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 69
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character, but very fine farm lands are found on the bluffs, while those in the valleys are better adapted to the raising of stock on a large scale.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
In May, 1855, Waldo Stewart came into what is now the town of Forest, and selected a quar- ter section of land on section 26, which he entered, and on which he resided till 1879. He then sold the old homestead and removed to Illinois, where he departed this life in 1881. The second settler was a native of the "Green Mountain" State. This was Nathan Sherman. Ile located 200 aeres on section 12, and moved there in the fall of 1855, where he still lives. lle has been a prosperous farmer, and in 1856 was a member of the town board.
John C. Tabor made a settlement here in 1855, entering land on section 1. The same year a Mr. Eno and family removed out here from Connecticut, and located eighty acres on section 31. A son of Mr. Eno, Edgar by name, still resides in the town.
Germany furnished another bettler in 1855 in the person of Henry F. Stelting. He entered 120 acres of land on section 3.
Thomas Andrews and Jonas Hubbard came in the early spring of 1856, and settled on sec- tion 13. Mr. Hubbard yet resides there, but Mr. Andrews is deceased.
Albert Kies came about the same time and entered land on section 12. Mr. Kies is now living in the village of Ontario.
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY
Old Vermont again furnished a new citizen and J. B. Nofsinger made his new home on eighty acres of timbered land on section 33. Mr. Nofsinger was made chairman of the town board in 1857 and held that office for eight years.
These early settlers were soon followed by Cyrenius Lumbart and Matthew Ellis; Samuel Baldwin, who settled on section 12; John W. Williams, who located on section 15, and many others whose names cannot be recalled.
FIRST THINGS.
The first settler was Waldo Stewart, who lo- cated here in May, 1855.
The first person deceased was Albert Kies in 1856 the same year he came
The first birth in the town (white) was Sarah, daughter of Philander and Miranda Chandler.
The first school was taught in 1856 in a log house, thrown together to take advantage of the school fund. It was located on the south- west quarter of the northwest quarter of section 12. Roseldah Sherman taught the first school.
The first marriage in the town was James Morgan to Mrs. Jerusha Kies (widow of Albert Kies, deceased), in 1857, Benjamin Roberts, J. P., officiating.
The first sermon was preached by Rev. Israel Burch in Mr. Sherman's log house in 1856.
ORGANIC.
In the spring of 1856 permission was asked of the county board of supervisors for the erection of a new town to be called Forest. The re- quest was granted and the town set apart. On the Ist of April of the same year an election was held and the following officers were elected:
Chairman, Giles White; assistants, Nathan Sherman and J B. Nofsinger; clerk, William C. Stelting; treasurer, John C. Tabor; assessor, Giles White; superintendent of schools, John C. Tabor.
The present officers of the town are as fol- lows:
Chairman of the board, R. S. Sherman; as- sistants, J. N. Ledman and L. Baldwin; clerk,
J. J. Marshall; treasurer, E. Eno; assessor, William H. Stelting.
RELIGIOUS.
The first to organize a religious society was the United Brethren sect, who organized in 1856. The first pastor was Rev. Doolittle.
The Christians also formed a society at an early date, and continued about four years, holding meetings at the Forest school house.
The Wesleyan Methodist Church, of Forest town, was organized in 1857 at the residence of John Markee by Rev. Cooley, who preached the first sermon. The following named minis- ters have officiated in the order they are named: Rev. John Markee, Rev. De Lap, Rev. Bray, Rev. De Lap, Rev. Townsend, Rev. John Markee, Rev. De Lap, Rev. Good, Rev. Mul- inx, Rev. Vandresden, Rev. Buckner, Rev. Hol- comb, Rev. Harris and Rev. McNoun, the pres- ent pastor. The present membership of the congregation is about thirty, and the present trustees are: John Markee, F. M Cleveland and G. Eastman.
EDUCATIONAL
Over twenty-seven years have elapsed since the little log school house was erected on section 12. In these twenty-seven years the population of Forest has increased between eight and nine hundred per cent., and in 1880 numbered 889 sonls. Better and more educational facili- ties are needed at the present time, and the 442 school children of Forest now meet in nine school houses, scattered over the entire town, with an aggregate value of $3,955.
POSTOFFICES.
The town is well supplied with postal facili- ties, in fact, as much so as any town in the county. The first established was at Mount Tabor. This was located on section 1, in 1856, and J. Clark Tabor was the first postmaster.
He was followed in conseentive order by John Howell, R. S. Sherman, Eli Sherman, Nathan Sherman, Eli Sherman and John Malosh, the latter of whom is the present postmaster.
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
The Burr postoffice was established in 1859, on the south line of section 23, and at the inter- section of several important roads. Wesley Barton was appointed as postmaster, and he was succeeded by J. Linch, who was postmas- ter in 1884.
In 1863 it was thought necessary to have an office in the southern part of the town, and Goole postoffice was therefore established. Wil- liam Giles, the first postmaster, was succeeded by James Kiel, incumbent in 1884.
Valley postoffice was located on section 31, in 1865, for the benefit of the settlers in the western and southwestern portions of the town. Fred Meyers first assumed the duties of the of- fice, and was succeeded by William Copley. Mr. Copley died while in office, and his widow remained in charge until D. A. Lawton, the present official, took charge of the office.
CEMETERIES.
In 1884 the town contained two burying grounds, the oldest of which is situated on the southwest quarter of section 1. The other on section 26, near the church.
Earnest Lodge, No. 212, of the Good Temp- lar's order, was organized by the following char- ter membership, Jan. 1, 1881: Mary Sherman, Eli Sherman, George Pepper, Ann Pepper, N. F. Sherman, Emma Sherman, Clara Roberts, John Jeffries, O. J. Jeffries, Henry Pepper, Harrison Pepper, Clarence Sherman and A. Sherman. In 1884 this lodge had a live mem- bership of thirty-eight.
PERSONAL SKETCHES.
The following notices include the names of the most influential and respected citizens of the town. They are deserving of more than passing notice, on account of their prominence in the different lines of business in which they are engaged.
Benjamin Roberts, one of the first settlers of the town of Forest, was born in 1816, in Franklin Co., N. Y., where he received a com- mon school education. Mr. Roberts resided in his native town until 1854, when he came to
Wisconsin. He first located in Walworth county, but only remained one year, and then moved to Vernon county, and entered 200 acres of land in the town of Forest, on section 1, where be still resides. At the time Mr. Roberts came to Forest town, there were only two fami- lies in the town, those of Nathan Sherman and J. B. Nofsinger. The first winter, he was com- pelled to sell his only team to obtain money to purchase provisions, but has since been very prosperous. Mr. Roberts was united in mar- riage to Maria Tabor, in 1843. Mrs. Roberts was born in 1821, in Lower Canada, and came to the United States in 1837. They have had six children, one of which, Milan, was killed in a railroad accident, between St. Paul and Min- neapolis. Five children are living-Elizabeth, wife of Lewis CInte, D. C., who married Lucinda Burris; Clayton B., married to Maria Fowler; Lucias T., who married Rose Vincent, and Clara. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have nine grand-children, Josie, Grace and Raymond CInte; William and Mirtie Roberts, and Linn, and an infant, the children of Clayton B. Roberts, and Edna and Edmond, children of Milan Roberts, deceased. Mr. Roberts was elected justice of the peace in 1856, at the first town election.
In the fall of that same year, and about the time that Benjamin Roberts had located here, a sturdy German and his family, including two sons-William C. and Frederick, came here from Hendricks Co., Ind., and were content to begin life anew in the wilderness of timber that covered Forest. Dederick Stelting was born in Germany, in 1796, and emigrated to these United States, in 1838. He resided several years in Pennsylvania, and subsequently in Maryland and Hendricks Co., Ind. In the latter country, he lost his wife Elizabeth, who was born in Germany, 1802, and died in 1854. Soon after, Mr. Stelting removed the remain- der of his family to Dane Co., Wis., and in the golden days of October or November, came to i the town of Forest, and made a new home for
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
his children. He resided with W. C. Stelting until his death, Feb. 25, 1883.
William C. Stelting, one of the sons men- tioned, was born in Prussia, in 1828, and accompanied his father through to this town. Mr. Stelling entered for himself eighty-nine acres of land on sections 14 and 23, and by industry and economy has been enabled to increase his possessions to 209 acres. He is one of the prominent citizens of the town, and when it was first set off, served one year as town clerk Since that period he has officiated as chairman of the town board fifteen years, and treasurer three years. In 1860 he married Sarah A., daughter of John and Permelia Markle. They have nine children-Permelia E., Lizetta E., Otto J., Witto A., Samary M., Alfretta and Loretta ( twins, aged nine years ), Waldo and Essie.
Frederick Stelting was born in Prussia, in 1834, and accompanied his parents to America when quite small. In Hendricks Co., Ind., ho learned the cooper trade, and worked at it unti his removal to this town, in 1855. In connec tion with a brother, he located 200 acres of land on section 14, where he has since lived He has been energetic and frugal, and has in- creased his farm to 311 acres, most of which is well improved. He served as one of the town supervisors for one year, and in 1863 married Miranda Markle, who was born in 1844. Seven children have been given them, but only two survive-Herman T. and Austin G. The deceased are C. A., Bird C., Oscar D., Alice and Elsie.
John Revels was but a boy of ten years when his father came into the town of Forest, in 1855. He was a native Hoosier, and born in Orange Co., Ind., in 1845. He grew up to manhood in the town of Forest, and has always made this his home. He has been en- gaged in agricultural pursuits through life, and now owns forty acres of land on section 6. In 1863 he enlisted in the 3d Wisconsin Cavalry, and was discharged in 1865, on account of his
eyes being injured by coming in contact with burnt powder. Mr. Revels was married, in 1865, to Tempa C. McCord, of Vernon Co., Mo. They are the parents of six children- Mary J., Eddie M., John W., Court, Ettie and Herman. Mr. Revels is a member of the Richland United Christian Conference, and is trying to vindicate God's Holy word.
C. M. Carr, one of the most prominent attor- neys at law, and business men and farmers of this part of Vernon county, was born in Thompkins Co., N Y., in 1817. When eleven years of age, his parents removed to Cuyuga county, in the same State, where our subject grew to be a man, and was engaged in farming and milling. In 1855 he removed to Wauke- sha Co., Wis., and for two years was engaged in the saw-mill business. He then entered 120 acres of land in the town of Hillsborough, in this county, and employed his time at farming. Ile made his home there for twenty-four years, increasing his land to 140 acres and practicing the profession of law. In 1866, he was appoint- ed by the governor, to the position of super- visor for the eastern district of the county, when the entire county board consisted of but three members, and held the office of justice of the peace for two terms. In 1881 he disposed of his farm, and purchased eighty acres of land on section 23, in Forest town, where he has since resided. For the past twenty-five years, Mr. Carr has enjoyed an extensive practice in the justice courts, and is a man highly esteemed by all. Ile was married, in the winter of 1845, to Emily Pierce. They have five children-Isaac F., Harry B., Casion M., Lucia M. and Nelson R.
Richard J. Harris, who has been a citizen of the town of Forest for twenty-one years, was born in Rock Co, Ill., in 1848. In 1853 he was taken by his parents to Stoughton, Wis., and there remained for two years. They then removed to the village of Munford, in Grant county, and there engaged in keeping hotel for two years. Their next move was to Richland Center, Richland county, and three years later (in 1860) to the town of Forest. The elder
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
Mr. Harris bought 160 acres of land on section 16. He now resides on section 14. He owns 480 acres of land, and is one of the most thriv- ing and prosperous farmers in the town. On Jan. 1, 1872, he married Harriet Trail, and the fruits of this nnion have been the birth of five children. Three are living-William H., Nettie J. and George T. Cora, the oldest, died in 1874, and Franklin J. in 1881.
J. J. Marshall, a native of the Buckeye State, settled here in 1865. He was born in Jefferson Co., Ohio, in 1842, and in 1856 accompanied his parents to the town of Union in this county. In 1865 Mr. Marshall purchased a farm of eighty acres on section 31, and immediately moved thereon. He has increased his farm to 220 acres, and is considered one of the repre- sentative men of this town. During his resi- dence here he has been honored with the office of town supervisor three years, and town clerk five years, was assistant postmaster in the State Senate, in 1883. He was united in marriage, in 1863, to Mary S. Poorman. They have nine children-John L., Elihn F., Mary E., Flora E., Moses B., Sidney J., Nettie, Esther A. and Jessie F.
John Lathrop, one the prospering farmers of the town of Forest, was born in Cambridge, Vt., in 1838. He there resided until 1863, when he went to Franklin Co., Vt., where he engaged in farming for five years. In 1868 he came to the town of Forest, and purchased eighty acres of land on section 22, which farm he has increased to 200 acres. Mr. Lathrop was mar- ried in 1861 to Delia Leach, by whom he had two children-Charlie and Nellie. He was so unfortunate as to lose his wife in 1878. Ile was again married in 1880 to Lonisa Woods, and they have one child-Adelia. His daughter Nellie is now the wife of Lawrence Gregory. Mr. Lathrop has been one of the constables of Forest town for five years.
John Shaw was born in 1829, in New Hamp- shire, where he remained until 1841, when he removed to Milwaukee, Wis., and shortly after
to Wankesha county, where he lived twenty- seven years, and then removed to the town of Forest, where he engaged in farming. Mr. Shaw now owns a pretty little farm of forty acres on section 32, where he resides. He was mar- ried in 1856 to Helen Ilay, by whom he had one child. Mrs. Shaw died in 1857. Mr. Shaw again married in 1859 Henrietta Beebe, and they have six children-Helen, Henry, Charles, William, Inez and Milan. Helen is now the wife of Eli Sherman. Mr. Shaw was a member of the 7th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer In- fantry ; enlisted in 1864, and was honorably discharged in 1865.
Elijah Bass was born in North Carolina in 1836, and his parents removed to Ohio the same year. He lived in the Buckeye State until 1870, when he came to the town of Forest and purchas- ed thirty-two acres of land on section 28, where he now resides. Mr. Bass has increased his farm to 152 acres. Mr. Bass was married in 1861 to Elizabeth O'Neal, born in 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Bass are the parents of twelve children- Ransom, aged twenty-one, Matilda, aged twenty, William, aged nineteen, Zachariah, aged seventeen, Mansfield, aged fifteen, Caro- line, aged eleven, Ardelia, aged nine, Victoria, aged seven, Martha, aged four, Jewell, aged three, and Simon, aged one and half years. Ma- tilda is now the wife of Warren Newell.
J. C. Rodgers was born in 1855, and is a na- tive of Rock Co., Wis., where he remained until 1860, when his parents then removed to the town of Greenwood in this county. In 1870. Mr. Rodgers came to the town of Forest, and purchased 160 acres of land on section 6, where he now lives. Mr. Rodgers was married, in 1875, to Phebe Gandy, who became the mother of one child - Myrtle. Mrs. Rodgers died in 1878, and he subsequently married Mrs. Jane Pointer. Mrs. Rodgers had one daughter by her former husband-Eliza- beth. Mr. Rodger's father, A. W., was born in 1829, in New York. His mother, Sarah, was
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
born in 1837, in New York, and is now. living with her husband at North Hudson, Wis.
Napoleon B. Lathrop, a brother of John La- throp, was born in Cambridge, Vt., in 1841, where he resided thirty years, and having learned the trade of carpenter and joiner he went to Canada in 1871, to work at his trade. He remained there two years, and in 1873 re- moved to the town of Forest, where he remained but a short time, and then went to Clayton Co., Iowa, and worked at his trade for three years, and at the end of that time he returned to For- est town, where he has since lived. When he first came he purchased eighty acres of land on seetion 22, which he now owns. Mr. La- throp was married in 1880 to Jane Smith. They have two children-Harvey and Eliza. In 1861 Mr Lathrop enlisted in the 2d regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry, and at the battle of Savage Station was wounded in the left shoulder; and at the battle of Fisher's Hill he was wounded in the right side of the face; and at the battle of Cold Harbor was shot out of a tree with wounds in the back and right hip. At this time he was acting as a sharp shooter. having been detailed in 1863 as one of the Vermont sharp shooters.
Jesse Delaney was born in Vernon Co., Ind., in 1860. He is a son of Robert and Sarah De- laney. The latter died in 1877, and the former in the town of Forest, in 1880. Mr. Delaney grew to manhood in his native county, and in 1877, while a young man, decided to come west and build up his home among the people of the Badger State. Ile came to Forest town in 1877, and owns forty aeres of land on section 8, where he now resides. In 1882 he was united in mar- riage to Emma, daughter of William M. and Mary A. Carson. Mr. and Mrs. Delaney have one son-Gideon.
James Kile was born in 1820, and received a common school education. In 1845 he re- moved to Rock Co., Wis., and there engaged in farming for one year. He then removed to Wiota, Wis., and a year later removed to Mos-
eow, in this State, and lived there fifteen years. In 1877 he came to Vernon county and pur- chased eighty acres of land on section 33, where he now resides. In 1864 Mr. Kile and son George enlisted in the 37th regiment, Wiscon- sin Volunteer Infantry, and were discharged in 1865. Mr. Kile was married in 1840 to Huldalı Van Norman, who was born in 1821. They have four children-George, who married Laura Burdick; Mary, wife of Wallace Spears; John, who married Julia Salisbury, and Guila, who married Catharine Salisbury.
John HI. Wells was born in New York, in 1839, and lived there until he was eighteen years of age. He then came west to Dane Co., Wis., and there engaged in farming until 1862. In the latter year he enlisted in the 23d regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was honor- ably discharged in 1865. He participated in the following named skirmishes and battles: Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Black River Bridge, siege of Vicksburg, siege of Jackson, Miss., Spanish Fort and Grand Caton. At the latter he was taken prisoner on Nov. 3, 1863, and was eon- fined until Dec. 25, 1863. At the close of the war Mr. Wells returned to Dane county, and here remained until 1877, when he removed to the town of Forest, and purchased eighty aeres of land on seetion 1, where he now lives. He was married in 1860 to Maria Thompson, who was born in 1839. They have one daughter- Ilattie, aged ten years. Mrs. Wells is the daughter of James and Lydia Thompson.
Alfred Weaver, a native of North Carolina, became a resident here in October, 1879. He was born in 1831, and in September, 1844, ac- companied his father's family to Fayette Co., Ohio. In the fall of 1848 they removed to Grant Co., Ind., where Alfred, was married to Sarah D. Revels in the autumn of 1851. In 1859 he removed his family to Sauk Co., Wis. and in March, 1864, enlisted in the 29th regi- ment, Illinois Volunteers (colored), and served twenty months. He returned to Wisconsin, and in 1870 removed to Indiana with his wife and ten children. In 1873 himself and wife were divorced, and in 1877 he married Mary Certain, who is the mother of one ehild. In October, 1879, he settled on section 8, in For- est township, where he has since been engaged in farming.
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXXV.
THE TOWN OF FRANKLIN.
The town of Franklin is situated in the southern part of Vernon county, and comprises parts of congressional townships 11 and 12, ranges 4 and 5. It has an area of fifty-two sec- tions or about 33,280 acres. It is bounded by the towns of Jefferson and Viroqua on the north, Viroqua and Kickapoo on the east, Crawford county on the south, and the towns of Sterling and Jefferson on the west.
The only streams within the borders of this town are a few small creeks, among which are, Tainters, a branch of the Kickapoo river, and a branch of the lower Bad Ax river. The general surface of the country is very rough and hilly. Among the objects of natural enri- osity in this town is "Monumental Rock," which is described in another chapter.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
To John McCullough is ascribed the honor of having made the first actual settlement in the town of Franklin. He came in 1844 and afterward entered land and did some breaking. The next spring he brought his family on. His claim was on section 25 of township 12, range 5 west. In 1852 he, with a number of others, went to California, remained a year in the gold region, and wrote to his brother that he was about to return, but he was never afterward heard of, and it is supposed he perished on the plains.
In 1845 George P. Taylor located on section 30 of township 12, range 4. He remained till 1882, at which date he sold to J. C. Adkins.
Henry Siefert, a bachelor, came in 1845 and settled on section 18, where he built a log
house. Ilis mother soon came and kept house for him a number of years, when they removed to Iowa.
Another settler of 1845 was Samuel Rice and his brother Hiram. The former brought his family with him. His wife died a year or two after their arrival and he married again, but left his family and moved to Mackinaw, Mich.
Abram Stiles settled at Brookville on section 15, in 1846 or 1847.
Dr. Swain and Rev. James A. Cook also came the same season.
Edward Davis, who was among the pioneers of the town, settled on section 35, township 12, range 5. He was a resident of the county in 1884, but not living on the same land on which he first settled.
Andrew Briggs, a man of considerable ability, and who was afterward a member of the State Assembly, settled in the town at an early time. He removed to Readstown, where he died.
Michael Hinkst settled on the north half of the southwest quarter of section 31, township 12, range 4, Aug. 6, 1847, where he was still living in 1884.
Another early settler was Anson Tainter, whose settlement dates back to 1848. He was born in Virginia, Ang. 19, 1823. His father was Stephen Tainter, a native of Massachusetts. A. G. Tainter married Rachel J. Tobler. Mr. Tainter is one of the well known and well to do farmers of this town ; his residence is on section 11. He owns over 400 acres of land in Vernon county, and 160 acres in Crawford county. Mr. and Mrs. Tainter have been
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
blessed with twelve children, ten of whom were living in 1884.
Among other settlers in the town was Ran- som Lamb, who removed from Virginia, his native State, to Illinois, and from there to Franklin township in 1850, where he remained till his death, in 1871.
Besides those mentioned as being among the first settlers were : George Pike, L. D. Smith, John Britt, Andrew Henry, James Lawrence, William Utley, E. Inman, Ira Wixcox, Isaiah Adams and Daniel Read, who built the Reads- town mill. All of these came prior to 1853.
C. C. Fortney, an early settler, was the son of Christian O. Fortney, who was born in Nor- way, and came to America in 1856, settling in the town of Franklin, on section 10, township 11, range 4, where he remained till his death, Jan. 11, 1869. He left a wife and two children. C. C. is the only one now living. He was born in Norway in 1846. He married Margaret Jones, daughter of Elling Johnson, an early settler of the town of Liberty. Mr. and Mrs. Fortney have five children-Christine, Christo- pher, Gustave, Carrie and Eliza.
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