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Alexander W Carlin

A. W. Carlin, farmer, Sec. 5; P.O. Watertown; born July 14, 1807, in Crawford Co., Penn.; came to Wisconsin in 1844, and settled in Ixonia, taking up 160 acres of wild land, cutting a road two miles long to get to it. He built the first log house in that neighborhood, there being no one between him and Hustisford, going north, and the nearest west was six miles away. In 1865, he sold out and bought eighteen acres in Watertown Township, and then seventy-seven and one-quarter acres on the same road, of which he has sold thirty-five, retaining in all sixty and one-quarter acres, all in the city limits.

He married Miss Ella Miller, of Erie Co., Penn., June 7, 1831; had six children – Avaline (who is dead), Addison, Henry, Josephine, Henderson (who is dead) and Mary. Addison was in the Government employ during the war, shipping animals to New Orleans.

In 1862, Henry enlisted in the 28th W.V.I. and served with them three years; was at the battle of Helena, the taking of Little Rock, etc. Henderson enlisted, in 1862, in the 17th W.V.I.; served three years; re-enlisted in the same regiment, and served in it till the close of the war.

Mr. Carlin has been a member of the Good Templars for many years.

Buried in Oak Hill Cemetery

Derived from: The History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin by C. W. Butterfield, 1879

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Addison J. Carlin

1834 - 1922

Pioneer resident called by death

Came To This Section of Wisconsin With His Parents

When a Lad of Ten Years

End of a Long Life

A long and useful life came to a close Sunday morning with the death of Addison J. Carlin, a pioneer setter of this section of Wisconsin and a man who saw the country develop from a wilderness to a land of plenty. Death came following a stroke of paralysis which he suffered November 28, and he sank into eternal rest peacefully at the advanced age of 88 years in the family home 206 Church Street.

Mr. Carlin was born in Crawford County, Pa., August 5, 1834, and when ten years old removed with his father, Alexander W. Carlin, to this section. The latter took up a land claim in the town of Ixonia and resided there until 1855. In that year he started in life for himself, going to Chicago, where he entered the employ of the United States in the quartermaster’s department, and at the breaking out of the war was transferred to New Orleans where he served as receiving officer for army horses and mules, and was later under Gen Banks, transferred to the charge of the wood and coal yards in the Crescent city where he remained until 1866, when he returned to Watertown.

He remained in Watertown with his father who had removed to Milford Street, until 1867 when the call of the west drew him to the Rocky mountain region where he did exploring and mining with indifferent success for eight years. He returned to Watertown in 1874 and in the fall of that year went to the Black Hills country of South Dakota, where he again engaged in mining which proved successful, but was induced to go to northern Michigan as superintendent of a iron mine. In this capacity he spent two years when he accepted an offer to go to northern Minnesota where he successfully developed an iron mine for a Pittsburgh corporation. He continued as general manager there six years when failing health caused him to seek relief in a more congenial clime and he returned to Watertown where he has remained every since, respected and esteemed by all.

Mr. Carlin was a lifelong democrat, casting his first vote for James R. Buchanan in 1856. He has served as supervisor of the Third ward and was also trustee of the Jefferson county insane asylum. The family for many years lived in the Milford road and was one of the best known in this section. For some years past he has resided with his niece, Mrs. Jeanette Rust, in Church Street.

He always took a keen interest in all that pertained to the public welfare and was one of the familiar figures about Watertown for many years. His kind disposition and hearty greeting won for him many friends in all walks of life. He possessed a remarkably retentive memory and delighted in recalling incidents of early day life in Wisconsin. Up to the time he was stricken he enjoyed the best of health despite his advanced age and read the papers daily. He enjoyed the use of tobacco, which he referred to as being a solace to him since boyhood

Mr. Carlin was one of the last surviving pioneers of this section whose life embraced the period when the Indian roamed the primitive forest and the present day of wonderful development. When he came here the virgin forests were yet to fall before the axe of the pioneer settler. When he settled here with his parents the first railroad was still twelve years in the future and he was two years of age when Timothy Johnson, the first white settler of Watertown, discovered its site. A long and arduous life has ended and an honorable name has been added to eternity’s scroll.

He is survived by several nieces and nephews: Dr. Franklin H. Martin, Chicago; Mrs. Jeanette Rust, Watertown; H. Munger, Glenellyn, Ill.; Mrs. W. C. McDowell, Milwaukee.

The funeral will take place on Tuesday afternoon. Services will be held in the home at 2:30 o’clock and the Rev. N. C. Daniell will officiate. The burial will be in Oak Hill cemetery.

Friends are requested to omit flowers.