Biographies from The History of Columbia County,
Wisconsin, 1880 


Contributed by Carol carolann612@charter.net
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm


From The History of Columbia County, Wisconsin, 1880,
publ. by Western Historical Company, Chicago, Page
995-996

GEORGE T. SIMONS, proprietor of BRIGGS House, Lodi;
born in Montgomery Co., N.Y. in 1829; he came to the
town of Lodi from the State of New York in October
1846; the following winter he engaged in the business
of rail-splitting at $6 per month, the following
summer as a farm hand at $10 per month; he engaged
alternately in farming during the summer season, and
in rail-splitting during the winter, till the fall of
1850, when he returned to the State of New York; he
came back in the fall of 1852; Mr. SIMONS has been
engaged in various occupations; in 1854, he engaged at
work in a cabinet-shop in Lodi, which he continued for
several years; went into the livery business in 1860,
also kept a hotel about that time for one year; was
Deputy Sheriff of Columbia Co. for twelve years, also
Constable for many years; he bought the present hotel
in 1865, which he sold again in 1869, and re-purchased
in October 1879.  His wife was Miss Melissa BURROUGHS;
they have three children - Harley N., Jessie and
Ettie.

Page 996

W. G. SIMONS, farmer, Sec. 33; P.O. Lodi; was born in
Montgomery Co., N.Y., in 1812; he emigrated to
Madison, Wis. in 1837; he settled in Sauk Prairie,
Sauk Co., 1839, where he lived till 1845.  He was
married to Caroline L. SKINNER, born in Ohio.  Mr.
SIMONS has resided on his present farm since 1845.
The father of Mrs. SIMONS, Mr. John B. SKINNER,
removed from the city of Columbus, Ohio, to Iowa Co.,
Wis., in 1830.  Mr. and Mrs. SIMONS have had fourteen
children, nine of whom are living - Caroline, John and
Mary, the first named (now deceased) were born in Sauk
Co.; those born in Columbia Co. are Jennie (deceased),
Ada, Joanna (deceased), Sarah (deceased), William,
Clara (deceased), Harper, Evelyn, Jesse, Margaret, and
Grace.  Mr. SIMONS' farm contains 145 acres.

SAMUEL STAHL, farmer, Sec. 16; P.O. Lodi; was born in
Columbia Co., Penn., in 1811; his father, Abram STAHL,
died in Lycoming Co, Penn., when Samuel was about 7
years of age; he was brought up in Union Co.; when 19
years of age, he returned to Lycoming Co., where he
served an apprenticeship to woolen manufacturing.  He
was married to Louisa RODGERS, daughter of Joseph and
Hannah RODGERS.  Mrs. RODGERS was born in the State of
New Jersey; they came to Milwaukee in the fall of
1848, and to Columbia Co., Aug. 1, 1849, and settled
in Sec. 5; settled on present farm in June 1854; they
have had ten children, eight of whom are living -
Benjamin F., resides in California; Harriet J.
TALLMAN, of Kossuth Co., Iowa; Mary E. GROVER, of
Kossuth Co.; J. C.; Almira A. DAVISON, of Kossuth Co.;
Catherine R. STREATER, of Kossuth Co.; William E. and
Winfield S.  John F., third child, enlisted in 23d W.
V. I., and was mortally wounded at the charge on
Vicksburg, May 20, 1863; lost youngest child, Louisa
A., who died September 1876, aged 20 years.

REV. O. O. STEARNS, retired Baptist clergyman, Lodi;
was born in Monkton, Addison Co., Vt. in February
1810; when about 11 years of age, he removed with his
parents to the town of Panton, where he lived till 21
years of age, when he went to the town of Newton, near
Boston, Mass., where he began his preparatory course;
he returned to Monkton, Vt., where he continued his
studies; he entered the freshman class of Vermont
University in 1832, where he remained one and a half
years; then he entered Brown University, Providence,
R.I., where he graduated in 1837; he was ordained
Pastor of the Baptist Church at Sturbridge, Worcester
Co, Mass., where he remained about three years; thence
to Hancock, N.H., as Principal of Hancock Literary and
Scientific Institution, where he remained two years;
resigned on account of failing health; was afterward
Principal of Rockingham Academy, Hampton Falls, N.H.,
where he remained one year; thence to Deerfield, N.H.;
thence to Milford and Manchester, N.H.; afterward to
Thomaston, Me., where he remained about three years;
he removed to Racine, Wis., in 1854, where he remained
about four years; thence to Winona, Minn., for about
three years; his health having failed, he settled on
his farm in Vienna, Dane Co., in 1862; became Pastor
of the Baptist Church at Lodi in 1864; where he
removed in 1867, and where he has since resided.  His
first wife was Miss Ann C. VALENTINE, born in
Massachusetts; her father was for many  years steward
of Harvard College; she died in 1849; his present wife
was Anna ASHMAN, born in the State of New York; Mr.
STEARNS has five sons by his first marriage, all of
whom have received a liberal education and occupy
prominent and responsible positions; John W., now
President of the Whitewater Normal school, graduated
at Harvard College; James H., attorney, of Freeport,
Ill., graduated at Harvard; George A., attorney, New
York City, graduated at Harvard; Charles A., of
Janesville, Wis., graduated at the Chicago University;
Edward F., also a graduate of Chicago University, is
Principal of the Collegiate Institute at Burlington,
Iowa.

THOMAS STRANGEWAY, farmer, Sec. 29; P.O. Lodi; is son
of James H. STRANGEWAY, who settled in the town of
Dane, Dane Co., from the City of New York, about 1848;
Thomas was born in New York, Nov. 14, 1843; he
enlisted in 7th W.V.I., Sept. 9, 1861; re-enlisted in
January 1, 1864, served until the close of the war;
was at second battle of Bull Run, where he was
wounded; was at the Chancellorsville and Gettysburg;
was taken prisoner at the latter place; was a prisoner
about two months, then exchanged, was wounded at the
battle of the Wilderness, and again in the siege of
Richmond.  He was married to Miss Eliza LESTER, of the
town of Dane, Dane Co.; they have five children -
Jessie, Lewis, Marian, Irene, and Lynn.  Has 160 acres
of land.

Submitted by Carol