- ELON A. DOUGLAS, an honored pioneer and representative citizen
residing on section 3,
- Plymouth Township, is a native of Oneida County, N.Y., born
April 27, 1822, at Monroe, N.Y., and is one of the family of
thirteen children, but three of whom are now living. His parents
were David and Rhoda (PHELPS) DOUGLAS, the former born in Middletown,
Conn., Feb. 7, 1785, and the latter in Windsor, the same State,
Feb. 2, 1788. They were married at Whitestown, N.Y., March 27,
1806. Their children, in order of birth, were as follows: Melissa,
born Feb. 24, 1807, at Whitestown, N.Y., became the wife of S.
H. CHIPMAN, and the mother of two children; Eliza, born Sept.
10, 1809, at Whitestown, N.Y., married Samuel COLBY, and died
at Brodhead, Wis., Nov. 19, 1867; Stephen C., born May 31, 1812,
married Ella STUPPER, by whom he had three children; Rhoda, born
Dec. 18, 1815, at Avon, N.Y., died Sept. 8, 1816, at Ontario,
N.Y.; David P., born July 6, 1818, at Sweden, N.Y., is living
near Johnson, Neb., and is the husband of Mary L. CORYELL, by
whom he has five children - David, Hall, Cora, Arthur, and Annie;
Daniel C., born June 18, 1820, at Genesee, N.Y., died ______;
Elon A., the subject of this sketch; James Sidney, born March
26, 1824, at Pontiac, Mich., died Oct. 20, 1832; Mary B., born
May 26, 1826, at Pontiac, Mich., died Sept. 15, 1827; Albert
C., who was born on the 25th of November, 1827, at Pontiac, Mich.,
is living at Brodhead, Wis.; Elisha E., born Nov. 4, 1829, at
Pontiac, Mich., died Aug. 27, 1834, at the same place; Esther
M., born June 15, 1833, at Pontiac, Mich., died Aug. 27, 1834,
at the same place.
- During his youth, in company with his parents, our subject
left the Empire State and emigrated to
- what was then the Far West, settling at that time in Michigan.
While residing in that State a preacher came to visit them, and
was taken down with the cholera, and all of the family with the
exception of the mother, were stricken down with that disease.
Elon A., then a boy, was sent on horseback for the doctor, and
while on his way was taken sick, having to be held on his horse
on the return trip. In order that the disease should not spread
and infect the whole town, the house of Mr. DOUGLAS was burned
by the citizens and a new one erected for him. Later the family
removed to Rock County, settling in Plymouth Township. David
DOUGLAS was the first permanent resident of the town, and built
the first house within its borders. At that time not a settlement
had been made between his home and the village of Janesville,
and the country was almost in its primitive condition. Our subject
can remember seeing herds of four or five hundred deer. His father
entered and purchased land to the extent of 880 acres, which
he placed under a high state of cultivation. However, as his
children grew up, he divided his land between them, retaining
only 160 acres for his own use. He was one of the prominent early
settlers of the community, and was held in high respect by all.
David DOUGLAS died at Brodhead, Wis., June 12, 1872. Rhoda DOUGLAS
died at Brockport, N.Y., June 19, 1853.
- In 1849 Elon A. DOUGLAS was united in marriage with Miss
Martha BEACH, a daughter of
- Francis and Maria (HURD) BEACH, who were the parents of five
children, three of whom are yet living: Hopson, who is a resident
of Footville, married Libby RUSH, by whom he has two children
- Ella and Lillie, the former now the wife of Edward LYTLE, who
is living in Albany, Green County, and the latter is now the
wife of Ernest PARMLEY; Martha, the deceased wife of our subject,
is the next in order of birth; F. T., who is living in La Cygne,
Linn Co., Kan., married Lucinda DAVIS, and to them have been
born two children - Jennie and Minnie; Watson, now deceased,
married Sabela PURDY, and their union was blessed with three
children - Alexander, Nellie, and Rosa.
- Mr. and Mrs. DOUGLAS were the parents of three children:
Mary, who was born Sept. 6, 1851,
- is the wife of E. W. FISHER, a representative of one of the
pioneer families of the county, and a leading farmer of Rock
Township. Unto them have been born five children, all of whom
are yet living - John, Jacob, Harriet, Joseph, and Whitney; H.O.,
born Oct. 10, 1856, is a resident of Oberlin, Kan. He wedded
Anna L. MILLER, born March 6, 1864 in Athens County, Ohio. They
were married Jan. 10, 1883, at Oberlin, Kan., and now have three
children - Mattie, born Dec. 21, 1883; Myrrel, May 8, 1885; and
Hazel, June 26, 1887. William O., who was born on the 25th of
January, 1866, is engaged in farming on land adjoining the old
homestead, married Ida ELLIS, and to them have been born one
child, Elenie.
- On the 4th of May, 1889, Mrs. DOUGLAS left her home to visit
Mrs. BEACH, a sister-in-law,
- apparently in good health. The next day she laid down to
take a little rest. Mrs. BEACH also laid down in an adjoining
room and fell asleep, but was soon awakened by a strange noise
in Mrs. DOUGLAS' room. Her son also heard the noise, and both
rushed in, and, to their horror, found Mrs. DOUGLAS dead. A physician
was at once called, who pronounced her dead, the cause being
heart disease. Three children and a kind and loving husband were
left to mourn her loss.
- Mr. DOUGLAS is engaged in general farming on section 3, Plymouth
Township, where he owns a
- fine farm of eighty acres, valued at $100 per acre. Being
a man of progressive ideas, everything about his place denotes
thrift and enterprise. For some time he engaged quite extensively
in the breeding of Durham cattle and graded Norman horses, and
was very successful in that line of business. He is regarded
as one of the leading farmers in the township, and is one of
the most prominent citizens in the community. Stanch in support
of the Republican party, he exerts a stronger influence in political
affairs than any man in the town, and has done much toward the
advancement of that great organization in his neighborhood. Although
now an old man, he took an active part in the campaign of 1888.
He has held several official positions, before reaching his majority
being elected Collector and Constable, and for ten consecutive
years served in the former office in Plymouth Township. He is
also a friend to education, believing that to be useful in life
one must be well educated. His sons were both graduates of Silbee's
Commercial College, of Janesville, and his daughter, who was
educated in the Janesville College, was a successful teacher
in the district schools. Mr. DOUGLAS was a participant in the
pioneer life of Rock County, and has been identified with its
growth and development for many long years. He has won the confidence
and love of all who know him, and we are pleased to record his
sketch in the permanent history of the banner county of this
great Commonwealth.
-
- [Transcriber's Note: In the 1st paragraph, the book states
that Daniel C. was born June 18, 1820 and died Aug. 31, 1734
- an obvious mistake. Since both Elisha and Esther died in Aug
27, 1834, perhaps Daniel died 4 days later - that being when
the family was stricken with cholera.]
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 318-319.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|