- JOHN DEXTER NORTHROP, residing on section 21, town of Clinton,
is numbered among the
- leading farmers of this community. Among those who have
been identified with the history of Rock County since the days
of its infancy and have witnessed its entire growth, none are
held in higher regard, or more deserving of the respect and honor
of their fellow-citizens, than he whose name heads this sketch.
Mr. NORTHROP was born in Onondaga County, N.Y., June 15, 1832,
and his parents were Harson and Sally C. (ATWOOD) NORTHROP.
He resided in his native county until attaining his fourteenth
year, when, in 1845, in company with the family, he came to Wisconsin
and assisted his father in the development of a farm. The cultivation
of the land of that day was then no easy task, for not a furrow
had been turned on the prairie, and cultivators were not in use.
After several years spent in agricultural pursuits, in connection
with his brother he embarked in the lumber business in Beloit,
where he resided for a period of ten years, from 1852 until 1862,
when, selling out, he purchased his farm in the town of Clinton.
Within its boundaries are comprised 200 broad acres, all of
which are under a high state of cultivation, and his home, with
its pleasant surrounds, is one of the most beautiful in the community.
- In 1856 Mr. NORTHROP was united in marriage with Miss Mary
M. HODGE, a daughter of
- S. S. and Eliza (HUBBARD) HODGE. Two children graced their
union, a son and a daughter, the latter, Eleanor M., being now
the wife of Daniel G. SMITH, one of the leading farmers of the
town of Turtle, while Charles D., is now operating the home farm.
He married Miss Helen MORSE, daughter of W. H. and Annie (HACKNY)
MORSE, who were natives of New York and emigrated to Dubuque,
Iowa, in the Territorial days of that State. The death of Mr.
MORSE occurred in Lancaster, Wis., in 1888. The same year, in
the month of December, the hand of death was laid upon Mrs. NORTHROP,
and she passed to her final rest respected by all who knew her.
Not only her immediate family mourned her loss, but deep grief
was felt by a large circle of intimate friends.
- Mr. NORTHROP is a warm supporter of the Republican party,
but has never been a politician in
- the sense of office-seeking. For nearly half a century he
has been numbered among the prominent and influential citizens
of Rock County, and none are more widely and honorably known.
At the time of his coming, the country was still in its primitive
condition, and the future brightness of the county could not
have been imagined. The age of wonders is surely upon us, for
who would have dreamed fifty years ago that the little hamlet
of Janesville would become one of the leading cities of Wisconsin,
or that Rock County, with its few scattered settlements, could
be the banner county, in many respects, in this great commonwealth.
To those noble pioneers who left their homes in the East to
brave the trials, nay dangers, of pioneer life, is due this wonderful
result, and words fail us with which to show our appreciation
of their efforts.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 499-500.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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