Bios transcribed by Kay R. & History by Jan Cortez
Eureka
This village, of nearly the same population as Waukau, is situated on the Fox River, five miles from Waukau and about the same distance from Rush Lake Junction, on the Chicago, MIlwaukee & St. Paul Railway, so that, although not situated upon the direct line of the railroad itself, the village is not debarred from its privileges by any means. It is considerable of a steamboat point, the city of Delhi, three miles down the river, and its bitter rival in the early fifties, being "lost to sight, to memory dear." W.C. Dickerson and Lester Rounds may be regarded as the fathers of the village. The former had settled upon the site as a favorable one for a village, and induced Mr. Rounds to remove his general store from Waukau. Mr. Dickerson had removed from the town of Nepeuskun, Winnebago 'county, having previously resided in Salem, Racine County. In 1846, E.D. Hall entered the fifty-one acres of land at the Green Bay office which now comprises the site of Eureka. Israel Trow, a land speculator of this region, intended to make the purchase. It was entered in Mr. Hall's name instead, and through financial embarrassments the property passed from the nominal possession of Mr. Trow into the hands of Lester Rounds and W.C. Dickerson. The village was platted May 10, 1850; proprietors, Lester Rounds, W.C. Dickerson and William Starr, the latter one of the original settlers. O. J. Capron, of Berlin, surveyed the land. Next, a ferry was established, and a post office appeared in July, Lester Rounds, POstmaster. The first saw-mill was built by J.M. Rounds, E.B. Rounds and William Starr, in 1851. A second soon followed. Three years thereafter, in 1854, a bridge was substituted for the ferry. A grist-mill was added to the village's business life in 1856. These manufactories, with the daily landing of boats plying between Berlin and Oshkosh, made Eureka a very brisk little settlement. Lester Rounds and W.C. Dickerson still reside iin the village they founded, the former still operating a general store; firm name, Rounds & Cole. W.M. Dana and N.A. Chapell & Son are in the same line of trade. H.K. Priest is proprietor of the Eureka House. The saw-mills are not in operation. E.G. Woodworth is the proprietor of the grist and flour mills. The village has two churches; the Unitarian Society, however has no settled pastor. Rev. R. Blackburn is in charge of the M.E. Church. The cause of education is fostered by W. McGoorty, Principal of the District School. Eureka is in the midst of a productive farming country, which, with the trade she derives from the steamboat traffic, are her chief business supports.
Page 1189 - Robert BOANTREE, miller, Eureka, was born in Middleton, Eng., July 20, 1844, and emigrated with his mother to America in February, 1855, and settled in Clockville, Madison Co., N.Y., where they lived about two years; then went to Oneida Co., N.Y., and worked five years in HELCA Furnace Works, and attended school in winter; went to Morrisville, Madison Co., N.Y., and learned his trade, living three years; then to Durhamville, Oneida Co., N.Y., worked in a mill about one year; then to Oriskany in fall and lived there about one year; then to Clinton, same county, and took charge of his first mill, where he worked fifteen months; then to Northwestern, same county, and ran a mill eight months; then went to Michigan prospecting; then to East Troy, Walworth Co., Wis., and took charge of a grist mill eighteen months; then to Milwaukee, worked two and a half years in a mill; then to West Troy, Wis., and started a new mill; was there three years. He was married there Sept. 16, 1878, to Miss Sophia C. WRIGHT, who was born in West Troy. From there he moved to Milwaukee and worked in different mill a number of years; then to Nebraska and worked two and a half years in a mill at Schuyler, Colfax Co. His wife died there May 15, 1874; then he went to Parsons, Kansas, and took charge of a mill two and a half years; then returned to Milwaukee and engaged in milling two years; then to Eureka, Wis., July, 1879. He was again married in Milwaukee, April, 1879, to Miss Clara MOLSER; she was born in Austria. He had two children by his first wife - Jennie S. and Robert E. He is a member of the I.O.O.F., also the Knights of Pythias, a beneficiary association.
Page 1189 - Norman A. CHAPELL, Eureka, dealer in a general line of drugs, groceries, patent medicines, paints, oils. etc.; established in 1877. He located in Eureka in 1871, and followed the lumber business until he engaged in his present occupation, but was engaged in dry goods business in connection with lumbering. He has been Town Treasurer one year. He enlisted, at Bradford, Chickasaw Co., Iowa, in 1861, in Co. H, 4th Iowa V.C., mustered in February, 1862; he was engaged in all of the battles with his regiment, under command of Gen. CURTIS, and went through Missouri, Arkansas, and they were the first that crossed the Mississippi River below Vicksburg, Miss., under Gen. SHERMAN; he was also in skirmishes of Selma and Montgomery, and was finally mustered out at Atlanta, Ga., in August, 1864. He returned to Bradford, Iowa, and lived until spring of 1871, engaged in lumber business. He was born in Yates Co., N.Y., Oct. 25, 1830; married in the latter place, in July, 1856, to Miss Sarah J. FOSTER, who was born in Steuben Co., N.Y., in June, 1835; they have six children - Lester E. (attending to drug store and post office), Cora B., Minnie E., Susan J., Margaret E. and Roy L.
Page 1190 - E. F. COLE, firm of ROUNDS & COLE, dealers in a general line of country merchandise, Eureka. Mr. COLE located in Eureka in 1868, and engaged as clerk in office of Eureka Lumber Company, where he served until 1876, then became a partner as above noted. He was born in Steuben Co., N.Y., Oct. 1, 1832; was married in latter county, in September, 1854, to Miss Mary A. FOSTER, who was born in same county; they have one daughter living - Ella M. COLE, and Flora M., deceased. Mr. C. is a member of M.E. Church; also a member of the I.O.O.F.
Page 1190 - William M. DANA, Eureka, dealer in a general line of dry goods, groceries, hats, caps, boots and shoes, and all kinds of goods found in a country store; established in April, 1879; trade amounts to $12,000 to $15,000 per annum. He first located at Ripon, Wis., in 1848, with his parents, until war broke out, and enlisted in Co. M, 1st W.V.C., in 1862; was mustered into service at Madison in March, 1862; his regiment was constantly doing skirmish duty, and participated in the taking of Nashville, Tenn.; also at Atlanta, and many battles in that vicinity, and finally brought up at Macon, Ga., at close of war. Mr. D. was a Special Orderly to Gen. O. H. LaGRANGE during his service. Was mustered out at Edgefield, a suburb of Nashville, in July, 1865. He returned to Ripon and attended college eighteen months; then visited the States of Iowa and Minnesota, remaining eighteen months, in mercantile trade; he then went to Eureka, Wis.; engaged in milling business in company with E. B. ROUNDS; continued three years; sold out and went to Minnesota and farmed three years. He then went to San Francisco and clerked in the post office eight months; then as melter in United States Mint one year; returned to Minnesota and farmed one year, then to Eureka and farmed one year, after which he engaged in his present business. Was born in Schoharie Co., N.Y., June 16, 1846. Married, in Eureka, Feb. 22, 1871, to Miss Laura COATS, who was born in Walworth Co., Wis.; they have two sons - Hiram W. and William L. Mr. D. is a member of the ancient I.O.O.F.
Page 1190 - Walton C. DICKERSON, retired, Eureka; was born in Kingston, R. I., June 9, 1809; his parents lived there about three years then moved to Massachusetts and lived until he moved to Wisconsin, in 1838, and opened a farm in Kenosha Co., where he remained until 1846, then moved to Winnebago Co., Wis., at Nepeuskun Township, and farmed until 1850, when he settled in Eureka, and assisted to lay out the town plat, present site of Eureka. He soon engaged in mercantile, forwarding and commission business, and built the first docks and warehouse; he continued in the above business until his building and goods were burned. He has held various town offices, and has been a member of different temperance organizations in his village. He was married, in Omro, Wis., in 1872, to Mrs. Lucy FLAGG, who was born in Saratoga Co., N.Y. He had ten children by former wives - Edward E., Albert, by his first wife; George A., Ann M., Julia E., Emeline, Francis, Florence E., William E. and Elzada, by second wife. Mrs. I. G. TROW, a sister, settled in Kenosha Co., in July, 1836, with her husband; they settled in Eureka in 1847, and followed farming; the first white child born in Eureka, June 20, 1849, was named Elliott E. TROW. Town site of Eureka was laid out in 1850, by O. H. CAPRON; the land was owned by DICKERSON, L. ROUNDS and William STARR. First saw-mill was built by STARR, ROUNDS & Co.; begun in 1850 and completed in 1851.
Page 1190 - William W. KIMBALL, County Superintendent of Schools, was born in Beaver Dam, Wis., July 7, 1850, and at a suitable age he attended the common schools of the city, and moved to Omro, Wis., with his parents at five years of age, and there attended the village schools until October, 1864, and enlisted in Co. A, 17th Reg. Wis. Col. Inft., and participated in the battle of Nashville, Tenn. His regiment then met Gen. SHERMAN at Goldsboro, having previously landed at Beaufort, N.C.; engaged in the battle of Kingston, and went with SHERMAN on his famous march to the sea. Was at grand review at Washington D.C., and was mustered out July 25, 1865, at Louisville, Ky.; returned home and was under the doctor's care for about one year; after recovering he followed boating on the Wolf River two seasons; then attended the State Normal School at Whitewater two years; then followed teaching about three years. His health then failed and he was obliged to give up teaching. He then engaged in the harness trade about three years. He then took charge of the Utica High School of Winnebago Co. five and a half years. He was elected County Supervisor in fall of 1879, which office he has since held, and now has the renomination for the same office with every prospect of a re-election for a second term. He was marred February, 1871, at Beaver Dam, Wis., to Miss Clara COLE, who was born in the latter city in 1849. They have one son living - William W., Jr. They also lost two sons - Albert I. and Edward E.
Page 1190 - E. B. ROUNDS, farmer, P. O. Eureka, located at Eureka in 1863; formerly of Franklin Co., Vt. He built the flouring mills at Eureka in 1863, and operated them twelve years; then sold for a farm in Rushford and Omro Tps. He was born in Dunham Canada East, May 29, 1807. His parents moved into Vermont when he was a small child, where he lived until he moved to Wisconsin. Was married in Swanton, Vt., Oct. 6, 1830, to Miss Harriet SPEELS, who was born in the latter place, Nov. 1, 1807. They had three children - Harley M., married and living at Clear Lake, Iowa; Juliette, now married to Mr. William M. MARTIN, and living on a farm in Berlin, Wis.; Gilbert E., married and living in Berlin, Wis. Mrs. ROUNDS died Aug. 15, 1838. He was again married Nov. 19, 1838 to Aurelia REYNOLDS, who was born in St. Armand, Canada East, July 20, 1806. They have one daughter - Mary E., now married to William H. PENMAN, living in Eureka.
Page 1190 - George W. ROUNDS, farmer, P.O. Eureka, owns 64 acres upland and 225 acres meadow land and pasture, and all improved. He settled in Southport, now Kenosha, Wis., in fall of 1840, and lived there fifteen years, followed blacksmithing, having learned his trade in Vermont. He followed the livery business four years, then sold out and removed to Eureka, Wis., in the spring of 1846, and first kept a hotel known as the Eureka House, twelve years; then sold out and moved on his present farm where he has lived since. He was born in Berkshire, Franklin Co., Vt., Aug. 19, 1868. Married in Franklin, Vt., in 1841, to Miss Martha J. TITEMORE, who was born in Canada, eight miles from Montreal, May 12, 1820. They have three children, Elma M., George M. (deceased), Jas. Madison and Albert (married and living in Manawa.
Page 1190 - James M. ROUNDS, Eureka; now engaged in the cultivation of cranberries. He was born in Berkshire, Franklin Co., VT., Oct. 10, 1814. He lived with his parents until he was nineteen years of age, and went to Cayuga Co., N.Y., and lived with his eldest brother, Lester ROUNDS five years, and farmed; worked in a cotton factory a part of that time, at Thorndike, Mass. He went to Southport, now Kenosha, Wis., in 1839, and worked at carpenter and joiner work and other business about thirteen years, after which he went to Eureka, Wis., with his brother, Lester ROUNDS. He there became one of the firm of STARR, ROUNDS & Co., and built a saw-mill, and engaged in the manufacturing of lumber, etc., sixteen years; sold out and erected a barrel factory at Eureka and Manawa; followed that ten years; sold out and began his present business. Was married in Eureka, Wis., April 10, 1860, to Miss Sarah A. FREEMAN, who was born in Weathersfield, Windsor Co., Vt., Feb. 28, 1832. They have three children - Dwight C., now in Iowa; Starr K. ROUNDS, attending Spencerian Business College in Milwaukee; Ward L., at home. Mr. R. is a member of I.O.O.F.
Pages 1190 & 1191 - Lester ROUNDS, Eureka; firm of ROUNDS & COLE, dealers in a general line dry goods, groceries, etc. He settled at Southport, now Kenosha, Wis. in 1839. He lived there until 1844, and taught school occasionally; held several town offices. He moved to Ceresco, now Ripon, in 1844, going there as Secretary of Wisconsin Phalanx; but soon engaged in mercantile business. He was Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of that town; held the office two years, being Chairman County Board the second year. He was also the first Postmaster of that place; was there until 1848, and moved to Waukau, Wis., and engaged in mercantile business. He held the offices of Town Clerk and Justice of the Peace; was there two years, and moved to Eureka in 1850, where he began trade, and has since continued, selling the first goods in the latter place, and being the first Postmaster. Was first Notary Public, and was Justice of the Peace several years, also Superintendent of Schools under town system two or three years. He was born in St. Armand, Lower Canada, May 11, 1805, and was raised in Berkshire, Franklin Co., Vt. Was married, in Richford, Vt., Sept. 2, 1827, to Miss Aurilla PARKER, who was born in Richford, Vt. They have three children - Sterling P. ROUNDS (now married, and living in Chicago, Ill., and a candidate for Public Printer); Horace E. ROUNDS (married and living near Rodgers; Park, Chicago, Ill. The two brothers keep a printer's furnishing store in Chicago, Ill., 175 Monroe street); Rhoda A. (now married to Mr. A. S. BOLSTER, and living in Kane Co., Ill. Rhoda A. taught the first school in Eureka, and was the first white child born there.) They also have an adopted daughter - Maggie, now married to J. J. REAM, and living in Oshkosh, Wis.
Page 1191 - James W. VANDERHOOF, Eureka; dealer in general line of hardware and tinware; does about $3,000 business per annum; established Sept. 1, 1877. He first located in Darien, Walworth Co., fall of 1848, and lived there until fall of 1860; then to Packwaukee, Wis., where he dealt in general merchandise six years, and a part of the time was engaged in steamboating and built several boats and barges, carrying traffic between the latter place and Green Bay until fall of 1869, when he moved to Eureka, and began work as an engineer in a saw-mill two years; then in a flouring-mill until he began the hardware business. Was born in Deerfield, Oneida Co., N.Y., Sept. 30, 1827, where he lived until he was twenty-one years of age, and went with his parents to Wisconsin. Was married, in Packwaukee, Wis., Oct. 12, 1854, to Miss Harriet A. ALDRICH, who was born in Cortland Co., N.Y. They have two children - Ella L., now married to Mr. Madison ROUNDS, and live near Eureka; Harry A. at home; Susan, deceased; Ray W., deceased. Mr. V. enlisted in Co. B, 22d W.V.I., fall of 1864; was in service six months; but did not leave the State, and was mustered out at Madison in June, 1865. He is a member of the M. E. Church of his village.
Page 1191 - E. G. WOODWORTH, proprietor flouring-mills, Eureka; erected in 1863; capacity, 100 barrels in twenty-four hours; also do custom work, and contains three run stone, and three set of rollers, etc. He located in Green Lake County, at Lake Maria, in 1846, where he lived until 1867; engaged in farming, mercantile business, etc. He then moved to Davenport, Iowa; farmed and dealt in real estate. He soon returned to Berlin, Wis., and engaged in the milling in what is known as the Berlin City Mills, and owned and operated the same ten years, until fall of 1881; sold out, when he bought his present mills (steam mills). Was born in Painesville, Ohio, April 13, 1823, where he lived until he was twenty years of age; then went up the lakes and into Knox Co., Ill.; from there to Rock Island, Ill.; then returned to Ohio and from there to Wisconsin in spring of 1846. Was married, at Galesburg, Ill., in 1844, to Miss Susan BURNER, who was born in Tennessee. They have six children living and two dead - Josephine, now married; Leroy G., Warren W., Alice, Frank (deceased), Theresa (deceased), Monroe, Theresa.
