Frank West

Regions: Chenango and Genesee Co., NY; Walworth Co., WI

From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, Publ. 1912 - Page 1023-1024 FRANK WEST. The honored subject of this sketch, who is now living in retirement on his excellent farm in Lagrange township, Walworth county, has lived to see this locality develop from a primeval forest inhabited by wild animals and a few pioneer settlers to its present magnificent prosperity, its elegant homes, comfortable public buildings, fertile farms and thriving towns; and Mr. WEST has played no small part in this work of transformation. Frank WEST was born in Lafayette township, this county, on January 3, 1844. He is the son of Stephen and Diana (BARKER) WEST, the father born in Chenango county, New York, in 1789, and the mother was born at Batavia, Genesee county, New York, on August 12, 1805. Stephen WEST was a hardy frontiersman and he came to Troy township, Walworth county, Wisconsin, about 1839 and about two years later he settled in Lafayette township on a farm near what was known as West Ostee, owning about two hundred acres. His death occurred in 1860, his widow surviving until 1882. They had one child besides Frank of this sketch, the other being now Rebecca PIKE, by whom eleven children were born, only one of who is living at this writing. His first wife died in New York and he was a widower when he came to Walworth county, Wisconsin. Politically, he was a Democrat and he held a number of minor offices in his community. He was a Freemason and a member of the Baptist church. Frank WEST was reared on the home farm and educated in the pubic schools. He has devoted his life to farming and his hard toil extending over long years has met with a fair measure of material success. He and his son, John Benjamin, own one hundred and sixty acres in Lagrange township. Politically, he is a Democrat. Mr. WEST was married on September 28, 1865, to Catherine HODGES, daughter of William HODGES, Sr., whose sketch appears in this work. Seven children have been born to Frank WEST and wife, namely: Adelbert lives at Lake Mills, this state; Anna is the wife of William HACKETT, of Lagrange township; Edna is the wife of Thomas E. LEAN, of Whitewater; Louise is the wife of Warren TAFT, of Whitewater; Nellie Jane married Paul YAKE and the live at Whitewater; John B. is farming the place mentioned above in this township. The oldest child died in infancy unnamed. Submitted by Carol