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- TRUMAN LEWIS HOLLISTER, one of the honored pioneers of
- Rock County, now living on section 26, Rock township, was
born in Great Valley, Cattarraugus Co., N.Y., on the 24th day
of December, 1819. His parents were Samuel L. and Sibyl (NORTON)
HOLLISTER, the former a native of Seneca County, N.Y., the latter
of Goshen, Conn. The paternal grandfather, Josiah HOLLISTER,
was also born in Connecticut, where he engaged in farming for
many years. He served his country in the struggle for independence
and was taken prisoner, being conveyed to Canada, where he was
confined in a prison for two and a half years. Samuel HOLLISTER
also followed agricultural pursuits and died at Mansfield, June
29, 1849, at the
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- age of sixty-two years. His wife died on the 31st day of
December, 1884 at the ripe old age of ninety-four years. They
were both members of the Presbyterian Church, were prominent
workers for its interests, and Mr. HOLLISTER was a supporter
of the Whig party. They were the parents of ten children - Hannibal,
who was born in September, 1813, resided in St. Clair, Mich.,
but is now deceased, was a lumber merchant and twice served as
a member of State Legislatures, once in Michigan and again in
the General Assembly of California; Norton, born July 8, 1815,
is living in Lexington, Mich.; Truman L. is the next in order
of birth; Edwin, Feb. 5, 1822, was a farmer and a tanner, and
died in Mansfield, N.Y., March 7, 1852; Lucy A., born Nov. 22,
1824, is the wife of Delevan BUNN, of DeSmet, Kingsberry Co.,
Dak.; Alson, June 8, 1828, is living in the old homestead in
New York; Miles, Aug. 22, 1829, is a resident of California;
Edward, Nov. 27, 1832, is engaged in merchandising in Minneapolis.
- Our subject remained under the parental roof until twenty
years of age when he began life for
- himself as a manufacturer of pearlash. For four years he
continued in that business, when he sold out and emigrated to
the West, locating at Buckville, Mich., where he was employed
as a salesman in the store of an older brother for eighteen months.
At the expiration of that time, he came to Janesville, Wis.,
in 1846, and in connection with Levi ST. JOHN, rented a farm
of 500 acres near the city, and planted the first field of 100
acres of corn ever planted in the state. He continued the cultivation
of this land until about 1850, when he purchased 100 acres on
section 26, Rock Township, where he still makes his home, having
resided upon the same farm for thirty-nine years.
- On the 18th day of October, 1849, the marriage of Mr. HOLLISTER
and Mary COMSTOCK
- was happily celebrated in Janesville. The lady is a native
of Cooperstown, N.Y., born June 10, 1816, and is a daughter of
Miles and Polly (LATIN) COMSTOCK, who were natives of Connecticut,
born of English descent. Mr. & Mrs. HOLLISTER are parents
of five children - Frankie A., wife of C. B. INMAN, a retired
farmer residing in Janesville; Elizabeth, widow of Daniel E.
GOWER, residing in La Prairie, Wis.; George, who died in childhood;
Ella, who became the wife of C. J. RICE, of Turtle Township;
and Emma, who resides at home. Mr. HOLLISTER is the oldest member
of the First Congregational Church at Janesville, with which
he united in 1847, and has served as deacon for twelve years.
He has always taken an active part in the work of that denomination
and is one of its liberal contributors. Since coming to Rock
County he has served his fellow-citizens in various official
positions. During two years of the late war, he held the office
of County Supervisor; for two years he served as Township Clerk;
was Assessor for several years; for three years was Side Supervisor;
for four years held the office of Justice of the Peace; and was
a member of the School Board for many years. He takes a deep
interest in political affairs, is an earnest advocate of the
principles of the Republican party, and has always been a strong
supporter of temperance principles. Prominent in the promotion
of any enterprise for the public welfare, willingly performing
his part in every public duty, he is regarded as one of the leading
and representative men of the county, and is universally respected
by all. He is an earnest worker in the Sabbath school, and in
1861 established a mission school in his neighborhood which continued
in existence eighteen years. Mrs. HOLLISTER is a most estimable
lady, and while being a true helpmate to her husband, showed
filial affection in providing a home for her aged parents in
their declining years.
- On another page will be found a fine portrait of Mr. HOLLISTER.
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- Taken from "Portrait and Biographical Record of Rock
County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 413-414; lithograph from same
book.
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- Courtesy of Carol
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