Elon A. Douglas
Surnames: Beach, Chipman, Colby, Coryell, Davis, Ellis, Fisher, Hurd, Lytle,
Miller, Parmley, Phelps, Purdy, Rush, Stupper
From The Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wis., publ, 1889 - page 318, 319
ELON A. DOUGLAS, an honored pioneer and representative citizen residing on section 3, Plymouth Township, is a native of Oneida County, N.Y., born April 27, 1822, at Monroe, N.Y., and is one of the family of thirteen children, but three of whom are now living. His parents were David and Rhoda (PHELPS) DOUGLAS, the former born in Middletown, Conn., Feb. 7, 1785, and the latter in Windsor, the same State, Feb. 2, 1788. They were married at Whitestown, N.Y., March 27, 1806. Their children, in order of birth, were as follows: Melissa, born Feb. 24, 1807, at Whitestown, N.Y., became the wife of S. H. CHIPMAN, and the mother of two children; Eliza, born Sept. 10, 1809, at Whitestown, N.Y., married Samuel COLBY, and died at Brodhead, Wis., Nov. 19, 1867; Stephen C., born May 31, 1812, married Ella STUPPER, by whom he had three children; Rhoda, born Dec. 18, 1815, at Avon, N.Y., died Sept. 8, 1816, at Ontario, N.Y.; David P., born July 6, 1818, at Sweden, N.Y., is living near Johnson, Neb., and is the husband of Mary L. Coryell, by whom he has five children - David, Hall, Cora, Arthur, and Annie; Daniel C., born June 18, 1820, at Genesee, N.Y., died ______; Elon A., the subject of this sketch; James Sidney, born March 26, 1824, at Pontiac, Mich., died Oct. 20, 1832; Mary B., born May 26, 1826, at Pontiac, Mich., died Sept. 15, 1827; Albert C., who was born on the 25th of November, 1827, at Pontiac, Mich., is living at Brodhead, Wis.; Elisha E., born Nov. 4, 1829, at Pontiac, Mich., died Aug. 27, 1834, at the same place; Esther M., born June 15, 1833, at Pontiac, Mich., died Aug. 27, 1834, at the same place.
During his youth, in company with his parents, our subject left the Empire State and emigrated to what was then the Far West, settling at that time in Michigan. While residing in that State a preacher came to visit them, and was taken down with the cholera, and all of the family with the exception of the mother, were stricken down with that disease. Elon A., then a boy, was sent on horseback for the doctor, and while on his way was taken sick, having to be held on his horse on the return trip. In order that the disease should not spread and infect the whole town, the house of Mr. DOUGLAS was burned by the citizens and a new one erected for him. Later the family removed to Rock County, settling in Plymouth Township. David DOUGLAS was the first permanent resident of the town, and built the first house within its borders. At that time not a settlement had been made between his home and the village of Janesville, and the country was almost in its primitive condition. Our subject can remember seeing herds of four or five hundred deer. His father entered and purchased land to the extent of 880 acres, which he placed under a high state of cultivation. However, as his children grew up, he divided his land between them, retaining only 160 acres for his own use. He was one of the prominent early settlers of the community, and was held in high respect by all. David DOUGLAS died at Brodhead, Wis., June 12, 1872. Rhoda DOUGLAS died at Brockport, N.Y., June 19, 1853.
In 1849 Elon A. DOUGLAS was united in marriage with Miss Martha BEACH, a daughter of Francis and Maria (HURD) BEACH, who were the parents of five children, three of whom are yet living: Hopson, who is a resident of Footville, married Libby RUSH, by whom he has two children - Ella and Lillie, the former now the wife of Edward LYTLE, who is living in Albany, Green County, and the latter is now the wife of Ernest PARMLEY; Martha, the deceased wife of our subject, is the next in order of birth; F. T., who is living in La Cygne, Linn Co., Kan., married Lucinda DAVIS, and to them have been born two children - Jennie and Minnie; Watson, now deceased, married Sabela PURDY, and their union was blessed with three children - Alexander, Nellie, and Rosa.
Mr. and Mrs. DOUBLAS were the parents of three children: Mary, who was born Sept. 6, 1851, is the wife of E. W. FISHER, a representative of one of the pioneer families of the county, and a leading farmer of Rock Township. Unto them have been born five children, all of whom are yet living - John, Jacob, Harriet, Joseph, and Whitney; H.O., born Oct. 10, 1856, is a resident of Oberlin, Kan. He wedded Anna L. MILLER, born March 6, 1864 in Athens County, Ohio. They were married Jan. 10, 1883, at Oberlin, Kan., and now have three children - Mattie, born Dec. 21, 1883; Myrrel, May 8, 1885; and Hazel, June 26, 1887. William O., who was born on the 25th of January, 1866, is engaged in farming on land adjoining the old homestead, married Ida ELLIS, and to them have been born one child, Elenie.
On the 4th of May, 1889, Mrs. DOUGLAS left her home to visit Mrs. BEACH, a sister-in-law, apparently in good health. The next day she laid down to take a little rest. Mrs. BEACH also laid down in an adjoining room and fell asleep, but was soon awakened by a strange noise in Mrs. DOUGLAS' room. Her son also heard the noise, and both rushed in, and, to their horror, found Mrs. DOUGLAS dead. A physician was at once called, who pronounced her dead, the cause being heart disease. Three children and a kind and loving husband were left to mourn her loss.
Mr. DOUGLAS is engaged in general farming on section 3, Plymouth Township, where he owns a fine farm of eighty acres, valued at $100 per acre. Being a man of progressive ideas, everything about his place denotes thrift and enterprise. For some time he engaged quite extensively in the breeding of Durham cattle and graded Norman horses, and was very successful in that line of business. He is regarded as one of the leading farmers in the township, and is one of the most prominent citizens in the community. Stanch in support of the Republican party, he exerts a stronger influence in political affairs than any man in the town, and has done much toward the advancement of that great organization in his neighborhood. Although now an old man, he took an active part in the campaign of 1888. He has held several official positions, before reaching his majority being elected Collector and Constable, and for ten consecutive years served in the former office in Plymouth Township. He is also a friend to education, believing that to be useful in life one must be well educated. His sons were both graduates of Silbee's Commercial College, of Janesville, and his daughter, who was educated in the Janesville College, was a successful teacher in the district schools. Mr. DOUGLAS was a participant in the pioneer life of Rock County, and has been identified with its growth and development for many long years. He has won the confidence and love of all who know him, and we are pleased to record his sketch in the permanent history of the banner county of this great Commonwealth.
Note - in the 1st paragraph, the book states that Daniel C. was born June 18, 1820 and died Aug. 31, 1734 - an obvious mistake. Since both Elisha and Esther died in Aug 27, 1834, perhaps Daniel died 4 days later - perhaps that being when the family was stricken with cholera.