The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 169

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

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ALEXANDER TURNER, manufacturer of wagons and sleighs, also general blacksmith- ing, Brandon ; born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Dec. 25, 1847 ; his parents came to America in 1849, and settled in Dodge Co., Wis., where his father died in 1850; young Alexander spent most of his time in Waukesha Co., until he was 23 years of age, and during that time learned his present trade of wagon- maker ; he is called a natural machinist ; he has carried on business for himself ever since his apprentice- ship ; was in business two years in Denver, Colo. Was married in Waukesha Co., Wis., Oct. 17, 1872, to Miss Agnes S. Rogers ; their three children are George A., born 1873; James, born 1876; Alexan- der, Jr., born 1878; he had a shop two years in Merton, Waukesha Co. ; in 1874, he bought a shop and home in Brandon ; his business occupies seven men, and is enlarging annually ; in the wagon department, about forty farm wagons are made yearly, besides sleighs, etc., etc. ; he has a large patronage in the repairing shop; horseshoeing is also a prominent feature; he is an ingenious, hard-working " boss " machinist. Himself and wife are members of the Congregational Church, of which he is a Deacon. He is a Republican, and a Temple of Honor man.

DR. JAMES TURNER, Brandon ; is a native of Scotland. His parents came to America and settled in Dodge Co., Wis., where his father died while the subject of this sketch was quite young ; his home for twenty years after the death of his father, was Waukesha Co. ; he attended the public schools, and afterward the State University, from which he graduated in 1866 ; after graduation, he served the M. E. Church as Pastor one year at Stoughton, his health failed, and he afterward prepared for the

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medical profession ; spent one year in the Detroit Medical College, and his last course was taken at the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, from which he received his medical diploma in 1871; while attending the Wisconsin State University, he served as a soldier in the 40th W. V. I. for 100 days. He was married in Lisbon, Wankesha Co., Wis., on the 27th of September, 1869, to Miss Susie S. Sims; they have three children-Nellie, Willie and Grace; he practiced his profession seven years in Oshkosh, and located in Brandon ; he is in general partnership in a drug store and medical practice with J. E. Gee, M. D., at Brandon ; they have an extensive practice in their profession, and a liberal patronage as drug- gists. Dr. Turner is President of the School Board; is identified with the order of Odd Fellows; is an active member of the M. E. Church ; is a conservative Republican, and a thorough temperance man.

NELSON VAN CAMP, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Metomen ; was born in New Jersey Aug. 9, 1823; removed with parents, in 1825, to Wayne Co., Penn .; Mr. Van Camp spent twenty-one years of his life in railroading in Pennsylvania. He was married, Dec. 31, 1848, to Miss Hannah Colburn, of Penn- sylvania ; they have four children-Gilbert A., born in 1850; Aurella A., born in 1855 ; Carrie B., born in 1860, and Alice M., born in 1864; the three oldest are married. Mr. Van Camp came to Fond du Lac Ca. in 1859, and, after living six years in the township of Ripon, he bought the present farm of 200 acres on Secs. 2, 12 and 15, in the township of Metomen ; he rents about one-half his land ; has good farm improvements. He belongs to the Protective Association, the Temple of Honor, and was formerly an Odd Fellow. He is a temperance Democrat, and a Methodist.

J. WARNER, harness-maker and farmer; P. O. Brandon ; was born June 28, 1832, in Wit- temburg, Germany ; came to America in 1849 ; he worked at his trade one year in Coshocton Co., Ohio, and afterward lived five years in Lorain Co., Ohio, where he took out his naturalization papers ; in 1855, he came West and started a harness-shop in Fairwater, and during the palmy days of that village, the shop gave employment to five workmen ; he has been two years in business in Brandon, and is the leading shop in the village. IIe was married in May, 1856, to Miss M. B. Siegle, of his native place, Germany ; have had three children-Francis H., born in 1857; Bertha, born in 1866, died in 1870; George L., born in 1872. Has a farm of 124 acres on Secs. 29 and 30, in the township of Metomen, near Fairwater ; he is Side Supervisor, and has held other local offices ; his oldest son carries on the farm ; is interested in stock- raising, particularly of Norman horses. Is Republican.

SAMUEL WEINSTOCK, merchant, Brandon ; born on the 30th of May, 1825, in Bavaria, Germany ; came to America in 1845, and settled in New York City, where he remained till 1852, when he came to Milwaukee and spent seven years in the mercantile business ; he then went to Rubicon and was engaged seven years in the business of buying and shipping cattle. He was married in New York, on the 22d of November, 1863, to Miss Fannie Bamberger, of Bavaria ; have had four children-Millues (deceased), Gilbert, Selina and Theresa. In the autumn of 1866, he came to Brandon, Wis., and estab- lished a general merchandise store, under the firm name of Weinstock & Bro .; in 1870, he sold out to the brother, and in the fall of the same year he started a store for himself, which he has continued to the pres- ent date-keeps everything except hardware. Is a member of the Village Board; is a Master Mason and a member of the I. O. O. F. Is of Democratic proclivities, but votes according to his best judgment at the time of election. He has been continuously in mercantile life in Brandon longer than any other mer- chant ; has a good trade from both foreigners and Americans.

HON. DAVID WHITTON, Brandon ; born in Dundee, Scotland, Aug. 4, 1836. His father was the youngest child in a family of twenty-five children ; he is still strong, and for several years has resided in the city of Wanpun ; he landed in Boston, Mass., on the 4th day of July, 1842, with his family, consisting of his wife, his son Charles, and the subject of this sketch ; the father was by trade a stonecutter and mason, and was employed four years as foreman in the construction of the new locks on the Welland Canal; in the fall of 1846, the family came to Wiseonsin, and located in Ashippun, Dodge Co., where they remained ten years, engaged in farming; in 1856, the family moved to Waupun, Wis. Young David, now of age, spent three years as an apprentice to the carpenter and joiner's trade; this not proving congenial, he, in 1860, engaged in buying and shipping farm produce. On the 1st of January, 1862, he was married to Miss Mary B. Turner, of Waukesha Co., Wis .; they have seven children-Mary E., born in Wanpun May 1, 1863; Charles B., born in Waupun March 23, 1865; David, Jr., born in Waupun Feb. 21, 1867 ; Gracie Bell, born in Brandon March 29, 1869; Nellie A., born in Brandon April 16, 1873; Alexander T., born in Brandon Sept. 13, 1875; Susie E., born in Brandon July 22, 1878. Mr. Whitton was admitted to the practice of law in April, 1877, and is established at Brandon, and practices in Fond du Lac and surrounding counties. He occupies his own residence in Brandon, and also owns a grain warchouse. He held the offices of Assessor and Supervisor while residing in Waupun. Since his removal to Brandon in 1866, he has several times been elected Justice of the Peace, but he

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qualified only once; in 1873, he was elected to the Legislature from the First Assembly District in Fond du Lac Co. Esquire Whitton, from boyhood, has been known as an active Democrat. Since 1863, he has been an efficient member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has represented the Grand Encampment of Wisconsin, in the Supreme Grand Lodge of the United States ; he is also a Royal Arch Mason

FREDERICK G. WILKE, farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Metomen ; born in Stettien, Prussia, on the 31st of December, 1831 ; from early boyhood he has " paddled his own canoe." After becoming of age, he served three years in the Prussian Army, and was stationed most of the time in Metz. In 1856, he came to America, under contract to his wealthy patron, to serve him two years for the passage money and board and clothing ; the faithful service was performed in the Wolf River country. In 1858, he began working for himself, having $60, a stout hand and a brave heart. He served Almon Osborn two years, then worked the farm on shares for four years ; he then bought a farm, which he worked till 1876, when he purchased the well-known " William Brunson Farm " of eighty acres, on Sec. 11. He was married, on the 7th of September, 1861, to Miss Mary Gonyo, of Waushara Co .; they have six children-Henry F., Emma, Jennie, Sarah, John and Flora. During the rebellion he was drafted, but paid the commutation ; he also sent money for parents and brother and sister to come to Wisconsin from Prussia ; his aged father now lives with him. He is a grain raiser, but is fond of good live stock. Him- self and family are Methodists ; he is a cautious, hard-working man ; is a Conservative Republican.

STEPHEN T. WILSIE, farmer, Sec. 15; P. O. Brandon ; he was born Oct. 5, 1815, in Schoharie Co., N. Y. ; from age of 5 to 20, he lived in Ohio ; in 1835, he moved to Rochester, Monroe Co., N. Y., and that remained his home till 1856. He was married, May 18, 1843, to Miss Mary Banker, of Rochester, by whom he had five children, all now living-Edward, Hiram, Emma, John W., Ophelia C. Mrs. Wilsie died May 18, 1873, on the thirtieth anniversary of her wedding day. Mr. Wilsie worked several years at his trade of carpenter and joiner ; he came to Wisconsin in 1856, and settled on his present farm ; he has 110 acres under good cultivation ; carries on " mixed " farming. Mr. Wilsie's father came to this State in 1844, and to this township in 1846, and the family endured the privations and experiences incident to the life of early pioneers ; he died in 1877 ; the mother is now aged 87, and her home is with Mr. Wilsie ; he has been Township Treasurer once and Side Supervisor four terms; is a member of Grange 52. Was married. Oct. 18, 1877, to Mrs. Lavina Butler, of Metomen, by whom he has one child, named Luella. Himself and wife are Methodists ; his parents were Quakers. He has been Class. Leader more than a quarter of a century, and a member of M. E. Church nearly half a century ; he is social, benevolent and respected.

JOHN WORMWOOD, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Brandon ; born in Caledonia Co., Vt., on the 3d of July, 1819 ; his parents were farmers, and his early life was spent on a farm in the Green Mountain State; at the age of 19, he, with his parents, removed to New Hampshire, where he remained until 1849; from the autumn of 1849, to the spring of 1855, he was in the furniture business in Boston, Mass. He was married in Boston, on the 13th of August, 1851, to Miss Sarah Sargeant, formerly of Waitsfield, Vt .; they have two children-Mary Ella and John. In the spring of 1855, they came West, and located on the farm they now occupy ; they have 140 acres, of which all except about twenty acres is under cultivation. He was the first Master of Brandon Grange, No. 52; has been Chairmen of Meto- men six times, and has held other local offices ; has been Master of Brandon Lodge, No. 144. of A., F. & A. M., and is a Royal Arch Mason. Politically, he is a Republican, and defends his principles by argu- ment and ballot. Himself and wife are consistent believers in the doctrine that the infinite love of God will ultimately gather all mankind to Ilimself in a realm of happiness.

ANDREW J. YORTY, P. O. Brandon ; member of firm of Hillman & Yorty, wholesale lumber dealers and manufacturers, located at Winneeonne, Winnebago Co., Wis .; he was born in Mead- ville, Penn., on the 4th of Jannary, 1832; his father was a blacksmith, and in 1844 he came to Wiscon- sin with his family and located on Jefferson Prairie, Rock Co., where he started a shop and also took some land, which the sons carried on ; in the spring of 1846, A. J., with his father, came to Round Prairie, Metomen Township, and took up 160 acres of land, and broke up a portion of the same ; the family removed to the farm in 1847 ; the father died in 1874; young Andrew worked on the farm, and during the winters availed himself of the best educational advantages afforded by the county ; at the age of 19, he began teaching winter schools; he taught one season in Ripon ; in November, 1855, he went to Califor- nia, and for five and a half years he was subject to the " ups and downs" incident to the life of a miner ; he returned to Brandon in May, 1861, and for four years was a farmer in this township. He was mar- ried March 12, 1863, to Miss Maggie Patterson of Alto ; they have three children : Lizzie, born June 4, 1864 ; Edith, born July 15, 1867; Andrew J., Jr., born Dec. 2, 1871; since 1866 he has been in the

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lumber trade ; he commenced the retail business in Brandon, but since 1875 he has been engaged in man- ufacturing and wholesaling lumber, with headquarters at Winneconne, Wisconsin ; Mr. Yorty was Super- intendent of schools under the township system in 1855; he was Town Clerk two years, also Treasurer one year, when he collected the largest tax ever raised in this township, as it included the bounty tax ; he has been Chairman twice, and in 1871 was elected a Member of the Legislature from the First Assembly District of Fond du Lac Co .; has held other local offices ; has been a member of the I. O. O. F., and also of the various temperance organizations ; he is a Royal Arch Mason. Is a reliable Republican ; himself and wife affiliate with the Methodist Church. Mr. Yorty and his partner are both residents of Brandon.

ALTO TOWNSHIP.

ANDREW BRUINS, farmer, Sec. 9; P. O. Brandon ; was born in Gelderland, Holland, on the 3d of December, 1827. He was drafted before the age of 19, and receiving a year's furlough, he emigrated to America, in which he has acquired citizenship. On the 27th of May, 1847, he arrived in Alto, and bought a pre-emption in the same section where he now lives ; his parents and remainder of family came in the fall of the same year, and have lived in Alto ever since. He was married in October, 1851, to Miss Ellen Gleiven, formerly of Gelderland, Holland. He has 330 acres of land in Alto, and 80 aeres in Metomen, the greater part of which is tillable; they have had nine children, three of whom died young ; the six living are Henrietta, Henry, Anna, Mina, Ella and Audrew. He prefers to tend his farm rather than hold office. The family are connected with the Ebenezer Reformed Church of Alto. His father erected their church edifice mainly at his own expense. He is a Republican. The father and three brothers live in Alto Township, and are all thrifty farmers and good citizens.

DERK BRUINS, farmer, Sec. 8; P. O. Brandon ; was born in Gelderland, Holland, on the 20th of March, 1839; be came to America, with his parents, in 1847, and has lived in Alto to present date ; he is the youngest son, and has always lived with his parents ; his mother is dead, but the father still lives with Derk, and part of the property is still held hy the father; he, the father, H. Bruins, is 81 years of age, has thirty-three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, and is in good health, except the necessary infirmities of age. Derk has 300 acres of land, all tillable except thirty acres of marsh, but forty acres are still wooded ; has 350 graded Merino shcep; raises other live stock, and also grain. He was married Jan. 11, 1865, to Miss Cynthia B. Heusinkveld, formerly of Holland ; they have six children- William H., Hannah, Edward. Henry M., Mina Il. and Derk, Jr. He has been Side Supervisor three years. Himself and family. and father, belong to the Ebenezer Reformed Church of Alto. Ile is Repub- İican. Like most of his nationality, he is a moral, law-abiding citizen.

JOHN BRUINS, farmer, Sec. 16; P. O. Brandon; was born in Gelderland, Holland, on the 27th of January. 1833; came to America in the fall of 1847, and settled in Alto, and worked on the farm with his parents for fourteen years. In April, 1859, he was married to Miss Christina Glirven, formerly of Gelderland, Holland. He bought his present farm in January, 1861 ; he has 240 acres, about 200 of which are tillahle ; he raises some wheat to sell, but pays more attention to live stock, sheep and cattle ; he has two large barns with basement, and a comfortable house. Have had ten children ; two died in child- hood ; the living are Hattie, Cornelins, Henry J., Johanna H., Dina L., Mary, Jennie C. and Henrietta J .; all the children are at home. He is now Side Supervisor. Himself and wife are members of the Ebenezer Reformed Church of Alto; he is a Republican, and has the characteristics of the Hollanders ; is an industrious and moral citizen.

JAN W. BRUINS, farmer, See. 16; P. O. Brandon ; he was born in Wilp, Gelderland, Hol- land, on the 12th of February, 1835; his parents came to Alto in 1847, and he lived at home till 1863, when he settled on the farm which he now owns. He was married, Sept. 27, 1862, to Miss Gertrude Vanderbeek, by whom he had three children, of whom two are living-Hendrikes and Dina. The mother died Dec. 25, 1867. He has 187 acres, fully 150 of which is tillable ; he raises grain and stock. In May, 1868, he married Miss Elizabeth Garritsen, by whom he had three children ; the two living are named Gertrude A. and John. Mrs. Bruins died Aug. 10, 1873. He has been Side Supervisor two terms and Town Treasurer onee. He was married to his present wife on the 27th of October, 1873; her maiden name was Aaltje Rens; they have had three children, of whom two are living-Betsey and Aaldert Van Wechel. Himself and family are connected with the Ebenezer Reformed Church of Alto. Has good farm buildings and an excellent brick residence. Is Republicain; is Trusted of the church ; is a reliable and respected citizen.

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MATHIAS DUVEN, farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Waupun ; born July 1, 1816, in Holland, Province of' Gelderland. Was married in Holland, in 1840, to Alida Straks, who was born Dec. 19, 1818; daughter of Hendrekes Straks. Mr. Duven came to America in 1846, and lived ten months in Jefferson Co., Wis .; then came to Alto, and has resided there since. Has held office in the Reformed Church (of which he is a member , over twenty-five years. Mrs. Duven died June 21, 1877, of paralysis ; was taken in church at 2 o'clock P. M. and died at 11 o'clock in the evening. Mr. Duven has nine children --- William, Henry, Charles, Henrietta (now Mrs. John Gyshers), Dora (now Mrs. Derk Rens), Mary (Mrs. Jacob Meenk ), Jane (Mrs. John Redaker), John and Hannah, all living in Alto except Charles, who lives in the city of Waupun, and Jane, who lives in Trenton, Dodge Co. Has 160 acres of land, worth $40 per acre. Republican.

ELISHA GREEN, retired farmer, Sec. 29; P. O. Waupun ; was born in the town of Wcare, N. H., on the 27th of December, 1792, and is doubtless the oldest citizen of Alto; he is able to take care of hiniself-is, in fact, a vigorous, hearty old man ; he spent his early life in Addison Co., Vt .; came to Alto in 1854 and located on the farm where he now lives with his son George. He was married, Jan: 29, 1822, to Miss Silvia Chase, of Vermont; they had eight children, three of whom are dead ; the liv- ing are Abigal, Silvia A., Mary A., George G. and Hattie E. The mother died Oct. 27, 1876. He came to Alto and bought land, but carried it on mainly by hired help; he is a natural mechanic and delights still to work in wood or iron. Is of Quaker parentage; was never an active politician, but has been a reliable Republican ; is an honest man and a good citizen.

GEORGE G. GREEN, farmer, Sec. 29; P. O. Waupun ; was born in Ferrisburg, Addison Co., Vt., on the 16th of November, 1834; came to Wisconsin in 1854 and settled on his present farm. He was married, in September, 1872, to Miss Lusella Fowler, by whom he had one child-Insella M .; the mother died April 7, 1874. He owns 240 acres of land, of which fully two hundred are tillable ; carries on mixed farming, but makes somewhat of a specialty of stock-raising, particularly of sheep ; he has 200 thoroughbred and graded MIcrinos ; is called a successful farmer and stock-raiser. Is a Royal Arch Mason and a Republican. Is a man of strong likes and dislikes.

WILLIAM GLENDINNING (deceased); was born July 9, 1805, in the parish of Ash- kirk, Scotland ; served five years to learn the carpenter's trade. Married, March 22, 1827, Catharine Graham, who was born in February, 1805, in the parish of Howick, Scotland, daughter of Thomas Gra- ham ; her mother's maiden name was Margaret Rutherford. Mr. Glendinning came to America in the spring of 1832 with his family ; remained in Montreal a few months, then went to the State of New York and followed farming in Delaware Co. till June, 1845; then sold out and came to Wisconsin ; he settled in the town of Alto on Sec. 36, where he followed farming till his death, which occurred Sept 5, 1872. He left a widow and eight children-William Thomas (living in California ), Margaret (now Mrs. John Chapman, of Dickinson Co., lowa), Effie ( now Mrs. Hugh Meikle, of Alto), Isabell ( now Mrs. Merritt Vader, of Alto), Elliot (living near Wausau, Wis. ), and James and Helen, living with their mother on the homestead, which consists of 130 acres, and worth about $40 per acre .; one son, Walter, was accident- ally killed Dec. 2, 1878, while engaged in unloading a car of logs at the saw-mill belonging to himself and brother Elliot, near Wausau, Wis .; left a wife and two children ; lost two children in New York, who died n infancy. P. O. Waupun.

ROBERT GRAHAM, farmer, Scc. 1 ; P. O. Brandon ; he was born in Eskdalemuir, Dum- frieshire, Scotland, on the 24th of May, 1829; he is descended from one of the oldest families of Scot- land, his ancestry dating back nearly four centuries. "Sir John the Graham," a prominent member of the clan, is known in history as the friend Sir of William Wallace, and his exploits as a Scottish Chief, Mar- quis of Montrose, are immortalized by Sir Walter Scott. The subject of this sketch was married in Scot- land, on the 18th of February, 1853, to Miss Jane Inglis, of Roxboroughshire, Scotland; three years after marriage. they came to America, attracted by the glowing reports given by friends who had found homes in Wisconsin ; on the 12th of August, 1856, he and his " bonnie bride " took dinner in one of the rooms of his present fine residence, which was at that time the entire dwelling; he has lived in Alto con- tinuously to present date; he was a shepherd in Scotland, and had saved but little more than $100 with which to commence farming in this town ; he first worked out by the month, but soon bought land and enjoyed the high prices of " war times ; " he paid $9,500 for his present farm of 190 acres ; he has a few acres of marsh, but nearly all his farm is high, beautiful prairie, unsurpassed by any in the township ; he has spacious grounds inclosed with his residence, which stands upon the corner of two well-traveled roads; he raises live stock and grain ; his barns indicate the thrifty farmer. They have had five children, one, a son, died in 1874, aged 21 years; the living are William, John, Elizabeth and George. William is married and lives in Brandon ; this son and a partner, named Clark, run a steam feed-mill on Mr. Graham's farm ; the

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engine is used a portion of the time in connection with a steam thrasher; the mill has a daily capacity of six tous. Mr. G. has been District Clerk for a dozen years, and Side Supervisor two years. He is one of the Deaeons of the Brandon Congregational Church ; and his family are also Congregationalists ; he is a reliable Republican. He has many of the characteristics of the representative Scotehman-is moral, industrious, attached to his countrymen and to " Bonnie Scotland."

JOHN H. HAGENS, merchant, south line of Sec. 14; P. O. Waupun; born Aug. 26, 1841, in Holland, in the Province of Gelderland ; son of Aaron and Henrietta Hagens, who took passage for America when he was about 5 years old, and both died before reaching New York ; John H. was taken to the New York Orphan Asylum, where he remained till 1858, then came to the town of Holland, Ottawa Co., Mieb., and from there to Wisconsin, remaining in the town of Alto till 1860, when he went to Milwau- kee and engaged as clerk in a dry-goods store; continued in that business in Milwaukee till 1866, then returned to Alto and commenced trade for himself, where he still continues. Was married Dee. 8, 1871, to Theodora Kastein, who was born Feb. 8, 1849, in the same place as her husband; daughter of Ruloff and Elizabeth (Terheest) Kustein, who came to America in 1866; Mr. Hagens has three children- Aaron, Elizabeth and Theodora. Mrs. Hagens is a member of the Reformed Church. He is a Repub- liean.

ROBERT HOBKIRK, farmer, Sec. 33; P. O. Waupun ; born April 13, 1817, in Rox- burghshire. Scotland ; son of Robert and Margaret (Blakie) Hobkirk ; came to America in the spring of 1842 and settled in Delaware Co., N. Y., where he was married, July 26, 1844. to Jessie Riddoch, who was born Sept. 25, 1826, in Scotland, daughter of John Riddoch ; has seven children-Robert and John (living in Trenton, Dodge Co), William, Mary, Frank, Anna and Jessie ; Elizabeth died Sept. 29. 1877, in her 25th year, and Alexander died in infancy. Members of Congregational Church ; Democrat. Owns 200 aeres land.

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The history of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, Part 169

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