USA > Wisconsin > Grant County > History of Grant County, Wisconsin, preceded by a history of Wisconsin > Part 132
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The town name (Millville) originated from the number of mills that were built at an early day, and which have been referred to above. The town, as it was first organized in 1853, com- prised, in addition to its present limits, a portion of the present town of Patch Grove, the upper half of the present town of Wyalusing and the whole of the present towns of Mount Hope and Woodman.
In 1854, Wyalusing was set off from Millville and Patch Grove by the County Board of Supervisors. In 1859, still another change took place, and Millville then included Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, of Township 6, Range 4 west. In 1864, Mount Hope and Woodman were set off from Millville, reducing it to its present limits.
It is bounded on the north by the Wisconsin River, on the east by portions of the towns of Mount Hope and Woodman, on the south by Patch Grove, and on the west by a portion of the town of Wyalusing. It now comprises Sections 25, 26, 35 and 36 of Township 7, Range 5
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY ..
west, and Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 of Township 6, Range 5 west.
The first election was held in the spring of 1854, at which time the whole number of votes cast was 105, and the following officers were elected : Jared Warner, Chairman, J. A. Kings- ley, Charles Blandford, Supervisors ; Waldo Brown, Superintendent of Schools ; R. Burrows, Clerk ; James Ballantine, Treasurer ; Justus M. Dickinson, Assessor ; Preserved Albee, John B. Lynn, Justices of the Peace ; David Brandt, Anson B. Lynn, Constables.
The following is a complete list of the officials from the organization of the town to date :
1855-Jared Warner, Chairman, Justus M. Dickinson, J. J. Snider, Supervisors ; Orra Garvin, Superintendent of Schools; R. Burrows, Clerk ; James Ballantine, Treasurer ; M. W. Vanansdale, Assessor ; Joseph Horsfall, J. A. Kingsley, Justices of the Peace ; Anson B. Lynn, C. W. De Lap, H. L. Foster, Constables.
1856-William Kidd, Jr., Chairman, Elijah Patch, William Herlocker, Supervisors ; William J. Quick, Superintendent of Schools; C. W. Gulick, Clerk; Ira W. Bronson, Treas- urer ; M. W. Vanansdale, Assessor ; J. G. Bishop, Samuel Braudt, Justus M. Dickinson, Jus- tices of the Peace ; C. W. De Lap, Johnson Casler, James Hicklin, Constables.
1857-Jared Warner, Chairman, George Ballantine, Allen Garvin, Supervisors ; William J. Quick, Superintendent of Schools; Thomas Nagle, Clerk ; James Ballantine, Treasurer ; William Whiteside, Assessor ; P. Albee, John B. Lynn, Joseph Horsfall, Justices of the Peace ; Silas B. Simpkins, Byron B. Bishop, Constables.
1858-George Ballantine, Chairman, William Humphrey, C. F. Hopkins, Supervisors ; William J. Quick, Superintendent of Schools ; Thomas Nagle, Clerk; William Kidd, Jr., Treasurer ; William Whiteside, Assessor ; Charles Lester, B. L. Loomis, Justices of the Peace ; Silas B. Simpkins, H. W. Gilliard, Dennis Sheedy, Constables.
1859-Levi Brown, Chairman, J. A. Kingsley, John B. Lynn, Supervisors ; William J. Quick, Superintendent of Schools; Thomas Nagle, Clerk ; William Kidd, Jr., Treasurer ; James Weeks, Assessor : John B. Lynn, S. A. Quincy, Justices of the Peace ; Allen Garvin, Alfred Bronson, Cornelius B. Nice, Constables.
1860-Joseph Horsfall, Chairman, S. L. Stratton, James Trainer, Supervisors ; Allanons Lester, Superintendent of Schools; T. S. Carmody, Clerk; William Kidd, Jr., Treasurer ; James Weeks, Assessor ; Michael McNamee, Robert Harrower, Justices of the Peace ; Richard Keating, William Whiteside, J. W. Kelly, Constables.
1861-Joseph Horsfall, Chairman, James Trainer, R. G. Humphrey, Supervisors ; George R. Garvin, Superintendent of Schools; T. S. Carmody, Clerk ; William Kidd, Jr., Treasurer ; Michael McNamee, Assessor ; C. W. Grimacey, John B. Lynn, Justices of the Peace ; Richard Keating. Joseph Tomlinson, Silas B. Simpkins, Constables.
1862-Joseph Horsfall, Chairman, R. G. Humphrey, Patrick Coyne, Supervisors ; T. S. Carmody, Clerk ; William Kidd, Jr., Treasurer ; John Chisholm, Assessor ; Robert Harrower, John Chisholm, G. W. Washburn, Justices of the Peace; Richard Keating, Joshua Gould, Constables.
1863-Joseph Horsfall, Chairman, Patrick Coyne, R. G. Humphrey, Supervisors ; A. J. Smith, Clerk ; Theodore Taylor, Treasurer ; John B. Lynn, Assessor ; John B. Lynn, T. S. Sampson, Justices of the Peace ; H. W. Gilliard, C. W. Grimacey. Constables.
1864-Joseph Horsfall, Chairman, D. D. Snider, Isaac H. Gibbons, Supervisors ; A. J. Smith, Clerk ; Samuel Braudt, Treasurer; T. S. Sampson, Assessor ; T. S. Sampson, S. L. Stratton, Geo. Winsworth, Justices of the Peace; Geo. Harmon, F. W. Austin, Constables.
1865-Joseph Horsfall, Chairman, Almond Foster, Cornelius Nice, Supervisors ; J. G. Bishop, Clerk ; George Winsworth, Treasurer ; C. W. Grimacey, Assessor ; George Winsworth, D. H. Ballou, Justices of the Peace ; J. G. Bishop, O. L. Hart, A. L. Foster, Constables.
1866-G. H. Washburn, Chairman, Lewis E. Dewey, A. R. Foster, Supervisors ; A. H. Mumford, Clerk ; George Winsworth, Treasurer; C. W. Grimacey, Assessor ; D. H. Ballou, Robert Wiseman, Justices of the Peace ; Franklin Austin, D. H. McKey, Constables.
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.
1867-G. H. Washburn, Chairman, A. R. Foster, Lewis E. Dewey, Supervisors; A. H. Mumford, Clerk ; George Winsworth, Treasurer ; C. W. Grimacy, Assessor; C. W. Grimacey, George Winsworth, Justices of the Peace; Franklin Austin, George Couillard, Constables.
1868-George H. Washburn, Chairman, A. R. Foster, Lewis E. Dewey, Supervisors; E. I. Kidd, Clerk; George Winsworth, Treasurer; A. H. Mumford, Asssssor; A. R. Foster, Edward Wiseman, Justices of the Peace; R. H. De Lap, Jerome Perry, Constables.
1869-Edward Wiseman, Chairman, J. S. Markham, I. H. Gibbons, Supervisors; E. I. Kidd, Clerk; A. H. Mumford, Assessor; I. H. Gibbons, Treasurer; Joseph Horsfall, B. H. Tripp, A. R. Foster, Edward Wiseman, Justices of the Peace; Jerome Perry, R. H. De Lap, Constables.
1870-Joseph Horsfall, Chairman, J. S. Markham, Lewis E. Dewey, Supervisors; E. I. Kidd, Clerk ; I. H. Gibbons, Treasurer; A. H. Mumford, Assessor; E. I. Kidd, J. Creager, R. R. Spraggon, A. R. Foster, Justices of the Peace; E. A. Hackett, G. H. Foster, Constables.
1871-E. I. Kidd, Chairman, Lewis E. Dewey, J. Creager, Supervisors ; A. H. Mum- ford, Clerk; I. H. Gibbons, Treasurer; A. R. Foster, Assessor; R. R. Spraggon, James Fos- ter, Justices of the Peace; E. A. Hackett, Jerome Perry, Constables.
1872-E. I. Kidd, Chairman, Lewis E. Dewey, A. R. Foster, Supervisors; F. S. Kidd, Clerk ; I. H. Gibbons, Treasurer; William Horsfall, Assessor; A. R. Foster, Jacob Creager, Justices of the Peace; George H. Foster, Edward Beitler, Constables.
1873-Joseph Horsfall, Chairman, Jerome Perry, A. R. Foster, Supervisors; A. H. Mumford, Clerk; Lewis Beitler, Treasurer; William Horsfall, Assessor; Edward Wiseman, Joseph Horsfall, Justices of the Peace; George H. Foster, Jerome Perry, Constables.
1874-Joseph Horsfall, Chairman, Joseph Beadle, Lewis E. Dewey, Supervisors; A. H. Mumford, Clerk; Jacob Creager, Treasurer; William Horsfall, Assessor; Jacob Creager, A. R. Foster, Justices of the Peace; Edward Beitler, George H. Foster, Constables.
1874-E. I. Kidd, Chairman, A. R. Foster, Lewis E. Dewey, Supervisors; A. H. Mum- ford, Clerk; Jacob Creager, Treasurer; William Horsfall, Assessor ; Joseph Horsfall, A. R. Foster. Justices of the Peace ; Jefferson Day, Samuel Goan, Constables.
1876-E. I. Kidd, Chairman, Lewis E. Dewey, James Beadle, Supervisors ; D. F. Hors- fall, Clerk; James Horsfall, Treasurer ; William Horsfall. Assessor ; - - , Justices of the Peace ; - Constables.
1877-E. I. Kidd, Chairman, Lewis E. Dewey, James Beadle, Supervisors ; D. F. Hors- fall, Clerk ; Joseph Horsfall, Treasuaer ; Jerome Perry, Assessor ; Joseph Horsfall, Jerome Perry, Justices of the Peace ; Edward Hall, Constable.
1878-E. I. Kidd, Chairman, Lewis E. Dewey, James Beadle, Supervisors ; D. F. Hors- fall, Clerk : Joseph Horsfall, Treasurer ; Jerome Perry, Assessor ; S. F. Hart, Henry Taylor, Justices of the Peace ; Edward Hall, Edward Beitler, Constables.
1879-E. I. Kidd, Chairman, Lewis E. Dewey, James Beadle, Supervisors ; D. F. Hors- fall. Clerk ; I. H. Gibbons, Treasurer; T. B. Anderson, Assessor ; Joseph Horsfall, Jerome Perry, Henry Taylor, Justices of the Peace ; Luther Perry, Edward Beitler, Edward Hall, A. Koschkee, Constables.
1880-E. I. Kidd, Chairman, J. H. Taylor, James Beadle, Supervisors ; D. F. Horsfall, Clerk; I. H. Gibbons, Treasurer ; T. B. Anderson, Assessor ; Jerome Perry, J. H. Taylor, Justices of the Peace ; Edward Hall, William Posten, Edward Beitler, Constables.
1881-E. I. Kidd, Chairman, Lewis E. Dewey, James Beadle, Supervisors ; D. F. Hors- fall, Clerk ; I. H. Gibbons, Treasurer ; T. B. Anderson, Assessor ; Joseph Horsfall, Jerome Perry, Justices of the Peace ; William Posten, Constable.
WOODMAN.
This town originally belonged to Millville, but was set off in 1864 by the County Board of Supervisors. The first settler was Joseph Thurnby, who located on Section 34, Township 7, Range 4 west, in 1842. The first school was taught by Ira Philipps, in 1858, in a room at his
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.
house. The first schoolhouse was built in 1860, in what is now School District No. 5. Edward McDowell taught the first school in this building in the winter of 1864-65.
The history of the town of Woodman is the history of the village of Woodman, and may be found therein.
In 1864, Ralph Smith and Cyrus Woodman laid out a village on Sections 13 and 14, to which was given the name of Woodman. The first settlers in the village were Charles Smith and Mr. J. Lindig, who located in the spring of 1864. The first house was erected this year by Ralph Smith, as a residence for his son Charles, the carpenter work being done by T. S. Sampson. The post office was established also during that year, with S. S. Hills as Postmaster. At this time it was kept in the railroad depot, which had been erected in the fall of the same year. Thomas Clapp succeeded to the Postmastership, and he in turn was followed by L. M. Culver, the office in the meantime being kept in a warehouse. Cyrus Ransom subsequently became Postmaster, and the office was removed to his shoe-shop Mr. Ransom was followed by J. L. Parker, and the office again removed this time to his store. It was kept here until the present incumbent, James A. Faris, received his appointment, since which time it has been kept at his store.
The first stores were built in 1863, by John H. Barnett, T. N. Hubbell and Julius Lindig. The first school taught in the village was by Louise Rittenhouse, in the summer of 1864, in a room containing but one window, in the second story of a warehouse. The "Northey House," which was built during that year for a store building, was subsequently purchased for $800 for school purposes.
The first warehouse was built by George Campbell in 1864, with a capacity for about 5,000 bushels.
In 1866, Israel Miles purchased a building which had been erected by A. S. Young in 1864, and fitted it up and kept the first hotel in the village of Woodman. This was subsequently disposed of to its present owner, James A. Faris. Nathan Schreiner & Co., in 1869, erected a warehouse 30x50, with a capacity of 10,000 bushels, and a cost of $2,000.
The first death in the village was that of a little girl, daughter of George Campbell, in the fall of 1864.
An enumeration of the inhabitants of the town of Woodman, taken June 1, 1865, the year following its organization, made the total population 517, of which number 260 were males and 257 females, and the total foreign population 105.
The school report for 1880 shows the whole number of schoolhouses in the town to be five, with a cash value of $1,300, and capable of accommodating 233 pupils, and the total number of children in the town over four and under twenty to be 265; of which number 122 are males and 143 females. Of this number, 204 attended the schools during the year.
In 1878, a large fire occurred in the village of Woodman, when the railroad depot, a ware- house owned by John Plankington, the post office building and store owned by J. L. Parker, the saloon and residence of John Murphy, the residence and wagon-shop of M. B. Clark, and a shoe store owned by I. W. Dexter, were burned down, causing a total loss of $5,500, with no insurance except $2,200 on the store building and stock of J. L. Parker.
In April, 1879, the first work was done in the town of Woodman, on the Chicago & Tomah Narrow Gauge Railway, at what is known as " Connely's Cut." This road was finished to Lancaster in the following January. In 1880, it was purchased by the Chicago & North- western Railroad Company, and has since been operated by them.
The first town meeting for the town of Woodman was held at the railroad depot April 4, 1865, and the following is a list of the votes polled : John B. Murphy, Moses Garvin, Thomas W. Clapp, George Withington, S. H. Bishop, S. H. Foster, Daniel Roseman, George Young- love, David Terrell, Robert Stimpson, John Scanlon, Patrick Coyne, James E. Taylor, Thomas Parland, J. C. Wood, Joseph Carter, Jedediah Canfield, William Stimpson, James Ellis, Thomas Corcoran, Hugh Quinn, Daniel Dietrich, J. W. Rockwell, John Roseman, James Trainer, Perry Swartz, A. R. Gleason, William Mooney, Aslay Olsen, Thomas Hanley, John
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.
Schuppner, John Martin, Louis Ruka, Joshua S. Gould, Orlin Garvin, Joseph Turnby, William Parland, Chauncey Bangs, George Brown, Michael Friar, Almiren Hackett, T. N. Hubbell, Cyrus Ranson, Andrew Walton, Thomas S. Sampson, John Decker, S. S. Hills, George Linale, Arthur Murphy, W. T. Richards, Jacob Sanger, S. W. Townsend, Edward Murphy, William A. Mckinney, William Northey, James H. Lent, John Anderson, H. R. Miles, W. S. O'Brien and C. R. Smith. Of these, Daniel Roseman, Robert Stimpson, J. C. Wood, James Ellis, Thomas Corcoran, Hugh Quinn, John Roseman, James Trainer, William Mooney, Thomas Hanley, Orlin Garvin, William Parland, George Brown, Michael Friar and S. W. Townsend are still residents of the town. At this election, John Decker, Andrew Walton and T. N. Hubbell were appointed Inspectors, Thomas S. Sampson and Henry R. Miles, Clerks, and the following offi- .cers were elected : Thomas S. Sampson, Chairman, S. H. Bishop, Patrick Coyne, Supervisors ; Thomas W. Clapp, Clerk ; G. Prior, Treasurer ; Orlin Garvin, Assessor ; S. H. Bishop, Andrew Walton. James Trainer, Justices of the Peace ; James H. Lent, A. R. Gleason, Chaun- cey Bangs, D. Roseman, Constables. The following is a list of the town officers from organiza- tion to date :
1866-T. N. Hubbell, Chairman (resigned, and H. R. Miles appointed), Patrick Coyne, S. H. Bishop, Supervisors ; George W. Anderson, Clerk ; Louis Ruka, Treasurer ; Chauncey Bangs, Assessor ; James Trainer, H. Rankin, Justices of the Peace ; James Lewis, Daniel Decker, J. B. Murphy, Samuel Neely, Constables.
1867-M. B. Clark, Chairman, John Sanger, Patrick Coyne, Supervisors ; Henry A. Miles, Clerk (resigned, and L. M. Culver, appointed) ; George R. Garvin, Treasurer ; S. A. Quincy, Assessor ; D. H. Ballou, Chauncey Bangs, Samuel Neely, Justices of the Peace ; E. N. Garvin, Richard H. Foster, Sylvester Keys, T. B. Anderson, Constables.
1868-J. F. Thompson, Chairman (removed from town, and John Murray appointed), Michael Friar, John Schuppner, Supervisors ; T. N. Hubbell, Clerk ; John L. Parker, Treas- urer ; Orlin Garvin, Assessor ; George Brown, John L. Parker, Daniel Trum, Justices of the Peace ; Samuel Adkins, John Schuppner, Richard Foster, Constables.
1869-T. N. Hubbell, Chairman, A. Lynett, James Connelly. Supervisors ; L. M. Culver, Clerk ; J. L. Parker, Treasurer ; Chauncey Bangs, Assessor; M. B. Clark, John Sanger, Justices of the Peace ; L. D. Adkins, J. C. Wood, J. B. Murphy, James Scott, Constables.
1870-T. N. Hubbell, Chairman, George Brown, Daniel Roseman, Supervisors ; H. F. Walton, Clerk ; John L. Parker, Treasurer ; J. A. Faris, Assessor; John L. Parker, J. E. Taylor, James Trainer, Justices of the Peace ; L. D. Adkins, Abraham Adkins, H. A. Taylor, Thomas Hanley, Constables.
1871-George Brown, Chairman, Orlin Garvin, John Martin, Supervisors; H. F. Walton, Clerk ; John L. Parker, Treasurer ; James Faris, Assessor ; M. B. Clark, Thomas Garvey, Justices of the Peace ; Lewis Adkins, George A. Lance, Peter Morgan, Samuel Neely, Con- stables.
1872-George Brown, Chairman, Orlin Garvin, John Sanger, Supervisors ; H. F. Walton, Clerk ; John L. Parker, Treasurer : James A. Faris, Assessor ; John L. Parker, J. W. Horsfall, Justices of the Peace ; George A. Lance, James E. Taylor, James Williamson, Constables.
1873-George Brown, Chairman, Orlin Garvin, John Sanger, Supervisors; H. F. Walton, Clerk ; J. L. Parker, Treasurer ; James A. Faris, Assessor ; D. H. Ballou, J. W. Horsfall, J. J. Dodds, Justices of the Peace ; William Tennant, J. Williamson, William Vince, Constables.
1874-George Brown, Chairman, Daniel Roseman, Orlin Garvin, Supervisors; H. F. Walton, Clerk ; John L. Parker, Treasurer ; James A. Faris, Assessor; John L. Parker, William Vince, Justices of the Peace ; James Milborn, James Williamson, Constables.
1875-George Brown, Chairman, Alex Lynett, Daniel Roseman, Supervisors ; F. E. Fitch, Clerk ; John L. Parker, Treasurer ; James A. Faris, Assessor ; John Horsfall, D. H. Ballou, J. J. Dodds, Justices of the Peace ; J. Williamson, William Vince, William Tennant, J. Randall, Constables.
1876-George Brown, Chairman, Orlin Garvin, Daniel Roseman, Supervisors; H. F.
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.
Walton, Clerk ; John L. Parker, Treasurer ; James A. Faris, Assessor ; John L. Parker, J. J. Scanlon, Justices of the Peace; Lewis Adkins, George Potts, Constables.
1877-George Brown, Chairman, Alex Lynett, J. F. Sanger, Supervisors ; T. S. Rich- ards, Clerk ; John L. Parker, Treasurer ; James A. Faris, Assessor ; M. H. Dunn, John L. Parker, J. J. Quinn, Constables.
1878-George Brown, Chairman, J. J. Scanlon, Orlin Garvin, Supervisors ; T. S. Rich- ards, Clerk ; F. E. Fitch, Treasurer; James A. Faris, Assessor ; J. J. Scanlon, Justice of the Peace ; William Tennant, Constable.
1879-George Brown, Chairman, Patrick Glynn, Orlin Garvin, Supervisors ; H. F. Walton, Clerk ; James Ellis, Treasurer ; James A. Faris, Assessor ; D. H. Ballow, John Quinn, J. W. Horsfall, Justices of the Peace; Leander Knox, William Tennant, Constables.
1880-James A. Faris, Chairman, Patrick Glynn, John Martin, Jr., Supervisors ; H. F. Walton, Clerk ; John Sanger, Treasurer; John R. Murphy, Assessor ; -
Justices of the Peace ; , Constables.
1881-James A. Faris, Chairman, Patrick Glynn, John Martin, Jr., Supervisors ; H. F. Walton, Clerk ; John Sanger, Treasurer ; John R. Murphy, Assessor ; D. H. Ballou, Justice of the Peace ; John McGeary, Constable.
BLUE RIVER STATION.
Several years after the completion of the Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad, a flag station was inaugurated at this point. This was afterward made a regular stopping-place, and depot buildings erected about 1866. The first permanent settler at this stopping-place was Joseph Elliott, who came in 1862, and erected a residence and store building, both being under the same roof. This was the only building in the place. with the exception of a section house, until the coming of Mr. D. Perigo, in 1863, who erected a house and started a store. He purchased the land immediately adjoining the station, and laid it off in village lots the following year, Noah Titus being the Surveyor. This same year, Gus Matthews, now of Wingville, came and put up a house. Soon after his arrival, Mr. Perigo succeeded in having the new settlement placed among the list of post offices, he being appointed the first Postmaster ; he resigned a few years afterward in favor of Charles S. Taylor, who succeeded him as proprietor of the store. Upon Taylor's departure, the office again fell to Mr. Perigo, who kept it until his resignation in favor of William Northey. About the time of Mr. Perigo's sale of his stock to Charles Taylor, A. B. Miller put up a store, and still is in trade. D. C. Perigo was the first station agent, holding the position until 1869, when William Northey took charge of the company's interests. He remained until 1879, when he was succeeded by D. A. Taylor, the present agent.
The first school in the place was taught by Mrs. Ed Carroll in a little building standing east of the station and just south of the track. The building has since been torn down. The first and only schoolhouse was built in 1866, the first teacher being Eleanor Bailey.
There is but one church organization in the village, the Methodist, among the Pastors of which are found the names of Revs. Sackett, McMillen, Smith, St. John, Hurd, Snodgrass and Rev. Cliff, the present Pastor.
A lodge of the Sons of Temperance was established here February 2, 1873, with about twenty charter members. William McMullen was elected Patriarch, and Andrew Harris, Division Deputy. The lodge, after an existence of five years, surrendered its charter in 1878.
In the spring of 1878, a lodge of Good Templars was organized at Blue River, but, after a brief struggle against dispiriting influences, it gave up the ghost. March 18. 1881, Blue River Lodge No. 381, and the second lodge of the order, was organized by J. T. Cleghorn, S. D., and at present is in a fair condition, meetings being held in the schoolhouse.
875
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.
CHAPTER XVII. DISTINGUISHED DEAD .*
HON. J. ALLEN BARBER. BY C. K DEAN.
Perhaps, the leading events of Mr. Barber's life are as correctly and fully summed up in the Wisconsin Volume of The United States Biographical Dictionary, of 1877, as we are able to give at present writing. We therefore copy them here :
" Joel Allen Barber, son of Joel and Aseneth Meloin Barber, is a native of Vermont, and was born at Georgia, Franklin County, January 17, 1809. His great grandfather was from England, and settled at Canton, Conn. His mother was of Welsh descent, and her father was a Captain in the Revolutionary army, serving through the war. Young Barber farmed till his eighteenth year, when he entered the Georgia Academy, and fitted for college ; entered the University of Vermont in the summer of 1829 ; left at the end of two and a half years, deter- mined to carve a career for himself. Read law with Hon. George P. Marsh, of Burlington ; was admitted to the bar in Prince George's County, Md., in 1834, after teaching school there two years. He returned to Vermont and practiced at Fairfield until 1837, settling, in September of that year, at Lancaster, Wis. Here he has been in the practice for forty years, at times min- gling land operations with legal business, but not enough to interfere with his profession. His legal knowledge is sound and extensive ; he has a high standing as a criminal lawyer, and, in all respects, has long been an honor to the profession.
" During the forty years that Mr. Barber has been a resident of Grant County, he has held some official position two-thirds of the time. He was on the County Board of Supervisors sev- eral years, and its Chairman five ; was County Clerk four years; District Attorney three terms; three terms member of the Lower House of the Legislature ; one term in the State Senate, and a member in the Forty-second and Forty-third Congresses. In the House of Representatives, he was on the Committee on War Claims and Revision of the Statutes. He seldom spoke, but was an indefatigable worker.
"Originally Mr. Barber was a Whig of "Free-soil" tendencies, and naturally identified him- self with the Republican party, to which he has steadfastly adhered.
" Mr. Barber has abilities fitting him for any office in the gift of the people of Wisconsin ; is a man of solid character as well as intellectual qualities, and is one of those statesmen whose records were an honor to a State."
The foregoing appears at the head of an obituary article in the Grant County Herald, of June 30, 1881, furnished to that paper by Judge J. T. Mills, of Lancaster, which, by its orig- inal matter following the above, pays a very high and just tribute to the personal worth of Mr. Barber, in accordance with the writer's own knowledge, entirely supported by the popular judg- ment.
Mr. Barber died at his residence in Lancaster at 2 o'clock A. M., June 28, 1881, of peri- tonitis, after a painful illness of one week. His burial followed in the afternoon of the 29th, amid manifest expressions of deep-seated and general sorrow, the pall-bearers being Judge M. M. Cothren, of Mineral Point ; Ex-M. C., H. S. Magoon, of Darlington ; Hons. William E. Carter and A. W. Bell, of Platteville ; John G. Clark, of Lancaster, and C. K. Dean, of Bos- cobel.
The press, local and in many cases remote and general, at once gave evidence of the high estimation in which the deceased was held, both in public and private life; which tributes, though they will fail to reach the consciousness of him whose virtues they commemorate, may yet tend in some degree to assuage the grief of those who live to mourn his loss.
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