The history of Dodge county, Wisconsin, containing its early settlement, growth an extensive and minute sketch of its cities war record, biographical sketches, Part 107

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 776

USA > Wisconsin > Dodge County > The history of Dodge county, Wisconsin, containing its early settlement, growth an extensive and minute sketch of its cities war record, biographical sketches > Part 107

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EDWARD GOODWIN. farmer. Sec. 30; P. O. Columbus; is a son of Thomas and Jane Goodwin ; born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in July, 1834; in 1851, he came with his brother John to America, and lived for eighteen months in New York City, where he followed teaming ; then for nine months he was employed on a steamboat on the Hudson River ; in 18544, he went to Rensselaer Co., N. Y., where for nearly two years he followed farm work ; in 1856, with his brother John and father's family, who had just come from Ireland, ho immigrated to Fox Lake, Dodge Co., Wis .; eighteen months after he removed to a farm of forty aeres in Sec. 30. Westford, which he bought about that time; now has 170 acres in Secs. 30 an 1 31. In 1856, married Miss Mary, daughter of Thomas and Johanna Delaney, a native of County Tipperary, Ireland ; they have six children-Thomas E., John P., Julia M., Annie J., Eliza L. and Mary E. The family are members of St. Mary's Catholic Church.

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BENJAMIN HAMMOND, farmer, See. 6; P. O. Randolph; the subject of our present sketch is one of the most extensive farmers and stock-dealers of Dodge Co .; he was born in Madison Co , N. Y., in 1822, and is the son of Benjamin, Sr., and Lydia Hammond; he spent the first twenty-seven years of his life with his father on a farm in his native county; in March, 1851, he married Miss Roxi- ville, daughter of John and Cynthia Fisher, of Madison Co., N. Y., and, four years after (in 1855), they came to the town of Westford, Dodge Co., Wis., where he purchased a farm of 80 acres in See. 6; from this small beginning, he has, by his own industry and executive ability, gradually increased bis farm of 80 to one of 840 acres, 280 of which lie in Secs. 21 and 22, town of Fox Lake, and 560 in Secs. 5 and 6, Westford. They have had no children of their own, but adopted a daughter-Florence, now Mrs. Alonzo Pearee, of Westford.

HENRY HARMER, farmer, See. 7; P. O. Randolph; was born in Essex Co., England, in 1839; in the spring of 1849, he, with his parents, Mathew and Mary Harmer, came to Wisconsin and settled in the town of Sun Prairie, Dane Co., for one year; thence to Marquette Co. for a short time, whence they returned to Dane Co., and made that his home for twenty years. In 1863, he married Miss Carrie M., daughter of William L. and Eunice G. Horton, of Sun Prairie. In 1869, he purchased a farm of 134 acres in Secs. 7, Westfield, Dodge Co., and 12, Cortland, Columbia Co., where they have since made their home. At Madison, in 1864, he enlisted in Battery M, of the 1st Wis. Heavy Artillery, under Capt. Ira Ford; was in the defense of Washington City most of the time; was mustered out of service at Milwaukee, in July, 1865. They attend the M. E. Church of Randolph.

EDWARD P. JONES, lumber dealer, Randolph; is a son of Hugh and Margaret Jones; born in Liverpool in 1848; when 2 years of age, he, with his parents, sailed for America, and settled on a farm in Green Lake Co., near Kingston, Wis., where he lived on a farm, till about 22 years of age; he then removed to the town of Rosendale, Fond du Lac Co., and continued farming for one year; thence to Depere, Brown Co., Wis., where he was engaged in railroading for three years; in March, 1876, he came to Randolph, Wis., and, for one year, again devoted his time to agricultural pursuits; in May, 1877, he went to Racine, Wis., and, for nine months, was engaged in the grocery business. Returning, then, to Randolph, in January, 1878, he purchased an interest in the lumber-yard with M. Wilson, with whom he continued, as a partner, till Aug. 1, 1879, when he bought the interest of Mr. Wilson, and has since continued the business, with a capital stock of $2,000. Oct. 21, 1871, he married Miss Hattie M., daughter of Francis and Margaret Rockifiler, of Green Lake Co, who died in January, 1875. In May, 1877, he married Miss Mary E., daughter of J. R. and Mary Owen, of Randolph, she being a native of York State; they have one daughter-Edna M. Mr. Jones is a member of the Village Board.

REV. THOMAS R. JONES, Pastor of the Calvinistic Welsh M. E. Church, Randolph; is a native of Montgomeryshire, North Wales ; son of Richard and Elizabeth Jones; born in 1819; received his early education in his native country, but that of theology in the Episcopal University at Holland Patent, Oneida Co., N. Y., where he entered in 1842, soon after his arrival in America ; gradu- ated with the Class of 1844; his first charge was that of Carbondale, Luzerne Co., Penn., in 1845, though he often held services at different places near Holland Patent, while pursuing his theological studies; he remained at Carbondale till 1847, when he was called to the Church at Rome, N. Y., and while here, was engaged in translating and revising a work-" The Customs of the East"-from the English to the Welsh language, and superintending its publication ; in the spring of 1852, he removed to Ebensburg, Penn., shortly after which, he was ordained to the holy ministry by the Synod at Johnstown, Penn., in 1852; in 1855, he was called from Ebensburg to the church at Scranton, Penn., for three years ; in 1858, he returned to Rome, N. Y., where he remained till the spring of 1865, whence he removed to Wiseonsin and settled in Jefferson Co., where he had charge of the churches at Ixonia and Watertown for three years; in 1868, he went to Lyons, Ohio, and preached there for nearly three years; thence returning to Jefferson Co. Wis., and in January, 1874, was called to the church at Randolph ; during the winter of 1878- 79, he translated two volumes of Moody's Life and Sermons, from the English to the Welsh language, of which he took 800 copies with him to Wales in the summer of 1879. In 1845, he was married to Miss Mary, daughter of William and Mary Owens, of Floyd, Oneida Co., N. Y., she being a native of Wales ; they had eight children, as follows: Elizabeth A., Mrs. Eban Davis, of Vinton, Benton Co., Iowa ; Mary J., Jr., Mrs. David Roberts, of Chicago, deceased; Melanethon T., of Spring Valley, Minn., deceased, killed by a team of horses, Aug. 29, 1879; Vidette ; Mary J., Sr., deceased ; Isabella, Mrs. Thomas C. Williams, of Randolph ; Amanda K., Hattie B., Renetta, deceased ; Mrs. Jones died at Rome, N. B., in 1862 ; in 1863, he married Mrs. Jane A., widow of Mr. Amariah Jones, of Brookville, Oneida Co., daughter of Henry and Jane Jones, of Rome, N. Y. ; she having at the time of her second marriage two children-Milton and Cecelia A .; they have had one son-Frank, deceased. Mr. Jones has always

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been a strong advocate of temperanee among his people, and published a work entitled "Temperance Founded on the Laws of Nature, as Illustrated by Phrenology ; " in the winter of 1864-65, he wrote and published two volumes of sermons, entitled the " Welsh Pulpit;" the faets need no comment ; the worth of such a man is patent to all.

JAMES KNOWLES, grain-dealer, Randolph ; of the pioneers of this part of the county none is more widely known, none more highly esteemed than the subject of our present sketch ; James is the son of Francis and Sophia Knowles, born in the city of London May 12, 1824; at the age of 12, he, with parents, emigrated to America, and settled in New York City, where his father was engaged in hotel keeping; when 18 years old, he entered upon an apprenticeship at the cooper's trade, which he continued fourteen months ; in 1843, he resolved to try his fortune in the wilds of Wiseonsin, and after making the necessary arrangements, came to Fox Lake, Dodge Co .; with his brother George, who preceded him nearly three years as an immigrant to this State, entered 120 aeres of land in Sec. 13, town of Randolph ; haul- ing the lumber from Fond du Lac with ox teams, they built the first house, and were the first settlers in that town ; this he made his home most of the time, till 1860, when he disposed of his farm, and removed to the village of Randolph and has since been dealing principally in grain ; during the first few years of his life in Wisconsin, he was known by the name of Dr. Knowles, because he brought with him from New York City some bottles of ague medieine, and a case of surgical instruments, so that whenever there was a severe case of the agne, which was not infrequent, or any one in the neighborhood received a severe eut or wound of any kind (there being no physician near), Mr. Knowles was sent for at onee ; possessing a resolute spirit, which is essential to suceess, he has, though sometimes unfortunate, never despaired ; adverse cireumstanees and men have thoroughly tested him, and found him not wanting; he has been President of the Village Board for five successive terms, four by elcetion, and one by appointment. Feb. 14, 1858, he married Miss Annie A., daughter of Jonathan and Sarah Binney, nee Jones, of Medford, Mass. ; they have three sons, as follows-James A., Winthrop B. and George W .; Mr. and Mrs. Knowles are members of the Baptist Church ; in 1861, Mr. Knowles was appointed Postmaster ; was set aside by President Johnson, but re-appointed by President Grant in 1868 ; such is a brief outline of the life history of one of Randolph's most esteemed citizens.

CHARLES LINDLEY (deceased ) ; was the son of William and Elizabeth Lindley ; born in Lincolnshire, England. He married Miss Prudenee, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Gavil, of Lin- colnshire, in 1832. In September, 1851, they sailed from England for America, and landed in New York in October following ; thenee via Buffalo and the lakes to Milwaukee, Wis .; here they loaded all their household goods into one wagon, and, after two weeks' journey through the marshes, they reached Fox Lake ; stopping here for a few weeks, he bought a farm of forty acres in Sec. 25, town of Westford, upon which he ereeted a log shanty 20x24 feet, to which he removed his family ; here with stools for chairs, poplar poles for bedsteads, pine boards for a table and other like convenienees, they made their first home in Wiseonsin. In the parlor of this rustie mansion, Dec. 25, 1852, their oldest daughter, Hannah, was married to Mr. Jesse Bright. In 1853, they moved to the town of Burnett, and, in 1854, returned to Westford, where he bought a farm of 160 acres in Sec. 22, and made that his home till his death in 1865, leaving a widow with two children, as follows: Hannah, Mrs. Jesse Bright, of Chippewa Falls, Wis .; Pres- cott, formerly Mrs. R. D. Ferdon ; her first husband eulisted in Co. A, 29th W. V. I .; wounded at Port Gibson May 1, 1863, and died in a few weeks after, leaving her with two daughters-Alice and Clara; now Mrs. Michael Keasling. The family are Episcopalians.

JAMES T. LINK, farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Randolph ; is the son of William and Lydia Link, of Livingston Co., N. Y .; born in 1820.' In 1840, he married Miss Mary J., daughter of Liberius and Fannie Muuson, of Connecticut. In 1844, they immigrated to Wisconsin ; stopped for six months in Washington Co., and, in the spring of 1845, removed to the town of Westford, Dodge Co., Wis., where he has sinee made his home; he now owns a farm of fifty-six and a balf aeres in Sec. 6, within the corpo- ration limits of the village of Randolph. They have seven children-Emma J. (now Mrs. Charles Heyer, of Randolph, formerly Mrs. H. Williamson, of Westford), Ella (Mrs. Henry Wills, of Genesee Co., Mich.), Egbert E. ( of Pipe Stone, Minn. ), Annie, Marion (Mrs. O. D. Sherman, of Columbus, Wis.), Myra E., Estella A. Mr. and Mrs. Link, with three of their children, are members of the M. E. Church. The following historical sketch, written by Mrs. Link, may appropriately be inserted here:

" In the year 1844, we made up our minds to seek a home in Wisconsin ; accordingly, in the month of September of that year, we started on our Western tour; we came to Buffalo with our own team, and embarked on the steamboat called the Great Western, and surely it was, for I think there were people of almost every nation, on board, all, or nearly all, seeking a home in this far off Wisconsin ; we had a long and tedious journey, entering every port between Buffalo and Milwaukee; when our boat came into

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Mackinaw, the Indians swarmed the boat to trade fish for what other goods they could get, and a savage looking set they were; the young people were afraid and almost homesick when they saw so many ; at last we arrived in Milwaukee at 2 o'clock Monday morning, after a four-days voyage, and some of it pretty rough. Milwaukee was not then what it is now; it was only a small town then, with accommoda- tions that have been greatly improved since then ; after getting our team off the boat and loaded up, we started for a small town then called Hamburg, through heavy timber and bad roads, made still worse by heavy rain all day, and not a soul did we meet during a drive of twenty-two miles that could, or else they would not, speak one word of English ; every team we would meet, we would inquire how far to Ham- burg, but the answer was invariably nix far stae or a mere shake of the head ; surely this was encouraging for strangers, but we found our way at last, and finally drove up at a friend's house just at night, tired and hungry, not homesick, but a little sad it was to see a little new house with blankets and carpets for windows and doors; I thought when retiring for the night of the Indians, but was told that they were very peaceable and would do no harm, but was too weary to be kept long awake thinking of the Indians. Here we stayed the first winter, just on the bank of the Milwaukee River, in a little shanty built of white- ash boards; at a little distance one would have thought it was painted white; but we soon determined that the woods was not the place for us, and the last of April found us journeying toward Dodge Co .; arrived here the last day of April just at night ; eold, sour and gloomy was the last day of our journey ; most of the farmers had sowed their wheat, and some pieces were up an inch high ; when coming across the wild prairies and looking ahead, the oak openings looked like the old orchards in York State; flowers grew in abundance, of every color and shape; surely here was a flower-garden of Nature's own making. We were made to feel at home by our old acquaintance, who came West with us; they had a very com- fortable though small log house, and here we lived, all in one family, in the little log house 14x16 feet, until the month of August, when we went into our own house, if it could be called into, for there was not a window, door or floor, and it was not sided up at the gable ends, but we had a good roof over our heads; we laid down seme loose boards, just enough for the posts of the bedstead to stand upon. and the same for the stove and table; we walked around by stepping from one board to another; it was here my husband was taken down with the fever and ague, and in a few days my husband's brother began to shake, and then our little girl 4 years old, and you may believe this was not a pleasant outlook ; the harvest was just ripe, and the men were depending on their days' work to get us our bread and to fix up our house for the winter ; but this was not to be, for my husband shook till it would have taken two of him to have made one shadow ; his brother shook one day and worked the next; often I have left him and my little girl in one bed to do their shaking alone, while I went a mile distant and sewed all day to get whatever I eould to help along the family provisions, while my husband was working for a man who owned an old- fashioned thrashing machine, and he could sit in a chair placed upon the platform and drive the horses ; thus he earned six shillings per day, but toward winter he began to get better, and things began to grow more cheerful. The Indians were pretty thick, and often gave us a call ; one day, we had been killing some hogs, and five or six came along and stopped to beg the head, liver, and so forth; I told one of them to talk English; he shook his head and gave me a cross, savage look; he then turned to my brother-in- law and made signs for him to give him some pork ; I was sitting near him and hit his foot and told him to make him ask for it in English, whereupon the Indian says to me, 'stop hit he foot.' In 1849, the first Methodist class was established by J. G. Southwell ; I believe that a preacher by the name of Barnes came from Beaver Dam onee or twice, but Elder Lawson was the first circuit preacher sent to us; he was a young man, 22 or 23, but a good man and very talented; he lived at Beaver Dam, and many times used to come on horseback, and the water was almost to the horse's back, but he was always there accord- ing to appointment ; his meetings were well attended and had some powerful revivals ; he received a very small salary, but was satisfied, for he was doing the work he was sent to do; then we built a schoolhouse in our neighborhood and established a school, and then we thought we had fairly begun to live."

ANDREW MOUSE, farmer, Sees. 13 and 14; P. O. Beaver Dam ; is a native of Prussia ; born Jan. 30, 1830; son of Phillip and Elizabeth Mouse ; he came to America in 1854, landing in New York Nov. 2; thence he came direct to Beaver Dam, where he arrived penniless, and followed farm labor- ing till 1868; he then bought a farm of 200 acres in Secs. 13 and 14, town of Westford, which has since been his home. In 1856, he married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Peter and Yitta Newman, of Prussia ; they have had fourteen children. the first eight of whom died in infancy ; those living are Frank, William, Peter, Lengh, Sophia, Phillip. They are members of the Presbyterian Church ; politically, he is a Democrat.

CHARLES NUTTING, farmer ; Sec. 6; P. O. Randolph ; was born in Randolph, Orange Co., Vt., in 1817 ; son of William and Mary Nutting, nee Hubbard ; he received his early education in

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the public schools of his native village; then atten lel the Orange County Grammar School, for a while, after which, for two years, he attended the University of Burlington, but graduated at the " Western Reserve" of Hudson, Ohio, in 1810; he at once bogan the study of law with his father at Randolph, and was admitted to the bar in 1844; he then formed a eopartnership with his father, which lasted till 1-53. when he emigrated to Dodge Co .. Wis, and bought a farm of eighty acres, in See. 6, town of Westford ; then Fox Inke, where he has since followed farming; he now has forty-four acres. He held the office of Justier of the Peace for a number of years in the town of Westford. In 1846, he married Miss Cordelia M. H., daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Gilman, of Tamworth. N. H., who died in December, 1878, and by whom he had cleven children-Charles H., of Westford; Annie C .. deceased: Samuel E., of Iron Ridge, Wis. ; William, deceased ; Maria, Lillian, Cora, Harlin P. V., Clarence, Mabel and Perley (. Member of the Congregational Church ; politically, a Republican.

NELSON RASMUSSON, manufacturer and dealer in boots and shoes, Randolph ; son of Henson and Mary Rasmuson; born in Denmark in 1836 ; in the spring of 1856, he set sail from Ham- burg for America, and landed in New York early in July: thence to Hartland, Waukesha Co., Wis .. where he followed farming for one year; receiving an injury at that time which disabled him for faru work, he turned his attention to the shoemaker's trade, at which he had worked a little in his native country, though had not served his apprenticeship; this he continued at Hartland for three years, then removed to Pine Lake, Waukesha Co., where he followed it till 1864 : thenceto Randolph where he has eontinned it, and also deals quite extensively in boots, shoes, etc., ete. In 1864. at Pine Lake. he married Miss Hannah, daughter of Hans and Christina Hanson. a native of Denmark : they have had six children. as follows : Hans ; Ann M., deceased ; Peter; Ann M., Jr .. deceased ; Lena and Henry C. Mr. R. has been a member of the Village Board for three terms; is now School Clerk. Politically, is a Republican; he and wife are members of the Lutheran Church.

REV. ANDRUS A. REED, Pastor of the M. E. Church. Randolph. The subject of the following sketch is of the sturdy New England stock ; son of Andrus and Mary Reed; born in Brook- field. Orange Co., Vt., in the year 1819, where he spent most of his time till 1849. He received his early education in the public schools, after which, for a short time, he attended the Newbury Seminary, of Orange Co., Vt. In the fall of 1849, on account of his health, he started, on hoard a stemmer, for a trip round Cape Horn to California, spending about six months on the water; he visited San Francisco and other ports of California, and went as far north as Oregon; then returned by the steamer to Panama, which he crossed on foot to the Chagris River, passing down the stream in a hoat to Prometheus, where he took the steamer for New York, and reached home early in January, 1851. He then devoted his time as before to various kinds of merchandising. till 1954; when he immigrated to Winnebago Co., Wis , and settled on a farm in the town of Omro; here he followed farming for three or four years, and began his preparations for his ministerial work, which he afterward completed while in the Conference ; his first charge was that of the town of Empire, Fond du Lae Co., Wis .. in 1858; in 1859 and 1860, he served the MI. E. Church of the town of Lamartine, and from 1861 to 1863, that of the town of Byron, all in Fond du Lac Co., Wis. It was here they buried their oldest and only soon-Azro De Estang -who was a lieutenant in Daniel's Ist Cavalry. and was taken with the diphtheria at Ripon, Wis. ; was brought home, and died Dec. 4, 1861. In 1563, he went to Green Bush, Wis., for one year ; thence to Brandon for three years ; thence to Sheboygan Falls for three years; and in 1570, to Beaver Dam, where under his care the church was greatly revived, and so strengthened, that the present brick church was erected, and where for three years he preached to one of the largest congregations of the city ; after this, from 1873 to 1875. he was at Appleton, Wis .. as Financial Agent for Lawrence University ; he was. in 1877, sont by Conference to the church at Sharon, Wis., for two years ; and in the fall of 1979, to the village of Randolph. Wis. In 1844, he married Miss Asenith D., daughter of Walter anl Jerusha Buek, of Brookfield, Vt. ; they had one son as above mentioned. Such is a brief life-history of one of the most active and earnest workers in the Wisconsin Itinerancy.

RILEY S. RICHMOND. farmer; P. O. Randolph ; is a native of Monroe Co., N. Y .; son of Joshua and Abigail Richmond; born Sept. 6, 1827 : he followed farming in his native county till 1817, and then emigrated to Wisconsin and settled in the town of Randolph. Columbia Co., where he bought a farm of 200 acres in Sees. 16 and 21, and made that his home till 1872 : he then bought four and a half acres of land in the West Ward of the village of Randolph, where he now resides in a large, commodious house and enjoys the fruits of his many years of honest industry ; he spends his time in superintending his farms, which are three in number-the one above nimed ; one of eighty-six acres in Sec. 34, town of Randolph. Columbia Co .; another of fifty aeres in Spe. 33, town of Fox Lake, Dodge Co. In 1854. he married Miss Jane, daughter of Zenus and Caroline Oliver, of Ran lolph Center, Columbia Co , Wis., by

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whom he has one daughter-Eva I. (Mrs. John S. Lightner, of Randolph). Mrs. Richmond died Aug. 13, 1856. He married Miss Jane, daughter of Thomas and Margaret Hughes, of the town of Raudolph, Feb. 4, 1857 ; they have two children-one son, Osro (deceased), and one daughter, Cora B. Mr. Rich- mond has been Justice of the Peace several times in the West Ward of the village ; has also been a mem- ber of the Village Board. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity.

EDWARD T. ROBERTS, farmer, Sec. 18; P. O. Randolph ; was born in Angleshire, North Wales, Dec. 25, 1851 ; is the son of Thomas and Catharine Roberts; in 1871, he emigrated to America, and settled in the town of Calamus, Dodge Co., Wis. ; made that his home till 1873; when he went to Waukesha Co., Wis. ; in September, 1878, he removed to a farm of 200 acres in Sec. 18, West- ford, which he had bought in June of that year. In February, 1878, he married Miss Annie, daughter of William and Mary Roberts, of Calamus, Dodge Co. ; they have one son-Robert. They are members of the Welsh M. E. Church ; politically, Mr. Roberts is a Republican.

JOSHUA ROBERTS, merchant, Randolph ; was born in North Wales in January, 1818 ; is the son of Robert and Elizabeth Ellis, nee Owens; and according to the customs of that part of Wales, he takes his father's first instead of his last name for his surname ; his principal business in his native country was that of a slate quarrier ; in 1845, he went to London, where he engaged in general merchandising for five years ; in 1850, he came to New York City, and there followed clerking in a dry-goods store till 1869, thence to Randolph, Dodge Co., Wis., where he has been engaged in merchandising ; he was a member of the Village Board for one ycar ; has been School Treasurer since 1876. In London in 1850, he married Miss Catharine, daughter of Griffith Owen, by whom he had three children-Elizabeth C., Mrs. Lloyd, of Columbia Co .; Robert G. and Mary J .; Mrs. Roberts died in 1857; in 1859, he mar- ried Mrs. Elizabeth, widow of William Williams, of Prospect, Oneida Co., N. Y., by whom he has one daughter-Maggie J. : Mrs. Roberts died in 1872. Mr. Roberts' family are members of the Welsh Cal- vanistic Church.

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The history of Dodge county, Wisconsin, containing its early settlement, growth an extensive and minute sketch of its cities war record, biographical sketches, Part 107

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 776

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 776