- WILLIAM HUYKE, residing on section 34, Magnolia Township,
has been a resident of Rock
- County since the pioneer days, and has borne a prominent
part in its up-building and advancement. He has not only witnessed,
but has participated in the growth and transformation which have
placed the county on a par with any in this great commonwealth,
and to him it owes a debt of gratitude which can never be repaid.
- Mr. HUYKE was born in Montgomery County, N.Y., July 31, 1818,
and is a son of Christopher
- and Mary (JENKINS) HUYKE. Both parents were born, reared
and passed their entire lives in Montgomery County, and were
finally laid to rest in one of its cemeteries, the father dying
in 1832, the mother in 1825. They had a family of nine children,
but only three of that number yet survive - Elizabeth, widow
of William FREEMYRE, resides in Shelby, Orleans Co., N.Y.; William,
of this sketch; and Peter, who is engaged in farming in Orleans
County, N.Y.
- At the age of fourteen years, our subject was left an orphan,
and thus without counsel or guidance
- of parents was forced to begin life's battle. He had previously
attended the public schools, receiving a fair knowledge of the
common branches, but on the death of his father began working
by the month. For several years he worked at farm labor during
the summer, attending school in the winter time. In 1840 he went
to Orleans County, N.Y., where he again engaged in farming on
shares during the summer season, and in the fall would operate
a threshing machine in the neighborhood.
- On the 10th day of September, 1842, Mr. HUYKE was joined
in wedlock with Miss Mary A.
- LETTS, daughter of Simon and Margaret LETTS, of Orleans County,
N.Y. Shortly after their marriage, the young couple removed to
Calhoun County, Mich., where in 1843 the husband purchased a
farm, continuing its cultivation until June, 1844, when he sold
out and came to Rock County. He here entered 160 acres of raw
land on sections 22 and 27, Magnolia Township, and at once erecting
a log cabin began life on the frontier. Not a single improvement
had previously been made or a single furrow turned, but in a
short time 120 acres had been broken, and he continued the development
of the land until it became one of the finest farms in Magnolia
Township. In 1855 death visited the pioneer home, claiming for
its victim the loved wife and mother. She left four children,
three sons and one daughter, but only two are now living - Clement
A., of Ashland, Neb.; and Byron T. who is engaged in farming
in Rock County, Minn. Amelia died at the age of twenty-two years,
and George in the thirty-first year of his age.
- In 1855, Mr. HUYKE returned to Orleans County, N.Y., where
he was again united in marriage,
- Harriet SHURGER becoming his wife. Two children were born
unto them; one died in infancy, and John A. is working for his
father. After their marriage, our subject at once returned to
Rock County, and on the 22d day of February, 1862, was again
called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. She was a member of
the Christian Church, and a lady beloved by all who knew her.
For his third wife, Mr. HUYKE married Cordelia SHURGER, a sister
of the former wife, but her death occurred in 1864. On the 7th
day of October, 1865, he wedded Miss Carrie LANE, a native of
Ohio. Their union has been graced by two children - William,
and Fred, who is now deceased.
- In 1857 Mr. HUYKE sold his farm on sections 22 and 27, Magnolia
Township, and removed to
- Minnesota, purchasing 320 acres of land in Moore County.
The following fall, however, he disposed of his property in Minnesota,
and returned to Rock County, where he again bought a farm of
120 acres, locating on sections 26 and 34, Magnolia Township,
which has since been his home. The land at that time was a wild,
uncultivated waste, but the care and labor bestowed upon it,
together with the improvements made, have transformed the raw
prairie into one of the finest farms of Rock County. Truly, Mr.
HUYKE is a self-made man, and his success in life is due entirely
to his own efforts. Thrown upon his own resources at the early
age of fourteen, without the protecting care of a home, he embarked
upon his career as a farm hand. Faithfully and well did he perform
his every duty, and at length became able to purchase land for
himself, becoming one of the well-to-do farmers of this community.
Honest and upright in all his dealings, he has won the confidence
of all with whom business or pleasure has brought him in contact,
and is a valued and worthy citizen. In 1852 he was appointed
to the office of Deputy Sheriff, serving in that position four
years, and for two years he was engaged in shipping grain in
Janesville, with which two exceptions he has been numbered among
the residents of Magnolia Township for the long period of forty-four
years. In his political sentiments he is a stalwart supporter
of the Republican party, and has been an active worker in the
temperance cause. Having the welfare of his adopted county at
heart, he has done much to promote its interests, and has been
identified with many of the leading enterprises. He helped to
build the first railroad in Rock County, having the contract
for grading the road between Milton and Janesville, and witnessed
the arrival of the first train that entered the latter city.
Thus we have given a brief sketch of one of the prominent men
of the county, whose loyalty is beyond questions, and who is
respected by all.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 585-586.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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