Otis Slocomb, 1869

Posted4U@Charter.net on Sat, 17 Feb 2001

Surname: SLOCOMB, DUFFY, CHIVER, FULLER, MUNCE

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


Mr. and Mrs. Charles Slocomb (Parents of Otis Slocomb)

OTIS SLOCOMB, a prominent farmer of Grant Township, now serving as chairman of the township board, was born June 26, 1869, in a log cabin on his present farm, in section 22, which had been homesteaded by his father. His parents were Charles and Mary (Duffy) Slocomb, the father, a native of Vermont, and the mother of Ireland, their marriage taking place in Lynn, Mass. Charles was the son of Otis and Sarah (Chiver) Slocomb, Otis being an attorney in Woodstock, Vt., and of English descent. In the latter's family were ten children: Harrison, Austin, Joseph (who died in the Civil War), Lydia, Sarah, Ira, Eunice, Charles, Clara and William. Charles and Mary Slocomb came west to Wisconsin, locating in Pewaukee, where Mr. Slocomb enlisted in the 18th Wisconsin Regiment and served one year in the war. Two children were born there--Austin and Mary.

At the close of the war the family came by stage to Black River Falls, from which place they walked to Neillsville. Mr. Slocomb and two other men had each purchased eighty acres of land in Grant Township without seeing it, and the three drew straws for the choice of tracts. That which Charles Slocomb drew was all wild land. The only stock he had was the driving horse he had brought with him, but soon afterwards he bought a cow. To begin with he built a two-room log house, 18 by 20 feet, which was the family residence for a number of years until prosperity came to them, when a seven-room modern house was erected. An ox team he had to procure in order to clear his land, a labor that took considerable time, but was finally accomplished. In later years his farm was well stocked with cattle, hogs And horses, having also good buildings, and he was numbered among the prosperous citizens of his township.

Charles Slocomb died in 1887, at the age of 67 years. His wife, who Survived him about twenty years, passed away in 1907, when 76 years old. Otis, the subject of this sketch, was their only child born in Clark County. Otis Slocomb acquired his education in the district school and learned farming on his parents' homestead. When old enough he worked in the woods driving a team, but continued to make his home with his parents. In course of time he purchased the farm which he has increased in size by the purchase of thirty more acres of improved land. He has erected a good basement barn, 36 by 52 feet, and a silo, I 2 bv 30 feet, and raises good stock. Aside from his direct farming interests Mr. Slocomb is a member of the Farmers' Co-operative Elevator and Lumber Company of Neillsville, and the Pleasant-Ridge Creamery and is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Neillville. He served as township assessor for six years, has been a member of the school board, and since 1910 has been chairman of the township board. He is now a member of the Clark County Exemption Board.

Mr. Slocomb was married, November, 1892, to Agnes
Munce, who'was born in Titisville, Pa., daughter of Robert Munce, and was adopted by Willis Fuller, of New York. Their children are: Ira, Isabella, Mary, Vera and Ruth.