USA > Wisconsin > Columbia County > The history of Columbia county, Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement > Part 79
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Gen. Bailey was highly respected by all who knew him, being brave and generous to a fault. He was very fond of his family, and never so happy as when with them. He was a member of the Masonic Fraternity, and was buried with Masonic honors.
HENRY MERRELL.
His father, Benajah Merrell, was born in New Hartford, Conn., June 18, 1766. His mother, Lucretia Henderson, was born in the same place September 7, 1768. Very little of the history of his parents is known, save that they were farmers in moderate circumstances. His mother relates that, prior to the outbreak of the Revolutionary war, those who used tea were considered as Tories, therefore little, if any, was used ; that at one time, supposed to be when the news of the battle of Lexington had reached them, her father rushed into the church where the people had assembled for worship, crying, "Turn out ! turn out ! the British are coming !" which had the effect of hastily breaking up the meeting. The marriage of Benajah Merrell and Miss Henderson occurred in their native town September 18, 1789. Soon after this, they moved to New Hartford, N. Y. This was before there were any public conveyances west of Albany, N. Y., Mrs. Merrell traveling the entire distance on horseback. Passing through Utica, where there were at the time but a few log houses, and, not fancying its location, they proceeded four miles beyond and settled on the river, in New Hartford. Here Mr. Merrell embarked in the mercantile business, at the same time building a grist-mill-the first in that region, and, probably. the first west of Albany. While here, he sold a span of horses to Jason Parker, and went with him into the woods to cut the poles to cover the wagon to be used as a stage-the first ever run between Albany and Utica. Subsequently, he removed to Utica, and was elected Sheriff. Eight children were born to this worthy couple, four sons and four daughters, all of whom grew to men's and women's estate. The subject of this sketch was the seventh child, and was born in Utica, N. Y., August 7, 1804, where he obtained his education. In 1819, with his father's family, he removed to Sacket's Harbor, N. Y., where his elder brother, Hiram, had been since 1812, engaged in the mercantile business. In a short time, Mr. Merrell went into his brother's store as a clerk, and remained with him until 1823. In the fall of that year, he received a proposal from, and went to Utica and engaged with, Alexander Seymour, as head clerk and book-keeper of his establishment. Here he made many influential friends and acquaintances, among whom were Montgomery Hunt, President of the Utica Bank; Mr. Lathrop, of the Ontario Bank; Henry Seymour, Canal Commissioner and father of ex-Gov. Seymour, and many others. While here, he had the privilege of hearing William Lloyd Garri- son deliver an Abolition lecture, the first in his life.
In the spring of 1825, his brother Hiram made him an offer to return to Sacket's Harbor and embark with him in the mercantile business, which was accepted. Here the entire charge
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of the store was thrown upon him, giving him experience useful to him in after life. At this place, he formed the acquaintance of Commodore Woolsey, Gen. Brady, Col. Cummings, Maj. N. Clark, Paymaster Satterlee Clark, Sr., Gen. Wool, and many others famous in history.
In 1834, he made up his mind to go West, and Capt. Clitz, a recruiting officer in Utica, hearing of it, wrote him of an opportunity to embark in the sutler business at Fort Winnebago, Wis., and advised him to come to Utica and see about it. This letter was shown to his friend, Lieut. Bradley, who advised him to go, representing the country as the most beautiful he ever saw. Taking the stage for Utica, Mr .. Merrell called upon Capt. Clitz, and was fortunate in there meeting Col. Cummings, who had been through Wisconsin also. He was by these men introduced to Satterlee Clark, Sr., who held the appointment of sutler at the fort. An arrange- ment was effected, and Mr. Merrell returned to Sacket's Harbor to make his arrangements for embarking in the business. The brother of Mr. Merrell was greatly surprised that he should undertake any business without first consulting him, and inquired where he was to get the money necessary. Henry replied he intended asking a certain person to indorse for him. This greatly amused the brother, as the gentleman named was known to be very close and cautious in all things, and seldom indorsed for any one. But Henry was not mistaken in his man. His note was indorsed, money obtained, and he went to New York to purchase his stock.
In New York, he was fortunate in meeting several old acquaintances, who favored him by introducing him to leading business houses, where he obtained credit for all the stock desired. He was also fortunate in meeting several sutlers from other posts, who gave him much valuable information as to what he should buy. He came to Fort Winnebago when it was a military post, in 1834, and held the position of sutler. He was engaged in merchandising for a number of years, and was elected Senator from the Portage District after the adoption of the State Consti- tution in 1848. He resided here from 1834 till his death, but devoted his time to business rather than public matters, and by his energy and foresight acquired a handsome fortune. For a number of years previous to his death, he had been engaged in active business in La Crosse, and came to his home from that city the previous week feeling unwell, and two days afterward fell into a stupor, from which he was raised with great difficulty by his attending physicians. After he was restored to consciousness, he did not recover his strength, but continued to decline gradually, but certainly, up to the last hour, when he passed away without a struggle. During his long residence in Portage, he always commanded the greatest respect. His amiability and cheerfulness of character, and his active sympathy in every good and charitable work, endeared him to his friends and the community where he so long resided. His name was intimately inter- woven with the early settlers and pioneers of Wisconsin, by all of whom he was respected and esteemed. He passed away after a busy life, at a ripe old age, without a blemish on his record, and universally regretted. His death occurred May 5, 1876.
JULIUS CONVERSE CHANDLER
was born at West Randolph, Orange Co., Vt., August 23, 1833. The disease of which he died was dropsy, induced by cirrhosis of the liver.
He was the fifth son of William B. Chandler, in a family of thirteen children, all of whom possessed strong characteristics, and several of them have occupied important and responsible positions, both in civil and public life. Julius entered as an apprentice to the printing trade at an early age in the office of the Green Mountain Freeman, published at Montpelier, Vt., which was the leading paper in the State.
On completing his apprenticeship, he set out as a journeyman, his first stopping-place being Quincy, Mass. In 1853, he went thence to Cleveland, Ohio, where his brother William then resided, and worked for a time as compositor on the Leader. In the fall of the same year, he went back to Quincy, and was married to Miss Helen W. Adams, of that place. Returning to Cleveland, he continued his work there until August, 1854, when he removed to Janesville, in this State, where he worked on the Democrat, of which Judge Armstrong was editor. From Janesville he came to Portage, where he and his brother, John A., started the Independent.
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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
John withdrew at the end of nine months, and after the paper had lived two years, Julius sold to Robert B. Wentworth. He continued a year longer in Portage, out of business and then went to Friendship and started the Adams County Independent, which he published till the war broke out, when enlisted in the Second Regiment. In the first battle of Bull Run, he was disabled so that he was discharged from the service. He then returned to Friendship, and continued the Independent irregularly till May, 1864, when he again enlisted, this time in the Fortieth, a 100-day regiment, serving till October. In December of the same year, he entered the service of his brother, William W., as traveling agent of the Star Freight Line, and so continued for about two years and a half, in the mean time selling his office at Friendship. In 1867, he removed to Baraboo, after which his career was still more erratic and unsteady than before. There he published for awhile the Baraboo Independent, and again the Sauk County Herald. Still later, he made newspaper ventures at Augusta, Eau Claire and Elroy, and, in 1877, he edited a paper called Frontier Business, at Morris, Minn. In the intervals between these many ventures were times when he was wholly out of business or employment.
The sobriquet, " Shanghai," was given to him by the local Democratic politicians, as the representative of the Republican or "Shanghai " party, as it was called by the Democracy in 1854-55. The new species of Shanghai poultry was introduced into the State about the time the Republican party was in the period of incubation. When it finally made its appearance, it was dubbed the " Shanghai party," because it was a new species of fowl in the political barn- yard. Mr. Chandler's ardent advocacy of the principles of the new party, as well as his per- sonal appearance, obtained for him the cognomen of " the Shanghai ;" he accepted it and used it as his nom de plume in some of his correspondence, and by it he ever after was generally known. He died at Baraboo, Sauk Co., Wis., August 28, 1878, aged forty-five years and five days.
SAMUEL K. VAUGHAN
was born in South Adams, Mass., April 20, 1824, In 1841 the family moved to West Troy, N. Y., where his father and he engaged in the boot and shoe business. He was married on the 10th of June, 1844, to Miss Lavinna W. Wandell, of West Troy. He came West in 1848. and opened a boot and shoe establishment at Waupun, where he remained nearly four years. Meanwhile he studied law, and was admitted to the bar in Fond du Lac in 1852, and the same year he moved to Wyocena, which was then the county seat of Columbia County. He was elected Clerk of the Court, in 1852, and when the county seat was changed he removed to Portage ; he was re-elected and served acceptably. He then re-established himself in the boot and shoe business in Portage. When Fort Sumter was fired on, he promptly organized a company in Portage, of which he was commissioned Second Lieu- tenant, to rank from April 25, 1861. His company was mustered in as " three months' men." in the Second Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He was in the first battle of Bull Run, soon after which he was taken sick and was discharged. He came home, recovered, raised a company and was commissioned a Captain in the Nineteenth Regiment, to rank from December 19, 1861. On the 3d of December, 1863. he was promoted to the rank of Major. His commission as Lieutenant Colonel ranks from April 28, 1865. His commission as Colonel, by brevet, dates August 9, 1865, and his colonelcy ranks from August 31, 1865. On the 22d of May, 1866. he was honored with the commission of Brigadier General, by brevet, in recognition of his "efficient and zealous services," and he was to rank as such from August 9, 1865, which was the date of his discharge at Richmond, Va. He was elected Sheriff of Columbia County, in the fall of 1866. and served during the years 1867 and 1868. At the expiration of his office, he engaged in the manufacture of fanning-mills. The Colonel's healthi was never good after the war ; his final ill- ness was brief but severe; the leading cause of his death was rheumatism of the heart. He died on the 27th of September, 1872. Few men excelled him in attractive social qualities ; he was public-spirited and deservedly popular. While a resident of Fond du Lac County, he served several terms on the Board of Supervisors. His home was the abode of generous hospitality.
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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
He was domestic in his tastes and devotedly attached to his family. While in the service, he was a faithful home correspondent. In his early life he was an active Good Templar, and was always a consistent temperance man. He was a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; a man of strong convictions, a positive character, but his sound sense and good nature prevented his making enemies. He was a kind friend and a valued citizen. His widow still lives in Portage, on the homestead. Ile was the father of four children.
JOSEPH KERR.
Mr. Kerr was one of the first settlers of Columbia County. Scarcely any man in it had been more intimately connected with its history, or had taken a livelier interest in its growth and prosperity, for the ten years preceding his death, than Mr. Kerr. In his own town, Ran- dolph, he was rapidly called by the suffrages of his townsmen to fill offices of trust and impor- tance. He was for years Chairman of its Board of Supervisors, and three times elected Chair- man of the County Board. He represented Columbia County in the Legislature for two terms -1848 and 1849-with honor and ability; and, at the time of his death, he was a Director in the La Crosse & Milwaukee Railroad Company.
Possessing fair ability, with good business talents, in whatever station he was placed, he acquitted himself honorably and to the satisfaction of all. A devoted and affectionate husband, a kind and indulgent parent, a good neighbor and obliging friend, and honest man and a sincere Christian, Mr. Kerr lived beloved and respected, and died January 22, 1855, in Randolph, mourned by all who knew him.
JOHN PARDEE.
Mr. Pardee was born in Norfolk, Litchfield Co., Conn., February 15, 1796. He removed with his parents, when quite young, to Marcellus (now Skaneateles), Onondaga Co., N. Y. At the age of sixteen, he was left, by the death of his father, in charge of a family of six younger brothers and sisters, of whom he had charge until they were grown. He served in the war of 1812. In 1824, he removed with his mother to Wadsworth, Medina Co., Ohio, where he engaged in merchandising for thirty years. . He removed to Wisconsin in 1859, settling at Pardeeville, remaining there until his death, which occurred on the 26th of June, 1873, after a lingering illness of more than three years' duration. Mr. Pardce was always affable and courteous in his manner, and impressed all with whom he came in contact as being a gentleman at all times and under all circumstances.
ANDREW SWEANY
was born in the town of Luny, county of Derry, Ireland, October 29, 1829. He came to Quebec, Canada, in July, 1842; thence he removed directly to the State of Vermont. After a few weeks he went to Schuyler Falls, N. Y., and attended a high school at that place, taking a very high rank as a scholar, in the class of which he was a member. After remaining there a few years, he went to St. John's, Canada. From this place he moved to New Hampshire. On the 4th of October, 1849, he, with the rest of the family, came to the town of Fort Winnebago. He was elected Superintendent of Schools, for the town, in 1852; in 1855 was chosen Town Clerk ; he was elected Chairman of the town for the years 1857 and 1858. During the sessions of the County Board in these years, he was an active and prominent member. As Chairman of the Committee on the Poor, he recommended and strenuously advocated the " County System " for their maintenance. Through his efforts, with those of some other members, he had the satis- faction of seeing the present Poor system for the county adopted, at the session in 1858. He remained in the vicinity until he entered a seminary some years previous to his death. He considered he had a call for the ministry of the Catholic Church. Had he commenced his studies sooner, he would undoubtedly have become an able, learned and zealous clergyman. It should, however, be remarked that he had commenced to study for the same end, when sixteen
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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
years of age; but his parents, fearing for his health, advised him to discontinue, which, in obedience to their wishes, he did ; but the desire still remained.
He was of remarkable depth of mind, gifted with a clear, well-poised intellect and good natural endowments. His apprehension was quick and judgment accurate. No one could more nicely or justly discriminate the defects or excellencies of a performance, or the exhibition of talent or genius, but his good sense and self-diffidence generally suppressed the declaration of lis sentiments. He valued and appreciated erudition in all its branches and for all its legitimate purposes, and strove patiently and laboriously to acquire an extensive knowledge of sound litera- ture. He was a rapid, correct and instructive writer ; he could speak, too, and when he did so, it told with effect-it was always to the point. He was a firm, consistent and conscientious Catholic, but his homage was a reasonable one. He was not fanatic or visionary. His venera- tion for religion and its ministers was not servile or forced ; not springing from ignorance or superstition, but voluntary and enlightened. For those who differed with him in his religious convictions, he retained neither hatred nor prejudice. His nature was to show respect and proper appreciation for the honest opinions and convictions of his fellow-creatures ; he did not display aggressiveness, even when convinced of the justness of his cause ; hence the respect in which his opinions were held. even by those who did not agree or coincide with them. He died in the town of Fort Winnebago March 20, 1873.
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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
CHAPTER IX.
THE COLUMBIA COUNTY PRESS-COMMON SCHOOLS-COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS-AUTIIORS AND ARTISTS-PRESIDENT HAYES AND PARTY-COLUMBIA COUNTY'S WAR RECORD-COLUM- BIA COUNTY OF TO-DAY.
THE COLUMBIA COUNTY PRESS.
Thirty years ago, John Delaney settled in Portage, and commenced practicing law. He had pursued the duties of his profession but a short time when he was induced to take advan- tage of an opportunity then offering to establish a newspaper in what, even at that early date, promised to be a leading city of the Badger State. Procuring a few cases of type and an ancient printing-press, he commenced business, having his brother James for a partner. " Delaney Brothers " was the style and title of the firm, and the first number of their paper bore date of July 4, 1850, being issued from a small wooden building which stood on the northwest side of the canal, in the vicinity of Lewis' lumber-yard. It was called the River Times, was a six-column folio, Democratic in politics, and thoroughly en rapport with the spirit of improvement then existing.
The editor, in his salutatory, said : "We this day publish the first number of the Fox and Wisconsin River Times. If it is not a curiosity now, it will be hereafter, as the first paper published in the city of Fort Winnebago." Truly, the transfer of a printing-office to Fort Winnebago (as Portage was then called) and the setting it in motion must have been no light task, and the first issue implies the exercise of much energy and enterprise. Evi- dently, the men who accomplished the work were not then deterred by trifles. "That gov- ernment is best which governs least " was the motto of the River Times, and above the edito- rial columns appeared the unqualified assertion, " The world is governed too much."
The initial number was a well-printed, creditable sheet, full of vigor and vigilance for those days. Its contents were : A beautiful poetic selection from the Louisville Journal ; " London at Night;" "England and the United States ; " "The Lady ; " " A New Orleans Mazzaroni "-a story wherein was told low a New Orleans burglar had stolen the jewelry of a young husband and wife, from beneath their pillow while they were asleep, and, with cool impudence, had kissed the bride on departing; "Advice to Unmarried Ladies" is followed by a spirited and hopeful editorial on Northern Wisconsin, in which the writer cites the causes of immigration, and tells why it has hitherto settled chiefly in the eastern portion of the State. But he declares that the era for the opening-up of the prairies, the forests, the streams and the lakes of Northern and Western Wisconsin, is at hand. And succeeding years have told how truly he prophesied. Even then, he speaks of the feasibility of the Fox and Wisconsin Improvement-a direct inland water communication between New York and New Orleans, via Portage- as placed beyond question, with the means at hand for its completion. He declares that the short canal to connect the streams will be finished that summer, and states that the Wisconsin is traversed regularly by steamers throughout the whole route, and that the navi- gable portions of the Fox have each its steamboat, plying between towns and cities. He has much else to say in support of this scheme, and reprints, in its favor, large extracts from the Green Bay Advocate and Oshkosh Democrat.
But the advertisements of that number will give something of an idea of who were doing business in Portage that summer, thirty years ago. T. Dean & Co. continued to hold out inducements to the trading public. in dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, ready-made clothing, stoves and tin and hardware; John Strong, of the Banner Store, was a wholesale and retail dealer much in the same line of goods. Keegan & Moore had the prices of these commodities
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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
at an enticingly low ebb, at Fort Winnebago, and handled also lumber, square timber and shingles, in Wauona, which was Gov. Doty's Indian for the Portage. Walter W. Kellogg was an attorney and counselor at law and Justice of the Peace. M. D. Ingraham did business also as an attorney, counselor and land and collecting agent, and was a Notary. William R. De Witt and J. A. Johnson, too, were attorneys and counselors and solicitors in chancery. L. Van Slyck was a Justice ; and G. T. Getty, as Postmaster, advertised an extensive list of unclaimed letters remaining in the post office at Fort Winnebago.
Editor Delaney, in a supplemental greeting to the public, apologizes for not describing the town and adjacent localities. He is willing, moreover, to receive advertising patronage. His establishment cost him $1,000, and current expenses were heavy ; but he hopes that he has not commenced prematurely, and that he will be reimbursed and do a good business, the newspaper having become necessary to civilization. He is not quite sure of his subscription list, however, and for the purpose of ascertaining who his patrons are, will postpone the next issue for three or four weeks. The next paper, in fact, was not published until August 5.
This initial number contains also some sharp comments on the action of the Legislature, the conduct of which is pronounced disgraceful to the State; in this connection appears a long communication from Abram Vanderpool in regard to a law on taxation, of which he is the reputed father. There is also a two-column editorial on general politics, and another long article on the balance of trade. Resolutions of the Legislature are printed, instructing the Senators and Representatives of Wisconsin to oppose the admission of any more Slave States, and to exert their influence against slavery and the slave trade in the District of Columbia. The editor says that the resolution against the admission of new Slave States would be an infamous violation of national faith, pledged to Texas on her annexation. He admires the truly national spirit of Webster. Clay, Cass and Dickenson, and prints a summary of the remarks of the former on the bill to admit California.
There was bad blood in these borders then concerning the action of the " Potters' Emigration Society," in England, of which various residents of this locality were members. A meeting was held here, June 3, 1850, to consider misrepresentations against certain individuals of the society. Walter Kellogg was Chairman, and L. A. Bliss, Secretary. Thomas Bliss, agent of the society, invited to attend and answer, did not appear. It was the sense of the meeting that the " Potters' Emigration Society" was a direct deception on the working classes of the British empire; and L. A. Bliss, John S. Campbell, James Henman and William Ward, were appointed to draft a memorial to Thomas Duncombe, Esq., member of Parliament for Maryle- bone, to obtain his influence to prevent the people of Great Britain from emigrating under the auspices of such society.
A communication from a spectator tells how a two-year old daughter of one Marion, an Irish laborer on the canal, fell into the Fox River near the bathing-house ; how Catherine Rolland leaped after the child into the water fourteen feet deep ; how the two were finally rescued by John Kennedy, and how Dr. Prentice restored the child in about twenty minutes. The editor that week received the Sauk County Standard, printed at Baraboo, by McFaden & Mc Laugh- lin ; a sheet firmly Whig, and full of epithet against Democracy.
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