The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources; an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages etc, Part 128

Author: Western Historical Co., pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1050

USA > Wisconsin > Waukesha County > The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources; an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages etc > Part 128

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826

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

June 2, 1737, to Margaret Hamblen. Elisha, Jr., of Fenner. N. Y., eldest son of preceding, born at Salem (or Reading), May 23, 1738; married at Charlton, Mass., May 18, 1762, to Martha Foskett, of Charlton ; moved from Salem to Charlton in 1752, from Charlton to Goshen, Mass., in 1767, and from Goshen to Fenner, N. Y., about 1800. Aaron, of Middlesex, N. Y., third son of preceding, born at Goshen, May 24, 1771, and died at Middlesex, Sept. 28, 1845; married at Goshen, May 27, 1795, to Deborah, daughter of Joseph Maynard, of Framingham, Mass .; born at Framingham, Dec. 19, 1777, and died at Middlesex, July 7, 1819 ; moved from Goshen to Fenner about 1800, and from Fenner to Middle- sex about 1813. Capt. Foskett Maynard, of Waukesha, Wis., second son of preceding, born at Fenner, May 11, 1805; married at Belvidere, Ill .. Nov. 3, 1839, to Clarissa, daughter of Simeon Howell, of Southampton, L. I .; born at Franklin, N. Y., April 5, 1814, and died at Wankesha, March 12, 1855. Simeon Howell was descended, in direct line, from Edward Howell of Southampton, who was made a free- man at Boston, March 14, 1639.

CAPT. FOSKETT MAYNARD PUTNEY was born in the part of the town of Smithfield now called Fenner, Madison Co., N. Y., May 11. 1805. When he was 9 years of age his parents, Aaron and Deborah (Maynard) Putney, moved to Middlesex, Ontario Co., N. Y., where he lived until 1834, when he came to White Pigeon, Mich. There he entered actively into mercantile and land business, and also took honorable part in the " Patriot War," and the border contests, under a cap- tain's commission, conferred by his Excellency Gov. Mason. In May, 1839, Capt. Putney visited Prairie- ville on a tonr of observation, and later, the same year, settled in Milwaukee, remaining there until the fall of 1845, when he retired to his farm at Prospect Hill, New Berlin ; was engaged in the shoe and leather business at Milwaukee, and at Rockford, Ill., from 1839 to 1845, and in farming and stage hotel- keeping at Prospect Hill from the latter year to 1848. In 1850, he removed to Waukesha, having bought property here prior to that time, and commenced business as proprietor of the Railroad Hotel, now Amer- ican House. In the spring of 1852, having previously sold his hotel interest to Silas Barber, he bought a farm situated on Sec. 31, in the town of Brookfield, and there lived until 1855. He then became manager of the Exchange Hotel, and continued so until 1863, when its owner, Peter N. Cushman, died. The following year he purchased this hotel property, and conducted it until 1868, when he rented it to Elijah Holbrook for a term of years, temporarily resuming its management in 1873, and again from 1877 to May, 1879, when, having decided to retire from all active business, he leased the hotel to William C. Hol- brook. Capt. Putney was married at Belvidere, Ill., Nov. 3, 1839, to Clarissa Howell, who was born at Franklin, N. Y., April 5, 1814, and died at Waukesha, March 12, 1855. He has only one child, Col. Frank Howell.

PROF. GEORGE H. REED, in charge of Carroll College ; born in Mineville, Essex Co., N. Y., in 1853. His preparatory education was at Sherman Acadmy, New York, and his collegiate at Amherst, Mass. After leaving college in 1876, he engaged in teaching in New York, was principal of high schools ; came West in January, 1880, to take charge of Carroll College, which is now operated as an academy. The attendance averages fifty per term, and is mainly local ; the last graduating class in full collegiate course, was in 1860. Prof. Reed has two assistants, and the institution affords facilities for college preparatory course and for three regular academic courses. The college is charmingly located, and merits surrounding and sustaining patronage.

JOHN D. ROBERTS was born in town of Remsen, Oneida Co., N. Y., Jannary 10 1834. Came to Wisconsin May 15, 1844 with his parents, David W. and Miriam Roberts ; remained in Milwaukee two weeks, then came to what is now the town of Delafield, Waukesha Co., and located on Sec. 27. In 1853, John D. Roberts began the business of farming on his own account, and has con- tinued in the same business ever since. He was Justice of the Peace in the town of Delafield in 1857 and 1858; Supervisor in 1858; in 1866, he was again elected Justice of the Peace for two years ; in April, 1867, he was elected Town Clerk, and continned in that office until April, 1879 ; he was elected County Clerk in November, 1878. Mr. Roberts owns a farm on Sec. 22, and is a member of the Dela- field Presbyterian Church.

THOMAS RYALL, merchant-groceries and crockery ; was born in the township of Wau- kesha, November, 1851 ; son of John and Emily Crichell Ryall. He began clerking in a grocery store at the age of 14. He was married in 1877, to Miss Elizabeth Randle, daughter of Thomas A. Randle, a farmer of Genesee Township. Mr. Ryall has carried on his present business seven years in this village. His store is on the corner of Main and Clinton streets, and his residence on East avenue; is an official mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Wankesha ; is not active in politics ; enjoys a continuous first- class patronage.

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WAUKESHA.

CONRAD SEHRT, boot and shoe maker ; boro Feb. 6, 1839, in the village of Hattroth, Hesse-Darmstadt ; in 1853, his parents, Henry and Margaret Sehrt, came with their children to America, locating in Milwaukee; Conrad learned his trade, and three years later the family settled in Waukesha, where the old couple still reside ; Conrad Sehrt worked as a "jour " about eight years, then, in company with his brother Henry, opened a shop on Clinton street (at present Syal's grocery) ; four years later, they removed to the present location, Conrad selling out to Henry at the end of a year, losing two years on account of ill-health, and nearly losing his life as well ; having regained his health, he has worked for nearly three years past in his brother's shop. He married Louisa Esslinger, of Waukesha, on the 11th of February, 1861 ; they have five children-Nellie, Lillie, Cora, William and Minnie ; Mr. Sehrt is liberal in politics ; he is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and a leading member of Bismarck Lodge, No. 193, I. O. O. F., having held and filled with credit all its offices ; he has also been Village Trustee and Marshal.

AUGUST SCHLEY, general merchandise store on Madison street; was born 1849 in Prussia ; came to the United States in 1856 ; lived in Milwaukee till 1864. He enlisted in Co. H. 45th W. V. I., in 1864, and was honorably discharged in July, 1865; settled in Waukesha in 1869-clerked for ten years, and then opened his present store. Was married in December, 1877, to Miss Lucetta Korn, daughter of Jacob Korn, a prominent farmer and early settler of New Berlin Township, of this county ; they have one child-Katie, born in January, 1879. Their residence also is on Madison street ; has a good patronage, both German and English.

JAMES WATSON SHERMAN was born in Waukesha, Jan. 26, 1849, and is the son of Henry W. and Martha A. Sherman ; he was employed most of his time as a clerk until 1876 ; he then com- menced business for himself, and has since has been dealing in boots and shoes, hats, caps and furnishing goods. Mr.Sberman is a member of the First Baptist Church. His grandfather, James Y. Watson (his mother's father), came to Prairieville, now Waukesha, in July, 1837, and made his claim three miles west of the village ; after making his claim, he returned to Salem, Washington Co., N. Y., and in November of the same year he brought his family, consisting of a wife, four daughters and two sons, to South Prairieville, which was their home for about thirty years ; then came to the village of Waukesha. Mr. Watson was born at Brookfield, Mass., July 9, 1782, and died at Waukesha, June 24,1871. His wife was Eunice Stone ; she was born in Salem, Mass., Feb. 14, 1793; she died at Waukesha December 29, 1862. Mr. Watson was well known throughout Waukesha County, having held various offices which brought him in communication with the people in general. He was one of the oldest members of the Masonic order in Wisconsin, having been a Mason for sixty-eight years. His children were as follows : Asa S., born July 29, 1812, died in Waukesha February 1, 1865; Thankful B., born May 23, 1815, married Benjamin A. Jenkins of La Crosse (a former resident of Waukesha County, and recently deceased), she died at La Crosse March 3, 1876, and her remains were brought to Waukesha for interment ; Martha A., now Mrs. Sherman of Waukesha, was born Nov. 9, 1823; Mary E., now Mrs. George W. Babcock, of Pattersonville, Iowa, was born Oct. 28, 1828 ; James Q., a resident of Waukesha, was born April 8, 1826, and Sarah M., now Mrs. A. T. Clinton, of La Crosse, was born Oct. 22, 1833. Martha A., the second daughter above mentioned, was married to Henry W. Sherman by Rev. Calvin Warner at South Prairieville, Oct. 24, 1843; her children are : Charles H., born April 20, 1847, now married and a resident of Indianapolis, Ind .; James Watson, born Jan. 26, 1849, merchant, now of Waukesha ; Hattie E., born March 20, 1856, now Mrs. George W. Carleton of Waukesha, and Edmund Kingsland, born An- gust 1860, now residing in Kansas City.

CONRAD P. SILVERNALE, retired farmer ; born in the township of Livingston, Columbia Co., N. Y., April 8, 1810 ; his father, Peter C., was a prosperous farmer in that county ; he was married Feb. 27, 1831, to Miss Elizabeth Avery ; he is of German parentage. He spent several years farming in New York State, raised large crops, sold for good prices, and made money, but in an evil hour he took a partner and went into the milling business, and the result was the loss of all his property ; then he came west, and landed in Milwaukee on the 15th of May, 1846 ; he bought 80 acres of land in Mukwonago ; brought his family there; carried on farming three years ; sold, bought again, and sold once more at an advance. He now owns 40 acres of land in Pewaukee Tp., and also a pleasant village home in Waukesha. Has four children-Lucinda, who married T. D. Cook, of Milwaukee; Catherine, who married Richard Smith, of Minnesota ; Mary, who married Solon Dedrick, of Waukesha ; Harvey married Miss Rankin, and lives on a farm in Pewaukee. He has been a Methodist nearly half a century. On the 27th of February, 1881, will be held the " golden wedding " of this honored couple.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

WILLIAM H. SLEEP, Superintendent of Wisconsin Industrial School. Born near Lan- ceston, Cornwall County, England, July 18, 1848; came to America with his parents in 1857; son of John and Ann Sleep, who settled in Waukesha in the summer of 1857. When he was a little over twenty-one years of age, he became connected with the Industrial School ; January 17, 1870, he accepted the position of outside overseer ; he continued in that position for a year or two, then took charge of the store; was appointed Assistant Superintendent in January 1878; was made Superintendent December 15, 1879. Mr. Sleep was married in Waukesha May 7, 1873, to Harriet A. Bennett; she was born in Rutland, Rutland Co., Vt., November 10, 1852; they have one daughter, Alice Mabel; she was born May 2, 1876. Mr. Sleep is a member of the A. F. & A. M. Lodge and Chapter ; also of the Royal Arcanum.

ISAAC SMART, veteran pioneer and farmer, Sec. 10. Township of Waukesha ; was born September 15, 1809, in Newburgh, Yorkshire, England. Was married in England, in 1832, to Miss Elizabeth Clegg, of his native place. He came to America in 1834, and to Waukesha in May, 1835, with the " old man Cutler." In 1836, they took up Government land, including the farm of 160 acres where they now live. His brother, Richard, came a few months later, and took up a farm adjoining his, upon which now stands the Fountain House. Mr. Smart claims to be the earliest settler now living in the township of Waukesha, and his daughter Jennie, born September 21, 1836, was the first girl born in Wau- kesha Township. He thinks Morris Cutler came in the fall after his arrival in May ; although Mr. Cutler is generally regarded as the earliest living resident of the county. Their old home, built in 1840, was the first frame house on the prairie. They have buried two children, four are living-Jennic, bord in 1836; Benjamin, born in 1838; Mary, in 1840, and Maria A., in 1856. Two children are married and live in this county, and the youngest daughter, Maria, is at home. Mr. Smart owns 396 acres of land in the town- ship of Waukesha. He has emphatically " grown up with the country " from nothing to a competency. He is a good citizen and an honored pioneer.

DR. JEHIEL SMITH was born in town of Bath, N. H., Aug. 25, 1803 ; he went to Concord, N. H., spent one year there, then he went to Boston ; when he was 19 years of age, commenced the study of medicine in Concord, N. H., and completed it in Boston. Dr. Smith was educated in the Eclectic Medical School ; he studied with a physician at Cambridge, and graduated from Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati, and has practiced for about fifty years. Dr. Smith is one of the pioneers of the new practice of eclectic medicine. He has one daughter, Mary, now a resident of Murray, Iowa. The present wife of Dr. Smith was Julia Louisa Willard, married June 15, 1868; she came to Waukesha as a first assistant of Carroll College, remained there two years. Mrs. Smith was born at Williamsport, Lycoming Co., Penn., May 27, 1827 ; she has been connected with educational institutions as an instructor, for many years, from 1841 to 1863, and for the last three years more or less, lately conducting a select school ; came to Waukesha in September, 1861. Dr. Smith came to Waukesha in October, 1847, and has engaged in the practice of medicine ever since. He is proprietor of one of the leading mineral springs of this place, an account of which will be found elsewhere in this work.

HON. JOHN C. SNOVER was born in Chester, Orange Co., N. Y., April 1, 1813; remained there three years, then his father, Charles F. Snover, removed to Bucks County, Penn; lived there until John C. was 17 years of age, then the family removed to Blairstown, Warren Co., N. J., where they remained until the spring of 1834; then they went to Michigan for three years and came to Milwaukee, Wis., September 12, 1837. That city was his home for three years with the exception of some time that he was engaged on a contract with the construction of Illinois canal. He returned to Milwaukee in January. 1840. In the same winter he purchased a farm in the town of Vernon, on Sec. 12 (the farm now owned by Finlay McNaughten). He remained here one year, then removed to the town of Eagle, and purchased a farm of 200 acres from John Evarts, on Sec. 27. He remained there until 1859, then sold out and went to the village of Eagle and engaged in the hotel business which he continued for three years. In 1850, he was elected to the Assembly. In 1844-45, he was chairmao of the Board of Supervisors for Milwaukee County, and was a member of county board a great many years, representing Milwaukee two years, and for a long time member of the board since the organi- zation of Waukesha County. After leaving the hotel business at Eagle, he worked at carpenter and joincr's trade in the northern portion of the State part of the time, and in Iowa, Michigan, and in different parts of Wisconsin, jobbing work principally. In 1870, he was managing agent of Pritchard's Brewery, at Fort Atkinson, Wis. He was one year there and engaged again in building until the spring of 1877, when he was elected County Judge of Waukesha County. Mr. Snover was married in the town of Washington, Macomo Co., Mich., Sept. 12, 1836, to Lucinda Phelps, a native of the town of Delaware, Canada West.

Very truly yours J. W. Haight

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WAUKESHA.

They have had six children, four of whom are living-Miranda, now Mrs. J. P. Weston, of Delmar, Iowa; Sarah E., now Mrs. Samuel Kinder, of Sabula, Iowa; Frank, now of Sabula, Iowa; Charles Frederick, now in Neshkoro, Marquette County, Wis.

MATHIAS L. SNYDER was born in Prussia Sept. 15, 1842 ; came to America with his parents, Adam and Barbara Snyder, when he was 3 years of age; located in New York City ; re- mained there ten years, then came to the town of Eagle, Waukesha Co., Wis., where they have ever since resided. His father died Feb. 14, 1876 ; his mother is still a resident of Eagle. Mathias was employed in farming and clerking in an Eagle mercantile establishment until he was elected Clerk of the Court in the fall of 1877; re-elected in 1879. He enlisted Aug. 5, 1862, in Co. A, 24th Wis. V. I .; served until June, 1865, when he, with his regiment, was mustered out. He participated in the following general engagements ; Stone River, Chickamauga, Peach Tree Creek, Dallas, Ga., Resaca, before Atlanta, Frank- lio and Nashville. He was married at Eagle, Feb. 12, 1872, to Amelia Gose ; she was born at Eagle, was the daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth Gose, early settlers of Eagle; there are four children- Frank H., Mathias J., Henry M. and Mary Amelia. Mr. Snyder is a member of the St. Joseph's Catho- lic Church, and St. Joseph's Benevolent Society.

THOMAS SPENCE came to Waukesha in November, 1848, and has lived here ever since he was engaged in teaching school for two winters, and kept a store for a few years ; has also been surveying more or less since he came to Waukesha ; has been in the insurance business about fifteen years, with surveying in connection therewith. Mr. Spence is owner of the Horeb Mineral and Medicinal Springs, which were dis- covered next after the Bethesda Springs ; is also owner of Lawodale Addition to Waukesha. The Horeb Mineral and Medicinal Spring water is sent to New Orleans, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Memphis, St. Louis, Cleveland, Buffalo, Montreal, Hamilton, Toronto, Quebec, Belleville, Detroit, Mich., St. Paul, Burling- ton, lowa, and many other points. Mr. Spence was born Nov. 14, 1823, near Belfast, Ireland, of Scotch parentage, his parents being from Glasgow he cameto America in 1846, taught school in the city of Brook- lyn, N. Y., two years ; was County Surveyor of Waukesha County one term ; Town Clerk five years ; Assessor two years ; and is Surveyor at the present time. Mr. Spence has also been conveyancer and notary for twenty-five years ; is a member of the Episcopal Church, and was married in Ireland in 1844, to Jane Leslie ; she was born near Belfast, Ireland; they have five children ; Edward L., born in Brooklyn, N. Y., is now proprietor and editor of the Nuncie Democrat, in Indiana. Thomas H. was born in Waukesha, now proprietor of a wholesale and retail drug store at La Crosse, Wis .; Richard L., at present clerking for Thomas H. at La Crosse; Janette E., now Mrs. V. H. Bugbee, of this place ; Emma M., residing with her parents. Mr. Spence had only $400 when he started out for himself; he taught school and boarded around, and has since then accumulated a handsome fortune ; he has built thirteen dwelling houses, one store, and a large two-story brick office.

JOHN SPERBER, proprietor of National Hotel ; born 1832, in Germany ; came to Amer- ica .in 1847 and settled in Waukesha in fall of same year ; he was seven years in the brewing business, with Heissleutuer, who died during the rebellion. He was married in 1859, to Miss Barbara Conrad, of Waukesha. From 1856 to 1867, he kept a billiard saloon. then after three years of mercantile experi- ence, he purchased the lot on corner of Main and West streets, and in 1870, he erected the fine stone National Hotel, of which he is now owner and manager ; this is a neat hotel, with eighteen sleeping rooms ; house has good patronage, both German and American. He has two children-Oscar and Emma. He is liberal in politics and religion, but usually with the Democracy.

GEORGE SPERLE, merchant tailor ; born in the village of Floss, Bavaria, in 1833 ; after his schooling he learned his trade, and spent some time traveling in Austria, Prussia and Italy ; came to America in 1860 ; he spent a year in Brooklyn, and then came to Waukesha, opening a shop on Main street ; after a year, he removed to Atkins' Block, and in 1870, to his present store, where he does a geu- eral merchant tailoring business. He married, in 1864, Miss Margeret Dorhorst, of Pewaukee, by whom he has five children living-Kate, George. Addie, Esther and Mabel; Eddie died at 6 years, and Annie at 2; all were born in Waukesha. The family are members of the Congregational Church ; politics, Republican.

JOHN STEPHENS was born in Prussia, February 25, 1827 ; came to New Berlin, Wis., in summer of 1843, with his father, Mathias Stephens, who died in the fall of 1877. Mr. Stephens was reared on a farm ; he was a member of the Board of Supervisors, also Town Treasurer, Assessor, was elected Register of Deeds in the fall of 1876, re-elected in 1878. He was married in Watertown, Wis., Dec., 31, 1848, to Mary Mann ; she was born in Prussia ; they have bad ten children, nine now living ;

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

Henry J., now a resident of Dickinson Co., Kan .; Celestia, Charles Albert, Elizabeth, William H., Clara, John L., Henrietta, Mathias; lost one daughter, Mary. Mr. Stephensis a member of the I. O. O. F.

JOHN P. STORY, deceased, son of William and Eliza Patton Story, was born in Marblehead, Mass., on the 28th of May, 1806. Both his grandfather and his father were many years in fisheries and foreign commerce, and owned large maritime interests. His father was a merchant, and sea captain in the East India merchant service. Judge Joseph Story, Associate Justice of Supreme Court of the United States, was an uncle of the subject of this sketch. He, at the sge of 15, ventured his fortunes on the deep, and was rapidly promoted, and at the age of 21, he was made Captain of an East India merchantman. He followed the sea for 17 years, and three times sailed around the world. Salem, Mass., to which his parents removed, was his nominal home. His kindly, unselfish nature won him the love of his subordinates and the esteem of all; in 1838, he removed West and spent a winter in Milwaukee ; in the spring of 1839, he settled in Waukesha County, which was his residence until his death. He was married November 19, 1840, to Miss Elizabeth Quarles, daughter of a promi- nent citizen of Kenosha. Her sister married ex-Gov. Barstow. Her brother, Augustus Quarles, com- manded a company in the Mexican war, from Kenosha, Wis., and was killed in battle at Cherubusco. They settled in the township of Brookfield in 1840, where he had bought 640 acres, and on which he lived till 1849, when he removed to the village of Waukesha, and did not thereafter engage in active business. He died March 30, 1875, leaving five children and his worthy companion. Their oldest son, Lieut. John P., graduated from West Point, and is now in the United States signal service ; William is Ex-U. S. District Judge, and now lawyer in Colorado ; Frank Q. now in commercial business in San Francisco; Lizzie is the wife of Lieut. H. A. Reed, a graduate of West Point, and now stationed there as assistant professor of drawing ; Anna remains with her mother in their pleasant home on Main street. Capt. Story was a gentleman of the old school, courteous, generous and unswerving in his integrity. Being of a reserved nature and not in business, he preferred the society of his family and a few chosen friends, to whom he was greatly endeared by his qualities of head and heart. He acted well his part in all the varied relation, of life, and left to family and the world the heritage of a spotless name and an unsullied life.

RICHARD STREET (Supt. Waukesha County Mfg. Co.) was born at Bannockburn, Scotland, Sept. 5, 1825; came to Wisconsin in 1855, and located in Grant Co., near Lancaster, engaged in farming for five years ; learned the business of cloth manufacture at Wilson & Bros'. celebrated mills, Bannockburn, commencing at the age of 11 years ; continued in the same business all the time, except the five years he was farming; in 1861, he returned to Utica, N. Y., where he remained until spring of 1868, when he came to Racine and introduced the manufacture of the " Badger State Shawl," in the factory of Blake & Co., that being the first shawl manufactured at that place ; continued with Blake & Co., until 1871, when he came to Waukesha, and has been connected with the Waukesha County Manufacturing Company ever since. Mr. Street was also overseer at the Globe Mills, at Utica, N. Y. He was married near Bannockburn, Scotland, May 26, 1847, to Elizabeth Robertson ; she was born about 6 miles from Bannock burn ; they have nine children -William, Robert R., Helen D., were born in Sterling, Scotland; John A., Lucy A., Belle J., Richard W. were born in Grant County, Wis .; George W., Charles A. were born in Utica, N. Y. Mr. Street is a member of the Village Board, and is also a member of the Good Templar Lodge, the A. F. & A. M., I. O. O. F. Lodges, the Royal Arcanum and of the Baptist Church.

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The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources; an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages etc, Part 128

Author: Western Historical Co., pub Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 1050

Author: Western Historical Co., pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1050