O. Lansing DeForest

Surnames: Beaumont, Bolton, Burroughs, Felts, Horne, Jans, Lansing, Pelen, Pellen,

Phelps, Pilling, Schermerhorn, Severhill, Teller, Van Vost

Source: The Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wis., publ, 1889

Page 819, 820

O. LANSING DeFOREST, a well-known citizen of Janesville Township, traces his ancestry back to the seventeenth century. Three brothers, Hendricks, Isaac and David DeFOREST, who were Huguenots, came to America, by way of Holland, in the early part of the seventeenth century. The name first appears on the old Dutch records of New Amsterdam, now New York, in 1638. David settled in Stratford, in the New Haven colony, and from him David C. DeFOREST, founder of the fund in Yale College, is descended, also J. W. DeFOREST, the author. Hendricks and Isaac settled in New York. The former died in a few years without children, but Isaac took out a patent of land of the Dutch Governor and located on Long Island in 1645. His descendants are numerous in New York and vicinity. One of his sons, David, settled in Albany, where the family name appears at intervals on the public records and in the early wars of the country. From this branch Mr. DeFOREST of Janesville is descended.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, Jacob DeFOREST, went from Greenbush to Guildersland, Albany Co., N.Y., in 1870, and in his later years removed to Schenectady, N.Y., where his death occurred in 1854. He was twice married and had nine children. His first wife, Anna LANSING, whom he married in 1784, was the mother of his eldest son, Jacob, Jr., father of O. Lansing.

Jacob DeFOREST, Jr., was born in 1797, and married Anna, daughter of Hon. Bartholomew SCHERMERHORN, of the old Schuylerburg Mansion, near Schenectady, the birthplace and home of his ancestors for 200 years. Mr. SCHERMERHORN's wife was Anna TELLER, a descendant of Anneke JANS. Their daughter, Mrs. DeFOREST, was born in 1799, and died in 1851, her husband surviving until 1882, and was a man greatly respected. They had five daughters and seven sons, five of whom enlisted in the Union army during the late Civil War, gaining by their valor marked distinction. They were Col. Jacob J., of Duanesburgh, N.Y.; Bartholomew S., a Quartermaster, deceased, of Cleveland, Ohio; John Teller, who served as Captain; William F., a Sergeant, at present residing in San Francisco, Cal, and Capt. Martin J., of New York City. The other children are O. Lansing, of Janesville; Richard S., deceased; Mary A., wife of Julian BURROUGHS, of Chico, Cal.; Catherine L., deceased, wife of H. VAN VOST, of Schenectady, N.Y.; Cornelia, wife of Archelaus FELTS, of Niverville, N.Y.; Sarah, deceased wife of Harry PHELPS, of Albany, N.Y., and Jane, deceased.

The subject of this sketch, the fifth child of the family, was born in Schenectady, N.Y., Nov. 15, 1828, and in early life removed with his parents to a farm four miles from that city, where he lived until 1845. When sixteen years of age he accepted a clerkship in Albany, N.Y., and continued in mercantile life in that city until 1849, when he removed to New York, and for three years followed his business in a wholesale flour and feed store. Returning to Albany, on the 19th day of January, 1852, Mr. DeFOREST was united in marriage with Miss Mary PILLING, at Hudson City. She was a daughter of Thomas and Ann PILLING, of Stockport, Columbia Co., N.Y. Her father was born in Manchester, England, in 1788, and was descended from an old family, of which the name was originally spelled PELEN, later became PELLEN, and subsequent was changed to PILLING. The family figured prominently in the early history of Lancastershire, and represented Ireland in parliament before the religious movement known as the Reformation. They founded the town of Pilling in that shire, and built the cathedral which was confiscated at the time of the religious wars. This change brought a reverse of fortune to the family, and caused their descendants to turn their attention to other things than politics as a vocation. Thomas PILLING and his two brothers were engaged in manufacturing, first in Manchester, England, then in America. His brother Samuel came to this country in 1816, and a few years after started the second print works in the United States, at Frankfort, Pa., employing at one time 1,000 workmen. Thomas PILLING and his family came to the United States in 1821. After residing in Germantown, Frankford and Trenton, N.J., he at length settled at West Farm, N.Y., where he established bleaching works in connection with the cotton mills of James BOLTON, a brother-in-law. In 1826 he removed his factory to Stockport. Mr. PILLING died in 1835, leaving nine children. He was a Liberal in the best sense of that word, and was honored for his charitable spirit. His second wife, Anne BEAUMONT, was born in Hudderfield, England, in 1790. Her family were of French origin, went to England by way of Scotland at an early day, and resided there for some time. Her immediate family engaged in the manufacture of silk and woolen goods and in agricultural pursuits. Her father, Luke BEAUMONT, was one of the younger branch of a titled family. Mrs. PILLING died in 1877.

Mrs. DeFOREST was born at Stockport in 1827, and received her education at the State Normal School at Albany, N.Y. Her untiring energy of mind and hand, so necessary to the pioneer, has contributed in no small degree to the success of the Waveland Garden. After her marriage Mr. and Mrs. DeFOREST made their home in Albany for two years, spending the succeeding year in Claverack. Deciding to remove to the West, they arrived in Janesville, Dec. 1, 1856, and one year from that date located a half mile west of the city limits, on Mineral Point avenue, where they yet reside. Having inherited a natural taste for horticultural pursuits, Mr. DeFOREST's selection of a home was made with a view of gratifying his ambition in that direction. The result was the establishment of the Waveland Garden, the first market garden in Rock County. In early years he raised small fruits in connection with vegetables in large quantities, and was the introducer of the leading varieties of small fruits and vegetables in general cultivation in this vicinity. Public improvements of all kinds have ever met with his hearty approval. He has taken a deep interest in politics, but was never an aspirant for office. He formerly voted with the Republican party, but of late years has been independent. He is a free-thinker in religion, and finds among the associates a sympathizing element on all subjects pertaining to the welfare of his fellow men.

Mr. and Mrs. DeFOREST have four daughters and three sons - Shirlie, Rosamond (deceased), Jessie, Beaumont, Anna (deceased), Eugene and John Teller. Beaumont married Anna HORNE, Jan. 10, 1882, and to them was born one child, Harry Beaumont. The mother died Dec. 25, 1882, and on the 10th of February, 1886, he married Florence, daughter of M. H. SEVERHILL, of Janesville, by whom he has one child, Annie Florence.