, 1844; Mary A., born May 27, 1847 ; Jennie N., born July 2, 1849; Francis E .. Dec. 9, 1852. Mary A., married F. W. Ellis, May 27, 1872, of Fulton, N. Y. Mr. Ward is a pro- fessor of vocal music; has been a teacher thirty-eight years ; has a class at Milton. He studied law with Abram Becker, at Worcester, Otsego Co., N. Y.

ALFRED WHITFORD, Professor of Mathematics, Milton College ; born in Plainfield, Otsego Co., N. Y., May 28, 1832; son of Samuel and Sophia C .; they had four sons-Walter C., Ham- ilton D., Alfred and Herman D. Alfred attended Brookfield Academy and De Ruyter Institute, Madison Co., N. Y., and Alfred Academy, Allegany Co., N. Y, ; graduated at Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., in the Class of '57 ; then returned to Milton, where he had taught as assistant to his brother, Prof. William Whitford, from 1854 to 1856. He also was Professor of Mathematics at Alfred Academy, from 1868 to 1872. Married, in 1857, Miss Chloe, daughter of George and Maria Curtis, of East Troy, N. Y. Had five children-Anna S., Albert C., William H., Alfred E., and a baby.

WILLIAM C. WHITFORD was born in the town of Edmeston, Otsego Co., N. Y., May 5, 1828. His father, Capt. Samuel Whitford, of English lineage, belonged to a branch of the family which resided in Massachusetts more than a hundred and fifty years. His mother, Sophia Clarke, was connected, by both her father and her mother, with the numerous families of that name which origi- nated in Rhode Island, and which have occupied important positions in that State. Both parents were born in the town of Brookfield, Madison Co., N. Y., when that section was comparatively new, and their youth was spent amidst the hardships and deprivations of a pioneer life. They enjoyed the most meager advantages to acquire even a common-school education, but, with strong minds and rare good sense, they were among the most intelligent and highly respected people in the community where they lived. The grandfather, David Whitford, died when his son Samuel was but 16 years of age, leaving in his care a family of eleven children, all of whom, except one sister, were younger than himself, and two of whom were cripples from birth, and all of whom he assisted to reach maturity. He worked at the potash business, managed the small farm left by his father, and for fourteen years devoted all his earnings to the mainten- ance of his mother and his brothers and sisters. By them he was loved with a devotion seldom exhibited even in the family circle. In later years, he became a man of considerable influence, and held various positions of trust and honor in both civil and military life. The last years of his life were divided between the care of a farm and the business of buying cattle and sheep for the New

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York market. He was endowed with greit physical strength and endurance, with a sound and reliable judgment, and with a superior moral and religious character. He died at the age of 51, in the vigor of his powers and in the midst of his usefulness. The mother, Sophia Whitford, lost also her father at an early age. She was the eldest of eight children, and before her marriage aided her mother for several years, after reaching her majority. in supporting and raising the other children of the family. She has been an invalid most of the time for the past thirty years, but she still survives at 76 years of age in the enjoyment of a vigorous mind, a retentive memory and excellent conversational powers.

William C. Whitford is the eldest of four children-,all sons. The second is Hamilton Joseph, who has most generally taken the chief care of the mother since the death of the father in 1848, and who owned for many years the homestead farm. He now resides near the birthplace of the family, and is in charge of a saw mill. The third son is Albert, who, after graduating at Union College, New York, has been since occupied in teaching. He has been employed as the Principal of De Ruyter Institute and as a pro- fessor in Alfred University, both in New York State. Besides giving instruction for many years in Milton College, Wisconsin, he is now filling the position of President of that institution. The fourth son is Herbert David, who has served most faithfully for seven years in the United States Army-three of which being in the time of the rebellion. William, the eldest son, usually worked on the farm in summer and attended either a district or select school in winter until he was 17 years of age. He early developed very great physical and mental activity. When 12 years old, he exhibited an extraordinary fondness for reading, and for five years thereafter applied himself assiduously to perusing all works of biography, history, travel and of a didactic nature which came within his reach. In this period, he paid but little attention to the studies taught in the public schools. Finding farm work ill suited to his taste, he resolved to make prep- aration for some literary or professional calling, and, accordingly, he entered, at 17 years of age, Brookfield Academy, New York, near his home, where he remained the greater part of three years. After this, when nearly of age, he became a student in De Ruyter Institute, New York, and there completed his preparation to enter the Senior Class in Union College, from which he graduated in 1853. In the meantime, he assisted in teaching in Milton Academy, Wisconsin, one term, and was the Principal of Union Academy at Shiloh, N. J., for two years. He also spent a summer in making an elaborate map of portions of Madison County, N. Y., and in this and various other ways he met a part of his expenses in obtaining an education.

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The History of Rock County, Wisconsin: Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Part 129

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