USA > Wisconsin > Columbia County > The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement > Part 150
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HENRY MORSE, farmer, Sec. 24; P. O. Columbus; was born in the town of Halfmoon, Saratoga Co., N. Y., in 1814. His father, John E. Morse, was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y .; his mother, Rebecca Palmer, was also a native of York State. At the age of 18 years, he began the carpenter and joiner's trade, which he afterward continued in Saratoga and Genesee Cos. till 1859; emigrating then to Columbus, Wis., he stopped in the village one year, then located on a farm on Sec. 24, town of Columbus, where he and his son together own 240 acres. He was married in 1837 to Miss Minerva, daughter of F. C. Farnham, a native of Washington Co., N. Y .; her father came to Columbus, Wis., in 1858, and died here in 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Morse have two children-V. C., now with his father on the farm ; Mary, now the wife of Eli Thaire, who lives in Minnesota. Mr. Morse was elected Assessor of the town in 1877, and re-elected in 1878-80.
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STEDMAN S. NEWTON, dealer in musical instruments, sewing machines and jewelry, Columbus ; was born in Tioga Co., Penn., in November, 1850. His father, Lewis Newton, was a native of Vermont ; his mother, Emily Egbert, was born in New York ; his father and grandfather John D. Egbert, came with their families as emigrants to Wisconsin, and landed at the house of Mr. Josiah Fos- ter, in the town of Arlington, Columbia Co., in April, 1854; they soon located in that town, and Mr. Egbert was, for several years, a prominent citizen of that town ; he died there about 1862 or 1863 ; he did much in the way of making deeds and drawing papers of various kinds for the early settlers, and was a man to whom all looked for counsel. Mr. and Mrs. Newton had a family of six children-three sons and three daughters ; three of them now live in this County. Stedman S., the subject of this sketch, was the fourth child, and spent his time on his father's farm and at district school till 1868, removing then to Poynell, where, in 1870, he began clerking in a drug store, and also had charge of the post office at that place ; in 1871, he entered the State University and completed his studies there in 1872; return- ing then to Columbia Co., he taught at Dekorra for a term of five months; in the spring of 1873, he began dealing in machines and musical instruments at Poynette and Lodi; in the fall of 1876, removed the main portion of his business to Columbus, though he still continues those points as branch houses to the business here; he added a stock of jewelry to his trade in the fall of 1878, and has since carried on the three lines of trade. In February, 1877, he was married to Miss Della, daughter of Lewis and Eme- line Cave, a native of Staten Island, but an emigrant to Poynette, Wis., in 1854. MIr. and Mrs. Newton are members of the M. E. Church ; he is a member of the Masonic Fraternity.
GERD H. NIEMEYER, farmer, Secs. 22 and 27; P. O. Columbus; was born at Han- over, Germany, in September, 1820. His mother, Dorothea Rolls, died when he was only 5 years old, and his father, Gerd H. Niemeyer, when he was 8. An orphan boy at that early age, he was forced to leave off his studies and seck some employment by which he eould earn his own living; he went to live with a neighbor farmer, where he learned that honest industry is the true source of wealth, and upon that principle he has ever acted ; he emigrated to America in 1848, and located at Milwaukee, Wis., where he followed laboring for five years, and then removed to Portage, where he lived two and one-half years; he next removed to the town of Columbus, Columbia Co., and located on a farm of 40 acres on See. 16; a year later, he sold that farm and bought one of 120 acres on Sees. 17 and 20, where he lived for two years ; disposing then of that, he bought another of 100 acres on Sec. - , and made his home there till 1876, whence he removed to his present one of 140 acres on Secs. 22 and 27, where he has since lived. He was married, in 1853, to Miss Mary Alfs, a native of Germany, but an emigrant to America in 1848; their children are Eliza. Mary and Fred. They are members of the Lutheran Church.
ASA PERKINS, farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Columbus ; was born in the town of Ira, Cayuga Co., N. Y., in 1826; he was educated there in the common schools, and devoted his time to farming there till 1849, when he emigrated to Wisconsin, and entered a farm of 120 acres, on Sec. 19, town of Colum- bus, Columbia Co., in June, having just 2 shillings left after paying the purchase money ; he returned to New York in the following fall for the winter, and a year frour that time, came agaiu to Wisconsin, and located at Janesville, where he worked by the month on a farm for two years, after which he made his home there most of the time for another year; he settled permanently on his farm in 1853, and has inereased it to 166 acres. Mr. Perkins is one of the committee on the extension of the North-Western Railway from Granville to Lodi, Wis., and has taken an active part in the enterprise ; in 1870, he took a trip to California, thence via the coast to Portland, Ore., and up the Columbia River to Waulula, and from there by stage to Walla Walla, Washington Territory, whence, after a fortnight's sojourn, he returned the same way to his home in Wisconsin. He was married, in 1853, to Miss Sarah C., daughter of Reuben and Nancy George. a native of Indiana, but an emigrant to Wisconsin with her father in 1847, her mother having previously died in Illinois; their children are: Mary A., born in 1854, and married to Stephen B. Marvin in November, 1875, and now lives at Redwood, Minn .; Randall K., born in 1856, and now at Redwood, Minn .; Francis F., born in 1858, now at home ; Charles M., born in 1860, and Arthur R., boru in 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins are members of the M. E. Church.
JOHN PETERS, farmer, Secs. 22 and 15; P. O. Columbus ; was born in Prussia in 1817; he came to America in 1853, and lived five years at Milwaukee, Wis., and, in 1857, he came to the town of Columbus, Columbia Co., where, in 1857, he bought a farm of 60 acres ; selling that in 1866, he bought his present one of 120 acres in Secs. 22 and 15. He was married in 1850, to Miss Louisa Harms, a native of Germany ; their children are Henry, Charles, William, Mary, and one adopted daughter, Emma. They are members of the Lutheran Church.
JOHN PRIEN, manufacturer of wagons and buggies, and agent for all kinds of agricultural and farming implements, Columbus ; was born in Mecklenburg in 1824; at the age of 21 years, he began
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the wagon-maker's trade in his native country, and enntinned the same there till 1852; emigrating then to America, he located in Milwaukee, Wis., and followed his trade there for five years ; he came to Columbus in 1857, and has since carried on the business of a wagon manufacturer. In 1853, he was married to Miss Ernestina Kreutzfeld, a native of Germany. They have one daughter-Mary Charlotte. They are mem- bers of the Lutheran Church.
JOHN M. G. PRICE, of the firm of Price & Henderson, Columbus ; was born in Norfolk Co., Upper Canada, in 1835 ; he received his earlier education in the common schools and academics of his native country, but completed his studies at the Lawrence University of Delaware Co., N. Y., in 1860 ; he came to Beaver Dam, Wis., in 1856, and elerked in a dry-goods store for two years ; then, after com- pleting his studies at the University, returned to Beaver Dam, and continued clerking for two years longer ; in 1862, he began elerking for D. E. Bassett, at Danville, Wis., and, in August, 1864, came to Columbus, where, in January, 1865, he formed a eopartnership with Bassett & Davies, in the firm of Bassett, Davies & Price, and continued business for about seven years : he removed to Milwaukee in 1873, and for three years was engaged in the wholesale tea trade ; returning to Columbus in 1876, he formed a copartnership with J. T. Ilenderson, under the firm name of Priee & Henderson, lumber merchants. Mr. Price has been a member of the City Council for two terms. He was married in November, 1865, to Miss Frances A., daughter of Thomas Eggleston, of Fox Lake, Dodge Co., Wis .; their children are George W. and Harry A. They attend the Congregational Church ; Mr. Price is a member of the Masonie Fraternity.
GRIFFITHS ROBERTS, of the firm of Roberts & Thiede, manufacturers of wagons, farm machinery, etc., etc., Columbus; was born in Caernarvonshire, North Wales, in 1845, and began the blacksmith's trade when 11 years old. He came to America in 1868, and located at Columbus, Wis., and worked at the trade with Owen Jones for some time. In 1871, he formed a eopartnership with Mr. Thiede, and established the present firm of which he is a member. He was married, in 1871, to Miss Sarah Williams, of Dodge Co., Wis. Their children are Reee and John. They are members of the Welsh Calvinistie Church.
GEORGE ROBINSON, Columbus ; was born in Woreester Co., Mass., in 1824. His parents, John and Naney Robinson, were natives of County Armagh, Ireland, but were early emigrants to Massachusetts, where his father afterward died. His mother died in Portage, Wis. Mr. Robinson came to Wisconsin, in October. 1843, and located at Kenosha. In May, 1844, he came to the town of Columbus, Columbia Co., and settled on a farm, which was his home for ten years; selling his farm at that time, he bought another in the same town, where he now owns 240 acres ; this he made his home most of the time till 1878, when here moved to this city, where he has sinee resided. He is now one of the three first settlers of the town who now reside in this city. His brother, Isaiah Robinson, was a pioneer lawyer of Columbus, and died in New York City in 1856, while on a visit Kast. Mr. Robinson was elected Sheriff of Columbia Co. in the fall of 1854, served during the years of 1854 and 1856. Politically. he is a Republican. In September, 1855, at Wyocena, Wisconsin, he was married to Miss Elizabeth R., daughter of Charles and Charlotte Woodward; she was born in Pembroke, South Wales, and died in Columbus in March, 1878, leaving the following children-Nelson, Frances A., Berthi E., and an adopted son, George R. Mr. R. and family are connected with the Congregational Church.
NEWTON A. ROBINSON, Columbus; was born at Glens Falls, Warren Co., N. Y., Aug. 19, 1828. His father, William Robinson, was a native of Rhode Island, but removed to New York in an early day ; his mother, Lydia Warner, was a native of York State. Mr. Robinson began clerking in a store at Glens Falls, when 15 or 16 years old, and remained there in that business till 1850; going then to Granville, Washington Co., N. Y., he clerked for five years. In 1855, he emigrated to Dodge Co., Wis., and stopped at the village of Randolph for the winter. In the spring of 1856, he went to Danville, Dodge Co., where he elerked two and a half years for D. E. Bassett, and one year for E. H. Silsbee ; coming then to Columbus, he began elerking for Davies & Axtell in their dry goods store, and remained with that house till 1869. He afterward elerked one year for Fuller Brothers, and three years for Farn- ham, Allen & Co., grain dealers, and in January, 1879, he began as bookkeeper for J. S. Manning, with whom he remained till May, 1880. Mr. Robinson was Town Treasurer in 1869, Town Clerk in 1872. lle was married, in 1860, to Miss Franees J., daughter of Daniel Malls, the proprietor of the first Colum- bus journal ; she died Dee. 5, 1875, leaving one son-Newton F.
REV. FATHER HENRY J. ROCHE, Priest of St. Jerome's Catholic Church, Colum- bus ; born in County Wexford, Ireland, in 1834. He received his early education in the common sehools of his native county, and when 14 years old, with parents, he came to America, and located at Utica, N. Y .; three years later, they removed to the town of Fox Lake, Dodge Co., Wis. In 1852, he entered the University known as the " St. Mary's of the Lake," Chicago, where he pursued his classical studies
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for three years; after which he took up the study of philosophy, physies, and also theology at St. Francis, of Milwaukee, where he completed his studies in 1859. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Henni, of Milwaukee, in December, 1859, and in 1860 entered upon the work at Beloit, Wis., as Assistant Priest of St. Thomas', Catholic; remaining there one year, he was next sent by the Bishop, as Priest of St. Andrew's, of Delavan, Wis .; three years later, he came to Richmond, Dodge Co., where he organized an entirely new society, built St. Joseph's Church, and remained there nine years. In Deeem- ber, 1872, he came as Priest of St. Jerome's to Columbus, and has since supplied the parish of St. Au- gustine's, at Wyocena, and St. Patrick's, of Doylestown, and also St. Mary's, of the town of Calanus, Dodge Co.
EMIL L. RUPNOW, farmer, Sec. 34; P. O. Columbus; was born in Prussia in 1819; his parents, John D. and Regina Rupnow, both died when he was quite young. Though early in life de- prived of that good counsel which only comes from a parent, he resolved to gain an education that would fit him for any responsible position he might be called upon to fill. He began his studies at the public schools, and continued them at the College of Neuzelle-the State institution in the Province of Branden- berg-from 1837 to 1841, when he graduated in the teacher's course ; he was then a teacher in the Gov- ernment employ till 1856, when he resigned. He sailed May 1, 1857, for America, and landed in New York sixteen days later; coming thence direct to Watertown, Wis., he was engaged as a teacher in the Lutheran School there for nine months. In the spring of 1868, he went to Jefferson, Wis., where he was Pastor of the Lutheran Church for six years; coming then, in 1864, to Columbus, he clerked for Mr. Whitney in the hardware store for five years; having purchased a farm of 132 acres in Sec. 34, town of Columbus, in March, 1863, he located on it in 1869, and has since made it his home. He was married in Germany, in 1844, to Miss Augusta R., a daughter of Charles and Caroline Schultz, and their children are Mary R., now the wife of Herman Hehmeyer, and living at Lagrange, Mo .; Maximilian, now a civil engineer on the railroad from Chippewa Falls to Spencer, Wis.
HEMAN SHERMAN, farmer, Sec. 4; P. O. Columbus ; was born in Essex Co., N. Y., in 1828. His father, Amos D. Sherman, was born in Waterbury, Washington Co., Vt., Oct. 17, 1789, and made that his home till about 25 years old, when he removed to Essex Co., N. Y .; he was a soldier in the War of 1812, and for his services as such, now draws a pension from the Government; he is now 90 years old. His mother, Millie Handy, was a native of Pittsford, Rutland Co., Vt., and came to Essex Co., N. Y., with her parents prior to her marriage; she died April 15, 1850. Mr. Sherman is one of a family of twelve children-six sons and six daughters-three of whom now live in the State of New York, and one in Iowa. He spent his time in farming in Essex Co. till 1849, when he removed to Steuben Co., N. Y., where he engaged in lumbering for three years. In 1852, he immigrated to Columbia Co., Wis., and located on a farm on See. 4, town of Columbus, where he now owns 103 acres on Sees. 4 and 5. He has been a member of the Town Board for two years. He was married in March, 1851, to Miss Laura E., daughter of Charles and Caroline Loveless, a native of Essex Co., N. Y .; born Dee, 15, 1836. They have five children-Orlin D., who married Miss Marian Link, of Randolph, Dodge Co., Wis., and now lives in this town (Columbus); Albert R., at home; Eliza, now the wife of Charles Oliver, and lives at Winnebago City, Minn .; Frank and Clinton, at home.
T. CLARK SMITH, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Columbus; was born in Seneca Co., N. Y., in Jan- uary, 1811 ; when a mere infant, his parents removed with him to Yates Co., N. Y., and located on a farm near Seneca Lake, where he lived till near 31 years of age; he emigrated to Wisconsin in 1842, and in June of that year, entered and located on a farm of 160 acres in Sees. 3, 7 and 8, in the town of Columbus, Columbia Co., and in the following September he went to Illinois, purehased some land, and in October took the boat at Chicago, was joined by his family at Milwaukee, and returned, via Buffalo, to Yates Co., for the winter ; he came again, with his effects, to Columbia Co., in the spring of 1843, and found his log house occupied by Mr. Bushnell, who received him kindly, and soon gave up his possessions to him ; he at onee began to make improvements, and has since made that his home ; his farm now con- sists of 446 aeres in the town of Columbus, and 40 acres in the town of Calamus, Dodge Co .; his log house has been exchanged for a commodious residence, with all the improvements of a model farm. Mr. Smith. was elected the first Sheriff of Columbia Co. in the spring of 1846, and in the fall of that year was re-elected for another term of two years; he has also been Chairman of the Town Board one term. He was married in April, 1868, to Mrs. Angeline Carpenter, nee Compton ; they each have two children by former marriages.
THOMAS SMITH, farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Columbus; was born in the County of Suffolk, England, in 1809; he followed farming in his native country till 1832; emigrated then to America, and landed at Quebec, May 1st of that year, and afterward located in Upper Canada, where he worked at farm labor till
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1836; coming then to Michigan, where he remained but a short time, on account of having, unfortu- nately, lost his arm ; he next went to Rochester, N. Y., and there was engaged in keeping a restaurant, from 1837 to 1846, when he came to Columbia Co., Wis., and located on a farm in the town of Hampden, Columbia Co., where he followed farming till 1861, when he removed to a farm of 160 acres, on Sees. 14 and 23, town of Columbus. He was married in 1853, to Asenath Laskey, of the town of Hampden, Columbia Co., Wis., but a native of Chenango Co., N. Y .; their children are Jerome H., Ellen M., Jesse L. and Charles T. Mrs. Smith is a member of the M. E. Church.
JACOB SMITH, merchant tailor. Columbus; was born in Yates Co., N. Y., May 20, 1815 ; son of Col. J. J. and Nancy Smith ; his father was a native of New York, but his mother was born in Philadelphia ; when 16 years of age, he entered upon an apprenticeship at the tailor's trade, in Eddy- town, Yates Co .; one and one-half years later, he went to Dundee, N. Y., and there continued his trade for ten years ; in June, 1843, with his brothers, T. C. and Lewis Smith, he landed at Milwaukee, as an emigrant to Wisconsin, and came thenee to Columbus, where they arrived a week later ; he invested in real estate, and located on a farm near the village, and for three years devoted his time to farming; in 1846, he opened the first merchant tailoring establishment in Columbus, and has continued that business most of the time since. In May, 1835, he was married to Miss Naney, daughter of Joseph and Catha- rine Ircton, of Dundee, Yates Co., N. Y .; they had an infant son, deceased. They are members of the Presbyterian Church; Mr. Smith is a member of the Masonie Fraternity.
JOHN SWARTHOUT, druggist, Columbus; was born in Yates Co., N. Y., in 1819; he emigrated to Wisconsin in the fall of 1843, and located at Kenosha, and a year later (1844), he came to Columbus, Columbia (then Portage) Co ; returning in September, 1848, to Buffalo, N. Y., he purchased the first stock of drugs ever brought to Columbia Co., Wis .; reaching Columbus again, he opened the first drug store of this place, and has ever since continued in that business. He was elected the first Tax Collector of Columbia Co. in 1847-48; he was appointed Postmaster at Columbus, by President Grant, in 1872, and has been re-appointed to that office at the expiration of each term since that time. In 1853, he was married to Miss Mary A., daughter of Hiram and Sarah Swift, a native of Vermont ; they had one daughter, Eva, now deceased. Mrs. Swarthout is a member of the Universalist Church.
CHARLES H. THOMAS, farmer and horse farrier, Sec. 8; P. O. Columbus ; was born at Alabama, Genesee Co., N. Y., in 1840, and came with his parents, Merrit A. and Julia A. Thomas, to Wisconsin in 1847, and located on a farm in the town of Columbus, Columbia Co., where his parents lived till 1876, and then removed to Albert Lea, Minn., where they now reside. Mr. Thomas made his home with his parents on the farm till 18 years old, and then began farming and trading for himself; in 1860, he began the profession of a horse farrier, and has successfully practiced it through this section of the country most of the time since ; in 1863, he bought a farm of 55 acres on Sec. 8, town of Columbus, which has since been his home. He joined the United States service in 1864, and was on detailed duty through the Southern States as a veterinary surgeon till February, 1865, when he returned to his home in Columbus. He was married, in 1859, to Miss Martha E., daughter of Charles Loveless, of the town of Columbus, but a native of the town of Maria, Essex Co., N. Y., and an immigrant to Wiscon- sin in 1851; their children are-Merrit, Clara A., Edwin S., Melvin J. and Nellie.
ALFRED TOPLIFF (deceased) ; was born in Westfield, Mass., Nov. 11, 1799 ; he was the youngest of a family of eight children, whose parents were John and Susanna (Jacobs) Topliff. Mr. Topliff devoted much of his earlier life to teaching in his native State, and, in the spring of 1844, he came to Columbus, Wis., but soon after located in the town of Hampden, and there went to work mak - ing improvements, and preparing a home for his family, who were then East; in 1846, he went back for his family, consisting of a wife and three daughters, and when he returned with them he found that he had been elected County Surveyor, an office which he held till the year 1870, when he resigned, but the instruments which he loved so well were not allowed to become rusty for want of use; many were the lines run and the roads laid out by him. Scarcely a year before his death, did he give up the profession that he had followed so long and faithfully ; in 1851, he was elected a member of the Wisconsin Legis- lature and re-elected in 1852, proving himself to be an active, intelligent and honest member of that body ; in 1855, he removed to the City of Columbus (then village) and resided here till his death, which occur- red Nov. 3, 1879 ; his wife having died eleven years before him ; he left a family of three daughters-Mrs. Chadbourn, Mrs. Waterhouse and an unmarried daughter. A writer who knew Mr. Topliff says : " It was always pleasant to meet the good old gentleman, kind, intelligent, courteous, a good word for every- body ; always appearing to look on the bright side of the picture, and with that quaint humor of which he was so fond, and ever at his command, he was sure to dispel the gloom which might be upon his auditor, leaving him, for the time being at least, a transformed being, feeling better for having conversed '
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with the good old man. He was a religions man in the true meaning of the term, nothing egotistical or pharisaical about him, but a true, intelligent belief in God and his Savior, guided and controlled him in the latter part of his earthly career."
REV. M. G. TODD, Pastor of the Universalist Church at Black River Falls, Elkhorn, and the parish of Wyocena ; was born at Homer, Cortland Co., N. Y., in 1821 ; he 1, the youngest son of eleven children, whose parents were Dan and Sarah Todd, natives of Connecticut, but were among the first settlers of Cortland Co., N. Y., where they afterward died. The Rev. Mr. Todd completed his studies at the Cortland Academy of Homer in 1843, and afterward removed to Geneva, Kanc Co., Ill., where he engaged in teaching for five years, and then followed farming there for six years. Reduced in health, he came to Wisconsin for recuperation and located on a farm in the town of Merrimack, Sauk Co. Regaining his health, he entered upon the work of the ministry at Prairie dn Sac in 1856 ; in 1857, he preached the first Universalist sermon at Lodi, Wis .; organized the society and was settled as its Pastor for five years ; in the spring of 1862, he removed to Mazo Manie, Dane Co., where he organized the society and was Pastor two years. He was called to the chaplaincy of the 23d W. V. I., under Col. Guppey, in 1864, and remained with his regiment till the close of the war. Returning then to Mazo- Manie, he resumed his ministerial work there, and also organized a society and built the Universalist Church at Prairie du Sac ; in February, 1866, he preached his first sermon at Columbus; organized the society and was settled as its Pastor in the following spring. After a successful pastorate of twelve years, much worn with labor, he resigned. Soon forming a circnit, including the parishes of Black River Falls, Elk - horn and Wyocena, he has since supplied these places with regular services. At Homer, N. Y., in 1845, he was married to Miss Margaret Williams, who died at Geneva, Ill., in 1849, leaving two sons-Lew- ellyn and Willard. His second marriage was in 1850, to Miss Helen Parker, of Geneva, Ill .; they have three sons and two daughters-W. E., a graduate of the State University in 1876, and has since been Principal of the Lodi High School ; D. Charles, a farmer in Sauk Co .; Miles E., now a student at the Columbus High School ; Evelyn, a student at vocal music under the instruction of Miss Fannie Root, of Chicago ; Myrtie, a student in the public schools of Columbus. Rev. Mr. Todd is a member of the Masonic fraternity ; also of the Order of Good Templars, Temple of Honor, and S. of T., and of I. O. O. F .; has been K. W. G. Chaplain of the Order of the State.
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