Biographical Sketches, Ottawa Township Waukesha County, Wisconsin

Biographies

From "History of Waukesha County" by Western Historical Company, Chicago 1880

TALBOT C. DOUSMAN, farmer; Secs. 2, 3, and 10; P. O. Waterville; Mr. D. is of Scotch and Dutch lineage, and was born in Mackinaw, Mich., 1816; resided in his native town until 1836, receiving a thorough education at Mt. Pleasant Classical Institute, Amherst, Mass; in June, 1835, Mr. D. located at Milwaukee, building a warehouse which still stands on E. Water street, boarding during the first summer with Solomon Juneau; was engaged in the forwarding and lumber business here a number of years; he voted at the first election held here, called by Gov. Mason, of Michigan, to elect members of a council to meet at Green Bay; thirty-eight votes were cast, of which Mr. D. thinks not more than three or four were legal, as a year's residence was required by the laws of Michigan, he was then but 19, and voted on the express edition that the negro cook of Mr. Juneau should also vote. Capt. Gilbert Knapp, of Racine, and B. H. Edgerton, of Milwaukee, represented that county in the council; among other reminiscences, Mr. D. relates that Mrs. Kinzie, wife of the first settler of Chicago, and an ardent Episcopalian, caused a clergyman of that faith to visit Milwaukee and referred him to her friend, Mr. Dousman; now, Mr. D. had never looked inside an Episcopal prayer-book, and was in a dilemma; giving a boy $5, he induced him to visit the English settlement at Oak Creek, and at his request one of these footed it to Milwaukee in time to be the only actual communicant at the first Episcopal service which was held in the old Towles law office; the Englishman and clergyman consulting Mr. D., and treating him as the Deacon of the church, though he bad hard work to fill the part successfully. In 1841, the first election for Ottawa and Genesee, was held at the house of Benjamin Jenkins, I. H. Tweedy (Whig), and Joseph Turner (Democrat) were candidates for the Territorial Council; Mr. D. worked hard that day, three Democrats agreed to vote for Twendy, if he, Dousman, would secrete the tickets behind an old log barn. Next came nine English Democrats, to the leaders of whom Mr. D., addressed himself, telling him that he believed Tweedy to be a rascal, but that it was far better to vote for him knowingly, than to vote for Turner in good faith, and then be disappointed in him, as the Democrats had previously been in the absconding Dr. Cornwall; this novel argument worked like a charm, and nine more Whig votes were cast by Democrats; as Mr. Tweedy bad seven majority in the county, the reader can draw his own inference. Mr. D. made the first claim in Ottawa in 1837--- Orchard and George Hosmer, being the next; on this, in 1838, he built the first frame barn within the present limits of Waukesha County; his log house was built in 1837, and in this the first sermon (Episcopalian) was preached by the Rev. Mr. Hull; in 1839, George Paddack, an Englishman, removed from Cleveland, Ohio, to Delafield, Waukesha Co., with his wife and two daughters--Jane K. S., and Helen F.; the elder of these, born in Litchfield, Herkimer Co., N. Y., was educated in Black River Seminary, Watertown, N. Y., and married Mr. Dousman 1839; he having business interests in Makinaw, two summers were spent there. the young couple settling on the Ottawa farm in the log house in 1840; this has since been their home, though the log house was replaced long ago with a spacious mansion built in a rambling fashion, and in both a New England and Southern style of architecture; it is heated with the second furnace ever sold in Milwaukee; a more beautiful old place than Ingleside" can not be found in the county, as the noble burr oaks around it are interspersed with all the evergreens, Sobering shrubs, etc., needed to make it so; the old barn, those built since the cheese factory, etc., making up a small village; Mr. sad Mrs. D. have two children, Hercules F. and Laura C.; the son was educated in Racine College, and the daughter in the Oconomowoc Ladies' Seminary; T. C. Dousman now owns over 400 acres here, and is a splendid type of Wisconsin pioneer settlers; he was for two years a resident of Green Bay, engaged in business with A. E. Elmore during the late war; Mr. D. is an outspoken Republican, and was the first Chairman of his town, which office he held many years; his son was Chairman in 1873 sad 1874, and represented the district in the legislature of 1877; the family are Episcopalians.

SEYMORE FRAYER, farmer, Sec. 36, P. O. North Prairie; born in the town of Copake, Columbia Co, N. Y., Dec. 17, 1819; resided in his native state as a farmer until 1846; married Miss Betsy Plank, in Nov. 1842; their only son, Wesley D. was born in Feb., 1845. In 1846 the family settled on 160 acres on Sec. 35, Ottawa, the only building upon it being a log house, where they lived nine yeas. Here the only daughter, Sarah, Mrs. Martin Helgesen, was born; Mr. P. did good work with his breaking team for five years among the early settlers, when Wisconsin was a Territory, and when he could travel for miles without seeing a fence; wheat was drawn with oxen to the then village of Milwaukee, over rough roads and corduroy bridges; after making a good home on his first location, Mr. F. sold 100 acres of it in 1868, bought where he now lives, and owns a first-class farm of 200 acres, well improved, with excellent buildings; W. D. Frayer has spent his life in the country, attending in his boyhood the school organized by his father and others as District No. 9; Mr. F. has also taught several terms. Married Miss Abbie Shultis, of Columbia Co., N. Y., Sept. 30, 1869, by whom he has a daughter, Florence. Father and son are Republicans; W. D. Frayer has been Assessor two years.

THOMAS E. JONES, farmer, Secs. 23, 24, 26, and 20; P. O. North Prairie; is a native of Ottawa, born July 18, 1846; is a son of John Jones, who emigrated from England in 1848, be having married Miss Anne Jones in 1837, by whom he had four children - Thomas (died an infant); John (deceased); Thomas R. and Walter (deceased); his first wife died in 1863, he marrying again Miss Sarah Cobb, who died in 1874, Mr. Jones now passing his later days in a well-earned home. His son, the subject of this sketch, is, like his father, a Democrat, and is a Presbyterian in religious belief. Was Assessor of his town in 1879, married in 1870 Miss Annie, daughter of John Burnell; one of the hardy pioneers of Mukwonago; they have five children, Chelsea E, born Aug. 18, 1871; Ellen A., born March 2, 1878; Walter D., born June 14, 1875; Emma, born Nov. 20, 1876; Calvin J., born Oct. 2, 1878. Mr. Jones is one of the enterprising young farmers of his native town, his management of the 234-acre farm having been in all respects successful.

DUNCAN MAULE, farmer, Sec. 15; P. O. Ottawa; born May 1809, in Perthshire, Scotland. His early life was spent on his father's farm and at shoemaking, emigrating to the United States in Feb., 1848. They came via the Erie Canal and the lakes to Waukesha Co. the next May. Unable to pay for a class made in Ottawa, he pulled up stakes and located in Sullivan, Jefferson Co. Beginning here with but little, a ??ke of cattle and a cow, he did good work among the timber of that town. Living in a log house they made steady progress, but, finally, to escape the infection of fever and ague, returned to Ottawa, where Mr. Maule engaged for the next eight years at his trade, and, daring this time he bought 126 acres of his present farm, an old barn and a log house comprising the buildings. The reward of thirty-seven years of well directed toil may now be seen in the village of tasteful farm buildings created by him, the first being a 14x54 foot sheep-barn, wagon and hog house 22x50, and main barn 80x64. His family for over twenty years lived in ordinary frame house, now supplanted by a spacious and elegant farmhouse, built of the famous Cream City brick, this completing a set of farm buildings second to none in his town. Mrs. Maule was Miss Ann B. Reed, a native of Kinross, Perthshire, and married at Saline, Fifeshire. They are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. M. is a Trustee. Mr. M. is an Independent Republican in political faith.

WILLIAM REID, of William Reid & Son, nurserymen and farmers, Secs. 25, 26 and 21; P. O. North Prairie; born Sept. 3, 1820, in Dundee, Scotland; served a five-years' apprenticeship as a mechanic, and worked in his native land until the fall of 1852, when he came with his family to America; spent a year in Montreal, and October, 1853, located in Milwaukee In 1855, Mr. Reid bought 85 acres of his homestead upon which his family located the following May; during the ensuing twelve years, Mr. Reid followed his trade in the car-shops at Milwaukee, passing each Sunday with his family, his wife and boys running the farm; his first experience as a nurseryman was in the successful growing of the Isabella and Connecticut grapes; this encouraged him to begin a nursery on a small scale about 1860, and he has constantly and successfully increased it; he has the Concord, Hartford, Prolific, Janesville, Northern Muscatine, Isabella, Diana, Connecticut, Michigan, Clinton, Delaware, Iowa, Elvira, Martha, Lady, Allen's Hybrid, Croton, Champion, Worden Crevling's and Rodger's Hybrids, numbers 1, 8, 4, 9, 15, 18 and 53; has recently introduced the Black Eagle, Concord, Chatless, Goodadel and Brighton; his average crop is two tons of grapes; his stock of thrifty and hardy three and four year old apple trees is very extensive, and includes standard summer, winter and fall variety; the most popular pear, plum, cherry and crab trees are also grown here; also evergreens, the Norway spruce, balsum fir, Scotch pine, hemkock, Austrian pine, red cedar, arbor vitae, etc., etc.; these are from four to six feet high; his first evergreen, s noble Scotch pine, grown from seed planted seventeen years ago, still stands before his house; the stock of shade and ornamental trees is also complete, as is that of the flowers and shrubs of every description; annuals, perennials, everlasting flowers, gladiolas, tulips, peonies, etc.; this is a nursery of which the county may well be proud, as it is the only one, execpt that at Pewaukee. Mr. Reid's successful work here for the past twenty years is a strong guarantee of his ability to select and cultivate wisely and well; he warrants all stock true to name, and assures all patrons that everything ordered of him will be delivered promptly and in good condition; that his prices will be as low as those of any reliable dealer in the country; William Reid & Son, North Prairie. Mr. Reid was a steadfast Abolitionist and is a stalwart Republican. The family attend and support the Presbyterian Church, of which he has been Trustee. His spacious and elegant residence was built in 1872. Mrs. Reid was Miss Mary Porter, born in Arbroath, Forfarshire. They have eleven living children--William, Alexander, David, George, Thomas, Isabella, John, Jessie, Joseph, Samuel, and Charles.

HENRY WEINER, farmer and merchant, P.O. Dousman; born near Mentz, Germany, May 16, 1827; was educated in the Fatherland, and came with his parents, Nicholas and Phedas M. Weiner, to America in 1843; they arrived at Ottawa in June and found the three Link brothers in a log house, built on the line of Secs. 4 and 8; these with the two Weiner families and that of Mr. Mundchau, all lived for several weeks in the 14x16 cabin. The father of Mr. Weiner bought and built in Ottawa that summer; he died Dec. 16, 1847, his wife surviving till Aug. 10, 1856; this left Henry alone, as his only sister died in 1846; on the 9th of June, 1851, Mr. Weiner married Miss Anna Derr, a native of Germany, and a resident of Columbia Co., Wis. In 1868, he built the only store and saloon in Ottawa, near his residence. He now carries a good stock of dry goods, groceries, hats and caps, boots and shoes, patent medicines, notions, etc.; his 270-acre farm is well improved; is a member, with his family of the Roman Catholic Church of Ottawa, holding and resigning the offices of Treasurer and Trustee. Mr. Weiner is a steadfast Democrat, and has filled many different positions with credit, serving as Constable, Justice of the Peace, Supervisor, and making an unfading record as Chairman of Ottawa during the war; filling the quotas promptly and well, and, in spite of the petty malice of certain parties, held the office a number of years; after the war was then Assessor for seven years, refusing re-election; was chariman in 1870, '71,'76,'79, and now honors the same postion. In 1870, Mr. Weiner lacked only 62 votes for the County Treasurership. A life work like this is best told without attempt at eulogy. Mr. and Mrs. Weiner have ten children--John, Margaret and Mary, now married; Magdelena, Henry, Joseph, Augustus, Anna, Philli and Michael.

DAVID P. WILLIAMS, farmer; Sec. 16; P.O. Dousman; born in Breconshire, South Wales, March 2, 1825; received a common-school education, and was for twelve years employed in the Garth flouring mills, as agent, his account averaging 7,000 lbs per annum; came to the United States in June, 1869, with his family; had married the widow of John Powell; she was a daughter of Rees Williams, and was born May 17, 1829, in Breconshire, Wales. Mr. W. has owned two different farms since his residence in Ottawa, and has recently bought, and will build upon, 80 acres owned by Wm. D. Owens. Mr. and Mrs. W. are members of the Congregational Church, of which he has been a member for the past forty years, and is now deacon. In 1874 and 1875, Mr. Williams served his town as Treasurer; he is a Democrat. There are ten children, the two youngest born in Ottawa; David, James, Ellen, Mary, Maggie, Jane, John, Bessie, Hannah and Rees; Sarah died July 21, 1877.

W.J.D. WILLIAMS, farmer; Secs.9 and 16; P.O. Dousman; born in Merionethshire, North Wales, 1820; came to America in 1842, his parents having died in Wales; spent the first year in New York State, and early in June, 1843, reached Ottawa, buying 200 acres of his present farm of the Government, built a log house, and, like a poor but plucky man, he began working by the day and month for Edgerton, Dousmwhich was held in the old Towles law office; the Englishman and clergyman consulting Mr. D., and treating him as the Deacon of the church, though he bad hard work to fill the part successfully. In 1841, the first election for Ottawa and Genesee, was held at the house of Benjamin Jenkins, I. H. Tweedy (Whig), and Joseph Turner (Democrat) were candidates for the Territorial Council; Mr. D. worked hard that day, three Democrats agreed to vote for Twendy, if he, Dousman, would secrete the tickets behind an old log barn. Next came nine English Democrats, to the leaders of whom Mr. D., addressed himself, telling him that he believed Tweedy to be a rascal, but that it was far better to vote for him knowingly, than to vote for Turner in good faith, and then be disappointed in him, as the Democrats had previously been in the absconding Dr. Cornwall; this novel argument worked like a charm, and nine more Whig votes were cast by Democrats; as Mr. Tweedy bad seven majority in the county, the reader can draw his own inference. Mr. D. made the first claim in Ottawa in 1837--- Orchard and George Hosmer, being the next; on this, in 1838, he built the first frame barn within the present limits of Waukesha County; his log house was built in 1837, and in this the first sermon (Episcopalian) was preached by the Rev. Mr. Hull; in 1839, George Paddack, an Englishman, removed from Cleveland, Ohio, to Delafield, Waukesha Co., with his wife and two daughters--Jane K. S., and Helen F.; the elder of these, born in Litchfield, Herkimer Co., N. Y., was educated in Black River Seminary, Watertown, N. Y., and married Mr. Dousman 1839; he having business interests in Makinaw, two summers were spent there. the young couple settling on the Ottawa farm in the log house in 1840; this has since been their home, though the log house was replaced long ago with a spacious mansion built in a rambling fashion, and in both a New England and Southern style of architecture; it is heated with the second furnace ever sold in Milwaukee; a more beautiful old place than Ingleside" can not be found in the county, as the noble burr oaks around it are interspersed with all the evergreens, Sobering shrubs, etc., needed to make it so; the old barn, those built since the cheese factory, etc., making up a small village; Mr. sad Mrs. D. have two children, Hercules F. and Laura C.; the son was educated in Racine College, and the daughter in the Oconomowoc Ladies' Seminary; T. C. Dousman now owns over 400 acres here, and is a splendid type of Wisconsin pioneer settlers; he was for two years a resident of Green Bay, engaged in business with A. E. Elmore during the late war; Mr. D. is an outspoken Republican, and was the first Chairman of his town, which office he held many years; his son was Chairman in 1873 sad 1874, and represented the district in the legislature of 1877; the family are Episcopalians.

W.J.D. WILLIAMS, farmer; Secs.9 and 16; P.O. Dousman; born in Merionethshire, North Wales, 1820; came to America in 1842, his parents having died in Wales; spent the first year in New York State, and early in June, 1843, reached Ottawa, buying 200 acres of his present farm of the Government, built a log house, and, like a poor but plucky man, he began working by the day and month for Edgerton, Dousm was held in the old Towles law office; the Englishman and clergyman consulting Mr. D., and treating him as the Deacon of the church, though he bad hard work to fill the part successfully. In 1841, the first election for Ottawa and Genesee, was held at the house of Benjamin Jenkins, I. H. Tweedy (Whig), and Joseph Turner (Democrat) were candidates for the Territorial Council; Mr. D. worked hard that day, three Democrats agreed to vote for Twendy, if he, Dousman, would secrete the tickets behind an old log barn. Next came nine English Democrats, to the leaders of whom Mr. D., addressed himself, telling him that he believed Tweedy to be a rascal, but that it was far better to vote for him knowingly, than to vote for Turner in good faith, and then be disappointed in him, as the Democrats had previously been in the absconding Dr. Cornwall; this novel argument worked like a charm, and nine more Whig votes were cast by Democrats; as Mr. Tweedy bad seven majority in the county, the reader can draw his own inference. Mr. D. made the first claim in Ottawa in 1837--- Orchard and George Hosmer, being the next; on this, in 1838, he built the first frame barn within the present limits of Waukesha County; his log house was built in 1837, and in this the first sermon (Episcopalian) was preached by the Rev. Mr. Hull; in 1839, George Paddack, an Englishman, removed from Cleveland, Ohio, to Delafield, Waukesha Co., with his wife and two daughters--Jane K. S., and Helen F.; the elder of these, born in Litchfield, Herkimer Co., N. Y., was educated in Black River Seminary, Watertown, N. Y., and married Mr. Dousman 1839; he having business interests in Makinaw, two summers were spent there. the young couple settling on the Ottawa farm in the log house in 1840; this has since been their home, though the log house was replaced long ago with a spacious mansion built in a rambling fashion, and in both a New England and Southern style of architecture; it is heated with the second furnace ever sold in Milwaukee; a more beautiful old place than Ingleside" can not be found in the county, as the noble burr oaks around it are interspersed with all the evergreens, Sobering shrubs, etc., needed to make it so; the old barn, those built since the cheese factory, etc., making up a small village; Mr. sad Mrs. D. have two children, Hercules F. and Laura C.; the son was educated in Racine College, and the daughter in the Oconomowoc Ladies' Seminary; T. C. Dousman now owns over 400 acres here, and is a splendid type of Wisconsin pioneer settlers; he was for two years a resident of Green Bay, engaged in business with A. E. Elmore during the late war; Mr. D. is an outspoken Republican, and was the first Chairman of his town, which office he held many years; his son was Chairman in 1873 sad 1874, and represented the district in the legislature of 1877; the family are Episcopalians.

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