Mark Hobert West

Regions: Chenango and Oswego Co., NY; Walworth Co., Wi

From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, publ. 1912, Page 1367-1368 MARK HOBERT WEST. It seems that there is no start in life which so well prepares a man for his future career, no matter what he may choose to follow, as the boyhood years spent on the farm; this is not strange to the contemplative mind, for in the first place the boy reared next to nature, to the fresh soil, surrounded by the clear air and amidst the growing, blooming vegetation will be stronger physically and mentally than his city-bred brother, and all will agree that health is the first prerequisite in the chase for success in this world; many a man has been handicapped, submerged and defeated because of lack of it. Another thing, the farmer boy knows few of the temptations that lead to ruin which the city boy has to combat from almost the very cradle; the former uses his energy in wrestling with the plow, the unbroken colt, the quick-growing sprouts, and many other things in his everyday life, while all this pent-up energy of the city lad must seek outlet in various channels, so he gets into trouble or at least neglects to properly direct his energies in life's affairs and when manhood comes he is left behind by his stronger and more self-reliant country contemporary. Mark Hobert WEST, of Lafayette township, Walworth county, was born and reared on the farm and has made farming his life work and his life has therefore been healthy and happy, still living on a part of the old homestead in Lafayette township where his birth occurred on May 29, 1866. He is the son of Nelson and Anne Maria (HODGES) WEST, the father born in Chenango county, New York, June 23, 1829, and the mother born at Scriba, Oswego county, that state, July 5, 1834. He was ten years old when he accompanied his father Stephen G. WEST, to Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1839, when this country was a wilderness and the haunt of red man and wild beast. Two brothers, William and Jesse Pike, has preceded them here in 1836, having walked from Detroit, Michigan here. The grandfather of the subject took up government land here, a part of which is now owned by his grandson, Mark H., of this review. He cleared and developed a good farm, undergoing the usual hardships and privations incident to pioneer life in the great northern woods, and the death of Stephen G. WEST, the grandfather, occurred at Ripon, Fond du Lac county. His wife was known in her maidenhood as Rebecca PIKE, whose death occurred in Chenango county, New York. Nelson WEST, father of the subject, was educated in the public schools of New York and Walworth county, Wisconsin, and he devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. He was married on February 14, 1855, to Anne Maria HODGES, the daughter of William and Mary Ann HODGES, a complete sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. To the parents of the subject nine children were born, of whom four are living, namely: Henry P., of Ripon, Wisconsin; Addie M. lives in Whitewater, Wisconsin; Mark Hobert of this sketch; Grace is the wife of George KIRCHOFFER, of Whitewater, this state. Politically, the elder WEST was a Democrat and was active in political affairs, holding a number of the township offices, and he was postmaster of Westville for many years. He was the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of excellent land, and was one of the substantial farmers and influential men of his community. He attended the Methodist Episcopal church. His death occurred on May 23, 1909. Mark H. WEST of this review was reared on the homestead where he assisted with the general work when old enough, and he received his education in the district schools of his community, and in the Elkhorn high school, later attending Milton College. He turned his attention to farming early in life, and is now the owner of forty-seven acres of good land on which he has made a comfortable living, this being a part of the old homestead Politically, he is a Democrat, but has never been an aspirant for public office. Mr. WEST was married on February 14, 1907, to Anna E. STALLMANN, who was born in Muskego, Waukesha county, Wisconsin, on February 17, 1878. She is the daughter of August and Bertha (HAFER) STALLMANN, he a native of West Alice and she of Milwaukee, and her death occurred in Sugar Creek township, this county in 1896 and in that townships he is still living at an advanced age. They came to Walworth county in 1893. To Mark H. WEST and wife one child has been born, Nelson A., whose birth occurred on February 14, 1911. Personally, Mr. WEST is a man of charitable and kindly impulses and he is well liked by all who know him. Submitted by Carol