Shields Town

Shields Town

LAWRENCE BARRY, farmer. Sec. 28; P. 0. Hubbleton, JeflFerson Co.; born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1826 ; came to America in 1845 ; in the fall of 1846, he spent two months in Shields, spending the winter on Manitou Island ; the next four years were spent in Upper Canada ; was one summer in Rochester, N. Y., then resided iu Wayne Co., Ohio, until 1852, when he settled in Shields ; he bought eighty acres, then heavily timbered with oak, elm, basswood, etc.; a small clearing had been made and a shanty built ; the family did their full share of pioneering, the result of which is a well-improved farm, large and pleasant farmhouse and many substantial improvements. He married, in Wayne Co., Ohio, Miss Johanna Barry ; they have five living children - John and William (both railroad men in Danville, Ill.j, Johanna (the wife of James Enright, of Milford), Catherine and Lawrence (still living on the homestead). Mr. B. is a stalwart Democrat, and Wits Supervisor for three years; Roman Catholic in religion.

PHILIP DOLAN, farmer. Sec. 32 ; P. O. Hubbleton, Jefi'erson Co.; born on Long Island, N. Y., in 1840 ; son of William and Bridget D., who came from Ireland to America in 1835 ; Mr. Dolan, Sr., was a quarryman on Bergen Hill, afterward working on Croton Aqueduct; he then removed to Long Island, going from there to the metropolis ; after residing for awhile on Staten Island, he, in the fall of 184'.l,came to Shields, where he bought eighty acres of the Government, and adding twenty acres, clearing the whole of heavy timber, breaking the laud and making a home; died Sept. 15, 1875, leaving a wife, son and daugiiter, now the wife of H. Murphy, of Janesville, Minn. Philip Dolan was educated in New York State, grew to manhood on the farm and married, Nov. 5, 1867, Miss Catherine Nagle, who died June 6, 1873, leaving two children - Lizzie and Margaret T. (deceasedj. Mr. Dolan is a Democrat and a Catholic, like his parents. Mrs. Dolan w;is Bridget Fanning, of County Cavan.

MICHAEL, DOKEGAIV, farmer, Sec. 28; P. (). Richwood ; born in County Meath, Ireland, April 20, 182G; son of Matthew and Marixaret D., who came to America in lS8(j; alter living two years in New York City, where Michael attended school, they removed to Westchester, N. Y.; Matthew D. was a stone-mason and worked on Fort Schuyler about eleven years; Michael began when lo years old as a stone-cutter ; father and son worked under Lieut. Gilmore, Lieut. Halleck, Maj. Smith ( deceased >, Maj. Delafiekl and other noted men; in September, 1847, the family settled on the Shields homestead, then heavily timbered; roads and bridges were poor and scarce, and Indians plenty; as pioneers, they saw much hardship, which is well remembered by Mr. D.; he worked two seasons on bridges at Belvidere, Ilockford, Geneva and other Illinois towns about 1852. In politics, a Democrat, and a Roman Catholic. iMr. Donegan is a good farmer and a good citizen; has 160 acres, well improved. Married Miss Ann Feely, of Cornwall, L. C.; they have ten living children.

JEREMIAH DRISCOLIi, farmer; Sec. 22; 1'. 0. Richwood; born in the County ' ork, Ireland, in 1833, son of John OUriscoll dtld spelling), who brought his fimily to America in 1886 ; after a short stay in New York City he located at Throgs Point, where he was in Government employ, working on Fort Schuyler. The subject of this sketch was educated in a select school in the villai;e ; in September, 1847, the family removed to Shields, buying and settling in Government land, which was covered with oak, maple, basswood and other timber; this was one of the first families to settle here; Shields was then a part of Emmet; and the road past the farm had existed one year. John O'Driscoll was closely identified with the early history of this town, serving as Town Superintendent of Schools, Justice of the Peace and Supervisor. His son, Jeremiah, located on his present farm of fifty acres in 1864, having married, in December, 1868, Miss Mary A. Belrose, of Watertown ; they have five children - John F., Anna, Margaret, Ellen and Daniel J. A Democrat in politics; Mr. Driscoll was Town Clerk f ur years, and is now serving his fifth term as Chairman of his township ; the family are Roman Catholics ; the parents of Mr. Driscoll still re.side on Sec. 28, the Shields homestead.

MICHAEL EAGAN, farmer ; P. O. Richwood ; born in the parish of Clare, County West Meath, Ireland; came to America in 1885, and lived two years in New York City; came to Wisconsin in

1846, and purchased 120 acres in the town of Shields, Dodge Co. Married May 10, 1835, Ann Hafford, daughter of Mathew Haftord, born in 1815 in Longford Co., Ireland; have eight children - Mary, Jane, Thomas, Catherine, John, Bridget, Rose Ann, Michael. The family are members of the Roman Catholic Church ; was elected Constable two years ; Independent in politics.

IILRICH HACiiMANN," telegraph operator and agent of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, also express agent at Richwood; horn in Switzerland in 1843;'came to America in 18(54, locating soon afterat Arena. Wis.; in September. 1864, he went to Houston Co., Minn., working in a flouring-milluntil February, 1865, when he enlisted in the 1st Minn. Heavy Artillery, and was stationed at Chattanooga, Tenn., till the close of the war; on his return, on account of ill health, he paid a short visit to friends in Illinois, spending the winter at Arena af school ; worked the next summer on a fiirm in Sauk Co., Wis., attending the winter school in Sumpter Township ; after spending a short time in Chicago, Mr. Hagmann obtained a position as an assistant in the Jack.souville Insane Asylum. In 1872, he married Miss Friederika Paulus, of that city, soon after removing to Mazo Manie, Wis., going from there to Arena, where he did his first railroad work; was in the depot during the winters of 1872-73; he taught the school in Honey Creek, Sauk Co.. Wis.; the next fall he again obtained a place in the Arena depot, and by faithful attention to his business was, at the end of three years, made station agent ; Mr. Hagmann learned operating during the winter of 1879, and was appointed agent at Richwood in March, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Hagmann have four children - Ulrich R., Bernard C., Carl H. and Meta C. Mr. Hagmann is a Republican in politics ; and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

WILLIAM HAMANBf, farmer; P. 0. Watertown; born in Meehlenburg, Germany, Oct. 27, 1827; came to America in 1854, and located in Watertown, Wis., where he worked at his trade - cooper - for nine years; purchased his present homestead in 1867, consisting of eighty acres on Sec. 26, town of Shields, Dodge Co. Married, in June, 1854, Henrietta Tick, daughter of Joseph and Mary Tick, natives of Germany; have five children, two boys and three girls - Henry, Lena, Martha, Mary and John. Mr. Hamann is a member of the Lutheran Church ; in politics. Democratic.

JAMES HIGOINS, Si'., farmer, Sees. 28 and 33; P. O. Hubbleton, Jefferson Co.; born in County Sligo, Ireland, March 25, 1824; was educated in the common schools of his native land ; in

1847, he went to Liverpool, Eng., and superintended the shipping of iron for the Chester & Berkenhead R. R, Co. about three years; May 1, 1851, he left England for America, landing at New York, and coming at once to Shields with his family, locating on his present farm of 200 acres. His father, P. Higglns, had bought this previously, and built a log house, which still stands; the farm was then a forest of oak, ash, hickory, etc. As a result of the pioneer labors of father and son, the farm is now cleared and well improved, and is furnished with good buildings. Peter Higgins came to America in 1828, dying in October, 1875. His son, a stanch Democrat, was Justice of the Peace many years. Chairman of Shields seven years, was County Clerk in 1870 and 1871, and a member of the Wisconsin Assembly in 1S7G He married Miss Mary Leery July 23, 18-16, who died Oct. 7, 1870, leaving ten children - James, John, Mary A. (deceased), Peter, Thomas. Edward, William, Edmond, Albert and Mary (deceased). July 23, 1874, he married Miss Maria Mullen, of Watcrtown ; tliey have three children - Francis, Henry and Honora L. The family are Roman Cathnlics.

.IOH\ KELLEY, teacher; P. O. Riehwood; born in Oneida Co., N. Y., Sept. 22, 1852; son of Martin and Mary K., who, in 1853, bougiit and settled on a form in Shields; this was heavily timbered and provided with a log house; the farm has been cleared and a good house built. John, the youngest son, received his early education in the district school ; attended the Northwestern University, in Watertown, one summer, and began teaching in District No. 4, Shields, during the winters of 1871 and 1872, Mr. Kelley taught three winters, then entered the Platteville State Normal School, graduating in less than a year, from the elementary course; he then took up the full course, and graduated in June, 1877. Mr. Kelley taught one term in Elba, and has since taught in District No. 3, where he is now engaged. He intends to follow teaching as a profession. He is, like his parents, a Roman Catholic, and is, in [jolitics. Democratic, as is Martin Kelley, who has served as Supervisor of Shields.

CARE MAY, former. See. 36 ; P. 0. Watertown ; born in Prussia July 1, 1839 ; son of Frederick and Mary May ; came to America in 1855, and located in Milwaukee, and moved to Watertown, Wis., in 1865; bought forty acres and sold it in 1875; bought his present homestead, consisting of eighty acres. Married, April 16, 1865, Minna Loula, daughter of Christian Loula ; have three children, two buys and one girl - (iustavus, Matilda, Otto. Member of Lutheran Church ; politics. Democrat.

JAMES McCAIG, former, Sec. 34 ; P. O. Riehwood; born in County Antrim, Ireland, Aug. 15, 1838; son of A. McCaig, who came from Ireland to America in 1839, living two years in New York State, then removing to Canada, where he lived until 1845, when he came to Shields with his family, buying heavily timbered Government land, which is now the McCaig homestead ; one of the pioneer families ; they lived in a log house, cleared up the farm and made a good home ; James McCaig remained with his parents until 1859, when he went via New York and the Lsthmus to California ; was two years in the mines, returning by the same route to Wisconsin, where he resided till 1865, with the exception of a summer in Buffiilo, N. Y.; in 1865, he again made the .sea voyage to San Francisco, going direct to the mines of Montana, via the Sound and Columbia River; Mr. McCaig saw many exciting times among the wild, savage men of that barbarous region ; he relates that he once bought a horse of the famous Chief Joseph, leader of the late Oregon outbreak ; Mr. McCaig returned down the Missouri in 1868. Married Miss Margaret A. McPhillips, of Milford, in April, 1869, by whom he has five children - JohnH., Mary A., Daniel, James T. and William A. Archibald McCaig and wife live at a hale old age on their first purchase from the United States. The family are Catholic, and Mr. McC. is Independent in politics. He has 120 acres as a homestead, and forty acres in Milford; makes a specialty of Poland-China hogs.

MICHAEE MeDONOUtiH, former. Sec. 34 ; P. O. Riehwood or Watertown ; born in County Clare, Ireland, in 1821 ; spent his early life in his native land, and came to America in 1845 ; resided seven and one-half years in Hampden Co., Mass., working for the whole-souled Yankee farmers, and earning money to get his start, earning his first thousand in this laborious way ; after taking a better half, he came to Shields in 1852, locating on eighty acres of land, of which ten were cleared, on which was a log shanty ; here the family lived fifteen years, clearing and breaking the land, pioneer fashion ; the eighty has grown to a well-improved farm of 200 acres ; the log house of pioneer days was replaced by a large modern brick house in 1868. Married Miss Mary Doyle, of County Clare, in 1852; they have five children ; Mary, the eldest, is the wife of Joseph Brooks, of Emmet ; then follow Margaret, Jane, Thomas and Katie. The family arc Catholics ; Mr. McDonough is an Independent Democrat in politics. Beginning at 25 years of age with nothing but health and a brave purpose, he may justly consider his life a success.

NICHOLAS O'CONNELE, former. Sees. 21 and 22 ; P. O. Riehwood ; born near New York City in i845; son of .Michael and Mary O'Connell, who came to Shields from New York in September, 1848, locating on the present homestead; N. O Connell was educated in Shields, living on the i'arm until he was 22 years of age, when he entered the store of E. Sweeney, Watertown, remaining nearly three years. He owns eighty acres of land on Sec. 22, his father owning the eighty-acre homestead on Sec. 21. Mr. O'Connell is Independent in politics, and has Jseen twice Treasurer of Shields; the family belong to the Roman Catholic Church. .Mr. O'Connell has paid much attention for some time past to improved stock, now owning full-blood and grade short-horns from the noted herds of J. Jones and J. Miles, of Waukesha Co. ; he also owns a flock of thoroughbred Leicester sheep from the flocks of J. Whittaker, Oconomowoc, John Jones and J. Smith ; Mr. O'Connell makes a specialty of the Poland- China hogs, selling to Northern Wisconsin breeders, having bought from D. Peck, of Dane Co., and H. Flynn, of Watertown.

PHILIP RILEV, farmer, Sec. 27; P. 0. Richwood ; born in County Longford, Ireland, in 1815 ; came to America in 1837 ; spent eight or nine years in Westchester, N. Y. as a quarryman ; he then lived in Canada until June, 1845, when he came to Wisconsin with his family ; reached Watertown on the 4th of July, and at once bought his farm of ICO acres, getting his Government duplicate in Milwaukee ; the farm was a wilderness as was the country around it ; Mr. Riley reached it by the aid of blazed trees; on trying to revisit it later, he lost his way in the forsst ; Mr. R. says roads and bridges, and neighbors were scarce, but that deer, bears and Indians were plenty ; the latter were generally peaceable, though they killed a settler to the north of him, which brought out the U. S. cavalry and much excitement. Mr. and Mrs. R. barricaded their door one night with barrels against a half-drunken crowd of Indians; he was the frontier settler for two years, and was glad enough to welcome Mr. Peter Higgins, his first neighbor. He married Miss Margaret McCaig, a native of County Antrim, Ireland, who came to America and New York State in 1840; they have six children - Charles, Bridget. Eliza, Philip, Michael and John. Mr. Riley is a Democrat, and, with his family, a Roman Catholic. His forest farm is now reclaimed and transformed into a home.

FRANK ROCH, former ; P. 0. Richwood; born in Austria, in December, 1821; served in Austrian 5th Artillery ten years, and came to America in 1853, and located in Dodge Co., Wis., where he carries on a farm of eighty acres. Married, Feb. 25, 1852, Barbara Shertz, who died Feb. 9, 1877, leaving six children, three girls and three boys - Charles, Joseph, Matilda, Mary, Frank and Caroline. Married, June 18, 1S7S, Lizzie Chioh. Member of the Catholic Church; politics. Democrat.

LUDWIG ROTH, farmer; P. 0. Watertown; born in Baden, Prussia, May 22, 1831 ; came to America and settled in Oconomowoc, Wis., in 1854, and rented a farm which he worked for seven years, and, in 18G1, bought a farm of forty acres in the town of Watertown, Jefferson Co., sold it in 1873, and purchased his present homestead, consisting of sixty acres on Section 23, town of Shields. Married, Jan. 2, 1855, Sophia Ames, daughter of John Ames; three children, one boy and two girls - Ferdinand, Lena and Mary. Member of Roman Catholic Church ; politics. Democrat.

J. C SMITH, merchant and Postmaster, Richwood ; born in County Leitrim, Ireland, 1827 ; came to America in 1842, locating in Orange Co., N. Y., where he worked as a farm hand, attending school in the winter season ; in 1849, he joined his father in Shields; lived here a short time, then removing, resided three or four years in Chester, going then to Hancock Co., 111., where he remained until 1861, when he returned, and has since lived in Richwood ; he clerked in the store of F. Mertz until 1863, when he built his large store, where he carries a stock of anything and everything to meet a general trade - dry goods, groceries, hardware, boots and shoes, clothing, drugs and medicines, notions, etc. A Democrat in politics; he was appointed Postmaster about 1864, and has been Town Clerk and Justice of the Peace. He married Misa Margaret McGuire, of New York City, and with her is an attendant of the Catholic Church.

F". UEHIilNCir, farmer, Sec. 24 ; P. O. Richwood ; born in Saxe-Meiningen, Moera, Germany, March 16, 1816; came to America in the fall of 1847, and located in Wisconsin on his present homestead, consisting of 240 acres on Sec. 24. Married, Sept, 20, 1837, Margaret Krugg, daughter of George Krugg, a native of Germany ; they have eleven children - Casper, Caroline, Martin, Henry, Rosa, Edward, Emma, Fredrick, Francisca, Theodore and Otto, Makes a specialty of raising the short-horned Durhams, Poland- China hogs and Southdown sheep ; carries on a cheese factory. Member of the Lutheran Church ; in politics, he is Independent.

JOHN WALiliS, proprietor of Riverdale Farm, Sees. 31 and 32 ; P. 0. Hubbleton ; born in the city of York, England, Dec. 21, 1820 ; his early life was spent in the enjoyment of the privileges accorded to inhabitants of his native city ; when about - years of age, he was apprenticed to a chandler, but soon gave it up, entering a grocery and provision store in Rockdale, and was for many years after engaged in mercantile pursuits in Rockdale, Burnley and Darlington ; he also traveled two years for a tobacco house in North Shields ; while still a young man, Mr. Walls joined the Odd Fellows and was for years an active and influential member ; in 1849, he was so badly afflicted by cataract of the eyes as to cause almost total blindness, and was happily relieved from this fate by an operation performed by the celebrated Dr. Niel, in Liverpool, the same year; imbued at an early age with a love for Republican institutions, Mr. Walls resolved to try his fortunes in free America; on the 23d of September, 1850, he landed at New York City, accompanied by his mother, brothers and neii;hbors ; lie came at once to Portlaud, buying 120 acres of land and remaining until July 4, 1851, wiien he returned to Nyack, N. Y., where he married, July 24, 1851, Miss Mary Jameson Fairbourne ; Mrs. Walls was born and educated in Pontefract. Yorkshire, and came to America with her mother in the same ship with her future husband, she residing a short time in Haverstraw, N. Y., going from there to Nyack. The young couple at once " went West " and settled on the Portland Farm, where they built a frame house, which burned to the ground July 15, 1852, with most of their household goods; nothing daunted by this rebuff of Dame Fortune, they began, and, before the next Christmas, had completed a large frame house, where they kept the well-known old Franklin House about three years, to the comfort of travelers over the then new plank road; in 185ti, they sold the hotel and bought a farm on Sec. 25 in Portland ; here they lived and prospered until 1861, when they bought and settled on Riverdule Farm, it then being almost a state of nature and as it was left by the aborigines ; this is, perhaps, the most natural stock farm in Dodge Co., containing 680 acres in one body, fifty-six of which are in Milford, Jefi'erson Co.; in 1864, Mr. Walls built the main part of his farmhouse, and, having added to it at various times, now has one of the most elegant and spacious residences in his county, built in the Gothic style and containing sixteen rooms ; he has in connection a creamery 20x30 feet, built at a cost with fixtures of §2,000 ; the entire house is 6()x30 feet ; in the creamery large ([uantities of superior butter are made on the most approved plan, the milk being furnished by his herd of about seventy grade Alderney, Galloway and Durham cows ; the butter is sold in the Chicago, New York and Liverpool markets ; Mr. Walls is also well known as a breeder of fine horses and sheep; besides his homestead he owns forty acres of timber on Sec. 24, Portland, and 320 acres in Polk Co., Wis. An outspoken Republican in politics. He has always taken a warm interest in school matters, and was a generous supporter of the Union cause in war times ; Mr. W. was the founder of the Anti-Milldam League, an association of Dodge and Jefterson Co. farmers in favor of removing the Milford dam ; he was the man who furnished the money with which to operate for months, and was also Secretary; through his agency, the State Board of Health visited the Crawfish Valley in September, 1878, the Board making a non-committal " report" to the Governor in April, 1879 ; Mr. Walls has been in correspondence with Senator McFetridge and in consultation with leading men of the State and has doubtless done more for the interests of the league than any other member of it, but, owing to personal jealousies, his connection with it was dissolved. Riverside Farm has a frontage of one and a half miles on the Crawfish, which is here so crooked that it bounds two sides of the farm - -it extends to Hubbleton Village on the south, the depot site having been purchased of Judge Levi Hubbell, the former owner of Rivcrdale, who sold the splendid farm to Mr. Walls, to whom is due the credit of making it what it is. The farm is bounded on the south by the old Watertown and Portland plaak-road, and on the west by the Lowell and Hubbleton road. On this last named road, three-fourths of a mile north of Hubbelton, are the residence and farm buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Walls are in full accord with the Episcopal faith. Mr. Walls is well and favorably known throughout his county and State as a public-spirited and successful farmer and a man of sterling worth ; the hospitality of himself and his estimable lady is freely extended to all worthy of it, as may be proved by scores of warm friends.

CHRISTIAN ZIC'KART, farmer. Sec. 36 ; P. 0. Watertown ; bornin Mecklenburg, Germany, Oct. 18, 1827 ; son of Christopher Zickart ; came to America in 1857 ; same year he came to Wisconsin, and located in Jefferson Co., where he lived two years; in 1868, bought his present homestead of 100 acres. Married, July, 1836, Mary Wesdorf, a native of Germany, who died leaving one child - Christiania. Married, Nov. 23, 1860, Mary Stooshae; they had seven children - Josephine, Bertha, Emma, Frank, Bernard, Edward, Richard. Mr. Z. is a member of the Lutheran Church ; was elected School Treasurer four years ; in politics. Independent.