The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 78

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Wisconsin > Columbia County > The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement > Part 78

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

He was a good citizen, a kind neighbor and a most devoted husband. He died on the 13th of February, 1879.

SAMUEL STEPHEN BRANNAN

was born at Silver Creek, Chantauqua County, N. Y., February 2, 1835, where he remained with his parents until about fourteen years of age, when, in 1849, they removed to Wisconsin, first settling at Calumet. In the spring of 1850, they removed to Portage. During the same year, he engaged to the Delaney Brothers as a printer's apprentice, and in that capacity did duty as the " roller boy " on the first number of the River Times, the first paper published in Col- umbia County ; so his connection with the press of Portage is antedated by no one. In 1853, he became inoculated with the California fever which so largely prevailed throughout the entire land at that time, and he determined to join a party which was being formed here to seek their fortunes in the new El Dorado. This he did, and although but eighteen years of age, he set out in the spring of that year for an overland trip to California. To make the journey to that then far-off land, through wilderness, desert and canyon, following the trail " into a silence as pro- found as the grave," was quite a different matter from what it is now. Then the journeying was principally by foot, the "canopy of heaven " serving as a blanket in fair weather, and the bot- tom-boards of the wagon utilized as shelter in case of a storm. After six months of weary travel, the party found itself in the Golden Land. Mr. Brannan soon obtained employment in a newspaper office at Downieville. In 1856, he returned to Portage, arriving home in the

519

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

fall of that year. Here he was again employed in the newspaper offices of the city, and for several months he "held a case " as a compositor in the office of the Madison Patriot. In 1860, he was elected Marshal of Portage City ; in 1861, he was elected Alderman of the Third Ward, and was repeatedly re-elected to the same position ; in 1871, he was elected Mayor of the city, and re-elected in 1872, each time receiving a unanimous vote, although the opposing party was largely in the majority in the city ; he was elected to the County Board of Supervisors in 1861, and was repeatedly re-elected. In 1872, he was elected to the assembly from this district, and was known as one of the most popular members of that body. He was frequently called to serve as a member of the Board of Education and in other minor official positions, and in every capacity as a public officer he served with credit to himself and acceptance to the public.

In 1861, he purchased the material of the old Badger State, then lying idle, and consoli- dated the office with the Portage City Record, which had been purchased by I. Holmes and A. J. Turner, under the name of the Wisconsin State Register. Mr. Holmes disposed of his inter- est in the establishment in 1864, and Messrs. Brannan & Turner continued to publish the paper until 1878, a period of seventeen years, when, Mr. Brannan's health failing him, the office was disposed of to John T. Clark, one of its present proprietors. In the fall of 1877, he decided upon a trip to Colorado, in the hope that his health, which had already become seriously impaired, might be restored. There he remained until the following summer, when he returned home, feeling that he had been greatly benefited, and confident that he was once more fit for active duty. After a few weeks, he returned again to Colorado, attracted thither by the excitement always attending the opening-up of a mining country. Just then, the Leadville mines were beginning to attract attention. Indeed, before they had become more than locally known, he formed a very high opinion of their extent and richness, for, as he expressed it, it was " bound to become the greatest mining camp in the world." There he determined to set his stakes and go into business, which he did. With a partner, he opened a supply store, but it was late in the season, and there being few of the comforts of life in that remote locality, the altitude being far too great for susceptible constitutions and the weather being very severe, he underwent privations that produced a return of the malady from which he had suffered, and he was forced to relin- quish business and return home to Portage. He improved somewhat in health through the win- ter, and, upon the death of Postmaster Haskell, was appointed to succeed him, and was able to assume charge of the office April 1, 1879. During the summer there was apparently a decided improvement in his health, and it was fondly hoped that there were yet many years of useful- ness and a fair degree of health in store for him. But the insidious disease which had so long preyed upon him was lurking in his system, and, a little more than two months before his death, compelled him to remain almost entirely in his rooms. Each succeeding day showed a gradual decline in his condition, and it was apparent that the lotcommon to all was not far distant. It came at last to his relief. He died in Portage April 5, 1880. He would gladly have lived, for he had " tasted the wine of existence " and he loved it : but when he knew that the balance of life was resolved into a few days, he gladly welcomed death, and on a beautiful afternoon, surrounded by his family and many of those friends who were nearest and dearest to him, passed away quietly, calmly and with scarcely a struggle.

The funeral ceremonies were imposing. People came from all parts of the county and State to pay their last tribute of affection to their deceased friend, attesting the deep respect in which he was held while living. There was hardly a town in the county that was not repre- sented at the funeral by scores of citizens, and the Presbyterian Church afforded room for but a small portion of those present. Friends from Milwaukee who were unable to attend sent kind words of condolence to the family, accompanied by gracefully wrought crescents, crosses and anchors, composed of beautiful flowers, and many ladies of Portage also sent lovely floral offerings. Mr. Brannan's Masonic history is as follows : Initiated an Entered Apprentice January 12, 1861 ; passed to the Degree of Fellow Craft March 2, 1861 ; raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason August 10, 1861, in Fort Winnebago Lodge, No. 33; advanced to the Hon- orary Degree of Mark Master June 29, 1874 : elected and presided as Past Master October

520

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

12, 1874; received and acknowledged a Most Excellent Master November 9, 1874; and exalted to the August Degree of Royal Arch Mason March 11, 1875, in Fort Winnebago Chapter, No. 14, Royal Arch Masons ; constituted a Knight of the Red Cross March 9, 1876; created a Knight Templar, Knight of Malta, of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, April 6, 1876, in Fort Winnebago Commandery, No. 4. of Knights Templar.

Mr. Brannan was the son of William and Prussia Brannan. He was one of five children, having had two sisters and two brothers, all of whom died of consumption, and his father finally dying of the same malady. He was married on the 27th day of August, 1861, to Miss Caro- line M. Prentiss, of Portage. The fruits of this union were four children-Prentiss S., Willie R., Kittie C. and Jack T., all of whom survive him.

Mr. Brannan was personally known to almost every one in Columbia County, and it may be safely said, that no man had more friends or fewer enemies than he. There was something in his nature that attracted men and women to him with an irresistible force, and bound them to him in friendship as with bands of steel. He wanted to think well of everybody, and was never happier than when he was able by some kind word, act or deed, to promote the pleasure and welfare of his friends. His considerate and obliging nature was so thoroughly understood that men and women and young people went to him with their sorrows and troubles, much as the child goes to its mother with its grief, or the parishioner to the prelate with his affliction. This perfect confidence in his disposition to aid them, which so many seemed to feel, was the highest possible compliment that could have been paid him. His aid, counsel and assistance were sought by those sorely in need, and no one ever left him, after such a mission, regretfully. That these invocations frequently came from persons who had but little personal acquaintance with him, was all the more complimentary, as it showed that his kindly and sympathetic nature was known wherever his name was spoken. How many went to him with their sorrows of which no one knows but themselves, cannot be conjectured, for he never betrayed a confidence that had been reposed in him.

On a sunny slope in Silver Lake Cemetery, in that "windowless palace of rest," reposes all that was mortal of Samuel Stephen Brannan. The hands of affection will plant shrubs and flowers around it,

" And the prairie's sweet wild flowers In their odorous beauty around it wave Through all the sunny hours- The still, bright sunny hours ; And the birds shall sing in the tufted grass, And the nectar-laden bee, With his dreamy hum, on his gauze wings pass."

ANDREW DUNN

was born in Tyrone County, Ircland, in the month of October, 1816. He was the oldest son of Samuel and Letitia Dunn. In the year 1834, he emigrated to the United States, being then eighteen years old. He landed in New York, and immediately started . West to the lead mines of Wisconsin, at Mineral Point, where he commenced digging for Icad ore. He followed the mining business until December, 1837, when he came to Fort Winnebago, now Portage. He there and then made a claim on Section S, on the west side of the Wisconsin River, on a part of the plat of Portage, and he then went into trade in a house a little below where the United States Hotel now stands, on Bronson avenue. He kept a general supply store for lum- bermen of the Wisconsin pinery, and Indian goods for Indian trade. He continued to live in Portage, and, in 1852, made and proved up a pre-emption right to the southeast quarter of Sec- tion 6, Township 12, Range 9, which covers that portion of the plat of Portage lying west of Mac street and north of Conant street, including the railroad and depot buildings. In 1858, he sold out all his interest at Portage, and invested his means in the village of New Lisbon, Juneau County, purchasing one-half of the village plat, and the saw and grist mills of the place, where he lived until his death, which occurred in January, 1868. His death was occasioned by softening of the brain. He held many places of public trust, among which were

521

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

Mayor of Portage, a member of the Board of County Commissioners, Deputy United States Marshal, Justice of the Peace, and, in 1847, he was commissioned by the Governor a Lieu- tenant Colonel of Columbia County Militia. He built, with Hugh McFarlane, four saw-mills, two in the Wisconsin pinery and two on the Lemonweir, Juneau County. These men were in partnership in mining, lumbering and trading from 1835 up to June, 1852, a period of seven- teen years. Andrew Dunn spent considerable money for the improvement of Portage City. He built a fine dwelling-house on the site where N. H. Woods' residence now stands ; he also built the present Corning House ; he built, at his own expense, the depot buildings and gave the railroad company a deed of four blocks for nothing, as an inducement to the railroad com- pany to locate the depot where it now stands. In his pecuniary matters, he was industrious in accumulating and economical in all his habits. He had an eye to competent retirement, and to this end selected a beautiful location in the village of New Lisbon and built a good house for his final home. He left a wife and eight children-three sons and five daughters. One strong and prominent trait of his character was the sympathy of his nature. His benignity of man- hood was the master key to Andrew Dunn's whole private and public life. They made him what all who surrounded him in life gladly knew him to be-a genial and high-toned gentle; man ; a generous, guileless man, free from all pretense and deceit; gentle-hearted and large- minded ; sagacious, moderate, judicious, faithful, true and just, whose charity never wearied and never slept; who held his own and his friends' honor above all the blandishments of passion, and all the temptations of ambition and wealth, and who came as near as our nature can come to loving his neighbor as himself.

THOMAS J. EMERTON.

Thomas J., son of Thomas and Rachel (Perkins) Emerton, was born in Groton, N. H., March 15, 1805. Here he resided with his parents until nineteen years of age, assisting his father on the farm and attending the common schools of that section. When he reached the age mentioned, he left the paternal roof and emigrated to the northern part of the State and settled in Coos County, where he began the laborious work of clearing a farm. After he had been · here two years, his parents also came, making their home with him until his marriage, February 19, 1833, with Rebecca L. Rogers. Three children were born unto him-Benjamin J., Lucy R. and Andrew J. ; all of whom reached the age of maturity, and are now (1880) worthy citizens of Columbia County.

On the 3d day of April, 1851, Mr. Emerton and his family left his native State for the great West, arriving at Fort Winnebago in about one month. Here he purchased a farm in the town of Fort Winnebago, on which he resided sixteen years, when he removed to Westfield, Marquette County, where he died January, 1870, leaving his aged companion and three children to mourn his loss.

When a young man, he affiliated with the Democratic party, but when the slavery question was prominently agitated in the early day, he embraced the principles of the Free-Soil party, and was a delegate to the convention which nominated John P. Hale for President, and was its presiding officer. On the organization of the Republican party, he identified himself with it, and was a consistent advocate of its principles until death. While a citizen of New Hampshire, he was often elected to town office, and was a member of the Legislature of the State for two years. On his removal to this State, though often solicited, he invariably declined to become a candidate for any office, preferring the pleasures of a private life to the excitement and turmoil attending the life of the politician.

Shortly after his marriage, together with his wife, he united with the Presbyterian Church, with which body he was a consistent member until he was called to his reward above. To him death had no terrors, for he did not die as one without hope.

While Mr. Emerton only received the advantages of a common-school education, he was a well-read man ; well versed in political, scientific and religious subjects, and especially in general history. Few men were better posted in this latter department.

522

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

It has been we !! said of him that he was a gentleman of the old school. It mattered not under what circumstances he was placed ; whether dressed in the common every-day clothes of the toiling farmer, or in the broadcloth of the man of leisure; whether in company with the rich or poor, the scholar or the ignorant man, he was ever the same pleasant, cultured gentleman. It was natural with him. In the family circle, he was kind and indulgent, having great love for his wife and children; ever ready to sacrifice his own comfort for their pleasure. He was always in good humor, and fond of a good joke ; a good story-teller, and was always ready to match a good one related by another by a better one. His wit was proverbial, and few cared to test him in a war of words, or were ever satisfied at the end of the encounter.

JOSEPH BAILEY

was born in May, 1827, in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, and removed in 1832, with his father's family, to Livingston, Fulton Co., Ill., and completed his education at Quincy. He spent much of his early life in the lead mines near Galena, and in exploring for minerals in Kansas and Missouri.

In 1850, he took up his residence in Columbia County, Wis., and, in conjunction with Jona- than Bowman, founded the village of Newport. When the rebellion broke out, he was engaged in the real-estate business, lumbering, and contracting on the public works. He imme- diately proceeded to raise a company of lumbermen, and tendering its services to Gov. Randall, it was accepted. He was commissioned as Captain, and his company assigned to the Fourth Regiment, Col. Paine, and moved with his regiment to Baltimore. Here Capt. Bailey's peculiar talents were brought into use. While stationed at the Relay House, he superintended the con- struction of Fort Dix, a small but powerful work, which commanded the "viaduct" at that point. After this, he was employed in the construction of barracks for the regiment, in Pat- terson Park, Baltimore, and in twenty-eight days completed a building 1,550x28 feet, with quar- termaster and commissary buildings, and officers' quarters.

Capt. Bailey accompanied the movements of the Fourth Wisconsin to Ship Island, New Orleans, and up the river to Vicksburg. Here he spent three days with six of his men, recon- noitering in the rear of the city, ascertaining that the enemy had eight guns in position. Return- ing with the second expedition, Capt. Bailey was placed in command of the " working details " on the famous Butler " canal " or " cut-off." The work was engineered by a Polish engineer, and proved a failure. Continuing with the Fourth Wisconsin until September, 1862, Capt. Bailey was detached by Gen. Butler to superintend the construction of Government levees, In October, he was ordered to construct a fortification on the right of Fort Parapet. After its completion, another work was constructed on the south side of the Parapet, and also a strong fort on the west side of the river. These works occupied his attention during the winter of 1862-63.

About this time, he was appointed Chief Engineer on Gen. W. T. Sherman's staff, and was subsequently employed in erecting heavy fortifications at Pass Manchac.

Capt. Bailey was promoted to Major of the Fourth Wisconsin, in March, 1863, but still retained his position on the staff of Gen. Sherman. In the investment of Port Hudson, in May, it was found necessary to plant a battery on a ridge, which was commanded by a direct and enfilading fire of the enemy's artillery and musketry. The project was pronounced impracti- cable, except at a great loss of life, by the Chief Engineer and his subordinates, except Maj. Bailey, who thought it might be accomplished, and urged his opinion with such pertinacity that the commanding General consented that the Major should make the attempt at its construction. Furnished with a detail from the Engineer Corps, and a regiment of infantry as supports, with characteristic energy the Major commenced his work, and, notwithstanding the doubts and sneers of educated engineers, which were plentifully bestowed, in seventy-two hours he astonished the enemy by unmasking, within 320 yards of their strongest work, a powerful battery of eighteen nine-inch guns, which completely silenced, and kept silent, the enemy in his front. Maj. Bailey also constructed a mine under one of the principal works of the enemy, by running a drift to a

Erman Drake DECEASED COLUMBUS

525

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

point in front of the water-side of the citadel, a distance of over four hundred yards; from this he approached, by a series of parallels, to the base of the enemy's works, under which he exca- vated a horizontal shaft, 180 feet in length, and at the terminus deposited twelve barrels of pow- der, and was nearly ready to explode the mine, on the 4th of July, when the place was surren- dered. For his services during the siege, he was highly complimented by Gen. Banks, who issued an order promoting him to the colonelcy of the Fourth Regiment. He at once took command of the regiment, but the authority of Gen. Banks to promote officers in the field was not recognized by the War Department, and Col. Boardman was placed in command of the regi- ment, Maj. Bailey being promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, patriotically acquiescing in the decision of his superiors.

During the winter of 1863-64, Lient. Col. Bailey was engaged in recruiting in Wisconsin, and, in February, 1864, returned to the regiment with recruits sufficient to fill the Fourth Wis- consin to the maximum as a cavalry regiment.

On the 8th of March, he was detached, to serve as Chief Engineer on the staff of Gen. Franklin, that General commanding the Nineteenth Corps, and accompanied that corps on the Red River expedition, returning with the army of Gen. Banks to Alexandria, where it was ascertained that the water in Red River was so low that the fleet of gunboats and transports could not pass the lower falls.

With an army dispirited by disaster, a powerful force of the enemy threatening an attack hourly, commissary supplies nearly exhausted, with the fleet of gunboats and transports thus helpless and useless, every expedient to relieve them was abandoned as hopeless by those who had made military engineering a study for life. It was left for an obscure lumberman from Columbia County to put in practice that experience which, on a smaller scale, had enabled him and his brother-raftsmen to get their rafts off' the sand-bars and obstructions common to the streams on which they ply their trade.

Col. Bailey suggested the building of a dam, 640 feet in length, to raise the water on the rapids, to enable the imprisoned vessels to pass over. The project was scoffed at by the regular engineers, but Col. Bailey obtained permission and at once went to work, and within eleven days had the dam completed, and, after a little delay, gunboats and transports were passed over the obstructions, and the army started on its way rejoicing.

This was the crowning glory in the military career of Col. Bailey. He received from all sides compliments for his skill and ingenuity. Commodore Porter thanked him in a public let- ter. Congress passed the following vote of thanks :

Resolved, by the Senate und House of Representatives, in Congress assembled, That the thanks of Congress be and are hereby tendered Lieut. Col. Joseph Bailey, of the Fourth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteers, Acting Engineer of the Nineteenth Army Corps, for distinguished services in recent campaigns on Red River, by which the gunboat flo- tilla, under Rear Admiral David D. Porter, was rescued from imminent peril. And be it further resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to cause a copy of this resolution to be transmitted to Lieut. Col. Bailey.

The rank of Brevet Brigadier General was also conferred upon him, as a slight acknowl- edgement for his important services.

In the passage of the army across the Atchafalaya, at Simonsport, the ingenuity of Col. Bailey constructed a bridge of the transports of the fleet, which passed the whole army safely over, and, in twelve minutes after the last wagon had crossed, the fleet of floats which had con- stituted the bridge were steaming rapidly toward the Mississippi.

On the 10th of June, 1864, Col. Bailey was brevetted Brigadier General, as previously mentioned, and was consigned to the command of a brigade, and was stationed on the Missis- sippi and White Rivers, and was subsequently assigned to the command of all the besieging forces operating against Fort Morgan, in Mobile Bay, and took the place. After this, he was sent to Pensacola, took command of the district, and was successful in three small engagements.

On the 10th of November, he received a commission as Brigadier General. He returned to Baton Rouge and commanded the First Division of Gen. Davidson's corps of cavalry, on his raid through Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. Returning, with his division, to Baton

526

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.

Rouge, he was put in command of the Northern District of Louisiana, with headquarters at Baton Rouge, and, in March, 1865, was ordered to join Gen. Canby, on Mobile Bay, and com- manded all the engineer forces, consisting of a division and detachments of the army which finally took Mobile.

After the fall of Mobile, he was placed in command of a cavalry division, and moved from there to Baton Rouge, by land, with orders to look after Jeff Davis, who was then trying to leave the country. Gen. Bailey remained in this position until he resigned. During his mili- tary career, he was several times wounded, but not severely enough to detain him from duty for more than two days.

Gen. Bailey was married in 1846 to Miss Mary Spaulding, by whom he had seven chil- dren. In the fall of 1865, after returning from the army, he removed to Missouri, settling finally in Vernon County. In the fall of 1866, he was elected Sheriff of the county, and, in the discharge of his official duties, he was killed by two brothers named Pixley, March 25, 1867. The mur- derers escaped and were never captured, notwithstanding a reward of $5,000 was offered and every effort made for their capture. A widow and five children were left to mourn his loss.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, Part 78

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899, [from old catalog] ed; Western historical company, chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1104