The history of Dodge county, Wisconsin, containing its early settlement, growth an extensive and minute sketch of its cities war record, biographical sketches, Part 88

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 88

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BEAVER DAM TOWNSHIP.

passed through the county frequently since 1849, over the old, and then thronged stage route-which, striking north from Watertown, in this county, through Oak Grove, past Hyland and Burgit Corners and the Buek Horn Tavern, wound across the prairies to the valley of the Fox-he knew the attractive- ness of the environment, and the delightful drives he could make from Beaver Dam through the park-like " vak openings" and charming prairies ; thus the beauty and fertility of this region, together with the energy and enterprise manifested by the citizens, decided him to locate here, and he returned with his fam- ily the following May. He speedily and heartily identified himself, not only with the spiritual, but with the material development and growth of the city and country. His connection with the First Presbyterian Church, whose pulpit he supplied from 1856 to 1864, was indefinite during most of that time, for he hoped, if he regained his vigor, to work in a larger sphere ; but his nervous and vital energy was impaired more than he at first suspected, and, when he was satisfied that his system would never fully recover its former tone, he accepted this charge, and was installed July 20. 1864. So broad was the range of his sympathy, so great his power of adaptability, so genial, consistent and-though unobtrusive-so persuasive his life. that it attracted and secured the respectful attention, and the help, not only of professional men, merchants and manufacturers, but of the laboring class, and many of the best farmers round about ; for, while he rejoiced to see the plow extending its sway over the wildl sward, he also earnestly desired to see the Sabbath establishing its serenity over the fields. An Anti-Slavery man, when, with a few stalwart souls, he braved martyrdom in its cause, he lived to see the North standing solidly against slave-holders and treason ; his brave, patriotic heart was aroused by his country's danger, and his enthusiastic speeches inflamed the patriotism of his townsmen and incited them to bravery and self-denial; his sermons and speeches in this cause of humanity, justice, authority and truth not only aroused and cheered the despond- ent in hours of defeat and depression-like trumpet-calls to rally once again-but were instrumental in creating a public sentiment which Lincoln awaited for to sustain him in the issuing of his immortal Eman. cipation Proclamation-that memorable death-stroke to slavery. As a pulpit orator he had few superiors ; ealm, dignified, carnest-often intensely so-and impassioned, his magnetic power and " rare eloquence " enchained and impressed his audienee. As his strength, physically, slowly but steadily declined, his intel- leet worked more actively and easily ; he had never suffered rust to gather on his faculties, and he kept up readily with the advance of thought aud scientifie criticism, and met all the arguments of the materialists with his clear, powerful reason. His good judgment in building, his refined taste shown in the plauting of ornamental shrubs and trees, and in the loving care of flowers, are seen reflected in and about many of the beautiful and attractive homes of this city, and also in the inception and the laying-out and adorning of that beautiful, lovable and peaceful resting-place of the dead-Oakwood Cemetery. Rev. L. Hawley, who claims the same Alma Mater, says of him, in a tribute to his memory on the first anniversary of his death, May 5, 1876: " A Pastor here for about twenty years, he had largely grown up with the place, and had molded it as no other had. There was not an interest he did not care for ; his plastie hand was seen everywhere, molding things to order and to virtue; it was in the municipal affairs of the city, in its sehools, in its business relations, and pre-eminently in its religious, moral and benevolent institutions. The aesthetic element was just as prominent in him. He had a woman's love of flowers, and this æesthetic property gave a charm to all his public performances, and notably to his prayers. Great, then, was the loss to this community ; every circle, every class, every interest, felt the stroke when Dr. Miter died."

WILLIAM J. MITER, Beaver Dam, son of Rev. J. J. Miter, deceased, was born in Mil- waukee May 10, 1845 ; eame with his parents to Beaver Dam in 1856; he was educated at the Beaver Dam High School, and Wayland University, of this place ; learned the wholesale dry-goods business with James Bonnell, of Milwaukee; afterward, he was for four years book-keeper for the well-known firm of Sexton Bros. & Co., of Milwaukee Oct. 30, 1868, he was married, in Milwaukee, to Miss Mary E. Volby, who died at Minneapolis Jan. 28, 1879, leaving three daughters-Bessie, Ethel and Fannie; the wife of Rev. J. J. Miter died in Beaver Dam April 22, 1878; the family now consists of Wm. J., Mary L. ( now Mrs. G. S. Hawley, of Watertown, Wis.), Henry B. (at present one of the Professors of Ripon College . Fannie I. and John C.

ABRAM D. MOE, of the firm of Grobman & Moc, dealers in musical instruments; the pop- ular Sohmer Bros. piano, manufactured in New York, is sold by this firm ; they also sell the Taber organ, made at Worcester, Mass., and the A. B. Chase organ, manufactured at Norwalk, Ohio; they make the instrumentt mentioned a specialty, although they deal in other instruments and musical merchandise. Mr. Moc was born in Farmerville, Seneca Co., N. Y., Nov. 16, 1835; when he was about 6 years of age, his parents removed to Racine Co., Wis., where they resided for four years, in what is now the town of Cale- donia ; they came to the head of Green Lake, in what is now the town of Princeton ; the subject of this

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sketch resided there, and in the village of Princeton, until 1867, then moved to Lowell, Dodge Co. ; after six years' residence at the latter place, he ezme to Beaver Dam, where he has since lived ; at the age of 21 years, he commeneed teaching in the public schools of Wisconsin, at the same time he began to teach vocal music, and conducted singing schools for many years; in fact, until his removal to Beaver Dam, he devoted his entire attention to teaching-except during the time he was in the army. Ile enlisted in Co. F, 36th W. V. I., in February, 1864 ; mustered out in July, 1865. For the last six years Mr. Moe has been engaged in selling musical instruments. He was married, in Oak Grove, Dodge Co , Wis., Nov. 10, 1861, to Miss Adelia Cook ; she was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y .; two children-Arthur D. and Harry.

H. C. NICOLAUS, manufacturer of cigars, Beaver Dam, was born at Mequon River, Wis., Feb. 2, 1849 ; he received his early education there, and assisted his father on the farm; in 1867, he came to Beaver Dam; Mr. Nicolaus learned his trade of cigar-maker in Milwaukee, and, in 1869, com- menced the manufacture of cigars on his own account in Beaver Dam, and has continued this business up to the present writing. He married, Nov. 13, 1873, Angeline Dusell, of Beaver Dam ; he has three chil- dren living-Clara, Carl and Albert.

G. H. NOYES, farmer, See. 34; P. O. Beaver Dam ; is a son of S. N. and Mary A. Noyes, early immigrants to Dodge Co., his father coming in 1844, and his mother in 1846; G. H. was born in Beaver Dam in 1852; was edneated in the public schools, and has since devoted his time to farming; he now owns a farm of 94 acres in See. 34, within the city limits of Beaver Dam. In 1873, he married Miss Fannie, daughter of Samuel and Fannie Sunderland, and a native of England ; they have three chil- dren-Raymond A., Oliver W. and Mabel A. Mr. and Mrs. Noyes are members of the Assembly Presby- terian Church.

ALVIN F. ORDWAY, millwright, manufacturer of and dealer in mill-furnishing machinery, ete., Beaver Dam ; born in Bradford, Orange Co., Vt., Oct. 3, 1833; came to Wisconsin about twenty- five years ago, having been engaged for a few years prior to that time in the construction of mills in the Eastern States ; since he came West, he has been extensively engaged in the same business, being one of the best-known men in his department of work in the entire West. Ile was married in Milwaukee, Dec. 7, 1857, to Miss Ellen Maher, a native of Derby Line, Orleans Co., Vt. ; they have three sons-Guy M , Eddie A. and Bennie F .; Mr. Ordway located in Beaver Dam in the spring of 1858.

PRINDLE PARTRIDGE, farmer, Sec. 35; P. O. Beaver Dam ; is a son of Reuben and Diadamia Partridge; born in E-sex Co., N. Y., in 1820, and lived there with his parents until about 35 years of age ; in 1854, he, with his wife and three children, started via Ohio, where they spent the winter with relatives, for Wisconsin, where they arrived in the spring of 1855; they first settled in Sauk Co., and made that their home for five years; they next moved to Richland Co., Wis., where he followed farming for three years; in 1863. he purchased the Roxy Hiye farm of forty acres, in Sec. 35, town of Beaver Dam, Dodge Co., which has since been their home. Sept. 17, 1846, he married Miss Lucinda, daughter of Seth and Olive Bunnell, she being a native of Claremont, N. H. ; they have had three chil- dren-Caroline ( deceased ), Alouzo P. (who married Miss Annie Holister, of Beaver Dam, and has two children-Royal A. and Arthur S.) and Lucretia, now of Milwaukee. Mr. and Mrs. Partridge were among the seven original members of the Arlington M. E. Circuit of Sauk Co., Wis.

C. PERRY, nurserytoan, Beaver Dam; born in Columbia Co., Penn., March 15, 1830; came to Wisconsin May 22, 1854, locating at Beaver Dam ; he received his early education in Columbia Co. ; he leased his father's form, in that county, and farmed for four years, after which he came to Beaver Dam and engaged with Mr. Gould as Superintendent of his nursery; in this position he remained seventeen years ; after Mr. Gould's death, the heirs ran it for awhile, when Mr. Perry bought out the heirs, one at a time, until he now controls the whole nursery, which is still known as the Goukt Nursery, and carries a full line of nursery stock and greenhouse plants. He married, Nov. 10, 1850, Mary R. Horne, of New Jersey, who died in April, 1861. He again married, in October, 1862, Mary E. Robbins, of Maine; he has five children-Harriet E., Frank W., Eugene, Charles and Kate. Mr. and Mrs. Perry are members of the Baptist Church.

JOHN PRITCHARD, farmer, Secs. 5 and 6; P. O. Beaver Dam ; is a native of Monmouthshire. England ; is the son of Henry and Mary Pritchard, born in 1827; in 1853, he came to America and settled in the city of Beaver Dam for one year, then worked Messrs. Geoggele & Brecher's farm for five years ; in 1863, he returned to England and stayed two years; io May, 1865, he came again to Beaver Dam and bought a farm of 190 acres, in Sections 5 and 6, town of Beaver Dam, which has since been his home. In England, in 1863, he married Miss Annie, daughter of J. Rees and Jane Jones, of Mon- mouthsbire ; they had one daughter-Elizabeth M., now in England. . Mrs. Pritchard died in England in 1866. In July, 1868, he married Mrs. Catherine, widow of Dr. Melhoron, of Beaver Dam; they have one son-William. They are members of the First Presbyterian Church.

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BEAVER DAM TOWNSHIP.

WILLIAM VOORHEES PERRY, Beaver Dam ; was born May 25, 1831, in the town of Lysander, county of Onondaga, New York ; at 1 year of age, he was removed by his parents to Alle- gany Co., of the State aforesaid, where he resided till 1856; from 1850 to 1856, he worked in harvest, taught distriet school in winter, and manufactured maple sugar in the spring. by which means he earned money sufficient to defray the necessary expenses for completing the regular four years course at the Alfred Academy and Teachers' Seminary, and graduated in 1856, having completed the full scientific course. For the two following years, he taught the High School at Carrollton, which is the upper portion of New Orleans City, having gone to New Orleans as a sailor " before the mast," from the city of New York. The political climate becoming too warm in that section for a person of Abolition proclivities to remain with safety, he returned to his home in Ahuond, Allegany Co., York State, and, in the summer of 1858, emigrated West with his parents and settled in the town of Burnett, Dodge Co., Wis., where he was married to Miss Maria K., youngest daughter of Alexander McConnell, Esq. Alexander McConnell was one of the earliest settlers in the Wisconsin Territory, and settled where he now lives in 1843. W. V. P. and wife lived with his parents until April. 1861, when he enlisted in the three-months service and served four months in the Ist W V. I .. under Col. Starkweather; in 1862. he again enlisted in the three- years service, and served as Second Lieutenant in Co. K, 29th W. V. I., under Col. Charles R. Gill, but, being stricken down with the army diarrhoea, and that followed by the typhoid and congestive brain fever, he was compelled to resign his e ommission, during the winter of 1863. When he left Helena, Ark., his weight, avoirdupois, was but ninety-six pounds, and when it is taken into consideration that he weighed 207 pounds at the time of his enlistment and was a very strong and healthy man, it tells a story of suffer- ing not excelled only by those whose life paid the price of loyalty and patriotism. From the said illness and prostration, he has never fully recovered and probably never will. After returning from the army, he followed such occupation as his broken health would allow. In 1871, he engaged in the sale of agricult- ural implements, at Beaver Dam, in which he did not succeed financially, owing to circumstances over which he had no control. As early as 1854, Mr. Perry witnessed a fatal aeeident to a brakeman, while in the act of coupling freight cars, and ever afterward sought to find a preventive to such oft-recurring and fearful accidents. In 1871, he invented and patented a safety freight coupler, very crude indeed, yet possessing the one feature of safely lifting and handling the ordinary car-coupling link. During the win- ter of 1874, he gave himself up entirely to the task of perfecting a freight-car coupler, which should answer every and all deruands asked of such an invention. A joint-stock company, for the purpose of completing and introducing on to railroads the Perry Safety Coupler, was organized at Kokomo, End., in 1874, and re-organized with a larger capital stock at Beaver Dam, in 1877. The Perry Safety Car- Coup- ling Company have spent a large sum of money in carrying forward the necessary experiments in order to perfect the invention, until it now stands without an equal in its great and humanitarian effort to save life and prevent the most frightful accidents that are constantly occurring on the railroads throughout the world. At a casual glance, this coupler does nut look unlike an ordinary draw-bar used on freight cars, but its construction is such that the gauging of the common coupling link to the different height of cars is done at the side or from on top of the car, without exposing the operator to the least danger whatever. The ordinary coupling-pin is worked automatically by the incoming link, and by the construction of the draw-head the strain on the pin is reduced to one and a half inches, which so greatly increases its strength that it cannot be broken by any link which may be used in connection with it. The pin is also so con- structed that it cannot be lost or separated from the draw-lead to which it is attached ; besides, if raised and turned a quarter of a turn to the right or left, it will not drop home unless so desired by the operator. The draw-bar, in its peculiar shape, is so strong that it will withstand a greater strain or shock than any of the freight cars which are made at the present time on any road. This coupler is indeed a very great benefaction to the railroad employes, who are compelled to follow the hazardous business of coupling freight cars. The couplers which have already been put at work on the cars warrant the fact that it is all and will do all that its friends have sought or asked of it.

E. C. PRATT, lawyer. Beaver Dam ; was born in Castile, Wyoming Co., N. Y., Sept. 12, 1842, and came to Wisconsin May 10, 1856, locating in Trenton Township; Mr. Pratt attended schor lat Castile; he moved to Trenton Township, where he assisted his father in farming; he finished his education at the Wayland University, and taught music awhile at Markesan, Green Lake Co .; in 1869, came to Beaver Dam and commeneed the study of law with A. Scott Sloan and J. J. Dick; on March 10, 1872, he was admitted to the bar, and about this thne he assisted Judge Sloan with the county records ; on Jan 1, 1873, he formed a law-partnership with Judge Sloan's son, under the firm name of Pratt & Sloan, which continued for three years ; Mr. Pratt has since been practicing on his own account. He enlisted, Aug. 14, 1862, in C. K. Ist W. V. C .; was discharged for disability in 1863, and re-enlisted in Co. HI, 5th

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W. V. I., Col. Allen, and was on detached service; he was mustered out July 4, 1865. Mr. Pratt is a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

ROBERT RIELY, Superintendent of Beaver Dam Woolen-Mills, was born four miles west of Glasgow, Scotland, Aug. 3, 1831, and eame to Wisconsin Sept. 23, 1854, locating in Green Co .; he served his apprenticeship in woolen and cotton goods with the Blackburn Cotton-Mills and the Carlton Woolen-Mills in Glasgow; in 1850, he was Superintendent of the Farmers' Woolen-Mills, of Kingsville, Ohio, for two and a half years, then for one year was Superintendent of the Monterey Woulen-Mill of Janesville ; he came to Beaver Dam in 1856, and engaged with the Farmers' Woolen-Mill as Superin- tendent, after which he became Superintendent of the Beaver Dam Woolen-Mills, which position he now holds. Mr. Riely married, Dec. 17, 1849, Elizabeth Crompton, of Lancashire, England ; he has four children living- Jesse Ann, Nellie, Robert and Bessie.

IRA ROWELL, manufacturer, Beaver Dam, was born in Springwater, Livingston Co., N. Y., Oct. 20, 1836, and came to Wisconsin in August, 1842, locating in Lisbon ; in 1862, he moved to Hartland and opened a general store which he continued for two years; in 1864, he moved to Beaver Dan and connected himself with his uncle John in the manufacture of agricultural implements, which business he is now carrying on. Mr. Rowell was Alderman of the Third Ward for two terms, also Supervisor of the Third Ward. He married in November, 1868, Mary Thompson, of Canada ; he has three children-Jennie. Wallie and Edla.

J. S. ROWELL, manufacturer, Beaver Dam ; was born in Springwater, Livingston Co., N. Y., April 1, 1827, and came to Wisconsin in September, 1848, locating at Hartland, Waukesha Co. : he served his time in New York at the molding and wooding of plows ; he then moved to Goshen, Elkhart. Co., Ind., and went to work with his brother putting up plows ; he then moved to Oswego, Kosciusko Co .. Ind., when he was 18 years of age, and on looking about for business was advised, by his brother, to start the manufacture of plows ; he did so, having as his capital a rifle and $40 borrowed money ; this he imme- diately put into flour at $3 per barrel, getting three barrels for his rifle ; he then swapped the whole for castings, getting $4 per barrel for his flour in the trade ; he then borrowed some carpenter's touls and went into the woods, where, with his own hands alone, he cut, hewed and scored the sills and frame-work for his manufactory, putting up the same without the aid of a carpenter ; he then dug his race and put in a flume, made and set up a wheel, shaft. pulleys, etc., and also built and put up a fan-bellows under the instruction of Mr. Auberson, of Fort Wayne; this foundry he ran for two or three years, saving from his profits about $1,500 ; he then sold out and returned to Goshen, Ind., and engaged in mercantile business; not succeeding very well in that, he moved to Hartland, Wis., where, for awhile, he made steel plows; shortly after, he received an offer from his brother in Goshen, Ind., of a half-interest in his foundry and plow-shop, which offer he accepted, and remained there three years, when he moved to Beaver Dam and opened a shop for the repairing of thrashers and making plows; he shortly after commeuced building the celebrated Tiger Thrasher upon which he made, in after years, many improvements; in 1861, he commenced the manufacture of seeders in connection with his other manufactures, and, at this writing, is doing a large and prosperous business ; in 1867, was Mayor of Beaver Dam ; he was also Alderman for two terms; Mr. Rowell is owner of the celebrated mare, " Badger Girl," whose record is 2:221. Mr. Rowell married, Jan. 1, 1850, Mary Martha Ball of Virginia; he has five children living-Theo. B., Samuel W., Elizabeth M., Lillian and Florence Belle. Mrs. Rowell is a member of the First Presbyterian Church at Beaver Dam.

SAMUEL W. ROWELL, manufacturer : was born in Kenosha, Wis., Jan. 28, 1850; he commenced his business career by learning the trade of a machinist with his father, and afterward learned all the different branches of the trade in the establishment of J. S. Rowell & Co., until he became master of them all ; in 1876, he was admitted to partnership in the firm ; the firm now being J. S. Rowell, Sons & Co .; Mr. Rowell has general supervision over the vast establishment of the firm ; he received his early education in Beaver Dam. He married, Sept. 5, 1877, Mary Millard, of Horicon, Wis. ; he has one child living-Mary.

J. B. SABIN, photographer ; was born in Walden, Caledonia Co., Vt, May 17, 1846, and came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1866, locating in Sparta; he learned his trade with Raymond Nias, and then opened a gallery on his own account in Sparta; in 1876, he came to Beaver Dam and opened a pho- tographie parlor on Spring street, which he is now earrying on with good success. He enlisted in 1865, in Co. G, 169th N. Y. V. I., Col. Aldine, and was engaged in the following battles : Fort Fisher, N. C., and battles before Richmond, Va., and two or three skirmishes. He married, Jan. 26, 1870, Etta Derringer, who died July 6, 1872; he was again married, March 2, 1874, Ella Ehinger, of Beaver Dam ; he has two children-Birney and Mary.

G Mehandler- BEAVER DAM

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BEAVER DAM TOWNSHIP.

EDGAR E. SEFFENS, stone and brick mason ; is the oldest son of Hiram and Margaret (Walkins) Seffens; born in St. Joseph Co., Mich., April 12, 1852; in 1857, he, with parents, removed to Columbus, Columbia Co., Wis., where he was educated in the public schools; at the age of 14, he entered upon an apprenticeship at the mason's trade with his father, which he has followed most of the time since ; during the winter seasons, since 1871, he has devoted his time to teaching and has had charge of some of the leading district schools of Columbia, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac and Dodge Cos. ; in 1878, he removed to Beaver Dam, which is his present home. Sept. 23, 1874, he married Miss Ida E., daughter of R. W. and Harriet Pride, of Brandon, Fond du Lac Co., Wis .; they have one son-Bertrand R. Politically, Mr. Seffens is a Republican.

CHARLES SCHUTTE, retired ; was born in Buckeburg in Leppe Schaumburg, Germany, Feb. 10, 1829, and came to Wisconsin in January, 1847, locating in Washington Co .; he received his early education in Germany ; he came to the United States in October, 1840, and engaged in farming eighty acres of land in Washington Co. ; in 1853, went to California and opened a general store on Feather River ; in 1854, he went to Australia and engaged in gold mining for two years; he then came back to Washing -. ton Co., via London, Eng., Germany and New York ; in 1857, he moved to Beaver Dam and built the Farmers' Brewery, now owned by Mr. Binzel ; he continued the brewing business for about eight years ; he then opened a general store under the firm name of Spuhler & Schluckebier, which he continued for nine years, after which he engaged in the insurance business, representing the Germantown and Farmers' Mutual Insurance Co. Mr. Schutte was Alderman of First Ward for four terms, and for nine years was School Commissioner from First Ward. He married, Oct. 27, 1857, Mary Spuhler, of Bavaria ; he has four children-Mena, Adolphe. Herman and Baldwin.

A. SCOTT SLOAN, lawyer ; was born in Morrisville, Madison Co., N. Y., June 12, 1820, and came to Wisconsin in the fore part of November, 1854, locating in Beaver Dam ; Mr. Sloan received his education at Morrisville, and also studied law, at that place, with Congressman A. Lawrence Foster ; from Morrisville he removed to De Ruyter, where he practiced law for seven years, and then came to Beaver Dam, where he has continued the practice of law up the present writing; in De Ruyter he was Justice of the Peace, and in 1847 to 1850 was County Clerk of Madison Co .; in 1857, he was a member of the the Assembly from Beaver Dam, and in 1858, was Mayor of same; in the fall of 1858, was appointed Circuit Judge to fill a vacancy ; in the fall of 1860, he was elected to Congress from the Third Wisconsin District ; from 1863 to 1867, he was Clerk of the U. S. Court of Wisconsin, and in 1868, was appointed County Judge and held that office by election afterward until Jan. 1, 1874; in the fall of 1873, he was elected Attorney General of Wisconsin for two years; in the fall of 1875, re-elected for the term of two years; he is now Mayor of Beaver Dam. Mr. Sloan married, in 1841, Angeline M. Dodge, who was born in Vermont; he has six children living-Florence H., Harry, Nettie, Seward, Kittie and Ledyard S.

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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 88

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