HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY WISCONSIN Subject: Thomas Peck Rutenber ******************************************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: (Bill Rush) Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ******************************************************************** HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY WISCONSIN Subject: Thomas Peck Rutenber Page; 836 Mr. Kimball did not remove his wife and family from Cooperstown until two or three years later. He died in the winter of 1851, and his wife a year ir two after. Oramel Kimball, his son, is now living in the town of Delavan. The first family that made a home in Bloomfield was that of Mr. Harry Tupper, consisting of himself and young wife, Mrs Tupper being the first white woman that settled in the town, and the mother of the first child born there. Mr. and Mrs. Tupper came in the fall of 1837, and lived during the first winter in the log house of Harry Kimball, built the preceding spring, but as yet the only house in town. During the winter, Mr. Tupper made a claim on the north-west quarter of Section 19, built a house on his claim, and moved his family into it in the spring. In this house, on the 24th. day of June, 1838, Silas Wright Tupper was born, the first white child born in the Town of Bloomfield. In 1839, Mr. Tupper removed from Section 19 to Section 20. In 1849, he went to California and never returned. His son Silas Wright Tupper, emlisted into Company K, Eighth Wisconsin Infantry, and died in the service of his country in 1865. Mrs. Tupper died at her home in Bloomfield, May 1, 1881. Marcus Moody came in 1837, from St. Lawrence County, N.Y. He settled on Section 29. He married Lucy Barker, a grandchild of Ebeneezer Tupper, who came in 1838; sold out his claim to Hiram Barker; moved away many years ago. Both he and his wife are dead. Mrs. Moody died in Wisconsin; he died in Kansas. W. J. Miller came with his foster father in 1837, and settled upon the "Alexander Place." He afterward went to Kenosha, where he learned the carriage trade; married Miss Mary Hubbard, of that village, returned to Genoa and started a shop, which has grown into his present establishment. His three sons and daughter lived in the town of Bloonfield. Doric C. Porter came to Wisconsin in 1837, from Franklin County, Mass. He made a trip to Ohio and married Miss Jane Hanchitt, and on his return settled on Section 4, in Bloomfield, where Amos W. Stafford now lives. He subsequently removed to the town of Walworth, where he and his wife still live. Thomas Peck Rutenber came from Cooperstown, N.Y. to Bloomfield, in 1836 or 1837. A year or two later, he built a log house on Section 6, and removed his family from New York. He afterward removed to Geneva, where he and his wife both died. William K. May removed from Ohio to Geneva, Wis. (present town of Linn), in 1837; thence to Bloomfield, in 1838, where he made his claim, and settled on the southwest quarter of Section 18. His son, Darwin R., was born while the family were living in the log house on the Manning farm, in Linn, October 1837. Mr. May was Chairman of the first Board of Supervisors elected in and for the town of Bloomfield (1844), and was afterward elected Sheriff of Walworth County. At the expiration of his term of office, the family removed to Racine, where he and his wife still live. Daniel Rowe came in 1838, from Onondagd County, N.Y., and settled on Section 35. He brought his family, consisting of his wife and one child. John H. and Asa were born there, and are still residents of the town. Mrs. Rowe died June, 1875, and Mr. Rowe early in 1878. The other children born in Bloomfield were George, William, Mary and another daughter, now Mrs. Edwin Hart, of Chicago. Levi and John Moody came in 1838. John entered the service and died in Memphis. Levi still resides in the town. Neither of the brothers ever married. William D. Chapin, son of John and Clarrisa Chapin, was born in Heath, Franklin County, Mass, April 28, 1814. He came to Geneva, Wis., in the spring of 1837, and made a claim in the present town of Bloomfield, in the summer of that same year. In the spring of 1838, he built a shanty on the northeast quarter of Secton 6, and broke aout one-sixteen of an acre with his spade. In 1839, he built a log house, and fenced twenty-four acres of land, and broke seven acres. He was married to Miss Loret Hyde Septmber 29, 1847. Mr. Chapin movedonto the farm where he now lives in 1840. John Chapin moved to the town of Bloomfield with his family in the fall of 1838, and settled on the southeast quarter if Section 6. Mr. Chapin was born in the town of Heath