- ELIJAH P. WIXOM, one of the wealthy farmers and large stock
dealers of Rock County, residing
- on section 35, in the town of Fulton, is a native of Putnam
County, N.Y., born Feb. 15, 1835, in the town of Kent. The family
to which he belongs numbered nine children, whose parents were
Robert and Charity (BARRETT) WIXOM, also natives of Putnam County.
Elijah, whose name heads this sketch is he eldest; Julia Ann
is now the widow of H. K. KIDDER, a resident of the town of Fulton;
Benjamin D. is also living in that Town; Betsey is now deceased;
Phoebe married David KELLEY, a resident farmer of Fulton Township;
Robert, who enlisted in the service of his country, was twice
wounded, taken prisoner and died in Richmond prison; Deborah
is the wife of J. Wesley AUSTIN, who makes his home in Johnstown,
Rock County; Ann Eliza and Emma J., younger children, are deceased.
- Robert WIXOM, the father of that family seems to have been
born with a natural genius for
- carpentery, at which he worked for some time, though in his
earlier years he followed various other occupations, engaging
in mercantile pursuits, in the buying and selling of stock, etc.
His later years, however, were spent in agricultural pursuit.
He continued to make his home in the East until 1849, spending
eleven years in Candor, Tioga Co., N.Y. He then emigrated to
Wisconsin and located in Rock County, purchasing a farm of eighty
acres in the town of Fulton. The next spring, he brought his
family. An adjoining farm was occupied by them for a year, when
a frame dwelling was erected. The log cabin was constructed in
a most substantial manner was recently torn down. Only a small
portion of the land had been placed under the plow and Mr. WIXOM
at once began its cultivation and development, which work he
steadily carried forward for sixteen years, when he sold it with
the addition of forty acres more to his son, B. D., who still
resides on the place. He then purchased eighty acres on section
22, in the same town, and moving to that farm, again resumed
agricultural pursuits, engaging in carpenter work at the same
time. He was a man well known throughout the community in which
he resided, bore a prominent part in local affairs and for a
number of years held the office of Justice of the Peace. In early
life, he cast his first ballot with the Whig party, but on the
organization of the Republican party joined its forces and became
one of its strong and faithful advocates. He was ready to use
any honorable means which lay in his power to advance the party
interests, and was well informed on all the leading issues of
the day. He and his wife held membership with the Baptist Church.
The death of Mr. WIXOM occurred Nov. 3, 1868, at the age of fifty-seven
years, and his remains were interred in the Mount Olive Cemetery
in the town of Fulton. After the death of her husband, Mrs. WIXOM
sold the farm and has since made her home with her children.
She has reached the age of seventy-eight years, but still retains
her physical and mental faculties to a marked degree.
- The subject of this sketch remained under the parental roof
until attaining his majority, when he
- began life for himself. He had received a limited education,
and on leaving home went to New York, where he was employed in
a sawmill, owned by an uncle, for about a year. Returning to
Rock County at the expiration of that time, he worked on the
farm of his father for two years and then entered the employ
of Silas HURD, with whom he continued for fourteen months; when
he was taken sick and returned home. After recovering his usual
health, he purchased, in connection with his brother, B. D. WIXOM,
160 acres of land on section 24, town of Fulton, which they operated
in partnership for two years. Then he sold his interest to his
brother and purchased 100 acres of the farm on which he now resides.
It formed the foundation of his present large property and has
been his home since 1863. The land was partly covered with timber,
which he cleared away, planting crops and beginning the development
of a farm. Moving his household effects to the dwelling, which
had been previously erected, he kept "bachelor's hall"
until November 5, 1863, when he married Miss Clara M. HURD, eldest
daughter of Silas HURD, one of the honored pioneers of the county,
whose sketch appears on another page of this work. Three children
came to gladden the home with their presence, and are still with
their parents. They are Claron W., born Sept. 1, 1864; Ella M.,
March 29, 1869, and Silas H., June 13, 1882. Mr. WIXOM intends
giving his children good educational advantages, thereby fitting
them for any position in life which they may be called upon to
fill. The daughter is now pursuing a full course at Milton College,
where she has been a student for three years.
- Our subject is numbered among the early settlers of Rock
County and has been prominently
- identified with its history for many years. When fifteen
years of age, he came to Wisconsin, bringing with him a drove
of sheep. With no one to aid him or keep him company, he drove
them from the town of Candor, N.Y., to Ithaca, N.Y., a distance
of twenty-five miles, and shipped them by canal to Buffalo, where
they were transferred to a steamer. In that way they reached
Milwaukee, whence he drove them to Fulton Township, sixty-five
miles distant. He can truly be called a self-made man, for to
his own unaided efforts is his success in life due. From a humble
position, he has steadily worked his way upward, step by step,
surmounting all difficulties and overcoming all obstacles, until
he is now one of the wealthy farmers of Southern Wisconsin. He
never suffered defeat, but accomplished every object for which
he strove. Ambitious and energetic, he pressed on until by fair
dealing, perseverance and good management he attained a position
of wealth and influence. His landed possessions now aggregate
880 acres of fine land, which pay a golden tribute to his care
and cultivation. Corn is the principal product which he raises
on his farm, though he has also for the past twenty years engaged
in the cultivation of tobacco. In addition to his own property,
his wife is the owner of 300 acres of arable land, which is a
part of her inheritance received form the estate of her father.
Mr. WIXOM deals quite extensively in stock and upon his farm
may always be found the best grades of horses, cattle, sheep
and hogs.
- In his social relations he is a member of the Masonic Fraternity,
belonging to Fulton Lodge at
- Edgerton; also a member of the Knights of Pythias, of Janesville;
and a charter member of the Janesville Grange, to which his wife
and children also belong. He holds membership in the Rock County
Agricultural Society, and is one of the directors of that organization.
He takes an active part in political affairs, has been a staunch
advocate of the Republican party since its organization. He has
never sought public preferment, but for several terms has served
as Supervisor. Public spirited and progressive, Mr. WIXOM has
contributed liberally to the support of all enterprises which
are of benefit to the public and tend to advance the best interests
of the community. He has been prominently identified with the
upbuilding of town and county. Although in the fifty-fifth year
of his age, Mr. WIXOM has never used tobacco or been addicted
to the use of spirituous liquors, of which fact he may justly
be proud, and his example is well worthy of emulation. A man
of sterling worth, his strict integrity and honesty of purpose
have won him the confidence and regard of all with whom business
or pleasure have brought him in contact, and his sketch is well
worthy a place in this volume.
-
- Taken from "Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock
County, Wis." (c)1889, p. 651-653.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|