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 87
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S. HODGMAN, furniture dealer ; born in Massachusetts, Nov. 25, 1824, came to Wisconsin Sept. 22. 1345, locating at Beaver Dam ; he received his early education in New Boston, N. H .; when he came to Beaver Dam he commenced the coopering business and made the first tight barrel that was made in Beaver Dam ; on Jan. 1, 1854, he farmed fifty acres of land located in Beaver Dam, and in 1870, start :d a lumber-yard which he continued until 1874, when he went to Colorado, in the furniture business, for one and one-half years ; he then returned to Beaver Dam, and on June 1, 1877, commenced the furniture business on Front street, between Center and Spring streets, dealing in bedroom sets and other hues of furniture, and paper hangings, and frames ; he has also the best facilities for undertaking. He married, Sept. 6, 1859. Harriet E. Taylor, of New York, and has three children-Sarah, Reed T. and Belle. Mrs. Hodgman is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Holgman of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
A. B. HOPKINS, dealer in lightning rods ; was born in Carmel, Putnam Co., N. Y., Sept. 11, 1830, and came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1851, locating at Mineral Point ; he received his early education in Dundee, Yates Co. , was engaged, at this place, in the harness business and in buying and shipping stock ; in 1854. he built four miles of the Mineral Point & Warren R. R., between Warren and Darlington, after which he engaged in the lightning-rod business; in 1856, he moved to Prairie da Sac,
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where, for eight years, he engaged in the lightning-rod and lumber business, and was also in the grain and stock business in connection with a general store, associated with S. S. Wilkinson under the firm name of Hopkins & Wilkinson; in 1864, he moved to Beaver Dam, and since that time he has been exclusively in the lightning-rod business; dealing in the old Franklyn solid iron rod, which rod was adopted by the World's Scientific Convention as being the standard rod ; he uso kept the Stevens House at Beaver Dim, and is engaged in farming in Beaver Dam Township, where he has two farms, one of 200 acres and one of 40 acres, adjoining the city limits. Mr. Hopkins was Constable and afterward Deputy Sheriff of Sauk County for four years; is School Com- missioner of the First Ward, Beaver Dam. He married Aug. 28, 1853; has two children-Rose Ann and Emory Elmore.
L. E. HOYT, miller, Beaver Dam; was born in Beaver Dam Oct. 18, 1853 ; from there he moved to Milwaukee, then back to Manchester, thence to Watertown, Wis., and from there to Chicago, where he finished his education. and, in 1868, returned to Beaver Dam. Ile then opened a general store in Manchester in connection with his brother and cousin, under the firm name of E. L. Hoyt & Co., which he continued for three years ; he then returned to Beaver Dam and kept the books and superintended the Beaver Dam Flouring-Mill, and, in 1874, was admitted as partner with his father, under the firm name of E. R. Hoyt & Son, which firm manufacture flour on a large scale.
THOMAS HUGHES, editor and proprietor of the Dodge County Citizen, Beaver Dam ; was born in Sherbrooke, Province of Quebec, Aug. 25, 1841, and came to Wisconsin in June, 1847, locating in Beaver Dam. In 1856, he learned his trade with the proprietor of the Dodge County Citizen, M. Cul- laton ; from 1859 to 1862, worked on Beaver Dam and Madison papers; in 1862, he bought out the interest of Mr. G. H. Wells in the paper, and admitted into partnership Mr. H. A. Reid, which continued for six years, when he bought out Mr. Reid and ran it alone for one year; he then admitted Mr. S. B. Allen, and this firm, IInghes & Allen, ran it for between six and seven years, when Mr. Alleu retired and Mr. Hughes became sole proprietor, in which he has continued up to the present writing. Mr. Hughes was City Clerk of Beaver Dam for two terms, and was School Commissioner of Third Ward one year. IIe married. in June, 1870, May L. Hambright, of Oak Grove; he has one child-Myrtie May.
REV. GEORGE F. HUNTING, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at Beaver Dam, was born in Milton, Chittenden Co., Vt., April 24, 1836, and came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1870, locating in Kilbourn City. He received a common school education at Milton, and went to the Castleton Semi- nary, in Vermont, where he prepared for college ; he graduated in 1860 at the Burlington College, Ver- mont ; in 1860. he moved to Edward's Mine, Lake Co., and was employed two years keeping books for the Edward's Mine Camp; here he commenced talking to the miners on religious subjects ; he was licensed to preach the Gospel, in the spring of 1871, by the Presbyterian Synod of Wisconsin and ordained before the Presbytery at Lodi, Wis., after which, he went to Kilbourn City as Pastor of the First Presby- terian Church, where he remained six years; he then took charge of the First Congregational Church at Sparta, Monroe Co., Wis., and remained two years, when he went to Beaver Dam, Nov. 1, 1879, and became Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church there. Mr. Hunting enlisted during the late war, Nov. 30, 1861, in the 12th U. S. I., and attached to a permanent recruiting party, under Lieut. J. W. Jones, at Burlington, Vt., until the spring of 1862, when he was appointed Second Lieutenant in the 3d Artillery and ordered to Alcatraz Island, Cal .; after remaining there two and a half years, he was promoted to a First Lieutenancy and ordered to Washington to man the defenses at that place; in 1867, he was ordered to Hilton Head, S. C., where he remained six months and was ordered to Columbia, S. C .; he then obtained a six-months leave of absence and resigned in the following September. Mr. Hunting married, Aug. 8, 1860, Frances A Maynard, of Castleton, Rutland Co., Vt. ; he has four children living-Berenice, Mary Olive, Henry Gardner and Merrill Maynard. Mr. and Mrs. Hunting are members of the First Presbyterian Church.
PROF. A. S. HUTCHENS, retired, Beaver Dam ; was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., Dec. 8, 1817, and came to Wisconsin April 1, 1855, locating in Walworth Co. In 1837, he went to the Den- nison University, and, after graduating, taught the Latin and Greek languages there ; in January, 1849, he went to the Norwalk Academy. Ohio, as Professor of Latin, Greek, Hebrew, German and Mathematics, the late Gen. McPherson, of the U. S. Army, being one of his scholars at that time; in 1855, he went to farming for two years ; in 1857, he connected himself with the Wayland University. Prof. Hutchens married, Dec. 11, 1844, Henrietta B. Avery, of Granville, Ohio ; he has two children-Frank A. and Dora. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchens are members of the Baptist Church.
ED. JOHNSON, bricklayer and plasterer, Beaver Dam ; born in Columbia Co., Penn., Aug. 28, 1847 ; came to Wisconsin with his father and family and settled in Beaver Dam Township; in 1855,
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moved to the city of Beaver Dam ; in 1864, he went sailing on the lakes; March 27, 1865, he eulisted in the -18th W. V. L .. and was mustered out March 30, 1866, and returned to Beaver Dam and went to learn- ing his trade; having learned his trade, he went to work on the Masonie Hall, and has done work on nearly all the principal business blocks in the city ; also on the Music Hall and Catholic Church.
REV. THOMAS S. JOHNSON. Pastor of the Assembly Presbyterian Church. Beaver Dam ; is a son of the Rev. Baker and Electa Johnson. a Presbyterian minister, now of Oxford, Wis .; he was born at Greeneville, N. Y., in February, 1839; his early education was in the Academy of Newton, N. J .; after which he completed his collegiate studies at Carroll College in 1860, and his preparation for the work of the ministry in the Theological Seminary of Princeton, N. JJ., where he graduated Dec. 7, 1864. From December, 1864, to December, 1866, he was Chaplain of the 127th U. S. C. T. and the 36th U. S. C. T., serving one year in cach. In January, 1867, he returned to his home at Oxford, Wis., whither his parents removed in 1855 ; remaining here a short time, he was called to the Assembly Presbyterian Church of Beaver Dan, of which he has since been Pastor. He has been an occasional con- tributor to the Evening Wisconsin and the New York Observer.
H. N. JUSTICE, dealer in horses, Beaver Dam ; born in Chenango Co., N. Y., Nov. 19, 1823 ; came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1844, locating in Waukesha Township ( then Prairieville); in Novem- ber, 1845. he came to Beaver Dam and engaged in keeping livery ; started the first livery stable in Beaver Dam ; in 1853, he went into the mercantile business with Mr. Booth, which he continued two years; in 1863, he gave up the livery business and went into his present business. He was Town Treasurer in 1853-54. He married, at Beaver Dam, in 1850, Miss Almema Yates, a native of New York State. He owns seventy aeres near the city.
CONRAD KELLER, farmer, See. 23; P. O. Beaver Dam; is a son of John and Johan- netta Keller ; born in Prussia in February, 1839; he spent his early life with his father on a farm, and in June, 1858, he, with his father's family, sailed for America and reached Watertown, Wis., in the fol- lowing Angust ; they settled for a short time in Portland, Dodge Co., but in November remove.] to the town of Beaver Dam, where his father bought a farm of 110 acres in Sec. 23, which has since been their home; in 1868, Conrad bought from his father, and now owns 240 aeres in Sec. 23, Beaver Dam. lIc married Miss Cathrine, daughter of Conrad and Catharine Keller, of the town of Trenton, Dodge Co., Wis., in October, 1868; they have had three children-Conrad, Jr. (deceased ), John C. an l T. S. Mr. Keller was a member of the Town Board during 1869-70, and in 1879 was elected Chairman of the Board. Democrat.
MICHAEL KOLLER, farmer, Sees. 17 and 18; P. O. Beaver Dam; is a native of Ozau- kee Co., Wis .; born in March, 1850; his parents, Joseph and Catharine Koller, were natives of' Bavaria, but emigrated to Wisconsin in 1848, settling first in Washington, now Ozaukee County, and in 1864 r. moved to Sheboygan County, Wis., where his father owned a farm of ninety acres ; in 1876, they removed to the town of Beaver Dam and bought a farm of 114 acres in Secs. 17 and IS, and in one year after Michael bought it of his father. In February, 1877, he married Miss Mary A., daughter of Michael and Mary Ann Haimerl, of Beaver Dam; they have one son-Frank Joseph. They are members of St. Peter's Catholic Church.
HERMAN KOCH. farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Beaver Dam ; is a native of Germany ; born June 12, 1841; in August, 1851, he, with his parents, Albert and Amelia Koch, came to America and settled in the town of Chester, Dodge Co., Wis., on a farm, in September following; two years after, they removed to the town of Burnett, Dodge Co., which was their home till 1868; then to the town of Trenton for six years ; in 1874 he bought his present farm of eighty acres in Sec. 23, town of Beaver Dam ; rebuilt the house and made other improvements, till now he has a commodious home. He is a member of the Town Board of Supervisors ; has been Clerk of School District No. 6 for several terms. Jan. 3, 1869, he married Miss Amelia, daughter of August and Elizabeth Ilanf, of the town of Beaver Dam ; they have three children-Ella, Robert and Arthur. Mr. and Mrs. K. are members of the Lutheran Church.
HENRY W. LANDER, lawyer, Beaver Dam; was born in Brighton, Somerset Co., Me., Nov. 8, 1826, and came to Wisconsin Sept. 24, 1849; locating at Juneau. Mr. Lander moved from Brighton to Juneau, where he was employed as Deputy Clerk until 1852, when he moved to Beaver Dam, where he commenced the practice of law, in which he is now engaged. He has held the following offices : In 1857, was Mayor of Beaver Dam, and at later dates for four terms; in 1867-68, was a member of the State Senate from Beaver Dam; on April 6, 1872, was appointed Commissioner of the United States Court, and on March 5, 1871, as Circuit Court Commissioner, both of which positions he now holds; in 1873, he took a general tour of observation over Europe ; in 1863-6-4, was District Attorney for Dodge Co.,
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and is now City Attorney of Beaver Dam, and for several years was one of the Trustees of the Wayland Uni- versity, of Beaver Dam. Mr. Lander married, July 24, 1855, Elizabeth F. Spaulding, of Norridgewock, Maine ; he has two children living-Henry B. and Dana S.
T. D. LAWRENCE, firm of Lawrence Bros., proprietors of the Clark House, Front street, Beaver Dam.
S. P. K. LEWIS, miller, Beaver Dam ; was born in Champlain, Clinton Co., N. Y., Sept. 22, 1821, and came to Wisconsin June 6, 1847, locating at Waukesha. In Champlain he was clerk in a general store; from Champlain he moved to Waukesha and continued clerking; from there he moved to Beaver Dam, where, in connection with Mr. Bean, he started a general store, under the firm name of S. P. K. Lewis & Co .; this he continued for five years ; he then, in connection with Mr. Stewart, built a woolen-mill and Houriug-mill and has been in the milling business since that time; he is the manufacturer of the celebrated brands of flour-" The Empire " and the " Gold Chop." In 1873-74, he was Mayor of Beaver Dam, hokling the office for two terms; in 1857, he was Alderman of the Second Ward; in 1869, he was a member of the School Board, and. in 1849, was Justice of the Peace for Beaver Dam, and also, in the same year, Town Treasurer. Mr. Lewis married, May 26, 1847, Sarah A. Higbee, of Burlington, Vt .; he has five children -- Anna A., Warren II., Fred S., Elbridge E. and Jennie S.
J. F. MeCLURE. physician, Beaver Dam ; born in Chelsea, Orange Co., Vt., Jan. 6, 1824, and came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1855, locating at Beaver Dam. He received his literary education at the Chelsea Academy, and completed his medical education at the Vermont Medical College, graduating in June. 1847 ; he practiced his profession in Chelsea from 1847 to 1855, when he moved to Beaver Dam and has been practicing up to the present time with remarkable success. Dr. McClure has held the office of Superintendent of Public Schools for four or five years in the city of Beaver Dam; was also Alderman of the Third Ward for one term; in 1867, he received and now holds the position of Pension Surgeon of Dodge Co. for the U. S. Government, and was on the Board of Enrollment. during the second draft for troops in the late war; he was also Volunteer Surgeon in the army, and went to Nashville, Tenu., to ren- der medical service to the troops at that place. Dr. McClure married, in 1851, Eunice S. Denison, of Royalton, Vt. Mrs. McClure is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
E. C. McFETRIDGE, woolen manufacturer, Beaver Dam; was born in Rochester, N. Y., April 15, 1836, and came to Wisconsin in November, 1858, locating in Beaver Dam. From Rochester he came to Beaver Dam and practiced law with A. Scott Sloan until 1864; then, in connection with his brother, J. A. MeFetridge, built the Beaver Dam Woolen-Mills, in which he still controls an active interest. Mr. McFetridge was Superintendent of the Schools of Beaver Dam for two years, and also one of the Board of Supervisors for one term; in 1870, he was Mayor of Beaver Dam ; was County Treas- urer two years in 1871-72; in 1878, he was elected member of the Assembly for the Fourth (Dodge Co.) District, and was appointed during that year one of the Committee on Revised Statutes; in 1878, he was elected State Senator for two years, representing the Thirteenth Senatorial District, which office he now holds ; in 1872, he was one of the Presidential Electors from Wisconsin on the Republican ticket, which elected Gen. U. S. Grant to the Presidency. Mr. MeFetridge married, in October, 1861, Frances A. Blanchard, of Michigan ; he has one child living-John Charles.
DUNCAN McMILLAN, retired farmer, Beaver Dam; born in Nova Scotia, near Loch- aber Lake, Oct. 10, 1814; came to America in 1845, and to Wisconsin the same year, locating in Cala- mus Township, Dodge Co., where he engaged in farming, which he followed until 1877, when he rented his farm and purchased a residence in the city of Beaver Dam, to which he moved and retired from active pursuits. Married, in Nova Scotia, in 1839, Miss Mary McMillan, of that place, who died Sept. 8, 1872. Married the second time, in Nova Scotia, Aug. 26; 1874, Miss Mary Cameron, also a native of that place, who was born May 8, 1835; has seven children living, two having died ; those living are Mary, William, Alexander, Alfred, Pannie, Euphemia and Sarah ; those dead are Malcolm and Daniel.
J. W. MeNITT, retired ; Beaver Dam ; born in Cambridge, Washington Co., N. Y., June 21, 1806; came to Wisconsin in 1845; located on Dunning Prairie, then Beaver Dam Township ; engaged in farminz, and carried on a nursery for a few years ; in 1865, moved to Beaver Dam, where he has since resided ; in 1874. he sold his farm; in 1848, he drew up a petition, and circulated the same, for a Terri- torial road from Beaver Dam to Decora; having been successful, he assisted in building the road. He was the first Assessor of the township of Westford ; was Justice of the Peace fifteen years ; was Super- visor several years, and Chairman of the Board of Supervisors one year : was Town Treasurer three terms; was Town Superintendent of Schools two or three terms. Married in Champion, Jefferson Co., N. Y., March 18, 1830, Miss Julia Chamberlain, a native of Jefferson Co., N. Y .; has had a family of six chil- dren, two still living, both sous, who entered the army during the late war ; they are Henry and Albert C.
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DAVID McQUEEN. farmer ; P. O. Beaver Dam; born in Hartford, Steuben Co., N. Y., March 20, 1831; son of Wmn. MeQueen, who was from Delaware Co., N. Y .; his father came from Scotland at an carly date ; William and family came to Wisconsin and settled in Beaver Dam and Oak Grove in 1845. David now has 250 acres under good cultivation, and all improvements ; he has a competency through his hard work and industry. Married, July 4, 1858, Harriet Wells, daughter of Stephen Wells, an old an respected settler in Oak Grove. Mr. McQueen is a natural mechanic and blacksmith, and is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows' Fraternities. Mrs. McQueen pays particular attention to the cultivation of flowers, and has the largest and finest collection of plants in the vicinity. A brother, Andrew McQueen, has a fine farm in Oak Grove adjoining ; another brother, George, has a large and well-kept farm in Sec- tion 30.
JOHN MALONE, grocer, Beaver Dam ; was born in County Clare, Ireland, June 24, 1828, and came to Wisconsin April 14, 1852, loeating at Beaver Damu ; in New York he engaged in the grocery business for three years, and also l'armed awhile ; in 1852, he came to Beaver Dam and started a grocery and saloon, which he continued until 1862, when he was burned out, losing about $8,000, having no insurance. In 1863, he commenced making brick, and furnished brick for most of the buildings now standing in Beaver Dam ; he continued this business eight years, and then entered the auction business in Beaver Dam and neighboring towns; this he followed for five years. In 1876, he again commenced the grocery business, which he has continued since. Mr. Malone, when he came to the United States, had no money, and has made his way in the world by his own exertions; is essentially a self-made man. During the war, he had
a commission from Gov. Randall as Lieutenant, and assisted in raising Co. A, 17th W. V. I .; he was Con- stable of Beaver Dam about eight years; he was Deputy Sheriff under C. Germain for three years ; was also Supervisor of the town of Beaver Dam for one year. He married, March 4, 1851, Mary McCabe, of County Cavan, Ireland ; has eleven children-Ellen, James, Hannah Maria, John J., Patrick Henry, Catherine Elizabeth, Michael Alexander, Mary A., George Francis, Daniel William and Rose Ann. Mr. and Mrs. Malone are members of St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
REV. R. E. MANNING, Assistant Principal of Wayland Institute, Beaver Dam ; was born in Penfieldl, Monroe Co., N. Y., March 31, 1840, and came to Wisconsin Feb. 28, 1874, locating at Beaver Dam ; from Penfield, he moved to Salem, Mich., and assisted his father in farming, and attended the district school until 17 years of age, when he went to the State Normal School at Ypsilanti, and after t , Kalamazoo College, at Kalamazoo, Mich .; from there he went to the Baptist Union Theological Seminary, at Chicago; he graduated at the college in 1872, and from the seminary in 1874 ; he then moved to Beaver Dam, and accepted a call from the Baptist Church at that place, and continued preaching until Nov. 1. 1877; on June 29, 1877, he was appointed Assistant Principal of the Wayland Institute, which position he now holds; in 1866, he was School Inspector of the town of Salem, Mich. He enlisted in the army July 22, 1862, in Co. B, 20th Mich. V. I., Col. A. A. Williams, and was in between ten and twelve battles, mostly in Virginia ; he was taken prisoner May 12, 1864, and placed in Andersonville, Ga., until September, 1864, when he was removed to Florence Prison, in South Carolina, and released Dec. 6, 1864; he received his discharge in June, 1865. Mr. Manning married, July 22, 1862, Sarah Cook, of Salem, Mich. Mr. and Mrs. Manning are members of the Baptist Church at Beaver Dam.
LINUS MARSH, retired, Beaver Dam; born Jan. 14, 1812; came to Wisconsin in 1854; located in Trenton, Dodge Co .; went to firming, which he continued until 1871, when he sold his farm of 107 acres, and purchased a residence in the city, to which he retired. Married, at New Fane, Vt , 1840, Miss Lucinda Salisbury, a native of Vermont; have had one child, who died.
JACOB MARTIN, saloon, Beaver Dam ; was born in Pferdsfeldt, Province of Rhine, Prussia, July 25, 1829, and came to Wisconsin in May, 1849, locating in Jackson, Washington Co .; was engaged in farming and cutting timber in Prussia ; he moved to Dodge Co., and engaged in farming for ten years ; then to Olmsted Co., Miun., where he farmed, after which he returned to Dodge Co .. and ran the Drake Mill on his own account for one year ; he then opened a cooper-shop, and afterward started a saloon, which, together with a farm, he has been running for the past twelve years. Mr. Martin has been Alderman of the First Ward for three terms. He married, Jan. 9, 1853, Louisa Graessle, of Ohio, who died Feb. 17, 1865. Ile was again married, May 19, 1866, to Mary A. Schutte, of Utica, N. Y. ; he has five children- Jacob, Caroline, Rosa Matilda, Litta Lizzie and Laura.
WILLIAM MEIGS, farmer, Sec. 22; P. O. Beaver Dam ; is a native of Broome Co., N. Y .; is the son of William and Catherine Meigs ; born in July, 1809; he received a common school education, after which he devoted his time to farming and lumbering in York State. till 1851 ; he then emigrated to Fox Lake, Dodge Co., Wis., and there followed farming till 1863; he gave up farming at that time. removed to Beaver Dam, and was for two years employed by Mr. Hodgman in the lumber-yard. In 1865,
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he bought a farm of forty acres, in Section 22, town of Beaver Dam, which has since been his home. In 1830, he married Miss Julia, daughter of Joel Austin, of York State, by whom he had two children- Katie ( now Mrs. William Lawrence, of Beaver Dam), and Albert (now of Tennessee). Mrs. Meigs died Feb. 11, 1860. Dec. 24, 1863, he married Miss Mahitable, daughter of Hiram and Sarah Stevens, of Beaver Dam; they have one son-Newell M. Mrs. M. is a member of the M. E. Church.
REV. JOHN J. MITER, D. D., sou of Thomas and Ele mor Miter ; was born in Lan- singburg, N. Y., March 20. 1809; upon the death of his father, when he was but 13 years of age, his mother secured him a position as cabin-boy on his elder brother's sloop, which plied between Troy and New York ('ity, on the Hudson River; his mother dying, two years later, he continued sailing for three more seasons ; possessing a native elevation of mind and an enthusiastic, sensitive temperament, who can estimate the unconscious influence upon him of the solemnity and tender beauty of the summer nights, as, during his " watch," he steered the vessel under the guidance of the old north star-with thoughts raised to his sainted parents, whose souls were reveling above in eternal light-in sublimating his thoughts, and in enabling him more readily to apprehend the sublimity and authority of the Hebrew books, and to love the calm, pure Christ, whose life was so full of strength and love, of sweetness and light, for he was soon '. born again," in that remarkable revival at Troy, in 1826-27, when Dr. Beman, the Pastor, aided by the evangelists Nash, Finney and Kirk, preached with such power and fervor that 500 were counted as the fruit in that congregation alone. Mr. Miter's ability in prayer first attracted the attention of Dr. Robbins, a wealthy physician, who became so much interested in him that he offered to give him any pecuniary aid he might need if he would begin a course of study preparatory for the ministry ; feeling " that it was the eall of God," he at once entered Oneida Institute, and, at the end of four years, joined the notable first class of forty-three under Dr. Beecher and Prof. Stowe, in Lane Theological Seminary, just estab ished at Cincinnati ; but, toward the close of the first year, an issue arose between the Faculty and the students on the ground of anti-slavery discussion ; it was " the time of awakening" for the American intellect, and of the emancipation of the American mind from the authority of the English in letters and criticism; it was the renaissance not only in literature, but in religion, sociology and politics ; young men are naturally rad- icals and agitators, and, at such a time of intellectual and political ferment-when Channing was in the pulpit and Webster at the forum-young men of deep convi tions of right and justice would not submit to any restrictions upon free debate ; consequently, twenty-two of that class, including Mr. Miter, withdrew from the Seminary. Mr. Miter soon afterward joined a class formed at Troy by Drs. Beman and Kirk, and thus finished his studies in what proved the germ of the Union Theological Seminary of New York. About the time that he was licensed to preach, he attended the first Anti-Slavery Convention, which cou- vened at Utica, N. Y., in the fall of 1835, and one with that nobly courageous body of pioneer reformers, was mobbed, egged and compelled to resort to Peterboro, the home of the Hon. Gerrit Smith, thirty miles distant. He came West in 1837, and. after supplying, temporarily, several pulpits in and about Chicago, finally accepted a call from Knoxville, Ill .; after laboring there for two years, he returned East for a help- meet, and was married to Elizabeth D. Ayers, at Glenville, N. Y., June S. 1840 ; she was a descendant of the Beekmans, one of the old aristocratic families of New York City, and a graduate of Emina Willard's well-known Female Seminary ; being in full sympathy with him in his work, she proved his efficient. faith- ful and devoted helper for thirty-five years. He received a call from Plymouth Church, then organizing in Milwaukee, in June, 1841, but deelined ; they were importunate, and, one day in the fall, he was sur- prised at the arrival of two Milwaukee brothers, with their teams, who told him that they " had come for him ;" though his wife was then an invalid, when her sister at length sided with the strangers, he decided to go; the next day, as he says, "all my effects were loaded in one wagon, my wife was laid on a bed in the other, and thus we undertook a journey of 233 miles over the wild prairies of Illinois and Wisconsin to Milwaukee;" here he commenced preaching in November, 1841, on the second floor of a building on the northeast corner of Spring and West Water streets, to a Congregation il organization of but eighteen members ; he left this field, after fifteen years of severe and successful labor, owing to failure of health ; his charge, in the mean time, had grown to a membership of 523, were worshiping in the substantial edifiee (which was an elegant structure for those days), still occupied by them, on Milwaukee street, were free from debt, and had attained an influence which was felt as a power throughout the State. The teaching and preaching of Dr. Beman, that intellectual giant and master reasoner-whom he admired and reverenced-had so thrilled and impressed him, and his sense of personal responsibility was so great, that his public efforts in Milwaukee were remarkable for their logically exact, clear and powerful argu- mentation, for their intense earnestness and impressive, persuasive eloquence. It was chiefly through the solicitations of Henry Finch and Judge Rose, while he was looking for a congenial rural retreat, where he might escape from the lake winds, that he came to Beaver Dam, " prospecting," in March, 1856; having
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