Hammond Township History

Frank Anderson
Frank Anderson is a native of Waukesha, Waukesha county, this state, born August 29, 1856, son of Frank and Sarah (Sayers) Anderson, natives of England, who came to America in 1855 and located at Waukesha, where they remained six years. In 1861 they came to Hammond township and purchased eighty acres of land, adding from time to time until they owned 440 acres, nearly all of which was broken by the male members of the family, wheat being the principal crop raised. The father died in June, 1878, and the mother passed away in June, 1905.

Frank received a good education in the public schools of Hammond, after which he took up farming with his father. At the time of the latter's death he took charge of the estate, which he has developed and improved, erecting modern farm buildings and a beautiful house.

Mr. Anderson is unmarried, and has four sisters and one brother. Alice married T. J. Wilford, rural carrier of Hammond; Sarah married M. N. Obsien, a barber of New Richmond, this state; Emma died at five years; Hannah M. is at home, and E. C. is serving his second term as treasurer of St. Croix county.

Mr. Anderson is a staunch Republican, and has served terms as clerk and treasurer of School District No. 6. He affiliates with the Congregational church. His chief aim in life has been to be honest and upright. There is no one who lives who can say a word against him, and he is one of those men whom to know is to like. His farm is well kept, and he is well to do, his hard work having been crowned with success.

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Elihu Bushnell
Elihu Bushnell is a native of Saybrook, Conn., a son of Richard H. and Julia A. (Chapman) Bushnell, both natives of the Nutmeg state. His father, Richard H. Bushnell, was a wheelwright by trade. In 1861 he moved to the lighthouse at the mouth of the Connecticut river, a short distance out in Long Island sound, where the family remained six years. In the meantime Elihu Bushnell, from whom our subject was named, a brother of Richard H. Bushnell, came west and bought 160 acres in Hammond township, and forty acres of the Tubman place, in the same township. He died, and then Richard H. Bushnell, father of our subject, came west and carried on the farm. The 200 acres was to be equally divided, each brother taking half, but Richard H. purchased twenty more acres from the heirs of his deceased brother, thus giving him 120 acres and the heirs eighty acres. Richard H. Bushnell continued to carry on general farming until the time of his death, March 1, 1881. His widow and children still reside on the old homestead. Richard H. Bushnell was first married to Mary Ann Kirkland, whose mother's name was Polly Tilley. Mrs. Mary Ann Kirkland Bushnell was descended from Sir John Tilley and also from the Kirklands, who came over in the Mayflower. By this union there was one child, Miss Mary Ann Kirkland Bushnell, born November 2, 1847, and died March 30, 1903. The children of Richard H. Bushnell by his marriage with Julia A. Chapman are: Henry C., born August 29, 1854; Elihu, born July 19, 1857; Sarah S., born September 21, 1859, and Nannie M., born February 7, 1863. Nannie M. married Elbert E. Peck, June 7, 1882, and has six -children : John Ray, born August 16, 1885; Henry Allan, born June 13, 1887; Sarah Estelle, born May 1, 1889; Ella Caroline, born January 23, 1891; Cora Julia, born February 23, 1894, and Adelbert Edwin, born April 17, 1899.

The subject of this sketch received a common school education and then took up farming with his father until the latter's death, since which time he has assumed charge of the place, doing general farming. He owns eighty acres of his own, aside from his interest in the home farm.
Mr. Bushnell is not married. He is a staunch Republican, as was his father before him. He is a member of the Congregational church and superintendent of the Sunday school of that church in Hammond. He fraternizes with the Modern Woodmen and the Odd Fellows.

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Fred L. Pitts
Fred L. Pitts was born October 20, 1875, in Hammond township, son of J. L. and Sarah (Holt) Pitts, natives of Maine and early pioneers of this county, living now in River Falls, this state.

Fred received his elementary education in the Hammond public schools, afterward taking a course in the River Falls Normal school. His first work was with his father on the old homestead, which, in 1905, he purchased from his parents. He now carries on general farming on a large scale, owning, aside from his 160 acres in Hammond, 120 acres in Baldwin township. Since acquiring possession of the home place Mr. Pitts has made many improvements.

Mr. Pitts was married June 27, 1901, to Edna, daughter of A. B. and Mary L. (Smith) Chapin, of River Falls, formerly of Albany, N. Y. They were early Wisconsin pioneers and now live at Libby, Minn., where the father took up a large lumber claim. Mr. and Mrs. Pitts have two sons, Earl and Lyman.

The subject of this sketch is an independent voter, a communicant of the Congregational church and a member of several fraternities.

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Edward Tubman
Edward Tubman is a native of Brooklyn, N. Y., born August 16, 1844, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Hutchison) Tubman, the mother being a native of Scotland and the father of Ireland. The parents came to America in the early '30s and remained in Brooklyn, N. Y., until 1850, when they moved to Waukesha county, this state and followed farming for several years. In 1856 they came to Hammond township and purchased eighty acres of land, which they broke and developed, carrying on general mixed farming for the remainder of their lives, the father dying June 16, 1881, and the mother passing away October 2, 1885.

Edward received his education in the common schools of Hammond. At once upon leaving school he enlisted in the Hudson City Guards, in the spring of 1861, and drilled with that body until autumn of that year, when he enlisted at Prescott, this state, in Company A, Twelfth Wisconsin Volunteers. Colonel George E. Bryant was in command of the regiment and Captains McClyde and Maxson were at the head of the company. He was with Grant at the siege of Vicksburg and accompanied Sherman on his famous march to the sea. During his service he received a bad hand wound and was honorably discharged at the close of the hostilities, at Louisville, Ky. Returning to Hammond, he took up farming, buying 120 acres, which he broke and improved, erecting a beautiful home and commodious buildings. He has since continued to carry on general diversified farming, raising the usual crops and breeding stock, making a specialty of Percheron horses.

Mr. Tubman was married June 26, 1870, to Mary L., daughter of George and Sarah (Denwick) Longworth, early settlers and prominent farmers of Warren township, this state. The father was treasurer of Warren township for twenty years, holding that position at the time of his death.

Mr. and Mrs. Tubman have two children: Sarah E., born August 29, 1870, is at home, engaged in the millinery business. George, born April 17, 1880, married Annie Walsh and farms on the old homestead.

Mr. Tubman is a Republican in politics, having served on the board of supervisors for two years and on the school board for a considerable period. The family are members of the Methodist church.

The subject of this sketch is a man of strong convictions and staunch character, an unfailing adherent to duty. As a soldier he was brave and fearless and as a farmer and citizen he is honored and respected.

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Hammond Village
Hammond village has a population of 445, a bank, known as the State Bank of Hammond, with a paid-in capital of $10,000; three dealers in agricultural implements, four saloons, one livery barn, one furniture and undertaking establishment, Consolidated Lumber Company (a branch of the Stillwater Company), one meat market, five general stores, one jewelry store, telephone service, one wholesale dealer in grain, hay, etc. (branch of Ashland concern), one newspaper, the "Hammond News"; one hard ware store, one dealer in musical instruments, one harness shop, two blacksmith shops, a restaurant, a feed mill, roller mills (branch of New Richmond concern), one wagonmaker, a creamery, one hotel, one grocery, dealer in cigars and confectionery and an elevator. There are three churches the Catholic, Congregational and Methodist.

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P. C. Anderson
P. C. Anderson was born in Norway, August 11, 1849, son of Hawkni and Ellen Anderson. He came to this country in 1869 and located on a farm in Hammond.

Previous to this he had received an excellent education in the old country. He worked on a farm in the township of Hammond and then came to the village to work for the same man in a hardware store. He continued in this store until 1878, when he built a shop, where he has since made a business of selling machinery. In 1892 he saw the need of a financial institution in Hammond and was instrumental in organizing the Bank of Hammond, which operated in his machine shop office while the fine brick block, which it now occupies, was being built. The bank has a capital stock of $10,000, one half of which is owned by Mr. Anderson, who is at present the cashier and has previously served as president.

Mr. Anderson was married in 1878 to Celia, daughter of Dr. George L. Francis. There are two children. Zelma lives at home and Harley is assistant cashier and stockholder in the bank.

Mr. Anderson has been an officeholder in the village since the time of its incorporation, in 1882. He was mayor for a number of years, also treasurer and supervisor. In 1906 he was elected to the legislature on the Democratic ticket, winning over a Republican majority of 1,200, which he overcame, and ran 426 ahead. He is a Democrat in politics, and has always been a leader in public opinion and affairs. He is a Mason and a member of the I. O. O. F. Mr. Anderson has dealt more or less in real estate and is the owner of considerable property in and about Hammond. The Bank of Hammond will stand as a perpetual monument to his far-sightedness and business sagacity.

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E. L. Boothby
E. L. Boothby is the son of Jonathan and Grace Boothby, and was born on the 21st day of August, 1849. Jonathan Boothby was descended from one of the early Maine families and served in Company I, Seventeenth Maine Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil war.

Dr. Boothby received his primary education at the academy at Gorham, Cumberland county, Me., and took the collegiate course at the Wesleyan Academy, Wilberham, Mass. Later he was graduated from Dartmouth College, Hanover, N. H., class of 1875. Upon graduation he came to Hammond and has continued his practice here without opposition. He is greatly devoted to his profession, and at times the demand for his services has been so great that he has gone forty days without having his clothes off. During the course of his work as a physician he has served as county coroner for forty years, and has been chairman of the county board and side board so often he has lost track of the number of times. He is one of the commissioners who had charge of building the insane asylum at New Richmond.

Dr. Boothby was married in 1875 to Alice Wilcox, of River Falls, daughter of Dr. J. R. and Lucy Wilcox, of Vermont, who came to River Falls in the early '60s. Dr. and Mrs. Boothby have three children: Carlton, an insurance man at Portland, Ore.; Jonathan, editor of the paper at Menomonie, Wis., who served in the Philippines in 1898, and Grace, who is the wife of E. L. McCullough, of Chatfield, Minn. The youngest son, Harold, has just graduated from high school.

In his leisure moments Dr. Boothby has developed his place, rooting out oaks and practically building the house himself. Burtman X-rays and other up-to- date appliances make his office well equipped in every respect. He is a Republican and a member of the I. O. O. F.

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F. G. Cave
F. G. Cave was born in Wood county, Ohio, on the 29th day of December, 1869, and is the son of Samuel and Caroline Cave. Samuel Cave died when his son was an infant and young Cave came to Wisconsin with his mother in 1869. For a short time he lived with his mother in the town of Rush River. Later he located in Pleasant Valley, remaining there with his mother until he was eighteen, receiving his education in the public schools.

From the time he was eighteen until he reached twenty-five he farmed it on his own account, then came to Hammond in 1888. Two years later he started a livery stable and has conducted the business ever since.

He was married in 1888 to Mary Carter, a daughter of one of Wisconsin's original families. Mr. and Mrs. Cave have two children, Howard K. and Clifford G.

Mr. Cave is a Republican in politics, so far as national questions are concerned, but in local and county matters he votes for the man he deems best qualified to fill office, irrespective of party affiliations. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. His business has given him a wide acquaintance with the traveling fraternity, among whom he has a reputation for being always accommodating and willing to please.

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Edward Gardiner
Edward Gardiner is the son of James and Sarah Gardiner, and was born in Kingston, Canada, on the 1st of May, 1841. His parents died when he was quite young.

At the age of eighteen years, young Edward came to this state and located on a farm not quite two miles out of Hammond, taking up some school land. Here he farmed for eleven years, and then came to the center of Hammond to run the Pioneer Hotel and livery stables. This property was destroyed by fire and Mr. Gardiner rebuilt it under the name of Gardiner Hotel, running it for fourteen years. He was then elected county treasurer two years, being the only man who won on the Democratic ticket that election. After this Mr. Gardiner went to Minneapolis and conducted a livery two years. He then returned to Hammond and engaged in the hardware business twelve years, retiring in 1904. He owns considerable property, including town holdings, in Hammond, city holdings in Minneapolis and stock in the Bank of Hammond, of which he is a director and vice president.

He is a Democrat in politics, and has held all the offices of the town, such as president of the village, treasurer of the township, member of the school board, etc. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., in which order he has held several offices.

In 1861 he was married to Marion Ross, daughter of William and Marion (McKay) Ross, who came to Canada from Glasgow, Scotland, where their daughter was born in 1842. Mr. Ross moved from Canada to Hammond in the early days, and until the time of his death devoted his life to farming. He was treasurer of the town thirteen years. Mr. Gardiner is still a hard-working man and enjoys the universal esteem and respect of his fellow citizens.

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Henry Geurkink

Henry Geurkink is a native of this state, born in Sheboygan county, August 23, 1872, son of G. J. and Jane Geurkink, natives of Holland. The parents came to America and located at Milwaukee, where they remained until 1866, when they removed to Sheboygan county. There the father bought sixty acres of land, which he broke and improved, carrying on general farming until 1882, when he sold out and moved to Hammond township, purchasing eighty acres, where he farmed until 1885. He then sold this place and acquired 160 acres in Baldwin township, which he worked until 1894, then retiring to live in the village, where he now owns a nice home and continues to reside.

Henry received a good education in the common schools and farmed with his father until twenty-one years of age. He then rented a farm for seven years, afterward purchasing eighty acres in Hammond township, which he has greatly improved, building a fine new barn, valued at $1,500. He now carries on general farming, raising general crops and some stock, being a great fancier of horses.

Mr. Geurkink was married November 25, 1901, to Dora Doornink, daughter of William Doornink, a native of Holland, but now a prominent farmer of Baldwin township. Mr. and Mrs. Geurkink have one child.

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E. B. Heebink
E. B. Heebink was born at Aalten, Holland, July 13, 1849, a son of Garrett John and Johannah (Snoeyenbos) Heebink, natives of that country. His parents came to America in 1854 and located at Oostburg, Holland township, Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, where they bought thirty acres of land and built a house, also conducting a general store from 1855 to 1861. In 1866 they sold their original thirty acres and two years later purchased eighty acres more in the same township. They broke all the land, erected buildings and carried on a general farming until 1871, when they sold out. They came to Hammond, Wis., the following year and acquired ten acres of land, upon which they constructed a beautiful home, where they resided until their death, the father passing away in 1887.

E. B. received a good education in the common schools of Sheboygan county, remaining on the home farm and working with his father until twenty-two years of age. At that time he bought fifty-five acres of land in Hammond township, breaking the land and erecting buildings. For a time he did a diversified farming and then sold the fifty- five acres to acquire 160 acres in the same township, the place being the one upon which he now resides. He broke a part of the land and at present has nearly all of it under cultivation. In 1890 he built a comfortable house and the following year erected a large and commodious barn. He is one of the up-to-date farmers of Hammond township and everything that he has undertaken has prospered. He raises the usual crops and makes a specialty of Hereford cattle and Poland-China hogs. He also has a flock of Brown Leghorn fowls and breeds some horses.
Mr. Heebink was married April 7, 1874, to Gertrude Brethonwer, daughter of Adrian and Gezena (Rensink) Brethonwer, of Sheboygan county. This union was blessed with five children: George is a merchant in Baldwin township, he was born May 15, 1875, and married Cora Wilford. Edward is a farmer of Baldwin, he was born February 2, 1877, and married Elizabeth Snoeyenbos. Anna was born July 7, 1879, and married Joseph Tehennepe, a harnessmaker of Baldwin. Cena attended the normal school at River Falls and now teaches. Egbert graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and is now a civil engineer at Leavenworth, Kan.

E. B. Heebink was married the second time to Mary Esselink, also of Sheboygan county, daughter of Hendrick and Janna (Wiggers) Esselink, natives of Holland, where they lived and died. This marriage resulted in four children: Henry was born January 18, 1887; a little boy died in infancy; Jessie was born December 10, 1891, and Walter was born July 9, 1895. These three are at home with their parents.

Mr. Heebink is a stanch democrat, and has served on the school board of district No. 1, Hammond and Baldwin, for six years. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. Through life he has been a man who has placed honor above everything else, and his reputation is unstained. He is a loving father and devoted husband, a genial companion and a true friend.

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William P. Johnson
William P. Johnson is a native of New York state, born in old Johnstown, September 9, 1821, a son of David and Maria (Beadle) Johnson, both natives of New York state. The father was a shoemaker and followed that trade until his death in 1823. The next year, the mother moved to Permelia, Jefferson county, N. Y., where she married Timothy Chapman. They resided in Permelia until 1847, and then emigrated to Canada, where the mother died, in 1851.

William received a common school education in his native state, and went to Canada in 1841, where he followed farming until October, 1855. He removed to Kenosha county, Wisconsin, farming until May 28, 1860. June 30, of that year he came to Hammond township and bought eighty acres of land. To this he added several times until he owned 500 acres. He broke about 300 acres of this land and made all improvements, building three houses, besides the usual barns and outbuildings. He carried on a general line of farming, raising the usual crops and breeding Shorthorn, Holsteins and Polled Angus cattle, Poland China and Suffolk hogs, Southdown sheep, Plymouth Rock and Black Leghorn fowls. He conducted this farm until 1906, when he sold the place and retired to Hammond village, where he lives with his son.

Mr. Johnson was married in Canada, December 20, 1843, to Parney Plumb, daughter of Festus and Martha (Huntly) Plumb, whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this volume. Three children blessed this union: Martha M. married Jason Trickey. M. E. is a merchant at Hammond, Wis. He married Mary Egbert of that place. Sylvanus F. is a farmer in Illinois. He married Martha McCulluth.

Mr. Johnson is a staunch Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He also has the honor of being a veteran of the Civil war. He enlisted in the Union army in 1863 at Hudson, Wis., serving in Company A, Forty-fourth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers, under Colonel Symes and Captain Brown. He took part in the battle of Nashville, Tenn., and other engagements, being discharged July 15, 1865, at Paducah, Ky.

Mr. Johnson has served the township of Hammond as clerk and treasurer of School District No. 3 for over a quarter of a century. He has also been an assessor and a member of the town board many years, being chairman of the latter for a long period. He has taken an active part in public affairs and his opinions and advice have always had much weight with his fellow men. He is now enjoying a well-deserved rest, after years of the hardest toil and labor, all of which have been crowned with success.

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Festus N. Plumb

Festus N. Plumb was born in Canada, November 8, 1835, son of Festus and Martha (Huntley) Plumb, natives of the United States, who moved to Canada in early life. The father was a shoemaker by trade, and remained in Canada until his death, August 4, 1844. The mother went to Kenosha county, Wisconsin, in 1857 and remained there until 1860, when she came to live with her son at Hammond. She passed away November 25, 1868, greatly mourned by all who knew her.

Festus N. received a good common school education in Canada. After leaving school he followed farming in his native country until 1856, when he went to Kenosha county, this state, and rented a farm which he conducted until 1860, when he came to Hammond and bought eighty acres of land, which he broke and improved. He erected a fine house and outbuildings and has since continued to occupy the place, bringing the farm to a high state of perfection. He raises the usual crops, grade cattle and Cotswold sheep. His wife is a great fancier of fowls and makes a specialty of white Wyandottes.

Mr. Plumb was married first to Elizabeth Trickey, of Canada, whose parents were natives of that country. By this union there were two children. Ella married Alexander Gamble, a printer. Mr. and Mrs. Gamble are now deceased. Charles S. is an engineer, now living at Mukwanago, Wis. He married Minnie Stack.

Mr. Plumb was married the second time to Francelia Peck, born in Baraboo, Wis., a daughter of Catherine and Jonathan (Burbank) Peck, natives of New York state, who spent their declining years in Hammond. Two children blessed this union. Caroline M. died January 31, 1880, and Mearle is a farmer in Hammond, married to Ida Tweit, now deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Plumb are members of the Methodist church, in which both are active workers, Mrs. Plumb, in particular, being noted for her charity, hospitality and good works.

Mr. Plumb has been supervisor of the township of Hammond for several terms and has also served as town assessor and president of the village. He also has an honorable war record. He joined the Union army at Hudson in 1864, serving in Company A, Forty-fourth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Symes and Captain Brown, taking part in the Battle of Nashville, Tenn. He was discharged at the close of the war at Paducah, Ky., July 2, 1865. Mr. Plumb is a good citizen and a true gentleman, who has never descended to any act that was mean or unworthy. He occupies an enviable position in the village of Hammond.

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A. P. Thayer
A. P. Thayer comes of old New England stock, being descended in an unbroken line from the original Thayer who came to America in 1600. He was born in Thompson, Conn., the 22d day of September, 1837, and is the only son of John and Hanna Elliott (Crosby) Thayer. His father came westward when A. P. was still a young lad and ran a sawmill at Bloomingberg, Ohio, for nine years, when it burned to the ground. In Cambridge City, Ind., in 1848, a still greater misfortune befell the family, for there Mrs. Thayer passed away when his son was at the tender age of ten years. In this town John Thayer taught school and did clerical work in a drug store.

While residing in Seneca county, Ohio, for a period of seven years, he married Sarepta Stickney, of New York state, in 1850. In 1856 he decided to settle in Wisconsin. He came up the river in a boat and landed at Prescott, driving his team to Hudson, visiting a brother, Rev. Charles Thayer. He then came to Hammond, where he took up some school land and started to till the soil. He built the first hotel in that town, and was also the first resident in the village. This he conducted until 1872, when the railroad was built. For twenty-four years he was postmaster at Hammond, being the first to hold that position. He was also notary and justice of the peace for many years. His career came to an end the 30th day of December, 1893.

In 1862 A. P. Thayer was married to Katie C. Bowen, of New York state. When the call came for volunteers in 1864 he enlisted in the ranks of Company A, Forty- fourth Wisconsin Infantry, August 25. He served until the close of the war in 1865. Until 1872 he followed farming, after which he established a mercantile business, which he continued until 1902. He has now retired from active life and since the death of his wife in 1903 he has lived alone, doing his own housework and devoting his attention to his splendid yard, which is one beautiful mass of plants, roses, flower beds, etc., surrounding a pretty house. In addition to conducting his business, Mr. Thayer has done considerable surveying, and for several years was assistant postmaster. Mr. Thayer has always voted the Republican ticket. He has two children, Rufus E., at present at Pine City, Minn., and Hanna A., at New Richmond, Wis.

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O. W. Wright
O. W. Wright was born in Hammond, Wis., July 19, 1862, a son of James and Elizabeth (Kelley) Wright. The father was born in Ireland and migrated to Canada in the early days, arriving in this locality in the late fifties. He settled on a farm in Hammond-township and farmed until 1888, when he retired and came to Hammond village to live. He still makes his residence in this village, being over eighty-four years of age.

G. W. was educated in the common schools and followed farming with his father. He also worked in the woods and ran a threshing machine many seasons. For several years he engaged in buying and selling hay and stock. Later he engaged in the hardware trade with a Mr. Gardiner. For over twenty years now he has been connected with J. C. Wachendorf in the hardware business. They handle a big variety of stock and have been very successful. Their goods in all those years have given them a reputation for honest dealing that now brings them trade from many miles around.

Mr. Wright was married in January, 1894, to Avis Fithian, daughter of J. B. Fithian. Her parents came to this county in the late fifties, her father being one of the early merchants of this section for many years. He died in 1907 at the age of eighty-seven years.

Mr. and Mrs. Wright have no children, but have provided a home for their niece, who has been almost like a daughter to them. Aside from his business, Mr. Wright owns some fine town property and his wife owns sixty acres of land in the township. Mr. Wright served as town treasurer and as a member of the council. The family worships at the Congregational church. Mr. Wright has been successful and is a man of honor and integrity.