The history of Jefferson county, Wisconsin, containing biographical sketches, Part 94

Author: Western historical company, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 714


USA > Wisconsin > Jefferson County > The history of Jefferson county, Wisconsin, containing biographical sketches > Part 94


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).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109


ALDEN SANBORN, proprietor of news depot and general store, Jefferson ; came to Jeffer- son with parents in fall of 1839; his father, William Sanborn, first came to Jefferson the previous year, and got ont timber for what is now known as the Sawyer House, and returned back to Vermont for his family ; when he returned, he completed the hotel, which was the second frame house built here; he loeated quite an extensive tract of land where a large part of East Jefferson now stands ; be built the original Court House and also the old block jail which now stands and is used for a barn ; he was exten- sively identified with the early history of the town, and held several public offices ; in 1856, was County Treasurer ; was a member of the State Legislature while in Vermont ; he died April 27, 1876; was born Nov. 18, 1800; he had eleven children, eight are living-Emily, born Nov. 3, 1826 ( now Mrs. Farnam, and lives in Clyde, Kan.); Caroline, March 4, 1832 (now Mrs. Chubbuck, lives in Warsaw, Wis.) ; Alden, March 24, 183-4, at Wheeloek, Vt. (now in the Post Office Building here) ; Roswell, July 19, 1837 (was a member of the 3d Wis. Battery, and died in hospital at Nashville, Tenn.) ; Anna J., March 19, 1840 (was the first white girl born in Jefferson ; married Mr. Kennedy, and lives at Sae City, Iowa) ;


648


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:


George, March 1, 1842 (now in Iowa); William, Sept. 11, 1844 (now in Clyde, Kan.) ; Mary, Jan. 7, 1848, died April 7, 1858. Mr. Alden S. is a printer by trade; in 1856, in company with C. E. Hoyt, started the Jefferson County Republican at this place, in the interests of Fremont, which suspended after the campaign ; he also, with Mr. Chubbuck, published The Central Wisconsin for two years at Warsaw. Married Mary Jefford June 11, 1862; she was born in London, England, Jan. 29, 1840; they have five children living-Mary, born May 9, 1863; Edwin J., April 6, 1865; Wilfred Alden, April 9, 1867 ; Charles, July 19. 1875 : Eola, Oct. 19, 1878; Naomi, June 14, 1871, died at 22 months of age.


M. SAWYER, proprietor of the Sawyer House, Jefferson ; was born in Templeton, Mass., and came to Ohio in his youth, and was general contractor on the Portsmouth & Cleveland Canal; completed the first canal tunnel in the United States, on a canal between Pittsburgh and Blairsville ; built several sec- tions of the railroad, the lock, canal and aqueduct at Hollidaysburg; also the railroad from here to the summit of the Alleghany Mountains ; then came to Ohio and built a section of the Sandy & Beaver Canal; then two or three sections on Cross-Cut Canal ; also, widened and deepened Cuyahoga River for one mile ; built seven locks between Cuyahogy Falls and Akron ; came West in the winter of 1841, and settled about three miles south of Jefferson ; moved into his present house in 1844, and opened it as a hotel in 1858, in which he still continues. Mr. S. built a saw-mill in Jefferson about 1846. In 1852, went to California, returning in September, 1862; has been Under Sheriff in Jefferson Co. Opened a general merchandise store in 1844, which he carried on for two or three years ; then sold out and ran a saw-mill on the present site of the Woolen Mills till 1852. Married Miss Caroline Boyden Dec. 10, 1834; have had two ehil- dren-William M. and Mattie, now Mrs. Pearsons, of Washington, D. C.


JOHN G. SCHMIDT, farmer, Sec. 4; P. O. Jefferson ; born in Wittenburg, Germany, Oct. 15, 1837 ; came from Germany direct to Jefferson in 1854, aud settled upon his present farm of 155 acres in 1872. Married Miss Elizabeth Lang Ang. 22, 1862; she was born in Bavaria, Germany, Sept. 29, 1843 ; they have five children-Samuel, born March 27, 1869; Katie, Aug. 13, 1867; Maggie, Nov. 14, 1872; Eddie, Jan. 21, 1876 ; Lillie, Nov. 21, 1877. Family belong to the Evangelical Association. Mr. Schmidt eulisted in 1862, in Co. F, 29th W. V. I .; was in the battle of Champion Hill. under Grant at Vicksburg, and with Banks on the Red River expedition ; also at the taking of Port Gibson ; he belonged to the 13th Army Corps, and was in thirteen battles in all, and was mustered out in July, 1865.


HENRY SCHLEY, farmer, Sec. 29; P. O. Fort Atkinson ; born in New York Aug 17, 1845 ; moved with parents to Waukesha in 1849, and worked on a farmn ; settled on present place in 1870; farm consists of fifty acres. Married Miss Mary Knoepfel March 7, 1870; she was born Feb. 8, 1845; they have lost one child. Mr. Schley's parents, Daniel and Barbara Schley, are living and reside in Waukesha.


NICHOLAS SCHOTT, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Fort Atkinson ; was born in Belgium Feb. 2, 1816; came to America in 1844, and settled on present place in 1851. Married Miss Helen Young Sept. 20, 1849 ; she was born in France May 12, 1827, and came to America in 1842; they have four children living-Jennie (now Mrs. Sontag), born July 20, 1850; Mary (now Mrs. Groble), Nov. 2, 1851; Lillie ( now Mrs. Pinger), March 2, 1858, and Emma, Jan. 29, 1862; lost three children-John, Phronia aud Frederick. Family belong to the Catholic Church. Mr. Schott has 200 acres of land.


ERNEST SCHWELLENBACH, farmer, Scc. 12; P. O. Jefferson ; born near Cologne, Germany, Oct. 15, 1832; came to Jefferson with his parents in 1847; his father, Ernest, bought eighty acres of canal land, which is now held by his son, E., where he now resides. Mr. Schwellenbach married Miss Arabella Brenner Jan. 22, 1855 ; she was born in Ireland March 6, 1833, and died Feb. 26, 1876; there are six children-Ernest J., born June 22, 1857; Nellie, March 9, 1860; Frank, Sept. 1, 1861; Bell, Sept. 16, 1864; Henry, Aug. 12, 1868; Maggie, Ang. 6, 1873. Family are Catholics. Mr. Schwel- lenbach has been Assessor seven years, Under Sheriff and Jailer in 1869 and 1870, Sheriff in 1871 and 1872, Deputy Sheriff in 1873 and 1874, Under Sheriff and Jailer in 1875 and 1876, Deputy Sheriff in 1877 and 1878; has been Village Trustee two terms, and at present is Alderman of the Third Ward. His son, Ernest J., is now station agent at Great Dalrymple Farm, Dakota, near Casselton.


SEBASTIAN JOSEPH SCHWELLENBACH, Clerk of County Court, Jefferson ; was born in Aztalan, Jefferson Co., Wis., April 5, 1858; is the son of Joseph Schwellenbach, and lived with his parents till 1875, then went to Menominee, Mich., as sealer in a saw-mill, for a time, after which he returned, and remained at home till Feb. 6, 1878, when he cime to Jefferson and entered upon the duties of his present position ; was educated at the home schools, aud at the German school of Jefferson.


CARL SEIFERT, foreman in lower and second departments of Wisconsin Manufacturing Co., Jefferson ; was born in Bavaria, Germany, May 9, 1831 ; came to America direct to Jefferson in 1850. Married Margaret Zeither in October, 1854; they have had seven children, four living-Barbara,


21. 6. Make.


COUNTY CLERK JEFFERSON


651


JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.


born Aug. 31, 1855; Frank, March 28, 1857; Emma, March 20, 1859, and Freddie, Sept. 18, 1868. Members Lutheran Church ; Mr. S. is an Odd Fellow. His father was Nickol Seifert.


JAMES SHERMAN, joint proprietor of broom-factory, Jefferson ; was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., Aug. 28, 1829 ; came to Little Prairie, Walworth Co., Wis., in 1848, and settled on a farm there, where he lived till coming to Jefferson in 1877 ; in 1878, in company with Mr. Gifford, he established the present factory. Married Mary. A. Drake Jan. 1, 1850 ; they have two children-Ada M. and Sarah M., now Mrs. Clemmons. Mr. S. is a Good Templar.


ADAMS SMITH, retired, Jefferson ; born in Henderson, Jefferson Co., N. Y., March 8, 1821 ; came to Farmington, Jefferson Co., Wis., in spring of 1844, and took up a claim, on which he lived until 1867, when he removed to Jefferson, where he now resides. Married Miss Harriet Lewis Jan. 30, 1844; she was born in Brookfield, Madison Co., N. Y., Feb. 29, 1824. Mr. S. is an Odd Fellow ; he has held the offices, in Farmington, of Street Commissioner and Town Treasurer ; he has also been a member of the Village Board in Jefferson ; was Postmaster at Farmington seven years. They have one adopted son- George L., born March 12, 1855, in Jefferson Co., N. Y .; he graduated at Rush Medical College, Chi- cago. in 1879. Married Miss Ella M. Conan May 14, 1879.


JOHN J. SPANGLER, bricklayer, Jefferson ; born in Farmington, Jefferson Co., Sept. 18, 1854; has been in present business the past twelve years. llis father, Joseph, was born in Bavaria, Ger- many, Oct. 12, 1818 ; came to America in 1848, and settled in Jefferson in 1851. His mother's name is Theresa Spangler. John S. was appointed Deputy Sheriff under Mr. Brown, in January, 1879; he belongs to the Catholic Church. He has two brothers-Joseph G. and Goodhardt.


NICHOLAS STEINAKER, attorney, Jefferson ; born in Germany Feb. 7, 1843; came to America in 1853, and, for a time, worked at coopering ; was admitted to the bar in Jefferson in February, 1868, and has been in practice ever since; in 1862, was elected District Attorney in Jefferson Co., and served one term ; was also Town Clerk five years and City Clerk four years. Married Miss Kate A. Zim- merman Aug. 23, 1865; they have had four children, two living-Laura K., born July 9, 1868, and Mary K., April 17, 1877 ; Edward and Mary A. died. Mr. S. is an Odd Fellow, and served one term as Past Grand.


S. R. STEVENS, farmer, Sec. 15 and 22; P. O. Jefferson ; came to Jefferson June 13. 1837, and made a claim one-half mile from the city, now known as the Schwellenbach farm; came to present location in 1839, where he has since resided ; in 1849, went to California with others, being gone one year. Married Miss Adeline Jackson Feb. 15, 1842, ; she was born April 12, 1821; they have had eight children ; four living-Jerome, born Feb. 19, 1843; William 11., March 17, 1845; George, Aug. 12, 1852; Charles H., July 14, 1856; Maryette, Oct. 18, 1845, died July 18, 1865 ; Frank, July 10, 1847, died Sept 20, 1852; Ann Eliza, Oct. 12, 1849, died May 2, 1850; one other child, not named. Maryette married James Barrett ; they had one child-Merritt, born July 11, 1866. Mr. Stevens was born in the town of Brutus, N. Y.


CHARLES STOPPENBACH, President of Jefferson County Bank, Jefferson ; was born in Cologne, Germany, Dec. 11, 1824, and came to America in 1848. Married Catherine Bruckner in April, 1854; she was born in Bavaria, Germany ; they have five sons-Frank, Emil, Joseph, Freddie and Eldie, aged 21, 19, 17, 13 and 7 years, respectively. Mr. S. first came to Jefferson Co. in 1819; spent two years in Watertown; then settled in Jefferson in 1851. Was elected first President of Jeffer- son County Bank, which office he still holds ; from 1851 to 1855, was Deputy Register of Deeds, and was afterward twice elected Register of Deeds. Mr. S. was proprietor of a saw-mill in Jefferson eight or nine years ; the woolen-mills were started in 1865, of which Mr. S. is now sole proprietor ; he is a partner with Mr. Reinel in a large Inmber-yard ; he also owns quite extensive interests in real estate outside the city, as well as city property, including several fine buildings, several stores, Stoppenbach's Hall and others.


F. O. TILTON, furniture dealer and undertaker, Jefferson; was born in Kenduskeag, Me., Dec. 22, 1856 ; was educated at the High School of his native place and at the Jefferson Liberal Insti- tute. He came to Jefferson in 1874, and was in the insurance business in partnership with J. W. Ostrand ; about one year ago, he bought out his brother J. C., and still continues in the furniture business and makes a specialty of practical undertaking. Mr. F. O. and his brother, J. C., are the only ones living of four children. Their father, J. O. Tilton, died in the spring of 1865, and their mother, Ann F., died in Jannary, 1873.


CHRISTOPHER TROEGER, joint proprietor of tannery, Jefferson ; was born in Bavaria, Germany, Dee. 19, 1823; came to America, direct to Jefferson, in 1846. Married Barbara Benlang in October, 1845 ; she was born Nov. 21, 1821 ; they had ten children ; nine living-Kate, born


T


652


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:


Oct. 18, 1845, now Mrs. Illing ; Margaret, now Mrs. Regr, Dec. 10, 1847; Christiana, now Mrs. Zeid- ler. July 9, 1850 ; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Bairenther, March 17, 1852 ; Laura, Dec. 31, 1853, now Mrs. Christopher Bairenther ; John, April 29, 1856, is now dead; George, March 5. 1858; Barbara, Oct. 18, 1859; Caroline, Dec. 22. 1861, and Ida, Sept 6, 1866. Family belong to the Lutheran Church. Mr. Troeger came to Jefferson and took up land in 1846 about one mile from the eity, which land he still owns. He began in present business in 1876.


GEORGE TRUCKS, Overseer of Poor House ; P. O. Jefferson ; was born in Richland Co., Ohio, Oct. 9, 1816; came to Jefferson in 1844, and started the first tin store here in the fall of same year, which he continued till about 1847 ; then ran a saw-mill three years, during which time he served two years as Justice of the Peace; next went to the town of Hebron, now Bark River Mills, and started a store, remaining there four years, when he returned to Jefferson and kept store two years; then sold to Mr. Ostrander; at this time was elected Chairman of the Board of Supervisors for one term ; was Post- master at Hebron four years, and at Jefferson two or three years; in 1860. was elected Overscer of Poor and Keeper of the County House, serving thus three years; next ran a furniture store two years; next was foreman in Wisconsin Manufacturing Company six years, and just previous to this was elected Sheriff for two years ; in January, 1874, was again elected Overseer of Poor and Superintendent of County House, which position he still holds; was Town Treasurer one term in Hebron and one term in Jefferson. Mar- ried Miss Samantha Clothier March 2, 1842 ; she was born May 15, 1822; they have had five children, two living-Frank, born Nov. 16, 1858; George, Aug. 1. 1852; 'Nellie, Oet. 2, 1846, died May 3, 1874; Artemus, born June 9, 1845, died Jan. 2, 1861 ; fifth child, not named. Mrs. Truck's brother, Samuel Clothier, helped frame the first State Constitution.


EDWARD UGLOW, farmer, Secs. 7 and 18; P. O. Jefferson; born in Cornwall Co., England, June 19, 1827; eame to America about 1847 ; thence to Jefferson Co , and settled upon present place in 1850. Married Miss Emma Fox Feb. 20, 1859; she was born in England in April, 1840; they have four children-Francis, born Oct. 22, 1859; Agnes, December, 1861: John, March 19, 1870, and Minnie, July 20, 1874. Family attend the Methodist Church.


A. J. VANDWATER, Marshal of Jefferson ; was born in Wayne Co., N. Y., July 9, 1837 ; came to the town of Hebron, Jefferson Co., Wisconsin, with his parents, in 1838; his father, John, took up land from the Government, and died in 1872; his mother, Catherine, is still living in Hebron. Mr. A. J. has followed mechanical and engineering business most of his life ; worked four years as foreman in the turning-room of the Wisconsin Manufacturing Company ; has been engineer in the Fire Department the past eight years ; was elected City Marshal in 1874, and has held the office ever since. Married his first wife Sept. 15, 1861, by whom he had two children-Willie and Frank, aged 14 and 11 years, respect- ively ; first wife died in 1872; for second wife, married Miss Emiline Baldwin, Nov. 14, 1874, by whom he has one child-Emiline, born Jan. 19, 1869. Mr. V. has been Constable several terms, and is an Odd Fellow.


PHILIPP WOLF, joint proprietor of Jefferson Flouring-Mills, Jefferson ; was born in Alsace, France, April 15, 1825 ; came to America in 1841; farmed in early life; then followed the milling busi- ness. Married Miss M. B. Wendling in 1859; they have four children-William G., Charles M., Orrin P. and Edwin Eugene, aged 27, 21, 15 and 12 years, respectively. Mr. W. has been in the milling busi- ness about fifteen years ; came to Jefferson in 1869. He belongs to the Evangelical Association ; also to the Odd Fellows.


JOHN ZEIDLER, Jr., shoemaker, Jefferson ; born in Jefferson, three miles southcast of the city, Sept. 30, 1848; farmed till 15 years of age ; then served apprenticeship at trade three years, and has since been engaged in present business. Married' Miss Christiana Troeger Feb. 24, 1870; she was born July 9, 1850; they have three children-Edward, born Jan. 24, 1871; Ernest, March, 1873, and George, Dec. 18, 1877. The family belong to the Lutheran Church. His father, John Adam Z., came to Jefferson in 1846, and bought a farm near Jefferson ; he was born in Bavaria, Germany, June 9, 1815. and died July 13, 1871. He helped build the first log schoolhouse in this vicinity, and also helped cut the first road from his place to Rock River. His wife, Catharine Zeidler, was born in Bavaria in 1826, and died in 1868; they had four children-John; Charles, born Feb. 28, 1850 ; Christiana, June 7, 1854, and Mary, Feb. 25, 1859.


653


PALMYRA TOWNSHIP.


PALMYRA TOWNSHIP.


GEORGE W. ALLEN, farmer, Sec. 36; P. O. Palmyra; born in Livingston Co., N. Y., Aug. 19, 1822; he came to Wisconsin in 1842, locating on the farm he now owns of eighty acres, which he bought of the Government at $1.25 per acre, when there were no families between Little Prairie and Palmyra except his own. He married Miss Margaret Jones May 18, 1841, who died Ang. 17, 1869, leav- ing three children-Romanzo, Lucina and Willie. Mr. Allen is a Republican in politics ; has been Super- visor of the town twice. He is liberal in religion. Mr. Allen enlisted, Sept. 9, 1864, in the 42d W. V. I. ; the regiment did guard duty, and was stationed at Cairo, Ill., and other points. Mr. Allen served till the close of the war, and says he would go again, if necessary. He is one of the first settlers in his section of Wisconsin.


JAMES A. ALLEN, lawyer and insurance agent, Palmyra ; born in York, Livingston Co., N. Y., May 9, 1824; spent the early part of his life in New York, where he was educated, and where he learned the harness-making business ; came to Palmyra in 1844, where be carried on the harness-making business eighteen years. He affiliates with the Democratic party, and was elected Justice of the Peace in 1849. and has held the office continuously since-a thirty years' term, or longer, it is supposed, than any man in the State ; has also been Chairman of Town Board, Town Supervisor, Town Clerk and Constable. Was appointed Chief Doorkeeper in Wisconsin Assembly in 1878. Mr. Allen is a Master Mason, a mem- ber of Palmyra Lodge, No. 68. He married Miss Augusta Jones, of Erie Co., N. Y., in 1847, who died in 1870, leaving four children-Mendana (now deceased ), J. Edgar, Willis A. and Leona. Mr. Allen married Mrs. Caroline Adams, of New York City, in 1871. As will be seen, MIr. A. is prominently iden- tified with the history of Palmyra.


PHILIPP ANTWEILER, farmer, Secs. 31 and 33; P. O. Palmyra; born in Germany Aug. 15, 1836 ; came to America in July, 1855, locating in Jefferson Co., where he has since lived; set- tled on the farm he now owns of 140 acres in 1871. He married Miss Marietta Bradway, daughter of Timothy Bradway, of New York, Dec. 27, 1859; they have four children-John H., Charles J., Willie E. and Mary E. Mr. A. is a Republican, and the family attend the M. E. Church. Mr. Antweiler enlisted in the 42d W. V. I. in 1864; the regiment was stationed at Cairo, Ill., and did guard duty at various points until its discharge in 1865.


WILLIAM W. BABCOCK, farmer, Sec. 36; P. O. Palmyra; born in Scott, Cortland Co., N. Y., Jan. 15, 1830; came to Palmyra in 1847, locating on the farm he now owns of 160 acres in 1865. He married Miss Betsy Chapin, of' Palmyra, April 18, 1854; they have three children-Ella D., Leora J. and Stella. Mr. Babcock is a Republican. He united with the Palmyra Baptist Church in 1854, and is now Deacon; is also one of the oldest members. He is a successful farmer, and is raising cattle. sheep, and full-blooded Poland-China hogs from Fowler's herd, Heart Prairie. His nephew, Charles J. Neff, enlisted in the 37th W. V. I. in May, 1864, and was killed at Petersburg, Va., July 30, 1864.


ARTHUR BEAMISH, farmer, Secs. 15 and 16; P. O. Palmyra; born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1831 ; the early part of his life was spent in Ireland; came to America in 1850, and located in Whitewater, Wis. ; removed to Palmyra in 1852, and to the farm he now owns of 240 acres in 1856. Mr. Beamish has twice been to Ireland since his settlement in the United States. He married Elizabeth MeCarthy Nov. 14, 1852. He is a Republican, and Master Mason, and is now Senior Warden in Pal- myra Lodge, No. 68. Is liberal in religion. Has served two terms as Supervisor in Palmyra.


LINDSEY M. BIGELOW, barber, Palmyra; born in Reading, Windsor Co., Vt., Aug. 28, 1841; came to Wisconsin Dee. 1, 1857; lived three years at Little Prairie ; removed to Ileart Prairie and lived one year ; he then went to Ogle Co., Ill., and taught school. Returning to Palmyra, he enlisted in March, 1864, in the 38th W. V. I .; while attempting the arrest of some deserters, he was struck on the head with an ax and badly hurt, but did some service, and was in the grand reconnaisance at Hatchie's Run ; he was sent to the hospital in consequence of the old wound, and honorably discharged Dec. 31, 1864; returning to Palmyra, he engaged in his present business in May, 1865 ; after three years, he removed to Rome, Jefferson Co., where he was in the hardware business about one year; he then bought his present property in Palmyra, where he has since resided. Mr. Bigelow married Miss Jennie S. Barron July 5, 1862; they have four children-Herbert M., Mary E., Irwin L. and Leon B. Mr. B.


654


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:


is a Republican, and has served as Justice of the Peace for the past eight years; is also Secretary of the village Republican Club.


JAMES M. BINGHAM, attorney and counselor at law, Chippewa Falls; born in the tow of Perry, Wyoming Co., N. Y., Feb. 3, 1828; his parents were farmers and members of the Congrega- tional Church, in which faith their son was reared ; he attended common schools until 16, then attended an academy about four years, and began teaching ; taught eleven terms in schools and academies, mean- while pursuing the study of Latin and French. Gov. Bingham read law in the office of F. R. Bissell, Le Roy, N. Y. ; came to Palmyra, Jefferson Co., Wis., in 1854; began to practice law in 1856, has prac- ticed ever since. While a resident of Jefferson Co., he represented the District in the State Assembly in 1863, 1864, 1869 and 1870; was Speaker in 1870, and Chairman of the Judiciary Committee iu 1863 and 1869. He was Major of the 40th W. V. I. Regiment, and was stationed at Memphis during term of service-100 days ; removed to Chippewa Falls in 1871, where he has since resided and practiced. Was elected to Wisconsin Assembly from his (then Democratic) county in 1874; was nominated and elected Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin by the Republicans in 1877. On account of rheumatic troubles the Governor made a two-months visit to Hot Springs, Ark., and was completely cured during his first term. The Republican State Convention of July, 1879, renominated him for Lieutenant Governor. He married, in 1856, Miss Justina M., daughter of W. C. Dwight, M. D., of Moscow, N. Y. ; they have three chil- ' dren-Clifford D., Walter P. and Katherine ().


WILLIAM J. BRAY, farmer, Sec. 11 ; P. O. Palmyra ; born in Cornwall, England, Aug. 15, 1846 ; came to America with his parents, Stephen and Ann Bray, iu 1848, locating in Sullivan, where they resided three years ; removed in 1852, to Palmyra, where Mr. Bray settled on the farm he now owns of 220 acres. He married Miss Maria J. Dodge May 13, 1869; they have three children-Lena J., Alvin J. and Luella. Mr. Bray is a Republican, and has been several years an officer of School District No. 2. He is in accord with the B. C. Church. Ile is raising the usual stock and crops of Jefferson Co.


WILLIAM BRADWAY, farmer, miller and wagon-maker, Secs. 32. 33, 34 and 6; P. O. Palmyra; born in Schoharie Co., N. Y., Sept. 5, 1819 ; came to Wisconsin in 1846 ; lived one year in Delavan, Wis., and located in Palmyra in 1847, where he manufactured wagons about three years, when he located on the farm he now owns of 220 acres. Married Mrs. Elizabeth Foote Dec. 16, 1868. His son John is in Ossian, lowa, and his son James is a resident of Palmyra; Ahel Bradway, his oldest son, served one year as First Lieutenant in Co. E, 46th W. V. I., and died Dec. 26, 1866, in Palmyra. Mr. Bradway is a stanch Republican, and, with his wife, atteuds the Palmyra Baptist Church; Mr. B. is one of the successful pioneers of Jefferson Co., who had but little or no means to start in life, and who have succeeded by industry and prudence ; he has a feed and cider mill on his farin, run by water from a large spring on the farm.


WILLIAM F. BROWN, miller and engineer, Palmyra ; born in Fifeshire, Scotland, Nov. 16, 1819 ; the early part of his life was speut in Scotland, where he served a five-years apprenticeship as engineer in Glasgow ; he was engineer of the ship Monarch at the age of 17; he came to America in 1844, locating on Rock Prairie, Wis. ; from there he went to Manistee, Mich., and put in the machinery for the first steam saw-mill in the city ; returning to Milwaukee, he was employed by Goodrich & Eastman to reconstruct their engine in the flouring-mill on Walker's Point; his success here established his reputa- tion as a practical engineer. He remained in the employ of this farm thirteen years, and was promoted to head miller in Ottawa, Ill .; with his savings bought an engine and a third interest in the mill at Oak Creek, Wis. ; after five year». he purchased the flouring-mill at Palmyra, and paid for it in two years; by application to his business he won the confidence of the surrounding community, and, after eight years, sold out his mill and settled in the village to enjoy his competence. He married Miss Philadelphia Dibley, of Milwaukee, Dec. 24, 1848; they have seven children-Agnes T., Mary A., Emma D., Anna S., William J., Florence N. and Robert W. The family attend the Congregational Church. Mr. Brown is a Repub- lican.




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.