USA > Wisconsin > Vernon County > History of Vernon County, Wisconsin, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 104
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Esofea, Christian Schriver; Genoa, Mathew Monti; Goole, Giles M. Kile; Hillsborough, I. J. Shear; Kickapoo, L. Kellogg; La Farge, S. W. Green; Liberty, Allen Rusk; Liberty Pole, K. Peterson; Lovass, Christ. Olson; Mt. Tabor, J. J. Malort; Newry, C. Christopherson; New- ton, Levi Noble; Ontario, T. L. De Lap; Otter Vale, E. Marshall; Purdy, Ole Gauper; Reads- town, E. Bliss; Red Mound, J. Miller; Rest, Hulda B. Stetson; Retreat, J. L. Davis: Rock- ton, Van S. Bennett; Romance, William Fox; Springville, H. Amundson; Star, C. W. Lawton; Stoddard, Peter Wodvynsky; Sugar Grove, L. C. Drake; Trippville, D. N. Tripp; Valley, D. Lawton; Victory, A. Mueller; Viroqua, R. S. McMichael; Westby, N. HI. Nelson; West Prairie, H. Bellows.
CHANGES IN VIROQUA.
[From the Vernon County Censor, July 13, 1870.]
When the writer of this article settled in Viroyua, on the 10th of September, 1853, there were but five of the present buildings erected, viz .: The house now occupied by Father Nichols, the one occupied by H. A. Vess, the one occupied by R. S. McMichael, and the one occupied by Mr. Isham. All the others have been built since that time.
The only inhabitants of the village at that time (1853) now (1870) living here are Judge Terhune and wife and their son Leonard, who was then a small baby; Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Lincoln and their daughter Edith, who was then just beginning to run alone; Mrs. Skippens, then the wife of of the late Rufus Dunlap; Warren W. Dunlap, L. R. Decker, Thomas I.
775
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
Decker, Mrs. Pennell, then the wifeof the late Daniel Parkinson, and two adopted daughters, who are now the wives of John Norris and C. P. Richardson; Father Nichols, L. W. and M. C. Nichols, and O. C. Weeden. All the other present inhabitants of the village have moved in or been born here since that day.
There were several huge oak trees standing in Main street that were gradually cut down and removed. The hickory trees now (1870) stand- ing in the court house square were crooked saplings, and I went out one day and trimmed them with my knife, and straightened those that were growing crooked. The Lombardy poplar now growing in the court house yard was planted there by Charles Waters, at my re- quest. Mr. Waters is now (1870) one of the oldest settlers in the county, and that tree will be a monument to his memory.
NUMBER OF DWELLINGS IN VERNON COUNTY IN 1870.
Bergen, 147 ; Christiana, 206; Clinton, 159 ; Coon, 129 ; Forest, 118; Franklin, 243 ; Genoa, 130; Greenwood, 130 ; Hamburg, 210; Har- mony, 142 ; Hillsborough, 178; Jefferson, 208 ; Kickapoo, 171 ; Liberty, 76 ; Stark, 156 ; Ster- ling, 208; Union, 101 ; Viroqua, 390 ; Web- ster, 156; Wheatland, 148; Whitestown, 134.
PERSONAL.
[From the Vernon County Censor, March 23, 1870] Gen. J. M. Rusk, familiarly known in this county as "Jerry Rusk," is at home again, after an absence of four years. On his arrival in the village, a number of his friends paid their respects to him and bade him welcome home, to show him that he had not been for- gotten. He will live in this place (Viroqna) for the future. Since his retirement from the office of bank comptroller he has been the re- cipient of many words of cheer from his friends, and a large number of the journals of the State have given him flattering endorsements. Among these, we name The State Journal, The Sparta Eagle, The La Crosse Republican, The La Crosse Leader and the Sparta Herald. Such
friendly words are remembered and heartily appreciated by him. And, in the meantime, his star still seems to be in the ascendant.
MARRIED.
[From the Vernon County Censor, Nov. 30, 1870.]
In the town of Hamburg, Nov. 21, 1870, by Rev. A. C. Preus, Anders H. Bakken to Petra H. Korstad. In the town of Port- land, Monroe county, Nov. 5, 1876, by the same, Martin Evenson to Marie Erieksen. In the town of Viroqua, Nov. 19, 1870, by the same, Lars Christianson Ergenas to Guro I. Burlockken. In the same town, by the same, Nov. 16, 1870, Tosten Evenson to Bertha Marie Amundsdatter. In the same town, by the same, Oct. 20, 1870, Neri Halvorsen to Anne Amundsdatter.
MRS. R. C. BIERCE.
The many friends of Mrs. R. C. Bierce will learn with sorrow that her death from paralysis occurred in Menomonie, on the 25th of July.
On Sunday evening, the 19th, she was sit- ting in Church by her husband's side, when, without any warning, she was stricken down, lingering until the next Saturday, when, at twenty minutes past 4 o'clock in the afternoon, she passed away without a struggle.
A faithful wife, a devoted mother, an un- swerving friend and a steadfast Christian, she has gone to her rest. However peaceful the death of the righteous may be, it leaves an aching void in the hearts of the survivors ; but the hopes of a glorious immortality beyond the grave, assuages all sorrow ; and that sorrow may be even turned to joy when we reflect that "Precions in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." - Vernon County Censor, Ang. 5, 1874.
HENRY NICHOLS.
[From the Vernon County Censor, July 7, 1875.]
Our venerable and esteemed citizen, Mr. Hen- ry Nichols, was a member of a company of .trappers operating in the Yellowstone country nearly sixty years ago. The company endured : many hardships aud faced perils at every step.
776
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
Many of Mr. Nichol's companions died from sickness ; some were killed by Indians, and the survivors narrowly escaped. Mr. Nichols is eighty-five years old. He probably saw the waters of the Yellowstone at an earlier period than any other person now living. His early life was an adventurous and eventful one, and a narrative of it would make a very interesting and readable volume.
HIRAM DE LAP.
Died at his residence near Des Moines, Iowa, Ang. 20, 1875, Hiram De Lap, in the seventy- fifth year of his age.
Mr. De Lap was, for many years, a resident of Vernon and Crawford Co's., Wis. His many friends will be glad to hear something respect- ing his last moments. His aged companion writes that he was in his usual health on Friday morning, the 20th inst. (August, 1875), ate his breakfast, fed his pigs and chickens, and visited a neighbor. About 1 o'clock he got up from his pallet where he was lying, went to the water bucket, took a drink of water, went back, lay down and expired without a struggle or a groan.
GEORGE S. MCCORMICK.
POPULATION OF VERNON COUNTY,
ACCORDING TO THE STATE AND FEDERAL CENSUS. State Census, 1855. 4,823
Federal 1860 11,007
State 1865 13,644
Federal 1870
18,673
State . . 1875 21,524
Federal 1880 23 255
POPULATION OF VERNON COUNTY,
IN 1880, ACCORDING TO SEX, NATIVITY AND COLOR.
Males, . 12,149
Females, 11,086
Native, 17,515
Foreign, 5,720
White, 23,127
Colored, 128
It may be said, therefore, that, of the inhabi- tants of Vernon county, three-fourths are native- born, while one-fourth are from the old country: Of the foreign born, much the larger number are Norwegians.
POPULATION OF VERNON COUNTY, IN 1870, BY TOWNS.
Bergen,. 795
Christiana. 1,133
Coon, 708
Clinton, 823
Forest, 600
Franklin, 1,231
Genoa,
683
Greenwood, 744
Hamburg, 1,208
Ilarmony,
781
Hillsborough 985
Jefferson, 1,108
Kickapoo, 902
Liberty 414
Stark, 756
Sterling, 1,059
Union, 507
Viroqua, 1,988
Webster. 812
Whitestown. 637
Wheatland,
697
CENSUS OF VERNON COUNTY, FOR 1880, BY TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
The villages marked with an asterisk (*), are nnincorporated, and their population is given only approximately, as their limits cannot be sharply defined.
Bergen, 1,014
Christiana,
1,305
Clinton, including Bloomingdale village, .. 1,008
*Bloomingdale village,. 96
Coon,
983
Forest, 889
Franklin,
1.319
Genoa, including Genoa village,
919
*Genoa village, 150
Greenwood.
1,050
Ilamburg, including Chaseburg village, 1 156
*Chaseburg village, 125
Harmony, including?Newton village, 1,062
*Newton village,. 41
Hillsborough including Hillsborough village 1,218
*Hillsborough village,. 195
Jefferson, including Springville village, . .
1,284
*Springville village, 187
Kickapoo, 1 233
Liberty
543
Stark.
954
Sterling, 1,382
Union, .
741
777
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
Viroqua, including Viroqua village,. 2,368
*Viroqua village, 762
Webster, including Avalanche village, 1,060
*Avalanche village, . 80
Wheatland, including the following villages: 917
*Victory village, 114
*Wheatland village, 301
880
Whitestown, including the following villages
*Ontario village, 179
*Rockton village, 39
HON. HENRY CHASE.
[From the Vernon County Censor, March 29, 1871.]
We learn with pain of the death of Hon. Henry Chase, a prominent citizen of this county. lle settled on the spot where Chase- burg (named after him) is now situated, eight years ago, and began at once his labors to im- prove the place. He was indefatigable in his labors; and joined to his energy a spirit of open and honest dealing, which won for him the respect and friendship of all. He repre- sented his district in the Assembly in the winter of 1868, discharging his duties well.
Last year he was taken dangerously sick of dropsy, but obtained relief, which, however, proved but temporary. Being again attacked the past winter, he went to Sparta to try the effects of the Turkish bath. This, also, failed to afford relief, and he died there last week in the thirty-ninth year of his age. He was born in Vermont and was one of ten children, all of whom, except one, visited him at Chaseburg last fall. His is the second death in the family of ten.
MONUMENT ROCK .*
[From the Western Times, Oct. 25, [1856.]
A monument indeed! A monument of nature! How long, old rock, hast thou stood there in all thy stern grandeur? How long hast thou looked down on the inhabitants of this earth, who have passed thee in all their pomp and pride? Had it been possible, would not thy stern, old features have relaxed into a smile of contempt at their self-conceit? How long, old rock, hast thou withstood the scorching suns of
summer and the keen blasts of winter? Who can tell thy age? Art thou not as old as the "everlasting hills?" When the Creator first divided the sea from the dry land, thou heardst the command to come forth, and thou obeyed- to show the wonderful wisdom and power of thy Maker. And long years before the feet of white men pressed the prairie sod, thou wast witness to the midnight revelries of the forest. History has recorded scenes of savage barbarity almost incredible, but hadst thou the power of speech, couldst thou not tell to the awe-struck traveler, who has, perhaps, lingered to gaze up- on thy moss-covered sides, a tale, compared with which the mightiest efforts of the pen would be fables? Stand thon there still, old rock, till the end of the creation in which thy existence first commenced. Let no impious hand dare touch thee to profane thy majestic form! Let vain man look up to thee and learn their own nothingness and inferiority!
JAMES R. SAVAGE,
]From the Vernon County Censor, Aug. 30, 1871.]
Died in Springville, Aug. 27, 1871, Mr. James R. Savage, age forty-five years.
Mr. Savage was an old resident of this county, having moved here upwards of twenty years ago. Ile was widely known and respected, and many of his friends and neighbors attended his funeral on Tuesday of this week. Thus an- other of the old and respected residents of the county is no more. His loss will be felt in many places, where he has been wont to be a prominent actor.
" THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST. "
REPUBLICAN STATE TICKET.
Election, November 3, 1857. For Governor:
Alexander W. Randall, of Milwaukee.
For Lieutenant Governor: Carl Shurz, of Jefferson. For Secretary of State: John L. V. Thomas, of Rock.
* A noted natural curiosity on section 36, in the town of Franklin.
778
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
For Treasurer: Samuel D. Hastings, of Trempealeau. For Attorney General: Mortimer M. Jackson, of Iowa. For Bank Comptroller: John P. McGregor, of Columbia. For Superintendent of Public Instruction : John G. McMynn, of Racine.
For State Prison Commissioner ; E. M. MeGraw, of Sheboygan. For Assemblyman: William C. McMichael.
REPUBLICAN COUNTY TICKET. For Sheriff : Anson K. Burrell. For Treasurer: John Gardner.
For Clerk of Circuit Court: William C. McMichael.
For Clerk of the County Board: William F. White.
For Register of Deeds: Daniel P. Allison.
For District Attorney: Royal C. Bierce.
For County Surveyor: Greene Spurrier.
For Coroner: Jeremiah M. Rusk.
In displaying the above ticket at the head of its columns, on the 14th of October, 1857, the editor of the Western Times has a word to say why each candidate on the county ticket should be elected. "Jeremiah M. Rusk, " says he, "the candidate for coroner, is now sheriff of the county. lle is landlord at the North Star, and everybody knows that they'll get good fare when they call on him. " Jeremiah M. Rusk was elected coroner.
REPUBLICAN STATE TICKET.1881. For Governor:
Jeremiah M. Rusk, of Vernon.
For Lientenant-Governor: Samuel S. Fifield, of Ashland.
For Secretary of State: E. G. Timme, of Kenosha. For Treasurer: E. C. McFetridge, of Dodge. For Attorney General:
L. F. Frisby, of Washington.
For Superintendent of Public Instruction: Robert Graham, of Winnebago. For Railroad Commissioner: N. P. Haugen, of Pierce.
For Commissioner of Insurance: Phil L. Spooner, of Dane.
In placing the above ticket at the head of the columns of the Vernon County Censor, the edi- tor says:
"The nominee of the convention for govern- or, Gen. J. M. Rusk,has been a resident of Ver- non county for thirty years and therefore needs no introduction to our people nor to the people of the State, for his record of public life is a part of the record of the State. He served the State two terms as bank comptroller, his dix- trict three terms in Congress and his country three years in the army. In every one of these positions he made an honorable record and won the confidence of his people. In Congress he was the trusted friend of Garfield, Blaine and other great leaders, and no man possessed their friendship and confidence in a greater degree.
"Working his way to position from the hum- blest walks of life, through his own exertions and energy, Gen. Rusk knows the wants of the people. He had not the advantages of a college education, but he had a fund of common sense, which, with his common school educa- tion, enabled him to accomplish for his constit- uents while in Congress much that men with more learning could not; and not one measure for the benefit of his constituents failed at his hands.
779
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
"That Gen. Rusk will prove a strong head for the ticket none doubt. He enjoys a large personal acquaintance throughout the State and all know that his administration will be con- ducted in the interests of the people. His pre- vious public record warrants this assertion; and all who know him know that his highest ambition will be to serve the people of the glo- rious Badger State ably, faithfully and honora- bly.
"The republicans of Vernon county-Gen. Rusk's neighbors and friends-send greeting to their brethren throughout the State and assure them that old Vernon will roll up for the gal- lant standard bearer such a majority as no man ever received before in this county."
Jeremiah M. Rusk was elected governor.
THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL, GUBERNATIONAL AND CONGRESSIONAL VOTE IN VERNON COUNTY.
PRESI- DENT. 1880.
GOVERNOR 1881.
CONGRESS, 1882.
TOWNS.
Garfield ....
Hancock ....
Rusk .
Fratt.
Kanouse
Republican.
Democrat ..
Prohibition.
Coon
173
13
108
17
53
38
Forest
119
38
68
8
9
45
34
33
Franklin.
133
83
125
25
103
89 .
Genoa
90
63
66
9
4
56
75
3
Greenwood.
78
81
65
12
44
75
Hamburg.
126
45
89
21
9
80
46
4
Harmony
llillsborough.
162
91 148
16
3
102
120
2
Jefferson
126
30
84
69
45
109
9
5
8
61
Union ..
49
60
41
31
421
20
21
Webster
86
38
58
90
14
88
43
8
Wheatland
137
43
72
17
91
31
15
Whitestown
121
33
121
6
15
103
18
Total
2774 1014
2022
358
153
042 1046
189
5
114
19
11.
94
68
10
Liberty
52
37
19
57
1
4
50
10
Stark
Steriing.
16₸
44
Vir qua
328
106
819
38
13
11
111
93
35
9
20
Kickapoo
162
114
91
31
11
53
45
780
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
APPENDIX
ABSTRACT OF LAWS.
ELECTORS AND GENERAL ELECTION.
SECTION 12. Every male person of the age of twenty-one years or upward, belonging to either of the following classes, who shall have resided in the State for one year next preceding any election, shall be deemed a qualified elector at such election.
1. Citizens of the United States.
2. Persons of foreign birth who shall have declared their intention to become citi- zens conformably to the laws of the United States on the subject of naturalization.
3. Persons of Indian blood who have once been declared by law of Congress to become citizens of the United States, any subsequent law of Congress to the contrary notwithstand- ing.
4. Civilized persons of Indian deseent, not members of any tribe. Every person convicted of bribery shall be excluded from the right of suffrage unless restored to civil rights, and no person who shall have made or become directly or indirectly in any bet or wager depending upon the result of any election at which he shall offer to vote shall be permitted to vote at such election.
SECTION 13. No elector shall vote except in the town, ward, village or election district in which he actually resides.
SECTION 14. The general election prescribed in the constitution shall be held in the several towns, wards, villages and election districts on the Tuesday next succeeding the first Monday in November in each year, at which time there shall be chosen such representatives in Con-
gress, electors of President and Vice-President, State officers and county officers as are by law to be elected in such year.
SECTION 15. All elections shall be held in each town at the place where the last town meeting was held, or at such other place as shall be ordered at such last meeting, or as shall have been ordered by the supervisors when they established more than one election poll, except that the first election after the or- ganization shall be held at the place directed in the act or proceedings by which it was organ- ized ; and all elections in villages constituting separate election districts, and in the wards of cities, shall be held at the place to be ordered by the trustees of such village, or the common council of such city, at least ten days before such election, unless a different provision is made in the act incorporating such village or city.
SECTION 16. Whenever it shall become im- possible or inconvenient to hold an election at the place designated therefor, the board of in- spectors, after having assembled at or as near as practicable to such place, and before receiv- ing any votes, may adjourn to the nearest con- venient place for holding the election, and at such adjourned place shall forthwith proceed with the election. Upon adjourning any elec- tion as hereinbefore provided, the board of inspectors shall cause proclamation thereof to ' be made, and shall station a constable or some other proper person at the place where the ad- journment was made, to notify all electors ar-
781
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
riving at such place of adjournment, and the place to which it was made.
SECTION 20. A registry of electors shall an- nually be made.
1. In each ward or election district of every city which, at the last previous census, had a population of 3,000 or more.
2. In each ward or election district of every incorporated village in which, by law, separate elections are held; which village, at the last preceding census, had a population of 1500 or more.
3. In every town containing a village which, at said census, had a population of 1,500 or more, in which village separate general elections are not by law required to be held.
4. In all towns, any part of which shall have been embraced in any part of any city or village in which a registration by this chapter is required.
Such registration shall be made in the man- ner provided by this chapter. The persons authorized by law to act as inspector of election in each of such towns, wards or election dis- tricts shall constitute the boards of registry therefor.
SECTION 21. The said inspectors shall have their first meeting on Tuesday, four weeks pre- ceding each general election at the place where said election is to be held; and in election dis- triets in which there were polled at the pre- vious general election 300 votes or less, they shall sit for one day and in districts in which t'iere were more than 300 votes polled, they shall have power to sit two days, if necessary, for the purpose of making such list. They shall meet at 9 oclock in the forenoon and hold their meetings open until 8 o'clock in the evening of each day, during which they shall so sit. The clerks appointed by law to act as clerks of election shall act as clerks of the board of registry on the election only. The proceedings shall be open and all electors of the district shall be entitled to be heard in relation to cor- rections or additions to said registry. They
shall have the same powers to preserve order which inspectors of election have on election days and in towns vacancies on the board shall be filled in the same manner that vacancies are filled at elections.
SECTION 22. The said inspectors at their first meeting, and before doing any business, shall severally take and subseribe the oath of inspect- ors at a general election and said inspectors shall at their first meeting make a registry of all the electors of their respective districts, placing thereon the full names, alphabetically arranged according to surnames in one column, and in another the residence by number and name of street or other location, if none. If any electors residence is at any hotel or public boarding house, the name of the hotel or boarding house shall be stated in the registry. They shall put thereon the names of all persons residing in their election districts, appearing on the poll list kept at the last preceding gen- eral election and are authorized to take there- for such poll list from the office where kept, omitting such as have died or removed from the district and adding the names of all other persons known to them to be electors in such district. In case of the formation of a new election district since the last preceding gen- eral election, the said board therein may make such registry from the best means at their command and may, if necessary, procure there- for certified copies of the last poll list. They shall complete said registry as far as practica- ble at their first meeting and shall make four copies thereof and certify the original and each copy to be a true list of the electors in their district so far as the same are known to them. One of said copies shall be immediately posted in a conspicuous place in the room in which their meeting was held and be accessible to any elector for examination or making copies there- of, and one copy shall be retained by each in- spector for revision and correction at the second meeting. They shall, within two; days after said first meeting, file the original registry
782
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
made by them, and said poll list in the office of the proper town, city or village clerk and may, · in their discretion, cause ten printed copies of said registry to be made and posted in ten of the most public places of said election districts or may publish the same in a newspaper at an expense not exceeding one cent for each name.
.
SECTION 23. The inspectors shall hold their second meeting at the same place designated for holding elections on the Tuesday two weeks preceding the election. They shall meet at 9 o'clock in the forenoon. In elec- tion districts having less than 300 vo- ters, as shown by the preliminary registry, the board shall complete the registry on the same day; but if there are more than that num- ber of voters they shall sit two days. Toey shall remain in session until 8 o'clock in the evening. They shall revise and correct the registry, first by erasing the name of any per- son who shall be proved to their satisfaction by the oaths of two electors of the district to to be not entitled to vote therein at the next ensuing election, unless such person shall ap- pear and if challenged, shall answer the ques- tions and take the oath thereinafter provided; secondly, by entering thereon the names of every elector entitled to vote in the district at the next election who shall appear before the board and require it, and state his place of resi- dence, giving street and number, if numbered, or location, as hereinbefore provided, if chal- lenged answer the questions, and take the oath provided in case of challenge at an election; but if any person shall refuse to answer all sneh questions or to take such oath, his name shall not be registered. Any person who is not twenty-one years of age before the date when the register is required to be corrected but will be if he lives until the day of election, shall have his name put on the registry if he be otherwise qualified to be an elector. Any elec- tor who did not vote at the previous general election shall be entitled to be registered either at the preliminary or final registration of elec-
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