- FRANK W. ABELL. The subject of this sketch is one of the
well-known and popular farmers
- of Clinton, Rock County. His residence here of more than
a quarter of a century was preceded by a residence of almost
equal length, in Walworth County, Wis., which was named in honor
of George WALWORTH, his maternal grandfather.
- Our subject was born Aug. 22, 1849, in Spring Prairie, Walworth
county, son of Benjamin and
- Maria (WALWORTH) ABELL, natives of New York State. The paternal
grandparents lived and died at Perry, N.Y., where they were engaged
in farming. Their family consisted of nine children. Benjamin
ABELL, the father of Frank W., was a school teacher and farmer.
He came West in 1843, and for a year lived in Lake County, Ill.
In 1844 he removed to Spring Prairie, Walworth County, where
he engaged in farming continuously until 1874, carrying the United
States mail during twelve years of this period. In March, 1874,
he moved to Clinton township, Rock County, where he died at the
age of eighty-two years, his faithful wife surviving only three
days, and passing away at the age of seventy-nine. Both were
devout members of the M. E. Church. To Benjamin and Maria ABELL
were born five children, all of whom are living; Abbie, of Clinton;
Frank W., our subject; Henry H.; George B., of Aberdeen, S. Dak.;
and Jesse B.
- George WALWORTH, the maternal grandfather of our subject
was one of the earliest and most
- prominent pioneers of Walworth County, and was a member of
the Wisconsin Legislature in 1848. He had served in the war of
1812, and for some time prior to his migration to Walworth County
had farmed in New York State. He married a Miss Kezia PERRY,
a relative of Commodore PERRY, hero of the battle of Lake Erie.
He died at the age of seventy years. His family consisted of
two children, both daughters: Maria, Mrs. ABELL; and Mrs. A.
A. JONES.
- Frank W. ABELL, our subject, was reared on the farm in Spring
Prairie, Walworth County,
- attending the district schools. In his early manhood he lived
for years in Chicago, and was also engaged in butchering at East
Troy for two years. In 1874 he came with his parents to Clinton,
and continued to live with them on the farm until their deaths.
Since then he has managed the property, and is recognized as
one of the progressive and successful agriculturists of the county.
Politically Mr. ABELL is a Republican and fraternally he is a
member of Good Samaritan Lodge, No. 135, F. & A.M. Mr. ABELL
owns about seventy-five acres of land in the vicinity of Clinton,
and also has some Western property. His Clinton home is admirably
located on the hill, commanding a full view of the Main street
of Clinton. He is an industrious and enterprising citizen, one
whose early life was closely identified with the privations and
toils of the primitive settlements, and whose ancestors endured
the full measure of the arduous labor essential in developing
a new country and converting the desolate wilderness into peaceful
and happy homes.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin"
(c) 1901, pp. 419-420.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|