 |
- LEVI B. and WILBUR F. CARLE, of Janesville, are well-known
- representatives of one of the early families of Rock County.
Their father, John B. CARLE, was born in the town of Waterborough,
not far from Portland, Me., on the 24th day of February, 1808.
He was descended from one of the early New England families.
The earliest American ancestry of the CARLE family consisted
of three brothers, who, in 1680, more than two centuries ago,
emigrated from Ireland and settled in what is now the State of
Maine, then a part of the Colony of Massachusetts. Representatives
of the CARLE family, whose history extends back almost to the
days of the Pilgrim fathers, are still numerous in New England.
|
- John B. CARLE belonged to the fifth generation in direct
descent from one of the three brothers.
- His grandparents were Nathan and Sarah CARLE, the former
born March 11, 1747, and the latter March 10, 1749. His parents
were Silas and Abigail CARLE. The former was born Nov. 12, 1776,
and died May 7, 1858, in his eighty-second year; the latter was
born Dec. 27, 1779, and died Sept. 23, 1859, in her eightieth
year.
- When a youth John B. CARLE was apprenticed to the trade of
cabinet-making, but that
- occupation being distasteful, he learned the trade of machinist,
and going to Lowell, Mass., was for many years engaged in that
pursuit in the shops of the Middlesex Manufacturing Corporation.
He was a skillful workman, and his services were always in demand,
but believing that the best interests of his sons would be promoted
by so doing, he resolved to go West, where opportunities for
advancing in life were superior to those of the older States
in the East. In June, 1853, accompanied by his family, he arrived
in Rock County, and located on a new farm in the town of Janesville,
which he improved, residing thereon for many years, until finally
retiring form he active duties of life, when he removed to Janesville
City. His death occurred in this city Sept. 1, 1884. He was three
times married. His first wife was Parnell BLOSSOM, who was a
native of Woodstock, Vt., and died in Rock County Dec. 27, 1856.
She was of Scotch ancestry, and also descended from an early
New England family. Mr. CARLE married for his second wife Robena
MOUAT. His third wife, who survives her husband and still occupies
the homestead in Janesville, is a sister of his second wife.
Mr. CARLE left three sons by his first marriage - Levi B., Wilbur
F., and John H., and by his second a daughter, Jennie M., who
is now the wife of Harry M. KELLER, of Janesville.
- For many years Mr. CARLE was a consistent member of the Methodist
Church. In his political
- sentiments he was a Whig in early life, and later was identified
with the Republican party. He possessed much mental force, was
positive in his convictions and charitable in his religious views.
He was a man of sterling qualities, upright and conscientiously
just in all the relations of life, and enjoyed the respect and
esteem of all with whom he came in contact. He inherited from
his New England ancestry sterling and substantial elements of
character, which were manifest in all his relations in life,
and he was in all respects a worthy and honored representative
of that class of men who in the earlier days of its history,
became identified with Rock County, and departing after a life
of usefulness, left behind him a record worthy of emulation.
- Levi B. and Wilbur F. CARLE, whose names head this sketch,
are numbered among the
- prominent business men of Janesville.
- The former was born in Lowell, Mass., Aug. 8, 1835, having
been about eighteen years of age
- when he came with his parents to Rock County. His wife was
formerly Miss Kate HIGGINS, who came to Wisconsin with her parents
when a child. They have three children, two daughters and a son
- Parnell, Norman L., and Josie. When a youth Levi B. CARLE started
out in life for himself, and with but $18 dollars in his pocket
all the capital he possessed, went to Milwaukee, where he engaged
as a book- keeper at a small salary. Soon after entering on his
second year in that capacity, a position in the post-office of
Milwaukee was tendered him at a largely increased salary, but
his employer, rather than lose his services, increased his wages
to that offered elsewhere, and he continued in his service until
the end of the second year. He was then employed at a good compensation
by a Chicago publishing house, as a traveling agent, selling
books at auction. He then, for one year, engaged in farming,
and in 1858 he embarked in the grocery trade in Janesville, continuing
in that line for the long period of twenty-one years, or until
1879, when he retired from retail trade. Going to Chicago, he
engaged as a wholesale dealer in groceries for three years, when
he again came to this city, and for a number of years he has
been a tobacco dealer, buying and shipping leaf tobacco. Mr.
CARLE is numbered among the most successful business men of Janesville.
He earned by his own labor the money that enabled him to embark
in business, and the eminent degree of success that has attended
his business career, is the result of his industry, energy, and
natural ability.
- Wilbur F. CARLE was born at Lowell, Mass., on the 22d of
May, 1841, and married Miss
- Maria STRAWSER, a daughter of William STRAWSER, an early
settler of Green County, Wis. Their union has been blessed to
them with one child, Kittie B., who is now the wife of William
H. ASHCROFT, of Janesville. Mr. CARLE entered upon his business
career in 1863, as a grocer, and continued in that line for a
few years, when he retired form the same and became connected
with an incorporated boot and shoe manufacturing company. In
1879, when his brother, Levi B., went to Chicago, he bought out
his stock, and has continued in the grocery trade since that
time, and has built up a large business. The CARLE brothers are
numbered among the most substantial and prosperous citizens of
Rock County.
|
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 369-370; lithograph from
"Rock County, Wisconsin, Vol. I," p. 18.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|
