Biographies from The History of Columbia County,
Wisconsin, 1880 


Contributed by Carol carolann612@charter.net
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http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm


From The History of Columbia County, Wisconsin, 1880,
publ. by Western Historical Company, Chicago, Page
975-976

JOHN PRIEN, manufacturer of wagons and buggies, and
agent for all kinds of agricultural and farming
implements, Columbus; was born in Mecklenburg in 1824;
at the age of 21 years, he began the wagon-maker's
trade in his native country, and continued the same
there till 1852; emigrating then to America, he
located in Milwaukee, Wis., and followed his trade
there for five years; he came to Columbus in 1857, and
has since carried on the business of a wagon
manufacturer.  In 1853 he was married to Miss
Ernestina KREUTZFIELD, a native of Germany.  They have
one daughter - Mary Charlotte  They are members of the
Lutheran Church.

Page 976

JOHN M. G. PRICE, of the firm of PRICE & HENDERSON,
Columbus; was born in Norfolk Co., Upper Canada in
1835; he received his earlier education in the common
schools and academics of his native country, but
completed his studies at the Lawrence University of
Delaware Co., N.Y., in 1860; he came to Beaver Dam,
Wis., in 1856, and clerked in a dry-goods store for
two years; then, after completing his studies at the
University, returned to Beaver Dam, and continued
clerking for two years longer; in 1862 he began
clerking for D. E. BASSETT, at Danville, Wis., and, in
August 1864, came to Columbus, where, in January 1865,
he formed a co-partnership with BASSETT & DAVIES, in
the firm of BASSETT, DAVIES & PRICE, and continued
business for about seven years; he removed to
Milwaukee in 1873, and for three years was engaged in
the wholesale tea trade; returning to Columbus in
1876, he formed a co-partnership with J. T. HENDERSON,
under the firm name of PRICE & HENDERSON, lumber
merchants.  Mr. PRICE has been a member of the City
Council for two terms.  He was married in November
1865, to Miss Frances A., daughter of Thomas
EGGLESTON, of Fox Lake, Dodge Co., Wis; their children
are George W. and Harry A.  They attend the
Congregational Church; Mr. PRICE is a member of the
Masonic Fraternity.

GRIFFITHS ROBERTS, of the firm of ROBERTS & THIEDE,
manufactures of wagons, farm machinery, etc., etc.,
Columbus; was born in Carnarvonshire, North Wales, in
1845, and began the blacksmith's trade when 11 years
old.  He came to America in 1868 and located at
Columbus, Wis., and worked at the trade with Owen
JONES for some time.  In 1871 he formed a co-
partnership with Mr. THIEDE, and established the
present firm of which he is a member.  He was married
in 1871 to Miss Sarah WILLIAMS, of Dodge Co., Wis.
Their children are Rece and John.  They are members of
the Welsh Calvinistic Church.

GEORGE ROBINSON, Columbus; was born in Worcester Co.,
Mass., in 1824.  His parents, John and Nancy ROBINSON,
were natives of County Armagh, Ireland, but were early
emigrants to Massachusetts, where his father afterward
died.  His mother died in Portage, Wis.  Mr. ROBINSON
came to Wisconsin in October 1843, and located at
Kenosha.  In May 1844, he came to the town of
Columbus, Columbia Co., and settled on a farm, which
was his home for ten years; selling his farm at that
time, he bought another in the town, where he now owns
240 acres; this he made his home most of the time till
1878, when he moved to this city, where he has since
resided.  He is now one of the three first settlers of
the town who now reside in this city.  His brother,
Isaiah ROBINSON, was a pioneer lawyer of Columbus, and
died in New York City in 1856, while on a visit East. 
Mr. ROBINSON was elected Sheriff of Columbia Co., in
the fall of 1854 served during the years of 1854 and
1856.  Politically, he is a Republican.  In September
1855, at Wyocena, Wisconsin, he was married to Miss
Elizabeth R., daughter of Charles and Charlotte
WOODWARD; she was born in Pembroke, South Wales, and
died in Columbus in March, 1878 leaving the following
children - Nelson, Frances A., Bertha E., and an
adopted son, George R.  Mr. R. and family are
connected with the Congregational Church.

NEWTON A. ROBINSON, Columbus; was born at Glens Falls,
Warren Co., N.Y., Aug 19, 1828.  His father, William
ROBINSON, was a native of Rhode Island, but removed to
New York in an early day; his mother, Lydia WARNER,
was a native of York State.  Mr. ROBINSON began
clerking in a store at Glens Falls, when 15 or 16
years old, and remained there in that business till
1850; going then to Granville, Washington Co., N.Y.,
he clerked for five years.  In 1855, he emigrated to
Dodge Co., Wis., and stopped at the village of
Randolph for the winter.  In the spring of 1856, he
went to Danville, Dodge Co., where he clerked two and
a half years for D. E. BASSETT, and one year for E. H.
SILSBEE; coming then to Columbus, he began clerking
for DAVIES & AXTELL in their dry goods store and
remained with that house till 1869.  He afterward
clerked one year for FULLER Brothers, and three years
for FARNHAM, ALLEN & Co., grain dealers, and in
January 1879, he began as bookkeeper for J. S.
MANNING, with whom he remained till May 1880.  Mr.
ROBINSON was Town treasurer in 1869, Town Clerk in
1872.  He was married in 1860, to Miss Frances J.,
daughter of Daniel MALLS, the proprietor of the first
Columbus journal; she died Dec. 5, 1875; leaving one
son - Newton F.

Submitted by Carol