The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 159

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

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VALENTINE E. GALLOWAY. farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Lamartine; born in Harrisburg, Lewis Co., N. Y., in 1822; son of Ann and Chas. Galloway, a farmer of that county. The subject of this sketeh received his education in the common schools of that time, and was engaged in farming with his father until the age of 25; he then bought a farm in the same town and settled on it with his wife ; he remained there until 1850 ; he then sold that property and bought another farm in the same town, of 136 acres, and continued on that place until 1863; in the spring of 1865, he came West, to Wisconsin, and bought the farm, on which he now resides, of R. F. Tallmadge. Mr. Galloway married in Oswego Co., Sept. 22, 1846, Nancy A., daughter of Henry W. and Laura Chafa, a Baptist clergyman, of Jeffer- son Co., N. Y .; they have had four children-an infant ( decrased ), Chas. Wm. (deceased ), Chas. Wm .. and Willie E. The family attend the M. E. Church. He has held the office of Chairman of the town for several terms, and is politically a Republican. Is the present owner of 1843 acres of land in Sec. 3. town of Oakfield, probable value, $50 per acre.

CARTER Z. GORDON. farmer; P. O. Oakfield; born in Lewis Co., N. Y., in 1828: ix the son of Emily and David Gordon, a millwright of that county ; the subject of this sketch was edu- cated in the common schools of his native place; at the age of 15, went to work at the carpenter and joiner's trade ; in 1850, he came West and located in Fond du Lac, working at his trade for two years ; he then went into the lumber business, working for J. C. Littlefield ; then, in connection with John Bon- nell, entered into the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds ; continued with him until April, 1864, when he commenced working for C. J. L. Meyer, superintending the building of what is called the old factory ; at the completion of that, he commenced the superintending of the large factory, and was general manager of the work until its completion; in 1969, he was engaged in superintending the running of McDonald & Stewart's factory ; in 1870, he again went into the employ of Mr. Meyer; in 1874-75, he managed the building and putting-in of the machinery of the Chicago factory; in February, 1876, he moved to his farm in the town of Oakfield, where he now resides, and is the present owner of 100 acres of land, part of it being in the village of Oakfield ; probable value, $75 per acre. Mr. Gordon was married in Lewis Co., N. Y., in 1849, to Mary, daughter of Elijah Thompson, a hotel-keeper of the county seat of that. county ; they have had eight children born to them-Libby, Ida, Alice, Jennie, Louie, Jessie, Carrie and Kent ( deceased ). His polities are Republican.

HENRY F. HANSEN, miller and proprietor of Oakfield Mills, Oakfield ; born in Stern- burg, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, in 1846 ; is the son of Sophia and John Hansen, a shoemaker ; the subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools of that place ; in 1857, came with his people to the United States, and located in Calumet until 1865 ; from that time until 1872, he traveled in most of the Southern States; at the age of 17, Henry learned the trade of carriage and wagon maker, and, at the age of 19, commenced to learn the carpenter, joiner and millwright's trade; he followed that until 1874, when he commenced business in Oakfield, as miller, which he has followed ever since, and now is the pro- prietor of the Oakfield Mills, with two run of stone, doing custom work principally. His father is still living in the town of Friendship, engaged in farming. Henry attends the Episcopal Church.

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LUCIUS F. HALL, farmer and proprietor of Hatch farm, Sec. 20; P. O. Oak Center ; born in Chili, Monroe Co., N. Y., in 1837, son of Susannah and John M. Hall, a farmer ; at the age of 8 years he came with his parents to Rock Co., Wis., near Janesville ; Lucius received his education in the common schools of that place, and, at the age of 22, went to railroading for the Chicago & North-Western Railway Company, being in their employ for seventeen years-acting as conductor ; on leaving the road in 1876, he bought the farm on which he now resides, of 236 acres in Sees. 20 and 27, known as the latch farm. He married in Coneord. Wis., in 1863, Maria S., daughter of Cyrus and Sophia Holmes, a farmer of Jef- ferson Co .; they have one child -- Claude. Mr. Hall is a member of the Masonic Order and belongs to the Western Star Lodge, Janesville. He is politically independent.

SOLOMON B. HOWARD (deceased ) was born on the Sth of May, 1803, in West Spring- field, Mass., son of Clarissa and Andrew Howard; his father was a soldier of the Revolution, and, in his 16th vear, was in that winter march under Washington through New England, on our northern frontier soon after, and during the winter at Valley Forge. The subject of this sketch, at the age of 9 years, went with his parents to Belchertown, Mass .; he received his education in this place, and was brought up on a farm; in the spring of 1845, he visited Wisconsin, and entered his land-removing his family in July, 1847 ; he then owned 340 acres lying in Secs. 20 and 32; Mr. Howard lived and died very much respected by his neighbors and greatly beloved by his family ; he was a man of thought, earnest and active in business, devoted and affectionate as a husband and father, deeply reverent and sympathetic in the service of God ; when a young man he made public profession of faith in Christ, and united with the Con- gregational Church. in the communion of which he remained till his death, Jan. 8, 1880. He married in Westfield, Mass., Oct. 14, 1834, Betsy, daughter of Pricilla and Elijah Carrier, a farmer ; had eight children born to them-Elisabeth J., Clarissa, Solomon H. (died in the war), Harriet P., Spencer A., Myron C., Ann Eliza, Harper A. P. O. Oak Center.

. HENRY D. HITT, farmer, Secs. 14 and 15; P. O. Oakfield; was born in Danby, Rutland Co,. Vt., in 1823 ; is the son of Lydia and William Hitt, a farmer of that county ; 1830, moved with his people to Orville, same county ; in 1835, they moved to the town of Addison, Addison Co., Vt. ; the subject of this sketch received a common-school and academic education in Vermont; he remained in Addison Co. until 1848, occupied in teaching school in the winter and engaged in farming in the summer seasons ; he then came to Wisconsin-directly to Oakfield-and located on the spot where he now resides, purchasing 120 acres of land, at about $3 per acre. He was married, in Addison Co., Vt., to Lydia A., daughter of Mary and Moses Bristol, a farmer of that county ; they have had six children born to them-Charles J., S. Arthur (deccased ), Eugene T., Jessie R., Lilly F., Carrie P. Mr. Hitt has held the offices of Town Clerk, School Superintendent, Chairman of Board of Supervisors, Justice of the Peace, and Representative of his Assembly District ; is now President of the Fond du Lac Agricultural Society ; he is the owner of 420 aeres of land in Secs. 14, 15, 23, in the town of Oakfield, and 160 acres joining the city of Russell, Kan .; in 1873, he put up a handsome brick residence, commanding a fine view of the village, and also of Fond du Lac and Lake Winnebago, ten miles distant. His family attend the Congregational Church ; he is politically a Republican.

E. A. HUBBARD. farmer ; P. O. Oakfield ; born in the town of Batavia, N. Y. State, in 1824; son of Screpta and Hugh Hubbard, a farmer; the subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools of his native place, and was brought up on a farm ; in 1844, he eamc West with his people, and, for one summer, he lived in Walworth Co .; they then removed to Oakfield ; in the winter of 1847-78, he purchased a half of Sec. 23, in same town, and lived there until the spring of 1852, when he went overland to California, remaining there for thirteen months engaged in prospecting, working on a farm, ete., he also bought a thrashing machine and thrashed for one season; he then returned by water and land to Oakfield, where he has remained ever since engaged in farming. lle married, in Byron, in April, 1853, Julia A., daughter of David Percy, a fauner of Le Roy, Dodge Co., formerly from Chau- tauqua Co., N. Y. ; have had six children-Earl E., Elida ( dead), Myrta (married ), Lil, Mattie, Cora. Mr. Hubbard is a member of the I. O. O. F., Oakfield Lodge No. 174, and he has held the office of Chairman of his town ; he is the present owner of 540 acres of land in the town of Oakfield, also five lots of village property. He is politically a Republican.

MARTIN R. HUBBARD, Oakfield ; born in Genesee Co .. N. Y., in 1833 ; son of Serepta and Hugh Hubbard, a farmer ; at the age of 8 years he came with his parents to Walworth Co., Wis., and in 1845, they came to Oakfield, and settled on a farm his father had previously purchased ; Martin Was edueated in the common schools of Oakfield, and was brought up on the farm : when he was 22 years of age he bought forty acres of land known as the Beeson place ; he afterward bought 120 acres more ; he has lived in this town ever since ; has been engaged in farming and dealing quite largely in stock ; about the

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OAKFIELD TOWNSHIP.

Ist of January, 1880, in connection with Mr. George W. King, he entered into the hay-pressing business, building a large hay barn and putting in a Dederick press, running by steam power. He married, in 1858, in Mayville, Louisa, daughter of David Perey, of Le Roy, Dodge Co .; they have had six children- Rodema, Serej.ta, Julia, Hugh ( deceased ), Joseph, Nona (dead); he is the present owner of 380 acres of land in the town of Oakfield. Politically a Republican.

HAYWARD JONES, Oakfield; born in the town of Vershire, Vt., in 1810, is the son of Esther and Samuel Jones, a farmer of that place ; Hayward was educated in the common schools of his native place ; in 1825, he moved with his people to Venango Co., town of Allegheny, Penn., and at the age of 17 he learned the carding and cloth dressing business, and worked at it until 1834; he then took np farming and continued at that until 1844; he then came to Wisconsin and bought a farm on Mound Prairie, town of Byron, of forty acres, paying $300 for it; he lived on that farm until 1874, when he came to Oakfield, buying and locating on village property, where be has made his home ever since. He married in Pennsylvania in 1835, Maria, daughter of Hannah and Perrin Ross, a farmer of that State ; the children are as follows-Esther (deceased ), Lyman B., Irene E., Sophronia M., Perrin C., Holsey B., Lucinda M., Eliza (deceased ), Delilah M. Mr. Jones has been a member of the School Board of Byron, and is politically a Republicans his family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church.

GEORGE W. KING, proprietor of elevator, Oakfield; born in Lowville, Lewis Co., N. Y , in 1825, son of Sophia and Solomon King, who, in his younger days, was a sailor, and during his voyages wrote a very interesting journal of his observations from all parts of the world; after leaving his sailor life he went to work at his trade as millwright, and afterward built and ran the largest mill in New York State at that time, and died just as the first run of stone was completed. The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools of that time, and, at the age of 14, went to work in the woolen mills, learning the trade of the manufacturing of woolen goods ; continued at that for ten years, working for the same man, J. A. Willard, and the two last years acted as manager for him ; in August, 1849, he came to Fond du Lac, Wis., and engaged in farming, hotel-keeping, etc .; until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. H, 32d W. V. I., under Capt. William S. Burrows, and served through the entire war, when he was mustered out-he served for about a year as private, then as non-commissiond officer for about ten months, the balance of his service as Second and First Lieutenant; he was laid up for about sixty days with rheumatism, from which he has never fully recovered ; after he was mustered out he opened a sample-room and billiard parlor in the American House ; in 1866 closed out his business, and until 1869 was laid up with sickness; on recovery, he opened the Astor hall billiard rooms; after about one year's business there he sold out to H. Hickey, and came to Oakfield, built the first elevator in Oakfield, which he continued running until July, 1879, when he was burned completely out; he rebuilt, and in sixty days had his new one, with all the modern improvements, running, where he has continued ever since. Mr. King was married in Lowville, N. Y., in 1847, to Emily A., daughter of Hannah and James Green ; have had four children born to them-Emma E., Edgar H., Frank E., and Altabell. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church ; his politics is Republican.

LEVI LARGE, farmer, Scc. 1; P. O. Oakfield; born in the year 1821, in Allegheny Co., Penn .; is the son of Esther and Jonathan Large, a farmer of that county ; the subject of this sketch was educated in the subscription schools of that time and place, and was brought up a farmer ; he also followed milling part of his life; he came West in the spring of 1854, directly to Fond du Lac Co., and, during the first five years of his residence here, was engaged in milling in Oakfield; in 1859, bought the farm where he now resides, and has made it his home ever since ; at the time of his purchase, there being but three houses in sight. He was married in 1845, in Allegheny Co. Penn., to Nancy, daughter of Nancy and Hugh Kennedy, her father being a farmer of that county ; they have had children born to them-Cyrus W., Sanmel L., Nancy J., Martha J., Sarah E., Florence E. (deceased), Emma MI., Charles S. He is the owner of 170 acres of land, lying in Sec. 6, Byron, and Sec. 1, Oakfield, probable value $55 per acre ; he has held the office of School Director, and is at present Clerk of the School Board, No. 10, Oakfield. Attends the Congregational Church, and is politically a Republican.

THOMAS LEEMON, farmer, Secs. 8 and 17; P. O. Oak Center ; born in Albany Co., N. Y., in 1823; son of Esther and Robert Lecion, a farmer of that place. The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools of his native place, and was brought up a farmer, which he has always followed with the exception of one year that he worked at the blacksmith trade when he was 19 years of age; in 1854, he came West, and located in Oakfield, buying eighty acres of land, paying $600 for it ; he afterward bought an adjoining thirty acres, paying the same price for that; he is the present owner of 348 aeres of land, probable value $60 per acre, all in Oakfield in Secs. 8 and 17, with the exception of thirty acres lying in Dodge Co .; he is also the owner of some city property. He married in

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Albany Co., N. Y., on Dec. 26, 1850, Finetta, daughter of Submit and John Boomhower, a farmer of Schoharie Co. N. Y .; have had six children-Helen, Elmina, Hayes (infant, deceased ), Emma, A. J. (deceased ), Mr. Leemon has held the office of Treasurer and Director of the School Board ; he is politi- cally a Democrat.

WILLIAM MOORE, M. D., Oakfield ; born in Oxford Co., Canada, in the year 1825; is the son of Sarah and Daniel Moore, farmers, and both living at this date ; the subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools of Canada and the Medical University of Buffalo; he graduated in 1850; in 1852 he commenced practice in Lancaster, Schuyler Co., Mo., and in 1861 came to Oakfield, and has made it his home ever since. He was married in 1852 to Caroline, daughter of Charlotte and Truman Parkhill, a farmer of Empire ; had three children by this wife, all deceased ; wife died in 1863 ; married to second wife in 1865, Olive A., daughter of Moses Webster, a saddler and farmer of Oakfield ; had two children by this wife-William W. and Charles H .; this wife died of consumption in 1875; he was mar- ried to present wife in 1877, she being Louisa G., daughter of Mary and John Hobbs, farmers of Byron. Dr. Moore is a member of the Masonic Order, Oakfield Lodge, Chapter of Fond du Lac; he is the present owner of 290 acres of land in the town of Oakfield, divided into three farms; probable value $65 per acre ; he is living in the village of Oakfield.

MYRON T. MORGAN, Oakfield ; born in Steuben Co., Ind., in 1847; he is the son of Eme- line and Theodore Morgan, a carpenter and builder, formerly from New York State ; in 1848 he came with his people to Lomira, Dodge Co., Wis., and after living there for three years they all went to New York State ; when he was 8 years old his folks moved back to Dodge Co .; the subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools of his time, and at the age of 18 he commenced work at the carpenter and builder's trade ; in 1874 he came to Oakfield, carrying on the business of carpenter and builder until 1878, when he started a lumber-yard on the west side of the railroad track, near the depot, and has been carrying on that business, steadily increasing ever since ; he is now, in connection with Mr. O. W. Willard, engaged in putting up a mill for the manufacture of wagon material, expecting to be ready to start about April 1. He married in Chester, Dodge Co., Dec. 3, 1879, Emma F., daughter of Philander H. and Nancy H. Cole, farmers. The family attend the Episcopal Church ; he is politically a Republican.

ISAAC ORVIS: P. O. Oakfield; born in Addison Co., Vt., in 1809; son of Lillis and Loren Orvis. a farmer and dairyman of that county. The subject of this sketch received his education in the schools of his native place, and lived there until 1831, when he removed with his wife and one child to the township of Whitly, then the county of York, Upper Canada ; he remained there until 1846, when he came to Fond du Lac Co., Wis., and moved his family here in the fall of the same ycar. He has made Oakfield his home ever since ; during his residence in this town, he has been engaged in farming, milling and wheat-buying. He married, Sept. 8, 1831, Gulielma, daughter of Elizabeth and Aaron Dean, a farmer of Warren Co., N. Y .; they have had nine children-Henry D. ; Loyd M., deceased ; George ; Charles, deceased ; John J. ; Albert, deceased ; Emily, deceased ; Francis T .; James, deceased. Mr. Orvis first purchased 219 acres of land for $1,800 ; he is now residing on village property, owned by him in the vil- lage of Oakfield ; he is at present. holding the office of Justice of the Peace, and in 1864 was acting Sheriff of Fond du Lac County; in 1847, assisted by Alvin Foster, of Mayville, Mr. Van Order, of Neosho, and Lucius Hurlburt, of Lomira, he procured by petition and diagram the first mail route from Oconomowoc to Fond du Lac, and Mr. O. was appointed the first Postmaster of Oakfield. His polities, Greenbacker. CHARLES B. PARRATT, farmer, Sec. 34; P. O. Oakfield ; born in Somersetshire, England, in 1821 ; son of Jane and James Parratt, a carpenter by trade. The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools of his native place ; after leaving school, he worked with his father at the carpenter's trade, and also did gardening and general work ; in 1842, he came to the United States and stopped in New York State for about eight months ; he then moved to Huron Co., Ohio, and engaged in farming for eight years; then he came to Wisconsin and lived in Greenbush for about four months ; he then came to Oakfield, buying the southeast quarter of Sec. 33, where he has made his home ever since; he is the present owner of 240 acres of land lying in Secs. 33 and 34. He married in England, in 1842, Ann, daughter of Doratha and John Billings, a machinist ; had six children by this wife, two now living-Alvin J .; Evalyn M. ; this wife died Feb. 4, 1860; he married his second wife Nov. 21, 1862, in Oakfield, Sophronia M., daughter of Haywood and Maria Jones; had one child by this wife, now dead ; family are members of the Oakfield Grange ; he has been a member of the Board of Supervisors. Is politically a Republican.

EDSON A. PUTNAM, Oakfield; born in Washington Co., Vt., in 1832; is the son of Cynthia and Leander Putnam, a farmer. The subject of this sketch received an academic and common- school education in Vermont, and, at the age of 19, learned the trade of carpenter and joiner and millwright ;

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OAKFIELD TOWNSHIP.

in 1855, came West with his people and located on a farm in Lamartine, and, for about eighteen months, Mr. Putnam lived in that town, working at his trade; from there he canic to Oakfield and bought some village property, and built a sash, door and blind factory in partnership with J. T. White; in 1868, Mr. White sold out to William O'Bryan, and the firm was Putnam & O'Bryan until 1871, when William Blair bought out Mr. O'Bryan's interest, and the firm was Putnam & Blair until Jan. 1, 1879, when they closed out the business completely. He married in Oakfield, Jan. 8, 1859, Adelia D., daugh- ter of Clyminie and Moses Webster, a farmer of Oakfield ; they have had five children born to them- William, Carrie and Bertie, all deceased, and Effie and Elizabeth, living. Mr. Putnam has held the office of Supervisor and Superintendent of Schools, and, in 1875-76, was a member of the Legislature from his district; he is the owner of village property.

CHAUNCY A. RECTOR, earpenter and joiner, Oakfield; born in Erie Co., N. Y., in 1824, is the son of Parthenia and Nicholas D. Rector, a Baptist clergyman of that county. Chauncy was educated in the common schools of that time, and worked on until the age of 23, when he learned the trade of carpenter and joiner, working at his trade in Erie Co. until 1860, when he came west to Le Roy, Dodge Co., Wis., and lived there until 1863; he then came to the town of Oakfield, bought a farm, mak- ing it his home, but still working at his trade, until 1876, when he built a fine brick residence at the head of Mill street, on a hill, commanding a full view of Oakfield Village, where he is now living. He mar- ried in Erie Co., Dec. 24, 1846, Ann E., daughter of Margariti and Thomas Burnett, a farmer of that county ; they have had four children born to them-Elon A., Margariti P., Fremont C. and Helen F. Is the present owner of sixteen and a half acres of village property, and are members of the Congregational Church ; politics, Republican. Probable value of his property, $4,000.

WILLIAM I. RIPLEY, farmer, Sec. 24; P. O. Oakfield ; born in Clarendon, Vt., in 1812 ; son of Laura Torrence and Isaac Ripley, a molder in a furnace ; from there moved to Bennington, Vt .; the subject of this sketch received a common-school education in the schools of that place; at the age of 14 he commenced working io a cottou-manufacturing establishment, and, in 1830, moved to Troy, N. Y., living in the Fifth Ward of that city, then called the village of Albia, and still following the same occupation ; after leaving Albia, he traveled to several different cities of New York and Vermont, and, in 1835, was made the agent for Arnold, Robinson & Co., of Sand Lake, proprietors of the Sand Lake Cot- ton Warp Co., and continued as their manager until 1841 ; he then engaged in the mercantile business with his brother-in-law, Col. J. M. Lawrence, in Belleview, Ohio, remaining there until 1842, when he sold out to him, and with a stock of goods came to Fond du Lac, Wis., and located in what was called at that time the old Block House, at the forks of the river: in the fall of the same year he came to Oakfield, settling on land that he had previously bought-160 acres of Government land ; he opened a general store, and continued in trade until 1854, when he sold out and gave his attention to farming, and continued on the farm until 1869 ; he then moved into the village where he has resided ever since. He married, in Dutchess Co., N. Y., in 1835, Hannah, daughter of Hannah Hall and Luther Lombard, a farmer, of Lud- low, Mass. They have had eight children-William H. (deceased ), Henry A. (dead ), Charles E., Henry A., Laura A. ( dead ), Louisa A. (dead ), Alice A. (dead ), Emma ( dead ). Mr. Ripley held the office of Postmaster under Fillmore for four years ; has been Justice of the Peace, also, Chairman of the Board. Family are members of the Congregational Church, and he is now serving as one of its deacons. He is the present owner of 200 acres of land in Oakfield, part being village property in Secs. 14, 21 and 27. His son, Charles E., is an extensive farmer in Oakfield, and his other son, Henry A., is doing a fine busi- ness-running a large lumber yard in the village.

W. S. RUSSELL, dealer in butter, eggs and poultry, Oakfield ; born in Broome Co., near Binghamton, N. Y., in 1840 ; he is the son of Helen and Lucius P. Russell, a farmer and lumberman of that place. The subject of this sketch received an academic education in New York State; in 1855, removed with his people to the city of Fond du Lac, and clerked for his father in the grocery business, on the corner of Third and Main streets; he remained there until 1857, when they came to Oakfield and settled on a farm formerly owned by Charles Willard ; worked on the farm until the war broke out, and, in September, 1861, he enlisted under Capt. Ward, and served through the entire war, going in as a musician, and coming out as Fife Major; while in the army, he was twice taken to the hospital with fevers, and was laid up six months, and has never fully recovered, physically ; in 1866, he commenced traveling on the road for wholesale grocery firms, and continued in that business until 1876, when he bought out Henry Cornell and entered into partnership with Allen Filby, under the firm name of W. S. Russell & Co .; in September, 1879, he bought out Mr. Filby, continuing the business alone. Mr. Russell is one of the largest handlers of choice butter and produce in Wisconsin ; he ships of poultry alone from eight to ten tons per season, and of butter, from seventy-five to eighty-five tons; his trade is steadily

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The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 159

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