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 86
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Rev. Robert S. Mockett was born in Kent county, England, June 11, 1810. When eighteen years of age he joined the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and while yet a young man was engaged in the ministry. He did not devote his whole time to preaching, however, being also engaged in the boot and shoe trade. In 1850 he came to America, spending one year in New York city, after which he went to Mil- waukee, Wis. He there engaged in the boot and shoe trade, preaching occasionally until
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
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1867, when he came to Vernon county and pur- chased a farm in Webster, engaging in farm- ing and preaching. He occupied his farm until 1882, when he bought a house and lot in Star, to which he moved. Mr. Mockett now has charge of the Liberty Pole circuit, having five appointments. He has been twice married. IlIs first wife was Mary Hobbs, to whom he was married in 1832, and by whom he had four children, two of whom are living-Richard II. and John H. Their first child, Eliza, died when four years of age. Their other daughter, also named Eliza, wife of Edwin Ellis, of Jonesville, died in 1873, leaving two children. Mrs. Mockett died March 9, 1881. Mr. Mockett married, March 25, 1882, Almira A. Whiteman, of Warren, N. H., widow of Jonathan Harnden, of Wilmington, Mass.
Amos Carpenter, M. D., settled in Stark town in 1868. He is the only practicing physician ir the town. Ile belongs to the eclectic school of medicine, and has been successful in his practice. In 1882 he put up a building and opened a drug store. Hle has a labratory con- nected and extraets medicines from nativ. herbs. He is a native of New York, born il llerkimer county, near where Ilion now stands in 1822. At twenty-two years of age he entered the office of John W. Hersett, M. D., at Ger- man Flats, Herkimer county, and studied medicine with him one year. He then went to Lockport, N. Y., and studied with Drs. Samuel T. Teel and Herman D. Hall. In 1849 he commenced practice at Lockport and re- mained there until 1251, when he started west, and stopped at Richland, Ill., one year; then went to Monticello and practiced there until 1854, when he came to Richland Center, Wis. He spent two years in Richland Center, then came to Bad Ax county and spent the winter in Clinton. In 1857 he went to Bloom- ingdale, and there assisted in laying out the town. He remained there two years, then went to Avalanche and practiced there two years. In the spring of 1861 he went to Richland Centre;
bought a house and lot with the intention of settling there, but changed his mind, and three months later he removed to Ironton, in Sank county, where he remained three years, then went to Iowa, and stopped in Horton, Bremer county, through the winter, then went to Bradford, Chickasaw county, and remained there until 1868, when he came here, as before stated. Hle has been three times married. His first wife, to whom he was married in 1845, was Louisa Freeman, who bore him two children. The oldest one, Cyrus, went to the war and died in the service. The younger, John Wesley, now lives in New York. Mrs. Carpenter died in 1849, and he was again married in 1852, to Susan Slater. She died in 1854, leaving one child that died soon after. Ilis third wife was Elizabeth Leatherberry. Six children blessed this union-Lavina, Jasper, Cadwell, Loretta, Matt and Etta. He has filled offices of trust in the town, and was chairman of the board for several years.
Col. George W. Shattuck was born in Switzer- land Co., Ind., Ang. 28, 1835. When two years of age his parents moved to Lawrence Co., Ohio, where he grew to manhood. His early educa- tion was received at the district school, supple- mented by two years at Ewington Academy. He then engaged in teaching. Col. Shattuck was a gallant soldier during the War of the Rebellion. He first enlisted on the 4th of July, 186(, in a company of ninety day men, called the Ist Ohio Independent Cavalry. He was dis- charged at the expiration of his term of service and returned home. He again enlisted Nov. 6, 1861, in company H, 6th Ohio Cavalry, being mustered in as second lieutenant. Ile was for a time on Gen. Sigel's staff, also served with Gen. Sheridan, participating in the many battles of that army, and being honorably discharged at the close of the war. He was twice wounded; the first time at Lodd's farm, where he received a gun-shot wound in the foot; the second time at the battle of Dinwiddie court house, where he was severely wounded. He now draws a
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
pension of ten dollars a month. For gallant service and meritorious conduct he was pro- moted to captain, then to major, and afterwards to colonel. After his discharge he returned to Ohio and engaged in farming until 1870, when he was appointed railroad agent at Centre Station, Lawrence Co., Ohio. He remained there until 1872, when he came to Stark town, purchased land on section 24, and engaged in stock and grain raising. He was married Nov. 3, 1861, to Eliza Little, who bore him five children -- George, Sarah, Judith, Mary and Richard. On July 4, 1873, while the family were driving to Rockton, they were overtaken by a storm, and Mrs. Shattuck was injured by a falling tree, from the effects of which she died seventeen days later.
Robert Parker, merchant at Star, engaged in business in November, 1882, keeping a small but neat stock of goods such as is generally found in a country store. He is also deputy postmaster. Mr. Parker is a native of New York State, born in Buffalo in 1845. When ten years of age his parents emigrated to Wiscon- sin, settling in Racine, where they remained three years, then went to Buffalo, Marquette county, where Robert grew to manhood. In August, 1862, he enlisted in company G, 32d Wisconsin Volunteers, serving until the close of the war, being discharged in June, 1865. Ile was with Sherman in his march to the sea and participated in the many battles of that memor- able campaign. He was severely wounded Feb. 9, 1865, at the battle of Binnaker's Bridge, S. C., and is now a pensioner. After his discharge he returned to Buffalo. In 1866 he was mar- ried to Elizabeth Fish, born in Hornellsville, N. Y. Four children have blessed this union- Estella, Minnie, Della May and Eudora. Mr. Parker engaged in farming in Marquette county until 1874, when he came to Stark town, Ver- non county, purchased land on section 20, and engaged in farming. In 1882, as before stated, he engaged in business in the village of Star,
Ezra O. Pelton settled on his present farm in 1875. It is located on section 32, in the Kicka- poo valley. He was born July 16, 1832, in Cat- taraugus Co., N Y. When nine years of age his parents emigrated to Wisconsin, locating in Waukesha county, making his home here until the breaking out of the war. He enlisted May 10, of that year, in company F, 5th Wisconsin Volunteers, and went sonth. He participated in many skirmishes and a few battles, the most important of which were Balls Bluff and Wil- liamsburg. lle was discharged in 1863, on ae- count of disability, and returned to Waukesha county. In 1874 he was engaged to carry the mail from North Prairie to Fort Atkinson, be- ing thus employed for two years. He then came to Vernon county, and for three years en- gaged in farming. He went to Michigan, liv- ing there one year, then returned to Wisconsin and lived in Wankesha county until 1873. He then moved to Richland county, and after liv- ing there two years came to Stark town. Mr. Pelton has been twice married. His first wife was Emily Thomas, born in Michigan. One child blessed this union-Francis David. His second wife was Mary Burr, born in Winstead, Conn.
Jonathan Starner, blacksmith, came to Stark town in 1875. He was born in May, 1832, in Wayne Co., Ohio, where he grew to manhood. When young he learned the blacksmith trade. At eighteen years of age he moved to Elkhart Co., Ind., engaging at the carpenter trade After remaining there one year and a half he moved to Huntingdon county, where he also re- mained a year and a half. In 1855 he came to Wisconsin, settling first in Marshall (now Bloom) town, Richland county, where he had the year previous purchased land He remained here until 1870, working at the carpenter trade and also running a grist mill. He then went to Forest, running a grist mill and blacksmith shop there until 1875, at which time he came to Stark, as before stated, and opened a black- smith shop in the village of Star. One year
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
later he purchased land on the north bank of the river, where he erected a dwelling house and shop, and has continued in business here since that time. Mr. Starner was married in 1853 to Myrem Staley, born in Stark Co., Ohio. Five children have blessed this union, two of which are living-Samuel J. and Sarah M.
Henry Millard, merchant, was born in Rush- ville, Ontario Co., N. Y., July 22, 1855. lle was less than two years of age, when his par- ents came to Vernon county and settled in Ontario. His early education was received in the district school supplemented by two years at the High School, at Sparta. In 1872 he en- tered Wayland Institute, graduating from there in 1874. He then went to Milwaukee and entered a printing office to learn the trade, re- mained there about a year and a half, then returned to Ontario. In 1876 he went to Viro- qua and took charge of the mechanical depart- ment of the Vidette, a political paper. He continned there until the close of the cam- paign, after which he returned to Ontario, where he elerked in his father's store until 1879, when he engaged in trade at Star. In 1881 he put up a building on section 29, about one mile south of Star, and is now doing busi- ness at that place. He has a general store, keeping dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, hardware, crockery and notions. Mr. Millard was married in January, 188:, to Louretta H. Carpenter. Two children bless this union- Mary E. and Oscar A.
J. Alanson Hurd, one of the pioneers of Richland county, was born in Utica, Oneida Co., N. Y., April 21, 1815. When he was but two and a half years of age, his parents re- moved to the western part of the State, and settled in that part of the Holland purchase, now known as Erie county. He remained there until twenty years of age, when he again pushed to the frontier, this time settling in Boone Co., Ind. He was there married in 1841 to Jerusha A. Springer. They remained in Boone county until 1848, and then started
with ox teams on the 28th day of May, of that year, for Wisconsin, bringing their household goods with them, and camping out on the journey. On the 24th day of June they arrived in Richland county, where the husband pur- chased land in town 9, range 1 east, now known as the town of Orion, built a log house and immediately commenced to make im- provements. lIe was elected first clerk of the first school district organized in Rich- land county. He cleared a farm and re- mained there until 1870, when he came to Ver- non county and bought a farm on section 3, of the town of Union. In 1874 his house was consumed by fire, and he built another. In 1880 he traded that farm for his present home on seetion 2, town of Stark. Mrs. IIurd was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., in 1820. When five years of age her parents started west with teams, and settled in Erie county, remaining there until 1838, when they again started with teams, this time settling in Boone Co., Ind. She has made her way west from Caynga county over-land with teams, and has reached her present home without crossing a railroad track.
Levi Millison, a general merchant in Star, commenced business here in March, 1883. lle is the son of George and Ann Millison, and was born in Mercer Co., Penn., in March, 1852. In 1855 his parents came to Wisconsin and set- tled in the town of Sylvan, Richland county, where his father died two years later. He lived with his mother for a short time after that, then went to live with Channey Lawton, with whom he remained until 1861, when he started out for himself. He was employed by the farmers in this and Richland counties, and later he ran an engine in a saw mill. During this time he had attended school and acquired a fair business education. In 1880 he engaged in mercantile trade at Bowen's mill, Richland county, and continued in trade there until 1883, when he came to Star, as before stated. JIe was joined in marriage, in 1872, to Mary, daughter of Jacob and Ann Dash, early settlers of Richland county. Four children have blessed this union-Ida, Nora, Eddie and Harry.
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
CHAPTER XLV.
THE TOWN OF STERLING.
The territory bearing the above name lies in the southern part of Vernon county, and is bounded on the north by the towns of Harmony and Jefferson, on the east by the town of Franklin, on the south by Crawford county, and on the west by the towns of Wheatland and Genoa. The town of Sterling embraces parts of four different congressional townships -town 11, ranges 5 and 6; and town 12, ranges 5 and 6 ; in all, forty-six whole see- tions and four half seetions.
The surface of the town is quite rolling and in some places very hilly and rough. The Bad Ax river flows from east to west through the northern part of the town, and several of its tributaries flow into it from the south. This river has a very winding channel and flows over a stony bed between high and abrupt bluffs.
The soil varies from a rich dark loam to a mixture of sand and clay, the former being highly valuable for the raising of all kinds of cereals.
A considerable portion of the town is covered with a light growth of timber, and there are but few places where the timber is heavy.
The inhabitants are of different nationalities, including American, Norwegian, German, English and Irish, the last named being but few in number. The people are, as a class, in- dustrious and hospitable, and possess some of the best farms in the county.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first settlement in the town of Sterling was effected May 12, 1846, by Harvey Sterling
and family. The family consisted of his wife and two sons, Lewis and Lee Grant, a nephew, James Clark, and America Sterling, a neice. Mr. Sterling was a native of Maryland. He came to Prairie du Chien by way of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. From Prairie du Chien he went to Mount Sterling in Crawford county, where a part of the family remained while the two sons, Lee Grant and Lewis, came to the east half of section 10; of town 11, range 6, and erected double log cabins, after which the family moved to their new home. Mr. Sterling died in September, 1855, and his wife in 1869. In 1884 Lee Grant was the only mem- ber of the family living in the town, his brother Lewis having moved to Cedar Co. Mo., and James Clark to California. It was from this family of Sterlings that the town finally took its name. The lands entered by Mr. Sterling were the second entered in what is now known as Vernon county.
Mrs. William Clark, a widowed daughter of Mr. Sterling, came in 1847, and entered the northeast half of the southeast quarter of section 10 and the west half of the southwest quarter of section 11. ' She built a log house in which she lived for several years. It was in this cabin that the first school in Vernon county was taught and the marriage ceremony in the town also took place here.
Another settler of 1847 was George Nichols, who came from Grant county and settled on section 31, town 12, range 5. In 1>54 he sold to C. N. Johnson and removed to Viroqua and later moved to Chain Lake, Minn.
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
Henry Chandler, a native of Vermont, settled in the town in 1847, loeating on section 18, town 12, range 5. He sold, in 1856, to James Bailey and settled again at Retreat. He served in the army during a part of the Rebellion and finally died at Retreat in January, 1868.
The third settler of the town was Alexandria Latshaw, a native of Indiana, who came May 15, 1847, and entered land on seetions 3 and 4, town Il, range 6. He was quite prominent and held several places of trust. He taught the first school in the town. He finally sold out and re- moved to Vietory.
Among the settlers of 1849 were William S. Purdy and Alexandria Vanee. The former was a native of Indiana and settled on section 3, town 11, range 6, where he remained till 1860, at which time he sold out and moved into the village of Viroqua.
Alexander Vance was a native of Virginia, but came to this county from Indiana and settled on section 5, town 11, range 5, where he was still living in 1884.
In 1850 Nathaniel Cox, a native of Kentucky, located in the town and lived in various parts of the town, but in 1884 was a resident on sec- tion 4, town 11, range 5.
William Heaverine, of Kentucky, also located, in 1850, on section 17, town 11, range 5, where he died in 1862.
Samuel Davis settled on section 4, of town 11, range 5, in 1852, and was still a resident of the same traet in 1884.
The first Norwegian settler in Sterling town was Albert Nash, who settled on section 17, town 11, range 5, in 1851. He died in the I'nion army during the Rebellion. The Lu- theran Church and parsonage were afterward erected on the lands which he settled on. Following him came Andrew and Scott Thomp- son, two Norwegians, who came from Dane Co., Wis., in 1853, and entered land on sections 17 and 18, town 11, range 5.
John MeCormick was the first pioneer who faced the hardships coincident with western
life in the Bad Ax valley. He came to that part of Sterling town through which the Bad Ax river flows, in 1852 or 1853, and located on section 16, town 12, range 6, where he built a log cabin and lived until 1855, when he sold ont and removed.
Isaac Cone, a native of Maine, came from Rock Co., Wis., in 1853, and settled on section 9, town 11, range 5. He moved with ox teams and was eighteen days on the road. Hle im- proved his land and remained thereon till his death. Ilis adopted son, Isaac Peaslee, came with him and in 1884 was the possessor of the homestead.
David Davis also accompanied Mr. Cone to this county and entered land on section 16, where he remained till his death.
Another settler of 1853 was George King, a native of Vermont, who came to Vernon county from Ozankee Co., Wis., and located on section 7, town t1, range 5, where he remained till 1870, and removed to Howard Co., Iowa, where he still lived in 1884.
In 1854, among the Norwegians who came in for settlement were C. N. Johnson and Levi K. Ramset. The former came from Norway to California, and from that State to this vicinity, and finally bought land on section 31, town 12, range 5, from George Nichols, and remained on the same until the time of his death. His family were still on the old home- stead in 1884.
Levi K. Ramset, who was also a Norwegian, came from Dane county and entered land on section 30, town 12, range 5.
John Johnson also came in 1854 and claimed a part of section 8, town 11, range 5, where he still lived in 1884.
The first German to locate in Sterling town was Nicholas Weber, who came in 1854 and final- ly settled on seetion 21, town 12, range 5, where he still lived in 1884. His brother Henry came in 1856 and settled on the same section.
John Campbell, one of the firstactual settlers of the Bad Ax valley, in the town of Sterling,
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
was a native of Ireland, born in the county of Down, in 1804. In 1826 he came to America, first stopping in Canada and from there to Onei- da Co., N. Y., where he lived for eighteen years, to 1>55, when he removed to Bad Ax county, settling on section 16, town 12, range 5, where he remained for eleven years and moved to see- tion 21. He was married in 1826 to Mary Brown, also a native of Ireland, born in 1811. By this union there has been reared a family of ten children.
Perry Curtis, a native of New York, came to the town in 1855 and settled on section 5, town 11, range 5, where he lived several years and then removed to lowa.
Among the number who came in 1856 were: Sorn Jerman, Leonard Wakefield and David A. Bean. Sorn Jerman was a native of Norway, who came to Dane Co., Wis., and located on section 17, town 11, range 5, where he died in 1875. Leonard Wakefield and his son Elijah came from Illinois in the spring of the year and settled on section 35, town 12, range 6. The father died some time prior to 1883, at which date the son was living on the homestead. John Whitney came with them, entering land on the same section, but afterward moved to De Soto. David Bean, who was a native of Windsor Co., Vt., came in during the summer of 1856 and lo- eated on seetion 33, town 12, range 6. Ile was a practicing physician but devoted most of his time to his extensive farm.
Brightman Collins, a native of Bristol Co., Mass., settled in this town in 1857, purchasing a farm on section 15, town 12, range 6, where he remained till his death in 1883. He was a Bible student of considerable note and it is said by those most acquainted with him that he could repeat a large portion of the scriptures. In re- ligious belief he was an Advent and occasional- ly preached that doctrine and was for years of the opinion that the world was to come to an end in 1884, and in this faith he died.
Cyrus Barney, a native of New Hampshire, came from Illinois in 1857 and entered land on
section 8, of Sterling town, and there remained until his death in 1875. His wife died in 1882.
Robert MeMynn, a native of Indiana, also lo- cated in 1857 on the southwest quarter of section 11, where he remained a few years and then lo- cated in Missouri.
P. D. Minor, another settler of 1857, eame from Grant Co., Wis., and settled on section 14, on land which his father had previously entered.
EARLY EVENTS.
One of the earliest marriages in the town was that of John Tewalt and Celia Cox, at the house of William Heaverin.
Henry Chandler was married to Martha A. Clark in the winter of 1848-9. At the same time James Bailey married Elizabeth Clark, a sister of Martha Clark.
The first child born in the town, was a son to Alexander and Mary (Clarke) Latshaw, June 18, 1847.
ORGANIC.
The records of the first town meeting were lost or destroyed by some accident, and all that is known concerning it, is that Allen Donald- son was elected the first chairman, and also served as the first justice of the peace ; and that Lee Grant Sterling was elected town treas- urer, but failing to qualify, the place was filled by William S. Purdy. Lewis Sterling was one of the two men who constituted the first side board.
The town officers for 1883 were as follows : Jolın M. Vance, chairman, E. Anderson and John Miner, supervisors ; P. T. Mullin, clerk ; John C. Johnson, treasurer ; Arnt Westrum, assessor. P. M. Peck, and Samnel Davis, jus- tices of the peace ; J. C. Grow, L. C. Schoen- berger and Joseph Brzazumsky, constables.
EDUCATIONAL.
The first school in this town was taught in 1858, by Axlie Morgan, in a cooper shop be- longing to Hiram Delap. The first school house was erected in 1864, on the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 15. Amelia
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
Lind was the first teacher in this building. In 1884 the town had nine school houses.
Retreat school district first had a school taught in a log house belonging to the widow Clark. This school was taught by Alexander Latshaw. The first school building proper erected was on the southwest quarter of section 10. It was a grout house. A frame house was erected in 1873, located on section 10. Thomas 'Tenney was the first teacher.
Distriet No. 3 held its first school in a log house owned by B. S. Abrams, located on the northwest quarter of section 21, town 12, range 5. This school was taught by Mary Bul- wer in 1858. A school house was built in 1868, which is still in use.
The first school taught in district No. 4 was in Richard Myers' house, in 1857, by Henry Morgan .. There were only three scholars --- Clarence Bean, Jane Shaw and Laura Sanderson. This school was operated on the subscription plan. A school house was built in 1858 on the southwest quarter of section 33, town 12, range 6. Mrs. Elizabeth Morgan taught in this build- ing first.
In district No. 5 the first school was taught in a log house belonging to Leonard Wakefield, on the northeast quarter of section 2, town 11, range 6. This school was taught by Josephine Hurd, in 1858. In 1860 a school house was provided on section 2. A little later this bui'd- ing was moved to the northeast quarter of the same seetion.
The first school house in district No. 6 Was built in 1857, located on section 25. This log structure was used by the district until 1830, when a frame house was provided, which was located on section 24, on land owned by Lewis Thompson. Frank Johnson was the first teacher here.
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The first school in district No. 7 was held in David Davis' house on section 16. This school commenced in December, 1854. Laura King, afterward wife of Issac Peaslee, taught this term of school. A log house was built in 1855, on
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