The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 133

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1082

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THOMAS WILSON SPENCE, attorney ; was born at Dungannon, County Tyrone, Ire- land, Sept. 2, 1846; came to Chillicothe, Ohio, in infancy, and to Fond du Lac in 1865. Mr. S. gradu- ated from the classical course of Cornell University, at Ithaci, N. Y., in 1870; studied law and was soon after a member of the law firm of Coleman & Spence, which firm was recently changed to Spence & Hiner; he was a member of the Assembly in 1877 and 1879, and is now Postmister of Fond du Lac, receiving his appointment in 1879. Ile was married at Fond du Lac, to Miss Tallmadge ; they have one ehild.

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JOSEPH D. W. SPENCER, glove manufacturer ; was born in Barre, Worcester Co., Mass .. March 13, 1847, and is the son of John II. and Ellen M. Spencer, nee Whitcomb. His grand- father, JJohn Spencer, was the son of Simeon Spencer, who was born in Connecticut, but was the eleventh family to settle in Springfield, Vt .; his grandfather was born in 1782; was an extensive farmer of Spring- field, Vt., for many years ; came to Wisconsin in 1849, and settled in Rock Co., where he died Feb. 7, 1865. His father, John H., was born at Springfield, Vt., Nov. 12, 1808; spent his early life as a farmer in Vermont ; removed to Amherst, Mass., and there followed the business of a foundryman and stove- manufacturer for three years ; removed to Barre. Mass., in 1835, and continued the same business fifteen years ; in 1850, he came to Wisconsin, stopped one year in Rock Co .; went thence to Green Bay, and was there interested in the tanning business for a year ; came to Fond du Lac in 1852, where he was one of the most extensive leather-dealers for many years. He retired from business in 1870. In 1832, he was married to Sarah, daughter of Shubel and Ruth Whitcomb, of Springfield, Vt., and a descendant of the Whitcomb family who came from Dorchester, England, in 1633 ; she died about two years after marriage. He afterward married her sister. Ellen M .; they had a family of six children-four of whom are living- Sarah M. (died in 1855), Ellen S. ( Mrs. Norman Brass, and lives in Spring Valley, Minn. ), Joseph D. W. and John D. W., twins-the latter is dead-Ida M. (now the wife of F. W. Sivyer, and lives in Milwaukee ), Waklo H. (now in Buffalo, N. Y.); Joseph D. W. spent most of his time with his father till 1870, when he established the glove manufactory of which he has since been proprietor. He was married to Elizabeth, laughter of Michael and Margaret Roche, now of Dakota, but formerly of the town of Byron, Fond du Lac Co., Wis., where she was born. Mrs. Spencer is a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

HENRY J. STEADY, foreman on the second floor in Steenberg's sash, door and blind factory ; was born in Germany in 1843; came to America with his parents in 1848, and settled at Buffalo, N. Y., where he resided till 1853, when they moved to Chicago, Ill., whence, in 1856, they came to Fond du Lac ; llenry worked on a farm for his brother from 1856 to 1862, attending school three winters during that time, that being all the schooling he ever had. In 1862, he enlisted in Co. K, of the Ist W. V. I .; was discharged in 1863, on account of disability for service ; after remaining at home for about six months and regaining his health, he re-enlisted October, 1863, in Co. B, 35th W. V. L, with which he served till the close of the war. After being mustered out at Madison, Wis., he returned to Fond du Lae and began work in the door, sash and blind factory for C. J. L. Meyer, where he continued till 1873, when he began work for Mr. Steenberg. Oct. 16, 1863, he married Miss Annie Fox, of Fond du Lac; they have had four children-llenry B. (deceased), Nettie L., Jessie M. and Millard B.

O. C. STEENBERG, proprietor of sash, door and blind manufactory, is a native of Tompkins Co., N. Y., where he was born in 1836; in 1854, he moved with his parents to Saratoga Co., which he made his home until 1862; he graduated at Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., with the class of 1861, after which, in 1862, he came to Fond du Lac as Principal of the High School, serving in that capacity until 1864, when he was elected Superintendent of the city schools in addition to his position as Principal of the High School, where he remained until 1869; in 1871, he purchased an interest in the sash, door and blind factory, with Mr. H. H. Lewis; the copartnership existed until 1877, when Mr. Steenberg bought out Mr. Lewis, and became sole proprietor of the establishment. In 1862, he married Miss Harriet Greene, daughter of O. S. Greene, of Salisbury, Conn .; they have had three children-Sarah (deceased ), Fredrick and Hubert.

PETER STEENBERGH, retired farmer, was born in Saratoga Co., N. Y., in 1797 ; at the age of 10, he went to Albany Co., N. Y., and followed farming for some time, whence he went to Washington Co., N. Y., and remained there seven years. after which he, with his brother, purchased a boat, and l'or two years followed boating on the Albany and Champlain Canal; he next eame to Syracuse, thence to Onondaga Co., N. Y., where he was engaged in farming most of the time, until his immigration to Wis- consin in 1849 ; his first settlement was on a farm in the town of Byron ; subsequently, he bought a farm of 160 acres in the town of Auburn, Fond du Lac Co., which he disposed of about 1857, and bought another in the town of Byron, on which he made his home until 1871, when he sold that and moved to the city of Fond du Lac. April 15, 1835, he married Miss Cynthia E. Mead, daughter of Elisha Mead, of Onondaga Co., N. Y., who died at Fond du Lac, March 2, 1879, in her 59th year, leaving three children -- Caroline A., Harriet A. ( now Mrs. Griffin Petton, of Byron ), and Alson W., of Fond du Lac. His wife and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he owns a house and four lots in the eity.

PETER STEPHANY, foreman in Mihills' Manufacturing Co., is a native of Germany, born in 1847 ; came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1850, and settled on a farm near Fond du Lac, where he spent his boyhood ; at the age of 15, he came to the city of' Fond du Lac, and began work for C. J. L.

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Meyer, in the blind department of his sash, door and blind factory ; in ISG5, he worked for Lewis & Boyd in their manufactory for about five months, after which he followed the carpenter and joiner's trade for one year ; then he worked for Falkland in his factory one year; he next engaged in the furniture business, which he continued for about fourteen months; in 1876, he began work in Mihills' factory, where he has since remained. He married Miss Amelia Loher, of Calumet, in October, 1873; they have two children-Dora and Mary. They are members of St. Mary's Catholic Church.

ALEXANDER STEWART. of the firm of McDonald & Stewart, proprietors of a sash, door and blind factory, is a native of Glengarry Co., Canada, where he was horn in 1835; spent his boy- hood at work on a farm with his father, and attending the district school ; when 15 years old. he moved to Montreal, whence, in 1854, he went to Petersboro, Canada, where he engaged in the grocery busi- ness until 1866; disposing of his interest in the grocery trade at that time, he came to Fond du Lac, and became interested in saw milling in the firm of' Hunter, Stewart & Co. until 1869, when he formed a copartnership with Mr. Alexander McDonald in the sash, door and blind factory, which they established at that time. In 1867, he married Miss Sarah C. Crawford, second daughter of the Rev. Elias Crawford, of Saratoga Springs ; they have had two children-Annie ( deceased ), and Charles C. Mr. S. and family are members of the Presbyterian Church.

SILAS B. STILES, druggist, of the firm of Stiles & Givens, was born in Jay, Essex Co., N. Y., Sept. 24, 1823; lived seven years in Canada West ; came to Byron, Fond du Lac Co., in July, 1843, and there engaged in farming during six years, after which he went into the Northern pineries, where he worked at lumbering until 1852 ; he then went overland to California, aod engaged in mining until 1857, when he returned to Fond du Lac and purchased a farm in Byron in 1858; Mr. S. followed agricultural pursuits until 1871, when he purchased a drug store at Jefferson, Wis., but returned to Fond du Lac in 1873, and opened a drug store opposite the American House. He was married in Byron, Feb. 16, 1859, to Caroline, daughter of George W. Lewis; they have three children-Clara A., Vesta L. and Guy L.

LYMAN F. STOWE, son of Joseph and Priscilla Stowe, very early settlers of Fond du Lae ; was born at Haverhill, Grafton Co., N. Il., Sept. 29, 1825 ; at the age of 18 years, after hard work upon the hills of his native State, he came with his parents to Milwaukee ; remained there until 1848, working one and one-half years in a pail factory, manufacturing washtubs on his own account one year, and then engaged in barrel-making ; Mr. S. then lived one year on his farm near Waupun; worked his father's farm one year; began earpenter work in 1851, and in 1861, began building elevators on the different railroads in this State and Michigan, which business he still follows. He was one of the organizers of the volunteer fire department in Fond du Lac, of which he was a member until its disor- ganization in 1878, and was Treasurer one term of the State Firemen's Benevolent Association. Mr. S. was married at Milwaukee, in October, 1847, to Martha Lee, born in the town of Shipley, Yorkshire, England ; they have one child-Ella Josephine.

TIMOTHY F. STRONG. The subject of this sketch is a native of Brownington, Vt. ; was born April 6, 1805, and is the son of Asahel Strong and Susan Follett ; his father, a prominent mer- chant, although unfortunate, was much respected by all who knew him ; Timothy resided in Bennington, whither his parents removed in 1806, till 12 years old, attending common school, and at that time accepted a clerkship in a general store at Glen Falls, N. Y., and at odd times while there gained a knowl- edge of the tinner's trade ; at the expiration of five years, he went to Burlington, Vt., and there spent two years as a journeyman in a tinshop ; he next formed a eopartnership with a friend, and going to Keesville, N. Y., established himself in the tin and stove business, and conducted a successful business for nearly two years; after closing out his interest here, he went to Danville, Vt., and there resumed the same line of business, continuing it during a period of six years ; at the expiration of that time, he associated himself with his brother, William L. Strong, at Burlington, in a general hard- ware, iron and grocery trade, where he remained till 1848; during the year previous to this, he had contracted with others to build the Burlington & Rutland Railroad, and a portion of the road on to Bellows' Falls ; he was at the same time largely interested in building the railroad from Ogdensburg to Rouse's Point. N. Y. ; in July, 1851, he removed to the West and settled at Fond du Lac, Wis., and at once began building what is now known as the Chicago & North-Western Railway, whose owners form one of the largest railroad corporations in the world. In this enterprise Mr. Strong worked under most adverse circumstances, many of his associates giving up all hope of success; with that determination, how- ever, which has ever characterized him, he held on persistently to the end. and, in once instance, built. some miles of the road at his own expense and risk. Previous to his coming West, he had gained the reputation of being a successful railroad man, having carried to a successful completion large railroad enter- prises in the East ; and it was largely due to his untiring energy and influence that the Wisconsin division,

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being the northern portion of the Northwestern railroads, was constructed. Mr. Strong retired from active business in 1868, and, since that time, except as stated below, has been living in the enjoyment of the rewards of his active life. He was Assistant Superintendent of the North- Western Railway for several years ; in 1870, was elected President and Superintendent of the Fond du Lac & Sheboygan Railroad resigning in 1872. In his political sentiments, he is independent, supporting for office the man whom he considers best fitted for the place, regardless of party prejudices or distinctions; in his religious belief, he is identified with the Episcopal Church. He was married on the 3d of May, 1827, to Miss Olivia Clark, daughter of Dr. Nathan S. Clark, of Chesterfield, N. Y., and by her has now living one son and two daughters. He married his present wife, Susanna Jones, on the 27th of March, 1873. Mr. Strong has traveled extensively over the United States and Europe, and is well informed ou all questions of the day. Beginning life for himself at the age of 12, with his worldly possessions tied up in a handkerchief, he has risen, step by step, until he has accumulated an ample fortune, and, in all his business career, has never contracted a debt that he did not pay.

JOHN E. SULLIVAN, of the firm of John E. Sullivan & Co., merchant tailors; is a native of Ohio, where he was born in 1853; came to Meemme, Manitowoc Co., Wis., with parents in 1855, where he lived till 1873, when he went to Brown Co. for the winter, and came to Fond du Lac in the spring of 1871, aud attended commercial college for four months, when he graduated ; after which, from September, 1874, to November, 1878, he was clerk for J. N. Coleman & Co; he was in the employ of Butterfield & Eldrige till May, 1878, when he became a partner in the firm of John E. Sullivan & Co.

MICHAEL SULLIVAN, harness manufacturer ; is a native of Ireland, where he was born in 1851 ; he came to Fond du Lac in 1868; in 1871 he became proprietor of the harness-shop, where he now manufactures about two hundred sets of harness per year. July 6, 1871, he married Miss Mary Aun Canada, of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., Wis., by whom he has three children-John, Nellie and Annie, who, with parents, are members of St. Patrick's Catholic Church.

GEORGE EATON SUTHERLAND, whose history is now closely allied to that of Fond du Lac Co., is a native of New York State, having first seen light in a farmhouse at Burlington, Otsego Co., N. Y. His mother thanked God he was a boy, for a boy could better fight the battle of life. George is the youngest of six children, only three of whom, all boys, were alive at bis birth. On his father's side he is of Scotch descent, his great-grandfather having come to Amerien on account of political persecu- tions. This ancestor was noted for truthfulness and integrity, and these qualities and also certain physical traits have been transmitted. It was the proud boast of the father of the subject of this sketch, that, so far as he knew, there had never been an untruthful or dishonest Sutherland. His mother was a woman wise and good, and his earliest recollections are mainly of her love and guidance. When he was 6 years old, a great calamity befell him, in the death of his most excellent mother, and the breaking-up of the home, leaving George a little wanderer, without a settled home, or home influences. For four years he lived first with one relative, and then with another, some of the time attending district school, but left for the most part to his own devices. From his mother, he inherited energy, steadfastness of purpose, and a thoughtful habit, and from his father integrity of mind, an honest way of looking at things, and a love of books. He was very fond of oratory, and while a mere child would pore for hours over Congressional speeches and pleas in court, seeming to catch the spirit of their eloquence. He also carly developed ability in planning, faithfulness in execut- ing, a spirit of emulation, which prompted him to be first and best in whatever he undertook, and a per- soual magnetism, which made him a leader among the boys. He was not a very playful boy, and especially disliked hunting, fishing, or any sport which inflicted pain. He was, however, fond of wit or humor, a trait which he has not ontgrown. In the winter after his tenth birthday, his mind and heart received a profound re igious impression, through the preaching of the Rev. A. B. Earle, and at the close of a series of meetings held in Burlington, George, with some one hundred others, was received into the church. While from his natural fondness for reading the boy had acquired a desultory knowledge of many things of which children ordinarily know nothing, he possessed scarcely the rudiments of a systematic education. During these years, George's second brother, Andrew, had married, and become Principal of a school in Norwich-Town, Conn., in which he was ably assisted by his wife, a woman of fine mind and large, warm heart. It was a happy day for George when this worthy couple invited him to make home with them. In June, 1854, having secured company as far as New York City, he started with glowing anticipations for a new home, and an education, which even then wis his dearest wish. The journey to New York was brimful of interest, and his friend found his time fully ocenpied in answering questions, until he left George on the Norwich boat, upon which he was to complete the journey alone. It was a night trip, and the boy, to whom both steamer and ocean were new, sat long on deek. He watched the men untie from the pier, and reel in the heavy rope ; watched the city until only dots of light were

George De Curtis DECD. ROSENDALE.

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visible ; saw the moon rise out of the water, and the long track of light which the boat left behind, until fatigue proved too much even for his wonder, and he went to bed on what seemed to him a funny little pantry shelf, and slept the sleep of tired childhood. When he awoke, the boat lay quietly at anchor at Norwich ; the passengers had all gone, and so had his brother, who came to meet him. Evidently he had overslept, but do not think he was dismayed. Valise in hand, he steps ashore and inquires the way to Norwich Town. Let ns glance at him as he enters upon this new era of life. Ten years old, rather slight, bright brown eyes that look straight at you, ample forehead and a sensitive mouth. The taste of his sister-in-law had dressed him in garments whose cut would better have become his father-black satin vest, long coat, prominent shirt front, standing collar and " dickey." When he had come into Norwich Town, and was close by the town clock, a wag, thinking to get some sport out of the old-fashioned country boy, stopped him, and asked with mock deference, hat in hand, " Would you kindly tell me the time of day by your watch ?" The unconscious sim- plicity of the child turned the joke back, when he answered, " I do not know, sir ; can you tell me where Norwich Town is ?" With his brother, discipline began in earnest. He was kept at hard study all day and until nine at night, with scarce an hour allowed for play. His system stood the strain, and his progress in books was quite astonishing, so that from being the poorest scholar, by the end of the year George stood at the head of the school. Lu 1855, his brother decided to go West, and chose the young but rapidly growing State of Wisconsin, as a future home. The party went by rail to Chicago, by boat to Sheboygan, thence by stage to Fond du Lac, which they reached Saturday night, and put up at a hotel near the landing at ". Lower Town." From Fond du Lac, the party went by lake and Fox River to Delhi, in Winnebago Co., and thence to Waukau, where Mr. Sutherland taught for several years, and eventually settled on a farm. George remained with him, working on the farm and attending school until he was nearly 16. These years, though no more than ordinarily eventful, were important as years of growth. In them he attained manhood's size, and for his years, maturity of character ; had escaped vices, and had acquired a very good common-school education. With such preparation, George left his brother in August, 1859, to make his own way in the world. Going once more to Norwich, Conn., he obtained a district school, which he taught acceptably. Spending the summer of 1860 with old Burlington friends, he closed his experience as peda- gogue, by teaching a school at that place the following autumn and winter.

The very next day after his school closed, he started for West Winfield Academy, to carry out his long-cherished purpose of fitting for college. Here he boarded himself and earned his tuition by taking care of the recitati on-rooms. His life now seemed the realization of the boy's dreams, in the gratification of his intense desire for knowledge and improvement. The classes were pleasant and the school excellent, under the care of Prof. E. O. Hovey, an enthusiast in his profession, an earnest Christian and a man of great personal weight. This was the year of the breaking-out of the civil war. When President Lincoln's first call came for volunteers, George greatly desired to enlist, but his father thought he was neither old nor strong enough for the hardships of camp and field, and so restrained the ardor of the boy. But it hap- peus to many a man that at some time in life a circunistance, seemingly a mere accident, changes the whole of his life. Such accident, or Providence, came to George. One noon, it was Sept. 30, 1862, he went to town for the mail as usual, and found in the Exeter stage an old friend on his way to Utica to enlist, who urged George to go with him, and quickly gained his consent. There was no time for leave-taking. George got into the stage and before night had enlisted in Co. A, Ist N. Y. L. A., known as Bates' Bat- tery. He was immediately sent into Barracks at Albany, where the time was spent in dril ing and learn- ing the art of war, against the call to the front. It happened that George had a chance of displaying readiness and tact before reaching Washington. When the battery was ordered to the front, Capt. Bates put George and a comrade in charge of his horses, which were to go in a freight car attached to the train bearing the rest of the battery. As the train was to leave Albany toward morning, the men went into the car at night and went to sleep. Imagine the surprise of George when morning dawned and found him still in Albany and the rest of the battery gone. By what accident their car was left no one could explain, but here the boys were, with the horses, no commander, no rations, no transportation ; what little money they had they spent in vainly telegraphing for orders. With much persuasion the railroad company took them to New York, where a patriotic citizen fed horses and men. The eloquence and resources of the boys were fully taxed before the railroad company agreed to take them to Baltimore without the proper transportation papers, and even then they were assured the horses would be held in Baltimore until the company was satisfied. When they reached Philadelphia the train was laid up for the Sabbath, and here were the boys again without the wherewith to break their fast, but the door of a United States Hospital opened to them, and they were well cared for until Monday afternoon. The train reached Baltimore just before daybreak Tuesday morning. Should they wait here, with risk of starving, until the railroad com- pany should be satisfied that it had already been paid for taking this ear, or should they report to

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headquarters and leave their Captain to settle the matter? They decided on the latter course, and when there was a good chance they jumped their horses out of the car, mounted them and rode toward Washington. At evening they came upon a Union camp where they were kindly provided for, for one soldier never saw another in need, but his canteen and haversack flew open. Before another night they were receiving the compliments of Capt. Bates for their exploit. It was now February, and very inclement weather. The nien had no barracks, and not even a good place to pitch their tents, and George often awoke and found himself lying in a pool of water. The drill and discipline was also long continued aod severe. From the defenses of Washington the battery was sent to Philadelphia to quell riotous feeling, and keep order at the time of drafts, then to Pottsville, Penu., on a similar errand. Capt. Bates, it appears, had one aim in his military history-to keep out of action. So true was this that the boys were wont to call his battery the " Life Insurance Company." George soon tired of this inaction, and determined on a change. He chanced at this time to be detailed as orderly at post headquarters, and soon acquired the respect and good will of Capt. Ramsey, Adjutant General. At George's earnest request, Capt. Ramsey obtained a furlough and permission for him to attend the military school at Philadelphia, where officers for colored troops were then being instructed. Here he labored day and night for three months to acquire a knowl- edge of the book part of military art, and, it is said, with marked success. Great decision of character, and ready command of himself seem to have characterized him here. On one occasion, when acting as drill-master of the school battalion, he displayed such great readiness and firmness, that Col. Taggart, the Commandant of the school, publicly commended him and said he " he was fit to command any regiment." George, still a boy of 20, appeared before Gen. Casey's Examining Board in Washington, and passed an excellent examination, and all that prevented his recommendation for a field position seems to have been his youth, from Gen. Casey's saying to him, " But you are too young for a field officer, Mr. Sutherland." After his examination he went back to Bates' Battery to wait for his commission, and while with it had one skirmish with the rebels near Chambersburg. George soon received his commission as Captain from President Lincoln, dated July 23, 1864, two months before his 21st birthday, and the boys gave him the sobriquet of " the Young Captain." He was then sent to Kentucky to raise colored troops, and was soon placed in command of the 13th U. S. C. H. A. With his detachment he went to Eddyville, Ky., to take command of that post, and arrived about midnight of October 12. Inquiring of the officer he was to relieve if all was safe for the night, he was told that pickets were out and everything was secure. But he had hardly fallen asleep when he was startled by bullets shot into every window of the court house which was the headquarters. Of course there could be but one result. After a sharp contest the garrison sur- rendered, but not until Capt. Sutherland was wounded and taken prisoner. Capt. Sutherland was carried to a hotel and so-called surgeons sent to dress his wound. Either from malice or ignorance they put him through several hours of severest torture, cutting and slashing in a terrible way, and boasting, when they thought he was under the influence of chloroform that " there'd be one less Yankee Captain," as no doubt there would have been if they had not been suddenly interrupted.

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The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 133

Author: Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1082

Author:
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1082