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Wautoma Biographical Sketches |
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J.N.P. BIRD, Wautoma; was born at Munsville, Madison Co., N.Y., Oct. 9, 1835. In 1838, his parents removed to Madison, Wis., takin him with them, where he remained until 1859. During the years 1857-58, he was engaged in baking and confectionery business; in 1859, removed to Wautoma. At the breaking-out of the war he enlisted in the three months' service, but the company was not organized; reenlisted in the "Northwestern Tigers, " July, 1861; the company was assigned as Co. I, 7th W.V.L. He was prometed to Second Lieutenant, Dec. 27, 1861; April, 1862, through some jealousy, there was an attempt to have him shot for exciting a sedition; he was arraigned and tried by a Field Court Marshall; managed his own defense, completing showing up the falsity of the charge, wringing from the Captain, who preferred the charge, tears as well as the statement that he had never disobeyed an order or behaved himself unbecoming an officer and a gentleman; was in due time acquitted and presented by his company with a valuable sword, sash and belt as a testimonial of their appreciation. He was wounded at the second battle of Bull Run; was placed on recruiting service, prometed to Captain Feb. 27, 1863; was assined to duty in 22nd Army Corps, in command of proled prisoners' camp, and through his exertions the prisoners were relieved of much suffering. In time the men were sent to their regiments and the civilians discharged and furnished transportation home. The camp was re-organized as a camp of distribution, Capt. J.C. Davis commanding, Capt. Bird, Acting Assistant A.G. Soon Capt. Bird was placed in command; during the winter was removed from this camp and took command of the 3d Division, rendezvous of distribution, Va., composed of the New England troops, where he won additional honors, and received from his command a valuable gold watch, and many other testimonials of esteem, as well as being frequently complimented for the soldierly bearing of his men and their perfect military discipline. While in command of this division, he was frequently detailed temporaily to act as A.A.G. and A.Q.M.G., and filled a number of other responsible postions, all with credit. About March, 1864, he took charge of the two mess houses in camp, with about 300 detailed men, where he lost none of his popularity, as the following reprint from the Soldiers' Journal, a Virginia paper, will attest: "Capt. Bird, who has won such an enviable reputation as commander of the 3d Division, has assumed charge of the two mess houses, where he is reaping additional honors." August, 1864, he returned to his old company, then in front of Petersburg, and remained with them in the trenches, etc., until mustered out of the service, Sept. 26, 1864, having then over-served his time of enlistment. He returned to Washington, settled with the Government without any disagreemtn in accounts, save that he gave the Government credit for six artillery-men's jackets, more than were charged to him. The clerk stated that was the first case of the kind they had ever known of, and that they were at a loss how to report it, when the Captain made an affidavit that he had over-drawn six jackets, issued them to his men, and presented their receipts. He returned to Wautoma in December, 1864, and commenced farming in the spring of 1865; has continued to live on and work his farm, hiring most of the work done, ever since. Has been in public office most of the time since 1865, as chairman of the towns of Dakota and Wautoma, as Justice of the Peace a number of years, member of the Wisconsin Assembly, 1869-79. President of the Waushara County Agricultural Society since 1874; Deputy Clerk of the Circuit Court since 1879; doing a general insurance busiiness and attorney and claims agent. He was married at Woodstock, Ill., Feb. 11, 1864, to Miss Charlotte S. Parker, who was born in Dansville, N.Y., in 1841. His wife returned with him to camp in Virginia, and nursed him through a very severe sickness of infammation of the stomach. The children of this union are Vinnie, Mabel G. and Robert K.
IRA P. COON, Sheriff of Waushara Co., Wautoma, settled at Berlin, Wis., with his parents and their family in 1856. They lived there until 1861; then they moved to Wautoma, where they have since lived. He was elected County Sheriff in 1874; was re-elected in the fall of 1880. He was born in MIlan, Ohio, June 25, 1850. He was married at Wautoma in 1872, to Mary E. Lyman, who was born in Wayne Co., N.Y., Nov. 16, 1851. They have two children - Carrie F. and Ira L.
JACKSON J. HAWLEY, Register of Deeds, Wautoma, was born in South New Berlin, N.Y., Dec. 25, 1843; settled at Prairieville, Wis, with his parents in 1844, where they lived about two years and then moved to Waukau, Winnebago Co., and lived two years. They then moved to Poysippi, where his parents still live. He enlisted in Co. D., 8th Reg. Wis. Vol. Infy., Sept. 18, 1861, and served until Sept. 16, 1864. He returned to Poysippi, and in January following, clerked in Land Commissioner's office, at Madison, remaining about one year, and returned home and assissted his father, Mr. Geo. Hawley, in his mill, etc. In January, 1875, he took his office of Register of Deeds, being elected in fall of 1874, and he has been elected the succeeding terms, including 1880. He was married in Waushara Co., January 1868, to Marion H. Chamberlin, who was born in New York, September, 1844. They have one son - George F.
ROBERT L.D. POTTER, attorney at law and Circuit Court Commissioner for the County of Waushara, Wautoma, was born in Hillsdale, Columbia Co., N.Y., Feb. 5, 1833. Here he spend his early school days and attended the Academy at Great Barrington, Berkshire Co., Mass., his parents having moved in that county in 1842. In 1853, he became Tutor in the Eastern High School in Northhampton Co., Pa., three years; during that time he also read law in his leisure hours. He was admitted to the bar at Eastern Pennsylvania, in 1857. He came west in October of that same year, and settled at Wautoma, where he has since remained. He immediately began the prctice of law. He was elected to the State Senate in the fall of 1872, and served two terms, being re-elected in 1874. He was the author of the celebrated Potter law, enacted at the session of 1874, that being the law that created a great interest at the time for the reduction of tariff on the railroads, throughout Wisconsin. He was married at Wautoma, FEb. 5, 1861, to Emeline Bingham, who was born in New Milford, Pa. They have four children - Clara E., Ellen E., Sherman G. and Mary A.
CHARLES P. SOULE, printer and farmer, Wautoma, was born in Potter Tp., Yates Co., N.Y., Dec. 23, 1853; he emigrated to Wisconsin with his parents and lived with them until he was twenty-five years of age. He helped print the first paper that was edited at Wautoma. He was married at this place, March 28, 1868 to Nancy A. Kent, who was born in Pierpont, N.Y., Sept. 23, 1850. They have two children - L.L. Soule and Lewis M. Mr. S. enlisted in the 3d Wis. Vol Infy., at Neenah, Dec. 23, 1863, and served until July 18, 1865, and was mustered out at Louisville, Ky.
ALLEN L. TRUFANT & SON, dealers in groceries, crockery, etc., Wautoma; first settled here in January, 1856. He followed manufacturing boots and shoes two years, after which he went into general merchandise, which he followed until 1874. He was born in Charlestown, Mass., Oct. 15, 1824, and was married to Miss Delia A. Joy, in Winthrop Me., May 1845. She was born in Winthrop, NOvember 1828. They have three children - Ella F. (now married to Mr. A. Walker and living in Wautoma), Mary E. (married to A. Benum and living in St. Atkinson, Wis.), Allen K. Jr. (in company with his father in the store). Allen L., was born in Winthrop, Me., May 19, 1850. He was married Dec. 27, 1872 to Miss Attie E. Brown, who was born in Lima, Wis., Dec. 17, 1854. They had two children - Stella F. and Mary B. Mrs. Allen L. Trufant, Jr., died Feb. 9, 1881.
JAMES M. WHITMAN, physician and surgeon, also proprietor of drug store, Wautoma, settled in Rock Co. in 1844, with his parents, and lived there about ten years on a farm. From there they moved to Waupaca Co. and lived on a farm. The doctor followed teaching until 1859. Prior to this he began the study of medicine. He attended the Rush Medical College of Chicago and received his diploma in 1861. He soon went to Marquette Co. and practiced medicine about one year, then he came to Wautoma, where he has since resided in the practice of his profession in connection with the drug business. He was born in Genesee Co., N.Y., March 19, 1832; was married in Portage Co. in 1859, to Miss Adaline M. Taylor, who was born in Allegany Co., N.Y., June 1842. They have three children - Addie B., Ella F. and Hattie M.