The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 147

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

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23, 1853, and died April 30, 1868. Has 120 acres of land, valued at about $7,000. In politics is Repub- lican, dyed in the wool. Mrs. Bettis is a member of the Congregational Church.

J. H. BRINKERHOFF, Postmaster, Waupun ; born in Seneca Co., Ohio, April 14, 1835 : 1835 ; son of Hezekiah Brinkerhoff, who was a son of Henry Brinkerhoff, of Adams Co., Penn .; the family came to America when Peter Stuyvesant was Governor of New York; were of that good old Dutch stock that settled along the Hudson and Mohawk; Hezekiah moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio and settled in Seneca Co., and died in 1846 at the age of 54; John, in 1853, went to work in a printing office in Milan, Onio; then went to Watertown, Wis., and afterward to Jefferson and Beaver Dam, and came to Waupnn in 1857 and established the Wanpun Times; carried that on nine years and was appointed Postmaster in 1861; was elected to the Legislature in the fall of 1864 by 700 majority ; Mr. Brinkerhoff is the present Postmaster and has been sinee 1861. He married Lucy T. Stoddard, daughter of Thomas Stoddard, who was from Laona, N. Y .; had two children-James Edwin is with Althouse, Wheeler & Co., of Wanpun; Van S. is employed in the post office ; wife died in the fall of 1863. Married, in 1867, Jennie H. Gillette, danghter of M. S. Gillette, of Fond du Lac; have two children by seeond marriage-Mary L. and Lola J.

HENRY D. BOOHER, farmer, Sec. 35; P. O. Wanpun ; born Sept. 24, 1824, in Guern- sey Co., Ohio ; came to Wisconsin, in 1848; lived on Rolling Prairie, Dodge Co. most of the time till 1858; then returned to Ohio and stayed till the fall of' 1864, when he again came to Wisconsin and lived in Chester, Dodge Co., till January, 1879. His first wife, to whom he was married Sept. 30, 1852, in Wau- pun, was Mrs. Lydia Brower, whose maiden name was Simpson; she died May 7, 1856, leaving three sons-Charles, Theodore and George; Jan. 14, 1879, was married to Mrs. Lenora C. Clark, who was born April 18, 1838, in Franklin Co., Mass., daughter of Dexter and Saloma Parter, who came to Wis- consin about 1856; she was first married in February, 1862, to L W. Clark, who was born March 6, 1834, and died Oet. 25, 1876, leaving two children-Carrie Adell and Nellie Jane. Farm consists of seventy acres of land, worth $40 per acre.

SVEN BRONSON, farmer, Sec. 36 ; P. O. Waupun ; was born April 2, 1828, in Norway, where his name was known as Gnl Bronson. Was married in April, 1851, to Olena Oleson, who was born March 14, 1830, and died in the town of Waupun Feb. 9, 1857. Mr. Bronson came to America in the summer of 1854, and settled in the village of Waupun, living there three years ; then removed to the farm he now owns; has 231 acres worth abont $40 per acre. Has held the office of Treasurer in the school district, and is now the District Clerk, and also Supervisor of the town of Waupon. Has chil- dren living, as follows-Gustave, Ole, Bennie, Julius, Matilda, Charles and Theodore ; has lost three-Carl and Emma, and one died in infancy, June 10, 1858. He married for his second wife, Ann Larson. who was born June 25, 1824. Republican in polities, and belongs to the Lutheran Church. Mr. Bronson is a man of sterling worth, who has amassed a fair fortune by bonest industry.

WOLCOTT T. BROOKS, farmer ; Sec. 13; P. O. Wanpun; was born at New Haven, Vt., Oct. 6, 1826; his father, Daniel Brooks, moved to Middlebury, where the family resided until 1846, when he came to Wisconsin and settled on Sec. 1, in Byron, where he carried on the business of farming and worked at his trade-that of a carpenter. He married in Byron, May 31, 1853, Miss Ger- trude, daughter of Ebenezer Sanderson, one of the earliest settlers of Waukesha Co .; she was born in Delta, Oneida Co., N. Y. Mr. Brooks has been a member of the Legislature, representing the Fifth Assembly District in 1860, and the Second District in 1877; he removed to Waupun in 1864, where he has resided on Sec. 13, and has been a member of the County Board and held varions local offices. He has two children-Myron N. and Mary. G.

CLINTON M. BROOKS, merchant, Waupun ; born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., May 1, 1837 ; son of Sheldon Brooks, who was from Highgate, Vt .; his father was Calvin Brooks, who was also a Vermont man ; Sheldon Brooks and family moved to New York State, and to Waupun about 1855; he is now living at the age of 75 and is blind; Mr. Clinton M. Brooks has been many years engaged in manufacturing organs; he was eleven years in Milwaukee learning and working at this trade and is a thorough and competent workman ; be was with the Marshall Bros. Church Organ Co. many years, and put up some of the finest organs in the Western States ; in 1875, he went into the organ business on his own account, and, in March, 1877, came to Waupon and became associated with Amos Nudd in the fur- niture and organ business, which they have been carrying on snecessfully since. Married, Oct. 12, 1863, Imogene Keyes, who was from New York State and originally from Vermont ; have one ehild-William E., born Sept 25, 1866. The firm of Brooks & Nudd are justly known for the good management of their business and fair dealing.

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JOHN BRYCE, hardware merchant, Waupun; born in Edinburgh, Scotland ; son of David Bryce, who died in 1856 at the age of 70; John traveled through different parts of England and was engaged in teaching school at different times ; he was a graduate of Bathgate Academy ; he came to New York City in May, 1849, and came to Waupun in the fall of the same year ; was employed as a clerk by Drummond & Smith for a time; in the fall of 1852, went to Australia and Melbourne; went into the mines for a while and afterward engaged in business there, and made and saved money; in 1858, he returned to Waupun and became interested in the hardware trade and has been thus employed ever since, having, through his honorable dealing and good business talent, built a successful and remunera- tive traffic. Mr. Bryce has never aspired to office, but has held several important town and city offices ; espoused the just cause of national sovereignty during the war, and gave liberally to its aid and support; a brother, Hugh Bryce. was a soldier in the 100th N. Y. V. I .; was wounded twice, at Cold Harbor and Petersburg, and afterward died from the effects of his wounds. Mr. Bryce and family are respected members of the Congregational Church, and he is Superintendent of the Sabbath school, and one of Waupun's most esteemed citizens.

LUTHER BUTTS, capitalist, Waupun ; born in Delaware Co., N. Y., June 24, 1825 ; son of Jacob S. Butts; his father was William Butts, who was a native of Connecticut, and was a soldier in the war of 1812; Mr. Butts' grandfather on his mother's side was Col. William Johnson, of Revolution- ary fame; Jacob di d in 1859, at the age of 57. Mr. Luther Butts, in October, 1846, settled on a farm of 200 acres, which was bought at Government price, in Fond du Lac County; he carried on farming successfully twenty-seven years; during this time, he speculated in land, buying and selling farms, and came to Waupun in fall of 1873; Mr. Butts is the owner of the opera house, the finest building in the city of Waupun. He married, July 19, 1845, Hannah Mann, daughter of Reuben Mann, a well-to-do farmer in Connecticut; she died Nov. 26, 1876; he married his second wife July 19, 1877 ; her maiden name was McDaniel ; they have one boy-Luther J. Butts, born March 26, 1878. En 1878, Mr. Butts built a fine residence in the central part of the city of Waupun, where he now lives, enjoying the solid comforts of life. In the town of Alto, he was a member of the School Board for many years, and was largely and liberally connected with the interests of that town ; he has obtained a well-deserved com- petence through his shrewd business tact and good management, and is a man of liberal and hospitable spirit.

SAMUEL CHAMBERLIN, hardware merchant, Waupun; was born in Armsburg, Canada, Sept. 15, 1820; son of Dr. Olmstead Chamberlin ; he was born in Chittenden Co., Vt., near Burlington, in 1787 ; his father was Joshua Chamberlin, and was a native of Massachusetts; Dr. Chamberlin studied medicine in his native State, and, in 1820, moved West with his family ; in 1821, he settled in Pontiac, Mich., where he practiced medicine until 1840: he was one of the earliest settlers in that county ; he had a large and successful practice, and was a much respected and honored citizen. He married Mary Becch, of Massachusetts; the children were Stewart, Mary, Samuel, Sarah Elsie, Charles, Almira and Augustus B. Samuel Chamberlain, in 1840, went to Boston and bought a stock of goods, and started in general merchandise business in Pontiac ; was successfully engaged till 1855, when he was appointed, by Presi- dent Pierce, first mail-agent on the Detroit & Milwaukee R. R .; he resigned and went into the custom- house at Detroit ; received this appointment from President Buchanan ; held that position till the clection of Lincoln; in 1861, he came to Fox Lake, Wis., and engaged in buying wheat and cattle ; in Febru- ary, 1863, he came to Waupun, where he became interested in the hardware business, and has been suc- cessfully engaged in that line ever since. lle married Sarah Elliott, daughter of Charles Elliott, who was from Connecticut ; his ancestors were among the oldest and most esteemed settlers in that State; Charles Elliott. the famous portrait painter, was one of this family. Mr. Chamberlin and wife are members of the Episcopal Church.

A. S. CLARK. merchant, Wanpun ; born in Madison Co., N. Y., June 4, 1847 ; son of Ste- phen Clark, who was a native of New York State, and a well-to-do farmer; his father was Samuel Clark, and was from good old New England stock ; he lived to be 88 years old ; the family came to Green Lake Co., Wis., in 1854, and engaged in farming. Stephen married a Miss Popple, who was a native of Rhode Island ; there were five children-Mary ( married George Thompson, and is now living in Green Lake Co.), Helen (married Henry Smith, and now living in Fond du Lac Co. ); Mr. A. S. Clark is the next in order, then George Clark (who is living at home), Wallace (living at home). Mr. A. S . Clark enlisted in Feb- ruary, 1864, in the Ist W. V. C .; served his time faithfully till the close of the war, when he was hon- orably discharged; he was second musician in the regimental band at the close of the war, when he returned home, and remained till 1867, when he went on the road for a Boston house, selling boots and shoes ; was afterward connected with a Chicago concern in the same business; in September, 1876, he

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became associated with Mr. H. H. Hoard under the firm name of Clark & Iloard ; they have been carry- ing on a very successful business ever since ; they carry a large and well-assorted stock of groceries, boots and shoes and-crockery, and, through their good business habits and gentlemanly demeanor, have made a host of friends and built up a large and growing trade. Mr. Clark married, in November, 1872, Lizzie Stanton, daughter of George W. Stanton ; have had two children-Edith, born September 25, 1876; George, born July 27, 1878. Mr. Clark held different offices of trust in the town of Brooklyn, and is a Mason of prominence.

M. K. DAHL, manufacturer of plows and agricultural implements, Waupun; was born in Nor- way, Europe, Feb. 3, 1824 ; his father died when he was 7 years okt ; he left his home when 8 years old, and served as a shepherd boy on a farm until he was 16 years old ; he then went to the city of Christiana to learn the blacksmith trade, mainly lock-making; he left his birthplace without a cent and without any more clothing than what he had ou his body ; he walked 140 miles, sleeping out of doors until he reached the city, on the 23d of June, 1840, and, after serving as apprentice five years, without any compensation except his board-to earn his clothes, he had to work nights and Sundays-he left the city of Christiana in 1847, and went to Eidfos Iron Works, forty-nine miles from the city ; worked on forgings and finish- ings for heavy machinery and navy'work ; he left the iron works on the 5th of June, 1849, for the city of Drammen, for the purpose of emigrating to America, that being a seaport; he started in a sailing vessel from Drammen on the 9th of June, 1849, and arrived at New York on the 28th of September, being eighty days on his journey from Norway to New York ; during that time, he occupied a good share of it in studying and practicing writing, as he never went to school a day in his life ; being unable to find employment in the city of New York, and, being without money, he lodged with a family which came across in the same vessel, and who was going West to Milwaukee, Wis. The family stayed in New York three days, and then started for Milwaukee, and he, getting help from them, with the promise of paying them with the first money he earned. They arrived at Milwaukee on the 26th of October, being twenty-six days on their journey ; they went from New York to Troy by steamer, then taking canal-boat to Buffalo, then by steamers across the lakes to Milwaukee; when he arrived in that city, he sold his bed- clothes for $1 ; he stopped in Milwaukee four days, trying to find work, without succeeding; he then took a bundle of clothing on his back and walked all the way to Rochester, Racine Co., where he met a Mr. Seymour Johnson, a friend from Norway, and who had been in this country three years, and working there for a Mr. Belden, who carried on a small foundry, wagon-shop and general blacksmithing ; by the assistance of his friend Johnson, he got a chance to work for Belden nine weeks for his board ; then he hired out to Bly & Ely, who were starting a blacksmith-shop in Waupun ; he had not had a chance as yet to earn any money, so he borrowed $2 of his friend Johnson, and started for Waupun, walking cighty miles, arriving in that village on the 1st of December, 1849 ; commenced work for a term of six months at $13 a month ; the first money earned he paid the family that bore his expenses from New York to Milwaukee, and the next went to a friend Johnson ; the leading work here at Bly & Ely's was making plows and fanning-mills, and, after their plow season was over in the spring, they took the blacksmith-shop in which to paint fan- ning-mills ; he then went to work for S. H. Hill, in the village, at $20 per month, shoeing horses and doing general blacksmith work ; at the end of two months, he received a letter from Mr. Jones at Watertown, who carried on a machine-shop, offering $1 per day for turning and fitting out work for two flouring-mills; he accepted the offer, and worked for him two months ; he then returned to Waupun ; hired out to Bly & Ely for one year to take charge of their blacksmith-shop at $1 per day ; at the end of that year, he made a bargain with Bly & Ely to do all the iron work to a plow by the piece, and this he continued to do until 1855, having an increase in their work so that he employed five and six hands ; in 185 4, he also took the job of making all the locks to be used in the Wisconsin State Prison ; the 18th of June, 1856, he bought the shops of (teo. W. Bly, Ely having dissolved partnership with Ely previous to this, taking in D). P. Norton as partner in September, 1856, and continuing the business of making plows and fanning- mills until 1864, when the partnership was dissolved, and M. K. Dahl continued the business ; outside of this business, he had a farm, and in which he succeeded in making money on ; also investing in land in Minnesota and Dakota. On Nov. 24, 1854, he was married to Hannah O. Hansen. of his own nationality, who was born in Norway Oct. 25, 1835; the first child was born, and died in infancy ; the second was born Jan. 30, 1857, it being a girl, Henrietta C. Dahl ; the third, being a boy, Albert M. Dahl, born Jan. 7, 1859 ; the fourth a girl, Emma P. Dahl, born Feb. 14, 1861; the fifth a boy, Henry O. Dahl, born July 27, 1865, and died Sept. 25, 1865. His wife died Aug. 22, 1865. lle then married a Miss Hannah Haldorsen Nov. 11, 1866; she was born in Norway Sept. 22, 1829. His oldest danghter, Henrietta, was married to Mr. Oscar N. Olberg, of Taopi, Minn, July 14, 1875. Albert M. Dahl is following his father's trade, and has now one-half interest in the business. Emma P. Dahl, his youngest

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daughter, was married to C. A. Olberg, of La Crosse, Wis., Aug. 26, 1879. M. K. Dahl is a member of the Lutheran Church. He was honored with being President of the Village Board two years, and being an Alderman four or five years, and Treasurer of School District eleven years, and Clerk of same four years. Mr. Dahl is building one of the finest residences in the county. He deserves especial credit for the remarkable manner in which he has worked his way to prosperity and success.

DANIEL S. DEAN, farmer, Sec. 27; P. O. Waupun ; born in Warren Co., N. Y., Sept. 25, 1821, son of Aaron and Elizabeth Dean, natives of New York State; his mother died when he was 41 years of age, and his father when he was 9; he then went to live with an uncle of his father, Caleb Dean, in Kingsbury, Washington Co., N. Y .; at 17 he was apprenticed to a cabinet- maker, and worked for three and one-half years to learn the trade; then carried on the business himself for five years; he then worked at joiner work about five years, after which he worked at pattern-making about the same length of time in Poultney, Vt., Fort Edward and Troy, N. Y. Sept. 17, 1848, he was married in Fort Edward to Martha Griffin, who died Oct. 22, 1850, at Ballston, Saratoga Co., N. Y., in the 21st year of her age, leaving an infant daughter; he was again married, Nov. 5, 1851, to Adelia M. Goodrich, of Benson, Vt., who was born Aug. 9, 1824. In the summer of 1855, Mr. Dean came to Wisconsin and settled on the farm he now owns; has eighty acres, which is assessed at $50 per acre ; from April 1, 1867, till the fall of 187, he was engaged in selling machinery and collecting for M. J. Althouse, of Waupun ; has had two children born in Wisconsin-Carrie M., born Jan. 28, 1860, is now the wife of Beecher H. Amadon, of Mackford Township, Green Lake Co., Wis .; Kate Winnefred was born Sept. 27, 1861, and died Ang. 20, 1874. Mr. Dean is a Republican, and himself and wife both members of the Wesleyan Methodist Church.

JOHN DUER (deceased) was born in Bucks Co., Penn., in May, 1802, son of William and Charlotte Duer ; he went to Ohio about 1828 and settled in Miami Co., and married Mary Moore, who was born in 1805, also in Bucks Co., Penn ; he followed farming in Ohio till 1847 ; then came to Wiscon- sin and settled on Sec. 23, in the town of Waupun, where he owned 220 acres, which is now worth abont $10 per acre; Mrs. Duer died Sept. 16, 1865, and Mr. Duer Jan. 24, 1879, leaving nine children-Will- iam and Eliza (living on the homestead ), James (living in Trempealeau Co., Wis.), Isaac (on the home- stead), Ephraim (on See. 24, Waupun), Euoch and John L. (in the hardware business in Pawnee Co., Neb.), Mary Jane ( who died March 5, 1879), and Sarah Martha ( now Mrs. W. P. Day, also living on the homestead ). P. O. Waupun.

THOMAS L. DUNHAM, farmer, Sec. 10; P. O. Wanpun ; born Aug. 27, 1817, in Mans- fiel1, Conn., son of Abel and Sarah Dunham ; when about 17 years of age he went to learn the carpen- ter's trade with Freeman Crocker, of' Hartford, Conn., remained with him two years; then worked for Edwin Eaton, of Windham Co., Conn., two and one-half years, and, after that, as journeyman two or three months, and then commenced business for himself, which he followed about two years in his native State ; he then came to Wisconsin, and lived in Racine Co. two years, and in Walworth Co. two years ; then back to Racine Co. one year ; then went to Waukesha Co., where he resided about twenty years ; then to Walworth Co. again, and stayed two years ; in the fall of' 1868 he came to Fond du Lac Co., and bought the farm he now owns-took possession in March, 1869; has 1623 acres, valued at $50 per acre. Sept. 8, 1844, he was married in Burlington, Wis., to Clarissa Atkins, who was born Dec. 26, 1828, in the town of Campton, Canada ; has six children-Sarah M., now Mrs. John Foster, of Chester, Dodge Co., Wis .; Albert C .; Mary Emaline, now Mrs. Hiram Beche, of Dodge Co., Minn .; Lucinda Susan, now Mrs. John Van Ness, living on the homestead; Arthur Thomas and Edwin Abel, both living at home with their parents.

WILLIAM DURAND, farmer, Sec. 34; P. O. Waupun ; born Oct. 31, 1832, in Westfield, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., son of Nehemiah and Philena Durand, who removed to Wisconsin about twenty-five years ago, and settled in the town of Waupun. William came a few months afterward and remained here two years; then returned to New York, and lived in Addison, Steuben Co., about six years, working at- carpenter work ; he then went to East Saginaw, Mich., in 1865, and, July 24, 1866, was married to Jen- nie L. Wheeler, who was born March 18, 1844, in Jefferson Co., N. Y., in the town of Lyme; she was the danghter of Chesley and Eliza Wheeler, natives of Jefferson Co., who came to East Saginaw in January, 1866; Mr. Durand remained there till the spring of 1873, and settled on the farm he now owns ; has eighty acres, worth about $1,000. In 1861, he enlisted in the 34th N. Y. V. I., Co. E, for two years, and was mustered in at Albany ; he remained with his regiment till the expiration of his term of enlistmeut, most of the time at the front ; he was in the battles of Fair Oaks, Savage Station, Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg, Antietam and several others, and was with MeClellan in his seven days' retreat from in front of Richmond,

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WAUPUN TOWNSHIP.

Mr. and Mrs. Durand are members of the Wesleyan Church. Have three children-llervey M., born April 18, ISG8; Lena A., Nov. 3, 1870, and May E., born Nov. 24, 1879. Mr. Durand is a Repub- Jican in politics.

GEORGE FIELDSTAD, farmer, Sec. 21, in town of Chester, county of Dodge; P. O Wanpun ; born Oet. 3, 1846, in Norway, near Christiana, the capital; eame to America with his parents in 1854, and settled on the farm he now owns, and which his father, Englebret Fieldstad, owned and occupied till his death, which occurred May 8, 1879, in the 69th year of his age. George was married Jan. 1, 1875, to Jonetta Petterson, who was born Oct. 6, 1846, in Norway, near Thron- hjem, daughter of Arntpeter Larson. Has two children-Elida Josephine, born March 4, 1876, and Anna Matilda, born Sept. 15, 1878; lost one, Anna Matilda, who was born Aug. 1, 1877, and died when she was one month old. Lutherans and Republican.

W. H. FERRIS, State Prison official, Waupun. Mr. Ferris was brought up in Connectient till he was 8 years old ; his father, James H. Ferris, was a Connecticut man and was born in 1800, and was a drummer boy in the war of 1812, also enlisted in 13Ist N. Y. V .; was promoted to Major, and while bravely leading his regiment at the battle of Fredericksburg, was killed ; thus died an old soldier, at the age of 63, in defense of his country ; his father was Capt. John Ferris, who was a Captain in the same war ; he was of English descent, and was a member of the Queen's Guard, in the old country. Mr. W. H. Ferris, when S years old, moved to Saratoga Springs, N. Y .; was there fourteen years; was in the mercantile business and attended school, and came West, to Fox Lake, in 1857 ; was elerk for H. Germain about a year ; was then with G. W. Leonard and afterward engaged in the business under the firm name of Leonard & Ferris ; sold out and went to work for A. Rich. At the time of the war, enlisted in Co. H, 29th W. V. I .; served his time faithfully and was honorably discharged in April, 1863. While in Tren- ton, Mr. Ferris was elected Justice of the Peace ; also served as Constable several times. Mr. Ferris was appointed to fill a position in Wanpun Prison in 1876, and has been an officer in that institution ever since. He married, in March, 1858, Caroline E. Hemingway, daughter of Ezra Hemingway, who was a well-to-do farmer in Washington Co., N. Y .; children are Julia C., born Dee. 12, 1859 ; Cora E., Dec. 21, 1864 ; Will Chester, Dee. 16, 1874. Mr. Ferris' brother, George D. Ferris, was in the 77th N. Y. V. I. ; served five years, and was in thirty-two hard-fought battles; was in Castle Thunder six months. James K. Ferris was in the 77th N. Y. V. I., and was wounded at the battle of the Wilder- ness and crippled for life. Walter M. Ferris was in the same regiment, and lost his leg in the battle of the Wilderness. A brother-in-law, Leroy Babcock, was starved to death at Andersonville. An uncle, Capt. Peek, was killed at the battle of Fredericksburg. There are not many families who have such a war record. Mr. W. H. Ferris has a fine little farm in the town of Trenton, and is in comfortable cireum- stances through his industry and frugality.

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The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 147

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