Person Page - 185

     Joseph Sippy, MD (deceased), one of the pioneers of Richland county, was born near Harper's Ferry, Va., in March, 1791. His father was a native of France and came to America with La Fayette during the War for Independence. He left home without the consent of his parents, and was not mustered into service until his arrival in America. After the declaration of peace he settled in Virginia and was there married to Lucretia Johnson, who was born in Fredericksburg, Va. When the subject of this sketch was seven years old his parents moved to Pennsylvania and settled in Beaver county, where he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the subscription schools. He was a stirring patriot and volunteered in the War of 1812, served a short time when he as honorably discharged, and soon after was married to Martha Cogswell. Her mother was a sister to Gen. Gates, of Revolutionary fame, and was born in March, 1796. In the year 1813 they emigrated to Ohio, making the trip with one horse, without a wagon, packing upon the back of the horse their household goods, including bedding and camp kettles. Such a method of transportation at this day would indeed seem slow and irksome, and shows that these persons must have been of pluck and energy. They made their way to the Cuyahoga river in Cuyahoga county and remained a few months. It was at that time an unhealthy country and consequently he moved and settled in the town of Granger, Medina county, where they were early settlers. They lived there a few years and then moved to the town of Hinkley, in the same county where he commenced the practice of medicine, and also having purchased eighty acres of land carried on a farm. In 1836 he sold out and again started west and this time settled in Fulton Co., Ind., where they were again pioneers. A history of Medina county, published subsequently, makes particular mention of this pioneer, as he was a prominent representative man. In Indiana he made his chosen profession a business and had a lucrative practice. This country also proved to be somewhat unhealthy and in 1852 he concluded to again change location, and accordingly made a visit to Richland county, coming from Indiana on horseback. Thinking this would be a desirable, healthy country, he returned to Indiana, and in September of that year, returned with his family and settled on section 31. He was not well pleased with this place but bought it on account of the improvements. As soon as he was comfortably settled he started, accompanied by his son, Thomas, to explore the valley of Willow creek. There was no road and they went prepared to cut their way through. At night they camped under the protection of a shelving rock on section 9. The road now runs under this same rock. Isaac Welton had been following their trail and overtook them at this place, and the next morning, leaving the team, they started on foot. Mr. Sippy at this time selected three forties of land --- the south half of the west quarter of section 4, town 9, range 2 east, and the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 4; he afterward bought additional land adjoining land near by until his place was increased to 600 acres. He lived on section 31 two years, then removed to section 4, and commenced improvements on his land. He laid out the village of Neptune, erected a saw mill and made this his home until the time of his death which occurred in September, 1870. His wife died in July, 1880. He had quite an extensive practice in the county, and was well and favorably known. Seven of his children are now living --- Minerva, who married Menzies Manley (deceased), she now lives in Sanborn, Iowa. Hannah, a widow of H L Welton now living in Kansas. Martha, wife of John Stockton now living in Richland Center. Lydia, wife of Daniel Dodge, now living in Kansas. Precilla, wife of Abel Ragles now in this town. Rebecca, wife of Valentine Stoddard now living in the town of Willow, and Thomas. The latter is the only son and now occupies a portion of the original homestead, where he has a farm of upwards of 300 acres and is extensively engaged in dairy and stock farming. He was born in the town of Hinkley, Medina Co., Ohio, April 3, 1835. The year following his father removed to Indiana, where his younger days were spent in school, on the farm and in his father's store. He came to Richland county with his parents and made his home with them until 1857, when he was married to Laura E Welton. Her parents were native of York State, but she was brought up in the State of Ohio. He then settled on the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 4, where he lived until 1870, then moved to the southwest quarter of the same section. He has erected a good frame house, a frame barn with stone basement and now has a good farm well improved. He has been a member of the board and is at present town treasurer, and has been justice of the peace --- the latter office he has held almost continually for eighteen years, and during all this it is remarkable that none of his decisions have ever been reversed, or a change of venue taken or asked, which fact in itself speaks volumes for the good judgment and honesty of this settler. Mr. and Mrs. Sippy are the parents of two children --- Asher Francello and Bertram W; a daughter named Cora died when three years old. These people were true pioneers and endured the hardships and inconveniences of such a life. Remote from mill and market, various methods were devised to meet the necessities of life. In the absence of a mill Dr. Sippy's large mortar, with a wheel for a pestle, did the work of grinding for the neighborhood. Thus the people of that day met every difficulty, overcame every obstacle, and in consequence a goodly land with every convenience may here be found, where within comparatively short time a wilderness prevailed.⁴ In 1838 at Fulton, Indiana, From "A History of Fulton County, IN" In 1838 Dr. Joseph Sippy and Hiram Welton laid out a town in section 24, Henry township and gave it the name of Newark. A post office was established one mile west of the village was named Akron. The post office was relocated to the village and the town adopted the name of the post office. Akron was a thriving town of about 800 by the late 1890s. There was one newspaper, the News; one bank; two hotels; one flour-mill; two elevators and one saw-mill. The townwas situated on the Chicago & Erie railroad and boasted a fine agricultural community. Dr. Joseph Sippy was a physician on 14 June 1860.

     Martha J. Reagles had 9 with 8 living in 1900 children. She had 9 with 8 living in 1910 children.

     Laura E. Welton had 4 with 1 living in 1900 children.

     District No. 6 is also a joint district. The first school house in this district was erected in 1856. Dr. Sippy and Abel Reagles gave the lumber and all the neighbors turned out and put up the building on the southwest quarter of section 4. Charlotte Smith and Rebecca McCloud, now the wife of Valentine Stoddard, were the first teachers. The old house was in use but a short time when it was replaced by a larger and more expensive building. Edward Long was the first teacher in this building. The present teacher is Johanna Stoddard.

     In 1906 DAVID J. GWIN is one of the honored pioneers of Ithaca township, where he is the owner of a fine farm, much of which he reclaimed from the virgin forest. He was born in Morrow County, O., Feb. 19, 1838, and is a son of Daniel and Mary (James) Gwin, the former of whom was born near historic Valley Forge, Pa., and the latter of whom was native of Ohio. Daniel Gwin was a son of John Gwin, who was born in Scotland and who settled in Pennsylvania, where he remained for a number of years. In 1853 he came to Wisconsin, where he remained a short time, after which he took up his residence in Indiana, where he passed the remainder of his life. The maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was Rev. David James, who was born in Wales, whence he came to America when a young man, settling in Morrow county, O. He was a clergyman of the Baptist church. Daniel Gwin accompanied his parents on their removal from Pennsylvania to Morrow county, O., where he was reared and educated. As a young man he worked in his father's flourmill and later he learned the carpenter's trade. In 1851 he came to Wisconsin and located in Sauk county, near the Richland county line. He secured 160 acres of timber land and also reclaimed a farm in Spring Green prairie, the section having been very sparsely settled at the time and practically no roads having yet been constructed. The subject of this sketch well recalls the conditions and incidents of the pioneer epoch and he aided in reclaiming the farm, working early and late and becoming familiar with wielding the ax and driving the plodding ox team. Daniel Gwin remained on his first farm until 1853 and then removed to Ithaca township, Richland county, where he entered into partnership with Joseph Sippy and erected and equipped a sawmill. Two years later he sold his interest in the business and thereafter he gave his attention principally to farming. He passed the closing years of his life in the home of his son, Enos M. in Sauk county. He was three times married, his first wife having died in 1851. He then married Mrs. Melissa Worden, widow of Moses Worden. She died in 1855, and he later wedded Cordelia Ellis, who likewise preceded him to the life eternal. The children of the first marriage were as follows: Elizabeth, Horatio, Louisa and Jane; all of whom are deceased; David J., the immediate subject of this sketch; Rachel, who is the wife of Charles Hubbard of Clark, Wyo; Sarah, who is deceased; John, who resides in Skidmore, Mo; Sarah (2d), who is deceased; and Enos M. who now lives at Kettle Fall, Washington, being a farmer and carpenter. Of the second marriage one son was born, Henry, who now resides in the city of Madison and who has charge of the Monona assembly grounds. Daniel Gwin was originally a Whig and later a Republican in his political adherency and while he never sought office he served for a number of years as justice of the peace. In earlier life he was a member of the Baptist church but he finally became a Spiritualist. He was a man of broad mentality and of sterling character, ever commanding the esteem and confidence of those with whom he came in contact in the various walks of life. David J. Gwin secured his rudimentary education in Ohio, having been eleven years of age at the time the family removed to Wisconsin, where his educational advantages were necessarily limited, as the pioneer schools were of meager order. As a young man he assisted in the work of the farm and also learned the carpenter's trade, which he has followed to a greater or less extent during all the intervening years, having erected many buildings in Richland county. He is now the owner of a well improved farm of 115 acres, having individually cleared a great portion of the same, which was covered with heavy timber at the time the property came into his possession. The homestead is located in section 5, Ithaca township, and he also owns a house and a small tract of land in section 4. In politics he is a stanch Republican, but he has never sought or desired official preferment. He is well known in this section of the state and is held in high regard in the community which has so long represented his home. In 1862 Mr. Gwin was united in marriage to Miss Martha Reagles, who was born in Indiana, being a daughter of Abel and Priscilla (Shippy) Reagles, who came to Richland county in 1854, becoming pioneers of Ithaca township. The mother is deceased, and the venerable father now makes his home with his children. Mr. and Mrs. Gwin became the parents of nine children, concerning whom the following brief record is entered: Mary is the wife of James Davis, a farmer of Ithaca township; John F. is deceased; Pearl is the wife of Jacob Davis, of Richland township; Edward, who is a farmer of Willow township, married Miss Susan Quackenbush; Elenora is the wife of Frederick Reed, of Orion township; Blanche is the wife of Alfred Davis, of Richland township; James, who married Miss Ella Martin, is a successful teacher in the schools of Buena Vista township; Clyde, who married Miss Iva Spiker, has charge of his father's farm; and Anna is the wife of Robert Smith, of Ithaca township.

     HARLOW STODDARD, whose attractive farmstead is located in Willow township, on rural free-delivery route No. 3, from Richland Center, is a member of one of the well known pioneer families of this township, is a veteran of the Civil War and is a citizen who commands the high regard of the community. He was born in the state of New York, May 6, 1845, and is a son of Valentine and Johanna (Davison) Stoddard, the former of whom was born in Connecticut and latter in New York state, both families having early been founded in America. The parents came to Wisconsin in 1855, settling in Willow township, this county, where the mother died in 1857, and where the father also passed the remainder of his long and useful life, his death occurring in 1900. In the midst of the forest he literally hewed out a productive farm and he was known as a man of sterling character, loyal to all the duties of citizenship and one who won prosperity by his own efforts. In 1860 he contracted a second marriage, Mrs. Rebecca McCloud becoming his wife. She was the widow of George McCloud, and she still lives on the old homestead farm of her second husband. Following is a brief record concerning the children of the first marriage of Valentine Stoddard: Jane became the wife of George McGrossen, she died in Michigan; Emeline became the wife of Josiah Edwards and both died in Macomb county, Mich; George R. died in the state of Kansas; Ann became the wife of David Thompson and both died in Richland township, this county; John w. died in Willow township; the subject of this sketch was the next in order of birth; Jesse is a farmer of Richland township; and Jeannette is the widow of Seth Forest, and resides at Monroe county, this state. Frank, the only living child of the second marriage, resides with his mother on the old homestead. Harlow Stoddard was ten years of age at the time when his parents took up their residence in this county, and he was reared to manhood in Willow township, assisting in the development and cultivation of the home farm and attending the district schools as opportunity afforded. In 1864, at the age of nineteen years, he tendered his services in defense of the Union, enlisting as a private in Company I, Thirty-eighth Regiment of Wisconsin volunteer infantry, with which he proceeded to the front and with which he served until the close of the war, when he received his honorable discharge. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and receives a well merited pension of eight dollars a month. After the war, Mr. Stoddard returned to the home farm, in whose work and management he continued to be associated until he had attained to the age of twenty-eight years, when he initiated his independent career as a farmer. In 1875 he purchased his present homestead, having a well improved farm of 100 acres, the greater portion of which he reclaimed from its wild state, also erecting the excellent buildings on the place. He has marked facility as a carpenter and has done much work at the trade in this section of the country. He gives his attention to diversified agriculture and stock-growing, having at the present time eight head of Holstein cattle and also raising a high grade of swine. His political views coincide with those advanced by the Prohibition party and though he has never sought public office he has shown a deep interest in public affairs of a local order and has done his part in developing and upbuilding this favored section of the Badger State. His wife held membership in the Congregational church. She died June 19, 1890. Feb. 22, 1875, recorded the marriage of Mr. Stoddard to Miss Anna Reagles, who was born in Indiana, being a daughter of Abel and Priscilla (Sippy) Reagles, who came to Richland county from the Hoosier state, settling in Ithaca township, where the father still resides, his wife having died here, on the old homestead. To Mr. and Mrs. Stoddard were born four children: Leonard, born in 1875, is a successful farmer of Ithaca township; Emma, born in 1876, and Loren, born in 1878, remain at the parental home; and Georgia, born in 1880, is the wife of Harley Martin, of Buena Vista township.