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 158

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 158

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EDWARD L. NEHS, of the firm of E. L. Nehs, Schlafer & Co., proprietors of steam saw-mill, Menomonee Falls; he is also engaged in farming; Mr. Nehs was born in Lehigh Co., Penn., March 13, 1841 ; came to Menomonee Falls with his parents, Charles and Mary A. Nelis, in 1846. He married, in Menomonee, Elizabeth Kronse ; she was born in Armstedt, Germany, in 1839 ; they have four children- Ida, Mary, Owen and Albert. Mr. Nehs owns a pleasantly located and finely improved farm, adjacent to the village of Menomonee Falls. He is public spirited, and takes an active part in promoting the religious, educational and other interests of the village and town ; he has been engaged in carrying on saw-mill in Menomonee Falls several years, and has a large run of work.

J. B. NEHS, proprietor of the Menomonee Flouring Mills, Menomonee Falls; was born in Bucks Co., Penn., Jan. 2, 1808. June 21, 1837, he married, in Lehigh Co., Penn., Sarah Jacoby, a native of that county ; in 1849, they came to Wisconsin, purchased land where the village of Menomonee Falls now is, and have made that village their home since. In 1851-52, Mr. Nehs erected his large stone flour- ing-mills, in the village of Menomonee Falls, they being the first flouring-mills in the town of Menomonee ; the mill is a massive stone structure, four stories high, and containing every facility for the making of the

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best grades of flour ; the custom work alone, without taking into account the vast quantity of flour shipped, amounts to over 37,000 bushels of wheat yearly. Mr. Nehs is one of the oldest citizens of Menomonee Falls now residing there ; he has always been identified with the business as well as the educational and religious interests of the village, and their present prosperity is, in a great measure, due to his liberality and enterprise.

THOMAS J. PALMER, farmer, Sec. 5; P. O. Menomonee Falls ; is a native of Norfolk, England; was born May 15, 1830 ; when he was 7 years of age, his parents emigrated to this country, and settled in Genesee Co., N. Y., where his father, James Palmer, died, and his mother married W. B. Bradley ; they came to Wisconsin in 1843, the subject of this notice, Thomas J. Palmer, coming with them ; he lived in Racine Co. one year, then came to the town of Menomonee, where he married Mary Gray, daughter of Anson Gray, who was an early settler of Germantown, Wis .; she was born in Dorset, Vt. ; they have four children-Anson G., William B., Alice F. and Mark. Mr. Palmer owns a desirably located and well improved farm.

R. S. ROWE, of the firm of Rowe & Webb, proprietors of the Menomonee Falls Pump Factory ; was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in 1821 ; in 1837, he came to Wisconsin with his parents, Abner and Mary Rowe; they lived in Milwaukee until 1839, then moved to Menomonee, where they both died ; during his life, he was eminently identified with the public interests, and was elected to various offices. During the war of the rebellion, the subject of this notice, R. S. Rowe, served in Co. A, 28th W. V. I., and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. He has filled the office of Chairman of the Menom- onee Town Board two terms; was Justice of the Peace several years ; he is Secretary and District Deputy of Menomonee Lodge, No. 227, I. O. O. F., being an active member of that Lodge since its organization, in 1873 ;. he is Worthy Chief of the I. O. G. T., and has been permanently identified with the organiza- tion and growth of that order since 1859, which year it was organized, in Menomonee Falls. Mr. Rowe has heen three times married; his present wife was Mary Barnes, daughter of William Barnes, a pioneer settler of this county ; Mr. Rowe's children are Abner S., now in Custer City, Dakota ; Mary A., wife of H. Fox, Waukesha; William H. and Ellen. Messrs. Rowe & Webb manufacture a superior pump, and are meeting with flattering success in their business.

IRA B. ROWELL, of the firm of I. B. Rowell, G. W. Rowell and C. K. Schlafer, proprietors of the Menomonee Falls Agricultural Works ; was born in Naples, Ontario Co., N. Y., Jan. 19, 1833; came to Wisconsin with his parents, Ira and Maria Rowell, in 1843; they settled in the town of Lisbon, where they still reside, old and honored residents. Ira B., the subject of this notice, has been twice married ; his first wife was Elizabeth Osborn ; his present wife was Louisa Chipman ; they have two chil- dren, Mabel and Harry. Mr. Rowell has been engaged in the manufacture of agricultural implements over twenty years, and therefore has a wide experience in that line, which enables him to successfully compete with any manufactory in the Northwest; he has recently associated with him G. W. Rowell and C. K. Schlafer, gentlemen of rare business qualifications, and thoroughly conversant with the manufacturing business in all of its details ; they manufacture the " Peekskill Plow," Nos. 193-20-21; Lord's Improved Plow, No. 13; the Badger, No. 4, and the improved E plow, with steel moldboard ; these plows have been thoroughly tested, and found to have superior advantages ; they also make the Rowell Horse Hoe and Cultivator, with stationary or slip tooth ; this is a superior implement for the cultivation of fallow ground ; Ira B. Rowell & Co. have made quite a number of improvements in the making of agricultural implements ; they use none but the best material, which, combined with their special facilities and large experience, enables them to produce a quality of goods that less experience and old-time methods cannot attain to.

JACOB L. SCHLAFER, of the firm of E. L. Nchs, Schlafer & Co., proprietors of steam saw-mill, Menomonee Falls ; is also engaged in farming ; he was born in Germantown, Washington Co., Wis., in 1845 ; his parents were Jacob and Katie Schlafer, natives of Germany, who emigrated to this country and were among the first to settle in Washington Co., Wis., March 28, 1872. He married, in Menomonee Falls, Mary Nehs, daughter of Charles and Mary Nehs ; she was born in Menomonee; they have one child, Adeline L. During the war of the rebellion, Mr. Schlafer was in 51st W. V. I., Co. A ; he is a Republican in politics ; is a man of much enterprise.

J. E. SEABOLD, merchant, Menomonee Falls ; was born in Stuttgardt, Wurtemburg, Ger- many, on the 28th of April, 1835 ; he received a liberal education in the schools of his native city, and in 1851 came to this country ; lived in the vicinity of Chicago, Ill., until 1855, which year he came to Wiscon- sin, residing ahout three years in East Troy, Walworth Co. At the end of that time, he came to Menomonee Falls,

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TOWN OF DELAFIELD.

where he married Adelaide Rodenberger, daughter of John and Hannah Rodenberger, old and esteemed citizens of Menomonee ; they have two children-Clara E. and Nellie T. Mr. Seabold and wife are men- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; politically, he acts with the Republican party ; in 1871-72, he was Registrar of Deeds, and prior to that was Chairman of the Menomonee Town Board of Supervisors ; he has also been elected to various other local offices, the duties of which he discharged to general satis- faction of the people in general ; at present writing, he holds the office of Notary Public, which he has been the incumbent of over twelve years. Mr. Seabold has associated with him in business J. H. Volland ; they have a full line of dry goods, groceries, hardware, etc., and have a large and constantly increasing trade.

CHARLES WILDISH, farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. Menomonee Falls; was born in County Kent, England, in 1819; came to this country in about 1841; lived in Oneida County, N. Y., until 1843, when he came to Wisconsin, and located in the town of Lisbon, where he married Harriet Greengo, a daughter of Jesse Greengo, a pioneer settler of Lishon ; they have twelve children, viz. : Emily. wife of Henry Jeffery, Lisbon ; Jane, wife of Walter Camp, Menomonee ; Edna, wife of Jacob Johnson, also of Menomonee; Fannie, wife of Peter Schlafer, Milwaukee; Orpheia, wife of Albert Stone, Lisbon ; Carrie, Alice, Hattie, Myron, Joseph and Fred. Mr. Wildish owns 104 acres of finely improved land ; he has been a resident of the towns of Lisbon and Menomonee ever since 1843, and has witnessed them subdued from a wilderness to pleasant fields of cultivation.

TOWN OF DELAFIELD.

A. A. AIKIN, farmer, Sec. 1; P. O. Pewaukee ; was born in Fairfield Co., Conn , Nov. 4, 1811; in 1841, he came to Wisconsin ; settled in New Berlin, where he remained until 1866, in which year he moved to the town of Pewaukee ; lived there two years, then came to Delafield, which has been his home since. He has been three times married ; his first wife was Jane Hyatt; second wife Harriett Hayes ; his present wife was Abagail Squires, a native of Connecticut; they have ten children; their oldest daugh - ter, Jane Ann, is the wife of Peter Kunz, Sheboygan Co., Wis. ; he was a soldier in the 28th W. V. I. during the war of the rebellion; Harriett A., second oldest daughter is the wife of William Wallace of New London, Wis. ; he served in the 5th W. V. I. three years, then returned and was assigned to Hancock's Corps, where he served until the close of the war ; Mary, third oldest daughter, is the wife of William Granger, of Waukesha; George W., oldest son, was a soldier in active service all through the war, in the 28th W. V. I. ; was honorably discharged ; he married Jane Connolly ; they reside on Sec. 1, this town ; Matilda, fourth oldest daughter, is the wife of C. Horner; Clara, fifth oldest daughter, is the wife of William Rauber; he served all through the war in a Wisconsin regiment ; they now reside in Minnesota Francis, second oldest son, married Jane Crane ; the unmarried children are William, Charles and Nellie Mr. Aikin owns 200 acres of land. Is a Republican in politics.

HON. ALBERT ALDEN, Sec. 17; P. O. Delafield ; was born in Portland, Me., March 5, 1811, where he received a liberal cducation, and afterward engaged in the mercantile business; in 1836, he went to New Orleans and clerked in a mercantile house until 1842, in which year he came to Wisconsin and engaged in keeping a general store in the village of Delafield, this county, which business he continued in until 1846; this was the first store established in the town of Delafield; he was also the first Postmaster in the town; in 1846, he was elected Sheriff, a position he filled two years, being the first Sheriff elected in Waukesha County ; he was again elected to the same position in 1864, and again served the people well for two years; he was a member of the first regular Wisconsin Assembly in 1849, and was afterward elected to the same position for the terms of 1859 and 1860, serving with credit to him- self and honor to his constituency. December, 1843, he married, in the town of Summit, Waukesha Co., Wis., Miss Caroline Fairservice, a native of Oneida Co., N. Y .; they have four children-Albert Jr., Agnes M., wife of Rev. W. O. Pierson, Pastor of Episcopal Church, Mt. Pleasant, Mich., Virginia, wife of W. F. Brewster, and F. C. Louisa ; Mr. Alden owns 360 acres of land; his home is beautifully located near the village of Delafield, on Nagawica Lake.

HENRY BAU, Hartland, was born in the city of New York Oct. 8, 1846; in 1858, he came to Wisconsin with his parents, John and Catharine Bau ; they settled in Washington County, where Henry remained about six years ; he then came to Waukesha County, and in 1868 engaged in business in Hart- land. April 26, 1875, he married, in Hartland, Annic Spangler, of Jefferson County, Wis .; they have

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two children-Charlie, born Feb. 12, 1876 ; John E., born Nov. 7, 1878. Mr. Bau keeps a strictly first- class saloon, having a full assortment of the best wines, liquors and cigars; he also keeps Falk's Milwau- kee export beer, which is bottled by A. Gunther & Co; this beer is unequaled as a beverage, and is warranted to keep in any climate; Mr. Bau owns his place of business, is public spirited and enterprising. His father died in Washington County ; he was a soldier in active service in a Wisconsin regiment during the war; was a good soldier ; one of his sons, John Bau, died in the service. At present writing there are only three of his children living, viz .: Henry, whose name heads this notice ; Charles, now in Memphis, Tenn .; Amelia, wife of Ferdinand Lehmann, St. Louis, Mo.

GEORGE BEECHAUDLEY, proprietor of Nagawica Cottage, Delafield, was born in Sheffield, England ; he came to Wisconsin in 1841; his father, Dr. John Beechaudley, was a pioneer set- tler of Wisconsin. George Beechaudley, the subject of this notice, married, in Delafield, Ann Seaborn, a native of Gloucestershire, England. Their home, Nagawica Cottage, is located on Nagawica Lake, and occupies a magnificent site on the south bank, and commanding a full view of the lake; the cottage is surrounded by beautiful grounds, and is furnished with every evidence of taste and luxury; every con- venience to be found in the mansions of Chicago or New York City are to be found at Nagawica; the hot and fetid atmosphere of a populated city does not enter the chambers of this cottage ; but pure, untainted summer air, wafted on the breath of flowers, floats softly through hall and corridor, filling one with an elysium of delight ; those leaving the hot and dusty city can here congregate during the summer season and while away the hours in luxurious enjoyment.

THOMAS BEECHAUDLEY, farmer, Sec. 22; P. O. Hartland ; was born in Stafford- shire, England, in the year 1836; in 1839, his father, Dr. John Beechaudley, came to this country, and hearing glowing reports of Wisconsin, he determined upon locating there, and accordingly proceeded to South Prairie, remaining there until 1841 ; in 1842, he had his family come to Milwaukee, where he met them, and in the same year (1842) they settled in the town of Delafield, Waukesha Co., where they made their home. Thomas Beechaudley, the subject of this notice, has been twice married ; his first wife was Sarah Taylor, she died in 1870 ; his present wife was Annie A. Pynn, maiden name Ottawa, was the widow of Edward Pynn ; by Mr. Beechaudley's first marriage there are two children-Mary and John ; by his present marriage three-James, Eleanor and Thomas. Mrs. Beechaudley's children by her first mar- riage are Edward and Ida Pynn. Mr. B. owns 180 acres of land, located south of Hartland, on Pewaukee Lake; he has been Assessor of the town of Delafield five terms, has also filled the offices of Town Treasurer and Justice of the Peace several terms.

THOMAS BLOOR, farmer, Sec. 10; P. O. Hartland, Wis. ; was born in the town of Lisbon- Waukesha Co., Wis., June 6, 1850 ; his parents, John and Mary Bloor, are old settlers, and still honored citizens of that town. In 1875, he married, in Neosha, Dodge Co., Wis., Miss Sophia Mann ; after their marriage they resided in the town of Lisbon until 1877, when they moved to their present home; their farm is located south of Hartland, a short distance from Pewaukee Lake, is well improved.

ALBERT CAMPBELL, a leading farmer, Sec. 9 ; P. O. Hartland ; Mr. Campbell is the oldest settler now residing in the town of Delafield ; he is a native of Oneida Co., N. Y. ; he came to Wis, consin in 1837, and in September of that year, settled in the town of Delafield, then in a state of nature, there being scarcely a trace of civilization; he immediately entered a claim, and set about making a home in the wilderness, and how well he has succeeded, his vast acres, costly and substantial buildings, bear witness to. He married in 1840, in the town of Waukesha, Artheusa Watterman, a native of Livingston Co., N. Y .; they have two children, son and daughter, Alfred and Frankie. Mr. Campbell's farm contains 320 acres, is located in a most desirable portion of the town, being only a short drive from Hartland, and in the vicinity of several beautiful lakes, which add so much to the attractions of Waukesha Co. Success has rewarded him with every effort of life ; he has kept pace with the growth and improve- ment of the county, and to such men as Mr. Campbell is due, in a great measure, the present prosperous condition of this county.

JOHN B. CHRISTENSEN, farmer, Sec. 5 ; P. O. Nashotah ; is a native of Denmark ; was born Oct. 31, 1835, in the Parish of Stockemark ; in 1847, he came to Wisconsin, settling in the town of Delafield. While he was on a visit to his native country, in 1863, he married Fredrica Spillman ; she was born in 1844; they have three children-J. Christensen, born in Denmark, June 18, 1864 ; Elizabeth, born in Delafield, July 4, 1870 ; Martina, born Dec. 18, 1874. With the exception of about four years, which was spent in visiting his native place, and a short time he was engaged in business in the village of Merton, Mr. Christensen has been a continual resident of Delafield since 1847 ; he owns 80 acres of land, located on Nagawica Lake, and well improved ; his parents, C. L. and Elizabeth Christensen, both natives of Denmark,

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settled near Lake Nagawica, in 1847 ; he received a collegiate education in his native country ; he died in December, 1879; she is still living on the homestead, near the lake, much esteemed by all.

W. M. JACQUES, farmer, Delafield ; was born in Cornwallis, Kings Co., Nova Scotia, in 1813; he came to Wisconsin in 1844, and located in the town of Delafield, thus becoming one of the pioneer settlers. He has been married twice; his first wife's maiden name, Anna M. Harris, died at Delafield ; their children are Charlotte C., now wife of A. Patterson, of Geneva Lake, Wis. ; he served in the 24th W. V. I. during the war of the rebellion, was wounded at Chickamauga; George F., now a resident of Calumet Co., Wis., his wife was Anna M. Spaulding, of this county; James, served in the 24th Ohio V. I. during the war, as a Ist Lieutenant; he is married and lives at Leavenworth, Kan .; Annie M., the wife of James Colby, of Big Rapids, Mich. ; he was a soldier in the 24th W. V. I. during the war, wounded at Nashville ; William M., enlisted in the 24th W. V. C. in the war of the rebellion, served all through, was wounded at Chickamauga. Mr. Jacques' present wife was Elizabeth Vanderpool, a native of Albany, N. Y., born in 1822 ; her father, William Vanderpool, was a pioneer settler of Vernon, Wis .; they were married in Waukesha, in 1849 ; they have three children-Isabell S., the oldest, is the wife of Charles Luther, of Calumet Co., Wis. ; he was in the 28th W. V. I. during the war ; Charles S. and Frank B., the two youngest, are home. Mr. Jacques owns a valuable farm adjoining the village of Dela- field. He has been elected to and has filled various offices of honor and trust since his residence in Wau- kesha Co .; is a liberal and public-spirited citizen.

JOSEPH JOHNSON, an extensive dealer in grain, and leading farmer and stock-raiser ; Hartland ; was born in Staffordshire, Eng., June 25, 1819. He married, in his native county, Eliza Shep- perd ; in 1848, they crossed the Atlantic to this country, and made their home in the city of New York until 1854, then came to Wisconsin and located in the town of Delafield, Waukesha Co., which has been their home since; their children are Thomas, Nettie, Henry, Eliza, Willie and Arthur ; the oldest son, Thomas, is married and is a resident of Howard Co., Iowa; Nettie, the oldest daughter, is the wife of the Rev. William E. Toll, Episcopal minister at Sycamore, Ill .; the rest of the children are unmarried, and reside in Delafield. Mr. Johnson had his grain elevator erected in 1862; his manner of dealing has been such as to secure the entire confidence of the producers ; he therefore does a large business, and has added much to the growth and business of the village; he owns nearly 500 acres of land in the vicinity of Hart land, and has one of the finest droves of Ayrshire cattle in Wisconsin, with which he bears off the first prizes at county and State fairs ; his house is located a short drive south of the village, where he has sur- rounded himself with everything pertaining to ease and comfort; Mr. Johnson is public-spirited, enter- prising, is a liberal giver, and has always been active in his support of religious, educational and other interests of the town and county in general; he has a vivid recollection of the condition of Delafield a quarter of a century ago, and relates many amusing anecdotes of the happenings of that time.

WILL E. KUNZ, merchant, Delafield; was born in the city of New York March 12, 1855; when he was a child, his parents, Andrew and Julia Kunz, came to this county and settled in the town of Delafield; Mr. Kunz was educated at Carroll College, Waukesha; in December, 1879, he engaged in the mer- cantile business in Hartland, his being the principal store in the village ; he keeps a full line of dry goods, groceries, drugs, medicines and everything that is kept in a first-class general store; he is a thorough business man, and has a large and constantly increasing trade.

WILLIAM LEROY, Jr., merchant and Postmaster, Hartland; was born in Hawkesbury, in the Ottawa District, Canada, April 13, 1830; he came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1842; they settled in the town of Merton, Waukesha Co., where he married Miss Lucy J. Poler, a native of Saratoga Co., N. Y .; after their marriage, they resided in Merton until 1870, when they removed to the village of Hartland, and he engaged in the mercantile business, which he has since continued with flattering success; he carries a full line of general merchandise, has a large trade, and is a thorough, go-a-head business man ; he owns 260 acres of land in the vicinity of Hartland, which he oversees personally; they have one son, John, who is engaged in the store. Mr. Leroy's parents, William and Rachel Leroy, settled, as heretofore stated, in Merton in 1842; he is still living, and is in affluent circumstances; she died in 1874; their chil- dren now living are William, whose name heads this sketch; Louisa, wife of Chauncy Simonds, of Milwau- kee ; and Miss Celia.

CHARLES MOUNT, farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Hartland; was born in Kent, Eng., Sept. 5, 1817; he came to Wisconsin in 1844; settled in the town of Pewaukee, Waukesha Co .; prior to this, he had lived one year in Oneida Co., N. Y .; in 1858, he moved from Pewaukee to his present home. His first wife's maiden name, Mary A. Howard, died in Pewaukee; his present wife is Angeline Pynn, a native

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of Newfoundland, and daughter of Edward Pynn, a pioneer settler and still an esteemed citizen of this town ; they have nine children- Edward, Elisha P., Charlie, Hugh, Sherman, Lewis, Mary F., Katie and Melinda. Mr. Mount owns over 160 acres of land, well improved, and is located on Pewaukee Lake, in the vicinity of Hartland.

NILS SPILLMAN, farmer; Sec. 10; P. O. Hartland; was born in Lolland, Denmark, in the year 1835 ; he came to this country in 1857, and first lived in Washington Co., Wis., a short time, then went to California and engaged in the lumber trade at Lake Tahoe, where he met with good success; when he left Lake Tahoe, he returned to his native place, and in 1862 attended the World's Fair at London, Eng .; he then came to this country and married Miss Huldah Peterson ; she was born in the town of Merton, this county, her parents being pioneer settlers of that town. During the siege of Nashville, in the war of the rebellion, Mr. Spillman was in the service of the Government at that place; he served until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged; in 1866, he went to Montana, followed mining near Helena until 1867, then went to Idaho, remaining there until autumn, then returned to this county, and himself and family went to Europe on a pleasure trip, remaining until 1870; in 1872, he engaged in con- tracting and building in Chicago, Ill., and did a large business; in 1878, he was in the Black Hills, Dakota. They have five children-Gertrude, Haelstrom, Eugene, Elmer and Clarence. Mr. Spillman is a member of the Town Board of Supervisors, and has filled other local offices ; he owns a valuable and finely located farm.

F. A. STAPS, a leading merchant, Hartland; was born in Saxony, Germany, March 10, 1840; came to this country, while a boy, with his father, F. A. Staps ; received a liberal education in Milwaukee, and engaged as clerk in a mercantile house there until 1860; then came to Merton, Waukesha County, and, in 1864 formed a copartnership with Francis Schraudenbach, a leading and pioneer merchant of this county ; they did the most extensive business in the mercantile line of any store in the county at that time ; in 1870, he sold out his interest in the store at Merton to Mr. Schraudenbach, who is still doing a large business there; in 1874, he established a general store in Hartland, where he has since continued, securing a large and constantly increasing trade. Mr. Staps married, in 1866, Miss Caroline, daughter of Francis Schrandenbach, of Merton ; they have two children-Nettie May, born June 5, 1867; Irving, born Jan. 1, 1876. Mr. Staps carries a full line of everything that is usually kept in a first-class general store ; he is a thorough, go-ahead business man, and by fair dealing and strict business integrity has secured the confidence of all.

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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 158

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