- JOSEPH HOHANSHELT, who is engaged in farming on section 34,
Plymouth Township, is a
- native of the Keystone Sate. He was born in Northampton County,
and is a son of John and Elizabeth HOHANSHELT, of whose large
family of children, but two are yet living: George, Elizabeth
and Daniel are all deceased; Joseph of this sketch is the next
in order of birth; Susan, Polly, Catherine and Sally have now
passed away; and Jacob is now residing in Iowa, where he is engaged
in farming.
- The subject of this sketch was born Nov. 1, 1805, and in
his native State was reared to manhood.
- In 1828, at the age of twenty-three years, he led to the
marriage altar Miss Christina HOUCH, who is also a native of
Pennsylvania. Unto them were born a family of fifteen children,
seven of whom died at an early age. Those who still survive are
Simon, who is now a resident of Michigan, and who married Emma
Ann FOX, by whom he has five children, three yet living; Israel,
who resides on the home farm, is married and has six children,
four now living; George, who makes his home in Iowa, wedded Miss
BUTLER, and to them were born five children, four yet living;
Henry, who married Caroline NONEMAKER, by whom he has five children,
is also living in Iowa; Elizabeth W. is the wife of John McINTOSH,
and their union has been blessed with four children, all yet
living; Alexander, who married a lady residing on his grandfather's
farm, Jennie, Henry and Rosetta; Matilda wedded John BUTLER,
and they are now the parents of eight children, six of whom are
living; Mentava married M. HOUCK, a resident of Iowa, and they
have four children, all living. Christina is the wife of Noah
SECERS, and their union has been blessed with six children, four
yet living: Henry, Mary, Carrie, Melia, Louisa and Emma.
- In 1837, accompanied by his family, Mr. HOHANSHELT started
for the West, going by way of
- the Erie Canal to Buffalo, where he took a steamer to Milwaukee,
whence he proceeded to Janesville. At that time the new populous
and thriving county seat of Rock County contained but two stores
and two taverns, one of the site of Myer's Hotel and the other
where the Methodist Episcopal Church is located. For some time
he lived on the farm of Mr. STONE, about three miles from Janesville,
when he erected a house on the land of John ARNOLD, into which
he moved with his family. At the time of his arrival he had but
$10 in money, with which he bought a cow and a calf. When he
left the ARNOLD farm he became a resident of Hanover, building
the first house in that town, a log cabin. He ha been prominently
identified with the growth of that village, and not only built
the first residence, which is still standing, but also built
the first hotel and gave seven acres of land for the railroad.
He removed to his present farm on section 34, Plymouth Township,
in 1870, purchasing eighty acres, but he has since disposed of
half that amount. In connection with his other business interest,
Mr. HOHANSHELT has followed the stone mason's trade and has gained
a reputation for building the best chimneys to be found in the
county.
- Industrious and enterprising, he is a self-made man, having
from his early years been dependent on
- his own resources. While residing in Pennsylvania he not
only worked upon the farm during the daytime, but spent his evenings
in making shoes, and in the same manner of apparently untiring
energy, his early life in this county was spent. He has always
labored faithfully for the advancement of the interests and promotion
of the welfare of the community in which he resides, and is a
worthy and valued citizen. Since becoming a voter he has supported
the Democratic party, and in religious belief is a Lutheran,
holding membership with the church of that denomination in Hanover.
A portrait of this worthy citizen will be found upon another
page.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 494-495.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|