General Notes

[2308017.ged]

From Lyman Stanton
In 1824 William Jr moved with his parents to Canada. He was back in the states by 1838 because he can be found in the 1838 Territorial Census living by himself in Dodge County. The township he lived in was in the center of the southern border of Dodge County. Was this during his logging days? There were only ten families, with 17 white males and one white female listed for the entire county. William was one of the early settlers there.
  In 1842 census he is in Dodge County still,, but he is living with one male. I believe this is his partner in logging-Mr. Hyland. The population had increased to 149 people.
   In the 1846 census, he was living in fairfield, Wisconsin with two other white males and two white females, and he was living near his brothers Lyman and Samuel. In the 1847 census he again is in fairfield with the same people.
   In the 1850 census he was a farmer living with his wife Eliza and sons William D. and Stiles in Fairfield, Wisconsin, he was living in census sequence to his father.
   In 1855 William Jr moved with his family to Goodhue County, Minnesota and settled on Prarie Creek. He was part of a large party of settlers which included his father, his brother John, his siter Hannah Deakin and her family, his sister Lucy Daniels and her family, and Patrick Fagan-an Irishman.
  In 1857 Minnesota Territory Census, William Jr had moved to T 112 N. R 18 W (Lillian Township) in Goodhue County, Minnesota. He was living with wife Eliza A., sons Willis D. and Stiles J. Four other people were living with the family. He was a farmer and living in census sequence with his father, his brother John, his sister Hannah, and living near his sister Lucy.
   William Jr is not listed in the census index for 1860 but can be found in Goodhue County, Minnesota-Lillian Township, Stanton Post Office. 18/180/48. He is listed as 48 years old and a farmer born in Vermont, His wife Eliza A is 38 and from New Hampshire. Styles J is listed as age 14 and Wm D is 16. Also there is a 23 year old woman listed as a "domestic" living there named Mary Manning.
   William Jr died intestate on his farm in Stanton, MN (source of farm location Platte maps for Stanton, MN) on May 16, 1862. He died of an illness or possible poisoning as mentioned in the papers of that time. His wife and doctor were accused of murdering him but the grand jury did not indite them. More research is being done on this information. His estate consisted of personal property worth $447 and three plots of real estate worth $1,950. This is the real estate....
T 111 N. R 18 W Sect 6 in Warsaw, Minnesota   description-SW 1/2 of NE 1/4   40 acres
T 111 N. R 18 W Sect 12 in Warsaw, Minnesota  description-NE       of 1/4 12 acres
T 112 N. R 18 W Sect 31 in Lillian, Minnesota    description-SW 1/4 150.94/202.94 (23 acres)
   As shown in the court/probate records, there was much discussion about the qualifications of the widow, Eliza and the efforts of others to settle the estate. Eliza was finally appointed administrator.
  His probate files states that he died a natural death.
   In 1865 Eliza, William Jr's widow, and her son Styles were living with William Sr and his wife Jane, and their children.
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From "History of Dodge County" Chapter VI, Beaver Dam Thirty Four Years Ago
   "In looking back over the last quarter of a century, at the city in embryi, you will, I know, be willing to go one step further, where you can look upon its inception. In the month of March, 1841, five years before the time of which I may properly speak, Thomas Mackie came to what is now the site of the city of Beaver Dam with the purpose of making for himself a home. The nearest settlent upon the north, at that time, was at Fox Lake, where three or four families (in all about ten souls) had located. East the nearest settlement was at Hyland Corners. Amasa Hyland, Luther and John Cole, and a brother of Mr. S.M. Stanton [this we know was William Stanton Jr., the first of the family to come to Wisconsin], had settled themselves; and their cabin, with its bachelor comforts, offered a welcome restingplace for the pioneer settler seeking a home."

From p-428
    "Mr. Amasa Hyland, the first settler in Dodge County, lived about four miles east of your city, on the farm now owned by his nephew, George Hyland, and Stanton (*this is William Jr) on the place owned by the late Thomas Marshal. Hyland and Stanton lived together and kept bachelors' hall."

p-531
  "The season of 1837, I worked on the saw-mill and dam of Charles F.H. Goodhue & Son. From that time until the fall of 1839, I was occupied mainly at lumbering and farming. In November of that year, Mr. Hyland, J.A. Chadwick, David Griffith, William P. Owen, William Stanton Jr., Brice hall, John Dimmick and myself went to Arkansas for the purpose of spending the winter in chopping steamboat wood. We floated down Rock River in a skiff, and were eight days reaching the Missippi. We remained in Arkansas until the following spring, each of us having a clever sized 'pile', when we returned to Watertown.

p-532
The following list of those who settled in Watertown up to December, 1837, is appended:.....Edmund S. Bailey, Minnesota;...Luther A. Cole and John W. Cole, Watertown; ...Peter De Coursey, Minnesota; ...George J. Goodhue, Iowa; ...William T. Goodhue, dead; Charles F. H. goodhue, dead; Reeve Griswold, Watertown; ...Amasa Hyland, dead; ...William Stanton, dead; ...Samuel B. Vinton, Waterloo, Iowa;....

p-539
Principle officers chosen at town elections
1848 Collector, Lyman Stanton...Asssessors-William Stanton
1849 Justice of the Peace-William Stanton
1851 Supervisors Charles W. daniels and William Stanton
1852 Supervisors Samuel Stanton
1853 Assessors William Stanton
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From Goodhue County Republican, Friday 23 May 1862
FOUL PLAY.-- William Stanton, of Lillian, came to his death on the 16th
inst., under circumstances that seem rather mysterious. He had been sick for
some time and under the care of a physician from Northfield. -- Coroner C.
R. Brink, of this place held an inquest, the result of which was the arrest
of the wife of the deceased, and the doctor above mentioned, who are
suspected of having occasioned his death. The suspected parties are in jail.
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From Goodhue County Republican  6/20/1862 p-4
State of Minnesota  County of Goodhue  In Probate Court.
In the matter of granting letters of Administration upon the estate of William Stanton Jr. deceased.
Upon reading and filing the petition on oath of John Stanton, praying that letters of administration of all and singular the goods, chattels, rights, credits and estate of William Stanton Jr., deceased, late of said county, be granted to him. It is ordered that the 14th day of June, A.D. 1862, be, and the same is hereby assigned, for the hearing of the said petition; and all persons interested in said estate are required to appear before the Probate Court at its office in the city of Red Wing, in said county, at 10 o'clock A.M. of that day, and show cause, if any there be, why the prayer of the said petitioner should not be granted.
And it is further ordered that said petioner give notice of the time and place of hearing said petition, by causing a copy of this order to be published in the Goodhue County Republican three successive weeks prior to said day of hearing.
Dated:Red Wing, Minnesota  May 21, 1862
Clinton G. Reynolds   Judge of Probate
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Trial excerpts of Eliza Stanton found in probate records of William Stanton Jr.  June 12, 1862
     Evidence submitted in the matter of appointment of administrator of estate of William Stanton Junior decreased.
    Objection was taken to the appointment
JOHN STANTON -   William Stanton died about 16th of May 1862. Resident of Goodhue County, Minnesota. Left a family - wife and 2 children.  Oldest boy 19 in army and youngest 16. I am a brother of the decreased. I reside about a mile and half from my brother's house.  I was with my brother at the time of his decease. He told me the day before he died, " I wish that I or Father would see to settling estate -and paying my debts- and what is left from my children        widow m?   p?      -And she said John would see to settling the estate."
   Then was about $1200 of personal property- and about 140 areas under plough- and in all about 214 areas of land- worth about $3000- at the time of his death had about $100 bushels of wheat has been sold. Yoke of cattle has been sold for $65 as I have understood- sold by his wife or son-, as I believe worth about $85.
   Father is old and hence as I think unsuitable-Annual income of real estate about $300 - Debt amounting about $600.
CROSS EXAM-   Richard Griswold- - that he was present at conversation alluded to. Was the day before he died - died at night - this was in the morning.
   "I judge of the wheat from the looks of the xxx.  Boy told me he had sold it about $xx- he took money to pay taxes- He told me he sold wheat at Hastings- He only knows what he heard neighbors say about sale of cattle, my sister was also present at conversation.
STILES STANTON - There have been 3 loads of wheat sold- $xxx  xxx - at Red Wing- one at Hastings- I saw Judge Reynolds he told me was not to sell any more- My mother requested me to sell- and I sold- sold cattle for $75 paid $30.  I told my mother what xxx xxxxxx.
   I took the money to pay the bills made why my mother was under arrest- the expenses accured after my Fathers death.  I used  1st load to pay taxes.
E.S. BAILEY - I reside in Goodhue County about one and a half miles.  I have known him about 20 years and familiar with his family. I think John Stanton was a man of character and responsibility  and competent. - I know Mrs. Stanton,  I don't think her suitable to settle the estate.
VINTON-   I live near decreased farm. Have known widow 21 years- have known boy 16 years- for what I know he is a suitable person. I should hardly think she was a xxxxxxxxx person. Think if the oxen were fat worth about $80 or $90 but don't know how fat they were. About the father should hardly think,  from the moves he has made.
CROSS EXAM-    I have known her about 20 years.  Is a women of less than ordinary intelligence- don't know whether she can read or not don't know whether she has had an ordinary education. Not wholly on account of her want of intelligence- have never known of her doing any badness.
E.S. BAILEY  - Can't say whether she is of ordinary intelligence or education.  I have not visited the family for two years.
REDIRECT  -  I don't think of any thing to lead me to believe her unsuitable other than-
MRS. STANTON     Of this conversation referred to I never heard of such conservation-
I was myself in the room of decreased all day.   Mrs. xxxx was not in the house until Thursday 4 o'clock PM. I had been placed in trouble and told my son.  I wanted the money to defrey expenses. I could not in any other way defend this prosecution.   - I borrowed $50 to pay expenses and sold oxen for this purpose.  He my husband say any thing " They will take advantage of you" He never gave expression to buy feeling in want of confidence.
   I am sorry to say they are not friendly - A feeling of xxmity  between Brothers.
CROSS EXAM-I borrowed money of Mrs Daniels. My son told me what the Judge of Probate said- friendly with husband but not myself.
Mr. Vinton has not been visiting family- for four or five years.
M.S. CHANDLER-     I am only acquainted her two or three weeks. She was in my custody - 10 days.  I didn't see but what she coxxenxed intelligentley- I think she was a women of ordinary intelligence.
CROSS EXAM- I saw but little of her during her confinement.
XXXX TAYLOR    I am acquainted with Mrs. Stanton. I have known her for four weeks. I am practicing law. I have had such an acquaintance as will enable me to judge of her intelligence - a women of ordinary intelligence not below the ordinary level. From language used and general discussion formed a favorably opinion.
CROSS EXAM   I live about six miles from her house- I was counsel for Doctor Coun and my option grew out of this relation to Doctor Coun.
CHAD MCCLUSS  I have known Mrs. Stanton. I have had but little opportunity of judging her intelligence.  I think her above ordinary intelligence.
CROSS EXAM  I know nothing of her business qualifications than what grew out of this relation.
STILES RECALLED-  I don't think she is below ordinary intelligence If brother or self.  She looks after household affairs.   I am 16 years old.
VINTON-   So far as I know John and William Stanton were on friendly terms.
E.S. BAILEY- same - as last above
(E.S. Bailey is Edmond S. Bailey who knew William Jr since at least 1837 when they were founders of Watertown, Wisconsin. Also in the same town was Samuel B. Vinton who left MN to live in Iowa.Mr. Griswold is also listed as being in WAtertown with William.)
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From Goodhue County Republican  6/20/1862 p-4
State of Minnesota  County of Goodhue  In Probate Court.
In the matter of granting letters of Administration upon the estate of William Stanton Jr. deceased.
Upon reading and filing the petition on oath of John Stanton, praying that letters of administration of all and singular the goods, chattels, rights, credits and estate of William Stanton Jr., deceased, late of said county, be granted to him. It is ordered that the 14th day of June, A.D. 1862, be, and the same is hereby assigned, for the hearing of the said petition; and all persons interested in said estate are required to appear before the Probate Court at its office in the city of Red Wing, in said county, at 10 o'clock A.M. of that day, and show cause, if any there be, why the prayer of the said petitioner should not be granted.
And it is further ordered that said petioner give notice of the time and place of hearing said petition, by causing a copy of this order to be published in the Goodhue County Republican three successive weeks prior to said day of hearing.
Dated:Red Wing, Minnesota  May 21, 1862
Clinton G. Reynolds   Judge of Probate
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