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 71

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 71

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Felix K. Van Wagner was born in Ulster Co., N. Y., in 1827. He married Mary Gorsline in 1848; removed to Calhoun Co., Ill., in Octo- ber of the same year; remained there until 1852 ; removed to Grant Co., Wis .; lived there until 1856 ; moved to Vernon county and settled on section 13, town of Franklin. Re- mained there until 1864. Moved with his fami- ly to Viroqua, in said county of Vernon ; en- listed in the 42d regiment as a sergeant and was detached from the regiment as chief of military police. Remained in that position until discharged at the close of the war, when he came home and remained in Viroqua until 1867. Bought the farm of 120 acres on section 18,

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

town of Franklin, of John Anderson, first set- tled on by Mr. Eaton. Mr. and Mrs. Van Wag- ner have had eight children, of whom three died in infancy, one, at the age of twenty, and four are now living-Sarah, wife of Alexander Morrison, deceased ; Mary, wife of Daniel Wise; Augustus and Etta.

William Cox resides on section 15, where he located many years ago. He was born in Lin- colnshire, England, in 1835, and when quite young was taken to raise by his uncle, Rev. John Whitworth. In 1850 Mr Cox accompa- nied Mr. Whitworth and family to the United States. They came to Wisconsin and located in Vernon county. Mr. Cox purchased the farm where he now resides from Mr. Whitworth. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in the 18th Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Champion Hills, Jackson, siege of Vicksburg, Altoona, and with "Sherman marched down to the sea." He mar- ried Jane J., daughter of Abner Conkling. Mr. and Mrs. Cox have four children-Lester W., Edwin W., Erminine B. and Harvey T.

George W. Bush is a life resident of Vernon county. Ilis father, George Bush, Sr., was born in Pennsylvania, in 1810. He was there mar- ried and five children were born to him. Ilis wife died and he again married, this time to Mrs. Eliza (Sult) Connor. They came to Ver- non county in 1853 and settled at Viroqua. Mr. Bush was landlord of the old "Buckeye House" for several years, and afterward carried the mail and passengers on the stage route between Viroqua and Prairie du Chien. In 1859 he came to Franklin town and bought a farm on section 20, where he lived till his death, Feb. 28, 1875. The children by his first wife were named Elias, Morris, Mary, Emily and Theo- dore. His second wife was the mother of three children-Harriet, Sarah and George. Mrs. Bush died in December, 1868. George W. was born on the old homestead, April 26, 1857. Ile married Bibalonia, daughter of John Smith, born in Vernon county. They have one son --

Charles. On the death of his father, Mr. Bush came into possession of the home farm, which contains 120 acres.

Oscar S. Henry has been a resident of Ver- non county since 1851, and is classed among the pioneers. Hle resides on seetion 18, of this town, on a farm owned by II. D. Williams, of Viroqua. Mr. Henry was formerly a resident of Illinois, and in the fall of 1851 came to Vernon county with his brother, Samuel. In the summer of 1852 he bought some land in the town of Viroqua and converted it into a good farm. This farm he subsequently sold to Ralph Hall, and it is now owned by his widow, Mrs. Martha Hall. In 1862 Mr. Henry came into the town of Franklin, where he has since resided. He has been a justice of the peace for four years. While living in Illinois Mr. Henry married Lucinda Bowman, who was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., Jan. 3, 1835. She went to Illinois with her father, Nicholas Bow- man, when eight years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Henry are the parents of three children-Mary, wife of Albert Brott; Phineas S. and Hattie, wife of John Henderson.

Knndt Hoverson made a settlement in this town in 1862. He was born in Bergen Stift, Norway, in 1806, and came to America the same year, he located in Vernon county. His second son, Martin, preceded him one year, and enlisted in Dane Co., Wis., in the 11th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and died at St. Louis, Mo., while in the service. The eldest son, Hans, remained in Norway. Mr. Hoverson first purchased eighty acres of land on section 15, and since then has increased his farm to 320 acres. Mr. Hoverson has two children living in the town of Franklin- Martha and Einar. The latter was born in Norway, in 1845, and lives with his father on the home farm. He married Betsey S. Thomp- son, and they have four children living-Knudt M., Johanna, Sever and Rodina. They lost one son, Soren.

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

William Clements settled here in 1863. He was born in Athens Co., Ohio, and is a son of John Clements, who died in 1880. His pater- nal grandfather, James Clements, was the first settler in Athens Co., Ohio. He was a Spaniard by birth, and educated for the priesthood. He never adopted his profession. William Clem- ents located in the town of Franklin, and pur- chased forty acres of land of Thomas Munyon. The remainder of his land he bought from Eleph Divie. He married Jane, daughter of Thomas Munyon, and they have nine children, seven sons and two daughters.

Luther Thompson resides on section 33, where he settled in 1863. He was born in December, 1839, in Bergen Stift, Norway, where he lived until 1855, and then came to America with his father, Andrew Thompson ; the latter died in the town of Franklin, Vernon county, in March, 1875. Mr. Thompson located here in 1863, purchasing a farm of 140 acres of Nelson Cady. Mrs. Thompson came to this country with her father, John O. Sveen, in 1857. The latter died in Christiana town, in December, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have five children-Thomas, Ida Marie, Albert Julius, Emma Jonnete and Thea Chrisdine. Osten Johnson Sveen, who resides with Mr. Thompson, was born in Gudbrands Dalen, Nor- way, Feb. 11, 1842, and came to the United States with his father, John Anderson Sveen, in 1857. The latter died in the town of Chris- tiana, Dec. 7, 1878. Mr. Osten J. Sveen has no family

Hon. Christian Ellefson came to this town in 1866, and now owns a farm of 280 acres on section 14. Mr. Ellefson was born in Lysters, Bergen Stift, Norway, April 20, 1842. He received a good education, and in 1860 emi- grated to America. He lived for a short time each in Dane Co., Wis., Dakota, Sioux City, Iowa, and in 1866, settled in the town of Franklin. Mr. Ellefson has been a prominent citizen for many years. He has been chairman of the town board and treasurer and assessor of

the town. He was committed to the interests of the republican party until 1878, when he was the nominee of the independent part for assemblyman. He was elected, and re-elected in 1882, by 288 majority ont of a total of 1,543 votes. Ilis wife was Lena Michael, a native of Norway. They have six children.

Ferdinand Getler was one of the settlers that located in the spring of 1855. He leased a farm for several years, and finally bought land in the town of Sterling. He purchased his present farm of James Ilornby in February, 1869. Ile now owns 179 acres. Mr. Getler was born at Schoharie, Schoharie Co., N. Y., in 1815. He is a son of William Getler, who was of German parentage and born on board the vessel which brought the famous La Fayette to our shores to espouse the cause of American liberty. He lo- cated with his parents in eastern New York, and died at Schoharie Court House at the age of over 100 years. Ferdinand Getler learned the tailor trade in his native town, and followed it for many years, both before and after coming to Wisconsin. When he came to Vernon county he was very poor, and his wife assisted him at his trade for many years, and to her is entitled much of the credit of their success in life. Mrs. Get- ler's maiden name was Ellen Van Dusen, of Holland descent. Her father, Jacob Van Dusen, died when she was quite a child, and her mother still resides with her daughter at an ad- vanced age. Mr. and Mrs. Getler are the par- ents of twelve children, eight living-Helen J., divorced wife of James IJornby; Margaret, wife of Robert Hornby; Benjamin, John, William, Samantha, wife of James Latshaw; Cornelia, wife of Willard Bowman and Carrie, wife of William Jackson. Three of their sons were in the Union army. Ferdinand was a member of the 18th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer In- fantry and accidently killed at Jackson, Miss.

Ole E. Soloi, who resides on section 33, and is better known as Ole Ericson, was born in the village of Havslo, Bergen Stift, Norway, July 4, 1833. He came to the United States in 1856,

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

and located at Sparta, in Monroe Co., Wis., and afterward at West Prairie, in the town of Sterling, in this county. In 1861 he married Betsey A. Thompson. and in March, 1866, he came to the town of Franklin, and bought a farm of Mr. Richards, one of the early settlers of the town. This farm now comprises 120 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Soloi have four children- Edward E., born at Sparta, Wis., in 1862; Thom, in the town of Sterling, in 1864; Henry, born in 1866 and Peter, in the town of Frank- lin, in 1869.

Benjamin Williams resides on section 18, town 12 north, of range 4 west. He bought his farm in 1876 of T. B. Appell. Ile settled in Vernon county in 1866. Mr. Williams was born in South Wales in 1839. He there learned the trade of a blacksmith and came to the United States in 1866, the same year that he settled in the county. He located first at De Soto, and engaged in work at his taade, and went to Vir- oqua in 1872, where he also followed black- smithing. His farm contains ninety-five acres. Ile married in Wales, Elizabeth Deere. Her father was John Deere. Mr. Williams' father also bore the Christian name of John. Mr. Williams at his present location is engaged in farming and blacksmithing.

N. Christian Peterson is the present wagon maker at Liberty Pole. He was born in Den- mark, in 1$35, and there learned the wagon maker's trade. He emigrated to tl.e United States in 1869, and came direct to the town of Franklin, succeeding Peter Jacobson in the wagon business. Mr. Peterson is an excellent workman, a man of intelligence and highly re- spected by the entire community.

Knudt Peterson is a member of the firm of Fortney & Peterson, dealers in general mer- chandise, at the village of Liberty Pole. IIe was born at Utica, Crawford Co., Wis., in 1855. His father, Nels Peterson Bjorkem, was a na tive of Norway and an early settler in Crawford county. Mr. Peterson came to Liberty Pole in 1874 and was a clerk for; Williams Bros., until

1878. He was then employed in the same ca- pacity by Geo. H. Tate & Son, of Readstown and remained with them one and a half years. Re- turning to Liberty Pole, he clerked for C. D. Williams until Nov. 1, 1882, when the present firm purchased the stock of goods of Mr. Wil- liams and have succeeded him in the business. Mr. Daniel T. Fortney, the senior member of the firm, is a native of Kickapoo town, this county; is a farmer.

Andrew Burns is an old settler of the State of Wisconsin, but has resided in Vernon county only a few years. He was born in county Kil- dare, Ireland, about 1822, and lived there until twelve years of age. His parents, Peter and Margaret Burns, died in Ireland, and Andrew came to the United States when about seventeen years of age, with his brother Thomas, who now resides in Chicago. Mr. Burns first stopped at Fall River, Mass., where he worked in the fruit factory of Andrew Robinson and made his home with his employer. In 1846 he located in the town of Cedarburg, now in Ozaukee county where he lived seven years. In June, 1854, he removed to Crawford county and seven years later to the town of Bangor, La Crosse county. In1876 he came to Vernon county and bought of Eldad Rogers, a farm on section 30, now com- prising 220 acres of land and well improved. Mr. Burns was married in New Jersey to Sarah Booth, who is a native of Hudson, N. Y., and re- moved to New Jersey with her parents when five years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Burns have had eight children, three living-Sarah, wife of Edward Riley, of La Crosse, Marcella and Peter J. Louis N., Mary A., Lucinda and two infants are dead.

Abram Newville owns a farm of 120 acres on section 14. He is a son of Jeremiah Newville, who was one of the pioneers of Franklin town. Mr. Newville was born near Albany, N. Y., in 1>10, where he was reared. He married Ra- chel Lawson and removed to Michigan. lle subsequently located in Illinois, and went from there to Vernon Co., Wis. He settled on the farm his son Abram now owns, where he lived till his death, which occurred about 1860. Abram was born in New York and came to Vernon county some years after his father. He married Mrs. Jane (Davis) Pidcock, a native of Pennsylvania. They have one son, Jeremiah, who resides on a farm near his parents. Mrs. Newville had three children by her former hus- band - Hugh, Letitia and John C.

HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY

527

CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE TOWN OF GENOA.

Genoa was organized in the spring of 1870, a portion of it being taken from the town of Bergen and a part from the town of Wheatland. It is bounded on the north by the towns of Ber- gen and Harmony, on the east by the towns of Harmony and Sterling, on the south by Wheat- land town, and on the west by the Mississippi river. It is seven miles in distance north and south and six miles from east to west, and com- prises territory embraced within congressional townships 12 and 13, ranges 6 and 7 west. It contains an area of about 24,000 acres.

The town is watered by two branches of the Bad Ax river: the north branch entering the town on section 36, passing through a corner of this section into section 37 of town 12, where it unites with the other branch which enters the town on section 17, runs northwest through sections 17, 8, 7 and 12, where it makes a junction with the north branch. From sec- tion 12, the main stream courses through sec- tions 11, 14, 15 and 16 and there unites with the Mississippi river.

There are many spring brooks arising along the bluffs of the Bad Ax river, which are tribu- taries to this stream. The general surface of this town is extremely rolling. The valleys and table lands being the best farming lands.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first settler was William Tibbitts, who entered 160 acres of land on section 22, in 1850. He was followed the same year by Elias Shisler, who entered 120 acres of land on section 22, where he was still living in 1884.

John Ott, one of the wealthiest farmers of the town of Genoa, entered forty acres of land on section 34, in 1853.

Ferdinand Guscatte settled where Genoa now stands, in 1855, and engaged in the manufacture of wagons.

William Stephenson came in 1856 and pur- chased eighty acres of land on section 17, where he was still living in 1884.

Charles Brown came the same year (1856), and entered forty acres of land on section 20.

John Fopper came in 1857 and settled on sec- tion 28, of which he purchased eighty acres.

Maj. N. W. Hamilton was one of the settlers of 1858. He was born in Fayette Co., Ind., in 1820, and settled in the town of Jefferson, this county, in 1854, where he entered land which lie afterward sold to Ramsey and Miller, and then entered eighty acres of land in the town of Genoa, on section 4, moving there in 1858. Mr. Hamilton was married to Alnudia Clark, in 1853, by whom he has four children-Emla, Isabell, Irila and Jenett. He was the first school treasurer of the town of Genoa, and held the office for eleven years.

Among others who settled in this town at a later date were: James M. Bailey, James Stevenson, W. H. Knower and Elijah Powell.

James M. Bailey was born in 1815, in Virgina, and settled in Vernon county, near Viroqua, in 1849. He was under sheriff, and at the follow- ing election was elected the second sheriff of the county. He moved to the town of Genoa in 1877, and settled on section 19, town 12, range 7 west. He was married to Elizabeth

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

Clark in 1847, by whom he has three chil- dren-William, Jennie and Edward.

James Stevenson was born in Ireland, in 1840, and came to America in 1857, and to the town of Genoa in 1863, where twenty years later he was still living on a farm of 200 acres on section 12. He was married in 1862 to Isabel Hamil- ton, of Vernon county.

Elijah Powell, who was born in 1820, in Mercer Co., Ohio, came to this town in 1865, and purchased 160 acres of land on section 4, town 13, range 7. He was married in 1842 to Mary Rayner, who died in 1843. In 1844 Mr. Powell married Martha McKee, who died in 1854, and in 1862 he again married a Miss Shelby. Mr. Powell has been the father of seven children.

W. H. Knower, one of the most intelligent farmers in Vernon county, was born in 1830, in Rockfield, Mass. At ten years of age he moved with his parents to the eity of New York, where he received a thorough education, and came west in 1850 to better his health. He taught school in Milwaukee in the winter of 1850-51, and in 1855 came to Vernoncounty and taught school until 1865, when he settled on his farm in the town of Genoa, on sections 1, 2 and 11, of township 12, range 7 west, where he owns 240 aeres in one tract. He was married in 1852 to Mary Elliott, of Bangor, Maine, by whom he has had four children-George, Charles, Susie and Franklin.

FIRST EVENTS.

The first couple married in the town of Genoa, was David Hastings and Miss Kelsie, in 1856.

The first birth of a white child was J. W., son of Samuel and Martha Kelsie, in 1854.

The first school was taught in 1855 in a log house, afterward used for a hotel.

The first religions services were held at the residence of Samuel Kelsie, by Rev. Delap, in 1856.

The first school house was built, in 1860, on sec- tion 28, where the village of Genoa now stands.

The first school was taught by Sarah A. Bacus, in 1856.

The first death in the town was David Hast- ings, in 1856.

ORGANIC.

The first election of what is known as the town of Genoa, was held April 7, 1860, at the village school house of Genoa. The first officers were : E. Page, chairman, Peter Shum- way and Willis Masker, supervisors ; William Burlock, clerk ; John Greeman, treasurer ; Willis Masker, assessor. Officers of 1883 : William Riley, chairman, William Hall and August Vegline, supervisors; Mathew Monti, clerk ; Barnard Gadola, treasurer ; John Car- penter, assessor.

SCHOOLS.

The first school in the town of Genoa was taught by Sarah A Baens, in 1855, on sec- tion 28.

In 1884 the town contained six school build- ings, valued at $2,200. The town at this date had a school population of 357.

RELIGIOUS.

The only religious societies in Genoa, in 1884, was that of the Roman Catholic, who organized at an early day. This Church is made up largely of Italians. Other denomina- tions have held meetings from time to time at school houses.

POSTOFFICES.

Genoa postoffice was established in 1854, on section 29, on the site of the village of Genoa. The first postmaster was Jacob Kelsie, who was after a time succeeded by James McGrath, Mathew Monti, Wm. Burlock and J. B. Bozola, who was postmaster in 1884.

Romance postoffice was established in 1854, on section 6. The first postmaster was John Tewalt. He was succeeded by William Fox, who still held the office in 1884.

THE VILLAGE OF GENOA.

This village was laid out and platted by Joseph Monti, on section 28, in the year 1854,

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

and was first named Bad Ax, after the only river in the town of Genoa. For a time it was thought the name Bad Ax quite appropriate as the people were for years kept in fear, by the bad characters that constantly infested their vicinity, from off the Mississippi river, as it was quite a steam-boat landing for steamers, plying up and down the river. However, in 1868, the people thought the name had a tend- ancy to keep the town from being settled by the better class of people, and hence they changed the name. The original plat of the village contained twenty-one blocks. Block 12 was donated to the public, for public nses, by Joseph Monti, and afterward became the public square

The first house was erected by David Hast- ings, in 1853. The first store was opened by .Joseph Monti, in 1854. A wagon shop was put in operation at once; also a blacksmith shop run by Ferdinand Guscetti.

A hotel was erected in 1854 by Sylvester Lupi.

The first saw mill was built by William Officer, in 1858. The business of the place il 1884 was represented as follows : Mathew Monti and Albert Zabolia, dealers in dry goods. boots, shoes, crockery and hardware.

J. P. Monti, proprietor of the only hotel.

Albert Guscetti, blacksmith and wagon shop.

The St. Charles Catholic Church was organ- ized in 1862, and a church edifice erected two years later, in the village of Genoa. This building was 24x36 feet, and cost $500. The Church was organized by Rev. Father Marko. In 1884 the Church numbered about 300.

CEMETERIES.

There were two cemeteries within the town of Genoa, in 1884. One situated a half mile from Bad Ax city ( Genoa ), on land owned at an early day by Samuel Kelsie, on section 21. The other burying place was on section 28.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Edward Cox, one of the pioneers of Vernon county, was born in Indiana, in 1832. In 1848

he removed to Prairie dn Chien, Wis., and lived there for two years. In 1850 he settled near Springville, in the town of Jefferson, and since then has resided in several different town- ships. He has followed boating most of his life. Mr. Cox was a member of the Ist Wis- consin Battery during the late war, and was honorably discharged in 1865. He was married, in 1855, to Matilda Powell. Of their four children, two are living-Sherman and Eddie. Roscoe and Rosa are deceased. Mr. Cox lost his wife in 1871, and in 1874 married Caroline Oliver. He owns two lots in the city of La Crosse, Wis , and his wife owns sixty acres of land in the town of Genoa, and three lots in the village of Genoa.

John Ott, one of the pioneers of the town of Genoa, was born in Germany, in 1820. When ten years of age he came to America with his parents and they first settled in Butler Co., Penn. Mr. Ott remained there for twenty- three years, growing to manhood and obtaining a good common school education. In 1853 he came to Vernon Co., Wis., and finally entered forty acres of land on section 34, in town 13 north, and range 7 west, which sub- sequently became the town of Genoa. The country was new and sparsely inhabited, and the trials and privations of a pioneer life were many. Mr. Ott was willing to accept his share of hard work and labored manfully, early and late, to clear the farm and make a home for his family. His landed possessions increased slowly and he now owns 200 acres. In 1840 he was married in Pennsylvania to Barbara Smith. This union was blessed with four children, three of whom are living-Henry, Mary, wife of Lemuel Gorman, and Charles, who married Clementina Monti. Samuel is deceased. Mrs. Ott died in 1877, and in 1881, Mr. Ott was again married to Catharine Lupi.

Elias Shisler has been a resident of Genoa town for twenty-nine years. Ile was born in Perry Co., Ohio, Feb. 12, 1827, and was mar- ried to Nancy Barnes March 27, 1844. After this

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

union he removed with his family to Allamakee Co., Iowa, resided there two years and assisted in the survey of the county. He then came to Bad Ax (now Vernon) county, and located in the vil- lage of Victory, town of Wheatland, and while a resident there served as chairman of the board of town trustees, and two years as constable. He has resided in the town of Genoa since it was organized as a town, and after traveling over fourteen States and three territories has ar- rived at the conclusion that Vernon county meets his approval better than any county he has ever visited. Mr. Shisler has been thrice married. His second wife was Eliza Conroad. They were married Nov. 5, 1855. He had one child by his first marriage, four by the second mion and three children by his present wife, all dead but one son of the second wife, Amos by name.

Ferdinand Guscetti, who lives on section 28, came to this town in 1855. He was living in Jo Daviess Co., Ill., and there carried on the manufacture of wagons. At the earnest solici- tation of Joseph Monti, of this town, he was in- duced to come to Genoa and became a settler in 1855. Ile located in Genoa village when the country around was quite a wilderness and was a wagon maker there for many years. He finally sold his shop and bought eighty-two aeres of land on section 28, where he now lives. In 1864 Mr. Guscetti enlisted in the 1st Wis- consin Heavy Artillery and served through the war. He was married in 1840 to Mary Buffi. Of seven children born to them only three are living-Matthew, Juliett, wife of Daniel Biffi, and Catharine.

Charles Brown, who was one of the early set- tler of the town of Genoa, was born in Ireland, in 1829, and in 1849 emigrated to the United States, and first settled in the city of New York. Hle followed boating from that port to New Or- leans for two years and then moved to White Co., Ind., but not being satisfied, went still further west, and located in Lake Co., Ill., where he remained two years, and then re- i at the close of the war. His mother, Elizabeth

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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 71

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

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