- DANIEL TASKER, a leading citizen of Beloit, is numbered among
the honored pioneer settlers of
- Rock County, and probably has resided in this community longer
than any other man. He was born in Woodbury, Caledonia County,
Vt., on the 8th day of May, 1821, and is a son of Silas and Susan
(COLLINS) TASKER, who were descended from old New England stock.
The father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and did valiant
service at the battle of Plattsburg. He and his wife were the
parents of seven children: Amanda, who married Stephen DOWNER,
a resident of Downer's Grove, Ill., which was named in his honor;
Mary A., who became the wife of Sevey DODGE, and settled at Downer's
Grove, where they both died; Lydia, who married Henry WHEELER;
Charlotte, who died in childhood; Susan, wife of Martin E. MOORE;
Elvira and John, who died in childhood; and Daniel, of this sketch,
who is the only one of the family yet living.
- In the year 1833, Silas TASKER, accompanied by his family,
emigrated to the West, and spent the
- winter in Chicago, which was then a little village containing
300 inhabitants. The following spring he removed to Napierville,
Ill., where he secured a claim and planted a crop. In July, 1835,
he came to Rock County, Wis., in company with Stephen DOWNER
and his son Daniel, locating a claim on Jefferson prairie, comprising
a half section of land. He here spent the summer, and in February,
1836, removed his family to the home which he had prepared for
them. The country was then a vast wilderness, but few white settlers
having visited the northern portion of the State, while there
was not a single settlement between the home of Mr. TASKER and
Green Lake. The prairies were covered with high grass, no roads
had been made, and for twenty-five miles the family had to follow
an Indian trail. After remaining on his claim two years Mr. TASKER
sold out, and in the spring of 1837 moved to Beloit, where he
kept a boarding house until the death of his wife in 1843. He
still continued to reside in that city until his death, which
occurred in 1865. They were members of the Free-will Baptist
Church and were highly respected people.
- Our subject spent his early life in his native State, and
in 1833, when twelve years of age, came
- with his parents to the West, and, as before stated, has
been numbered among the citizens of Beloit since 1837. When sixteen
years of age he began learning the trade of a stone mason, which
he has followed continuously since, and has been instrumental
in the erection of many of the finest blocks in the city. One
can hardly pass along the streets of Beloit without seeing some
building which stands as a monument to his skill and labor, for,
as he was an expert workman, his services were always greatly
in demand. In the month of May, 1845, he was united in marriage
with Miss Emily J. BLACKMER, who was born in St. Lawrence County,
N.Y., in 1823, and was a daughter of Calvin BLACKMER of Chautauqua
County, that State. Three children blessed their union, two of
whom are now living; Eugene W. and Frank E. In 1879 the death
of Mrs. TASKER occurred, and he was again married in 1881, when
Miss Hannah (CHANDLER) GREEN became his wife.
- Mr. TASKER has been numbered among the progressive and leading
citizens of Beloit for more
- than half a century. On the time of his arrival not a single
house had been built on the west side of the river on the present
site of the city, while the town on the east side was composed
of an old trading post kept by a man by the name of Thebolt,
and three log cabins, while the old Rock River House was in process
of construction by Caleb BLODGETT. The little town was first
known as the Mouth of the Turtle; the name was afterwards changed
to New Albany, and subsequently became known under its present
appellation. From the earliest days of his residence, Mr. TASKER
has been identified with its growth and progress, and has borne
no inconsiderable part in its development. In 1841 he assisted
in raising the old sign for the Beloit House, a building which
stood until 1888, when it was torn down by A. B CARPENTER and
replaced by a more modern structure. To those honored pioneers
who labored faithfully in her behalf, sharing the trials and
hardships of frontier life, Rock County owes a debt of gratitude
which can never be repaid. The work which they performed cannot
be measured by hours and days, for they laid the foundation on
which the noble structure of the Banner County has been reared.
We are pleased to record the sketch of Daniel TASKER, the honored
pioneer of Rock County, knowing that it will be read with interest
by all.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 440-441.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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