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 108
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JOHN E. ROOT, Deputy Postmaster, Randolph ; son of Charles and Miranda Root ; born in Utica, Oneida Co., N. Y., in 1830, and made that his home till 12 years of age; thence removed to Westfield, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., where he entered upon an apprenticeship at the harness-maker's trade ; here he continued his trade till the fall of 1856, when he emigrated to Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., Wis., where he was proprietor of a harness-shop for three years ; in the spring of 1861, he removed to the vil- lage of Randolph, and there opened the first harness-shop of that place, of which he continued proprietor till 1876; in the spring of 1863, he was appointed Postmaster at Randolph, and has since been more or less connected with the office, either in the capacity of Postmaster or Deputy; he has been elected Vil- lage Supervisor for nine terms; has been a member of the Masonic Fraternity since 1865. In March, 1856, he married 'Miss Louisa M., daughter of Fairfield and Margaret Morton, of Canada West, she being a native of Buffalo, N. Y., and her parents of Nova Scotia ; they have three children, two sons and one daughter-William F., of Randolph ; John E., of Milwaukee, and Nellie L. Mrs. Root is a mem- ber of the Methodist Church. Such is a short life of one of Randolph's leading citizens.
JOHN RUDD, farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. Randolph ; is a native of Westmoreland Co., England: born in April, 1822; is the son of Anthony and Ann Rudd; at the age of 16, he entered upon an appren- ticeship at the blacksmith's trade, in his native county ; at 21, he removed to Manchester, Eng., and con- tinued his trade till 1859. Here, in 1852, he married Miss Lucy, daughter of Nathaniel and Mary Bennett, and in the spring of 1859, they emigrated to America, and settled in the village of Randolph, Dodge Co., Wis., where he followed his trade for six years; in 1865, on account of poor health he gave up the trade, and bought a farm of eighty acres, in Sec. 7, town of Westford, where he has since devoted his time to the life of a farmer ; they have had three children-John and Mary A., both of whom died in England, and Lucy E .; the family is connected with the Congregational Church.
MARTIN RUSSELL SKAFTE, carpenter and joiner, Randolph ; better known in this county as Martin Russell ; was born in Denmark ; he lived with his parents, Rasmusson and Marne Skafte, till 22 years of age, when he began the ship carpenters' trade with his brother, which he followed for one year ; in 1848, at the beginning of the war between Germany and Denmark, he was drafted and served in he army till the close of the war, when he was discharged and returned to his home in 1851, and con- tinucd his trade for another year; in July 1852, he, with his brother, sailed for America, and arrived in Milwaukee, Sept. 28, following, thence to Pine Lake, Waukesha Co., where he worked in a wagon shop for the winter ; in the spring of 1853, he returned to Milwaukee for a short time, thence to Chicago, where he was employed as a ship carpenter for two years. In 1855, he returned to Waukesha Co., where Nov. 10, of that year, he married Miss Gabriela, daughter of Hans and Anna Gasmann, natives of Norway ; he followed house carpentering there for two years, then removed to the village of Randolph,
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where he has since continued the same ; they have three daughters and one son as follows-Matilda, Mrs. Dr. Haxton, of' Grand Fork, Dakota; Josephine, Mrs. W. H. Anderson,"of Aeton, Dakota ; Ettie and Guy. In November, 1861, he enlisted in Co. C, of the 15th W. V. I., was soon elected Second Lieutenant in Co. I, same regiment, but resigned in 1862. He is a member of the Masonie Fraternity, also of the M. E. Church ; in politics, he is a Republican.
WILLIAM B. SHEPARD, Randolph ; traveling salesman for Storm & Hill, dry-goods and notion house of Milwaukee; is a son of the Rev. S. V. R. and Lydia A. Shepard; born in New York in December, 1846; when he was } year old, his parents removed to Marshall, Dane Co., Wis., where his father, then a contractor and builder, built the first schoolhouse, and the first brick building ereeted in that village, living there two years; his father devoted himself to the work of the ministry, which he after eon- tinued for a number of years ; his last charge being that of the M. E. Church, at Randolph, in 1863-65. William was educated in the public schools of Fond du Lac, Fall River, and the Commercial School of Milwaukee ; in fall of 1863, he came with his parents to Randolph, and during the winter followed teach- ing. In the spring of 1864, he enlisted in Co. K, of the 39th W. V. I., 100-day service; During the summer of 1865, he was engaged in the Commercial College of Milwaukee; in the fall, he went to Green Lake Co., and tanght for the winter ; then for the two years following, he taught in the town of Randolph, Columbia Co .; in the fall of 1868, he began elerking in the dry-goods store for R. Ilsley, of Randolph, continued five years; in 1873 was connected with H. S. Manville, wholesale notion house of Milwaukee; in 1877, returned to Randolph, and formed a copartnership with Isley, dry goods ; in July, 1879, he began traveling for the present firm. In Jan. 2, 1869, he married Miss Sarah S., daughter of George aud Harriet Marvin, of Randolph, Wis .; they have two sons-George and Harry.
CHARLES H. SMITH, station agent for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Com- pany, Randolph ; is a son of Charles and Ewer Smith ; bern in Milwaukee Co., in 1848 ; when 4 years old, he, with his parents, removed to Washington Co., near Hartford, where he spent his spent his time till 12 years of age. on a farm, removing at that time to the village of Hartford, where he spent some time attending school, and where he received the greater part of his education. In the spring of 1865, he enlisted in the 23d W. V. I., under Col. Lewis, of Madison, with which he served till the close of the war, and was mustered out of service at Fort Leavenworth, Kan .; he then returned to Hartford, where he made his home till about 20 years of age, and was engaged in attending and teaching school ; he was next in the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company, and, after seventeen years' stay at Hart- ford, was sent to Randolph as operator for a short time; thence to Swartzberg, Milwaukee Co., as operator for three and a half years ; thence to Richfield, Washington Co., as agent for one and one-half years; then again to Randolph, where he has been as agent for the Company since 1875. June 11, 1873, he married Miss Amy A., daughter of George and Celia Ellis, of the town of Granville, Milwaukee Co., by whom he had one son-George, deceased. Mrs. Smith died Dee. 19, 1874. Mr. Smith has been a member of the Masonic Fraternity sinee 1877.
JOHN SMITH, farmer, Sec. 31 ; P. O. Randolph ; is a son of Gabriel Smith and Mary Peter- son ; born in Chemung Co., N. Y., June 11, 1824 ; his father was born in 1795, and his mother in 1802; when 16 years of age, he began the ship-carpenter's trade at Fishkill, N. Y., which he afterward followed for a number of years ; in 1847, he emigrated to Waukesha Co., Wis., his parents having come the year before ; in 1848, he, with his father, came to the town of Calamus, Dodge Co., and entered 130 acres of land on Seetion 31, Calamus, and eighty acres in Section 36, town of Courtland, Columbia Co., where he has since made his home. Here his parents both died-his father Feb. 17, 1864, and his mother Feb. 13, 1878, leaving five children, as follows-Adaline (now Mrs. James Stall, of Chemung Co., N. Y.), John (the subject of this sketch, who married Miss Mary J., daughter of Sylvester and Catherine Churchill, of Oneida Co., N. Y., Jan. 3. 1850, and has had five children-Athalia A. (now Mrs. Carlton Toby, of Courtland, Columbia Co., Wis.), Sarah C. (now of Buffalo, N. Y.), Anson G. (deceased ), John G. and Harvey L .; the rest of his father's family are Ann E. (now Mrs. L. Stonements, of' Beaver Dam ), Mary W. (now Mrs. Harvey Ilitehcock, of Brown Co., Minn.), O. P. (now of Janesville, Minn. ), Lanata (deceased ). John has 430 acres of land in Duel Co., Dakota.
JOSEPH STALKER, retired farmer, Randolph; is a native of Albany Co., N. Y .; son of William and Jane ( Allen ) Stalker; born June 4, 1803; Joseph followed farming with his father, in Albany Co., till about 24 years of age. March 12, 1828, he married Miss Mary Ann, daughter of Will- iam and Margaret Machesney, of Albany Co., N. Y., after which he rented a farm in that county for two years ; then, in 1830, removed to Schenectady Co., N. Y., where he purchased a farm, and continued a tiller of the soil there for fourteen years; in 1846, with his family, he emigrated to the town of Manches- ter, Green Lake Co., Wis., where he followed farming nearly twenty-one years, whence, in the spring of
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1867, he removed to Randolph, and has since led a more retire l life; here he lost his faithful and loving companion, with whom he lived nearly fifty years ; she died May 12, 1877 ; they had seven children- Margaret (deceased ), Mary J., Ellen (now Mrs. John Thomas, of Berlin, Wis. ), William J. (deceased), Henry (now of Cairo, Ill. ), Timothy ( now of Boulder, Colo. ), Hattie (now Mrs. Eugene), A. Marsh. of Lime Spring, Iowa. Himself and daughter are members of the Baptist Church; he is one of the original members ; he has also been a member of the County Board for five years.
ABIEL STARK, deceased. Randolph has its many prominent men, but none perhaps took a more active part or greater interest in the early affairs of the village, than the subject of this sketch. He was the son of Nathan and Rebecca Stark; born (Dec. 20, 1806) in Lynn, New London Co., Conn .; spent his early life on his father's farm in his native county. April 3, 1831, he married Miss Jane A., daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Ely, nee Smith-a grand-daughter of the noted Dr. William Ely, of Hanover, N. J .; in the spring of 1853, they left their home in New London Co., Conn., and immigrated to Dodge Co , Wis .; reaching the town of Westford April 19, of that year, he purchased a farm of 160 acres, eighty of which lies in the west half of the west half of See. 6, Westford, including much of the land where the village of Randolph now stands ; the other eighty acres lie in Sec. 36, Randolph, and in Cortland, Columbia Co .; the forty in Sec. 36 includes the southwest portion of the village ; this farm was his home, and here he could be found at most any time, either devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits or look- ing after the interests of the little village. He died Ang. 26, 1869, leaving a widow by whom he had eleven children -William H., John G., Edward C., all of Randolph ; Laura L., deceased ; Isaac. deceased ; James A., of Pinte Co., Utah; Maria A., of New York City; Mary J., Anna R .; Mrs. Morris Blodgett, of Cortland, Columbia Co., Wis .. and Charles A., of Randolph. The family is connected with the Baptist Church.
EDWARD C. STARK, teacher, Randolph ; is a son of Abiel and Jane A. Stark, early settlers in the town of Westford, a sketch of whom is given in this work; Edward C. was born in the town of Lime, Conn., May 31, 1838; in 1851, with his father's family he came to Westford, Dodge Co., which has been his home much of the time since; he received the early part of his education in the dis triet schools of Connecticut and Dodge Co., attending, perhaps, the first district school in the town of Westford ; during the winter of 1857-53, and for two or three years following, he attended the Wayland University at Beaver Dam, Wis., but on account of ill health, he was forced to give up his studies before completing the course ; in 1861, he went to Iowa, and spent a year in recuperating and looking after some land his father had purchased in that State; returning home, somewhat improvel in health, he at once bogan teaching, and has since followed that profession, and to-day stands among the first and most success- ful teachers of Dodre and Columbia Cos .; had he been more of a politician, Mr. Stark to-day would be County Superintendent of Public Schools of Columbia Co .; he was, beyond doubt, the choice of the people, but modesty kept him from putting himself forward as a candidate-just the kind of a man who should fill that office. Dec. 3, 1869, he married Miss Lona B., daughter of John and Minerva Bolls, early immigrants t , Cortland, Columbia Co., Wis .; they have one son, Frederick B. Mr. S. is a member of the I. O. O. F.
CHARLES A. STARK, attorney at law ; is a native of Westford, Dodge Co., and son of Abiel and Jane A. Stark ; born Dec. 25, 1854; he was educated in the public school of Randolph, after which he entered upon the study of law with J. J. Dick, of Beaver Dam; he then attended law school at Madison, Wis., one year and was there admitted to the bar in the spring of 1878; he at ouce began the practice of his profession in his native village, where he is now the leading attorney ; he is a member of the I. O. O. F.
RUSSELL WELCH. farmer, See. 25; P. O. Beaver Dam ; is a native of Cohorton, Steuben Co., N. Y .; born in 1815; is son of Freeborn and Massa Welch ; in 1842, he came to Walworth Co., Wis., and made that his home for about two years; in 1844, he removed to the town of Westford, Dodge Co .: entered 120 acres of land in Sec. 25, where he has since lived and now has about 300 acres of land in the town In 1936, he married Miss Olda, daughter of John and Margaret Cronk, of Ontario Co., N. Y .; they had eleven children, three of whom, with his wife, are deceased-Sarth, the late Mrs. James Nash, deceased ; Margaret ( Mrs. Albert Horton ), of Pierce Co., Wis. ; Charlotte ( Mrs. Floyd Horton ), of Clark Co., Wis., Adaline, deceased ; Peter, of Westford ; Amanda (Mrs. Lorenzo Welch, of Westford ) ; Libbie, of Da- kota ; Emiline ( Mrs. Charles Wallace); John Lorenzo; Aurilda, deceased. Mr. Welch is now one of the
oldest settlers in Westford.
CHARLES H. WILLIAMS, farmer, Sec. 4; P. O. Fox Lake ; is a son of James A. and Mary Williams, emigrants from Connecticut to Burnett, Dodge Co., Wis., in 1812, where Charles H. was born, Aug. 13, 1844 ; he received his early education in the district schools, after which he continued the
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higher studies at Waupun and in Wayland University of Beaver Dam and lastly at Bryant & Stratton's Business College, where he graduated in 1866; he followed teaching for a few years, but in 1868 he bought a farm of 320 acres in Sec. 4, town of Westford, where he has since followed farming; in 1870, he was elected Chairman of the Town Board and was three times re-elected to that office; in 1876, he was elected a member of the Wisconsin Senate from the Thirteenth District. In 1869, he married Miss Mary, daughter of Dr. F. A. and Elizabeth Wallace, of' Fox Lake; they have tive children-Frederick W., Susan, Robert, Charles, Hattie. Politically, Mr. Williams is a stanch Demoerat ; Mrs. Williams is a member of the Episcopal Church.
JOHN E. WILLIAMS, farmer, Sees. 4, 5, 8 and 9; P. O. Fox Lake; is the second son of John II. and Catharine Williams; born in the town of Burnett, Dodge Co., Wis., in 1850 ; when he was 17 years old, he. with his parents, removed to a farm of 305 acres in Sees. 4, 5, 8 and 9, town of West- ford, which has been his home most of the time since. In February, 1875, he married Miss Monica J., daughter of John and Mary Cruden, of Westford ; they have two children-Joseph and George. Mrs. Williams is a member of the Catholic Church of Fox Lake. Mr. Williams was elected Town Treasurer in 1879.
ROBERT T. WILLIAMS, M. D., Randolph ; the subject of this sketch is a descendant of a line of eminent physicians of England and Wales ; he is a son of William R. and Catharine Williams; born in llolyhead, Angleshire, North Wales, Sept. 10, 1811 ; his father was a banker of Angleshire till 1842, when he came to America, leaving his son Robert with his mother in Wales, and took the position of Professor of Mathematics in the University of Brooklyn, N. Y., for two years, after which, he came to Waukesha, Wis., where he hell several responsible positions. Robert T. received his literary educa- tion in the schools of his native town; after which (in 1859), he entered upon the study of medicine with his uncle, Dr. Thomas, an eminent physician and surgeon of Liverpool ; here he continued his studies for some time and then attendel lectures and clinics at the University of Dublin ; in 1867, he came to America, and, in 1868, he entered the Northwestern University of Chicago, where he completed his studies, and received his diploma in March, 1871; he at onee began the practice of medicine with Dr. J. L. Page, of Racine, Wis., with whom he continued for four years; then, on account of his children's health, removed to Arena, Iowa Co., Wis., and continued his profession for three years; in the fall of 1878, he removed to the village of Randolph, Dodge Co., where he now continues his profession. At Utica, Wis., Dee. 28, 1871, he married Miss Jennie, daughter of John and Elizabeth Edwards, of that place ; they have had four children-Catharine E., Elizabeth E., Evadna E., William R. (deceased ). Mr. and Mrs. Williams are members of the Welsh Presbyterian Church.
ROGER WILLIAMS, proprietor of wagon-shop, Randolph ; is a native of South Wales ; is a son of Roger and Charlotte Williams ; born in 1829 ; he emigrated to America with his parents in 1838, and settled in Alleghany Co., MId., where he followed farming; in 1850, with his parents, came to Columbia Co., Wis., and settled on a farm in the town of Randolph, and made that his home till 1869, when he removed to the village of Randolph and worked at the carpenter and joiner's trade till 1871; he then became proprietor of a wagon-shop, where he now continues that business. In 1852, he married Miss Catharine, daughter of Ellis Thomas, of Manchester, Green Lake Co., Wis .; they had two children -Mary and John, both of whom, with their mother, are dec ased. In 1858, he married Miss Mary E., daughter of Leonard Weed, of Manchester, Green Lake Co., Wis. ; children are David, now of Milwaukee ; Annie, deceased; Charlotte, Edgar, Willis. Mr. and Mrs. W. are members of the Methodist Church. He has been Justice of the Peace in West Ward of the village for two terms and is now a member of the Village Board.
CHARLES M. WILLIS, M. D., Randolph ; is the son of Anthony and Sabrina Willis ; born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Dec. 7, 1849. His father was a cabinet-maker of Massena, St. Law- rence Co., whence he removed to Green Lake Co. and settled on a farm near Ripon, Wis., in the fall of 1851. Charles received his early education in the district school of Green Lake Co., after which he attended Ripon College for about four years, teaching part of the time during the winters, so as to have money enough to meet his expenses at college through the summer term; in 1874, he began the study of medicine with Dr. Everhard, of Ripon, and attended lectures at Rush Medical College, of Chicago, where he graduated with the ('lass of 1877 ; he at once began the practice of medicine at Randolph, Dodge Co., where he now has an extensive practice in this and Columbia Cos .; as a citizen, he is highly respected, and as a physician, he enjoys the confidence of all who know him. In July, 1876, he married Miss Anna L. Harrison, of Ringwood, McHenry Co., Ill .; they have one son-Roy. Mrs. W. is a member of the Con- gregational Church.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
FOX LAKE TOWNSHIP.
ARIE BANTA, attorney at law, Fox Lake; born in Saratoga Co., N. Y., Jan. 12, 1818; his father was Peter Banta, who was born in Clifton Park, Saratoga Co., in 1774; he was a respected citizen and a farmer in good circumstances ; he died in 1852, at the age of' 79. His father was Arie Banta, from Bergen Co., N. J., of old Holland stock ; settled in New York and vicinity at an early date ; he had four sous in the Revolutionary war ; he was one of the first settlers in Saratoga Co .; was a blacksmith by trade ; he died in 1811. The present Arie Banta entered Union College in 1843 and graduated in 1846, and then studied law with Judge John K. Porter, in Waterford, N. Y .; practiced there till 1851 ; then came to Fox Lake, and has been engaged in the practice of law here ever since; was elected Town Clerk iu 1855, and has held that position ever since, with the exception of ( n) term ; has been Justice of the Peace, and was one of the leading spirits that organized and built up the Republican party in this part of the county ; is a prominent Mason, and was Master of the Lodge here seven years.
JOHN L. BROWER, retired, Fox Lake; born in New York City May 20, 1824; son of Jacob P. Brower, who was from Rockland Co., N. Y .; his father, Paul, was also born in Rockland Co., and was of the Holland stock that settled in and around New York City, and whose descendants to day claim the Trinity Church estate; Paul had a brother who was killed by the Tories during the Revolu- tionary war ; Paul was in the war of 1812. Jacob P. Brower and his family came West, and Janded in Mil- waukee, May, 1837, a place of about 1,200 inhabitants then; in June, 1837, went to Sheboygan, and kept the Sheboygan House about ten months, and in the spring of 1838 moved to the north side of Fox Lake and made a claim ; land was not in market then ; fall following, located where the village of Fox Lake now stands; this was in December, 1838, located it in November, 1848; was the first white man to settle in this county ; built a Jog house and went to farming; settled on 240 acres; nearest neighbors were at Fort Winnebago, Fond du Lac and Watertown; in 1840, Mr. Brower purchased land where the city of Beaver Dam now stands; moved then, and in the fall of 1841, built a log house near where the present bank now stands, on Front street; in 1844, commenced building a saw-mill at Fox Lake, and in the fall of 1845, his son, J. L. Brower, took charge of it, and engaged with his brother, George W., in business ; in 1851, built a flouring mill at Fox Lake, and carried on a successful busi- ness till February, 1878, when it burned down. Mr. J. L. Brower married Maria Wiggens, May, 1846 ; she was from Genesee Co., N. Y .; had nine children-Lavenia, born June 16, 1847, and died July 18, 1847; Ophelia, born April 23, 1849, is living and at home; Amelia, born April 3, 1851, and living at home ; Frankie P., born March 23, 1853, died May 18, 1853; Lewis K., born May 24, 1854, living at Fox Lake; Cetta, born Oct. 17, 1858, and died Nov. 6, 1861 ; Stephen A. D., born June 3, 1861, and died Aug. 19, 1861; Edgar P., born Sept. 13, 1862, living at Fox Lake; Jacob P., born July 26, 1865, died Jan. 27, 1866; wife died Nov. 2, 1867. He married again, Feb. 13, 1870, Mary E. Stadter ; had one child-Flora L., born Dec. 15, 1870. His father, Jacob P., married, Sept. 16, 1820, Martha Mackie; had eight children; he died Nov. 28, 1846, and wife died April 15, 1875; Mr. Brower is undoubtedly the oldest settler in this part of the county, and has witnessed all the changes from the time this county was a wilderness and inhabited only by Indians, to the present day, when the land teems with the fruits of houest husbandry, and has become one of the richest sections of the State. Mr. Brower owns a large islaud beautifully situated in Fox Lake, which is quite a resort.
HENRY CLAUSON, elevator grain merchant; born in Denmark Nov. 21. 1845; son of J. P. Clauson ; Henry started out for a sailor's life when 14 years old, and has been all over the world; was mate of the brig Johanna ; touched at Leith, Zealand ; Havre, France ; Hong Kong and Shanghai, China, then to New York City and Philadelphia, and to Rio Janeiro, South America, to Montevideo, Ba- tavia, Sumatra, and San Francisco, Cal., in 1865 ; was there two years, then went to Melbourne, Australia, to Sidney and New Castle, then back to San Francisco; was there almost eighteen months, and went to Boston by the way of Cape Horn ; then went to Milwaukee and was on the lakes six years; was ship- wrecked in Traverse Bay; in 1873, quit seafaring life, and commenced dealing in wheat, and now has one of the finest and most complete elevators in the county, and is doing a very successful business. Married, December, 1872, Lena Chlastenson ; have had three children-Fred, born, October, 1872, died in infancy ; Fred (2) born October, 1875, Leon, born October, 1877. Mr. Clauson is one of the Trustees of the village. His experience as a sailor and an officer on the ocean would of themselves make an interesting volume.
JOHN G. CAWLEY, wagon manufacturer, Fox Lake, Dodge Co .; born in Canada Nov. 29, 1842, son of Peter Cawley, of Scotch descent ; he is living at Green Lake Co., Wis., at about the age of
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70 ; is a well-to-do farmer. John, at the age of 21, went to farming in Colombia Co., Wis .; afterward went to Marquette; went to steamboating, ran from Portage to Neena on the steamer Fox; came back and worked for Aleck Patrick four years in a blacksmith and carriage shop ; then went to Portage and worked for Geo. C. Jackson about eleven months ; then went to Randolph Center and worked for John Chamber- lain four years, and came to Fox Lake in April, 1876, and bought out W. K. Parker, and through his industry and good workmanship now carries on an extensive and constantly increasing business, making a grade of wagons noted for their durability and that are in general demand, also repairs farm machinery in satisfactory and workmanlike manner. He married, in January, 1862, Keziah Welcher, who came from Michigan ; have had two children-Ida, born June 9, 1863, and Herby, born July 9, 1874. Win. E., his brother, is engaged in the business with him, the firm name being Cawley & Bro.
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