Peter Hotchkiss, 1877

stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org on Sun, 11 Feb 2001

Surname: HOTCHKISS, PETERSON, EMERSON, LARSON

Source: 1918 History of Clark Co., WI, by Franklyn, Curtiss-Wedge


Mrs. Betsy Hotchkiss and Children

PETER HOTCHKISS, (now deceased), was one of the public spirited citizens of Fremont Township, well known and respected, a native of Wisconsin, having been born in Jackson County, June 30, 1877, son of Charles and Betsey (Peterson) Hotchkiss. Charles, the father, was born in New York, Jan. 10, 1837, and died in Clark County, Oct. 25, 1895. He was a son of Joseph and Alice Hotchkiss, the former of whom was born Feb. 16, 1810, and the latter Nov. 6, 1915.

Betsey Peterson, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Norway, born Aug. 22, 1849, daughter of Peter Enerson and Mary Larson, who were farming people there, They had five children, one of whom, their daughter Betsey, came to the United States in 1874, being married to Charles Hotchkiss in Munroe County, Wis. Of this union three children were born-William H., Joseph and Peter. By a former marriage Charles had two other children, Louie and Nettie.

Charles Hotchkiss, who for some time worked in the lumber woods in Jackson County, this state, subsequently took up a tract of land in section Fremont Township, Clark County. The land had been partly cleared, a log cabin erected on it, and here he spent the rest of his life, engaged in developing a farm. Peter Hotchkiss was educated in the schools of Jackson County, and when a young man went to work in the logging camps. He also worked on the home farm in Fremont Township, later becoming its owner, and raising Holstein cattle and Percheron horses. He improved the property by erecting on it a good brick house of modern style, but during his latter years he had rented the farm to a tenant. Mr. Hotchkiss was one of the organizers of the Farmers' Co-operative Elevator and Produce Company of Chili, which he served as president. He was chairman of the township board for five years, and was financially interested in the Bank of Chili, having served as a member of its board of directors.

His fraternal affiliations were with the Modern Woodmen of America, and was presented with a beautiful diploma by his lodge for his faithful services as clerk. Peter Hotchkiss died Nov. 18, 1917.