The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 134

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

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From a Yankee gunboat, lying down the river, the firing at Eddyville had been heard, and with what speed they could, they came to the rescue; too late to save a surrender, but with force to recapture the town, and it was the shells from this boat that interrupted the surgeons in their bloody and apparently delightful work, and put them to ignominious flight, leaving Capt. Sutherland half dead and wholly unable to help himself; and here he might have died, indeed, but for the friendly offices of an unknown woman. While the shells from the gunboat were pouring into the town, and were even crashing through the hotel, and all were fleeing for safety, this woman risked her life and the displeasure of her friends, who, she said, were Southern sympathizers, to help this unknown Captain to life. She bound up his wound and helped, almost carried, him down-stairs and through the street to the water's edge, and with a wave of her handkerchief, as a flag of truce, to the boat, she left him, with strength only for feebly expressed grati- tude, too weak, even, to ask her name. A boat was immediately sent for him, but there was no surgeon on board the gunboat, and three days passed before the bullet was taken from his arm, or his wound prop- erly dressed, and when he reached the hospital at Clarksville, Tenn., he was delirious and already suffering, not only from his wound, but from an attack of typhoid fever, induced by exposure and lack of care. For three months he languished in the hospital, much of the time in extreme danger, and suffering so greatly that death would have been a welcome relief.

" Hle laid him down to sleep without a thought or care Whether the waking find him here or there."

After weary weeks of convalescence, he was again strong enough for active service, and was sent to command the recruiting posts at Caseyville, and afterward at Owensboro, Ky. In going from one place to the other, he narrowly escaped being shot by a guerrilla band. Afterward, he was sent to Smithland

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as Commissary of subsistence, which position he filled with care and precision for several months, when he was appointed a member of the military commission and court-martial, which sat at Camp Nelson, and subsequently at Lexington, Ky .. and in this position he remained until honorably discharged in Novem- ber, 1865. As a member of the court-martial, although by several years the youngest, he won special distinction. The deliberations of this body, before which military and civil offenses were tried, were secret, only their conclusions being made public, but it is said on good authority that more than one poor fellow owes his life to Capt. Sutherland's eloquent appeal for mercy, and an abatement of the strict letter of mili- tary law, and once he won when all were at first against him. The name of Capt. Sutherland had already been forwarded for promotion, which, it is said, he merited, and would no doubt have received, but the war ended, and, on Nov. 18, 1865, he was honorably discharged from the United States Service.

With the war, also, ended the splendid opportunities for displaying many noble and brilliant qualities, hut it is doubtful if Capt. Sutherland ever did a more heroic thing than he did when leaving his high position as Judge and commander, he entered the preparatory school at Ripon College, and dug out Greck and Latin with the young boys and girls. One of his teachers has said that he displayed much greatness of character by his careful attention to rules which seemed to him trivial, by his modest, respectful atten- tion in class, and his solicitude that the younger members should do well. Mr. Sutherland studied at Ripon until July, 1868, completing the sophomore year in college, and winning a good standing. For two years of the time he superintended the Baptist Sabbath School, and most of the time since he has been in some way engaged in Sabbath school work.

In September, 1868, he entered Amherst College as a junior, withont conditions. There he passed two very pleasant and profitable years, and graduated as " honfor man," with an excellent reputation, both as to character and ability. During the summer of 1870, Mr. Sutherland studied law with Judge Willard, of Utica, N. Y., and, in the fall of that year, entered Columbia Law School, in New York City, which was then presided over by Theo. W. Dwight, LL. D. Mr. Sutherland often speaks of the debt which he owes to him and to President Seelye, of Amherst, probably the two men of all in the world whose influence upon him has been most powerful. In New York, Mr. Sutherland worked very hard, taking two years' studies in one, and reciting six hours a day. The year in New York was the fullest and busiest Mr. Sutherland ever passed, and perhaps, on the whole, the most profitable. Shortly after completing his law course, Mr. Sutherland was married to Miss Adela Merrell, of Kirkland, N. Y., and in September of this year (1871 ), he formed a law partnership with Mr. A. B. Hamilton, of Ripon, Wis., a gentleman of legal knowledge and ability above the average. aud with a good practice. Mr. Hamilton was past the prime of life and in poor health, so that, as soon as Mr. Sutherland was able to manage it, the burden of the business fell upon him. This was very fortunate for him, as he was compelled to acquire a knowledge of correctly transacting legal business much sooner than young attorneys ordinarily have opportunity for doing. In his first law-suit, in which he appeared for the defendant, his maiden plea certainly produced effect. He won the case.

Mr. Sutherland made his first appearance in the Supreme Court in Mundt vs. The Sheboygan & Fond du Lac R. R. Co., appearing for the plaintiff. Judge L. S. Dixon, then Chief Justice of Wisconsin, in his written and published opinion of the case, pays the young lawyer this high compliment : " In con- clusion we may remark that it would be doing injustice to our own feelings not to acknowledge our obliga- tion for the assistance rendered by the very clear and able argument made at the bar by the counsel for the plaintiff." For two years of his residence in Ripon Mr. Sutherland was City Attorney, and was, in 1873, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors in his ward, and was in this capacity very faithful to the interests of the county. In May, 1874, he came to Fond du Lac and formed a law partnership with Judge David Taylor, which continued with mutual satisfaction until Judge Taylor was elected to the Supreme Bench, since which time, Mr. Sutherland has conducted the business alone. In November, 1879, he was elected to the State Senate by an unusually large majority, having been nominated for that office, and enthusiastically supported by the very best citizens in the district, an honor of which any man might justly be proud. We have scen Mr. Sutherland deprived of a mother's carc, left a homeless wanderer ; receiv- ing his first real discipline; starting in life for himself with no capital except his own talent and energy ; a diligent student working his way along ; a good soldier and a merciful Judge ; an upright lawyer and an efficient officer, and we believe he will be a wise legislator.

We find him now ranking among the first in his profession in the State, having gained this position by no outside influence, but by honesty, hard work and careful attention to the details of his business. That the community has confidence both in his talent and integrity is shown by the class of cases put into his hands, which are among the most important tried in the county, and the fact that he is successful in a large majority of his cases, shows that he is a skillful manager, and also that he will not accept a case

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which he believes to be poor, merely for the fees. In working up his cases, Mr. Sutherland is industrious, accurate and careful. As a speaker he has good command of language, but is not an " off-hand speaker," and he never allows himself to speak on any occasion withont preparation. With time to arrange his thought, he is logical and elear, and, when the subject inspires it, rises to eloquence. He is a capital hand to tell a story where it will be effective. By honesty, industry, and faith in God, Mr. Sutherland has reached his present place of honor, trust and influence in the community, and his life well exemplifies what may be wrought by the motto which he chose when a boy :

Do well that which before thee lies to-day.

PAUL SWENSON, machinist and foreman in McDonald's Thrashing-Machine Works ; is a native of Denmark, born in 1849; learned his trade in his. native country ; came to America in 1869, and stopped a short time in Detroit ; thence to Chicago for a few days, when he returned to Michigan ; from there he came to Milwaukee, and finally settled at Raeine in the same year, where he worked at his trade for four and a half years; after which he returned to Europe for eight months; he came again to Racine for a short time, from there he came to Fond du Lac and began work in MeDonald's Thrashing- Machine Works, and, in the spring of 1879, was appointed Superintendent of the works.

M. W. TALLMADGE, son of Henry F. and Maria C. Tallmadge, of New York City, and brother of the well-known broker of that city, Benjamin HI. Tallmadge. M. W. was born in the year 1818, and, after receiving his education, was engaged in the wholesale hardware trade in New York City till about 1840; in 1843, he immigrated to Wisconsin, entered a farm in the southern part of the town of Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac Co., Wis., and, in August, 1844, was married to Miss Nancy A., daughter of Justin and Thirza Eastman, a native of Oswego County, N. Y., who immigrated with her parents to Kenosha Co., Wis., in 1835, and to Granville, Milwaukee Co .. in 1837, where she was married. Soon after their marriage, they removed to the farm in Fond du Lac and made that their home till the spring of 1862 ; disposing of it at that time, he purchased another in the same town, on See. - , where he lived till September, 1876, when they removed to the city of Fond du Lac, though still retaining the farm. They have had uine children-Mary E. (the late wife of A. K. Hamilton, of Fond du Lac, deceased), Henry F. (of Fairmount, Neb. ), Chester L. ( deecased ), Benjamin H., William E. (of Sheboygan), Maria C. ( now Mrs. Thomas W. Spence, of Fond du Lac ), Clarence D. ( of Milwaukee ), Edwin T. and Jennie, of Fond du Lac. The family is connected with the Presbyterian Church.

AZRO B. TAYLOR, a native of Vergennes, Addison Co., Vt .; came with his father, J. M. Taylor, who died in 1865, to Fond du Lac in 1849. and has been engaged ever since in the hardware busi- ness, except two years during which he had charge of the water supply on the C. & N .- W. Railway, between Fort. Howard and Janesville, putting in all the pumps. Mr. T. has been an Alderman from the First and Third Wards several years, and was at the head of the Fond du Lac Fire Department sixteen years-as long as the volunteer department continued, of which he was one of the originators. He was married at Fond du Lac Aug. 3, 1849, to Angelia Hawes, a native of Shoreham, Vt .; she died Jan. 4, 1854. leaving two children-Lillie and Charley ; the former is now Mrs. L. A. Emerson, and the latter died in April, 1878, aged 26 years. Mr. T. was married a second time to Jane E. Woodruff. a native of New York ; they have eight children-Jared W., William W., Frank C., Jessie, Emma, Carrie, Mary and Janie. Jared W. and William W. are both engaged in the railroad business away from home. Mr. T. is a mem- ber of the Masonic Lodge and Chapter at Fond du Lac. Henry C. Taylor, brother to Azro B., enlisted in Co. A, Ist W. V. I., for three months, and at the end of that time re-enlisted in the 21st Regiment. He died in hospital prison at Charleston, where he had lain one year, Oct. 4, 1864.

JAMES LUTHER THWING, editor and publisher; was born at Alto, Fond du Lac Co., Wis., July 4, 1847 ; worked upon a farm until 19 years of age, except when attending the district school ; to complete his education, he entered Lawrence University, Appleton, Wis., graduating with honors from the classical course in 1871. While in school Mr. T. took the first prize for excellency in composition. He was editor of the Lawrence Collegian, and contributor to various other publications while in the Uni- versity, thus developing his natural taste for journalism, a profession he then decided to follow, taking a position upon the Milwaukee Sentinel staff the next day after graduating. In November, 1873, Mr. T. resigned his position on the Sentinel, having contracted to purchase the Fond du Lac Saturday Reporter of John J. Beeson, issuing the first number, under his management, Nov. 22, 1873. Since that time, he has been either wholly or in part, editor, proprietor and publisher of the same paper, which has grown to three times its original size in his hands. He was married at Fond du Lac, Jan. 20, 1874, to Laura B., daughter of Rev. C. D. Pillsbury ; she was a graduate in the same class with Mr. T., receiving the salu- tatory appointment of the class on graduating day. They have one child-Alfred L., born April 1, 1876.

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CYRUS THOMPSON, retired : is a native of Hartford, Me., where he was born Dec. 24. 1805, and spent most of his time till 1855; when 18 years of age he began teaching school, and con- tinued till be was 26 ; from 1831 to 1855 he was proprietor of marble works in his native town ; dispos- ing of his marble works, he removed to Dunkirk, N. Y., and purchased a two-thirds interest in a large flour- ing-mill; in 1864, he traded his interest in the mill for farm in the town of Byron, Fond du Lac Co., Wis., which he cultivated for two years; then disposed of it for $11,000, and moved to the city of Fond du Lac, where he has since led a quiet and retired life. When young he took quite an active part in politics, being a strong supporter of the Whig party. He held the office of Town Clerk in Hartford for ten suc- cessive years, and while at Dunkirk was a member and Secretary of the School Board for a number of years. He married Miss Marinda Pitts, of Livermore Me., May 10, 1831, by whom he has two sons- Hiram P. and J. R.

HIRAM P. THOMPSON, architect ; is a native of Oxford Co., Me., born in 1833, and made that his home till about 1852 ; he learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, and, in 1852, he went to Boston, Mass., where he continued his trade for nearly two years. whence he went to Dunkirk, N. Y .; in 1856, he went to Buffalo, N. Y., and began architectural drawing with Sage, Wilcox & Bush ; in 1857, he immigrated to St. Paul, Minn., where he remained for more than two years, when he went to St. Louis, Mo., where he, in 1860, enlisted in Co. B, of the 112th N. Y. V. I .; was elected Sergeant; in 1863, he was appointed First Lieutenant of Co. I of the 1st U. S. colored troops. and was soon promoted to the position of Captain-with which he served till the close of the war; was mustered out of service at Roanoke Island, October, 1865 ; returned to Fond du Lac, thence to St. Louis, and came back again to Fond du Lac in 1868, where he has since resided. Was employed as architect in the building of the American House, First Street School Building, First National Bank, Burnton's store, May's store, Bartlet's meat-market, et .al. April 9, 1867. he married Miss Julia E. Blossom, daughter of Samnel Blossom, of Buffalo. N. Y., who died Dec. 30. 1867.

CHARLES M. TOMPKINS. The subject of this sketch was born Aug. 13, 1822, in the county of Westchester, N. Y .; after pursuing the usual academic course in his native town (Somers), he entered the university in the city of New York in 1840, and graduated in 1844; among his classmates who have since attained distinction, may be mentioned Dr. lloward Crosby and A. Oakey Hall, of New York City ; Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen was at this time Chancellor of the University, and ran for Vice President on the tieket with llenry Clay; educated in the same political faith, Judge Tompkins reverts with pride to the fact that his first vote was cast for " Clay and Frelinghuysen " Having prepared himself for the profession of law,"he moved to Wisconsin in the summer of 1847, and settled in Fond du Lac (then a growing village ), and formed a partnership with J. M. Gillett, Esq., at that time and always a leading lawyer of the place; the business of the firm grew with the growth of the country. In 1848. Mr. Tompkins was nominated for the office of District Attorney for the county on the Whig ticket, run- ning much ahead of his ticket; in 1850, the firm of Gillett & Tompkins was dissolved by the election of Mr. Tompkins as Judge for the counties of Fond du Lac and Calumet, (then attached for judicial purposes ), which office he held for the term of four years ; shortly after his election, he was appointed Postmaster of the city, surving nearly the whole of President Fillmore's Administration. In 1849, Judge Tompkins was married to Miss Amelia Davis, of Fond du Lac, oldest daughter of Col. C. Davis, one of the pioneers who. with Major Tallmadge, Col. Conklin and others, had, at an early day, settled in the town of Taycheedah and its vicinity ; three children were the fruits of this nnion, but none survive; the loss of wife and chil- dren, along with health greatly impaired, induced Judge Tompkins to seek a new home in a Southern climate ; in 1862, he accepted a position under President Lincoln's ( first ) Administration, in one of the departments at Washington ( Pension Office), and he has been retained in the same position by successive administrations. Judge Tompkins was fortunate in his ancestral relations, being a lineal descendant of Gov. Daniel D. Tompkins, of New York, while his grandfather ( Dr. Elias Cornelius), was an eminent surgeon in the Revolutionary army under Gen. Washington, whose friendship and confidence he enjoyed during life. While a resident of Fond du Lac, Judge Tompkins was justly esteemed for his integrity and uprightness ; he was an active, energetic citizen, and largely identified with the grain, lumber and ware- house business. In politics, he was decidedly Whig. His many friends will be glad to know that he is yet living, with health improved, and home made happy by the smiles of a wife and two promising chil- dren, more precious to him than all the treasure in the Treasury.

E. C. TOMPKINS, grocer ; was born at Somer-town, Westchester Co., N. Y., March 13. 1821. He lived six years in New York City ; came to Fond du Lac in 1853 ; went to Watertown in 1854; to Pike's Peak in 1859, and returned to Fond du Lac in 1862, where, since 1864, he has been engaged in the grocery business. He was married, in New York, to Ann Eliza Green, who was born in his native place, and has one child-Anna M. Mr. T. is an Odd Fellow.

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CHRISTIAN TOSTENSON, foreman in the woodwork department in MeDonald's thrash- ing-machine works ; was born in Norway in 1828; began his apprenticeship as carpenter and joiner in 1844; came to New York in 1853, and worked there at his trade for five years ; thence he eame to Racine, Wis. In 1873, he moved to Fond du Lac, and became foreman of the woodwork department in thrash- ing-machine works. In 1853, he married Miss Johanna Utgard, of Norway, who died at Racine, Wis., in 1871, leaving five children, as follows : Charles, Victoria, Sarah J., Frederick and Martha C. Married Miss Eliza Lawson, of Norway, in 1872; they have two children-Eddie C. and Oliver.

BYRON TOWN. manufacturer; was born at Georgia, Franklin Co., Vt., June 4, 1825 ; came to Wisconsin in 1860, loeating at Omro, and engaged in the flouring-mill business for one year. After that, he kept the American House at Ripon five years; the American House at Fond du Lac four years, and the Patty Ilouse in the same place, a little over three years, since which time ( 1874) he has been eounected with the Wheel & Seeder Co .. manufacturers of grain drills and broad-cast seeders, having a very large and constantly increasing business. In Fond du Lac, Mr. T. has been City Treasurer, and a member of the City Council He is now Secretary, Treasurer and General Manager of the Wheel & Seeder works. Mr. Town was married, Jan. 1, 1849, by Rev. Alvah Sabin, to Sarah Fargo, of Georgia, Vt .; they have three children-Carrie A., born Ang. 10, 1853; Edmund Carroll, born Oct. 2, 1855, and Minnie D., born June 13, 1858. The Town family is one of the oldest, in an unbroken line, in England or America, the Town coat-of-arms consisting of " argent, on a chevron, sahle, three-cross erosslets, ermine," dating back to 1274 in England. The first ancestor, according to the " New England Historical and Gen- ealogical Register," now positively known to belong to the family, was William de la-Towne, of Alvely, a village of Shropshire, near Shrewsbury, England. Thereafter the family contained in England many per- sonages of note and high degree. The name " Edmund," given to Byron Town's second son, has been perpetuated over two hundred and fifty years in the family.

JOHN B. TRIPP, carpenter and joiner ; is a native of Oneida Co., N. Y., where he was born in 1843; came to Wisconsin in 1854, and settled in Walworth Co., where he followed farming for eight years. In 1862, he enlisted in Co. A, of the 32d W. V. I .; was taken sick and transferred to the invalid corps at St. Louis, Mo., where he served the rest of his term of service, and was mustered out in July, 1865. He then returned to Fond du Lac, and has since followed the carpenter and joiner's trade. Iu 1878, he, with his partner, Mr. Scales, built the County Insane Asylum. He was married to Miss Mary Cooper, daughter of Charles Cooper, a farmer of Osecola, Fond du Lac Co., in 1867, she being a native of Scotland ; they have three children-Charles 11., Florence M. and Mand E. Mr. Tripp and wife are members of the Congregational Church.

JOHN J. TRIPP, farmer, Sec. 36; the son of John and Hannah Tripp, nee Robins, of Oneida Co., N. Y., born in 1826 ; he being a farmer's son, spent most of his boyhood at farm work, and attending school during the winter till he acquired a limited common-school education ; in 1847, he immi- grated to Wisconsin and settled in Fond du Lac Co., where, for the first three years, he tended what is known as the Milton farm on shares; having uo seed wheat of his own at the first seeding time, he wonld flail out some for those who had preceded him long enough to raise a crop, taking for his labor every seventh bushel of wheat so thrashed till he had earned enough to sow on twenty acres; at the end of three years, he was able to buy his present farm of 142 acres, which he has since improved, and made a comfortable home for himself and family. He was married to Miss Francis A., daughter of lliram and Lucinda Edgerton, of Fond du Lac Township, in 1848; they have three children-Emma J., Charles C. and Eva. Politically. Mr. Tripp is a Republican, and has been a member of the Town Board for one year.

C. A. TROWBRIDGE, watchmaker and jeweler, dealer in silver and plated ware, etc .; born in Ithaen, N. Y .; came to Sheboygan in 1847; resided there until he came here in April, 1869. Mr. Trowbridge has been engaged in his present business for the last twenty four years, and is one of the most reliable dealers in the State.

JOHN D. TURNER, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Fond du Ine ; is the son of John and Judeth Turner, born in Cuyahoga Co .. Ohio, Jan. 19, 1820 ; he spent his early life on a farm and in a grist-mill in Lorain Co., Ohio, whither his parents removed when he was about 10 years of age; his father being pro- prietor of the mill in Lorain Co., though he had practiced medicine in Cuyahoga Co. for twenty-five years. At the age of 25, John D., the subject of this sketch, returned to his native county, Ohio, and for four years at Rock River Falls was engaged in the manufacture of pearlash ; in May, 1847, he removed to Fond du Lac Co., Wis., and settled on a farm in See. 21, then owned by W. B. Ransom ; six months later, he removed to Mr. Homiston's farm, in Sec. 30, and, in 1848, bought a farm of twenty acres in See 20, where he now has sixty acres, and has since made his home. Jan. 15, 1841, he married Miss Matilda, daughter of James and Catharine Harpham, of Center Co., Penn .; their children are as follows :

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John (deceased), Benona ( now of Colorado), Arthur (deceased-killed at Atlanta), helia ( Mrs. Truman Hawkins, of Winterset, Madison Co., Iowa), Rollin J. ( of Fond du Lac), Celia A., Rinaldo D. (of Col- orado ), Catharine MI. (deceased ), and Eddy A.

ISAAC UNDERWOOD. carpenter; was born near Rochester, Monroe Co., N. Y., Dec. 30, 1812 ; son of Joseph Underwood, who was an early settler of Waukesha, Wis., where he still resides. After residing eighteen years in Wankesha, Isaae lived one and a half years at Waterville ; removed then to Lomira, Dodge Co., where he enlisted in August, 1862, in Co. A, 32d W. V. I .; was in detached serv- ice six months with the Pioneer Corps ; was in nearly all the battles engaged in by his regiment : mustered out in June, 1865. He came to Fond du Lac the same year, where he has since resided, except two years spent in Wyoming Territory; Mr. U. began the carpenter's trade in 1865, and has followed it ever since. He was first married at Fond du Lac, Jan. 1, 1867, to Jane Woodward, born in New York State; she died June 4, 1873, leaving one child-Myrtie Jane, and lost one. He was married a second time, in November, 1878, to Minnie Straw. born in Brooklyn, N. Y.

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The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 134

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