Oliver Perry Southwick

Regions: Fulton Co., NY; Walworth Co., WI

From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, publ. 1912, Page 1287-1291 OLIVER PERRY SOUTHWICK. It is a compliment worthily bestowed to say that Walworth county is honored by the life-long citizenship of Oliver Perry SOUTHWICK, of Williams Bay, for he has achieved definite success through his own efforts and is thoroughly deserving of the proud American title of self-made man, the term being one that, in its better sense, can not but appeal to the loyal admiration of all who are appreciative of our national institutions and the privileges afforded for individual accomplishment, and it is a privilege, ever gratifying in this day and age, to meet a man who has the courage to face the battles of life with a strong heart and steady hand and to win in the stern conflict by bringing to bear only those forces with which nature has equipped him, self-reliance, self-respect and integrity. Mr. SOUTHWICK was born in Walworth township, this county, near where Yerkes Observatory now stands, August 26, 1869. He is the son of George and Emma (RUSSELL) SOUTHWICK. The father came from Ohio with his parents, Jonas SOUTHWICK and wife, and settled in Turtle Prairie, this county. Lawrence SOUTHWICK was the first of the family to come to America, having emigrated from Lancashire, England, in 1627, later returning to his native land and bringing over his wife Cassandra and their son John and daughter Mary, settling with his family in Massachusetts in 1630, locating with William BRADFORD and others at Salem. In 1639 his family was admitted as members of the First Church of Salem, and two acres of land were given him by the town of Salem on which to manufacture glass and earthenware, he being one of the first manufacturers of glass in America, his land being called the "Glass House Field" and it has remained in possession of the SOUTHWICKS to this day. This entire family was fined, whipped, imprisoned and finally banished for being Quakers, and two younger children of Lawrence SOUTHWICK, Daniel and his sister Provided, were sentenced by the general court to be sold into slavery. When banished in 1659 Lawrence SOUTHWICK and wife went to Shelter Island, Long Island sound, and died there the following year of privation and exposure. Their son Joseph went to Rhode Island and established a home for himself and family. In 1660 he returned to Salem to look after his parents' property and was whipped for returning to Massachusetts. The instance of Puritan intolerance by which Daniel and Provided SOUTHWICK were sentenced to be sold into slavery in Virginia or Barbados because they were unable to pay a fine of ten pounds each for non-attendance at church, is told in John G. WHITTIER's poem "Cassandra," named for their mother, wife of Lawrence SOUTHWICK. An attempt was made to sell them into slavery, but no ship was found willing to take them to the West Indies and they were given their liberty. Joseph SOUTHWICK of the second generation was born in 1632 and died in 1693. He married and reared several children. In 1659 he and John SMALL, also John BURTON, were arrested at Deadham, Massachusetts, for being Quakers, while on their way to Rhode Island to provide homes for their families and to escape the Puritan persecutions, but being released they resumed their journey. Solomon SOUTHWICK, who was of the third generation, was born in 1672, married in 1712 and was the father of several sons and daughters. One of his sons, Solomon, was born in 1731 and died December 23, 1797. On June 20, 1769, he married Ann CARPENTER, a widow, and a daughter of Lieut. Gov. John GARDINER of Rhode Island. This was the first member of the branch of SOUTHWICKS to become identified with the printing business. When in 1735 James FRANKLIN, a brother of Benjamin FRANKLIN, died, his printing office passed into the hands of his son James and the latter established the Newport Mercury. The paper was later transferred to Samuel HALL, and from him to Solomon SOUTHWICK, who published it until 1776, when, fearing the British, who were preparing to land on the island, would destroy his type and press, he had them buried in the rear of an old building on Broad street. Learning this fact the British had them unearthed and removed to a confiscated building where they were used to print the Rhode Island Gazette. After the Revolutionary war, the Mercury was again issued by Henry BARBOUR, who bought the property. When the British took possession of the island Solomon SOUTHWICK and family tried to escape in an open boat, but in an engagement with the invaders the latter captured his wife and son Solomon. Later they were released and joined the husband and father. He was one of a committee of four appointed to receive General Washington when he visited Newport in 1781. Volumes of the Mercury and other mementoes, among which is a diploma from the College of Pennsylvania (now the University of Pennsylvania) for proficiency in philosophy and mathematics, dated 1757, and conferring on him the degree of Bachelor of Arts, are now in possession of his descendants at Albany. George SOUTHWICK was killed in the battle of Lexington, when he was twenty-five years old, and his name is on the marble slab erected in memory of those that fell there. Henry C. SOUTHWICK, who was of the fifth generation, was born at Newport, Rhode Island, in 1772 and he died in 1821; he married, in 1797, Margaret WOOD, daughter of Capt. Josiah WOOD of the regular army and a cousin of General WOOD. Henry C. SOUTHWICK was at one time associated with his brother, Solomon, in printing in Albany and there he became editor of a number of papers at different times. Solomon SOUTHWICK was twice nominated governor of New York and he was also state printer and was associated with Thurlow WEED, for some time. Henry Collins SOUTHWICK, of the sixth generation, was born in 1806 and died in 1879. In 1825 he married Mary PARKINSON, of Mayfield, Fulton county, New York. He went to Albany when a child and worked as a hatter's apprentice. At one time he was collector of tolls at Albany and he was public spirited and prominent in many ways. It is believed that Caleb SOUTHWICK was a brother of Solomon SOUTHWICK, who ran for governor of New York, though he may have been a cousin, but it is known that he is of the same ancestry. The death of Caleb SOUTHWICK occurred on January 19, 1856 when eighty-two years old, his birth having occurred on June 17, 1773. * He married Ann CARPENTER. After living some time in Bombay, New York, he moved to Walworth county, Wisconsin in 1851 and located in the southeastern corner of Delavan township. His family consisted of two sons and two or three daughters. One of his sons, Jonas G., was born at Rutland, Vermont, in 1810. He married at Bombay, New York, Mary BROWN, and three children were born to them. Two of the sons came to this county. Jonas G. moved to Ohio and his first wife lived there. Later he married Mary REESE, who was born in 1815 at Sinking Valley, Pennsylvania, and she was the daughter of Thomas and Mary (BEYER) REESE. Jonas G. SOUTHWICK and family came to this county in the fall of 1849, and for two years made their home west of Delavan, then purchased the homestead in the southwestern corner of Delavan township. He had eleven children by the second marriage, namely: Henry, deceased; George, who was the father of Oliver P., of this sketch; he and Harriet were twins, the latter dying when nineteen years old; Charles lives at Williams Bay; Chauncey and Rachel died in infancy; James died March 13, 1912 in Delavan, leaving two sons; Oliver died when nineteen years old; William H. lives north of Williams Bay; he was born April 17, 1852, on the place on which he now resides. He married Marietta BOWLSBY, of Wintersett, Iowa, and they had two children, one of which died when eleven months old, the other, Ernest E., was born April 1, 1887, and he married Rose WEEKS of Chicago and they have one daughter, Mary R. William H. SOUTHWICK has lived on the home farm all his life. His wife died on May 5, 1904. Mary married C. M. WILLIAMS and lives in Chicago; Sanford died when four years old. Jonas SOUTHWICK died in the fall of 1896 and his wife died in 1890. William H. and Earnest SOUTHWICK raise fine Rhode Island Red poultry and took many premiums, having been awarded the first, second and third prizes at the Southeastern Wisconsin Poultry Show for Rose Comb Rhode Island Reds and second cockerel and third and fourth pullets in single comb. George SOUTHWICK, father of the subject of this sketch, married Emma RUSSELL, daughter of Marcus and Rebecca (POTTER) RUSSELL. George SOUTHWICK bought a farm near where the Observatory stands and there spent the remainder of his life. When he was thirty-three years old he met with an accidental injury from which he died November 10, 1870. His son, Oliver P., of this sketch, was then only fifteen years old. Emma (RUSSELL) SOUTHWICK lived until June 18, 1906. Oliver P. SOUTHWICK was the third child in a family of four children, the others being, Doric C., who lives in Beloit, on the Illinois side of the line; Jennie, who married Laelette E. FRANCIS, now deceased; she lives on part of the old homestead; Mahetabel, the youngest child, married Dr. Charles FRANCIS, now deceased, and lives in Williams Bay. Doric C. SOUTHWICK, mentioned above, was born August 22, 1865, married Mary NOTT, daughter of Charles NOTT, of Elkhorn. He farmed the home place until the spring of 1910, then moved to Beloit where he is now residing. After his father died Oliver P. SOUTHWICK lived with his grandfather SOUTHWICK and his uncle, William SOUTHWICK, north of Williams Bay When eighteen years old he went to work for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad and was with them eight years having been in the service of this road at various stations; he was at Lake Geneva four years as cashier and clerk. Leaving the road in March, 1895, he turned his attention to other pursuits. Mr. SOUTHWICK was married on March 4, 1896, to Mary A. LADD, daughter of Wesley and Phoebe (HALEY) LADD, at Ringwood, Illinois. Wesley LADD was born at Hebron, New Hampshire, December 5, 1810. He came to McHenry county, Illinois, in 1836, and entered land from the government and he spent the rest of his life in that county. There he married Phoebe HALEY, daughter of Edmund and Lucy HALEY. She was born at Byron, Genesee county, New York, and came to McHenry county, Illinois, with her parents while she was young. Mrs. Wesley LADD died on December 28, 1894, and the death of Wesley LADD occurred on March 25, 1897. Mary A LADD was born in McHenry county, Illinois, and she lived in Ringwood, Illinois, until her marriage. Her parents moved to that city in 1881 and there spent the rest of their lives. Oliver P. SOUTHWICK and wife have one daughter, Mary Arline SOUTHWICK, who was born November 3, 1904. After his marriage Mr. SOUTHWICK entered the general merchandise business at Williams Bay, buying out C. W. WILLIAMS & Company, and he has been in business here ever since, enjoying a large trade, keeping his store well stocked with a large and carefully selected stock of goods at all seasons and he is one of the best known merchants and progressive business men in the southern part of Walworth county. He sustained a serious loss by fire in 1903, his store taking fire from the adjoining hotel. He then purchased the building where the store is now located. He has two store rooms, neatly kept and well arranged. Personally, he is a straightforward, honest and obliging gentleman who has the interests of his locality at heart. Submitted by Carol

*  The following was sent from a family contributor:

I believe the statement that he, Caleb, married Ann Carpenter is in error. Several paragraphs earlier Ann Carpenter is listed as having married Solomon Southwick in 1769. Four years before Caleb was born. I believe that Caleb married Ann Wilkinson but have been unable to prove it. Caleb appears, from the census, to have lived in Vermont prior to living in Bombay and served in the War of 1812.