Eldorado Town

Eldorado Town

liEANDER AXDERSON, farmer, Sec. 31 ; P. 0. EldoraJo Mills; was born in Lewis Co., N. Y., Nov. 2, 1823. His father, Nicholas Anderson, was born in Connecticut; his mother, Sybil Buel, was a native of New York. Leauder, the third son of a family of seven children, lived with his parents on a farm in his native county till about 15 years old ; then, induced by some boys, he threw his budget of clothing from the chamber window, and stole away from his father's home at night, and sought employ on the Block River Canal, in Lewis Co. ; not finding it, on his way homeward, he bargained himself to a man who put him to chopping, a few strokes with the ax convinced him that he had not yet found his expected easy job, so he left his ax sticking in the tree, and left without telling his employer good-by, and went to his brother-in-law's in Oswego Co., then he followed the painter's trade for two years, but it proving injurious to his health, he sought other employment for a while ; he then began the ship carpenpenter's trade in Oswego, which he continued there for two years; in the summer of 18-14, he came to Huron, Erie Co., Ohio, where he found employment at painting a vessel for a short time ; thence to Cleveland, Ohio, where he continued the painter's trade three months ; then in company with three others, he went to Cincinnati, where they found work for a short time ; he next came with a comrade to St. Louis, but finding no employment, he came to Vandalia, 111., with no better success ; returning again to St. Louis, he found a few weeks' work ; almost penniless, he went thence to New Orleans with better results, for a short time; in January, 1845, via the Ohio River, he returned to Cleveland, thence to his brother-in-law with only 13 cents in his pocket; after a short stay there, having received a letter from Capt. Dana, he went again to Huron, and in the spring of 1845, went to Detroit, Mich., for two months; he then returned to Huron ; two months later, he went home for a short time ; thence to Quebec, thence home again, thence via Cleveland to Adrian, Mich., where he continued painting till June, 1847 ; he next went to Jackson, Mich., and to Eaton Rapids, where he built a skift', put his trunk in, and sailed down the river to Grand Haven, where he arrived without a cent ; then, as best he could, made his way to Chicago ; remaining there a short time, he took passage on the Luther Wright, a three-mast schooner bound for Bellville Bay, Canada ; returned thence with Capt. Dana to Huron, where he continued the painter's trade for some time. March, 1848, he was married to Miss Susan, a daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Dent) Nichols, and in March, 1850, he left his wife in Huron and went to California, where he was employed by the Virginia Mining Damming Company; in June, 1851, he returned to Huron, and there continued the ship-builder's trade till the fall of 1854 ; he next returned to his fether's farm for a short season, and in June, 1855, went to Cape Vincent, Jefferson Co., N. Y., where they took passage for Wisconsin, and in September following, landed in Sheboygan ; here he painted a boat and lived till January, 1856, and then went to Manitowoc, Wis., where he followed the ship-carpenter's trade till June, 1856 ; lastly, he came to the town of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., and settled on a farm of forty acres in Sec. 32, and in the spring of 1868 bought a farm of sixty acres, forty in Sec. 31, town of Eldorado, and twenty in Sec. 36, town of Rosendale ; he has since been a farmer; their children are Blanche, Nicholas and Lillian M.

KENDRICK DILTS. farmer, Sees. 2'.) and 3; P. 0. Eldorado Mills; born in Cayuga Co.,-N. Y., Aug. 29, 1818; son of' William and Cylinda Dilts, a farmer; at the age of 11 years, he went with his people to Ohio, and was educated in that State; he was brought up on a farm; at the age of 26, he moved to Racine, buying some land and engaged in farming there for three years ; he then came to Fond du Lac, buying forty acres of land in Sec. 20, town of Eldorado ; the following year he bought another forty ; in 1863, he purchased another sixty, in Sees. 29 and 30, and sold his first farm; he has lived here ever since engaged in farming. He married in Liberty, Crawford Co., Ohio, in 1842, Matilda, daughter of Richard and Polly King, a farmer of that town, and one of the first settlers there; have had seven children - Sally A., Lyle K., William R. (deceased), Cyrus A., Wilson H., Amanda M., Ettie E. Family attend the Free-Will Baptist Church ; Mr. Dilts has held the office of Supervisor of his town, and is the present owner of sixty acres of land in Sees. 29 and 3. Is politically. Independent.

MELrVIlV DUEL (deceased) was born in Hebron, Washington Co., N. Y., June 29,J824;^ he came to Wisconsin in 1848, and settled in the town of Eldorado, where he married, on the 27th of March, 1850, Laura Wolcott, daughter of W. C. and Mercy Wolcott, pioneer settlers and still honored citizens of the town of Eldorado, she was born in Trenton, Oneida Co., N. Y., Oct. 8, 1813 ;^ their children are Dirg, now of Brown Co., Minn.; Delia, wife of William Carpenter, of the town of Eldorado, he was a soldier during the war of the rebellion ; Dora, Delos, Strabo, Efiie M., Lewis, Arthur, Lottie B.,

George (deceased) ; during the war of the rebellion, Mr. Duel served in Co. A, 2d W. V. C, was enrolled Oct. 2, 1861, and served until January 23, 1865, when he was honorably discharged ; the records of his regiment show that he was a gallant and brave soldier ; after his discharge, he returned to his home in Eldorado, where he died Jan. 8, 18S0 ; himself and his wife were the first couple married in the town of Eldorado; she owns 156 acres of land, and cheese factory, which was the first factory in Eldorado, was established by her husband in 1878.

JOSIAH ROBERTS, farmer, Sec. 6; P.O. Nekama, Winnebago Co; was born in Eldorado, Fonddu Lac Co., in ISl'.l ; son of David and Mary Roberts, formerly of Wales, Vale of Clwyd, a former, who came to America in 1847, buying 220 acres of land in Sec. 6, Eldorado ; he returned to Wales for his health in 1869, ancf died therein 1870 ; he built the first frame house in the town in 1847. The subject of this sketch received an academic and common-school education in his native county, and was brought up on a farm ; at the age of 22, he went to California and engaged in speculating in stocks for two years and a half; he then returned to Eldorado and settled on the homestead farm with his mother, taking charge of and running the farm, at which he has been occupied ever since, and, at the death of his mother, he will be the entire owner, having bought out his brother's interest in it. He married in 0.shkosh, Dec. 17, 1879, Martha J., daughter- of Samuel and Ann Williams, a farmer of Henry Co., 111. They are members of the Calvin Welsh Methodist Church ; he is politically a Republican.

JA9IES K. SCRIBT^ER ; P. 0. Eldorado Mills; was born in Norwalk, Conn., in 1828 ; is the son of Joseph and Sarah Kellogg Scribner, a farmer. The subject of this sketch received a common-school and academic education in his native place ; at the age of 21 he came West to Ro-sendale, Wis., and settled on land previously purchased by his father, of 160 acres; in 1853, he purchased an undivided half of this farm of his father; in 1858, he came to Eldorado and located on property he owned, having, in 1857, bought Barnett's saw-mill, water-power lands, and privileges connected with them. Mr. Hiram Wheeler was connected with him in running the mill, and they afterward built a small grist-mill ; Mr. Wheeler died in the summer of 1859 ; Mr. Van Ostrand then bought Mr. Wheeler's interest ; in 1867, Mr. Scribner bought out Mr. Van Ostrand, and, in 1868, he rebuilt the mills, enlarging the capacity, and has ever since been engaged in milling ; his mill now has four run of stone ; he is also proprietor of the only general store in the village of Eldorado Mills, and is the present owner of fifty acres of land in Sec. 31, 32 and 29, besides his mill property. He married, in Rosendale, in January, 1857, Laura M., daughter of Hiram Wheeler; have had eight children - Winthrop, Walter, Lizzie L., Abbie L., Joseph H., Kittie M., Harry C. and Mabel W. They are members of the Congregational Chureh. Mr. Scribner was a member of the State Legislature in 1876, and is now the Chairman of the Town Board ; politically he is a Republican.

JOHN F. STEELE, farmer, Sec. 19 ; P. 0. Eldorado Mills ; born in the town of Remsen, Oneida Co., N. Y., June 23, 1814; son of Joseph and Betsy Steele, a clothier by trade, and afterward followed farming. The subject of this sketch, when he was about 9 years of age, moved, with his family, to the town of 'Trenton, same county, and received a common and select school education in this place, and, in 1845, after receiving a certificate, he commenced teaching in that county until June 5, 1848, when he started for Wisconsin, and came to Rosendale, Fond du Lac Co. ; that fall he took Mr. C. H. Lyman's farm, and ran it for one year ; he then accepted the position in the first school in the town of Eldorado ; he followed the occupation of teaching for thirteen winters, and farming in the summers on a farm owned by him of forty acres, in Sec. 19, Eldorado ; after giving up teaching, he applied himself directly to farming, and is the present owner of 296 J acres in this county ; he is also extensively engaged in raising Stock. He married June, 1857, Jennie, daughter of Theron Frisbee, a carpenter and farmer ; had one child by this wife - Oriiha J. ; this wife died Feb. 15, 1859. He married a second time; July 25, 1863, in Lamartine, to Charlotte, daughter of Adam and Judith HoUiday, a farmer ; have had seven children - Ellsworth, deceased ; John F., Carrie E., Arthur A., Lottie M., Anna J., Henry F. Mr. Steele has held the oflice of Town Clerk, Town Superintendent for several years. Family attend the Congregational Church ; he is, politically, a Republican.

JOHN STELZER, manufacturer of furniture, and undertaker, P. 0. Eldorado Mills; born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, in 1834 ; son of John and Margaret Stelzer, a farmer. The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools of his native place; in his 20th year, he came to America, and located in New York City ; when he was 14 years old, he learned the cabinet-maker's trade; and, during his stay in New York, he followed his trade; in 1869, he came West to Fond du Lac, and, for two years, worked in the car-shops ; he then worked for H. L. Bass & Co. until they closed business, when he went to work for Blankenberg ; in 1876, he came to Eldorado and opened a cabinet store, and engaged in the manufacture of furniture, also undertaking -, in 1877, he bought a piece of property, put up a two-story store and dwelling, where he has continued in business ever since. He married. in New York, iu 1857, Caroline, daughter of John and Christina Kog, a farmer; have had seven children - Henry (deceased), Rosa, Mary, Lizzie, George, Fred (deceased), John ; are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Stelzer is a member of the Order of Druids of Fond du Lac ; he is, politically. Independent.

A. J. STEPHEN^*, farmer, Sec. 26; P. 0. Eldorado; was born in Clarkstown, Rockland Co., N. Y., Nov. 25, 1814; was liberally educated in the town of his birth, and, in early life, followed teaching school for several years ; had also learned the carriage-maker's trade and worked at it in various cities in the East. He married, in the cit^ of New York, in 1844, Hannah Wallace, a native of Glasgow, Scotland; they came West in 1848 and settled in the town of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., Wis., where they have since lived; their children are John A., now in Los Angeles Co., Cal., he married in Eldorado, prior to his going to California, Annie Cowham ; Mary Agnes, now wife of David Richards, of Fond du Lac; Maggie E., wife of Frederick Paine, of the town of Oakfield ; Abram A.; James W., and Douglas W. Mr. Stephens owns 300 acres of land in Wisconsin, and 324 acres in the vicinity of Russell, Russell Co., Neb.; he is extensively engaged in farming, fruit-growing and stock-raising, and has, in all those pursuits, been very suecosiful. He is a Republican in politics.

JOSEPH STEPHENS, farmer. Sec. 22; P. 0. Eldorado; was born in Rockland Co., N. Y., 3Iarch 11, 18 - . Sept. 24, 1857, he married, in Haverstraw, Rockland Co., N. Y., Miss Mary Lloyd, a native of Glamorganshire, Wales, and emigrated to America with her parents, John and Ann Loyd, who settled in Rockland Co., N. Y.; Mr. Stephens and wife lived in Rockland Co., N. Y., until 1858, when tliey moved to Wisconsin and settled where they now reside, in Eldorado ; they have four children - Annie B}., John W., Albert J., and Joseph H. He owns eighty acres of well-improved land, and is an energetic and enterprising citizen, and a leading farmer of Eldorado. In politics, Mr. Stephens is Republican.

XATHAXIEL S. THOJIPSOIV, fiwmer, Sec. 31; P. 0. Eldorado Mills; was born in Franklin Co., Mass., May, 1813; his parents, David and Fannie Thompson, had a family of seven children, four of whom came to Wisconsin ; Nathaniel S., the subject of this sketch, was married in 1840, to Sarah, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Goodnow, of Vermont ; in 184(i, they immigrated to Wisconsin, and settled in Dodge Co., and in May, 1845, removed to the town of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., and settled on a form of 104 acres in Sec. 31, which has since been his home; here his wife died in May, 1855, leaving two children as follows: Phebe E., now the wife of William Brunson, and lives iti the town of Metomen, and David H., who now lives on Sec, 31, town of Eldorado. In 1856, he was married to Mrs. Nancy, widow of Samuel Randall, of the town of Lamartine, Fond du Lac Co., whose maiden name was Hall, a daughter of Wanton and Fannie Hall, of Washington Co., N. Y. ; her first marriage was in 1837, to Lyman Matteson, who died in Wisconsin in 1850, leaving her with one son, George W., now of Eldorado Mills ; her second marriage was in May, 1851, to Samuel Randall, a native of Pennsylvania, but an early emigrant to Wisconsin, who died the same year of their marriage, leaving her with one son, Samuel, who now lives in the village of Hartford, Washington Co., AVis. Mrs, Thompson came to Wisconsin with her parents in 1845. Mr. T. was Chairman of the Town Board for one term, Assessor one year, and Justice of the Peace several years.

DAVID R. W ATSOIV, Sec. 26 ; P. 0. Eldorado ; was born in the town of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co., Wis., Nov. 5, 1840 ; is the son of James and Sarah Watson, who settled in the town of his birth in 1847 ; he was educated at the Normal School at Oshkosh, Wis., and has taught school several terms. In politics, Mr. Watson is a Republican. He is the present Assessor of the town of Eldorado, a position he has filled since 1875. April 5, 1877, 51r. Wat,son married, in Eldorado, Jessie B. Kirkwood, daughter of Alexander and Agnes Kirkwood, who settled in Eldorado in about 1853 ; they have one child - James A., born Aug. 12, 1878. Besides attending to his duties in teaching school, Mr. Watson owns and mana-jes a farm (if several acres of land ; his farm is well improved, and desirably located,

JA31ES WATSOX (deceased), was a native of County Kent, England; was born Jan, 19, 1821 ; his father, James Watson, died in England, and, his mother married again and emigrated to America, when the subject of this sketch was but 4 years of age ; he was educated in Oneida Co,, N, Y., and when 16 years old, engaged in seafaring life, which he followed for several years; Aug. 4, 1847, he married in Philadelphia, Penn., Sarah Edwards, a native of Monmouthshire, England, born May 3, 1819; immediately after their marriage, they came to Wisconsin, and settled in the town of Eldorado, Fond du Lac Co,, where he lived and was prominently identified with its history until his death, Nov, 22, 1860 ; he was the third Treasurer of the town, an office he filled for over seven years; he was continually in office from 1850, and was Chairman of the Town Board of Supervisors when he died; He was a leading member of the M. E Church, and took an active part in the promotion of the reli2;ious and educational interests of the county during his life. Their children are Edward L., who was a soldier in the 18th W. V. I. during the war of the rebellion, and died in the service; David R., Sarah J., now deceased; Frank P., Annie E., James and George W. Mrs. Watson married a second husband, Archibald McDonald ; he was a soldier in active service during the war of the rebellion, and was elected to various local offices in the town of Eldorado, he died Oct. 25, 1877; she is still living, is an earnest and Christian woman, a member of M. E. Church ; she owns 20U acres of land, well improved.

WILLIAM C. %VOLCOTT, Sec. 14; P. O. Eldorado Mills ; born in Trenton, Oneida Co., N. Y., 1810 ; son of Sylvester and Jane Wolcott, a farmer of that county, buying his land there in 1806 ; the subject of this sketch received a common-school education in the scliools of his native place, and was brought up on a farm ; at the age of 25 he went to tlie western part of New York State, to Wethersfield, Wyoming Co., buying a farm of 178 acres; he farmed it there for seven years, when he went back to Trenton and worked there for three years; then in 1846, he came West to Eldorado, taking 240 acres of Government land and 40 acres of Allen Lyman, also 20 acres of State land on the big marsh ; he has lived on this firm ever since ; Mr. Wolcott has, for over forty years, been extensively engaged in bee culture. He married, Feb. 23, 1832, in 'Trenton, N. Y., Mercy M., daughter of Silas and Mary Pierce, a farmer; they have had six children - -Laura J., Edward T. (deceased ), Ella A., Sarah A., Charles A., Nelson VV. (all married). He is a member of the Masonic Order, Rosendale Lodge ; has held the office of Supervisor and Treasurer; is the oldest settler now -living in the town; is, politically, a Republican, and, with the exception of the first year of his life in Wisconsin, he has not missed an election or town meeting for fortyseven years; he is the present owner of 175 acres of land in Sees. 14, 17, 20 and 21 .

Source changes here: from Fond Du Lac County, Wisconsin, Past and Present, by McKenna, Maurice, published 1912; 364 words in this source stream.

Eldorado Town

This is township 16 north, range 16 east, and is bounded on the north by Winnebago county, east by 'Friendship, south by Lamartine and west by Rosen- dale. Its surface is gently undulating and contains less prairie than most of the other towns. There was considerable heavy timber, some oak openings and marshes. Eldorado marsh was especially large in size. However, the yield of hay in this section has always been gratifyingly large. The first settlers were Moses S. Barnett, Theodore Sheldon, William Hall and others, who came to this county early in 1846. The first town meeting was held in April, 1848, at the house of Cyrus Parks. M. S. Barnett was chosen chairman and James Cowhan, town clerk. In April, 1849, the town was separated from Friendship and the first election was held at the house of William C. Wolcott. The first person to make a permanent location in Eldorado was Harvey Anderson, in the fall of 1845. In May, 1846, Moses S. Barnett became a citizen of the town. Samuel Sanborn entered the first land, - a tract on the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 31.

The first marriage was celebrated between Stephen Claggett and Margaret O'Neil, in 1847, and the first birth was that of Charles A. Wolcott, July 30, 1847. George Barnett's death in 1847 was the first to take place in the com¬ munity.

Among others who settled in this town may be mentioned Stephen Claggett, J. O. Henning, Thomas and James Merchant, Alexander Cronk, Cyrus and Joseph Haskell, John and Robert Cowhan, John Claggett, John F. Steele, Wil¬ liam Dilts, N. Deul, Isaac Claggett, John Adams, David Austin, E. and William Williams, A. R. Wilber, Nelson Phillips, A. M. Donnelly and H. Dilts. These all came between the years of 1846 and 1847.

Elder E. M. Wright, a Freewill Baptist, preached the first sermon in Eldo¬ rado township, at the home of Cyrus Haskell, in 1848. Hiram Wheeler and James A. Scribner erected the first grist mill in 1857 011 section 31. The first schoolhouse was built in November, 1848, and the first store was opened in 1849 on section 7, by M. Jorgensen.