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 27
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111
19]
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
months, when he was exchanged. He returned to his regiment in November, and continued in active service until after the fall of Vicksburg in July, 1863, when, being prostrated with chronie diarrhea, he returned to his home in Vernon county-came back to suffer, and finally, on the 28th of February, 1864, to die. Newton M. Layne was a young man who will long be remembered. He was a hard student from childhood; possessed of rare gifts of oratory; great personal magnetism and lofty aspirations, anchored to a strong Christian character. Few have stood upon the threshold of life's career with brighter prospects, and none have laid a more noble and willing sacrifice upon the altar of their country.
D. B. Priest was a native of Posey Co., Ind. When quite young he began reading law and was admitted to the bar. At an early day he came north and located at Richland Center, Wis., where he opened a law office and also en- gaged in mercantile trade. He remained there until he broke up in the mercantile business, and in the spring of 1861 came to Viroqua. He opened a law office and became a prominent man here; holding the office of district attorney for several years, and representing the county in the Legislature at different times. Ile was also interested in the VernonCounty Censor fora num- ber of years. In 1868 he was appointed United States revenue collector for this district, and re- moved to Sparta, Monroe county, where he lived until the time of his death in 1872.
E. Il. Harding came here shortly after the war and read law with Col. C. M. Butt. Ile was admitted to the bar in 1869, but never prae- tieed any here. lie had been teaching school at Hillsborough, and returned to that place. He became sick from the effects of a sun stroke re- ceived while in the army, was sent to Chicago to be treated and later returned to Wisconsin and died.
T. C. Ankeny was a member of the bar of Vernon county for a number of years. About
1877 he moved to Tennessee, where he still lives.
H. H. Natwick was a Norwegian boy who was brought up in Vernon county. He studied law with Col. C. M. Butt, was admitted to the bar and engaged in practice. He is now some- where in Dakota territory.
T. J. Vinje eame to Viroqua in 1877 and be- came a partner of L. J. Rusk. IIe had been ad- mitted to the bar, but had never had much ex- perience of law. He was well read, full of en- ergy and push, and being a Norwegian, he be- came quite popular among that people and did a good business. He lived here until the time of his death several years ago.
C. N. Harris was brought up from childhood in the town of Kickapoo, Vernon county. Ile attended the law department of the State Uni- versity, graduating in 1879, and at once came to Viroqua. He formed a partnership with H. P. Proctor, which continued one year, after which he practiced alone until the spring of 1882, when he went to Aberdeen, D. T., where he still lives, being a member of the firm of Harris & Campbell. Harris was a smart fellow, and has excellent prospects. A. W. Campbell was a native of Wisconsin, coming to Viroqua in June, 1879, from Tomah. He was about twenty-three years old ; had read law in Madi- son and spent one year in the State University. Upon his arrival here he became a partner of Judge Carson Graham, which relation was maintained until November, 1880, when he formed a partnership with W. S. Field. In March, 1883, this partnership was dissolved and Mr. Campbell removed to Aberdeen, D. T., where he became, and still remains, a member of the firm of Harris & Campbell. Mr. Camp- bell was a good office lawyer. He was a hard student, and was careful and painstaking in all the work he undertook. He was among the best pleaders that have ever been in the county, his papers rarely being disturbed.
192
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
D. E. Hatlestad came to Viroqua on the 16th of July, 1880. He was a native of Norway ; had been educated at the Norwegian school at Decorah, Iowa, graduated from the law depart- ment of the lowa State University, and was admitted to practice before the courts of that State. Upon his arrival at Viroqua he at once became the partner of II. C. Forsyth. This relation continued until October, 1881, when Mr. Ilatlestad went to Crookston, Minn., where he is still in practice. Ile was a steady, indus- trions fellow and a fair lawyer.
R. J. Chase was brought up in Vernon county from boyhood. He read law with Terhune & Graham, went to Madison, and for several I years was the law partner of J. II. Carpenter, becoming a successful practitioner. He now lives in Sioux City, Iowa, Iraving become quite wealthy, and retired from practice.
John Nicholson came to Viroqua from Mon- roe county, and read law with Rusk & Wyman. He was admitted to the bar in 1881, and after- wards opened an office in Hillsborough, and a short time later went to Dakota.
E. J. Steele read law in the office of Rusk & Wyman, and was admitted to the bar in the spring of 1883. He is now in Dakota.
Addison A. Hosmer, a graduate of the law school at Cambridge, Mass., was the first practicing lawyer to locate at De Soto. He settled there in 1857. In 1860 he returned to Massachusetts. During the war he served as an officer in one of the Massachusetts regiments, and became quite distinguished. After the close of the war he was made judge advocate, and it was he who sentenced the notorious Wirz of Andersonville infamy to death.
David Briggs located at De Soto as a Con- gregational preacher shortly after the war. Ile came from Illinois. He had been licensed as a lawyer some years previous to his coming, and finally gave up the pulpit for the bar. He was somewhat unfortunate in the profession, and
returned to Illinois after a sojourn of a few years.
THE PRESENT BAR.
In 1883 the bar of Vernon county was com- posed of the following named gentlemen: F. Terhune, James E. Newell, C. M. Butt, 11. P. Proctor, L. J. Rusk, C. W. Graves, O. B. Wyman, II. C. Forsyth, C. A. Roberts, W. N. Carter, L. Tollefson and W. S. Field, of Viro- qua and G. L. Miller, of De Soto.
Hon. James Evans Newell is the second oldest attorney at law, in point of practice, in Vernon county. He came to Viroqua, Oct. 21, 1854, and during his long residence in the county has possessed the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. He is a worthy representa- tive of the pioneer element of Vernon county, who are rapidly and quietly passing away from the scenes of their toils and privations. James E. Newell was born in Belmont Co., Ohio, in 1809. He is a son of David and Sarah Newell, natives of Ireland, near Dublin. Upon coming to this country, they first settled in Washington Co., Penn., and subsequently removed to Bel- mont Co., Ohio. In 1822 they located in Mor- gan Co., Ohio, where James E. was reared to man hood. In early life he served an apprentice- ship at the carpenter trade, but commenced reading law at the age of twenty-three, with John Weleh, Esq., of Athens, Ohio. In 1854 he came to this county, and the following year was admitted to practice at the bar. thinks he was the third attorney to locate at Viroqua, and from that time to the present has secured a goodly share of practice. In 1856 Mr. Newell was elected a justice of the peace, and with the exception of two years has since officiated in that capacity. The same year he was elected judge of Bad Ax (now Vernon) county, and held the office four years. He has served in various local offices in the village, town and county, and represented his district in the State Assembly during the session of 1875- 76. During the war he was a first lieutenant in a Wisconsin regiment. Judge Newell has been
193
IHISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
three times married. His first wife, Ann Wood, was a native of Ohio, also the second wife, who died in Viroqua. His present and third wife was Matilda Longmere, a native of New- foundland. Eight children were born to the first union, six of whom are living-William, in Missouri; Isaac, in Iowa; Ann, in Kansas; David, in Iowa; Kate, in Fargo, Dak., and Martha W., in Kansas.
W. N. Carter is an attorney at law of Viro- qua. He was born at Catskill, on the Hudson, in New York, in 1845, and passed the first ten years of his life among the scenes of Rip Van Winkle's legendery exploits. His father, W. N. Carter, Sr., was a native of Green Co., N. Y., born in 1811, at Durham, and his mother, Mary Mae Farland, was also a native of Green county, having been born at Catskill in 1813. In 1854 his father, with his family, removed to Illinois, and in 1855 he removed his family to Vernon Co., Wis., settling at Readstown, in the town of Kickapoo. Tle was a cooper by trade, but owned a farm and tilled the soil during a goodly por- tion of his life. Ile died at Readstown Dec. 6, 1880, and his beloved wife followed him to the great beyond, Dec. 10, 1882. When the civil war commenced the Carter family were among the first to respond to the call of duty, although having passed the age in which a man may en- list as a soldier. W. N. Carter, Sr., became a sergeant in the 18th regiment, Wisconsin Vol unteer Infantry; was promoted to a lientenantcy, but forced to resign from ill health, before the war closed. There were four sons in the family, and three of them, all that were old enough, entered the service. Sherwood E., was a mem- ber of an Illinois regiment, and served four years. He now resides at Lanark, in Illinois. W. N., Jr., enlisted Nov. 22, 1861, at the age of sixteen years, in the 18th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers, and served till Ang. 1, 1865. He was in active service during the whole period of his enlistment, and was promoted to sergeant, lieutenant and captain, holding the latter rank at the time of his discharge. Charles A. en-
listed when but sixteen years of age, in com- pany I, 17th regiment Wisconsin, Volunteer Infantry. He was severely wounded at Atlanta, Ga., and died of his injuries. W. N. Carter learned the cooper trade, as did his brother-, with his father, but after the war taught school for some years in Vernon county. Ile com- meneed the study of law in 1872, and three years later, entered the law office of Judge Terhune. He was admitted to practice in 1875, and was a law partner of H. C. Proctor until November, 1877. Ile then went to Readstown, but returned to Viroqua in January, 1883, and has since re- sided there. He has held the offices of town clerk, treasurer and chairman, in the town of Kickapoo, and was in 1880, the nominee of the democratie party, for State senator in the dis- trict composed of the counties of Vernon and Crawford, and in 1882 ran as an independent democrat for the Assembly, in the second as- sembly district of Vernon county, but the sen- ate and assembly districts being largely repub- liean,he was defeated in both instances.
Walter S. Field, a practicing attorney of Viroqua, is a life resident of Vernon county. He was born in Hillsborough town in the fall of 1856. Ilis father, Albert Field, was a pion- eer of that town, locating in 1851. Walter was graduated from the Wisconsin State University, at Madison, in the class of 1878, and from the law department of the same institution in the spring of 1880. In the October following he came to Viroqna, and became associated in the practice of his profession with A. W. Campbell, under the firm name of Campbell & Field. The former is now in Aberdeen, Dak., and a member of the law firm of Harris & Campbell. Mr. Field has been alone in the practice of law since March, 1883. He married Emma Tourjee, a native of Lafayette Co., Wis. Her father, Charles Tourjee, is deceased, and her mother is the wife of H. D. Williams, of Viroqua.
O.B. Wyman, of the firm of Rusk & Wyman, attorneys at law, Viroqua, has been a resident of Vernon county for over a quarter of a con-
194
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
tury. He was born in Windsor Co., Vt., July 7, 1847, and when seven years of age, his parents removed to Stoughton, Dane Co., Wis. In 1856 they removed to Hillsborough, in this county, where they made a permanent settle- ment, and now reside. Mr. Wyman grew to manhood in Vernon county, and in early life prepared himself for the teacher's profession. He taught for several years, then attended the State University at Madison, for three years, and subsequently held the office of county superintendent of schools in Vernon county, for three terms from Jan. 1, 1874. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar, March 29, 1877. lle was elected district attorney for Vernon county at the general election in 1881, and was village president of Viroqua in 1882, where he has resided since 1871. The present law co- partnership of Rusk & Wyman was formed in Jannary, 1880. lle married Emma Hammer, of Hillsborough, Dec. 28,1875. They have one son- Bernard M. Mr. Wyman is a man of fine at- tainments, well versed in his profession, and is an able and popular lawyer.
Col. C. M. Butt, county judge of Vernon county, and senior member of the law firm of Butt & Graves, has been a resident here since the spring of 1858. Hle was born in Morgan Co., Ohio, in 1833, and began the study of law at the county seat, McConnellsville, in May, 1856. In the fall of 1857 he went to Des Moines, Iowa, and the following spring came to Viroqua, Vernon Co., Wis. He had pro- gressed far enough in his studies to be admitted to practice in 1859, and at once opened a law office in his new home. During the summer of 1862, he was chiefly instrumental in raising company A, of the 25th, regiment, Wiscon- sin Volunteer Infantry, and at the date of its organization was made first lieutenant. In March, 1864, he was promoted as captain, and in February, 1865, was chosen major of the 48th regiment, and in February, 1866, was elected lieutenant colonel of the regiment. Col. Butt was in active duty during his entire service of
nearly four years. After the close of the war he was elected treasurer of Vernon county, and served four years. Ile was elected from this district to the State Senate, and served during the session of 1869-70. In 1871 he was elected district attorney of his county, and re-elected in 1873, serving four years. In 1878 he was elected county judge, and has since officiated in this capacity. Col. Butt is an able lawyer, a valuable public officer, and a man highly. esteemed. He owns a fine farm of 240 acres in this town, adjoining the village where he resides. Mrs. Butt's maiden name was Mar- garet E. MeAndly, a native of Indiana, coming to Lancaster, Grant Co., Wis., with her par- ents. Mr. and Mrs. Butt have a family of five children-two sons and three daughters.
Henry Clay Forsyth is a young and rising attorney of Viroqua, where he located for prac- tice in August, 1879. Ile was born in Mus- kingum Co., Ohio, May 22, 1847. His parents were William and Eliza Forsyth. His paternal grandparents were natives of Ireland, and emi- grated to Pennsylvania, and afterward moved to Ohio. His maternal grandparents were reared in the Society of Friends, and rem ved from Chester Co., Penn., to Ohio, where they became members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Forsyth came to Vernon county from Ohio, in 1865, and made his home with an uncle, Ellis Reed, of Springville, in the town of Jefferson. On the 3d of August 1867, his father was stung to death by bees, and a day later his mother died of a lung disease ; thus throwing the burden of caring for seven orphan brothers and sisters, who, at his request, emigrated to Wisconsin. He received an ac- ademic education ; was graduated at the North- western Commercial College, at Madison, and for a year was a student in the law department of the Wisconsin State University ; but owing to illness, was unable to be present on com- mencement day. Hle was admitted to the bar at the session of the circuit court held at Madison in July, 1878, Judge Alvah Stewart
195
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
presiding. In August, 1879, Mr. Forsyth came to Viroqua, as before stated, and was in part- nership with Judge William F. Terhune for about six months. On July 16, 1880, he formed a co-partnership with D. E. Ilatlestad, which was dissolved in October, 1881. Mr. Forsyth is now alone in the practice, and has been a justice of the peace since August, 1878.
H. P. Proctor is a member of the law firm of Procter & Tollefson, and is one of the most promising legal lights that luminate the bar of Vernon county. He has been a resident of Viroqua since 1869, and from Jan. 1, 1876, to Jan. 1, 1882, served the people in the responsi- ble position of district attorney. He has been three times honored with the presidency of the village board, a position which he was satisfactorily filling in 1883. Mr. Proctor was born in Franklin Co., Vt., in 1843, and in 1862 accompanied his father's family to this county. They located in the village of Newton, where they still reside. In 1864 Mr. Proctor enlisted in company D, 43d Wisconsin Volunteer In- fantry, and participated in the various fortunes of that regiment till the close of the strife. After returning home he entered the law office of R. C. Bierce, and afterward that of Judge Carson Graham. He was admitted to practice Dec. 13, 1871, and a short time afterward formed a partnership with his legal preceptor. This relationship continued until 1876, and since that period he has been successively in law partnership with the following named at- torneys : W. N. Carter, C. N. Harris and Louis Tollefson, the latter co-partnership being formed Oct. 1, 1879. The firm of Proctor & Tollefson are found in the front ranks among the business firms of the county, both in point of legal business and deserved esteem. Mr. Proctor was united in marriage with Augusta, daughter of the late John W. Allen, ex-county treasurer, who died Aug. 31, 1881. Of their four children, three are living-Walter S., Harold P. and Celia M. Their second son is deceased.
Louis Tollefson, junior member of the law firm of Proctor & Tollefson, Viroqua, was born in Norway, in 1851. In 1861 he accompanied his parents to America, and to Allamakee Co., Iowa, where they made a settlement. In 1868 Mr. Tollefson went to La Crosse, Wis., where he was employed as a clerk for five years, and also took a full course in the commercial college. In 1874 he came to Viroqua and obtained em- ployment as a clerk with J. Henry Tate, with whom he continued one year. The following summer he went to Lansing, Iowa, and was en- gaged in the lumber trade with a brother for a short time. Returning to Viroqua he em- barked in the mercantile trade, which he con- tinued till the spring of 1880. He then entered the law office of H. P. Proctor, was admitted to the bar in October, 1881, and has been a partner with his preceptor since that date. Mr. Tollef- son is the only Norwegian attorney in Vernon county, and the firm enjoy an extensive and lu- crative practice. Mr. Tollefson married Celia, daughter of J. W. Allen, ex-treasurer of Vernon county. She died March 12, 1883, leaving one SON.
Charles W. Graves is the pioneer member of the law firm of Butt & Graves, and located here for practice in May, 1879. His father, Lewis W. Graves, Esq., was for twenty-five years a prominent member of the bar of Monroe Co., Wis. Charles W. was born at East Aurora, in Erie Co., N. Y., Nov. 29, 1854, and was a law student under his father for many years. Ile also studied a short time with A. E. Bleekman, Esq., of Sparta, Wis., and was admitted to prac- tice in the circuit court at Sparta, Jan. 5, 1876. Ile there formed a law partnership with Fred 'T. Condit, which continued through 1876, and afterward with A. E. Bleekman. This latter tie was severed in 1879, and Mr. Graves came to Viroqua, where he has been in active prac- tice since. Ilis wife was formerly Ida Rea, a native of Oshkosh, Wis. They have two chil- dren-Earl W. and Ray.
196
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE WAR FOR THE UNION.
Before entering upon a consideration of the part taken by the citizen soldiers of Vernon county, in the great contest between the slave owners of the south and the lovers of freedom in the north, it is proper to dwell for a brief period upon the causes leading to the conflict of arms and the incipient steps taken by the general and State governments in arousing and marshalling the hosts of liberty-loving men who afterward so grandly kept step to the music of the Union.
WISCONSIN'S FIRST EFFORTS.
When Wisconsin was first called upon to aid the general goverment in its efforts to sustain itself against the designs of the secession con- spirators, the commercial affairs of the State wore embarrassed to a considerable degree by the depreciation of the currency. The designs of the secessionists were so far developed at the ending of the year 1860, as to show that resistance to the National authority had been fully determined on. It is not a matter of won- der, then, that Gov. Randall in his message to the Legislature, early in January, 1861, should have set forth the dangers which threatened the Union, or should have denied the right of a State to secede from it.
"Secession," said he, "is revolution ; revolu- tion is war ; war against the government of the United States is treason." "It is time," he con- tinued, "now, to know whether we have any government, and if so, whether it has any strength. Is our written constitution more than a sheet of parchment ? The Nation must be lost or preserved by its own strength. Its strength is in the patriotism of the people. It is time now that politicians become patriots ; that men show their love of country by every
sacrifice, but that of principle, and by unwaver- ing devotion to its interests and integ- rity." "The hopes," added the governor, most eloquently, "of civilization and Christianity are suspended now upon the answer to this ques- tion of dissolution. The capacity for, as well as the right of, self-government is to pass its ordeal, and speculation to become certainty. Other systems have been tried, and have failed; and all along the skeletons of Nations have been strewn, as warnings and land marks, upon the great highway of historic government. Wis- consin is true, and her people steadfast. She will not destroy the Union, nor consent that it shall be done. Devised by great, and wise, and good men, in days of sore trial, it must stand. Like some bold mountain, at whose base the great seas break their angry floods, and around whose summit the thunders of a thousand hur- ricanes have rattled-strong, unmoved, immov- able-so may onr Union, be, while treason surges at its base, and passions rage around it, unmoved, immovable-here let it stand forever."
These are the words of an exalted and genu- ine patriotism. But the governor did not con- tent himself with eloquence alone. He came down to matters of business as well. He urged the necessity of legislation that would give more efficient organization to the militia of the State. Hle warned the legislators to make preparations also for the coming time that should try the souls of men. "The signs of the times," said he, "indicate that there may arise a contingency in the condition of the govern- ment, when it will become necessary to respond to a call of the National government for men and means to maintain the integrity of the Union, and to thwart the designs of men en-
197
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
gaged in organized treason. While no unnec- essary expense should be incurred, yet it is the part of wisdom, both for individuals and States, in revolutionary times to be prepared to defend our institutions to the last extremity." It was thus the patriotic governor gave evidenee to the members of both honses that he "scented the battle afar off."
On the 16th of January a joint resolution of the Legislature was passed, declaring that the people of Wisconsin are ready to co-operate with the friends of the Union everywhere for its preservation, to yield a cheerful obedience to its regirements, and to demand a like obedi- ence from all others ; that the Legislature of Wisconsin, profoundly impressed with the valne of the Union, and determined to preserve it unimpaired, hail with joy the recent firm, dig- nified and patriotic special message of the Pres- ident of the United States ; that they tender to him, through the chief magistrate of their own State, whatever aid, in men and money, may be required to enable him to enforce the laws and uphold the authority of the Federal government and in defense of the more perfect Union, which has conferred prosperity and happiness on the American people. "Renewing," said they, "the pledge given and redeemed by our fathers, we are ready to devote our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honors in upholding the Union and the constitution."
The Legislature, in order to put the State npon a kind of "war footing," passed an act for its defense, and to aid in enforcing the laws and maintaining the authority of the general gov- ernment. It was under this act that Gov. Ran- dall was enabled to organize the earlier regi- ments of Wisconsin. By it, in case of a call from the President of the United States to aid in maintaining the Union and the supremacy of the laws to suppress rebellion or insurrection, or to repel invasion within the United States, the governor was anthorized to provide in the most efficient manner for responding to such call-to accept the services of volunteers for
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.