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 35

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Union
Number of Pages: 814

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 35

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

dren have been born to them --- Henry, Martin and Mary, all natives of Hamburg town.

The first to fill this office for the county of Bad Ax --- now Vernon --- was Jacob Higgins. He was elected upon the organization of the county in April, 1851, and re-elected in November, 1851. Jacob Higgins was among the early settlers in the region of Liberty Pole in the town of Frank- lin, locating upon a farm where he lived until the time of his death.

In November, 1853, S. C. Lincoln was elected and served one term. He came from New York in 1851, and settled at Viroqua. He had no regular business until elected to office. He made a good register. For a number of years he ran a hotel, and was postmaster at Viroqua, remain- ing until 1879, when he received the appoint- ment of railroad mail agent on the Northwestern Railroad, which position he still occupies.

In September, 1855, Hon. W. F. Terhune, was elected to succeed Mr. Lincoln. He kept the registers office in his law office.

Daniel P. Allison was elected register in November, 1857, and was re-elected in 1859. Allison came from Illinois and settled at Viro- qua, becoming deputy postmaster and re- taining that position until elected register. He was only able to do such work as this, on ac count of having one cork leg, which crippled him badly. Ile remained until the war broke out, when he left, turning up later at Johnsons- burg, Mo. He was a steady, sober fellow, and an excellent scribe.

In November, 1861, W. S. White was elected and being re-elected in 1863 and 1865, served six years. W. S. White came from the State of New York, at an early day, and settled on West Prairie in the town of Sterling. When elected to office, he removed to Viroqua and remained until 1876, when he moved to Hutchinson, Kan., where he still lives. When last heard from, his wife, who was an excellent milliner, was running a store in Hutchinson, while he was doing some kind of railroad work.

G. W. Griffin succeeded Mr. White. He was elected in the fall of 1867, and served one term. G. W. Griffin came to Vernon county with his parents about 1852. When the war broke out he enlisted, and after its close came back "all shot to pieces." He was elected register of deeds, and after serving his term, was re-nomi- nated, but withdrew and went to Madison. Later, he went to Kansas, where it is believed, he was killed by the Indians. His widow is now Mrs. Daniel Wise, of Viroqua.

In November, 1869, H. N. Preus was elected register, and served one term. He was a Nor- wegian; came here from Madison, and settled upon Coon Prairie. In 1867 he was elected clerk of circuit court, and moved to town, and two years later, was elected register. He is now railway mail agent on the railroad between Viroqua and Sparta, and lives at the latter place.

Edward Lind was elected register in Novem- ber, 1873, and re-elected in 1875. Ile was a young Norwegian who had settled in the town of Ilarmony. When elected to office, he re- moved to Viroqua, and remained several years when he went to Nebraska where he still lives. C. C. Oleson, of Viroqua, succeeded Mr. Lind, being elected in November, 1877.

In November, 1879, J. W. Curry was elected register of deeds. In 1881 he was re-elected, and is the present incumbent.

John W. Curry, register of deeds of Vernon county, was born in Morgan Co., Ohio, in 1840. He was reared and educated among the hills of southeastern Ohio, and in 1862, the second year of the civil war, he enlisted in the 86th regi- inent, Ohio Volunteers, serving three months. In the summer of 1863 he took part in the cap- ture of Morgan's famous brigade, and in the fall of the same year came to Vernon county, and located in the town of Webster. In March, 1865, he enlisted in the 53d regiment, Wiscon- sin Volunteers, and served till the close of the war. He then returned to Vernon county, and from that period, until 1879, was engaged in farming during the spring and summer seasons,

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

and in teaching during the winter months. In 1879 he was elected to his present position. Mr. Curry married Harriet Adams, also a native of Morgan Co., Ohio. They have one son- Arthur B.

COUNTY CLERK AND CLERK OF CIRCUIT COURT.

For several years after the organization of the county the offices of county clerk and clerk of the circuit court were merged together and the duties of both offices were performed by one official. Orrin Wisel was the first to fill the offices for Bad Ax county. He was elected in April, 1851. W. F. Terhune was the deputy and did all the business. Orrin Wisel came to Bad Ax county from the eastern part of the State in 1849 and settled at Liberty Pole, in the town of Franklin. In 1850 he moved to Viro- qua, and here opened a blacksmith shop. Shortly after his term of office expired he went to near Readstown, on the Kickapoo, and there remained-losing his wife meantime-until the war broke out, when he enlisted in a cavalry regiment and went into the service. Upon his return from the army he married his brother's widow, the brother having died in the service. Later he had trouble with his second wife, ac- cusing her of attempting to poison himself and children by his first wife, and he refused tolive with her. They parted and he removed to Montana, where, it is reported, he has since died. Like all pioneers Wisel was a hale, jovial, rollicking fellow; but he was rude, uncultured and ignorant. He was an ardent democrat and this fact was the ground upon which he was elected clerk.

In November, 1851, William C. McMichael was elected to succeed Wisel in the two offices. In November, 1853, he was re-elected. Mr. McMichael was born in Richhill, Muskingum Co., Ohio. He removed from Ohio March 4, 1840, and subsequently settled in Mercer Co., Ill., where on the 10th of February, 1842, he was married to Ele mor Graham, daughter of John Graham, afterward of Springville, Vernon county. In the month of October, 1846, he re-

moved to Bad Ax Co., Wis. At the time of his removal, however, all the country north of the Wisconsin river was embraced in Crawford county. About 1851 Mr. McMichael moved to Viroqua and lived there until his death, which occurred Feb. 18, 1861. He was abont forty- two years of age at the time of his death. In speaking of Mr. McMichael, the Northwestern Times, in its issue of Feb. 20, 1861, said:

"In losing William C. McMichael Bad Ax county has lost one of her oldest and most respect- ed citizens. Having held numerous offices in the county, he in all acquitted himself in such a manner as to build up a reputation for stern in- tegrity. In all his business transactions we have never known him to be accused of dishon- esty, and few men have lived more universally respected. His early education was limited, but he had improved his mind and enlarged his understanding by reading, and he took a deep interest in all the questions of the day. Natu- rally possessed of strong perceptive faculties,he could, perhaps, to a greater extent than most persons, foresee the order of events, and be prepared to meet them. His heart was a henev- olent one, and his mantle of charity was broad; and suffering humanity never appealed to him in vain for aid. He was strong in his attachments to his personal friends, but all who approached him were received with kindness of manner, which eminently charactized him. He was always ready to take an active part in what- ever concerned the village of Viroqua, or of Bad Ax county, and even the whole State of Wisconsin was embraced in his warm heart. Asa professor of religion, as a member of the Church, as a citizen in our community, he occu- pied a conspicuous position, and all have been accustomed to look to him for advice, counsel and encouragement. To-day the tomb receives him out of our sight. As the clods of the val- ley fall upon his coffin, we shall feel indeed that we are burying a friend, one in whom we all had an interest. But though a man die, he shall live again, and we will not forget that our

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

friend expressed confidence that he should sleep in Jesus, who is the Resurrection and the Life. The wife that is left to mourn, and the five lit- tle children that are left fatherless, shall have our sympathy, our aid, and our prayers."

Upon the expiration of William C. Mc- Michael's second term the two offices were divided, and an officer elected to attend to the duties of each separately.

CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT.

William C. McMichael was elected clerk of the circuit court in September, 1855, and served for two years.

John R. Casson succeeded Mr. McMichael, being elected in November, 1857, and serving a like term. He is the present county clerk.

In November, 1859, W. S. Purdy was elected clerk of the circuit court. In 1861, 1863 and 1865 he was re-elected, serving eight years in all.

H. N. Preus succeeded Mr. Purdy, by the election in November, 1867, and served one term. He afterwards became register of deeds.

In November, 1869, P. J. Layne was elected clerk of the circuit court, and being re-elected in 1871, 1873, 1875, 1877, 1879 and 1881, is the present incumbent.

P. J. Layne is the efficient clerk of the cir- cuit court, of Vernon county. He is a son of James H. Layne, who came to Viroqua in the spring of 1854. A personal sketch of this worthy pioneer will be found in this work. P. J. Layne was born in Floyd county in the grand old com- monwealth of Kentucky, noted for its fine hor- ses, beautiful women and large quantity and ex- cellent quality of its whiskey. He was but eight years of age when his parents removed to Wis- consin, and he was mostly reared and educated in his adopted county. When a young man, he was elected town clerk, and served as such a num- ber of terms. In the fall of 1869, he was elected clerk of courts of Vernon county, and his long continuance in this position is satisfactory evi- dence of his ability and faithfulness as a county officer. In 1872 Mr Layne married Alice Gor-

don, born in Grant Co., Wis., and daughter of John H. Gordon, who was one of the pioneers of Grant county, but now deceased. Mrs. Layne bore her husband two children, and departed this life in 1868. His present wife was Alvira Meade, a native of Waukesha, Wis., and daugh- ter of Henry Meade. She is the mother of one child. Mr. Layne is a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for years has been an active temperance worker.

COUNTY CLERK OR CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS,

Upon the division of the offices of county clerk and clerk of the circuit court in Septem- ber, 1855, A. K. Burrell was elected to the office of county clerk. Mr. Burrell came from New York in 1852 and settled upon a piece of school land in the town of Viroqua, south of the village. He tried to farm but soon gave it up and moved to the village. After serving his term of office he was deputy sheriff for some time; then went into the office of Graham & Terhune to read law, and was elected and served one term as justice of the peace. In 1875 he went to Kansas where he again tried farming but soon gave it up and is now in the grocery trade at Hutchinson.

Samuel MeKitrick was elected county clerk in November, 1857, and served two years. Sam- uel MeKitrick came from Morgan Co., Ohio, in 1856 and settled with his family in the village of Viroqna. He was a carpenter and builder. He lost his first wife, and married his second wife in Viroqua, remaining until about 1861 when he went to La Crosse and there followed his trade. Subsequently he returned to Vernon county and settled at Readstown, where he started a little steam saw mill. He has since moved west.

John M. Bennett was elected county clerk in November, 1859, and being re elected several times served until Jan. 1, 1867. John M. Bennett, now of Viroqua, settled in the town of Hillsborough in 1856. He was born at Stock- bridge, Windsor Co., Vt., where he lived until he settled in Vernon county. Mr. Bennett was

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

brought up on a farm also teaching school while a young man. He was a member of the Ver- non Legislature in 1858-9. He has lived in Ver- non county since 1856, except two seasons spent in Minnesota and two years spent in Juneau Co., Wis. His wife's maiden name was Lncia Thomas, she was born in Franklin Co., Vt. They have four children: Harriet, wife of William Mutch; Mrs Cornelia Williams; William T., of Hastings, Minn., and J. M. Jr., of Dakota terri- tory.

In November, 1866, John R. Casson was elected county clerk. He has been re-elected seven times-in 1869, 1871, 1873, 1875, 1877, 1879 and 1881, and is the present incumbent, having served the county a greater number of years than any other man who has ever held office here.

John R. Casson was first elected county clerk in November, 1866, and has served continu- ously in that capacity since Jan. 1, 1867. Mr. Casson was born in Albany, N. Y., March 2, 1833. His parents, llenry and Mary Casson, removed with their family to Brownsville, Penn., in the summer of 1833, and in 1848 again sought a new home, this time in the "far west." They located at Hennepin, Putnam Co., Ill., where the father, brother and sister still live; the mother died in 1872. When thirteen years of age Mr. Casson obtained em- ployment as a clerk, and was engaged alter- nately in clerking and attending school for some years. He finally went to Freeport, Ill., and a short time after, in December, 1854, came to Viroqua. He was employed as a clerk until August, 1862, when he enlisted in com- pany A, 25th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. Upon the organization of the com- pany, Mr. Casson was made 2d sergeant ; was promoted to a 2d lieutenantcy Sept. 13, 1862 ; elected as Ist lieutenant, Jan. 20, 1864, and chosen as captain of his company April 11, 1865. He participated in all the skirmishes and battles of "the 25th," "and with Sherman marched down to the sea." He formed one in

that glorious review of western troops at Wash- ington, at the close of the rebellion, and was . mustered out of service June 7, 1865. He re- turned to Vernon county, and was in the em- ploy of J. H. Tate, as a clerk, from Sep- tember, 1865, till December, 1866. In the fall of the latter year he was elected to his present position, and his character and actions as a citizen, a soldier, and a public official, have won for him the confidence and esteem of the community and the county at large. Mr. Cas- son married Lydia A., daughter of Dr. E. W. Tinker, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. They are the parents of four children -Harry I., a clerk in the pension department of the United States, at Washington, D. C .; Lulu E., wife of A W. Campbell, of the law firm of Harris & Campbell, Aberdeen, Dak. ; William E. and John E .- all natives of Viroqua.

SHERIFF.

Rufus Gillett was the first sheriff of the county, being elected in April, 1851. Rufus Gillett came from Illinois, in 1847, and settled upon a farm in township 13, range 4, now the town of Viroqua. He remained upon the place until the time of his death, a few years ago, and his widow still survives him. Mr. Gillett was a man of sterling worth and integrity. He held the respect of all who knew him.

James M. Bailey was elected sheriff in November, 1851, and re-elected in November, 1853. Bailey was a Kentuckian by birth, but came to Bad Ax county, from Grant Co., Wis., where he had been engaged at mining. He settled upon land on West Prairie, which is now included in the town of Sterling. About 1873 he removed to near Victory, in the town of Wheatland, where he still lives.

In September, 1855, Jeremiah M. Rusk was elected sheriff and served for two years. He is the present governor of Wisconsin.

William P. Clark succeeded J. M. Rusk as sheriff, being elected in November, 1857. Clark was a relative of, and came from the same place as did J. M. Bailey. He, also, settled

Relati Michael

PUBLIC LISA

ASTR, LEAUX AND 2

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

upon West Prairie, and remained until about the time the war broke out, when he removed to Victory. In 1882 he went to Tomah, Wis., where he still lives.

By the November election, 1859, William Goode succeeded Mr. Clark. Goode was a native of Kentucky. He came to Bad Ax county from Illinois, in 1852, and located upon land in township 13, range 5 west. Ile was a single man at the time, but married within a few years. Several years later he bought the old Decker place, which was the original site of the village, and moved to Viroqua. He re- mained in Viroqua until a short time before the war broke out, when he removed to Mel- vina, Monroe county, where he still lives. Goode was a prominent man in early days, and held various offices of trust.

Lewis Sterling was elected sheriff in Novem- ber, 1861, and served two years. Mr. Sterling was also a Kentuckian, and one of the earliest pioneers of western Wisconsin. He located upon a piece of land on West Prairie, now included in the town of Sterling, which town was named after the family of that name. Lewis Sterling remained upon the land which he first selected until after the close of the war, when he sold out and removed to Cass Co., Mo., where he still lives. He was a man of a great deal more than ordinary ability and intel- ligence. In fact, in pioneer days, he was among the most prominent men in the county.

C. E. Rogers was elected sheriff in Novem- ber, 1863. Mr. Rogers was born in Wayne Co., Penn., in 1834. In 1840 he came west to Wis- consin and settled at Ontario, now in Vernon county, where he was subsequently engaged in milling. When the war broke out he enlisted in company I, 6th Wisconsin regiment, and became lieutenant, serving as aid to Gen. Wadsworth' In the summer of 1863, he re- signed, came home and was elected sheriff. He soon abandoned the office, raised a company for the 50th regiment, and went into the ser- vice as captain. In 1866 he was mustered out |

and settled at Monomonee, Wis. He now lives at Chippewa Falls, where he is foreman for the Mississippi Valley Lumber Company. C. E. Rogers was married in 1856 to Emily Tuttle. They have seven children.

In November, 1865, Capt. R. S. McMichael was elected sheriff and served for two years. He is the present postmaster at Viroqua, and is noticed elsewhere at length.

T. B. Brown succeeded Capt. McMichael as sheriff, being elected in November, 1867. Mr. Brown came from Ohio in 1854 and settled upon a farm in what is now the town of Green- wood, Vernon county. Subsequently he moved to Viroqua, where he lived until the time of his death, which occurred in 1881. Mr. Brown was among the most respected of old settlers. He was a prominent man ; ran the postoffice during the war, and served as sheriff of the county more years than any other man who has ever filled the office.

In_ November, 1869, W. W. Lowrie was elected sheriff. VI. W. Lowrie came from the State of New York, and in 1855 located upon a piece of land in the town of Jefferson, Ver- non county. He was a single man at the time, but later married Mrs. Shaw. When be was elected to office he moved to town, where his home remained until the time of his death, which occurred while he was at LaCrosse, Sept. 19, 1870. His disease was con- tracted while he was in the army. He had a gallant soldier's record. He was in the Chicago board of trade battery. At Shiloh he was the only man who stayed uninjured with the guns, and with the repulse of the enemy, he arose, and without any help loaded a cannon and sent a shot flying after the rebels.

Upon the death of Mr. Lowrie, deputy sheriff Nathan Coe, of Viroqua, became sheriff ex- officio until the November election, 1870, when he was elected for ' he balance of the term.

In November, 1871, T B. Brown was again elected sheriff, and served for three years, the

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law at this time being changed so that sheriffs were thereafter to be elected in "even years."

Alexander Lowrie succeeded Mr. Brown, being elected in November, 1874. He was a brother of the former sheriff, W. W. Lowrie ; came here with the old folks and settled in the town of Jefferson, where Alexander made his home until the time of his death, which oc- curred a few years ago. He was an excellent citizen and made a faithful and satisfactory official.

In November, 1876, Calvin E. Morley was elected sheriff and served one term. Calvin E. Morley was born in Irving, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Nov. 12, 1843. His parents came west in 1858, settling in the town of Franklin, Ver- non, then Bad Ax county. In February, 1862, he enlisted in company C, 19th regiment, Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry, and served three years and four months. On the 27th of Sep- tember, 1871, he was married to Louisa J. Bliss, daughter of Ilon. Albert Bliss. In 1879 Mr. Morley engaged in the mercantile business, but owing to failing health, in 1880 he sold out and accepted a position as traveling salesman for Ricker, Crombie & Co., of Milwaukee. On the 16th of April, 1883, he was appointed aid-de- camp, with the rank of colonel, on the staff of Gov. J. M. Rusk.

James HI. Hewey, of Viroqua, was elected Sheriff in November, 1878, and served for one term. He is now proprietor of a livery at Vi- roqua, and also a member of the firm of Russell & IIewey, dealers in agricultural implements. He was born in Kennebec Co., Maine, in 1830, and in 1855, located at Janesville, Wis. The year following he came to Bergen town, in this county, where he purchased land. For a num- ber of years he was engaged in lumbering on the Black river, and subsequently owned a wagon shop at Chaseburg for five years. Dur- ing the war he served one year as a member of company L, Ist Wisconsin Heavy Artillery. In 1877, he became a resident of Viroqua, and in the fall of 1879 was elected sheriff of Vernon

county, serving in that capacity one term. Mr. Hewey enjoys a very fair trade, both in the livery and implement business. He married Phebe Davis, a daughter of Jesse Davis, who lost his life by drowning, in 1855. Mrs. Davis and family came to Vernon county after the death of her husband, and settled in Bergen township. She now resides in La Crosse, Wis. Mr. and Mrs. Hewey are the parents of three children, two living-Hannah and Effie. Ida died April 26, 1865.

Frank A. Wallar, succeeded Mr. Hewey as sheriff being elected in November, 1880. He came here with his parents in 1854, from Ohio and settled in the town of Sterling. Later they moved to the town of Genoa. When he was elected sheriff, he moved to Viroqua, where he lived until the spring of 1883 when he moved to Spink Co., D. T., where he still lives. Mr. Wallar was in the service as lieutenant of com- pany I, 6th Wisconsin. The following mention of his army record was made by Maj. Earl M. Rogers : "Lieutenant F. A. Wallar, the only soldier who never missed a 'battle or a meal,' mustered out with the company after four years of active service, as brave a soldier as

ever fought in the ranks. In the charge at Get- tysburg July 1, 1863, on the rebel General Archi- er's brigade, in the railroad cut where the fight was hand to hand, Wallar sprang into rebel ranks, seized the colors of the 2d Mississippi regiment, wrenched them from the hands of the color bearer, and jumped back to the ranks of his own company with his trophy of war. For that act of conspicuous gallantry, example of un- daunted bravery, courage and coolness, Con- gress, by a joint resolution voted him a medal of honor, which was presented to him in pres- ence of the brigade, in February, 1865."

In November, 1882, S. R. Pollard was elected sheriff of Vernon county, and is the present in- cumbent. He was born in 1841, at Newark township, Tioga Co., N. Y. He enlisted Feb. 22, 1862, at Binghampton, Broome Co., N. Y., in the 16th New York Battery, an independent

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

regiment, serving three years in the army. He participated in both attacks on Fort Fisher, was at the battle of Fredericksburg and was in front of Petersburg during Grant's siege of that city. Mr. Pollard was married in 1865 to Amanda Bullard, born in New York State. He came to Vernon Co., Wis., in 1866, locating in Franklin township, and engaging in farming until elected sheriff. During the re-union of the G. A. R., of which organization Mr. Pollard is a member, Sept. 4, 1882, at Viroqua, lie lost his arm by an accident. Mr. and Mrs. Pollard have two children-Dora B., born May 30, 1866, and Mancil E., born in March, 1870.

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.

When the county of Bad Ax was organized, the educational system of Wisconsin differed much from that of the present day. Then each civil town had a superintendent of schools. In the winter of 1860-1 the Legislature abolished the old system, and created the office of the county superintendent of schools.

While the county was organized as the civil town of Bad Ax, the first town superintendent was Michael Ilinkst. Ile was succeeded by W. F. Terhune.

The first county superintendent of schools was Rev. L. L. Radcliff, who was elected in November, 1861. He came to Viroqua as a Congregational preacher ; he was a thoroughly educated, industrious, methodical man and made a good superintendent. Upon him, as the first superintendent, devolved the hard task of in- augurating and setting in motion the wheels of the new system.

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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 35

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Union Number of Pages: 814

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Union
Number of Pages: 814