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- HON. W. H. [William Henry] TRIPP, who is numbered
among the
- early settlers, is a native of Pennsylvania, having been
born in Lackawana County, in 1821. His parents were Stephen and
Nancy (BENEDICT) TRIPP, the former a native of East Greenwich,
R. I., the latter of Warwick, Orange Co., N.Y., and both were
of English descent. The paternal grandfather, Isaac TRIPP, served
his country during the Revolutionary War. With his family, he
removed from Rhode Island to Luzerne County, Pa., when Stephen
TRIPP was ten years of age, and in that county the latter remained
until his death, which occurred Sept. 10, 1841, at the age of
sixty-five years. He was united in marriage with Nancy BENEDICT,
and to them were born eight children - Horace, who is now living
in Genessee
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- County, N.Y., at the advanced age of eighty-five years; Harriet,
deceased wife of Samuel CHURCH, her death having occurred in
Oregon, Warren Co., in 1884; Hannah, wife of H. B. DAILEY, of
Prophetstown, Ill.; Samuel, who died in Pennsylvania, at the
age of fifty-four years; Niamya, W., a leading farmer of Rock
County, Wis.; Polly, widow of James HARTLEY, of Scranton, Pa.;
Fannie, wife of Lewis ARMSTRONG, of Wyoming County, Pa.
- Stephen TRIPP, the father of these children, was a prominent
citizen of the community in which
- he resided, and took an active part in political and public
affairs generally. He was numbered among the pioneers of Luzerne
County, Pa., to which he removed when ten years of age. The county
was then very sparsely settled, trading places were distant and
mills were miles away. Often, when going to mill to get the grain
ground, he would have to travel over country through which no
road had been made, following only an Indian trail, which at
times would be obscured and at its best was never very distinct.
The cause of education found in him a true friend. Not receiving
opportunities for instruction himself, he resolved that his children
should not know the difficulties which such a disadvantage causes,
and gave them opportunities for the practical duties of this
life, and he lived to see them occupying respectable and responsible
positions.
- The hardships endured in that early Pennsylvania home cannot
be imagined, save by those who
- have had a similar experience. On one occasion Isaac TRIPP
took his young son, Stephen, with him to mill at Wilkesbarre,
a distance of eighteen miles from their home. They rode one horse
and placed their grist upon another. As usual they were required
to wait some time for their turn. On securing their meal they
mounted their horse as before, with the meal strapped upon the
back of the other. As they were slowly winding their way homeward,
some wild animal came suddenly into view which frightened their
horses, which, plunging around unloosened the strings of the
sack in which was their meal, and all was spilled upon the ground.
When they quieted the horses, they tried to scrape up the meal,
but only secured enough for one baking, which was the first bread
they had eaten for seven weeks. Either at this time, or upon
another occasion, when the family was without bread, a Connecticut
family in passing through, offered to supply their wants, but
the old gentleman, with a great dignity, thanked them for the
offer, but said that he did not propose any one should say that
they ever kept the TRIPP family from starving.
- The subject of this sketch was reared to agricultural pursuits
and remained a resident of his native
- State until 1849, when he emigrated to Rock County, Wis.,
locating on section 4, Rock Township, on the farm which still
continues to be his home. He purchased 200 acres of land, immediately
began its cultivation and improvement. On the 14th day of January,
1844, he was united in marriage with Delilah THOMAS, a native
of Wyoming County, Pa., and to them were born three children
- Theodore F., who was a soldier in the 35th Wisconsin Infantry,
offered up his life on the alter of his country, his death occurring
when nineteen years of age; George B. is now married and resides
on the home farm; and Hattie H. is the wife of Joseph B. PORTER
of Cooksville, Wis.
- Socially, Mr. TRIPP is a member of the Masonic fraternity,
and his wife is a member of the
- Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is an ardent supporter
of the Republican party and has been honored by his fellow citizens
with various official positions. For two years he served as Chairman
of the Board of County Supervisors; for four years held the office
of County Commissioner, and in 1857 was elected to the House
of Representatives of the General Assembly of Wisconsin. He also
held the office of Trustee of the Institute for the Blind for
the long period of twenty consecutive years, receiving the appointment
from the various governors of the State during that time. During
his long residence in this county, he has been prominently identified
with its development and growth and to his individual efforts
can be attributed in no small degree the many public improvements
of which its citizens are justly proud. Public spirits and progressive,
honest and upright, he enjoys the respect and confidence of the
entire community.
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-
- Taken from "Portrait and Biographical Record of Rock
County, Wis." (c)1889, p. 927-928; lithograph from same
book.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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