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 161

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 161

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PRUCIUS PUTNAM, farmer, Sec. 34; P. O. Dodge's Corners ; was born Sept. 24, 1813, in Andover, Vt .; his early life was spent as a farmer in the Green Mountain State ; in the fall of 1836, in company with nine others from Andover, he left for the wilds of Wisconsin; John Dodge, the Hasel- tine brothers and himself left Chicago with a team, reaching Vernon Nov. 1, 1836 ; these were the four first actual settlers of the town, and each made a claim on Secs. 27 and 34 ; they also built the first white man's house that fall, which stood, 15x16 feet in size, a few rods south of the present schoolhouse at Dodge's Corners ; their provisions that fall were brought from Chicago, pork at $28 per barrel, and flour at $10; they did some frontier work here, and on the 9th of January, 1838, Dodge and Putnam left for Chicago, and, on their return in the spring, each settled upon his own claim; they were soon joined by others whose names figure in the history of Vernon. On the 1st of January, 1838, Mr. Putnam married Miss Emmeline R., daughter of Col. Orien Haseltine, it being the first wedding in Town of Vernon, though Curtis W. Haseltine married Merial, daughter of Jolin Thomas, in the evening of the same day. Mr. P. raised buckwheat and turnips for his first crop, corn, wheat and oats failing on account of the unprecedented cold season of 1838; he now has 365 acres, with buildings in striking contrast to those existing when Indians were his neighbors, and Indian trails his roads. A stanch Republican, he has been in various town offices ; he also had the honor to open the first store in his town, in 1846. There are four living children by this historic marriage-P. W., B. B., W. T. and L. L. Mr. Putnam relates that when the four were en route for Vernon, in October, 1836, they did not see a house from fifteen miles north of Chicago, to Burlington, Wis., where a settler, named Smith, had a shaker-roofed shanty built ; in January,

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while he and Dodge were returning to Chicago, they lunched at Levi Godfrey's, who was then the only man at what is now Rochester, Wis. ; cold biscuit, washed down with colder water, then a fifteen-mile tramp to Ives' Grove, through a blinding snow-storm, Mr. P. suffering untold misery from an attack of rheumatism, and being barely able to follow the trail; reaching the double log house of - Call, they found a sick family, with only a girl able to get supper for them, and to wait on the sick ; the supper con- sisted of a kettle of hot mush, with milk ; this was quickly hidden by the hungry men, and more called for, when the girl set out a huge plate of cold mush, which was also disposed of; Mr. P. declares that Dodge ate more than half, and that he fully expected a funeral, but both reached Chicago safely.

DAVID REA, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Waukesha; born and educated in County Tyrone, Ire- land ; born Aug. 26, 1815 ; emigrated to America in 1832, and spent four years in Toronto, Canada ; in the fall of 1836, he visited Milwaukee and Prairieville, and a few days later went to Illinois; one winter was spent near Natchez, Miss .; in 1839, he bought 104 acres of his present farm; after this, he spent some time in Central Illinois, voting, in Joliet, for Harrison, after the log-cabin and hard-cider campaign of 1840; fever and ague finally drove him to Wisconsin as a permanent settler, he reaching Vernon on the 1st of January, 1841 ; building a log house, he " bached it" here for a number of years; returning one night, he. unlocked his cabin and found an Indian fast asleep beside a roaring fire ; seizing the Indian's gun, he cov- ered him with it and awoke him; the "Injun" was scared and at once left, after getting his blanket out of the "oxen's wigwam ; " this dusky savage must have climbed down the wide chimney, as every window and door was fastened securely, and found as it was left. Mr. Rea now has over 300 acres, with good house and capacious barns. He married Mrs. Sarah Begg, widow of William. Begg, by whom he had four children-John, David, Sarah (deceased) and Martha (deceased). He is a Democrat, and a man who has earned every dollar of his property himself; he relates that in an early day he was offered 16 acres of land and the Bethesda Spring for a farm wagon.

H. F. SARGEANT, farmer, Secs. 28 and 29; P. O. Dodge's Corners ; was born Sept. 5, 1840, on the homestead in Vernon ; son of Otis T. and Nancy P. Sargeant, both natives and residents of Chester, Vt., who settled in Vernon early in 1840; O. T. Sargeant bought 80 acres of Government land, and built that summer the first frame house in the town, the oaken timbers 6x8 inches, with the shaker roof, enabling it to stand four-square to-day ; here H. F. spent his boyhood, often waking to find six inches of snow. over him, which had drifted through the warped oaken sides of the house; ox teams took them " to mill and to meeting," and once when his father crossed Fox River with a load of logs chained to his ox-sled, the ice gave way, and the load sank like lead; twice did this hardy old frontiersman dive to the bottom of the icy water ere he could unloose the chain and free the logs ; his clothing, of course, froze stiff at once, but he reached home and a welcome fire in safety. His son attended the pioneer school, taught by Mrs. Ira Blood and others, one term, in a barn where horses and cattle occupied the basement. He married Miss Irene C., daughter of Warren Greeley, of Caldwell's Prairie, in 1867, by whom he has two children-Lester N. and Roy ; is a live young farmer of his native town, as may be seen by his man- agement of the 225-acre homestead, setting out shade and ornamental trees, rebuilding the barns, etc .; he is a Republican. The old couple are now residents of Mukwonago, while the old house is kept as a memento of old times, with its huge mud-and-stone chimney, odd fire-place, etc.

JESSE SMITH, farmer, Sec. 33; P. O. Dodge's Corners ; born in Andover, Windsor Co., Vt., July 31, 1804; he grew to manhood there and married, Jan. 18, 1828, Miss Sylvia Barton, who was born July 22, 1805, in Andover ; in the spring of 1837, Mr. Smith, with the brothers Aaron and Amos Putnam, Col. Orien Haseltine and John Thomas, came to Vernon, Mr. S. buying his present farm of Cal- vin Gault; this claim lay in the beautiful oak openings in the south part of the town ; Indians were encamped in sight of his log house, finished by Mr. Gault, and occupied by him on the arrival of Mr. Smith's wife and family that fall; the next year, Mr. Smith built the first frame barn in the town, and in 1842, a frame house where he used to lodge many a weary traveler over the then new road; this burned down five years later, and was replaced by a very large two-and-a-half-story stone house, well remembered by the teamsters and farmers of "plank-road days;" the generous old dining-room, fifty feet in length, was often crowded, and it was not unusual for him to lodge 100 persons over night; and for a month or more, each fall, to average twenty-five or thirty teams per night was not strange when we consider that from 300 to 400 teams per day passed here, many from the lead mines of Southwest Wisconsin ; it was a common thing for men to order breakfast at 4 in the morning, and to find men waiting to occupy their stalls with tired teams ; the noted spring, situated on the hill back of the house was furnished with wooden piping in 1842, and has since supplied his house and barns with water for all purposes, and refreshed many a "way- faring man" and team. No better representative of the good old Vermont stock can be found in the West

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TOWN OF VERNON.

than is found in " Uncle Jesse Smith," known as the genial old landlord, all over Southern Wisconsin. He now has a 350-acre homestead, on which are over 400 grade merinos, with other stock. Mr. Smith is a steadfast Republican ; was one of the first Town Board of Vernon, Chairman of the town twelve or more years, and represented his district in the Legislature of 1854, 1866 and 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have five living children-Samuel B., Carlos P., Horace W., Loneann ( Mrs. J. N. Crawford) and Josephine ( Mrs. M. L. Davis) ; they have lost three daughters ; S. B. owns a large farm in Vernon, and an interest in the Waterford flouring-mill ; C. P. is also one of Vernon's substantial farmers, while H. W. succeeds as well on Caldwell's Prairie.

J. H. STICKNEY, farmer, Secs. 23, 14 and 22 ; P. O. Big Bend ; born in Andover, Vt., 1811, resided there until he was 22, when he went to Troy, N. Y., and after a year, to Boston, where he spent three ; returning to Andover, he remained a short time, and reached Vernon on the 18th of August, 1838 ; a carpenter by trade, he worked at building log houses and barns for the settlers. Married in 1840, Miss E. A., daughter of Col. Orien Haseltine, and settled on 240 acres of his present farm ; on this the Indians had formerly a cornfield, the stalks and cobs being still visible. None of the pioneers of Vernon have done better than he, as he is now the largest land owner in it, having 620 acres, and on it more and better timber than any man in the county ; his maple grove is simply grand; the yield of 1,000 pounds of sugar per annum, adding to its attractions; in these woods in an early day, Mr. S had many an excit- ing, and sometimes dangerous adventure with the half-wild hogs, and wilder wolves and lynxes. He is a Republican, and was the third Treasurer of Vernon. In 1847, he removed to Dodge Co., Wis., and remained until 1852. Mr. and Mrs. S. have nine living children-Warren, Annie, Alice, Rollin, Volney, Emily, Perris, Elva and Ida ; also an adopted son, George. To these children, Mr. S. has given over much of the care involved in managing the estate.

EDWIN B. THOMAS, farmer, Secs. 34, 35 and 25 ; P. O. Dodge's Corners ; is a son of John and Merial Thomas ; his father was born at Hopkinton, N. H., April 6, 1806, and was both a farmer and carpenter ; in company with Col. Orien Haseltine, he visited Vernon, in February, 1837, and made a claim among the openings of Vernon on Sec. 26 ; with his wife and six children he settled here in October, 1837, the family spending the winter with O. B. Haseltine ; in the spring of 1838, Mr. Thomas built a peculiar log house, hewing the logs and inserting them in sills palisade fashion ; the old landmark still stands, and was the family home until the death of Mr. Thomas, in August, 1857. He was a man of spotless integrity, and whose place as one of nature's noblemen was hard to fill ; many missed the inspiring example of this gen- tleman, as he was a man of wealth, brains and character ; his estate of 1800 acres, was shared by his sons-in- law, S. B. Smith and J. W. Park, and his only son, Edwin B., the subject of this imperfect sketch ; he was born Aug. 22, 1826, in Andover, Vt. ; was educated in the pioneer schools of Vernon, and in the old Wau- kesha Academy, under tuition of Prof. Eleazer Root, one of the founders of Wisconsin's present school system ; after leaving school he taught a number of terms in his own and adjoining towns. He took his 560 acres almost as it was left by nature's hand, and has made of it one of the most beautiful homes in the North west ; in this, he has been ably seconded by his wife, who was Miss Cornelia, daughter of Gains Mun- 'ger, a pioneer of 1837 ; she was born in New Durham, La Porte Co., Ind., and married Mr. T., May 3, 1854. A description of the place is difficult to write, but we may say that Mr. T. began by setting apple- trees and Delaware grapevines years ago, and that his grounds, now comprising 15 acres, are laid out in the most tasteful manner, and planted with the best known fruit and oranmental trees, while his vineyard produces from four to five tons of grapes per annum, he making a specialty of the Delaware, Rodgers No. 4 and 15, the Salem No. 53 ; is now testing others including 1,000 Dutchess. Mr. Thomas is also one of the owners of the Waterford Mills, and was an active party in the famous mill-dam lawsuit years ago. Is independent in politics, favoring the Greenback ; was well known as Town Superintendent of schools under the old system, and is a man warmly in favor of the cause of education, giving his children the best of advantages. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have seven children-John W., M. Isadore, Arthur E., Clarence G., Wesley M., Colby N. and Albert A.

JOHN VAN BUREN, farmer, Secs. 9, 16 and 6; P. O. Vernon ; horn Jan. 14, 1836, in Otsego Co., N. Y .; his parents, Peter and Isabella (Sharp) Van Buren, settled in Vernon in 1844 ; here he attended school, living with his parents until the spring of 1866, when he settled on his present farm of 152} acres ; he farmed this two years in partnership with Abram Sharp; the farm was then covered with stumps of the forest trees, which were its first crop, and with countless boulders and stones ; the buildings were small and poor ; to-day a 36x60 and an 18x38 barn, with a large, well appointed farm-house, and the smooth, handsome fields tell the story of fourteen well-spent years, which have made John Van Buren one of Vernon's most respected farmers. He married Miss Sarah A. Carmichael, who died in 1873, leaving

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two sons-Edgar and John ; by the present wife, formerly Anna Platz, he has a son, Peter W. Mr. Van- Buren is a Democrat and is now serving his second term as Supervisor ; he has seventy crossed merino and Cotswold sheep.

PETER VAN BUREN, proprietor of the Vernon Mills, was born Oct. 29, 1808, in Schenec tady Co., N. Y .; he is the son of Henry and Dorathy (Hollenbeck) Van Buren ; the family is of the old Holland stock ; Mr. Van Buren lost his father when a child and his mother at 17 years of age ; thrown thus upon the world, he for years, when it was most needed, did not know the blessings of a home. He mar- ried in Albany Co., N. Y., Miss Isabella, daughter of John and Catherine Sharp ; she was born in Guilder- land, Albany Co., and resided there until married in March, 1835 ; in 1844, they came to Wisconsin, Mr. Van Buren buying the farm on Sec. 9, where his youngest son now lives ; the giant trees with which it was then covered, were cut by Mr. Van Buren, rolled up and burned in log heaps, he then doing the work which told upon his tough and hardy constitution ; he has steadily prospered, however, and made a com- petence ; after leaving his farm he spent a short time in Vernon Valley, then removed to a farm now occu- pied hy Hy Groute, where he lived nine years ; the mill fell into his hands through the failure of its former owner ; this mill has been completely overhauled and repaired by him, and is now for sale at the most lib- eral terms, as Mr. Van Buren does not want the care it entails upon him. He is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Van Buren are a hale and hearty old couple and a type of the energetic and successful New Yorkers, who have made Wisconsin what it is ; they have three children all settled near them ; John and Catherine were born in " York State," while Henry is a Badger by birth, John married Miss Sarah Carmichael who died leaving him two sons ; his present wife, formerly Anna Platts, has a son; Catherine is a soldier's widow, her husband, John Howile, having laid down his life on the altar of his country, leaving an honorable and brave record to his two children ; Henry married Miss Isabella Carmichael, by whom he has two children, having lost his eldest.

A. C. VANDERPOOL, farmer, Sec. 17 ; P. O. Mukwonago ; born Nov. 10, 1836, in Albany Co., N. Y .; son of Charles and Lavina, who were also natives of York State ; the family is of the old Knick- erbocker stock, and were early settlers in the Van Rensselaer claim, or part of the famous Holland Pur- chase ; the grandsire of Mr. Vanderpool, born there, is now in his 98th year ; A. C. was educated in the old Dutch town of Schenectady, where all his younger life was spent ; in February, 1853, his father bought the homestead in Vernon, and when spring opened the son came out ; he stopped two months with his uncle, William A. Vanderpool, and put in the first crop of wheat ; all the buildings then were a log cabin and an 18x24 barn ; the result of twenty-seven years of intelligent labor and management are now mani- fest in the handsome and roomy farmhouse and the harns, the old one having been enlarged and one huilt in 1870, 36x60 with basement, and still not satisfied, he is building a 24x84-foot sheep barn, the farm now consisting of 206 acres of the best land, 30 of timber and 10 of marsh. Mr. Vanderpool married March 21, 1861, Miss Annie Shaw, a native of Groton, Tompkins Co., N. Y .; they have three children-Ada, Charles E., and Vinnie. Mr. Vanderpool is a stanch Democrat and Greenbacker. The old couple are still with him on the farm His flock of nearly 200 fine-wool sheep, were bred from that of A. E. Perkins, Mukwonago.

GEORGE J. VAN DERPOOL, farmer, Sec. 19 ; P. O. Mukwonago ; born in Albany Co., N. Y., 1831, son of William and Lanna ( Van Benscoten) Van Derpool ; as may be seen by the prefix of the name, the family are of Dutch descent, the grandsire of Mr. V. on his father's side, coming from Holland. His father, a shoemaker, was compelled to give up business on account of loss of eyesight ; in 1847, the family settled in the woods, on Sec. 18, Vernon, living in a rude plank house, with the care of a blind father on their hands ; there were six children, and, says Mr. Van Derpool, the first winter the Lord was on our side, they were fortunate enough to sell thirty cords of wood in the tree at a dollar a cord the huyer cutting it. George J. and a hrother spent this winter at the new, hard work of chopping, he cutting many a cord at 25 cents ; to-day, after several removals, Mr. V. has 88 acres of as fine land as the sun shines on, he clearing most of it himself, and replacing the old frame house bought with the land, by an elegant modern residence, built 1879 ; he, prior to this, had built a 30x40 barn, and during the Cen- tennial, celebrated by adding twenty-five feet to its length, and putting the whole on a basement wall. He married in 1855, Miss Catherine, daughter of Garrett and Debora (Cornick ) Van Buren, who were related to ex-President Martin Van Buren ; she was born in Guilderland Albany Co., N. Y. ; they have five children-Byron V., Leslie, Linden, Lillie M. and George ; in 1870, they lost a ten-year-old son. Mr. Van Derpool enlisted Aug. 15, 1862, in the 28th W. V. I .; the regiment fought and worsted the guerilla Price at Helena, and remained in Arkansas until February, 1865, when they were sent to Mobile, and did heroic service in the reduction of the forts there, being for thirteen days and nights under a heavy fire ; Mobile

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urrendered and rebeldom collapsed, the brave boys being then transferred to Texas, where they were mustered out in August, 1865. Mr. V. is a Republican, and has been Supervisor, etc.

HARMON WARFIELD, farmer, Sec. 17; P. O. Vernon ; born in Vernon, Waukesha Co., Wis, 1846; son of Nathan Warfield, who was from New York. He married Lucy Young, who was born in Connecticut, and, in 1843, settled in Vernon ; was a cooper by trade, and settled on 40 acres, now part of A. C. Vanderpool's farm ; Harmon was born here; in 1864, the family located on the present farm of 112} acres, it being then in a rough, half-cultivated condition ; the house was built by W. A. Vanderpool, but the barus, one 26x31 and another 21x63, were built by the Warfields. He married Miss Mary, daughter of John Sprague, one of the old residents of Mukwonago. The father of Mr. W. died May II, 1872; his mother is now living in Monroe, Wis. Father and son were Republicans. Mr. Warfield is a most sucessful breeder of fine-wool sheep, his flock of over 100 being bred from those of A. E. Perkins, J. N. Crawford, J. H. Paul, Capt. Lawrence and A. C. Whitmore; the average weight of wool grown by each of these 100 sheep during the eleven months ending May 20, is a trifle over eight pounds ; Mr. W. also owns the 6-year-old stallion " Farmer's Glory," bred by Martin Pollard ; the dam of said horse was a Farmer's Glory, and the sire a Percheron ; he is 16} hands high, weighs 1,450, and is, in all respects, a first-class horse.

ALMON WELCH, farmer, Secs. 8, 9 and 5; P. O. Waukesha ; born in Stafford, Conn., March 15, 1817 ; his mother, formerly Abi Cushman, died when he was an infant, his father soon after removing to Homer, N. Y. ; his younger life was spent here and in Tompkins Co., N. Y. ; in company with Asa A. Flint and his relatives, he left Cortland village with a team, and reached Oak Creek, Wis., July 9, 1837; Mr. F. remained here while Mr. W. took an Indian trail leading to Oak Orchard, where Isaac Flint, a brother of Asa, had settled ; on the east side of Muskego Lake, Mr. W. came upon a large camp of Indi- ans, and says he was nervous, but put on a bold face and stalked through the camp without looking to the right or left ; in due time, he found Flint, N. K. Smith, C. W. Haseltine and other settlers at Oak Orchard, who soon brought out Asa A. ; a bitter feud existed in this naturally lovely locality at this time, on account of disputed claims, C. W. Haseltine carrying a pocketful of red pepper to dust the eyes of Isaac Flint, while the latter carried a pistol, and swore he would shoot Haseltine on sight ; a similar " unlovely " feeling prevailed between N. K. Smith and L. Whipple ; the first Sunday dinner eaten by Mr. Welch was when visiting Henry Vail, a bachelor, who carried a pan of flour half a mile to a creek, wet and mixed it, returned and baked it, fried some bacon, and "got dinner ;" Mr. W. says the happiest days of his life were those when he could take his ax, and a week's provisions, go into the woods and split rails all day, and be lulled to sleep at night beside a log, with the wolves howling everywhere around him ; Mr. W. has owned several farms, and made steady progress since his settlement here ; he made his start at rail-splitting and bee-hunting, both N. K. Smith and Z. Ellis, his old-time friends, being famous bee-hunters, Messrs. W. and Smith taking forty swarms one fall, the honey selling for $.60 in Milwaukee. He spent the winter of 1839 in Cortland, and, on the 12th of July, 1840, married Miss Emmeline A. White, in Vernon ; after various changes, Mr. Welch settled on his present farm of 132 acres, about twenty-five years ago ; here he has several substantial barns built, and a handsome residence, which replaced one burned down iu 1870. Since February, 1878, Mr. W. has resided in Waukesha, though he still superintends his farm, and avers that he takes the most solid comfort here. He is independent in politics, and a member of Prairie Lodge, I. O. O. F. Has five living children-Sarah E., Theresa J., Bertine D., Ammon V. and Ella, all resi- dents of Nebraska; his elder son, Herbert P., served in the Union army three years, and, after this, was for many years in goverument employ in Washington ; removing to Nebraska, he died in 1878.

ASA WILKINS, farmer, Sec. 34; P. O. Dodge's Corners ; is a native of Franklin Co., Vt .. born May 8, 1815 ; with the exception of one year, his early life was spent in Vermont. Married Sept. 22, 1839, Miss Rachel Tabor, of his own town of Fairfax ; in May, 1845, Mr. W. and family came to Vernon, he buying the farm of C. W. Haseltine, on which he built a log house, and worked among thie early settlers of Vernon until 1850, when he made one of a party of sixteen in driving ox teams overland to California ; after two years in the Golden State, he returned, via Panama and New York, to his farm and family. Mr. Wilkins was a founder and leading spirit of the Southeastern Wisconsin Sheep Breeders and Wool Growers' Association, and of the Vernon Union Protection Society, having been President of both for a number of years past ; Mr. W. also owns the old Col. Haseltine farm in Vernon, or 426 acres in both farms, and a tract of Iowa land. Mr. and Mrs. W. have four living childred-Oscar Myron, Lucina (Mrs. E. D. Jackson ) and George A .; the two oldest are in Colorado ; Mr. Jackson manages the homestead, and the youngest son is on the other Vernon farm ; one of the sons, Albert, enlisted in the 1st W. V. C., and died at Stephenson, Ala., in consequence of injuries received in the service. Mr. Wilkins

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was Chairman of Vernon during the civil war, and did much to secure the splendid war record of which she is so justly proud ; was formerly Assessor, Supervisor, etc. ; in politics, a steadfast Union Republican ; Mr. W. has from 500 to 600 fine-wool sheep, buying and breeding from the flocks of such men as MoMillen aud Burrett, of New York, J. H. Paul, of Genesee, and noted Vermont breeders; he undoubt- edly owned the first fine-wool ram in Vernon, if not in the county.

TOWN OF OTTAWA.

TALBOT C. DOUSMAN, farmer ; Secs. 2, 3, and 10; P. O. Waterville; Mr. D. is of Scotch and Dutch lineage, and was born in Mackinaw, Mich., 1816 ; resided in his native town until 1835, receiving a thorough education at Mt. Pleasant Classical Institute, Amherst, Mass ; in June, 1835, Mr. D. located at Milwaukee, building a warehouse which still stands on E. Water street, boarding during the first summer with Solomon Juneau; was engaged in the forwarding and lumber business here a number of years ; he voted at the first election held here, called by Gov. Mason, of Michigan, to elect members of a council to meet at Green Bay ; thirty-eight votes were cast, of which Mr. D. thinks not more than three or four were legal, as a year's residence was required by the laws of Michigan, he was then but 19, and voted on the express condition that the negro cook of Mr. Juneau should also vote. Capt. Gilbert Knapp, of Racine, and B. H. Edgerton, of Milwaukee, represented that county in the council ; among other rem- miscences, Mr. D. relates that Mrs. Kinzie, wife of the first settler of Chicago, and an ardent Episcopalian, caused a clergyman of that faith to visit Milwaukee and referred him to her friend, Mr. Dousman ; now, Mr. D. had never looked inside an Episcopal ·prayer-book, and was in a dilemma ; giving a boy $5, he induced him to visit the English settlement at Oak Creek, and at his request one of these footed it to Mil- waukee in time to be the only actual communicant at the first Episcopal service which was held in the old Towles law office ; the Englishman and clergyman consulting Mr. D., and treating him as the Deacon of the church, though he had hard work to fill the part successfully. In 1841, the first election for Ottawa and Genesee, was held at the house of Benjamin Jenkins, I. H. Tweedy (Whig), and Joseph Turner (Democrat) were candidates for the Territorial Council ; Mr. D. worked hard that day, three Democrats agreed to vote for Tweedy, if he, Dousman, would secrete the tickets behind an old log barn. Next came nine English Democrats, to the leaders of whom Mr. D., addressed himself, telling him that he believed Tweedy to be a rascal, but that it was far better to vote for him knowingly, than to vote for Turner in good faith, and then be disappointed in him, as the Democrats had previously been in the absconding Dr. Corn- wall ; this novel argument worked like a charm, and nine more Whig votes were cast by Democrats; as Mr. Tweedy had seven majority in the county, the reader can draw his own inference. Mr. D. made the first claim in Ottawa in 1837, - Orchard and George Hosmer, being the next ; on this, in 1838, he built the first frame barn within the present limits of Waukesha County ; his log house was built in 1837, and in this the first sermon (Episcopalian ) was preached by the Rev. Mr. Hull ; in 1839, George Pad- dock, an Englishman, removed from Cleveland, Ohio, to Delafield, Waukesha Co., with his wife and two daughters-Jane A. S., and Helen F .; the elder of these, born in Litchfield, Herkimer Co., N. Y., was educated in Black River Seminary, Watertown, N. Y., and married Mr. Dousman 1839; he having busi- ness interests in Mackinaw, two summers were spent there, the young couple settling on the Ottawa claim in the log house in 1840 ; this has since been their home, though the log house was replaced long ago with a spacious mansion built in a rambling fashion, and in both a New England and Southern style of architec- ture ; it is heated with the second furnace ever sold in Milwaukee; a more beautiful old place than Ingle- side " can not be found in the county, as the noble burr oaks around it are interspersed with all the ever- greens, flowering shrubs, etc., needed to make it so ; the old barn, those built since the cheese factory, etc., making up a small village ; Mr. and Mrs. D. have two children, Hercules F. and Laura C .; the son was educated in Racine College, and the daughter in the Oconomowoc Ladies' Seminary ; T. C. Dousman now owns over 400 acres here, and is a splendid type of Wisconsin pioneer settlers; he was for two years a resi- dent of Green Bay, engaged in business with A. E. Elmore during the late war ; Mr. D. is an outspoken Republican, and was the first Chairman of his town, which office he held many years .; his son was Chairman in 1873 and 1874, and represented the district in the legislature of 1877; the family are Episcopalians.

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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 161

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