- ROBERT JONES NOTT, formerly residing on section 29, Center
Township, but now of
- Janesville, was born in Devonshire, England, on the 4th day
of July, 1820. He was the only son born to Thomas and Betsy (JONES)
NOTT, who were also natives of Devonshire, and there resided
until their deaths occurred. The father was a farmer by occupation.
- When a lad, our subject left the parental roof and crossed
the broad Atlantic to America, making
- the journey in company with a relative by the name of Radley,
who settled in Genesee County, N.Y., in 1827. With him Robert
J. remained until nineteen years of age, when he began working
as a farm laborer. He received a common-school education in the
district schools of that county, which he was only permitted
to attend during the winter months, for during the summer he
aided in the labors of the farm. Possessing an observant eye
and retentive memory, he has largely supplemented his early educational
training by observation and by further reading. He continued
his labors as a farm hand until 1844, when he married, and then
settled in Batavia, N.Y., where he engaged in gardening. After
two years spent in that line he followed the course of emigration
westward, and in the fall of 1846 landed in Rock County, Wis.,
having made the journey by way of the Great Lakes to Milwaukee,
completing his travels from that city in a stage coach. Purchasing
eighty acres of unimproved land, he erected a little log cabin
and began the improvement of his land. His continued labors soon
transformed the wild prairie into a fine farm, to which he added
until at one time he was the owner of 200 acres, but later disposed
of a portion of it, and yet retains 120 acres. The little log
cabin which was his home during the pioneer days of the county
has long since given place to a more commodious residence. This
has not surpassed his improvements in other directions, for a
large orchard has been planted, barns and other outbuildings
necessary to a well-regulated farm have been built, and the entire
surroundings indicate enterprise and refinement.
- In Genesee County, N.Y., Mr. NOTT was united in marriage
with Edith D. DANN, the ceremony
- being performed in the year 1844. The lady was born in Kent,
England, and is a daughter of Abraham and Anna (FOX) DANN. Her
mother was also born in Kent, and died in her native land Dec.
25, 1858, at the age of fifty-two years. After the death of his
wife the father, who was a native of Sussex, England, came with
his children to this country, in 1841. He located in Genesee
County, N.Y., and there worked at his trade of blacksmithing
until his death, which occurred in 1860, at the age of seventy-six
years. He was a man decided in his opinion of right and wrong,
and his influence was ever given to those enterprises which tend
to uplift humanity, while he was a sincere and devoted member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The children of his family
were: Frances, wife of Samuel WALLACE, of Chicago; Abraham, who
emigrated from England to New Brunswick, and later came to Wisconsin,
entered an extensive tract of land from the Government in Rock
County, and here made his home until 1873, when he removed with
his wife and children to Dakota, where he again made a claim,
and resided thereon until his death, which occurred in 1876;
Obid, who is married, came to Rock County in 1846, and now resides
in Chicago; Dann, who was a resident of Rock County, and also
of Madison, Wis., was married and his death occurred in 1878,
his wife being now also deceased; Trayton, who is married, located
on a farm in Rock County in 1846, but is now engaged in farming
in Dakota; Mrs. NOTT is the next in order of birth; Ebenezer,
who formerly made his home in this county, is married, and now
lives near Marshalltown, Iowa; Frank, who is married, makes his
home in Plymouth, Wis.
- The union of Mr. and Mrs. NOTT was blessed with a family
of ten children, but only five are now
- living; Albert was a resident of Rock County until his death,
which occurred June 24, 1884, at the age of thirty-nine years,
leaving a wife and two children, who reside in Janesville; William
T., who is married and has a family of four children, is a resident
farmer of Dakota; Abraham D., who is married and resides in Janesville,
is a commercial traveler and owns a farm in Center Township;
Robert J. died Oct. 10, 1855, at the age of four years; Henry
Franklin, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits, is also married;
Edith E. died May 23, 1874, in the fifteenth year of her age;
Frances M. died March 2, 1866, when four years of age; Lucy A.
is the wife of Robert STRANG, of Center; Sarah E., now Mrs. WILLIAMS,
is living in Center; and Bessie A., the youngest, died June 24,
1884, when only one year old. Mr. NOTT has given his children
ample opportunities for securing good educations, and has lived
to see them all become useful and honorable men and women. The
entire family are members of churches. Mr. and Mrs. NOTT held
membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church at Footville.
He was the oldest living member in that organization, in which
he held the positions of Trustee and Steward until his removal
to Janesville, in which for thirty years he served as Class-Leader.
For the same length of time he was teacher of the Bible class,
and took a deep interest in the branch of religious work. The
business meetings of the church were often held at his home.
Their membership is now with the Court street Church. In his
political sentiments, Mr. NOTT is a stalwart supporter of the
Republican party, with which he has affiliated since its organization.
He has served as Supervisor of the township, has served on both
the Grand and Petit juries, and has been a member of the School
Board. He bore a prominent part in the organization of the school
and road districts, and also assisted in the organization of
the township. Socially, he is a member of Center Grange No. 35.
He has been identified with the history of Rock County for the
long period of forty-three years, and is numbered among its honored
pioneers. He has not only witnessed the great and rapid changes
which have placed it on a par with any county in the State, but
has ever nobly borne his part in the work. As a husband and father,
he is kind and loving; as a neighbor and friend, true and obliging;
as a citizen he is loyal, and as a Christian, devoted and faithful.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 590-592.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|