George W. Roberts

As printed in 1884

George W. Roberts, M. D., was born in Benington, Licking Co., Ohio, April 10, 1841, and was but three years old when his parents emigrated to the Territory of Wisconsin and settled in Rock county, where his father purchased land and improved a farm. Through the influence and teaching of a kind mother, who was possessed of a good education, he obtained a fair knowledge of the common branches of the English language, which was advanced by four terms at Milton College, Rock county. He commenced the study of medicine in the spring of 1854, receiving instruction from Drs. Barrows and Treat, of Janesville. In the fall of 1865 he went to Chicago and attended lectures at the Chicago Medical College and chemical instruction at the Mercy Hospital for six months. Returninghome in the spring of 1866 he commenced practice in town of Cook, Rock county. In the fall of 1867 he came to Albany and formed a co-partnership with Dr. Winston of tliat])lace. 'i'he following fall he again went to Chicago and attended lectures at Rush Medical College, where he graduated and received his diploma. He then returned to Albany, where he has since remained, engaged in the practice of his profession. As a physician he is popular and successful, lie deservedly possesses the reputation of a skilled practitioner and an extensive and remunerative practice. His genial manners and gentlemanly behavior has won for him hosts of friends. He was married in 1857 to Betsey C. Oleson. They have four children — Walter C, William D., Fred H. and Eugene Warren. Walter C. is a graduate of Rush Medical College and is practicing at Dayton, Green Co., Wis.

Walter C. JRoberts, 31. D., resident physician of Dayton, was born in Fulton, Rock county, Dec. 18, 1858. He is a son of Dr. G. W. Roberts, of Albany. Walter early decided to enter the medical profession, and with that view studied with his father. He finished his preparatory medical studies at Rush College in Chicago. Dr. Roberts is a constant student and intends to keep pace with the advances in medical science. His literary education was obtained in high schools and at Milton College. He practiced in Monroe county, and in Elroy and Monewoc previous to coming to Dayton in 1883. He is gaining the confidence of the community and his practice is steadily increasing.

Willicmi Elhoood Ziegenfuss,3L I) of Albany, Wis., was born in Pleasant Valley, Monroe Co., Penn., Aug. 8, 1854. He is of German descent. He is the youngest of seven children of a good family, well to do, long lived, intelligent and religious. His great-great-grandfather, Andrew Ziegenfuss, and wife, left Strasbourg, France, for America in 1740. They settled near Philadelphia, Penn., from Avhence the family has scattered through that State, New Jersey and Virginia. The parents of the subject of this sketch, George and Catharine Ziegenfuss, are still living in Pennsylvania, aged respectively, seventy-eight and sixty-six years. His father is a retired miller. The educational advantages in the doctor's time and home were limited. All his education, so far as received from school, was obtained in Monroe county, at the district school, four months a year, under teachers of but limited qualifications. At the age of seventeen, having privately studied of late, he began teaching school at 130 per month. He taught and attended the normal schools alternately for the next five years, thus taking an elective course of study, embracing a very liberal English education. Having a natural inclination towards scientific studies, he entered the office of Dr. M. G. Lesh, and began the study of medicine. In the autumn of 1876 he entered the department of medicine and surgery of the University of Michigan, and graduated in the first advanced course of studies in June, 1878. After graduating he spent a year in the east studying, traveling and corresponding for various papers, which, in addition to contributing to various medical journals, he still keeps up. In 1879 Dr. Ziegenfuss came to Dexter and began the practice of his profession. He is eminently successful as a physician. On Dec. 23, 1879, he was married to Hattie Loraine Sill, of Dexter, born at Port Huron, Mich., Oct. 19, 1857. Mrs. Ziegenfuss is of English-French descent. Her grand parents on both sides were early residents here. Her parents, George S. and Sarah P. Sill, live in Dexter, Mich. S])e is the oldest of three children, having a sister and a brother younger than she. Dr. Ziegenfuss is a man of extensive reading, both in his profession and in the collateral sciences, possessing native talent for metaphysics and the natural sciences. He is the author of various medical articles, and is a fine writer.

L. E. Towne, 31. I) located at Brodhead in 1862. Dr. Towne is one of the well known physicians of this part of the State of Wisconsin, having for many years had an extensive practice in this and adjoining counties. He was born in Windham Co., Vt., on June 18, 1826, where he was reared. His father, Thomas Towne, was a native of Massachusetts. The doctor began reading medicine at the age of seventeen, with a ma-

43 2 ternal uncle, Dr, L. A. Smith. ITe continued with his uncle two or three years, having the use of his medical works. In 1848, in company with two other young men, he started for the west. He came to Rock county in this State that season, and engaged in teaching. In 1850, he resumed the study of medicine, and began practice with Di-. Samuel Harroud, of the town of Newark, Rock county. He continued in practice some years previous to graduating? taking his degree at Rush Medical College in 1867. In the early years of his practice, the country was new and sparsely settled, and physicians were scarce, and his ride extended over a great area of territory, and he became widely known as a skillful and careful physician. Dr. Towne removed to Clarence in 1851, coming to Brodhead, as stated, in 18C2. He has now, to a great extent, retired from practice, attending to professional calls only in the village. He was the second physician in the village of Clarence; Dr. P. B. Springstead being the first. ITe is now interested in the drug business, his son being associated with him. He has a beautiful and pleasant home in the village, and a fine farm of 160 acres near town, also owns thirty acres adjoining the village plat. Dr. Towne has been twice married. His first wife was Fannie Kendal, who died in February 1850. He was again married in the winter of 1850 to Caroline W. Harroud, daughter of Dr. Harroud, who died at Darlington about 1858. The doctor has one son by his second wife, Lucius A., who is associated with his father in the drug business. He was born at Clarence in 1861. He lost a son, '. H. S., in 1873, in his nineteenth year, also a daughter at Clarence, in 1859, at the age of seven years.

Russell Brour/Jiton, M. 7) is a son of John Broughton, of the town of Albany. He was born May 16, 1842, during the same year his parents came to Green county, and but a few weeks previous to that event. He received his early education in the public schools of his town. He afterwards entered Milton

College, in Rock county, intending to take a full course of study, but was diverted from his purpose by joining the army in 1863. After the close of the war he pursued a commercial course of study at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, Milwaukee, and having decided to enter the medical jDrofession, pursued a course of study at Rush Medical College, in Chicago, where he graduated in February 1869. His taste for this profession developed at an early age, and he was greatly encouraged in fitting himself for it by Dr. II. F. Persons, of Albany, in whom he found a true friend. Since * he began practice in 1869 he has had a steadily increasing business, and is widely known as a skillful surgeon and a careful physician. His entire career has been marked by industry and frugality. He began without means, and even while receiving his education paid the most of his expenses by hard work. At the age of twenty-one he had never been inside of a saloon, never used tobacco, and had never spent a half day in town. In these habits of morality formed in early life, we find the secret of Dr. Broughton's success. He has accumulated an ample fortune, and lives in the enjoyment of all the comforts of a happy home. He has never held public office, except that of superintendent of the public schools of Brodhead from 1872 to 1875; as he has no aspirations for official y)Osition. Dr. Broughton was married Feb. 1, 1869, to Miss J. A. Smiley, daughter of David Smiley, of Albany, this county.

E. G. Bennett, 31. located at Brodhead, May 1, 1878. He was born in Saratoga Co., N. Y., in 1849. His father, John G. Bennett, removed with his family to Rock Co., Wis., in 1853. Dr. Ben-' nett was reared in Rock county, and received his literary education at INIilton College, preparing himself for teaching and also laid the foundation of his medical education. He followed the occupatioTi of teaching four years, at the same time pursuing his medical studies. He began the study of medicine in 1873, and

09, (BclcAj graduated at Rush Medical College in 1878, taking three terms at" that institution, locating here soon after. Dr. Bennett possesses excellent literary attainments and is skilled in all branches of his profession. He has a large and growing practice. His wife was Ruby E. House, whose father settled in Rock county in 1864.

A. E. Bulson, M. D., was born in Rochester, N. Y., Aug. 19, 1847. His father died when he was a child, and when nine years of age he removed with his stepfather to Westville, Ind. He entered the army in 1861, when only fourteen years of age. He enlisted in compaTiy I, 20th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. After two years he was promoted to the position of first principal musician of his regiment, which he held to the close of the war, re-enlisting in 1864. He witnessed many of the most exciting and important events of the great Rebellion, among which was the destruction of the frigates Congress and Cumherland, by the rebel ram Merrimac., and the fight between the Monitor and Merrimac on the succeeding day. He accompanied his regiment throughout McClellan's campaign on the peninsula; was present at the battles of Fredericksburg, second battle of Bull Run, Gettysburg, battle of the Wilderness and at the surrender of Gen. Lee. At the close of the war he attended school at Westville, where lie also began the study of medicine. He graduated at Chicago Medical College in 1868. After graduation he practiced five years at Gobleville, Mich. Desiring still better o] portunities to extend his knowledge of the science of medicine and surgery, he went to New York city, where he entered the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, and from which he graduated in 1874, Returning to Gobleville he resumed his practice, remaining there until 1879, when he came to Brodhead. Dr. Bulson is thoroughly educated in his ])profession, and his large and increasing practice attests the confidence that is placed in his professional skill. He was united in marriage with Sarah

M. Abbott, born in LaPorte, Ind. To them was born one child — Albert Eugene. In 1866 his wife died, and on Dec, 11, 1868, he was united in marriage with Florence I. Breck, born in Van Buren Co., Mich, This union has been blessed with two children — Florence A. and Glenn Allen. Dr. Bulson is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Brodhead, and aja earnest worker of temperance reform.

Dr. Robert Willis is the homeopathic physician of Brodhead. He was born in Iowa Co., Wis., in 1859. He was educated at Platteville State Normal School, and entered Hahnemann Medical College, Chicago, in 1881; graduated in the class of 1883, and soon after came to Brodhead.

As printed in History of Green County, Wisconsin (1884). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.