The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 167

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 167

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

THOMAS R. DARROW, farmer, Sec. 33; P. O. Brandon ; was born in Erie Co., N. Y., on the 13th of September, 1827; he farmed till 1849, and, in the spring of 1850, went to California " across the Plains; " returned to Wisconsin in the fall of 1851 ; spent the winter of 1851-52 in Ocouo- mowoc, Wis. He was married May 6, 1852, to Miss Dolly A. Clough, of Bennington, Wyoming Co., N. Y .; they came to Oconomowoc, Wis., and lived till the spring of 1854, when he settled in Metomen, where he has since resided ; he bought his present farm in 1858; they had two children-Norris B. and Lyman R. Mrs. Darrow died Oct. 22, 1872 ; himself and brother, Albert II., farmed in partnership for fully a dozen years ; he has now 200 acres of his own, and his sons, Norris and Lyman, have an additional eighty, which they carry on, and live at home ; he has good farm conveniences and improvements ; carries on general farming and stock-raising. He was married Dec. 25, 1873, to Miss Mary E. Cook, of Waupun ; he is a member of Grange No. 52, and of the Protective Association, and a Temple of Honor man ; has been Side Supervisor several years. Himself and wife are members of the M. E. Church at Brandon ; he is a Republican ; is affable and reliable.

S. S. DENNIS, farmer, Sec. 22; P. O. Brandon; was born Aug. 10, 1812, in Rensselaer Co., N. Y .; after living in Ontario Co., N. Y., eight years, he came West in November; 1844, and stopped in Green Lake till May, 1845, when he took up eighty acres of land, included in his present farm ; he built a cabin that season, dug a well, and broke up some land. He took in a houseless family that season, and, often none of them had any food in the cabin, they raised some potatoes, and also a little corn which, when " pounded " into meal and cooked with a little " boughten" pork, made a " feast for a king." After " bach- ing" for several years, he was married to his present wife on the 23d of March, 1859; her name was Mary C. Ilelmer. He carries on general farming ; has comfortable improvements now. Is a Quaker, and a Republican.

W. H. DUNBAR, farmer, Sec. 4; P. O. Ripon ; he was born on the 31st of January, 1831, in Onondaga Co., N. Y .; farming has been his life work ; he came to Metomen Township in 1855. He was married in 1856, to Miss Charlotte A. Somers; they had one child-Rollo C., born in 1859. Mrs. Dunbar died in 1864. He settled on his present farm in 1866. He was married in December, 1865, to Miss Caroline A. Abercombie, formerly of Canada; they have two children-Mary B. and Charles H. He has been Township Treasurer, and has held other local offices. He is a Republican ; his wife is con- nected with the Congregational Church at Reed's Corners. She was for several years a leading teacher in Metomen Township. Mr. Dunbar began life by working out by the month, and has earned his farm by hard work and economy ; he has sixty acres. all under cultivation.

1046

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

DANIEL EGGLESTON, farmer and first settler in Metomen Township; P. O. Brandon ; was born March 21, 1812, in Greenwich, Washington Co., N. Y .; lived with his parents on the farm till 22 years of age, then moved to Onondaga Co., N. Y., where he kept hotel four years at Clintonville. He was married, on the 19th of May, 1836, at Clintonville, to Miss Sarah A. Robinson; they have had five children, three of whom still live-Julian A., born in 1840, and married in 1868; Eugene B., born in 1844, and married in 1880 ; Alice A., born in 1849, and married in 1871 ; the other two died in infancy. After leaving New York State, he located in Russell Township, Geauga Co., Ohio, where he remained five years ; the "Western fever " was then taking off many of the sturdy yeomanry of the East, and Daniel Eggleston followed the "star of empire; " in May, 1845, he came with his family to Metomen Township, Wisconsin Ter., and bought the farm which he now owns, and by that act became the first settler in this township; he now owns 400 acres, 280 of which are under cultivation, the remainder being timber land ; a branch of Grand River crosses his farm; he had an " ocean of land " from which to select, and he chose a combination of prairie and timber, with flowing water ; he has been prominent as a stock-raiser and dealer, particularly of horses; he was elected one of the Supervisors when the town was organized in 1846, and has held several local offices. His wife died in April, 1869; she was a member of the Dis- ciples Church. Mr. Eggleston is a moral citizen and a friend of churches; politically, is a Republican ; financially, solid, and, historically, the standard-bearer of the Pioneer Corps in the township of Metomen.

EDWARD ENSIGN, proprietor of Ensign Hotel, Brandon ; was born in Salesburg, Litch- field Co., Conn., on the 22d of July, 1822; his parents were hotel-keepers for many years, and he was born in his father's hotel; his education was in the public schools of his native town ; he remained at home until 25 years of age, then spent one year in the hotel of his brother, at Canaan, Conn., and afterward one year in Cleveland, Ohio. He was married in Norfolk, Conn., Oct. 1, 1849, to Miss Maria S. Wolcott ; they have had no issue. The first season after marriage was spent in charge of a hotel at Winsted, Conn .; they then rented for a year the old homestead hotel; in 1851, they removed to Orleans Co., N. Y., and, in October, 1852, eame West, and settled in Springvale on a farm, which he owned and worked for fifteen years ; came to Brandon in November, IS67, and purchased the hotel previously known as the Ferguson House, which, with subsequent additions and improvements, is now the well-known Ensign hotel ; this is a fine two-story building, containing 22 guest-rooms, and is provided with all the appointments of a first- class country hotel. Mr. Ensign's life-long experience as a hotel boy and man, fit him to be the traveling publie's acceptable servant. He was Supervisor one term in Springvale, and Town Clerk fourteen years ; has also been Town Clerk eight years since his removal to Metomen; is Secretary of the Masonic Lodge, and Clerk of the village of Brandon. Is a member of the Congregational Church and is its Treasurer ; politically, is a Republican ; socially, is genial and benevolent, and, by general verdict, is a useful and honored citizen. Ilis wife also is a worker in the church, and a worthy helpmeet in well-doing.

JAMES FENELON, farmer, See. 2; P. O. Metomen ; he was born Nov. 5, 1846, in County Carlow, Ireland; he came to America, with his parents, in May, 1850, and settled in Springvale Town- ship, where the father died in 1862, owning 1,360 acres, all in Springvale Township; the mother died in 1877. The subject of this sketeb is unmarried, and own3 240 acres of land, of which 150 are under the plow ; he has good farm improvements ; he has some thoroughbred Durham stoek and some fine- blooded horses. Mr. Fenelon has lived in this county from early childhood ; he is a strong man physically, and has a good education. He is a " Union Democrat every time," and is an adherent of the Roman Catholic Church ; he is a man of strong convictions, thinks for himself, and acts on his own judgment in both political and religious matters.

C. W. FERGUSON & BRO., merchants, Brandon ; the brothers are natives of New York, and came West in 1855; C. W. began mercantile life elerking for J. H. Foster in his general store, which was established during the early history of Brandon; in 1860, he started in business with his father, under the firm name of C. W. Ferguson & Co .; in 1876, his brother Leander purchased the father's interest, and the firm became " C. W. Ferguson & Bro." In 1866, Leander was married to Miss Hattie Foster, of Brandon. C. W. Ferguson, in 1871, married Miss Eliza Thayer, also of Brandon. Leander is Superintendent of the Methodist Sunday School ; he was fully three years in the army, and at the elose of the war was a Lieutenant in Co. B. of the 46th W. V. I. The senior member of the firm conducts an insurance agency, and, in Waukesha Co., held several local offices before removal to Fond du Lac Co. The firm carry stock in all departments of a first-class country store ; they are enterprising young men, and enjoy the confidence of the public.

JOHN B. FOSTER, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Metomen ; was born Jan. 20, 1831, in Onondaga Co .. N. Y .; he hved in Steuben and Yates Cos. till he was of age. In September, 1851, he was married to Miss Hannah E. Fisher, of Barrington, N. Y .; in 1856, they removed to Chickasaw Co., Iowa; he ran

1047

METOMEN TOWNSHIP.

a saw-mill and carried on a cabinet-shop in the town of Bradford, near the confluence of the Big and Little Cedar Rivers. On the 16th of July, 1858, his wife and only child were drowned in the Cedar River, Iowa, by the accidental overturning of a boat containing the family and a hired man ; Mr. Foster himself became unconscious, but was rescued several hours before the bodies of his wife and child were recovered. He came to Metomen Township, on his present farm, in May, 1866: he has 100 acres, of' which eighty are under the plow. He was united to his present wife on the 26th of August, 1863; her name was Amelia J. Balsley, of this county ; they have four children-Cora E., Mabel C., Bertha A. and Nellie E. He is not a member of any society, except the Brandon Grange, No. 52; is a Republican. The family are social, hospitable and highly respected.

JOSEPH J. GAMBLE, farmer, See. 25; P. O. Brandon; he was born on the 12th of March, 1823, in Canada. His early life was spent in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., where he was married on the 16th of June, to Miss Candace R. Wells. He is, by trade, a carpenter and joiner, and that has been his occupation most of his life, although he owned a farm in York State, which he carried on by hired labor ; he has worked at his trade a portion of the time since coming West; he came to Wisconsin in 1864, and bought his present farm, near Brandon; has ninety aeres, most of which is tillable; he lived in Wyo- ming, Canada, three years, near the oil regions, and carried on a cooper-shop; he is a good mechanic, and enjoys his trade more than farming; has seven children-William W., Joseph J., Jr., Henry, George, Jonathan, Mary and Clara, all of whom live in Wisconsin; Clara, the youngest, is still living with her parents in their pleasant home. He is a Republican; himself and family are Methodists. Although they have a good farm, desirably located, yet the health and tastes of Mr. Gamble and his worthy wife are such as to make them willing to relinquish farm life.

HENRY C. GLEASON, farmer and grain-buyer. Brandon; born Sept. 7, 1828, in Clare- mont, Sullivan Co., N. H .; his father was a physician, but died when Henry was 14 years of age, leaving the family with a limited income; from the age of 15 to 19 he elerked in a dry-goods store, in his native town : In 1847, he came West, and landed in Wisconsin, the month he was 19; he made his home in the town- ship of Alto, till 1863; he arrived out of debt, but without an extra dollar ; began working out by the month for the pioneer farmers ; everybody was poor then-prosperity came slowly ; after laboring a few years he earned money enough to buy a yoke of oxen, and in the fall of 1853 he purchased his first forty acres on Union Prairie, in Alto ; this, with additions, he carried on for ten years, when he rented the farm and moved to Brandon ; he elerked in the hardware store of Z. Scott, in Brandon, for sixteen years. He was married in April, 1854, to Miss Lucy J. Haekett, nicee of A. F. Bush, Esq .; the wedding tour consisted of a trip from the home of Esquire Bush to their prospective cabin home, about three miles distant; the bride was comfortably seated in the wagon, while the happy bridegroom trudged proudly by her side, driving his own ox team ; such was pioneer life-times of republican simplicity and democratie equality; but few horses were in the country at that date, and ox teams were the fashionable conveyances to church, to spelling schools, and to the country dance ; this l'arm he sold in 1876; he now owns a residence and about forty acres of land within the limits of the village corporation ; he has one daughter, Arian ; three children have died in infancy ; for the past season he has been engaged buying and shipping grain, in company with T. Watson, who does the street work, outside buying, etc. His family are Congregationalists ; he belongs to no society or church ; is a Republican ; is of a quiet, retiring disposition, and is a highly respected citizen.

LEVI J. HALL, druggist and grocer, dealer in coal, salt, and J. I. Case & Co's. thrashers, Brandon ; born March, 1833, in Canada ; when 10 years of age, he, with his parents, settled in Wyoming Co., N. Y .; he has had much experience as a farmer, but his tastes led him to mercantile life. He was married, on the 1st of Jan., 1857, to Miss Laura E. Sheldon, of Litchfield, Conn ; they have had five children, Frederick, born Nov. 16, 1857, died 1863; Clara A., born 1860; Warren A., born 1868; George W., born 1870; and Harlan E., born 1878; they came to Fond du Lac Co., in autumn of 1855, and have resided in Metomen since 1856; was some years in the dry-goods business ; is Justice of the Peace, Police Magistrate and Notary Public; is a member of the Grand Lodge of I. O. O. F. He is an official mem- ber of the M. E. Church, with which his wife is also connected ; was until recently a Democrat, but for some years has voted with Republicans ; is a radical temperance man ; is a respected and useful citizen.

WILLIAM HERRICK, retired farmer, See. 19 ; P. O. Fairwater ; he was born May 23, 1815, in Henrietta, Monroe Co., N. Y .; his parents were farmers, and they removed to Orleans Co., N. Y., when the subject of this sketch was at the age of 13; that was their home until their death in 1841. He was married, Dee. 25, 1843, to Miss Harriett Swift, of Orleans Co., N. Y .; he bought a farm in that county, and carried it on till 1847, when he sold out. In the spring of' 1848, he came to Wisconsin, and located on the line of Fond du Lac and Green Lake Cos., on the western border of Metomen Township; he took up land in both counties. They had five children, of whom three are now living-Helen II., married, in

1048

BIOGRAPHIICAL SKETCHES :

1870, to G. B. Skewes ; Mortier B., married, in 1874, to Miss Pauline Cole ; Permelia J., dead ; Moses L., married, in 1877, to Miss Rosa Lindsey ; the other ehild died in infaney. Mrs. Herrick died May 16, 1866. Mr. Herrick had 395 aeres, and carried on general farming and stoek-raising; nearly all the land is tillable ; most of his land he has divided between his children ; he makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. G. B. Skewes, who has two children-Duayne W. and Boulden J. Mr. Herrick is a Republican, but has never been an office-holder. Surrounded by relatives and friends, relieved of care and blessed with a competeney, he, with cheerful independence, is passing on to ripe old age.

C. D. HIGLEY, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Metomen; was born Jan. 1, 1817, in the town of Mentz, C'ayuga Co., N. Y .; when he was but 10 years old, his father died ; he then went to live with his uncle, Peter ITusted, a Quaker, in Lee, Oneida Co., N. Y .; this was his home till he came West, when 27 years of age. The sedate influences of this good old Quaker no doubt affected greatly the future of this nervous, active yonth. In May, 1844, he came West, and took up 160 acres of Government land in this township ; this was the first land entered in Metomen Township, and is still well known as the Higley homestead ; the farm has prairie, timber and water, and Mr. Higley has it well improved. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad clips a corner of his farm ; his residence is half a mile west of Reed's Cor-

ners. Was married in Oneida Co., N. Y., in April, 1846, to Miss Sarah C. Buell; they have had three sons-Oliver S., born Aug. 24, 1847, died May 4, 1865 ; Melvin C., born Dec. 21, 1850, died Dec. 16, 1862; Irwin B., born Feb. 14, 1853. Irwin, his only surviving child, is a clerk in a music store in New Orleans. Mrs. Higley died June 23, 1869. lle spent that season in New York ; a relative then kept house one year for him. His first wife was a cousin to the present Mrs. Higley, nee Jane Buell, to whom he was nnited in marriage Dee. 27, 1870, in Oneida Co., N. Y. He has been Justice of the Peace one term, Assessor two years, Chairman two years, and Side Supervisor six years. His wife is a Methodist ; he is a good brother-in-law of the church ; he is a radical Republican, and is universally respected.

N. C. HUREBURT, miller and farmer ; P. O. Fairwater; was born in the town of Eaton, Madi- son Co., N. Y .; came to Wisconsin in 1848, having in the mean time learned his trade, which he carried on two years in Janesville ; from 1850 to 1866, he was in the milling business in Jefferson, Wis. Was married in 1853, to Miss Harriet Wadsworth, of Jefferson, Wis .; have had two children-Harry, married Mary Hall ; Hattie, married Eugene B. Eggleston. In 1866, he built a steam flouring-mill ou the corner of Michigan and Market streets, Chicago, which, in 1870, he exchanged for his property at Fairwater. His mill, known as the " Besley Mill," is located on the West Branch of Grand River; it has three run of stones ; it was the first mill built in that region, but is now in excellent repair, and supplied with all modern machinery needed for the business ; has ninety-three acres of land, upon which his residence and mill are located ; he is a practical miller, and attends to his own mill. Is a Republican, and a quiet, sound, reliable man.

GEORGE JENKINSON, hardware, tinware and stoves, Brandon ; he is also manufact- urer of all kinds of tinware; cheese-factory work is a prominent feature of the manufacturing depart- ment ; born in 1840, in Michigan ; came to Metomen with his parents in 1845; his father settled on Sec. 17, in this township; he was afterward Sheriff of Fond du Lac Co., and at expiration of term of office, he was elected County Treasurer, and died while in the treasurership. Mr. Jenkinson has been connected with establishments of this kind since 1855, and has been proprietor since 1865. Was married, February, 1863, to Miss Franees A. Rivenburgh, of Ripon; had five children-G. Bertine, Fred ( deceased ), Maud L., David L. and Arthur L. Mr. Jenkinson's parents were among the earliest settlers in Metomen Township. He is a Republican and a temperance man ; is social, eandid and popular.

ROBERT JENKINSON, Jr., Brandon, Wis .; native of Montreal, Canada; he came to Wisconsin with his parents in July, 1845 ; they settled upon 160 acres on See. 17, township of Meto- men ; the senior, Robert J., was elected Sheriff of Fond du Lac Co. in 1852; in 1854, he was elected County Treasurer, but died in January, 1855, shortly after entering upon the duties of the office; the family sold the homestead in 1864, and the members are scattered; the subject of this sketch has been several years traveling salesman. He was married, in 1856, to Miss Lucy O'Conner, of Brandon ; chil- dren are Ida, Clarence, Mattie, Nettie, and Josephine, who died at the age of 6 years; he has been a resident of Metomen Township since age of 12, and he came same year as the first permanent settler, viz., 1845 ; his remembrances as a boy include weary tramps after stray cattle ranging over the unclaimed prairie, and his meals exclusively of boiled wheat ; he has been the Town Collector: owns his home in Brandon. Himself and family are Congregationalists. Is Republican.

H. KATH, merchant, Fairwater; was born in Germany in 1843; eame to America in 1858, and settled in Manitowoc Co. seven years ; located in Fairwater in 1865. Was married in Ripon, to Miss Ernstine Krueger ; they have five children-Ottilge, Bertie, Josephine, Hattie and Hugo ; since 1872, he

1049

METOMEN TOWNSHIP.

has been in mercantile business, selling all kinds of goods usually kept in a well-assorted general country store ; was Postmaster eight years. Is a Democrat, and a prominent official member of the first Evan- gelical Lutheran Church, of East Fairwater; he enjoys the respect and confidence of all classes of the community.

R. C. KELLY, merchant and farmer, Brandon ; born May 16, 1833, in Danby, Vt .; came West in 1854; was for a season an itinerant salesman-a successful peddler ; was a clerk about six months in a store at Fairwater during 1856 ; he pitched his tent in Brandon as soon as the village started, and he was in one of the stores which was built in 1856; in 1858, he opened a grocery store for himself in Brandon, but sold out in 1861 ; during that autumn he bought a warehouse and dealt in grain and prod- uce; in the spring of 1862, he opened a dry-goods store which he carried on about eighteen months, when he again sold out ; in 1864, he built a store, which he immediately exchanged for a farm ; that sea- son he bought 100,000 bushels of wheat for shipment ; he bought seventy village lots and 140 acres adjoining Brandon, which he sold off in small parcels ; he exchanged some Iowa lands for a stock of dry goods in 1872, and after remaining in the trade two years, he again disposed of the entire stock ; during these years he bought, sold and exchanged several farms, and nearly every season he bought wool. On the 3d of August, 1857, he was married to Mrs. Alzina M. Chapman, of Metomen. He is now manager of the co-operative store established in 1877, which, under his popular management, is a decided success. He is connected with temperance organizations ; has been Master of Brandon Lodge, No. 144, of A., F. & A. M. Was Town Clerk for several years, and Chairman two terms ; has been President of the Village Board ; was a member of the General Assembly in 1868, and Sergeant-at-Arms in 1869. Himself and wife affiliate with the Congregational Church ; he is a Republican. His honesty and business capacity are unquestioned by his fellow-citizens. He has a pleasant home in Brandon, and considerable real estate, mainly in Green Lake Co .; his commercial ability and personal characteristics mark him as a Westernized representative of the New England Yankee.

O. B. KNAPP, farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. Brandon ; was born in Vermont in November, 1828 ; he early exhibited a taste for travel. and showed mechanical ability ; at the age of 19 he took a fishing cruise of a year on the Atlantic ; in 1849, he went to California via the Panama route, and spent two years mainly in mining ; soon after returning to Vermont, he made a second trip, via the Nicaragua route, in 1851, and again remained two years engaged in mining, building and other enterprises; returned to Vermont, and, on the 14th of June, 1854, he was married to Miss Ellen A. Worth, of Vermont ; they soon came West and located on the beautiful " Round Prairie," about two miles west of Brandon, on See. 28, town . ship of Metomen; this farm of 200 acres is charmingly located on clevated, rich prairie ; they have an attractive residence, commodious barns and a well-improved farm ; he carries on general farming, but has 200 sheep, many of which are registered full-blooded merinos, and they are his especial pets ; they have had three children-William O., Walter (deccased ), and Gertrude F. He is a natural mechanic-some call him an inventive genius ; his mill for pumping water and grinding grain is of his own patent and con- struction ; he delights to " play with machinery." Is not a member of any church ; is a Republican and temperance on principle ; is a thinking man of coneeded influence.

CHARLES P. KNAPP, manufacturer of sashes, doors, blinds, etc., also jobber and builder, Brandon ; is a native of Vermont ; was born in 1830; came in 1850 to Metomen with his parents. His father. Alva Knapp, was a successful farmer, an enterprising man, a prominent Methodist and a good citi- zen. The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools of the county ; he is a natural mechanic, and has worked as carpenter and joiner more or less for thirty-three years ; but, until 1869, his main business was farming; in the fall of 1869, he became a silent partner in the firm of James, Yorty & Co., in the same business he now carries on ; the firm has undergone various changes, till now Mr. Knapp is sole pro- prietor. He has a comfortable residence in Brandon, and an improved farm of 160 acres in Iowa. Was married, in 1853, to Miss Luey A. Gallop, of Metomen; they have six children-Eva C., Flora A. (who married H. L. Brown in 1879), Edwin D., Neil C. and the twins, Frank and Fannie. He has for years been one of the prominent business men of Brandon. Is a supporter of the M. E. Church, and a reliable Republican.

JOHN LOCKIN, early pioneer in Metomen ; was born in Fiskerton. Lincolnshire, England, on the 24th of June, 1822 ; came to Cherry Valley, Otsego Co., N. Y., in 1842, where he remained three years, when he removed to Watertown, Jefferson, Co., Wis., and took up a quarter-section of Government land ; in 1849, he located in Metomen, Wis. ; has continued a resident of this township to present date ; his home, for the last ten years, has been in Brandon. He owns several town lots, and a farm of 141 acres adjoining corporation limits ; he has held several local offices. On the 30th of June, 1845, he was married to Miss Mary Jane Gragg, of Cherry Valley, N. Y. ; they have had eight children

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 167

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