- MYRON H. SOVERHILL, a leading dealer in leaf tobacco, of
Janesville, has been a resident of
- this city since January, 1856. He was born in Newark, Wayne
Co., N.Y., July 14, 1828, and probably is descended from Samuel
SOVERHILL, a native of Wales, who came to America during the
Colonial days. He was a sailor, owning several coasting vessels,
and at the time of the Revolution was engaged in the lumber trade
between Maine and Long Island. The British captured his vessels
and endeavored to press him into their service, but he resisted
their efforts, lost his life by so doing, and was thrown overboard
into the sea. His son, the grandfather of our subject, for that
reason contracted a great hatred for the British, and when the
War of 1812 (which was caused by the British trying to impress
American seamen into their service) broke out, he immediately
engaged in that struggle. He was at that time in command of a
military company in the State of New York. He took part in the
engagement at Sodus Point, the battle of Chippewa, and the battle
of Queenstown, in which Gen. Brock was killed. He continued to
live in Wayne County until his death. He had a family of three
daughters and three sons - Isaac, Hiram, and Joel, the latter
being the only one of the family yet living, his home being the
old homestead in Wayne County.
- Hiram SOVERHILL, the father of our subject, was the first
white child born in Arcadia Township,
- Wayne Co., N.Y., the date of his birth being Nov. 16, 1800.
He was reared to the occupation of farming, and was united in
marriage with Eliza JESSUP, who was born in Wayne County in 1808,
and was a daughter of Lewis JESSUP, a native of New Jersey, who
settled in Wayne County at an early day. A family of five children,
three sons and two daughters, were born to Mr. and Mrs. SOVERHILL,
and all are yet living, Myron H., of this sketch, being the eldest;
Andrew D. is a resident of Newark, N.Y.; Edward P. makes his
home at the same place; Sarah is the wife of John R. BOYCE, of
Minneapolis, Minn.; and Mary, a maiden lady, is with her sister.
- The subject of this sketch is the only one of the family
who ever located in Wisconsin. He was
- reared to farm life, and received his education in his native
county. After arriving at manhood, he was joined in wedlock with
Miss Adeline SANFORD, a native of Wayne County, N.Y., and a daughter
of Joseph H. and Dorcas (HUMPHREY) SANFORD. Her father's family
numbered eight children, four sons and four daughters, but only
three are now living - William, of Barry County, Mich.; Emily,
wife of Pliny MACOMBER, of Maple Grove, Mich.; and Mrs. SOVERHILL.
- In the fall of 1855 Mr. SOVERHILL made a trip to Rock County
for the purpose of selecting a
- location, and purchased a farm on section 8, in the town
of Fulton. But little improvement had been made at the time of
the purchase, but he at once began to develop and cultivate the
land, which he soon transformed into a beautiful farm, which
is yet in his possession. From 1856 until 1882, when retiring
from farm life, he there made his home. In 1858 he turned his
attention to the raising of tobacco, and that year harvested
a crop. He was one of the first to engage in that industry in
Rock County, and since the date mentioned not a year has passed
in which he has failed to raise a crop of tobacco. He purchased
the first tobacco bought on commission in the State of Wisconsin,
at Edgerton, in 1869, and, though having retired from farm life,
he still continues this business, engaged in the buying of leaf
tobacco and wool. The magnitude of the tobacco trade and the
extent to which Mr. SOVERHILL has dealt in this commodity is
illustrated by the fact that in the season of 1882 he purchased
3,000 cases, or sufficient to load sixty cars with an average
capacity of 60,000 pounds. He handles more wool than any other
dealer in Southern Wisconsin.
- Mr. SOVERHILL is one of the representative men of Rock County,
with whose progress and
- advancement he has been identified for thirty-five years.
In his political views he was in early life a Democrat but when
the party divided on the question of slavery, he espoused the
cause of freedom, and at the organization of the Republican party
joined that body, with which he has since been identified. In
his religious views he is a Presbyterian. Mr. and Mrs. SOVERHILL
are the parents of five children, one son and four daughters:
Sanford; Minnie, wife of Mr. TRACY, of Chicago; Helen, wife of
T. B. EARLE, of Edgerton, Rock County; Florence, wife of B. DE
FOREST, of Rock County; and Edith, who is at home.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 528-529.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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