1884
History of Green County
CHAPTER XXIX

TOWN OF BROOKLYN



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    Joshua Clark settled at Attica on the 12th day of May, 1857, and has since given his attention exclusively to his trade, wagon making, and is therefore on the oldest wagon makers in the county.  He was born in Washington Co., Vt., and in 1833 made a claim on land now occupied by the city of Janesville, and in the same year helped erect the first log cabin at that place.

    In 1846 Jeptha Davis purchased of Newel Dustin an interest in the water power.  A new dam was built, and in the fall of that year Mr. Davis built a wool carding mill, and also operated a dye house.  He expected to afterwards build a large woolen mill, but as his sons did not like the business and he was getting old, he gave up the project.  The carding mill was afterwards owned by James Crompton, and was operated for thirty years.

Jeptha Davis, a pioneer of the town of Brooklyn, was born in Massachusetts, in 1795.  He remained in his native State until twenty-three years of age, then went to Wyoming Co., N.Y., and was married in Varysburg; in 1820, to Harriet Conger, a native of Paris, Oneida Co., N.Y.  He built a woolen mill in Varysburg, also owned a saw mill.  He engaged in operating the former about twenty-five years.  In 1846 he came to Green county and settled in Brooklyn, where he entered about 400 acres of land, and engaged in farming.  He built the first frame house in Attica, also erected a woolen mill in which he carried on carding and cloth dressing.  He continued in business here until 1858, when he sold out and retired from active business.  He resided in Attica until the time of his death, which occurred in 1863.  He was prominently identified with the business interests of the town of Brooklyn for a number of years, and was a highly respected citizen.  Mr. and Mrs. Davis had eight children, five of whom are now living--Corintha, now Mrs. Hill, and living in Lincoln, Ill.; Truman P., living in Allens Grove, Walworth county; Romanzo E., of Middleton, Dane county; Amanda, now Mrs. Best, of Washington, D.C., and Sarah, wife of S.S. Hills, of Albany.  Alvira, wife of Everett Dodge, an early settler of Brooklyn; Louisa, wife of Alpheus Laird, of Attica, and Electra, wife of Henry L. Hyde, of Middleton, are deceased.  Mrs. Davis is still living, at the advanced age of eighty-two, and resides, the greater part of the time, with her son Romanzo E., at Middleton, Dane county.

    At the point where Attica is located on section 31, Sugar river furnishes a good mill privilege, a six foot head of water.  This power was first utilized in 1845, in which year a man named Lytchfield, generally known as "the Wild Yankee," built a dam across the stream and erected a saw and grist mill.  He operated the mill but a short time, then sold to Newell Dustin.  In 1846 he sold to Lucius and Wilson Day, and Chester Whitter, who added a whisky still, established a store and carried on a large and paying business.  In about 1850, Wilson Day went to California, and one year later was followed by Chester Whitter, thus leaving Lucius Day sole proprietor.  He afterward sold the property to Mr. McKinney.  In 1854 Welton & Bartlett purchased the property, rebuilt the mill in 1855, and operated it until 1866, since which time Joseph Bartlett has been sole proprietor.  The mill is 30x50 feet in size, has two run of stone and is operated as a custom mill.

Joseph Bartlett, proprietor of the Attica Mills, is a native of Wiltshire, England, where he was born on the 1st day of August, 1825.  He learned the miller's trade in his native country.  In 1949 he emigrated to the United States and first stopped in the State of New York.  He also spent one winter in Canada, then came to Wisconsin and stopped a few months at Janesville; and in 1851 chose Green county as his future home.  He first worked at Albany, but in 1854, in partnership with Mr. Welton, he purchased his present mill property.  Mr. Bartlett is a good financier and has accumulated considerable of this world's goods.  The children are--Henrietta, Elizabeth, Chauncy, Charlotte, Sarah, Lillie, Myrtie and Gertrude.


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James Root, a prominent farmer of the town of Brooklyn, was born in Herkimer Co., N.Y., April 27, 1841.  He came to Wisconsin with his parents, Francis and Permelia (Spaulding) Root, and now owns the land entered by his father and Mr. Shell.  Farming has been his occupation, and he now has 186 acres, with good improvements.  Feb. 5, 1865, he enlisted in company I, 46th Wisconsin, and served until mustered out.  He was married in 1861 to Barbara Lozar, daughter of George Lozar.  They have four children--Fred, Plinney, Homer and Ida. Francis Root, wife and two children, and Powell Shell, settled in the town of Brooklyn in 1847, the former on section 20 and the latter on section 29.  Each of them entered forty acres.  They dug a well and erected their cabins near the section line.  Mr. Root died in 1848, leaving two children--James and Harriet.  Mrs. Root subsequently was married to John McClarrinon, and by this union gave birth to seven children.  She died in 1871.


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    A. Z. Bennett, oldest son of Andrew and Lucinda (Baxter) Bennett, was born in Franklin Co., N.Y., Feb.25, 1831, and came with the family to Green county in 1848, since which date he has been a resident of the town of Brooklyn. He now resides on section 14 and owns ninety-nine acres of land. In February, 1854, he was married to Marion Hickok, a native of Ohio, born March 29, 1835.  Their children are-Lucinda, (deceased) Carrie E. and Fred E.  Mr. Bennett belongs to the republican party and has held the office of town treasure and supervisor.
    Zebulon Baxter was a native of Vermont, where his early life was spent. He served as a soldier during the War of 1812. He was married to Lucinda Oglesby and resided in Canada, where his wife died, leaving two children. He subsequently was married again in the State of New York, and came to Wisconsin about 1830. He first stopped in Milwaukee, and afterwards followed mining at Mineral Point. In 1848 he came to Green county and resided in the town of Brooklyn until 1854. He then went to Austin, Minn., where he died at the age of 103 years.
    C. D. W. Leonard was a pioneer of 1848, in the fall of which year, with his wife, he came to the county and chose the town of Brooklyn as a location. He was also accompanied by his brother Arab, then an unmarried man, and together they entered three quarter sections of land and improved the same. They also for a few years carried on a General mercantile business at Dayton. Arah Leonard was married to Mary Day, and in 1866 emigrated to Webster Co., Iowa, where he is now a prominent citizen, having held the office of county treasurer four years. C. D. W. Leonard continued farming; also for some time carried on store at Dayton and finally moved to Attica where he was engaged in the general merchandise business until 1884, when he sold out his business and moved to Rockton, Ill. Mr. Leonard was born in Chenango Co., N. Y., in 18I8. His parents being Ariah and Lavisa (Slocum) Leonard. The father died in Ohio and the mother and one daughter came with her sons to Wisconsin. She died in Green county, in 1860. The daughter married John Utley and died in 1867. Mr. Leonard received an academic education and taught school. He was married to Margaret Widrig and in 1842 emigrated to Ohio from whence he came to Green county. His wife died in 1866, leaving four children- Ella, Hattie, Ardella and Charles. In 1867 he was married to Mary Ann Wood and by this union one child was born-Vernie. In politics Mr. Leonard was a republican until after the war, when he became rather liberal in his views. He represented his district in the assembly two terms, was superintendent of schools in Brooklyn under the old town system, and was chairman of the town several terms. Thus it can be seen that be is not alone an early pioneer, but his conduct was such that he enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens.
    Lorenzo Amidon came to Green county, July 10, 1848. At first be followed the trade of carpenter and afterwards that of cabinet maker at Monroe. In 1850 he came to the town of Brooklyn and purchased land on section 13 and has since been a resident of the town. In 1884, a he resided on section 12 and owned 160 acres of land. Mr. Amidon was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., July 7, 1825. He learned his trade and resided in his native State until he came to Wisconsin. He has been twice married. In 1850 to Olive Starkweather, daughter of Anson and Lucretia Starkweather. She died in 1874, leaving four children-William A., Etta, Ella and Emma. In 1879 Mr. Amidon was married to Fannie Lord and by this union two sons have been born-Gilbert and Byron. Politically he is a national greenbacker but was formerly a republican. He is not, however, a strict partizan, and believes in casting his ballot for a good man rather than a good party.
John Flood and family, in 1849, came to Green county, and, .June 6, entered 160 acres of . . .

To be continued
 


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