Brodhead City (part 2 of 2)

Reuben Fleek, of Brodhead, came to the town of Decatur witli his father in 1846. He was really instrumental in having his father remove to this State. He being the oldest son at home, the care of the family devolved upon him. And his brother, Edmund, havinggiven a somewhat glowing account of Green county, he advised his father to remove here with his family, which he did. Reuben was born in Hampshire Co., Va., May 31, 1822. After coming to Green county he resided with his father for a number of years. His settlement on leaving his fatlier's was on section 28, which he procured of the government and had owned since he first came to the county. He ressided on this farm for twenty-five years. He purchased a home in Brodhead, where he removed from the farm in 1876. Reuben 1^ leek, like his brothers, has been successful in accumulating property. He is somewhat eccentric, firm and decided in his opinions, and upright and honest in his business transactions. Mrs. Fleek was a daughter of Davis Bowen, who settled in the town of Sylvester in 1837. I'hey have four children - Winfield S., William M., Charles M. and Lillian Belle.

H. C. Putnam, of Brodhead, was born in Newark, Ohio, in 1847. He is a son of John J. Putnam, and came to Decatur with his parents in 1849. He enlisted in 1863, when but sixteen years old, in the 1st Wisco-isin Cavalry, and served untilJuly, 1865. He was in active service from the time he enlisted till the close of the war. He participated in a number of important battles. He was in the Atlanta campaign and at the battle of Nashville under Gen. Tliomas; also took part in Wilson's cavalry raid through Alabama and Georgia to Macon, Ga. After the war he attended school one year at Milton College. He then engaged as clerk for a time. He represented for several years, as a commercial traveler, a tobacco house in Milwaukee, and for four years traveled for the house of W, &. J. G. Flink, selling teas, spices, etc. From September, 1875, till the fall of 1877, he was engaged in general merchandising in the firm name of Orr & Putnam. He was one of the founders of the Norwegian Plow Co. He is at present dealing in lumber, which business he began in 1881, succeeding W. W. Hill, with whom he was associated for a short time Mr. Putnam is president of the village for 1884. Mrs. Putnam was Frances Sutherland, daughter of Avery Sutherland and granddaughter of Justus Sutherland.

Joseph Warren Stuart, a prominent citizen of Brodhead, settled in the town of Decatur, April 1, 1851, on a farm he had purchased the previous lOth of September. This farm is located on section 27, and was entered by Anson Sheffield. At the time Mr. Stuart bought it there was about ten acres improved, and a log cabin had been built by the former owner. Mr. Sheffield, from whom he made the purchase, was of Morraonistic tendency, and removed to Salt Lake. Mr. Stuart is a native of Delaware Co., N. Y., and was born in 1819. His father, Sylvester Stuart, was formerly from Washington Co., N. Y., and his grandfather, Joseph Stuart, was a native of Massachusetts. 'JMie latter was a Revolutionary soldier. His maternal grandfather, Kzra Doty, was also a soldier of the Revol;ttion, and was present at the execution of Major Andre. When thirteen years old Joseph went with his parents to Ohio. At the age of seventeen he went to Bennington, Vt., and engaged at work in the cotton factory, where he reniaii)e<l two years, then spent six years on the ' f.irm, tlien returned and spent three years iji the factory. In 1849 he came to Wisconsin and engaged at work in a sash, door and blind factory. He came to the town of Decatur in 1851, as before stated, but for a number of years was engaged in the manufacture of sash, doors, coffins, etc., his shop being on the farm. In 1872 he sold his farm to B. PI. Fleek, and removed to Brodhead. Mr. Stuart is numbered among the successful business men of Decatur. He has now practically retired from the more active business duties of life, and is in possession of a competence. He owns considerable real estate, including two good farms, besides village property in Brodhead. His wife, to whom he was married Jan. 21, 1844, was formerly Lydia R. Lasell, a native of Gouverneur, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. They have had but one child - Pbebe Ann, who died on the 7th day of January, 1846, at the age of eleven months. They have had several adopted children, two of whom - Mary W. and Ezra H., they reared from the ages respectively of six and ten years. The latter enlisted in the army in 1862, in the 18th Wisconsin Infantry, re-enlisted in the 4th Cavalry, was one of the captors of Jefferson Davis, and served until the close of the war. He now lives in Hancock Co., 111. Mary W. is the wife of Abner Mitchell, and lives near Waverly, Iowa. Another adopted daughter is now at Deadwood, Dak., and another, an infant daughter, died in 1858, but a few days after her adoption. Mr. Stuart is among the best class of Green county citizens, and as a business man has the confidence and respect of his fellow men.

John Douglas, a prominent citizen of Brodhead, came to Green county in 1854. He was born in the county of Sutherland, Scotland, on July 15, 1812, and came to the United States with his father's family in 1828. They settled in Monongalia Co., W. Va., where Mr. Douglas lived until 1834, when he was married and removed to Fayette Co., Penn. In 1835, he came to Milwaukee Co., Wis., where he settled on a farm and lived nineteen years. At that time Milwaukee was but a small village, and Mr. Douglas became well acquainted with the first settlers of that place, who were Solomon Juneau, George Walker and Byron Kilbourn. He lived in Milwaukee county until 1854, when he came to Green county and settled in the town of Decatur on a partially improved farm, where he lived until he came to the village of Brodhead in 1872. He still owns a part of that farm. Mr. Douglas has good business qualifications and has had good success, being now numbered among the wealthy and substantial citizens of Brodhead. His parents, James and Ann (Oliver) Douglas, were born on the border, between England and Scotland, the former on the Scotland side and the latter on the English side of the line. After marriage they removed to Sutherland county. Mr. Douglas' father died in the State of Maryland before he had reached his intended destination in Virginia. His mother died in Virginia at the age of about eighty years. The parents of Mr. Douglas had seven children - six sons and one daughter. He has been three times married. His first wife was Mary J. Brown, who was born in Pennsylvania and died in Milwaukee county. His second wife was Mrs. Almira (Bates) Shaff, who died at Brodhead in 1881. His present wife was Mrs. Amanda (Hart) Holcomb. Mr. Douglas is the father of five children, two of whom are now living - James W. and William H. The former lives in Brodhead, the latter resides on and owns a part of the homestead farm. Mr. Douglas has two brothers and one sister - Andrew in Milwaukee county, Mrs. Jane Barlow in Wheeling, W. Va., and Thomas, his youngest brother, who formerly lived in the town of Decatur, but now resides in Johnson Co., Kansas. Mr. Douglas' education was limited. Politically he was formerly a whig, but upon the organization of the republican party, he joined them, and continues to vote for those principles. He is a member of the Congregational Church, and is in favor of prohibition.

Stair Bros., of Brodhead, keep a first-class general grocery store, with which they have connected a drug department. The brothers, Jehu and Heni'y Stair, are sons of Peter Stair, who came to this county June 30, 1855, locating on section 3(3, in tlie town of Jefferson. In 1 865 he removed to an improved farm on section 25. He retired from farming and settled in the village of Juda, where he died, Nov. 15, 18V8. His wife died Sept. 9, 1882. There were eleven children in the family when they came to Green county, ten of whom, six sons and four daughters, are still living - William, in Clark Co., Dak.; Mrs. Samautha Obenchain, in Mono Co., Cal.; Mrs. Martha Regudtt, (widow) at the homestead in Jefferson; Mrs. Ellen Obenchain, in McKinney, Texas; Jehu, Dr. M. P. Stair, of Black Earth, Dane Co., Wis.; Mrs. Antoinette Allen, at Darlington, Wis.; Dr. Theodore F. Stair, at Mazomania, Wis.; Henry and Dr. J. B. Stair, at Spring Green, Wis. A daughter, Elsie, the sixth child, died at the age of twenty-niiie years. Jebu, the elder of the firm of Stair Bros., was born in Virginia in 1833, He was married to Eleanor, daughter of Benjamin Chambers, who settled on section 35, of the town of Jefferson, in 1839. Mr. and Mrs. Jehu Stair have two children - Mary G. and Landus C. Henry Stair was boi-n in Viiginia in 1845. He was married to Mary E., also a daughter of Benjamin Chambers. They have five children - Elsie, Louis, Sydney, Mary and Henry. While Henry Stair and family were on a pleasure trip to the Rocky Mountains in the summer of 1879, an event of their expedition was the ascent of Pike's Peak. His son, Louis, went on foot and return, the distance being about twenty miles, being then between ten and eleven years old. This was a feat probably never before accomplished by one so young. Stair Bros, have established an extensive trade, and their integrity and ability as business men are unquestioned.

Bowen R. Clawson dates his residence in Green county from 1855, but was here temporarily as early as 1852. He was born in Green Co., Penn , in 1837, where he lived till 1851. Li that year he removed to Waukesha, Wis., with his parents. He early engaged in the grain business, buying for the Forest City Mills at Waukesha, Stoughton and also at Juda, in this county. He began his mercantile career, as clerk, in Juda, though he had previously sold goods at Waukesha. He began mercantile trade, for himself, at Juda, in April, 1860, and in 1862 came to Brodhead and engaged in business, in the firm name of Clawson & Roderick. After continuing some time, he sold to Mr. Roderick, and purchased the store which he now owns. He continued in mercantile trade alone and with various partners, until 188). He was then succeeded by Aurand & Terry, but he still owns the store building. Mr. Clawson is an active, energetic business man, and has acquired a competence. Since his residence in Brodhead, he has not confined his business to merchandising, but dealt in wool and grain for many years, and lately has dealt extensively in wool. Mr. Clawson began business with nothing, but has succeeded by energy and a determination to win. His father, Phineas Clawson, came to Brodhead in 1865, where he died in March, 1882, at the age of eighty-five years. His mother died several years previous to the death of her husband. Mr. Clawson was married to Matilda R. South, daughter of Abijah South, who settled in the town of Jefferson, in 1846, coming there from Pennsylvania. He died in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Clawson have two children - Bowen R., born in 1869, and Sadie, born in October, 1876.

Sceva P. Taft has been a resident of Brodhead since June, 1856. He was born in Pottsdam, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., in 1821, where he lived till twenty-two years of age, when he went to Ogdensburg, N. Y., and engaged in the business of piano making, to which he had served an apprenticeship in his native town. He remained several years at Ogdensburg, and then went to Vergennes, Vt., where he had charge of a piano factory one year. Thence again to St. Lawrence county, where his parents were still living. He soon after came to Wisconsin, and lived in Milwaukee and Waukesha for two years. At Milwaukee he was employed in the railroad car shop in the construction of passenger cars, assisting in building the first passenger car constructed in the State of Wisconsin. He returned to New York in the fall of 1855, and came to Brodhead, as stated, the following year. He engaged here, at first, in clerking in the drug store of E. C. Clinton, and bought out Mr. Clinton in 1858. He subsequently disposed of his drug business, and was engaged in the hardware trade for a number of years; later he engaged in real estate and insurance, which was his business for many years. Mr. Taft has been a justice of the peace most of the time for twenty years. He has been twice married; his first wife was Jane Critchet, a native of Ogdensburg, N. Y., who died in Waukesha, in 1856; his present wife was Catharine E. Conkey, born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., in the town of Canton. He has one child by his first wife - Edmond, now engaged at railroading. He has three children by his present wife - Jennie May, Nellie A. and George J. Mr. Taft's father, Silas Taft, came to Brodhead in 1856, and lived with his children till his decease. His mother is still living, at the age of niiiety years. Two of his brothers were among the early carpenters of Brodhead. The elder. Ransom Taft, built the Clinton Hotel in 1856, and conducted it for several years. He is now in Chicago. The younger brother, Judsou, resides in Racine.

James T. Sherman is one of the earliest settlers of Brodhead. He was of the firm of Sherman, Clinton & Co., the firstgeneral mercantile firm of the village, a history of which appears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Sherman is a native of New Haven, Conn., where he was born, April 1*7, 1819. He is of au eminent descent, being a great-grandson of the illustrious

Roger Sherman, of Continental and Revolutionary fame. He was reared to the occupation of farming in Sufiield, of his native Stale, not far from the city of Springfield, Mass. Mrs. Sherman was formerly Abby Morgan. Her father was Deacon Jasper Morgan. She was born in Windsor, Conn., March 17, 1824, and is a sister of the late Edwin D. Morgan, the eminent statesman, and great war governor of the State of New York. Thus both Mr. and Mrs. Sherman are connected with men whose names will ever be conspicuous in the history of our country. Mr. Sherman came to Brodhead from Connecticut, in 1856, with his family, consisting of wife and seven children, and immediately engaged in mercantile trade, in which he continued two years, and soon after engaged in agricultural pursuits, to which he has since devoted the greater portion of his time, but has now retired from the more active duties of life. He possesses one of the many beautiful homes in Brodhead, and is now passing his declining years in peace and comfort. Mr. and Mrs. Sherman have been identified with the Congregational Church since its organization in 1856, he being one of the deacons of that society. They have had nine children - James Morgan, Abby T., Eliza M., Anna M., Charles J., John T. and Jessie T., (twins) Helen M. and Fannie B. The two youngest were born in Brodhead.

John B. Blancliard was one of the early business men in Brodhead, coming here when the town started in 1856, and erecting one of the first dwellings on the village plat. Soon after coming here, he engaged in buying grain, live stock, dressed hogs, etc., in which occupation, he was one of the first to engage. After a residence here of several years, he purchased the warehouse now occupied by Dunwiddie & Taylor, and continued the grain trade until his decease, which occurred March 13, 1876. His advantages for obtaining an education in early life, were only medium, but he was a very good business man, a man of sterling integrity, strictly temperate in his habits, and withal, an esteemed and valuable citizen. He met with some unfortunate reverses in his earlier business enter, prises, yet by persevering effort, he was enabled to leave to his family a good competence. He was a native of Caledonia Co., Vt., born Oct* 13, 1820, where he was reared, and married to Helen M. Laird, in 1847, who was born in Barnet, Vt., in 1821. Mrs. Blanchard is still a resident of Brodhead. She has no surviving children, but has lost three - Azel A., born in Vermont, and died in 1859, at the age of ten years; Helen M., who died in infancy; and John A., her last surviving child, was killed while coupling cars, in November, 1881. Mrs. Blanchard occupies the home built by her husband, in 1868.

Hai'vey F. Moore came to Brodhead in 1856. He was born in Barnet, Vt., in 1809. He was married to Sophia B. Laird, a sister of Mrs. H. M. Blanchard. Capt. Moore, as he was familiarly called, was a man of prominence among the business men of Brodhead, and was also well known politically, and served a term in both branches^of the legislature of Wisconsin. He was engaged in grain buying here for a number of years. He purchased a farm in the town of Spring Grove, and resided, alternately, on the farm and in the village, until his death, which occurred in April, 1877. Mrs. Moore now lives in the village of Brodhead, having sold her farm in Spring Grove. She has three children - Catharine, wife ol P. J. Clawson; Harvey J., in St. Paul, Minn.; and Peter T.

Hiram Bowen came to Green county first in 1850, and settled here permanently in 1858. He is a brother of Ephraim Bowen. He was born in Erie Co., N. Y., in 1827. His parents were Pardon and Maria Bowen, who removed from Cayuga county to Erie county. Pardon I5owen died in 1840, and his wife a number of years previous to tliat time. Hiram Bowen grew to manhood in Erie county, and in 1853 was married to Catharine E. McMartin. Her father, Daniel McMartin, was a native of Scotland, who came to this country when a child. Soon after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Bowen went overland to California, being about four months in reaching their destination. After crossing the Missouri river, settlers were not numerous on the route which they took to the Pacific coast. The first building they saw after crossing that river was Fort Laramie, about 500 miles west of Council Bluffs. This was Mr. Bowen's second trip to California - he having gone there in 1851 by way of the Isthmus. They remained several years in California, and returned to the State of New York. On coming to this county, Mr. Bowen engaged in merchandising with his brother Ephraim, at Albany. He afterwards engaged in farming in the town of Mount Pleasant. He came to Brodhead in the spring of 1873 and engaged in the lumber business, which he continued until January, 1881, when he was succeeded by his son, Albert M. Mr. and Mrs. Bowen have three children - Albert M., born in California, in 1854; Addie, born in 1860; and Nellie, born in 1870. Albert M. is married and has three children - Kittle Maude, Lotta Emeretta and Edith E.

Harmon B. Stewart has resided in the town of Decatur, this county, since April, 1858. He was born in the town of Silver Lake, Susquehanna Co., Penn., Jan. 18, 1818. He is a brother of J. W. Stewart, of Brodhead. His father, Sylvester Stewart, removed from Vermont to Pennsylvania, and soon after the birth of H. B. removed to the State of New York, and settled near the Vermont line. The family removed to Clinton, Wayne Co., Ohio, in 1833, and located on a farm. In 1835 Mr. Stewart went to Vermont, and engaged in cotton manufacturing at North Bennington. The factory in which he was engaged was destroyed by fire, and Mr. Stuart then engaged at the work of a machinist and built a uumber of looms, lie returned to Ohio in 1837, but went in the fall of the following year to Adams, Mass., remained eight months, then returning to Vermont, pursued his former occupation at Bennington until 1845, when he I'eturned to the homestead farm in Ohio, where he remained twelve years, then came to Green county, and has since been a resident of this town. In the spring of 1862 he bought an interest in the flouring mill near old Decatur village, and was connected therewith until the close of 1866. Since the beginning of 1867 he has been engaged in farming, real estate, loaning money, etc. Mr. Stewart is numbered among the most successful and substantial business men of Brodhead. He now owns at least 1,200 acres of land in the vicinity of Brodhead, and is a man of sound financial ability. He has been three times married, first in Vermont to Harriet C. Tanner, a native of Wilmington, Vt. She died in 1871. His second wife was Mrs. Clarinda Harrington. His present wife was Mrs. Lavina Dubois. By his first wife he has three children - Sylvester, a former successful merchant in Brodhead, now at Hancock, Stevens Co., Minn., where he is a large land owner and produce dealer; Mrs. Emma Walling, wife of Percy Walling, who now resides in Kansas; and Harmon T., now living in Brodhead. By his second wife he has one son - Gerald.

J. Brant is a harness maker, of Brodhead, that business there now being represented by him, Joseph Gramm and Henry Richards. The first to open a shop of this kind in the place was Albert Shearer, in 1858, who employed his brother-in-law, Michael Ott, as workman, who made the first harness manufactured in the vilage. The shop was continued but a short time. Mr. Ott is now a resident of Janesville. The second shop was opened in 1859, by J. Brant, the subject of this sketch, who has since been in the business, except his service in the army, and another recent short interval. He was born in Ohio, in 1832, and when but seven years old removed to Indiana with his step-father, his own father, Abraham Brant, having died when he was but two years of age. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania. He learned his trade in Wabash City, Ind., after which he spent a number of years traveling and working at his trade at different places, until he engaged in

1 862, by virtue of an order issued by the war department for the discharge of regimental bands. He re-enlisted in 1863 as a member of the band of the 1st brigade, third division, fifteenth army corps, and served until August, 1865. He participated in Sherman's Atlanta campaign, and in the march to the sea. He was married to Ellen Cow en, a daughter of Mrs. Charlotte Cowen, who was an early settler of Green county. Mrs. Brant died a number of years since, leaving two children - Fred, born in 1867, and Tina, born in 1869.

D. C. Day, of Brodhead, settled in the town of York, Oct. 3, 1843. His father, D. B. Day, located in that town the previous year, coming from Geauga Co., Ohio. D. B. Day was a native of Madison Co., N. Y., born in 1798, in which county he continued to reside until he reached manhood, when he moved to Genesee county, thence to Ohio, in 1840, and to this county in 1842. The wife of D. B. Day was formerly Hannah Cass. They had nine children who grew to maturity, seven of whom, five sons, and two daughters, are still living. They removed to Kansas, in 1856, during the existence of border warfare in that State, where Mrs. D. B. Day died. Her husband removed to Iowa, in

1863, where he died. D. C. Day, the subject of this sketch, was born in Canada West, where his parents were then living. He was reared in the State of New York, removed to Ohio with his parents, and came to Green county, in 1843. He first settled on a farm in the town of York, which he had obtained from the govei'nment. At that time there were living within the borders of that town: John Stewart, Sr., William Crowell, Albro Crowell, son of William; William C. Green, Joseph Miller, William Spears, Simeon Alden, Ezra Wescott, Amos Conkey, D. B. Day, Philander Pebbles and Henry Hurlbert. Of these families only that of Philander Pebbles now (1884) remains. Mr. Day has been twice married. His first wife was Mary Bryant, a daughter of Jesse Bryant. His second and present wife was Mrs. Mary A. Crosby, a daugh" ter of Elder Decker, of Newark, Rock county, and the widow of Haskell Crosby. Mr. Day has six children by his first wife - Albert L., a physician located atPostville, in the town of York; Edwin R., living near Lemars, Iowa; Lewis E., in Nebraska; Rosella, widow of Francis Grinnell; Nellie, wife of E, A. Lynn; and Willie B., near Lemars, Iowa. His youngest son died in 1880. Mrs. Day has seven children, five daughters, and two sons, by her former marriage - Martha, Angelia, wife of A. E. Hall; Ella, wife of F. E. Darling; Emma, wife of R. E. Hoyt, Erwin C, Hattie and Harvey.

E. R. Sprague, Esq., the present police justice of Brodhead, is a native of Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., born in 1830. He received a good common school education. In 1846 he came with his parents to Rock county, and in the winter of 1847 engaged in teaching school in the town of Spring Valley. He followed teaching and farming for a number of years in Rock county. In November, 1854, he came to Clarence, in this county, and taught a number of terms. He was well known as a successful teacher, for many years, and there are many men and women in Green aud Rock counties who have reached or passed the meridian of life, who received the benefit of his instruction. After taking up his residence in Green county, he was absent for a number of years. He went to Menomonee, in Dunn Co., Wis., where he was engaged in the construction of the extensive saw mill of Knapp, Stout & Co., at that place. He remained there three years. He went to Orfordville in 1860, and there resided until 1867, thence to Evansville, where he was engaged in business three years, thence to a farm near Stoughton, Dane county. Two years later he came to this county and located at Albany, remaining there a year and a half. He then came to Brodhead. He has been a justice of the peace for several years, and superintendent of the city schools, two years. Mr. Sprague has been three times married. His present wife is a native of St. Johns, N. B. He has four children - Flora May, F. Guy, Alberta, a teacher in the graded schools of Brodhead, and Hugh. His oldest son is an expert printer, and a compiler of city directories, also a step-son, C. W. Murphy, a clerk in W. W. Roderick's dry goods store in Brodhead for several years. Mr, Sprague is a genial gentleman, socially, and well liked for his many excellencies of character.

Joseph Thompson aud wife are engaged in a general millinery and fancy goods business in Brodhead. They were engaged in the same business at Albany, in this county, previous to coming to Brodhead. Mr. Thompson was born in Canada, in December, 1833, of American parents. When a child he removed with his parents to Ohio, and thence to Rockford, III. He enlisted the first year of the war, Sept. 18, 1861, in the 8th Illinois Cavalry. He served three years in the array, and was discharged Oct. 28, 1864. He participated in many important battles, including Yorktown, Williamsburg, seven days' fight, and retreat of McClellan, second battle of Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville, where hehada horse shot under him and was taken prisoner. After remaining three days in the hands of the rebels, he succeeded in escaping from his guard at midnight and and reached the Union lines in safety. He participated in twenty of the most important engagements of the Rebellion, including Gettysburg. After the war he returned to Rockford, and thence tO' Waterloo, Iowa, where he lived two years. He came to this county in 1868, locating at Albany. Mrs. Thompson was formerly Charlotte Marson, a native of Nottingham, England. She came to the United States in 1847, with her parents, who settled at Rochester, N. Y., and removed to Ogle Co., III., in 1854, and during the late Rebellion took an active part in woman's work for the Union at Washington City, under a government commission.

John J. Pfisterer, dealer in diamonds and jewelry, at Brodliead, established his business here in 1866, succeeding A. G. Wetstein. Mr. Ptisterer was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, in 1841. He learned the trade of watchmaker in his native country, and came to the United States in 1861. He worked at Ann Arbor, Mich., three years, then went to Chicago, where he resided two years. Mr. Pfisterer is an excellent workman, and has established an extensive and lucrative trade. He is also a successful business man. He owns the store building which he occupies, also a pleasant home in the village, and a good farm in the town of Sp.ing Grove. His wife was also a native of Wurtemburg. i hey have one daughter - Clarie.

Ernest Hahn is the merchant tailor of Brodhead. He engaged in business here in 1868. Mr. Hahn was born in the northern part of Germany, in 1832. He learned his trade in his native land, and came to the United States in 1856. He worked at his trade in Cleveland, Ohio, fora time; in 1857, came to Madison, Wis. In the spring of 1859, he went to Prairie du Chien, and soon after came to Morroe, Green county, and in a short time went to St. Louis and remained one year. lie then returned to this county and located at Monroe, where he remained working at his trade, with his father-inlaw, until he came to Brodhead. His wife was Mary Spahr, daughter of Peter Spahr, of Monroe. Mr. and Mrs. Hahn have four children. The eldest, a daughter, was born in St. Louis. Two sons were born in Monroe and one in Brodhead. Mr. Hahn is an excellent workman and does a prosperous business.

Charles W. Lucas, artist and photographer, at Brodhead, located here in April, 1869. He is a native of Maine, and was born in Piscataquis county of that State in 1841. He engaged in the business of photography in 1866, and in 1868 came to Wisconsin. He was in company with other parties till the spring of 1871, since which time he has carried on business alone.

Mr. Lucas has had much experience in photography, is an excellent artist, and possesses facilities for doing first-class work. Mrs. Lucas' maiden name was Bashie Springstead. She has lived in Brodhead and vicinity since she was a child, and is a daughter of David Springstead, who came to Green county in March, 1855, and died subsequently. Mrs. Springstead and six daughters are still living. Two of the latter, besides Mrs. Lucas, reside in this county, Mrs. Sarah Straw and Mrs. Dolly Gardner. Two reside in Illinois, Mrs. Georgia Stiles and Rella, unmarried, and one, Mrs. Esther Johns, lives in Nebraska. There were also two sons in the family, William, who went to California in 1859 where he died in 1861, and Jeremiah, who served in the War of tiie Rebellion, first in the 3d Wisconsin Infantry, company C, and afterwards in company B, of the 46th regiment. He removed to Minnesota after the war, where he died in 1875.

Charles F. Thompson, a well known citizen of Green county, is a native of Susquehanna Co., Penn., born in 1828. He came to this county with his father, who settled in the town of Sylvester, at quite an early day, and was one of the prominent farmers and dairymen of that town. Charles F. Thompson was married to Kate C. Chandler, daughter of Josephus Chandler, who settled in Dane county, where he died in !85'J. Mr. Chandler emigrated to Wisconsin from the State of Maine. Mrs. Thomp-*on was one of the early teachers in the town of Sylvester, engaging in that occupation in 1851. He was one of the prominent business men of Sylvester, and resided for considerable time in the village of Monticello, engaged in farming and other occupations. He was a member i»f the legislature of Wisconsin while a resident of Monticello. In 1863 he removed to Milwaukee and engaged in a commission business. From Milwaukee he went to Green Bay and engaged in lumbering. He came to Brodhead in 1870. At the present time (1884) he has charge of the toll road from Deadvvood to Lead City. This road he helped to construct. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are the parents of two children - Thomas W., who resides near Dead wood on a ranch, and Carrie S., wife of George M. Pierce,

William Smith is a son of Archibald Smith, who was born in Scotland, and came to Wisconsin from Livingston Co., N. Y., and settled on a farm of government land in the town of Spring Valley, on the town line, adjoining the town of Decatur, where he still lives. Archibald Smith has seven children. William was born at the homestead in 1849. He has been a resident of Brodhead since 1881. He is employed as a clerk in the Grange store, in which he owns stock. He also owns stock in the Brodhead Creamery. His wife was Clara, daughter of E. G. Melendy. She was born in the town of Cottage Grove, near Madison. They have two children - Marilla and Alice D.

W. R. Skinner is the present station ag^ent of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company at Brodhead, The first to hold that position was J. L. McNair; the second, Charles Peck, who was succeeded by W, S, Alexander, who was followed by S. Hills, who in turn was succeeded by Warren H, Barnes, who was agent for fifteen years, until his decease, in August, 1881, when Mr. Skinner, subject of this sketch, took the position thus made vacant, Mr. Skinner was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., in 1854, and came to Wisconsin with his father.

Robert Skinner, in 1866. The latter settled with his family at Monroe, but in 1868 the family removed to LeRoy, Bremer Co., Iowa. W. R. Skinner came to Brodhead in 1873, and engaged as clerk for Mr. Barnes, the former agent, also in learning telegraphy, at this oflice. He afterwards went to Atchison, Kansas, where for four years he was cashier of the Rock Island Railroad office at that place. He returned to Brodhead to assist Mr. Barnes, who was his brother-in-law, in the illness of the latter, Mr. Barnes was a man who had had an extensive experience in railroad business previous to coming to Brodhead, and was a faithful and efficient officer, Mr. Skinner was married to May Woodle, a daughter of Allen Woodle, one of the earliest settlers of Green county. He is a capable officer, and a courteous and popular gentleman,

Frank J, Bucklin, proprietor of livery stable at Brodhead, succeeded G. B, Wooster in 1882. He is a native of Iowa, and was born in Jackson county in 1852, He removed to Illinois with his parents, where he attended school for ten years, then went to Pennsylvania, and was engaged in the oil regions eight years. He was married in Pennsylvania to Eliza Bruner, a native of that State. They have four children - Rodney, Nettie, Frank and Maggie, Mr. Bucklin's stables are furnished with excellent teams, and he has become deservedly popular as an accommodating and reliabl6 gentleman.