Frank B. Child

From The Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wis., publ, 1889 - page 248, 249

FRANK B. CHILD, who is one of the early settlers of Rock County, and is engaged in farming on section 1, La Prairie Township, was born in Deering, N.H., in 1833. His parents were Rev. Eber and Nancy (TYLER) CHLD, the former a native of Vermont, and the latter of New Hampshire. The CHILD family is of English descent, it having been founded by ancestors who came from England to this country in the days of its early history. In the autumn of 1845 the Rev. Mr. CHILD, accompanied by his wife and children, emigrated to the West and located in Emerald Grove, Rock County, where he remained by a few months. At the expiration of that time he purchased eighty acres of unimproved land in La Prairie Township, and in connection with his farming interest preached for the Congregational Churches at Emerald Grove and at Mount Zion, in Harmony Township. His death occurred in 1849, at the age of forty-nine years, but his wife survived him until 1880, dying at the age of eighty years. They were the parents of six children - Mary E., who died when eighteen years old; William H., died in infancy; Henry, who engaged in mercantile pursuits and afterwards served as a Major in the Confederate Army, died at Natchez, Miss.; Frank B., was the third in order of birth; Charles died in childhood; Frederick is now engaged in farming in Dakota; and Ellen is the wife of Col. WARD, of Benton Harbor, Mich. The subject of this sketch spent his early life upon his father's farm. At the age of sixteen years, he was apprenticed to a carpenter at Janesville, and worked at his trade until 1861, when he responded to his country's call for troops, and enlisted in the month of September, as a member of the 13th Wisconsin Infantry. He participated in the battles of Rickets' Hill, the second battle of Donelson, together with numerous other skirmishes. When the regiment returned home on a furlough in 1863, Mr. CHILD was detailed at Gen. Grant's headquarters as a mechanic and was sent to Nashville, Tenn., where he was engaged in making desks and other furniture, and also made a saddle-box for the General, under whose personal supervision he worked. He was at the headquarters when Sherman took command and remained with that General as carpenter until the march to the sea. He then formed one of the Quartermaster's guard under Capt. Ison, for the defense of Nashville, and was commissioned Lieutenant, in which capacity he served until mustered out in November, 1864. When at Gen. Grant's headquarters, he received a furlough, the paper permitting his leave of absence bearing the General's signature. After the close of the war, Mr. CHILD returned to Rock County, making his home in Janesville until 1868, when he removed to Bates County, Mo., where he purchased a farm of 200 acres. Upon that land he built a residence and also began its improvement and cultivation, but only a few months had passed when a fire broke out, his home was burned to the ground and he lost nearly all that he had. Once more returning to Janesville, he worked at his trade for some time, but afterwards purchased thirty-two acres of land on section 1, La Prairie Township, comprising a part of his present farm. He has since added to the original purchase until he now owns eighty acres, which is under a high state of cultivation. IN 1857, the marriage of Frank B. CHILD and Fannie CHESEBRO, was happily celebrated. The lady is a native of Oswego County, N.Y., and a daughter of E. D. CHESEBRO, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. They are the parents of one child, Carl V., who married Carrie SHERMAN, a daughter of Adelman SHERMAN, and is now engaged in farming in La Prairie Township. Socially, Mr. CHILD is a member of the Masonic fraternity, while in his political views, he is an advocate of the Republican party. He is well informed on all the leading issues of the day and has served his district as School Treasurer for the period of fifteen years. Since 1845, he has been a resident of Rock County. On his arrival the country was in a wild uncultivated state, its prairies were unimproved, many of its towns and villages had not yet been founded, and the settlements were indeed few. Like all pioneers he was forced to endure the trials and hardships incident to frontier life.

Submitted By Carol