The History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Linda Lewis. Typed by Sandi Loritz. USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogy information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations." Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must contact the submitter or the listed USGenWeb archivist. THE HISTORY OF RACINE AND KENOSHA COUNTIES, W I S C O N S I N, CONTAINING A HISTORY OF EACH COUNTY, ITS EARLY SETTLEMENT, GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT, RESOURCES, ETC., AN EXTENSIVE AND MINUTE SKETCH OF ITS CITIES, THEIR IMPROVEMENTS, INDUSTRIES, MANUFACTORIES, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, SOCIETIES, ETC., ETC., WAR RECORD, BIO GRAPHICAL SKETCHES, PORTRAITS OF PROMINENT MEN AND EARLY SETTLERS, VIEWS OF BUILDINGS, ETC., ETC.; ALSO HISTORY OF WIS CONSIN, CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF WISCONSIN, CONDENSED ABSTRACT OF LAWS OF WISCONSIN, MISCELLA NEOUS, ETC., ETC. I L L U S T R A T E D CHICAGO: WESTERN HISTORICAL COMPANY. MDCCCLXXIX. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. ABBREVIATIONS. Co company or county dir dealer W. V. A Wis. Volunteer Artillery W 9, C Wis. Volunteer Cavalry W, V, l Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry P. O Post Office S. or Sec. Section st. street CITY OF RACINE. RUSH S. ADAMS, of the firm of Miller & Co., boot and shoe dealers; was born Nov. 18, 1854, in Paris, Kenosha Co., Wis.; was an employe of Mr. Miller from 1871 until 1875, when he was admitted as a partner. Married Miss Susan W. Sage May 31, 1876. They have two children - Sydney D., born 0ct. 10, 1877, and Arthur B., born Dec. 10, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Adams are members of the Congregational Church. LEVI K. ALDEN, editor and proprietor of the Racine Daily News; was born in Albany, N. Y., in August, 1842; moved to Janesville, Wis., in the fall of 1846; learned the printer's trade in the Janesville Gazette office; was through the war of the rebellion; mustered out at Brownsville Tex.; published the Banner at Brenham, Tex., for eight months in 1868-69; moved to Racine in 1874; bought out the Son of Temperance Jan. 1, 1878, and was proprietor of the paper one year; started the Daily Herald Dec. 16, 1878, and April 25, 1879, changed the name to the Racine Daily News. DR. ARTHUR H. AMOS, dentist; is a native of England, and came to Racine in 1848; though absent a good deal of the time, this county has been his home mostly since then. During the war he enlisted in Co. A, First Battalion Yates' Sharpshooters; served a little less than a year, and was discharged on account of sickness; in 1864, he re-enlisted in Co. K, First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, and was discharged in 1865. He has been engaged in the practice of his profession since 1866. He married Julia M., daughter of Capt. McCumber, of Burlington, Wis., in December, 1870; she is a native of Racine Co.; they have had three children, two living, - Frank Porter and Horace Churchill. Mr. and Mrs. Amos are members of the Episcopal Church. W. H. AMOS; born in London Eng., in 1840; came to Racine in 1866; was book-keeper at Racine College five years, and now holds the position of Curator and book-keeper, a position of much responsibility. Married Mary A. Hall, daughter of S. L. Hall, a prominent lawyer; have had three children. SAMUEL R. ARMSTRONG; born in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1854; came to Racine in 1856; occupation, painter. Married June 29, 1876, Miss Jennie Hanson, of Racine; her father was Alderman for four terms with satisfaction to the community. Mr. Armstrong has two children - one boy and a girl. His wife is a member of the Episcopal Church; he is a member of the Baptist Church. ROBERT H. BAKER, of the firm of J. I. Case & Co., was born in Geneva, Walworth Co., on the 27th of June, 1839, and is the son of Charles M. and Martha L. Baker. After the usual preliminary instruction in public schools, he pursued a academic course at Beloit, and in March, 1856, first engaged in business on his own account; he entered a hardware store at Racine as clerk, where he remained two and a half years, and at the end of that time spent one year in the employ of Thomas Falsey, reaper manufacturer; in 1860, he became general agent and collector for J. I. Case & Co., which position be retained until January, 1863, when he purchased a one-fourth interest in the business, which he still holds, taking a most active part in the management of the concern; he has held many positions of honor and public trust; he was elected School Commissioner in 1867, Alderman of his ward in 1868, and re-elected in 1871; in 1872, he was elected to the State Senate, and, in 1873, was the Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor; in 1874, he became Mayor of Racine, and, in November of the same year, was re-elected to the State Senate; is now President of the Racine County Agricultural Society. RAYMOND TOWNSHIP GEORGE MILLER, farmer, Sec. 25; P. O. Thompsonville; was born in England; came to Wisconsin in 1842; was engaged at wagon-making until twelve years ago, then went to framing. Was married in 1845; his wife is a native of England; they have six children living, and have lost three. Owns 120 acres of land. ROBERT J. MOYLE, farmer, Sec 34; P. O. Yorkville; was born in England. Owns 150 acres of land in Sec. 34. P. D. OLWELL, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Raymond; was born in Ireland in 1837, and came to New York in 1839 and to Wisconsin in 1850; he first located in Oconomowoc, Waukesha, Co., and removed to Racine in 1869. Married July 23, 1865, Miss Sarah Doolan; she was born in New York; they have six children - James, Lawrence, Elizabeth, Mary, William, and Leo. Mr. and Mrs. Olwell are members of the Catholic Church. In Waukesha Co. Mr. O. was one of the Board of Supervisor, and has served in same capacity since his removal here. Owns 161 acres of land in Sec. 3, and is an extensive breeder of stock. NILS PAULSON, farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. North Cape; was born in Norway in 1827; came to Wisconsin in 1876. Married in 1850; wife was born in Norway; they have six children living and lost one. Mr. and Mrs. P. are members of the Lutheran Church. REV. L. PEDERSEN; P. O. North Cape; was born in Denmark in 1812; came to Wisconsin in 1865. Married in 1870; his wife was born in Denmark; she died in 1878; they had four children. Mr. Pedersen is minister of the Dane Baptist Church in Raymond. WILLIAM RANEY, farmer, Sec. 8; P. O. Raymond; was born on the Isle of McGee in 1817; came to Racine Co. in 1847, and located in Raymond, and helped to organize the institutions of the town. Married in 1845; his wife was born in Ireland; they have nine children living, and lost one. Mr. and Mrs. Raney are members of the First Congregational Church. Mr. R has held various offices in the town. Owns eighty acres of land, part in Sec. 8 and part in Sec. 17. EDWARD RICHARDS, farmer, Secs. 3 and 4; P. O. Raymond; was born in England in 1808; came to Wisconsin in 1844, and settled in Racine Co., and has been residing here ever since. In 1839 he married Miss Amy Foxwell; she was born in England; they have five children living, lost four. Mrs. R. is a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. R. has held various offices since his residence here; was Town Treasurer of Yorkville for one year, on the Side Board of Commissioners, is Secretary of the Town Insurance of Raymond, and School Treasurer. Owns 190 acres of land in Sec. 3 and 4. JAMES ROBERTS, farmer, Sec. 29; P. O. North Cape; was born in England in 1816; came to Wisconsin in 1842, and located in Racine Co. In 1846 he married Miss E. Coad; she was born in England, and died in 1855; they had six children. Mr. Roberts was Doorkeeper in the Senate at Madison, Wis., in 1869 and has also served as School Clerk in his district for a number of years; when he came to Wisconsin he was a poor man, but by economy and industry he has gained a fine farm of 200 acres in Sec. 29; he is a strong advocate of temperance and has belonged to the society for forty years. MRS. JOSEPH ROBERTS, Sec. 20; P. O. Raymond; was born in England. Married Joseph Roberts in 1833 in Connecticut; he was born in England in 1811; came to Wisconsin in 1854; died in 1876; they had four children - William H., Cornelius, Mary A., and John. She owns eighty acres of land in Sec. 20. LORING WEBBER, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Raymond; was born in Massachusetts in 1792; emigrated to Wisconsin in 1838, located in Raymond, and has resided here ever since. Married in 1813 Miss Sarah Upham; they have five children living, lost five. Mr. and Mrs. Webber are member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Webber has held the offices of Supervisor and Town Treasurer since his residence in Raymond. GEORGE WEST, veterinary surgeon, Sec. 22; P. O. Raymond; born in Canada in 1834; came to Wisconsin in 1848, located in Raymond Township, and has resided here since. Married M. A. M. Davis in 1858; she was born in New York; they have two children living and have lost four. Mr. W. was one of the Building Committee when the court house was being erected; also, Superintendent of the Poor in middle district for two years, and had full charge of the County Poor House; has followed veterinary surgery for eighteen years. He owns 121 acres of land in Section 22, all in good state of cultivation. STEVEN WEST, farmer, Sec. 15; P. O. Raymond; was born in Canada in 1845; came to Wisconsin in 1848. Married in October, 1868, Sarah M. Bacon; she was born in Wisconsin. YORKVILLE TOWNSHIP SAMUEL H. SKEWES, merchant, Union Grove; born in Cornwall, England, in 1817; came to Milwaukee in 1842, to Yorkville, Nov. 9, 1842. Married in Cornwall, England, April 16 1842, Mary Thomas, then a resident of Cornwall; when he first came to Yorkville, he was carpenter and builder by trade, and had worked in Milwaukee for Mr. Church, a contractor and builder; he followed his trade here for fifteen years until 1857, and then engaged in farming; was appointed Agent and Trustee of the Union Grove Land Co., for the sale of land owned by them, and for the last five years, has been engaged in the agricultural machinery business. Mr. Skewes was one of the first settlers of this town; when he came here there was only a shanty sixteen feet square in the whole village; which shanty has stood a relic of times old times until the 12th of April, 1879, when it burned down, with several other stores and dwellings. His wife died in May, 1865, and is buried in Yorkville. He married again in Lyons, Iowa, in December, 1873, Caroline Goldsworthy, a resident of Yorkville; she also died, Dec. 29, 1876, and is buried in Yorkville; has two children - Ella and Howard. Ella married in 1873, Frank Adams of Paris, Wis. JOHN SUMPTER, farmer and mill owner, Union Grove; born in Lincolnshire, England, April 26, 1818; left England in 1854, and came to Yorkville, landed at Racine, June 2, 1854; family came in 1856; was first a Liberty Corners, then went to Dover, thence to Brighton; afterward, settled on 240 acres in Yorkville; bought a farm of 204 acres in Dover, in 1867; afterward went to Eagle Lake and finally settled in Union Grove, in April, 1874; now has a comfortable home and 57 acres in Yorkville and 200 acres in Dover. He and his sons are extensively engaged in flour-milling. Married Mary Ann Cheeseman, Aug. 12, 1841, aged 20 years and 5 months; their children are - Mary Ann, born in England April 23, 1842; Bartholemew, in England , in October, 1843; John, Jr., in England, Jan. 4, 1845; Fanny, Oct. 6, 1847; James, June 24, 1848; William, Aug. 1, 1851; Alfred, Oct. 16, 1853; Bartholomew died in England in December, 1844, Edwin born in Dover, Wis., Dec. 31, 1856; Samuel, Oct. 15, 1858; George H., Nov. 24, 1860; Emma L., Sept. 8, 1862; Alexander, Sept. 6, 1864; buried James Sumpter, May 26, 1874. JOHN WADSWORTH, retired farmer, Union Grove; born in Yorkshire, England, July 28, 1826; commenced the battle of life at the age of 6 years; was a weaver, and afterward a wool-comber; his evenings were spent in study; after seven years of service in a woolen factory, he drove stage two years, and in 1849, came to Southport (now Kenosha), and worked four years on the farm of Mr. Leach. He married, Dec. 1, 1852, Rebecca Blacie; have had three children - J. Whitley, born Nov. 13, 1853; Thomas H., Oct. 23, 1855; Mary A., July 27, 1857. After marriage, Mr. Wadsworth bought 120 acres in Brighton; after three years, went to Sec. 1, same town, and bought 160 acres; was there nineteen years; came to Union Grove in February, 1878; is now retired in comfortable circumstances, and is reaping the benefit of his industry; has a pretty residence on Rose Hill. Members of the Congregational Church. HENRY WIESMANN, attorney at law; born in Prussia in 1839; came to American with his parents in 1847, and located in Brighton, Kenosha Co., where he has resided since; he obtained a common-school education through his own efforts, not have the advantages to be obtained now. In 1862, was elected District Clerk of his school district, which he held until 1871; then was elected Treasurer, which he held until 1875; in 1862, he was elected Justice of the Peace, which office he held until 1871, doing a large amount of business - nearly all of the business of the western part of the county; he held until 1870; has been Notary Public since 1873. During these years, Mr. Wiesmann was also studying law; in 1872, he entered the State University of Madison, Wis., and, after a course of studies, graduated and was admitted to the bar in 1873, since has been engaged in practicing law in Racine and Kenosha Counties; has won a reputation worthy of his efforts, and is known as a rising young lawyer. In 1876, he was a candidate for District Attorney of Kenosha Co. on the Democratic ticket. He has a law office at Union Grove, Racine Co., and also at Brighton, Kenosha Co., Wis. JOHN H. YOUNG, painter, Union Grove; born in Holland, Oct. 7, 1815; came to Albany in 1847; was there four years working at his trade; afterward went to Ohio in 1851; was there till 1865, and came to Union Grove the same year; has now a pleasant home, and plenty of means through his industry. He married Maria Young, May 27, 1838, in Holland; have had eight children - only three living. DOVER TOWNSHIP PETER CUNNINGHAM, farmer, Sec. 32; P. O. Kanasville; born in County Longford, Ireland, in 1820, and, in 1843, came to Racine County and located in Dover. He married, in Brooklyn, N. Y., Aug. 2, 1843, Maria Cunningham, and had five children - Catherine, Peter, Jr., Daniel, Andrew and John F. Daniel and Andrew both died in Burlington, Racine Co., and are buried there. WILLIAM G. DIBBLE, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Yorkville; born in Somersetshire, England in 1822; came to Dover in May, 1850, and located here; he owns 100 acres in Section 3, and has a residence and barns on it. He married, in Burkham, England, March 7, 1848, Maria Whitting a native of Somersetshire; have six children - Mary, William, Oliver, George, Henry and Edwin. William married Betsy Miller, and lives in Dover; Oliver married Kate Cunningham, and lives in Iowa. THOMAS GRAHAM, farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Union Grove; born in Dumfries-shire, Scotland, in 1818; went to Toronto, Canada, in 1832, with his parents, and learned the carpenter trade while there; in 1837, left them and went to Joliet, Ill., and, in 1840, came to Racine Co. and worked at his trade till 1854; then located at Dover, and began farming. He owns 300 acres of land in Sections 11, 12, 13, 14; has a very comfortable residence and large barn on Dec. 11. He married, in Dover, Dec. 16, 1847, Janette Ballack, a resident there, and have five children - William B., born 1849; Henry I., 1851; Etta, 1858; Elmer E., 1860; James E., 1867; all living, and attend the Presbyterian Church. JOHN HANCOCK, farmer, Sec. 25; P. O. Union Grove; born in Cornwall, England, Sept. 23, 1829; came to Dover in June, 1842; he took up 200 acres Government land in Section 25 and 26; and brought his family; died in 1843, and is buried here. John, Jr., married, in Racine City, September, 1855, Mary M. Mosher, a resident of Racine, but a native of York State. They have four children - George H. Ida, Edith E. and David J. He enlisted in the 17th Wis. Irish Regt., in Union Grove, in 18962, and was with his regiment all through the South, till mustered out at the close of the war. ROBERT HANKINSON, horse farrier, Sec. 17; P. O. Rochester; born at Lancashire, England, July, 1804; came to Dover in July, 1852, and took, up forty acres of Government land, and afterward purchased 240 acres ore, in Sections 16 and 17. He built a small residence, when he first came here, on the forty-acre lot, and in November of the same year his house was destroyed by fire, and he lost everything. He sold the land, and built the residence on Sec. 17, that he now occupies. He is a farrier and veterinary surgeon, and has been engaged in that business since he came here. He married in Lancashire, Maria Sadum, of the same place, and had two children. His wife died in Dover in May, 1846. He married again, Feb. 11, 1852, in Dover, Hannah Blackburn, and has six children living - James, Annie, Thomas, Mattie, Robert and Hannah. They all attend St. Mary's Church. GEORGE HARDIE, farmer, Sec. 5; P. O. Rochester; was born in Kinross-shire, Scotland, June 9, 1821; came to New York in 1841; worked on the Illinois Canal, at Lockport, Ill., winter of 1841-42; worked on the dam at Milwaukee, in 1844; came to Dover with his brother David. He owns 430 acres land in Sections 4, 5, 8, 9, and has been farming since he came here. He married, in Dover. Jan. 5, 1846, Mary Ormiston, daughter of Samuel Ormiston, and has six children living ¾Grace, Mary Ann, George, William, John, Maggie. RIENZIE J. HULET, merchant, Kanasville; born in Kenosha, Kenosha Co., June 18, 1850; lived in Paris and Brighton, and moved to Yorkville, in 1865, with his parents; his father, Gardner Hulet owned 134 acres in Sec. 31, Yorkville, and was an auctioneer. He died very suddenly, Dec. 9, 1875, within one mil of Union Grove, while doing business. His mother is still living on the same farm. Rienzi Hulet owns 111 acres land in Sec. 6, Dover, but lives in the village of Kansasville, where he does a general mercantile business in farmers' supplies. He married, in Dover, Oct. 20, 1875, Jane Burns, of Dover, and has one son -Elmer G. WATERFORD TOWNSHIP MRS. KATE WEBSTER, Sec. 17; P. O. Rochester; was born in Hertfordshire, England, in 1815, and is the daughter of Timothy Rogers of that place. She was married in London, England, Jan. 17, 1834, to William Anderson and had five children ¾Thomas R., Caroline, Mary, Isabella and William B; three still living. Mr. Anderson died in Middlesex, England, in 1849; she came to Dover, in 1856, with her three children, and lived with her brother Timothy. She was married again, in May, 1864, in Sugar Creek, Walwork Co., Mrs. Webster has remained a widow since that time, and is no residing with James Hankinson, and keeping house for him; she owns eighty acres of land in Sec. 18, adjoining that of James Hankinson. EBENEZER WHITE, farmer, Sec. 26; P. O. Union Grove; was born in Hadley, Mass., in 1805; went to New York State in June, 1845; came thence to Dover and took up eighty acres of Government land in Sec. 26; he built the residence he now occupies, with barns, etc., and has a very comfortable home. Married, in Turin, Lewis Co., N. Y., in 1829, Mary Ann Coon, a resident there; they have six children - Delia, Henry, Charles, William, Adeline and Hattie. Henry and Charles are in Dakota, engaged in farming; William is in Iowa, engaged in mercantile business; his three sons, Henry, Charles, and William were in the army during the late war; Henry enlisted in the 2d Wis. V. C., the first regiment that left Wisconsin; William in the 2d Wis. V. I., for ninety days, and, when his time was out, re-enlisted for three years' service; Charles enlisted in the 22d Wis. V. I., and all were with their regiments till close of the war. Adeline died in Dover; Hattie is living in Dover with her parents; they are members of the Congregational Church. MRS. ELIZABETH WILFORD, Sec. 35; P. O. Kansasville; born in Cornwall, England, in November, 1800; her maiden name was Elizabeth Bartil. She first married, in 1822, John Hancock, a native of England; they had eight children - John, William, Thomas, Richard, Samuel, Mary and Ann, and one, unnamed, died in infancy. Mrs. Wilford and her husband came to Wisconsin in 1842; they first located in Dover Township, Racine Co., and he engaged at farming on the place where Mrs. Wilford now resides. Mr. Hancock died in 1845; she married again Amos Wilford in 1846; they had no children. Her son Richard enlisted in the army; mustered out in 1865, when he returned to his home and died; Mary Ann and William died; Thomas enlisted in the army in 1861, and was mustered out I 1865; is married; John enlisted in 1861; was mustered out in 1865. Mrs. Wilford owns 152 acres of good, productive land, commodious barns and comfortable home. She is a member of the Bible Christian Church. SAMUEL WILSON, farmer, Sec. 29; P. O. Dover; was born in County Antrim, Ireland, 1821; came to Dover in 1848, and bought 120 acres of land in Section 29, and built the residence and barns he now occupies. There was an old log cabin containing one room, 16 x 20, the second one built in the county, on the ground which he occupied when he first came here, until he built the residence he now occupies; he afterward used the cabin as a stable for a long time, and lately had it torn down to make room for a new barn. He married, in County Antrim, in 1846, Eliza Allen, of the same place, and has five children living - Eliza A., James A., Jennie A., Robert B. and Stewart T. They attend the U. P. Church. LUTHER J. ALBEE, farmer; P. O. Waterford; born in Chesterfield, N. H., Oct. 23, 1819; son of Peter and Louisa Albee; came to Racine Co. the fall of 1846; located at Rochester. With Abial Whitman opened a "general store" - dry goods, groceries, etc. He married Miss H. Whitman, daughter of Abial and Hannah, Sept. 8, 1864. They have had five children, four living - Eva L., born July 5, 1847, died April 20, 1849; Alice W., born Jan. 7, 1850; Addie V., born June 17, 1853; Hattie A., born Nov. 16, 1858; George D., born Jan. 13, 1861. Mr. Albee was elected several terms to Supervisor. His family attend the Baptist Church. He is Liberal in politics. ARETAS BAYLEY, farmer; P. O. Caldwell Prairie; born in Derby, Orleans Co., Vt., Nov. 23, 1811; son of James and Hannah Bayley. Aretas came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1842, and settled on Section 8; broke ground the following spring. He married, May 16, 1836, Miss Mary Leavens, daughter of Charles and Polly; she was born in Vermont. They had two children - Sarah P., born Aug. 3, 1837, Herbert O., born Aug. 14, 1840. Mr. Bayley went to Vermont for his family in July, and returned in August. His farm is probably one of the best in the county.