- A. A. ATHERTON, proprietor of the Temperance Billiard Hall,
and dealer in fruits and
- confectionery, at Milton, is a representative of one of the
pioneer families of Rock County. His father, Simon S. ATHERTON,
was born at Bolton, Conn., Aug. 4, 1817, and was a son of Simon
and Roxie (RISLEY) ATHERTON, whose family consisted of the following
named children: Russel W., Almarin W., Roxie S., Almarin, Truman
W., John M., Royal A., Cornelius, Simon, Adaline J. and Caroline
C. But three of that family are now living - Cornelius, who
resides in Rochester, Minn.; Adaline J., now Mrs. SOWLE, and
Caroline C., now Mrs. McEWAN, both residents of Milton. When
seventeen years of age Simon ATHERTON left his native State,
and in 1834 emigrated to Michigan, then a Territory. He was
a carpenter by trade, and being an expert workman, at an early
age was placed in charge of a company of men as superintendent.
- When in his twentieth year he married Miss Hester A. CLARK,
the wedding ceremony being
- performed in Manchester, Mich. The lady was born in Syracuse,
N.Y., Nov. 28, 1820, and in her girlhood days came to the West,
becoming a resident of Michigan on the 13th day of May, 1833.
She was one of a family of twelve children born to Joseph S.
and Almeda B. (SPENCER) CLARK, as follows: Joseph, Hester A.,
Alpheus, Abby, William, Henry, Elsie, John, Amanda, Elsie, Alvin,
Harvey and Egbert. Mr. and Mrs. ATHERTON removed from Manchester,
Mich., to Michigan Center, where they resided until November,
1842, when they came to Milton, Wis. The husband then purchased
eighty acres of land on section 22, range 13, in the town of
Milton, forty acres of which he retained possession of until
his death, which occurred on the old homestead, March 2, 1879.
His wife died in Milton on the 4th day of September, 1875.
They were highly respected citizens and had many warm friends.
- Unto this worthy couple were born seven children, Namely:
Royal S., who was born in Michigan,
- Nov. 3, 1841; Almeda A., born in Milton, April 11, 1843;
Joseph C., born in Milton, April 13, 1845; Almarin A., born in
Janesville, Aug. 23, 1850; Ella C., born in Milton, May 14, 1852,
Arthur A., born Sept. 14, 1857, and Alonzo A., Oct. 1, 1859.
- Alonzo A. ATHERTON, whose name heads this sketch, was born
in the town where he yet
- makes his home, and his entire life has been passed in this
county. He received a good education in the common schools,
and in early life spent his time working on a farm. He was married
on the 19th day of November, 1879, to Miss Emma L. BUMP, a resident
of Waterloo, Jefferson Co., Wis. She is a daughter of Walter
and Catherine (DAUNE) BUMP. They have one child, a son, named
Walter A., born in the town of Milton, Oct. 16, 1880.
- In March, 1882, accompanied by his wife and little son, Mr.
ATHERTON removed to the village
- of Milton, where he has since made his home. For some time
he was engaged in working at any profitable and honorable employment,
but after two years spent in that way, in 1883 he established
the Temperance Billiard Hall, which he has conducted since.
In politics he is a Republican, having cast his ballot with that
party since attaining to his majority, and socially he belongs
to the I.O.O.F., and was one of the charter members of Du Lac
Lodge, No. 322, of Milton.
-
- [Transcriber's Note: I wonder if there might be a possible
error in the state where it says Cornelius lives - Minn. Could
it be Manchester, Mich. instead, where Hester married?]
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 777-778.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|