- SIMEON SCHOONOVER, owner of one of the finest farms of Rock
County, situated on
- section 33, in the Town of Fulton, was born in Candor, Tioga
Co., N.Y., June 15, 1819. His parents, Joseph and Margaret (DECKER)
SCHOONOVER, were born in New Jersey, but became residents of
New York in early life. The father was a farmer by occupation,
and in 1838 removed from New York to Ohio, where he engaged in
agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred about the
year 1865, at the advanced age of ninety years. His excellent
wife preceded him to the better home, dying about 1851. Unto
them were born eleven children, but of that once numerous family
only three are yet living - Simeon, of this sketch; David, now
a resident of Benton County, Iowa; and Fayette, residing near
the old homestead in Ohio.
- Our subject received but a limited education, his opportunities
being such as were afforded by the
- district schools, which he attended during the winter season,
assisting in the labors of the farm during the summer months.
He remained under the parental roof until twenty-one years of
age, when leaving his home, he worked at various occupations
until 1849. In the meantime, he had returned to New York, and
in 1850 rented a farm, which he commenced operating in his own
interests, but a year later he left the East, resolved to try
his fortune in Wisconsin. Arriving at his destination in the
fall of 1851, he purchased forty acres of land in Fulton Township,
Rock County, which proved the nucleus of his present fine farm.
The land was then in a wild and uncultivated condition, but a
few furrows had been turned and the improvements consisted only
of a little log cabin, into which the family moved. With characteristic
energy, Mr. SCHOONOVER began the task of developing the farm,
and in the course of time, where was once a thick and rank growth
of prairie grass, fields of waving grain greeted the eye.
- In the month of February, 1849, Mr. SCHOONOVER was joined
in wedlock with Miss Anna M.
- COURTWRIGHT, and to them were born two children, a son and
daughter: Charles F., who was born in 1850, is now engaged in
farming in the Town of Fulton; Caroline E., who was born in 1853,
and is now the wife of D. E. HOPKINS, also a resident of Fulton.
Mrs. SCHOONOVER was called to her final rest May 12, 1854, and
interred in the Edgerton Cemetery. She was a loving wife and
tender mother, a kind and accommodating friend and neighbor,
and a faithful and consistent Christian lady, a member of the
Baptist Church.
- Mr. SCHOONOVER is a self-made man, and his life has been
one of industry and toil. Ambitious
- and energetic, the difficulties in his way only seemed to
nerve him to greater effort, and overcoming all obstacles, he
has steadily climbed the ladder of success until he is now one
of the well-to-do farmers of Fulton. One of the early settlers
of Rock County, he bravely endured the trials of pioneer life
to make for himself and family a home. At the time of his settlement
the large and thriving cities of Janesville and Beloit, with
their large manufacturing interests, their public buildings and
elegant residences, were but small villages; in the timbered
regions the deer still found a home, and wild fowl was to be
found in abundance. In the work of transformation and progress
which has converted this once wild region into one of the finest
counties in this vast commonwealth, Mr. SCHOONOVER has nobly
borne his part. He has aided largely in the development of the
land, and now has a fine farm of 140 acres, all under cultivation.
In 1872 the little log cabin which had sheltered the summer sun
for twenty-two years, was replaced by a large and commodious
two-story brick residence, one of the pleasantest homes in the
town. Mr. SCHOONOVER has been honored with various official positions;
he has served as Side Supervisor, was Chairman of the Board for
a number of terms, and has acted as Treasurer of the school district;
and in all these different offices had discharged his duties
in a prompt and able manner. In politics he is a Democrat, and
a stalwart supporter of the party principles as advocated by
its party leader. He is a worthy and prominent citizen, whose
sterling worth and uprightness of character have gained him the
confidence of all. Mr. SCHOONOVER is well known throughout the
county, and this sketch of his life will be welcomed by the readers
of this work not only among his friends of pioneer days, but
by his younger acquaintances of later years.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 668-669.
-
- Courtesy of Carol H.
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