An Affiliate member of the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society
City of Lake Geneva
Early settlers as of 1837 in section 36 were: R. Wells Warren, Greenleaf S. Warren, Dr. Philip Maxwell, Col. James Maxwell, Lewis B. Goodsell, Andrew
Ferguson, and George L. Campbell.
Other early families included: BAKER, CARTER, CASPORUS, CHAPIN, CLARK, COLTON, COOK, ESTABROOK, GILL, GRIFFIN, HILL, HOVEY, McKAIG, McNISH, MALLORY, NOYES, OATMAN, POND, ROSS, SHELDON, SPAFARD, STARKEY, TIFFANY, PHILANDER, VAN VELZER, WARD, WARREN, WRIGHT.
The village was chartered in 1844.
The first Geneva Hotel was built in 1837 by a Mr. Warren. There was also a Lake House at Main and Broad streets.
Several churches were built in the area. Baptist society was organized in 1840. St. Francis de Sales in 1847, Presbyterians and Congregationalists were formed in 1839. 1850 brought the Episcopalian parish, 1879 Evangelical Lutheran society, also Methodist Episcopal society in 1839
Several newspapers sprung up. In July 1848, David M. Keller, published the first number of the Wisconsin Standard and discontinued it one year later. Edgar J. Farnum began the Geneva Express in 1854. In 1858 Henry L. Deveraux published the Genevan for eighteen months. Among others were the Geneva Lake Mirror, Geneva Independent, and the Lake Geneva Herald.
The old burying ground was placed well westward from the village plat, but in time was overtaken and enclosed by the growth of the city. It was between Maxwell and Warren streets with Dodge street southward, and falls a few rods short of Park Row.. More room was needed as of 1880 and 40 acres were chosen on a high knoll north of the city.
LAKE GENEVA GENERAL STORE LEDGER
The original store ledger is now at the archives of the UW-Whitewater Area Research Center (ARC). It was presented to them by Robert Reek, who also compiled the following index. He has given WCGS permission to use this material on this site. Our thanks go out to him. I include a few of his notes:
There were interesting entries as to how the bill was paid, including “Cash”; “Note”; “Mdse”; “Cheese”; and other items that farmers could have bartered for coffee, sugar, cloth, and other things that they could not raise. A Mr. W. O. HOLBROOKE paid his bill several times by trading grain cradles by the dozen. (A dozen grain cradles was valued at $48.00) Perhaps he was a blacksmith and made them himself. There are names of people who were paid for services such as “carting “ and “hauling”, etc.
Bob goes on to say that he hopes that someone may be able to identify the proprietor as it was in 1844. [In the 1882 History of Walworth County, it states that a Mr. L. B. Goodsell, Andrew Ferguson, and George L. Campbell had a general store early on, about 1835-1840. - webmaster’s note]
The information below is self explanatory. If you would like to see the original pages, you can contact Karen Weston, curator at the ARC.
NAME
PAGE
DATES OF TRANSACTIONS
NOTES 1
NOTES 2
ALLEN, SAMUEL
26
27 JUN 45 TO 09 OCT 49
ALLEN, CARVEY E.
132
18 APR 49 TO 21 MAR 50
AVERY, IRA
36
26 MAR 46 TO 17 NOV(47)
AYRES, JOSEPH
113
07 MAY 49 TO 06 APR 50
BAKER, ESQ., C. M.
13
07 NOV 44 TO 09 APR 46
BAKER
38
14 APR(46)TO 06 NOV 47
FROM PAGE 13
BAKER
63
08 NOV 47 TO 26 JAN(50)
FROM PAGE 38
BAKER, C. M
22
08 FEB 50 TO 20 JUL 50
FROM PAGE 63
NL
BARKER, HIRAM
116
09 FEB 49 TO 08 NOV 50
BARLOW, JOHN
76 85
31 OCT 48 TO 22 NOV 49 23 NOV 49 TO 30 MAR(50)
FROM PAGE 76
NL
BEAMSLEY, JOHN
78 136 142
01 NOV 48 TO 23 MAY 49 25 MAY 49 TO 19 OCT 49
20 OCT(49)TO 21 DEC 49
FROM PAGE 78 FROM PAGE 136
BEARDSLEY, CHARLES
91
22 NOV 49 TO 17 JUL 50
NL
BEEDEN, THOMAS
35 51 75
20 MAR 46 TO 10 JUL 47 20 JUL 47 TO 18 OCT 48
27 OCT 48 TO 12 JAN(50)
FROM PAGE 35 FROM PAGE 61
NL
BEEDEN, JOHN
125 130 139
27 MAR 49 TO 23 JUN 49 26 JUN 49 TO 16 OCT 49
19 OCT 49 TO 10 DEC 49
FROM PAGE 125 FROM PAGE 130
NL
BENEDICT, JAMES A
79
01 NOV 48 TO 12 DEC 49
NL
BENSON, REV R H. H.
9
20 NOV 44 TO 14 NOV 49
BEURL, SIDNEY
128
14 MAR 49 TO 12 APR 50
BILLS, RUEBEN
52
25 FEB 47 TO 15 JUL 49
(ALDEN, ILL)
NL
BLACKWELL, JACOB
112
18 DEC 48 TO 07 DEC 51
BOWKER, JOSEPH
137
11 JUN 49 TO 15 OCT 50
BOYD, JOHN W
112
28 JUN 48 TO 01 OCT 51
BOYLE, CHARLES
119
27 JUN 49 TO 25 MAY 50
NL
BRADY, MICHAEL
30
16 DEC 48 TO 29 APR(50)
BRANAN, GEORGE
81
01 NOV 48 TO 26 JAN(50)
BRAND, AMOS H
127 140
21 MAR 49 TO 20 SEP 49 22 SEP(49)TO 04 DEC(49)
FROM PAGE 127
BRANDO, WILLIAM
118
20 MAR 49 TO 11 JAN(50)
NL
BRANDO, JOEL
124
21 APR 49 TO 31 JUL(50)
BREWSTER, DEODAD
129
29 MAY 49 TO 15 JAN(50)
BROWN, JOHN
53 70 64
09 MAR 47 TO 01 AUG 48 12 AUG 48 TO 26 NOV 49
28 NOV 49 TO 25 MAR 50
FROM PAGE 53 FROM PAGE 70
NL
BROWN, RIAL
57
15 MAY 47 TO 17 JUN 50
(BIGFOOT)
NL
BROWN, GEORGE JR
50 115
22 JAN 47 TO 18 JAN(50) 31 JAN 49 TO 12 NOV 49
(BIGFOOT)
NL
BROWN, GEORGE SEN'R
122
12 MAR 49 TO 15 JUL(50)
NL
BURT, ROSWELL
87
09 NOV 48 TO 25 DEC 49
BYRNES, THOMAS
106
12 DEC 48 TO 12 OCT 50
CARLIN, PATRICK
96
27 NOV 48 TO 01 JUN 50
NL
CHRISTOL, THOMAS
19 27
04 APR 45 TO JUL 04(49) 12 JUL 49 TO 12 FEB 50
FROM PAGE 19
CLARK, H
22
23 MAY 45 TO 21 JUN(50)
CLOHASSY, PATRICK
24
05 JUN 45 TO 03 SEP 45
COBB, ROBERT
126
21 MAR 49 TO 02 NOV 49
COTTON, A. D
28 29 23
10 JUL 45 TO 09 JUN 49 11 JUN 49 TO 26 JUL 49
30 JUL 49 TO 13 FEB(50)
FROM PAGE 28 FROM PAGE 29
NL
COYLE, THOMAS
118
02 MAR 49 TO 26 NOV 49
CRATON, PETER
77
31 OCT 48 TO 03 DEC 49
CURRIN, JAMES
99
30 NOV 48 TO 16 OCT 49
CURRAN, JAMES
142
22 OCT 49 TO 09 FEB(50 )
FROM PAGE 99
CURRIN, HENRY
107
12 DEC 48 TO 17 NOV 49
CURRAN, HENRY
109
22 NOV 49 TO 31 JAN(50)
FROM PAGE 107
NL
DAVIS ,ALPHEUS
97
28 NOV 48 TO 08 FEB 50
DAVIS, DANIEL
116
21 APR 49 TO 28 FEB 50
DELANY, THOMAS
94
25 NOV 48 TO 29 JAN(50)
NL
DONALDSON, N. L
2 49 73
16 OCT 44 TO 23 NOV 46 24 NOV 46 TO 22 JUL 48
07 OCT 48 TO 28 MAR 51
FROM PAGE 2 FROM PAGE 49
DOROTHY, CHARLES
101
21 APR 49 TO 29 MAR 50
DOUGLASS, CHRISTOPHER
56
07 MAY 47 TO 05 SEP 49
DOWNER, HIRAM
98
28 NOV 48 TO 05 DEC 49
DOWNS, DANIEL
82
01 NOV 48 TO 18 DEC 49
DUNBAR, JOHN
137
12 JUN 49 TO 10 JUL 50
NL
DUNLAP, JOHN
141
12 OCT 49 TO 22 MAR(50)
DUNN, EDMUND
80
01 NOV 48 TO 01 DEC 49
EDWARDS, GEORGE W
20
16 APR 45 TO 10 JUN 46
EDWARDS, G. W.
42
10 JUL 46 TO 24 JUN 47
FROM PAGE 20
EDWARDS, GEORGE W.
60, 71 134
28 JUN 47 TO 27 SEP 48 14 AUG 48 TO 10 MAY 49
19 MAY 49 TO 06 JAN 51
FROM PAGE 42 FROM PAGE 60 FROM PAGE 71
ESTABROOKS, EXPERIENCE
114
11 JUL 49 TO 30 JAN 50
FROM PAGE 17
ESTEABROOK,ESQ. E.
17
08 JAN 45 TO 19 APR 49
EXPENSE A/C
5 64
07 OCT 44 TO 10 NOV 47 30 NOV 47 TO 25 MAR 50
FROM PAGE 5
FAGAN, RICHARD
32
09 FEB 49 TO 02 MAR 50
FARWELL, L. I.
6
07 OCT(44)
FEASER, SEBASTIAN
92
23 MAR 48 TO 29 NOV 49
FINN, DANIEL
86
08 NOV 48 TO 23 FEB(50)
FLACK, RICHARD
108
14 DEC 48 TO 15 OCT(49)
FOX, HENRY S
36
16 JUL 49 TO 04 JUN(50)
FREDRICK, HENRY A
90
21 NOV 48 TO 15 JUL(50)
NL
FURNAM, LUTHER
109
14 DEC 48 TO 13 OCT 49
GAFFNEY, JOHN
6
15 DEC 48 TO 27 DEC 49
GARDNER, SIMEON
41
04 JUL 46 TO 12 AUG 48
GARDNER, S
72
22 AUG 48 TO 04 JUN 51
FROM PAGE 41
NL
GARDNER, ALLEN
100 133
07 MAY 49 TO 10 SEP 49 19 SEP(49)TO 14 FEB(50)
FROM PAGE 100
NL
GATES. JOSEPH
131
06 JUN(49)TO 20 JUN(50)
NL
GIDDINGS, JOSIAH H
111
15 DEC 48 TO 10 JUL 49
GILL, CHARLES
83 138
01 NOV 48 TO 26 JUN 49
28 JUN 49 TO 14 JAN(50)
FROM PAGE 83
NL
GOODSPEED, ALVIN
37 74
27 MAR 46 TO 06 SEP 48 20 SEP 48 TO 09 MAR(50)
FROM PAGE 37
GROSBECK, JOHN W.
96
15 DEC 48 TO 10 NOV 51
HALE, P. C.
7
12 NOV 44 TO 14 APR(46)
HALE, JONATHAN A
88
11 NOV 48 TO 07 NOV 49
HANDY, DANIEL P.
16 66
05 DEC 44 TO 19 FEB 48 13 MAR 48 TO 08 MAR(50)
FROM PAGE 16
NL
HANDY, NELSON
40
25 MAY 46 TO 23 MAY 48
HARD, MRS. MARY
14 62 105
19 NOV 44 TO 17 JUL 47 21 JUL 47 TO 20 NOV 48
09 DEC 48 TO 23 JAN 51
FROM PAGE 14
HARD ,JONATHAN
93 139
25 NOV 48 TO 05 JUL 49 06 JUL(49)TO 20 JUL(50)
FROM PAGE 93
NL
HASTINGS, APOLLOS
11 31 51
140
22 OCT 44 TO 19 SEP 45 29 SEP 45 TO 15 FEB 47
18 FEB 47 TO 04 JUL 49 07 JUL 49 TO 02 OCT 49
FROM PAGE 11 FROM PAGE 31
FROM PAGE 5 1
NL
HAUSE, L. K
46
08 AUG 46 TO 05 JUN 49
HERRICK, JACOB
27
07 JUL 45 TO 08 JAN(49)
HICKEY, JAMES
95
27 NOV 48 TO 09 FEB 50
NL
HICKEY ,MARTIN
92 95
16 DEC 48 TO 27 OCT 49
30 OCT 49 TO 08 FEB(50)
FROM PAGE 92
HICKEY ,MORIS
124
17 MAR 49 TO 12 JAN 50
NL
HIGH, CHARLES
34 133
16 MAR 46 TO 30 APR(49) 14 JUN 49 TO 12 JUL(50)
FROM PAGE 34
NL
HIGH, RUE
47 82
15 AUG 46 TO 06 APR 49 21 APR 49 TO 13 DEC 49
FROM PAGE 47
HOLBROOK, W. O.
43
20 JUN 46 TO 23 JUL 51
HORBS, WILLIAM
117
26 FEB 49 TO 20 JUL 50
NL
HOWE, ISAAC C
23
27 MAY 45 TO 30 SEP 45
HUTCHINSON, RODOLPHUS H
129
24 MAR 49 TO 18 FEB 50
KELSEY, JOHN
121
09 MAR(49)TO 20 JUL(50)
NL
McNISH, DR JAMES
24
19 OCT 45 TO 05 SEP 48
MACNISH, DOCT JAMES
100
01 DEC 48 TO 13 DEC 48
MANNING, WILLIAM A
32
03 DEC 45 TO 01 JAN 47
MANNING, L. O.
131
04 APR 49 TO 22 AUG 49
MAYNARD, RUFUS
114
05 JAN 49 TO 07 JAN(50)
NL
McGRAW, NEWTON
69
28 JUL 48 TO 16 APR 50
MERRITT, ANSON D
12 111
29 OCT 44 TO 24 AUG 49 27 AUG 49 TO 21 FEB 51
FROM PAGE 12
MILLER, DOCT CLARKSON
120
09 MAR 49 TO 30 DEC 51
MOODY, ALFRED
113
29 DEC 48 TO 05 NOV 49
MOORE, ROBERT
7
23 DEC 48 TO 06 JUL 49
NELSON, JAMES SEN'R
89
16 NOV 48 TO 22 NOV 49
NL
NELSON, JAMES JR
110
18 DEC 48 TO 20 NOV 48
NEWTON, JOHN W.
102
05 JAN 49 TO 27 MAY(50)
NICKOLS, ELKINS & CO
48
21 SEP 46 TO 15 OCT(51)
NOURSE, IRA
123
14 MAR 49 TO 11 JUL(50)
NL
PALMITIER, LAWRENCE
134
27 JUN 49 TO 11 JUL 50
NL
PEASE, ASA
25
21 JUN 45 TO 04 MAR 50
PERSE, WILLIAM
39
13 APR 46 TO 16 OCT 49
PETERS, THOMAS
104
04 DEC 48 TO 20 NOV 49
PHILLIPS, OTIS B.
29
11 AUG 45 TO 28 JUN 48
PORTER, D. C
102
02 DEC 48 TO 02 NOV 49
PRIME, DAVID B
123
07 MAY 49 TO 09 JAN(50)
NL
QUIGLEY, PATRICK
85
08 NOV 48 TO 22 OCT 49
REED, SOLON
69
05 JUN 49 TO 21 JAN(50)
REED, GILL S
91
07 JUN 49 TO 12 DEC 50
NL
REID, WILLIAM
10 45
21 OCT(44)TO 04 JUL 46
27 JUL 46 TO 05 AUG 51
FROM PAGE 10
RICH, CARISON
130
29 MAR 49 TO 17 NOV 49
NL
SEYMORE, MOSES
44 58 67
103 135 141
09 JUL 46 TO 22 JUN 47 24 JUN 47 TO 13 MAR 48
15 MAR 48 TO 28 NOV 48 03 DEC 48 TO 17 MAY 49
19 MAY 49 TO 29 SEP 49 03 OCT 49 TO 20 NOV 49
FROM PAGE 44 FROM PAGE 58
FROM PAGE 67 FROM PAGE 103 FROM PAGE 135
NL
NL
SMITH, T. C
3 4
07 OCT 44 TO 26 MAR 47 01 APR 47 TO 27 OCT 49
FROM PAGE 3
NL
SMITH, RICHARD O
59
28 JUN 47 TO 15 NOV 49
SNELL, I. P.
21
07 MAY 45 TO 28 JUN 50
DELAVAN
SPERRY, SHELDEN
108
12 DEC 48 TO 24 OCT 49
NL
STEDMAN, JAMES G.
84
07 NOV 48 TO 09 APR 49
STEWART, WILLIAM R
117
23 MAR 49 TO 21 FEB 50
STEWART, SOLOMON
128
23 MAR 49 TO 29 MAR 50
NL
STONEL, HENRY
119
03 MAR 49 TO 22 MAR(50)
NL
STORE A/C
18 54 65
07 MAR(45)TO 01 APR 47 31 MAR 47 TO 24 DEC 47
28 FEB 48 TO 02 JUN 49
FROM PAGE 18 FROM PAGE 54
NL
TRACY, JOHN
81 106
19 JUL 49 TO 08 NOV 49 12 DEC 48 TO 25 JUN 49
FROM PAGE 106
VALENTINE, WILLIAM L.
101
01 DEC 48 TO 21 NOV 51
WARREN, ROBERT W
8 33
14 OCT 44 TO 19 MAR 46 23 MAR 46 TO 24 APR 47
FROM PAGE 8
WARREN, R. W.
55 68
26 APR 47 TO 23 APR 48 03 MAY 48 TO 08 APR(50)
FROM PAGE 33 FROM PAGE 55
NL
WARREN, SETH K
15
03 DEC 44 TO 25 JUL(46)
WILLIAMS, JAMES G
125
19 MAR 49 TO 20 MAR 50
WILSHIRE, H
30
02 SEP 45 TO 07 MAR 46
WINSOR, H. L
9
16 OCT 44 TO 12 JAN 48
*** Notes 2: These accounts are carried to New (following) Ledger(NL)
Compiled by R. J. Reek: reekco@Northlink.com 2 Aug 99 ( )=calculated
Doct. Clarkson Miller
Doct.Clarkson Miller as noted in general store ledger above.
Born: 1820, Potsdam, N.Y. Died 1864, Geneva, WI.
Wife: Maria B. Mann
Married: 1845 in La Porte, Indiana.
Served as surgeon in the 36th Wisconsin Infantry, taken prisoner at Reams Mill. Died at home in Geneva, Wisconsin of an illness contracted in Confederate prison. His brother, Alanson, who is my gg grandfather, also served in the 36th Wisconsin as a hospital attendant.
He had two daughters, Helen and Harriett (Hattie). His wife and daughters continued to live in Lake Geneva for many years. Maria B. Miller, Helen (Miller) Sherman (widow with 3 children), and Hattie all show up in the 1880 Census. I believe that Helen Sherman continued to live in Lake Geneva until her death in the 1900s.
His father, Frederick Miller, moved to Kane County, Illinois in about 1837. These Millers can be traced back to W.Springfield, Massachusetts, and to English colonists from about 1640.
His daughter Helen was born in 1847, and I believe that his residence in Geneva dates from 1845-1847. He and his wife show up in both the 1850 and 1860 census. However, the entry in the General Store ledger is one of the few pieces of documentary evidence from Clarkson's life that I have. He and his wife married in La Porte in 1845, but her father Jacob J. Mann had moved from New York to Indiana in 1837.
His sister Elvira (Miller) Burbank lived in Illinois and in Wisconsin. Elvira's son Dr. Charles H. Burbank lived in Elkhorn.
Information provided courtesy of: Richard Miller
LAKE GENEVA SCHOOL DISTRICT #1
Attendance Record May 8, 1871 to Aug. 25, 1871; Jennie Lawson, Teacher
Ella Kelsey, age 17
Louisa Knobbe, age 13
Kate Knobbe, age 11
Bridget Conley, age 10
Annie Flinn, age 12
Jennie O'Brian, age 10
Mary O'Brian, age 12
Mary Barrett, age 6
Mary Nohelty, age 6
Mary Lucy, age 7
Mary Thompson, age 10
Mary McDonald, age 9
Mary Lee, age 9
Katie Watson, age 11
Ella Croton, age 14
Ella Nohelty, age 7
Ella Haley, age 8
Sarah Haley, age 10
Sarah Nohelty, age 7
Libbie Carbry, age 6
James Nohelty, age 7
James Hare, age 11
James Barrette, age 8
John M. Nohelty, age 10
John Tulley, age 7
John Lee, age 7
John Nobbe, age 4
James Ash, age 9
Willie Knobbe, age 8
Willie Nohelty, age 8
Henry Barrett, age 10
Attendance Record Sept. 11, 1871 to Dec. 01, 1871; W.J. Fuller, Teacher
Thos. Ash, age 16
James Ash, age 9
Michael Ash, age 6
Richard Barrett, age 9
James Barrett, age 8
Mary Barrett, age 6
Joseph Barrett, age 5
Lawrence Crodan, age 9
Pierre Dagnan, age 14
Jane Knobbe, age 8
John Lee, age 8
Mary McDonald, age 9
Ella McDonald, age 6
Mary Nohelty, age 6
Sarah Nohelty, age 4
John Tulley, age 7
Mary Thompson, age 11
Ella Crodan, age 15
Mary O'Brien, age 12
Mary Lee, age 10
Ellen Nohelty, age 7
Charles Knobbe, age 5
James Nohelty, age 7
Bridget Conley, age 11
Wm. Nohelty, age 8
Mary Lucy, age 7
John Nohelty, age 10
Henry Barrett, age 10
John Ash, age 13
John Nohelty, age 10
Mary Carbory, age 13
Kate Watson, age 12
Peter Nohelty, age 5
Jeremiah Cronan, age 8
Jane Cronan, age 10
Jennie O'Brien, age 10
Louisa Knobbe, age 14
Kate Knobbe, age 11
Willie Knobbe, age 9
John Flynn, age 10
Sarah Haley, age 10
Miles Barrett, age 5
Honor McManus, age 10
Ellen Haley, age 10
John Haley, age 7
Annie Flynn, age 13
Wm. Haley, age 12
Maggie Hare, age 14
Julia Reddy, age 14
Maggie Dagnan, age 12
Willie Conway, age 13
James Hare, age 11
Attendance Record Dec. 11, 1871 to March 15, 1872; W.J. Fuller, Teacher
Thos. Ashe
James Ashe
Michael Ashe
James Barrett
Wm. Conway
Lawrence Crodan
Jerry Cronan
Tim Edward
Pierre Dagnan
Nicholas Flynn
John Flynn
James Hare
Daniel Kehlor
Wm. Knobbe
Chas. Knobbe
Patrick Lee
Edward Lee
Martin Lee
John Lee
John Lucy
John McDonald
John Nohelty
James Nohelty
Wm. Nohelty
Peter Nohelty
Dennis Lucy
John Ashe
Henry Barrett
Richard Barrett
Michael Crodan
Wm. Bridge
Attendance Record Dec. 11, 1871 to March 15, 1872; W.J. Fuller, Teacher
Mary Carbory
Ella Crodan
Bridget Conley
Jane Cronan
Maggie Dagnan
Lizzie Foley
Annie Flynn
Maggie Hare
Sarah Haley
Louisa Knobbe
Kate Knobbe
Jane Knobbe
Mary Lee
Mary Lucy
Ella McDonald
Ella Nohelty
Mary Nohelty
Sarah Nohelty
Sarah O'Brien
Jenny O'Brien
Julia Reddy
Mary McDonald
Mary Hare
Mary Barrett
Kate Dagnan
Mary Thompson
Nellie Halland
Mary Reddy
Mary Hanagin
Julia Watson
Celia McManus
Copyright 2013 Walworth County Genealogical Society
