The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 162

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


USA > Wisconsin > Fond du Lac County > The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin > Part 162


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PHILIPP F. BODAMER ; born in the Kingdom of Wurtemburg Sept. 12, 1805 ; son of Cathrine and Philip J. Bodamer, a hotel-keeper and farmer of that place. The subject of this sketch was educated in the schools of Germany and learned the butcher's trade; he served in the army of his country from 1826 to 1832, when he got his discharge and came to the United States, landing at Balti- more ; worked at his trade there until 1835; he then went to Portland, Me., and, after working there until 1837, moved to Ohio; in 1838, moved to Terre Haute, Ind., and continued working at his trade there until 1846, when he came to Byron, Wis., where he has made his home ever since, occupied in farming. He was married in Baltimore, May 4, 1834, to Johannah P., daughter of Johannah and John Markle, a shoemaker, and they have had nine children born to them-Charles ( deceased), Sophia, Johan- nah (deceased ), Matilda, Louisa, Henrietta, Paulina, Minnie and Caroline. Mr. Bodamer is the owner of 100 acres of land in Secs. 10 and 16, valued at $60 per acre. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and is politieally a Democrat.


PETER BRILL, farmer, See. S; P. O. Fond du Lac; born in Prussia, on the river Rhine, April 12, 1811; son of Anna and Nicholas Brill, a farmer. The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools of his native country, and was brought up a farmer. He came to the United States in 1835, and worked at general work in the States of Ohio, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and New York, and returned to Prussia in 1842; in 1845, he again came to the United States, and located in Byron, buying Government land at $1.25 per acre. Mr. Brill, while a young man, served three years in the Prussian Army. He married in Buffalo, N. Y., in 1845, Mary, daughter of Gertrude and Peter Kisch, a farmer; they have three children-Bridget, Mary Ann and Michael ; all are married. His wife died in 1852; he married again in 1854, in Calumet Co., Ann Kinal, and had four children by this wife-John, Mary, Margaret and Anna. Mr. Brill is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and is, politically, a Democrat. He owns twenty acres of land, valued at 865 per acre.


HENRY BUSH, farmer, Sees. 7 and S; P. O. Fond du Lac; son of Charlotte and Dr. Jona- than Bush ; born in Lowville, Lewis Co., N. Y., March 22, 1821, his father being a physician and sur- geon and a graduate of Yale College. Mr. Bush was educated in the common schools of his native place,


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and also worked as a printer on the first paper ever published in Lowville, N. Y .; afterward worked on a farm, which occupation he has followed ever since; in the spring of 1844, he landed in Milwaukee, and, after stopping there a few weeks, he came through the woods on foot to Fond du Lac, it taking him three days to get through, there being no wagon-road at that time; he took up Government land in Byron, at $1.25 per acre ; his was the first farm on what is called the prairie. He married in West Martinsburg, N. Y., Nov. 25, 1849, Mary Ann, daughter of Anna and Joel Phelps, an architect and builder; they have had three children-Sedate (now Mrs. Dr. Buser ), Alice ( now Mrs. Rollin Smith) and Henry. Mr. Bush is a member of the Masonic Order, and is a Republican ; has held the office of Chairman of the Board of Supervisors for several terms; has also been. Justice of the Peace in an early day. Owns 320 acres of land; probable value. $65 per acre.


CHRISTIAN GEIGER, farmer and quarryman ; P. O. Fond du Lac; born in Wurtem- burg Feb. 20, 1846; came to America in March, 1869; spent a year in Milwaukee, then settled in Byron, and worked at his trade of mason and in the stone-quarry until the fall of 1873, when he bought the old Oliver quarry and thirty-two acres of land belonging. This is the largest quarry in the county, and one of the largest and best in the State. During 1879, Mr. Geiger burned and sold 16,000 bushels of lime, besides selling $1,200 worth of stone for building sidewalks, copings, etc. This is beautiful stone, and is sold throughout the country, also in Janesville and Menasha, Sheboygan and also in Minnesota; his lime commanded the highest price when Chicago was rebuilt. Married, April 16, 1871, Miss Augusta Schmelling, of Pomerania, Prussia, she coming to Milwaukee in 1868 ; they have four children- Christian, Lizzie, Anna and John. Mr. Geiger is liberal in politics, and a Lutheran with his wife.


JAMES CORNELL, farmer, Secs. 19 and 30; P. O. Oakfiehl; born in New Jersey in 1825; son of Aun and Jesse Cornell, a farmer ; he was educated in the common schools of that time, and was brought up a farmer; in 1833, moved to Canada West, and lived there until 1848, when he came to Wisconsin, Fond du Lac Co .; in the spring of 1852, went overland to California, and was occupied in min- ing until 1854, when, after returning again overland, he located in Byron, where he has resided ever since. Married, in 1855, in Oakfield, Emeline B., daughter of Abby and Heman Warner, a farmer of Oakfield; they have had four children-Annie, Jesse, Ina and Fred. Mr. Cornell has held the office of Supervisor, and is now a member of the School Board. Is Republican in polities. Owns 195 acres, valued at $65 per aere.


ANDREW GIBSON, farmer, See. 19; P. O. Oakfield ; born in London, England, May 5, 1798; is the son of Mary and Andrew Gibson, a silk weaver ; Andrew was educated in London, and is by trade a blacksmith ; he went aboard a British man-of-war as seaman, in 1811, and served until 1813; he then came to Canada, and commenced learning his trade in Montreal, living there until 1820, when he went to Plattsburg, N. Y., and remained there until 1822; from there he went to St. Lawrence Co., remaining until 1827 ; he then returned to Plattsburg, and lived there about six years, then to Rochester for eleven years, and to Ohio for eighteen months; then coming to Fond du Lac in 1844, and worked at his trade for seventeen years on First street, in that city ; in 1861, he came to Byron, and located on twenty acres of farming land in Sec. 19, the probable value being $50 per acre ; he has lived here ever since. He was married in Plattsburg, in 1821, to Sarah, daughter of David A. and Charlotte Curtis, her father being a blacksmith ; they have had eleven children. born to them-Zilphia A., Charlotte, Marietta (now deceased ), Andrew A., Polly C., Maria, Jerry H., Caroline (deceased ), Emma (deceased ), Wallace (deceased ) and Bruce. Is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is politically a Republican.


DANIEL DENISON JONES, farmer, Secs. 5 and 18; P. O. Fond du Lac; born in Albany Co., N. Y., in 1822; son of Denison and Hannah Jones, a farmer ; the subject of this sketch was brought up on a farm, and educated in the common schools of his native place ; in the spring of 1824, he moved to Harrisburg, Lewis Co., N. Y., and lived there until the spring of 1848, when he came to Wis- consin and settled in Byron ; in 1855, he returned to llarrisburg, and, in the spring of 1859, again returned to Byron, where he has lived ever since ; he has served as Chairman of the town, as Supervisor and Assessor. Hle married, in Lowville, Lewis Co., Nancy A., daughter of Laura and Simon Brown, a farmer of that county ; they have had three children-Edwin Denison, born in 1861 ; Leta M., born in 1863, died in 1865 ; Evelyn A., born in 1865. Are all members of the Baptist Church, and politically Republican. Owner of 200 acres of land ; probable value $65 per aere.


FRANKLIN NYE, farmer, Sec. 36; P. O. South Byron; born in Lake Co., Ohio, Oct. 22, 1817 ; spent his early life and was married in his native State; coming to Wisconsin in 1846, he bought 120 acres in Byron, and forty in Lomira, the latter for a sugar bush ; in 1847, he settled on Section 35, in Byron, where they lived for some time in a poor, unfinished log shanty, seeing many hardships, as they began with little or nothing-Mr. Nye and a friend owning a pair of cheap cattle, and doing without


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a wagon ; in 1849, he sold the first traet of land and settled on his present farm of 160 acres. Few men have equaled the life record of Franklin Nye, as he, seconded by his worthy wife, has brought the farm to a state of excellent cultivation, built a spacions farm residence, and all needed barns, etc., earning every dollar themselves ; they removed to Fond du Lac in 1859, remaining for educational advantages until 1866. Mrs. Nye was Miss Liva Carrier, a native of Plainfield, Otsego Co., N. Y .; she came to Ohio in 1845, and was married in September of that year ; they have three children-Sarah E., wife of Fernando Phelps, of Fort Dodge, Iowa ; James D., who married Miss Angie Richardson, and is now studying medi- cine in Fond du Lac, and a second son, George W., who married Miss Adella Nightingale, and is on the homestead. Father and sons are Republicans, Mr. Nye being the second Assessor in Byron, and serving many years as Town Superintendent of Schools, besides being Chairman, Supervisor, Town Clerk, etc.


I. C. JONES, farmer, Sees. 4 and 5; P. O. Fond du Lac; born in Harrisburg, Lewis Co., N. Y., June 20, 1824; son of Hannah C. and Denison Jones; the subject of this sketch was brought up on a farm and educated in the common schools of bis native place ; he came to Fond du Lac Co., and settled in Byron on his arrival in 1849; he has chiefly been engaged in farming and school- teaching. He married, in Harrisburg, N. Y., Oct. 7, 1849, Marietta, daughter of Elija and Bessie Car- penter, and two children were born to them-Baruch W. and Ginevra; both are now married; Sept. 1. 1856, he was married to his second wife-Mary E., daughter of Edward P. and Incretia Crary, of Albany, Co., N. Y. Mr. Jones has served in the position of Town Treasurer and Supervisor, and he and his family are members of the Baptist Church. Owns 100 acres of land ; probable value, $65 per aere.


PETER KAUFMANN, farmer, Sec. 17; P. O. Fond du Lac; born in Prussia ; son of Nicholas and Mary Kaufmann, his father's occupation being that of a farmer in Prussia ; he came to the United States in 1855, and settled in the State of Ohio for about one year : in 1856, came to Wisconsin and located in the town of Byron, where he has been engaged in farming ever since. Married in Byron, in 1866, to Bridget, daughter of Mary and Peter Brile, a farmer of Byron ; have had six children-Peter, Matilda ( deceased ), Martha, Charles, Michael and John. Owns 120 acres of land ; valued, $50 per acre.


ATON KETTLAR, farmer, Sec. 17 ; P. O. Fond du Lac ; born in Emmerich, on the River Rhine, in Germany, Dec. 19, 1820 ; son of William and Diene Kettlar; his father was proprietor of a hotel in Emmerich ; the subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools of his native country ; he learned the business of milling, and worked at that trade until 1847, when he entered the army of his country and served until 1850 ; in 1852, he came to the United States, and settled in Janesville, Wis .. where he resided until 1855 ; then went to the city of New York, and took passage for, as he supposed, California, but, unfortunately, he embarked on one of the steamers of the Nicaragua Line, which landed him in Granada, just at the time of the filibustering war, and was compelled to serve in the army under Gen. Walker, holding the positions of Sergeant, First Lieutenant and Captain ; met with many hardships while there, and for weeks lived on mule and horse flesh and a dish composed of boiled grasses and leaves ; returned to New York in 1857, and to Janesville in 1859, where he kept saloon until war broke out in 1861 ; then was made recruiting officer at that point ; in the fall of 1861, went to Fond du Lac, and, in 1862, raised a company of soldiers, and. as their Captain, started for the war; resigned in 1863, and returned to Fond du Lac, and then settled in Byron, where he has resided ever since. He was married. in 1862, to Maria T., daughter of John and Barbara Geartner, her father being a farmer. Their children are John F., Francis A., Lonis A., William F., Emma, Mata and Maria L. Are members of Roman Catholic Church ; Mr. Kaufmann is politically a Democrat. Owns 165 acres ; probable value, $60 per acre.


GEORGE H. LLOYD, farmer, Sees. 24 and 25 ; P. O. Byron ; born in Byron Feb. 3, 1851 , son of George and Ann Lloyd, who came from Queen's Co., Ireland, to America, 1830, and settled in Byron 1848, Mr. Lloyd buying 80 acres, which is part of the present farm, living for a time in the shanty of Mr. Wilcox ; he built a log house, and began chopping; cleared the first 80 and added 46 acres in Eden and 40 in Byron, building a tasteful farmhouse in place of the pioneer's log house. He died, April 14, 1871, leaving four children-Ann, Catherine, Mary and George H .; Mrs. Lloyd died June 11, 1876. The farm is now owned by George H. Lloyd, he having added 80 acres more in Eden, built a horse-barn, sheds, etc., and proved himself worthy of his heritage. Married Miss Mary Klotz, of Eden, Feb. 24, 1876, by whom he has two children-George I. and Mary J. Mr. Lloyd and wife are Catholics, and he, like his honored father, is a Democrat. Has a good stock of native cattle and sheep, grade Norman horses and other stock, with the usual erops.


PATRICK KELLEY, farmer; P. O. Fond du Lac; the first Irishman who came to Fond du Lac Co. to stay ; was born in Queens Co., Ireland, in 1800, and came to Jefferson Co., N. Y., in 1817, where he worked for various parties until September, 1839, when he settled on See. 3, town of Byron ; he


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owned originally over 400 acres of land, but has given most of it to his sons, and now lives in Sec. 2. Mr. K. was married, in Jefferson Co., N. Y., to Margaret Smith ; they have had eleven children-Catherine (deceased ), Mary (deceased ), Margaret, Esther, Elizabeth, Emeline, Eliza, Anna (deceased ). James, Peter and John; Mrs. Kelley is a member of the Roman Catholic Church ; Mr. Kelley gave the land for the first sehoolhouse in Byron.


GEORGE B. McLEAN, general store ; P. O. South Byron; born near Toronto, Ont., in 1837 ; son of William and Mary McLean, the former a farmer ; in 1838, Mr. McLean moved to New York State, near Lockport, buying a farm there; the subject of this sketeh received his education in the common schools of that place, and, at the age of 15, came West and located in Byron, his father working a farm onshares; in 1853, George was taken sick, and was an invalid for six years, not being able to do any- thing, and the effect of this sickness left him a cripple in one limb for life ; his father then moved to Iowa, taking George with him ; in 1860, George launched ont for himself; buying a small tin trunk and stock of goods, he peddled his way back to Byron, and he has made his home in different parts of the town ever since, peddling part of the time on foot, and, after a while, purchasing a horse and wagon for his business ; for one year, he entered into partnership with John Miles, in the grocery business, at Fond du Lac ; finding that this venture did not prove a success, they closed out, and he went back to peddling ; a year after this, he bought a house and small piece of land for a home in Sec. 32, Byron, and has lived here ever since; he is now running an elevator, in partnership with J. Simmons, and also keeping a general store, his wife-a woman of great ability-running the store; Mr. McLean has a man on the road constantly, he being occupied at the elevator. He married, in 1866, in Byron, Anna Eliza, daughter of Benjamin and Margaret Van Valkenburg, the former a farmer; they have five children- Fred B., John C., Viola A., George and Arthur. Mr. McL. has held the office of Town Treasurer for six different terms, and is now holding that office ; he is a member of Oakfield Lodge, I. O. O. F., and, politi- cally, is a Republican.


HENRY D. PARSONS, farmer, Sec. 4; P. O. Fond du Lac; boru in Somersetshire England, April 2, 1832; son of John Parsons and Elizabeth Chappel ; his father was a farmer and currier in England, but after his arrival in America, he engaged in farming ; the subject of this sketch came with his people to the United States in 1843, coming directly to Wisconsin and locating in the town of Byron, his father buying 120 acres of Government land in Sec. 4; Henry received his education in the common schools of England, and after living with his father on the farm one year, he went to work for Peter V. Sang, of Lamartine, doing general work, and looking after mails, etc .; in 1849, he returned home and lived with his parents until 1834, when he went west to Black River Falls, Jackson Co., and engaged in the general mercantile business, continuing there for about five years, when he again returned to Byron and commenced carrying on the farm for his father, and has continued to live there ever since. He mar- ried, in Black River Falls, in 1860, Cynthia, daughter of Daniel and Melinda Braman, the former a farmer ; the family are members of the M. E. Church; he has been a member of the Board of Supervisors for four years, and Treasurer of his school district for eighteen years; has also been a Delegate to the State Convention several times ; he is the present owner of 200 aeres of land in Sec. 9; probable value 860 per acre. Politically, he is a Republican.


NATHANIEL PHELPS, farmer; Secs. 20 and 29; P. O. Byron ; owns 1032 acres ; prob- able value, $65 per acre. Born in Goshen, Mass., in 1826 ; son of Nathaniel and Sarah Phelps ; his father was by occupation a farmer ; the subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools of his native place, and was brought up on a farm ; he came to Wisconsin in 1852, and located in Byron, where he has remained ever since. He was married, in July, 1854, to Isabel, daughter of Louisa and Russell Watrous, the latter a carpenter and joiner living in Oakfield ; they have had six children-Ellen M. ( now married ), Juliet B., Elmer N., Cora L., Flora E. and Fred R. They are members of the Wesleyan Methodist, Church ; politically, Mr. Phelps is a Greenbacker.


ALANSON T. REYNOLDS, farmer, Sees. 32 and 33; P. O. South Byron ; is the owner of 208 acres, probable value, $60 per acre. Born in Genesee Co .. N. Y., Oct. 15, 1819, son of Ruby and l'hilip Reynolds, the latter a farmer ; the subject of this biography was educated in the common schools of Ohio, and was brought up as a farmer ; he was the eldest of a family of ten children ; in the year 1825, they moved to Ohio, and, in 1840, went to Pennsylvania ; in 1843, they returned to Ohio, and, in 1845, came to Wisconsin, and has made Byron his home ever since. He married, in Columbus, War- ren Co., Penn., Sept. 19, 1842, Hannah S., daughter of Daniel and Jerusha Jackman, the former a car- penter and millwright; they have had eight children born to them-Chelsea (deceased ), George W. ( deceased ), Ruby J., Newell D., Warren A., Darins J., Melissa ( deceased ), and Willie M. George W. was a member of Co. F, 14th W. V. I., and died in Madison April 6, 1864. Mr. R. has held the office of Supervisor for a number of terms, and has also been Town Treasurer ; politically, he is a Republican.


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APOLLOS SEARL, farmer, Sec. 5 ; P. O. Fond du Lac; born in Palmyra, Wayne Co., N. Y., in 1822; son of Mary and Eliphalet Searl, a teamster and farmer, who died in 1824. Mr. Searl went to Jefferson Co., in 1823, then to Lowville and Leyden. both in Lewis Co., N. Y., and, in 1827, returned with his mother to Wayne Co., where he attended the common schools of the place until the age of 14, when he returned to Lowville, living there on a farm until he was 21 years of age; in May, 1849, he came to Byron, and has been a resident of Fond du Lac Co. ever since. He married Philinda Lupher, of Lewis Co., N. Y., March, 1851 ; she died in Byron Sept. 14, 1862. He was married to his present wife March 28, 1864, in Byron ; maiden name was Harriet E., daughter of Laura and Simon Brown, a farmer of Lowville, Lewis Co., N. Y. Mr. Searl has held the office of Town Treasurer; also been a member of the Town and School Boards. He has had four children by his present wife-Ida C., Emma L., Hattie L., Willie A., and are all members of the Baptist Church. Owns 160 acres of land ; probable value, $65 per acre.


WILLIAM SHUTTLEWORTH, farmer, Sec. 17; P. O. Fond du Lac ; born in Notting- hamshire, England, in 1811 ; son of Ellen and Samuel Shuttleworth, a farmer. Mr. S. was educated in the common schools of England ; and also learned and followed the trade of stonemason while in Eng- land ; he came to the United States, in 1844, and located in Milwaukee and Prairieville ; also lived in Oak- field about two years; came to Byron in 1849, and has made it his home ever since. He married in England, in 1831, Anne, daughter of Ande and John Stephenson, a farmer; have had seven children -Mary Ann, deceased ; John, Sarah, Helen, Selina, Samuel and William, drowned. Politics, Repub- lican. Owns 120 acres ; probable value, $50 per acre.


URIAH STROUP, farmer, Sec. 4; P. O. Fond du Lac ; born in Roxbury, Delaware Co., New York State, in 1831; son of Rumah Peckham and George Stroup, his father's occupation being that of carpenter and joiner ; the subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools of his native State; his father died in 1843, and he came West with his mother in 1846, living in Milwaukee and Dane Cos. until 1849, when they located in Dodge Co., living there until 1864, when they came to Byron, where he has made his home ever since. He married, in 1874, Madora, daughter of Sarah and Joseph Trelevan, a farmer of Byron ; they have had two children-Nellie Frances and George Trelevan. Owns 360 acres of land ; probable valne $65 per acre.


PETER WEBER, farmer, Sec. 21; P. O. Byron ; born in Westphalia, Prussia, in 1839 ; son of Doretha and John R. Weber, an overseer of a mine. The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools of his native place; at the age of 15, he came with his people to the United States, coming directly West, and locating in Byron ; Peter worked on a farm during the summer, and went to school in winter ; in the fall of 1865, he bought his first farm of twenty acres in Section 32; he is now the owner of 140 acres in Secs. 21 and 28, where he now resides, and is now engaged in building a hand- some new residence. He married, in Byron, in 1861, Harriet N., daughter of Jonas C. and Betsy Rey- nolds, farmers ; have four children-Silas E., Elmer C., Myrtie, John J. Family are members of the M. E. Church ; he is politically a Republican.


JOHN WINDECKER, Sec. 8; P. O. Oakfield ; born in Fairfield, Herkimer Co., N. Y., March 22, 1802 ; son of Mary and Jacob Windecker, a farmer; the subject of this sketch was educated in the German and English branches in the schools of New York, and was brought up on a farm; in 1833, he embarked in the hotel and mercantile business in the town of Lowville, N. Y .; in 1851, he came to the State of Wisconsin, Fond du Lac Co., and was occupied at mason work, at which he was quite an adept ; in 1854, he came to Byron, where he has made his home ever since. Married, March 27, 1821, in New York State, Caroline, daughter of Olive and John Ralsten, a shoemaker, and soldier of the Revolution and war of 1812; have had nine children born to them-William R., Mariette, Sandusky, Conrad, Simeon, Caroline A., and three at one date, all still living and married, Sydney. Sylvester, Sedate. He is a meni- ber of the Masonic Order-joined in the neighborhood of 1845 ; was Postmaster in New York for fifteen years ; was also a Captain of a militia company in 1828; is a member of the Universalist Church, and politically a Republican. He resides with his two sons.


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ELDORADO.


LEANDER ANDERSON, farmer, Sec. 31 ; P. O. Eldorado Mills ; was born in Lewis Co., N. Y., Nov. 2, 1823. His father, Nicholas Anderson, was born in Connecticut ; his mother, Sybil Bnel, was a native of New York. Leander, the third son of a family of seven children, lived with his parents on a farm in his native county till about 15 years old ; then, induced by some boys, he threw his budget of clothing from the chamber window, and stole away from his father's home at night, and sought employ on the Block River Canal, in Lewis Co .; not finding it, on his way homeward, he bargained himself to a man who put him to chopping, a few strokes with the ax convinced him that he had not yet found his expected easy job, so he left his ax sticking in the tree, and left without telling his employer good-by, and went to his brother-in-law's in Oswego Co., then he followed the painter's trade for two years, but it proving injurious to his health, he sought other employment for a while; he then began the ship earpen- penter's trade in Oswego, which he continued there for two years; in the summer of 1844, he came to Huron, Erie Co., Ohio, where he found employment at painting a vessel for a short time; thence to Cleveland, Ohio, where he continued the painter's trade three months; then in company with three others, he went to Cincinnati, where they found work for a short time; he next came with a comrade to St. Louis, but finding no employment, he came to Vandalia, Ill., with no better snecess ; returning again to St. Louis, he found a few weeks' work; almost penniless, he went thence to New Orleans with better results, for a short time; in January, 1845, via the Ohio River, he returned to Cleveland, thence to his brother-in-law with only 13 cents in his pocket; after a short stay there, having received a letter from Capt. Dana, he went again to Iluron, and in the spring of 1845, went to Detroit, Mich., for two months; he then returned to Huron ; two months later, he went home for a short time ; thence to Quebec, thence home again, thenee via Cleveland to Adrian, Mich., where he continued painting till June, 1847 ; he next went to Jackson, Mich., and to Eaton Rapids, where he built a skiff, put his trunk in, and sailed down the river to Grand Haven, where he arrived without a cent ; then, as best he could, made his way to Chicago ; remaining there a short time, he took passage on the Luther Wright, a three-mast schooner bound for Bellville Bay, Canada ; returned thenee with Capt. Dana to Huron, where he continued the painter's trade for some time. March, 1848, he was married to Miss Susan, a daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Dent ) Nichols, and in March, 1850, he left his wife in Huron and went to California. where he was employed by the Virginia Mining Damming Company ; in June, 1851, he returned to Huron, and there continued the ship-builder's trade till the fall of 1854; he next returned to his father's farm for a short season, and in June, 1855, went to Cape Vincent, Jefferson Co., N. Y., where they took passage for Wisconsin, and in September following, landed in Sheboygan ; here he painted a boat and lived till January, 1856, and then went to Manitowoc, Wis., where he followed the ship-carpenter's trade till June, 1856; lastly, he came to the town of Eldo- rado, Fond du Lac Co., and settled on a farm of forty acres in Sec. 32, and in the spring of 1868 bought a farm of sixty aeres, forty in See. 31, town of Eldorado, and twenty in Sec. 36, town of Rosendale ; he has since been a farmer .; their children are Blanche, Nicholas and Lillian M.




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