- JOHN E. WESCOTT, representative of one of the older families
of Green county, was born
- there Oct. 8, 1846, a son of Ezra and Nancy (BROWN) WESCOTT.
His father was born in Wethersfield, N.Y., in 1818, and was a
son of John WESCOTT, noted among the early settlers of central
and western New York.
- Ezra WESCOTT, who came from his native State to Green county,
Wis., in 1840, taught school
- for several years after his arrival, in this State. He was
married Nov. 10, 1845, to Miss Nancy BROWN, a teacher in Lafayette
county for several years previous to her marriage, and to them
were born six children: John E., whose name introduces this article;
Alta; Myra, married to D. K. ANDERSON, of Woodford, Lafayette
Co., Wis.; Dora, who married James H. WALKER, of Freeport, Ill.;
and two others now deceased. Ezra WESCOTT died June 16, 1865,
and is remembered as one of the leading and enterprising men
of Green county in his day. In 1863 he served as a member of
the State Assembly, and he was register of deeds and county treasurer
before the Civil war. His services were in demand for many years
as commissioner, chairman of the town board, and justice of the
peace at various times.
- John E. WESCOTT was married to Miss Abbie H. COLLINS May
4, 1869. Her parents,
- George and Climena C. (CLEVELAND) COLLINS, born and reared
in the State of Maine, comes to Green county in 1867, but returned
next year to North Anson, Maine, where Mr. COLLINS died in 1871.
He was a miller all his life. His widow, now aged eighty-two
years, resides with Mr. and Mrs. WESCOTT. Mr. and Mrs. John E.
WESCOTT are the parents of the following children: Arthur B.,
born April 3, 1870, died young; Ezra C., born Aug. 21, 1872,
married Lottie BANGS, of Nebraska, Jan. 2, 1901, and is living
at home; George F. is also at home.
- John E. WESCOTT was reared on the farm, and obtained his
education in the neighboring district
- school. Since reaching manhood he has taken an important
part in the local affairs of the day, and has served at different
times as tax collector, road supervisor and school director for
many years. In 1864 he enlisted in the Union army, becoming a
member of Company I, 46th Wis. V.I., under command of Col. Lovell,
and serving through the stirring scenes of the closing day of
the great war. He was honorably discharged in October, 1865.
He served for the most part in the Army of the Tennessee, and
in the Army of the Cumberland.
- Mr. WESCOTT is now residing on the old WESTCOTT place, a
magnificent country home of
- 300 acres, located in section 6, Cadiz township, all highly
improved an furnished with every convenience that modern agriculture
demands for the successful handling of the farm in the most profitable
and productive fashion, the place forging a striking contrast
to its condition when purchased by Mr. WESCOTT's father in 1851.
With our subject is now residing his mother, a venerable lady
of nearly eighty years, who is passing her last days in an atmosphere
of loving care and tender devotion. John E. WESCOTT is a man
of quiet and unobtrusive nature, a thorough gentleman, a good
neighbor; and is known as one of the leading citizens of the
community. Many are his friends, who know and rightly esteem
his many good qualities.
- John WESCOTT, the grandfather of John E. was born in New
York. He had four sons and one
- daughter: Franklin died unmarried; Ezra was the father of
John E.; Jefferson F. and Walter S. are mentioned below; Eliza
A. married Peter CHANDLER, and died in December, 1892. Peter
CHANDLER died in 1875.
- Jefferson F. WESCOTT came to Green county in 1840 and made
a creditable history as a
- farmer, a merchant, a civil magistrate, and a member of the
Wisconsin Assembly, and died Feb. 16, 1879. Born in Wyoming county,
N.Y., March 26, 1826, he was still a boy at his advent in Green
county. He was married March 26, 1856, to Miss Sarah ROGERS,
of Lafayette county, and to their union were born eight children:
Mary E., the wife of Charles E. BROOKS; Frank; Charles, a resident
of Nebraska; Clara, who was a school teacher before her marriage;
May married Albert LOVELAND; Nellie, married to Thurlow PATTON;
Walter and Daisy are unmarried.
- Walter S. WESCOTT was born in New York, and came to Green
county in 1843, making his
- first settlement in the town of York, but moving shortly
to the town of Adams, where he lived until 1864. That year he
bought a farm in section 26, town of Monroe. Thankful B. CLEVELAND,
his wife, was the daughter of James G. and Edith CLEVELAND, well-known
Green county people, and to them were born three children: Ida
M. is the wife of Edward C. GIBBONS, of Nebraska; Eva M. is the
wife of C. D. BRAGG, of Nebraska; and John J. resides in Texas.
Walter S. WESCOTT is now largely engaged in Nebraska, where he
has extensive ranch interests, and while his residence was unbroken
in Green county he was one of the most public-spirited men of
the times, holding many public positions, and being honored with
election to the State Senate in 1864. Always a stanch Republican,
he has been identified with the history of his party where he
has lived.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin,"
(c)1901 Union Publishing; pp. 798-799.
-
- Courtesy of Carol.
|