Fountain Prairie Town (part 11 of 11)

JAUES UtAMBLiE, farmer. Sec. 12; P. 0. Portage City; born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1816; son of David and Margaret Gamble, both of whom died in Ireland; they had one son in America at the time of their death, and soon after a daughter, who was married to Isaac Cochran, came over with her huseband, bringing James, who was then about 122 years old, with them; they settled in the State of Maine, where James was married when he was 21, to Margaret Donnel, who died Sept. 29, 1877, in Fort Winnebago, aged about 60 ; soon after his marriage, he went to Providence, R. I.; lived there twelve and a half years ; then, in 1853, came to Wisconsin and located on his present farm. Has eight children living - Mary, David, Eliza, James, John, Robert, William and Nellie ; lost two, one died in infancy, and Peter died at the age of 17 ; his youngest daughter, Nellie, lives at home, and keeps house for her father. He is not a member of any church. Has about 200 acres of land.

JAMES HUME, Sr. (retired); Sec. 3; P. 0. Post Hope; born Feb. 17, 1811, in Linlithgowshire, Scotland, Parish of Bathgate ; son of James and Janet Hume. Was married the first time in his native place, in February, 1831, to Ann Walker, who died Sept. 14, 1875; he was married again, Sept. 14, 1876, to Alvira Perkins, who was born Oct. 20, 1823, in Newtown, N. H., daughter of Samuel Eastman, and widow of Wyatt Perkins, who died in the army in 1865, was in Co. I, 37th W. V. I.; Mr. Hume has four children living - James, Robert; Janet, now Mrs. Edward Bennett, of Butler Co., Iowa, and Margaret, now Mrs. John Ellis, of Marquette Co., Wis.; Mrs. Hume has three children by the first husband - Charles E., Frank, and Mary, now Mrs. George Cuff of Marcellon. Mr. Hume is a Republican ; has been Supervisor three terms, and is a Presbyterian ; Mrs. Hume is a Methodist ; he has 105-acre farm in Buffalo, Marfjuette Co., and 2* acres with his residence on Sec. 31, in Fort Winnebago ; Mr. Perkins came to Wisconsin in 1847, and lived in Dane Co. ten years, then in Richland Co., five or six years, then came to ColuraKia Co., and lived two years in Dekorra, and she lived after that in Marquette Co. till her marriage with Mr. Hume ; Mr. Hume came to America in 1850.

A. Z. JIALTBY, farmer, Sec. 15; P. O. Portage City; born March 5, 1833, in Cayuga Co., N. Y. Was married in Cortland Co. N. Y., at Cincinnatus, in 1852, to Lois Rogers, who died in June, 1857, leaving three children - Herman, Belle and Ada; Herman died in 1872, aged 19 ; Belle is now Mrs. E. S. Baker, of Portage City, and Ada lives at home and is unmarried. Mr. Maltby was married the second time in Tompkins Co., N. Y., in 1857, to Deborah Bangs, who was born Feb. 27, 1825, in that county ; came West in 1867, and settled in his present location ; has three children by the second marriage - Elisha, Mary and George ; lost one child, Adolphus, died in 1S6G, at the age of 6 months. In politics, Republican, and is the present Asse.s.«or of the town; has 85 acres of land ; Mr.s. Maltby is member of the M. E. Church ; he learned the cabinet-maker's trade when young, commencing it at the age of 14, and followed that business till he came to Wisconsin.

AAROi\ SAXDFORD (deceased), was born Aug. 21, 1832, in Oneida Co., N. Y., in the town of Dalton ; son of Aaron and Sarah Sandford ; came to Wisconsin in 1850 and located in the town of Ft. Winnebago. Was married June 2, 185'j, to Sarah L. Eastman, daughter of Calvin Eastman, Sr., whose biography is given in connection with that of his son, Calvin, Jr.; she was born Aug. 11, 1833, in Poultney, Vt. Mr. Sandford enlisted in iMarch, 1863, in the 3d W. V. C, Co. B, and died on the 23d of the next August, at Little Rock, Ark.; he left two children - Calvin Irving, born April 7, 1861, and Charles Gilbert, Sept. 20, 1862. Mrs. Sandford and the two boys are living on the homestead; own 30 acres of land ; P. 0. Portage City. Mrs. Sandford is guardian for Miss Carrie A. Spicer, daughter of Avery T. and Laura C. f Eastman) Spicer.

RUSSKL SPICEK, farmer, Sec. 4; P. 0. Portage City; born Nov. 6, 1814, Otsego Co. N., Yc; son of Shubol and Sally (Coates) Spicer; when 6 years old, his parents removed to Allegany Co. N. Y., where he spent his early life, and was married there, July 12, 1S40, to Christiana Wright, who died Dec. 16, 1859, aged 39 years ; was married again, Feb. 6, 1861, to Catharine Collins, who was born March 26, 1820, in Tyrone, North of Ireland, and came to America with her parents when 2^ years old. Mr. Spicer came to Wiscon.«in in September, 1849, and settled on the farm he now owns, and has resided there ever since ; has eight children - Amos, lives in Monroe Co., Wis.; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Ross Gamble, of Nebraska; Christiana, now Mrs. John W. Chase, also of Nebraska; Tacey, at home; Wm. S. in Nebraska ; Mary A., Joseph R. and Clinton R. at home, the last two by the second wife. lie is a Republican, and has 160 acres of land. Both are members of the Baptist Church.

JOHN SWKANEY (deceased), was a native of County Derry, Ireland, and his wife was a native of the same county; came to America in 1842; lived temporarily in Clinton Co., N. Y., near Plattsburg ; also in St. John's, Canada East, and New Hampshire, near Concord ; came to Wisconsin in June, 1849, and about the 1st of the nest September settled on Sec. 26, in the town of Fort Winnebago', where he resided until his death, Dec. 3, 1874, aged 82 ; leaving eight children - Lawrence (now in Texas); John i in Pittsburgh, Penn.) ; Charles (in Fort Winnebago) ; Isabella C, James A. and Michael A., are all living on the homestead, which con.sists of 600 acres of land ; their mother, at the age of 70, is living with them ; the youngest daughter, Mary J., is a member of the Dominican Order, and known in the order as " Sister Mary Philip," living in Galena, 111., at present. Had lost one son before his death - Barnard J., who died May 26, 1S65, in his 20th year; Andrew, died March 20, 1873, aged 44. For the last few years of his life, he had been studying with a view of entering the priesthood of the Catholic Church, and had nearly completed his studies, having attended St. Francis' Seminary, in Milwaukee, Wis., Seminary of the Holy Angels, at Niagara Falls, N. Y., and spent .'ome time at East St. Louis, Mo. Are members of Catholic Church, and Democrats. P. O. Portage City.

JONATHAN WHITNEY, farmer, Sec. 3, and Postmaster at Port Hope; was born July 29, 1820, in Windsor Co., Vt.; came to Wisconsin in 1844 ; taught school two winters, making his home in Milwaukee, and being engaged in buying wheat during the summer and fall of each year. In May. 1846, he bought some land in Machford, Green Lake Co., then went East and stayed till September, when he returned to Wisconsin and settled on his land ; lived there two years, and, in September, 1848, came to Columbia Co., and settled in his present location. He was married. May 7, 1848, to Ellen R. Rood, who was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., March 7, 1829 ; has seven children - Ellen M., Mary L., Guy, Cooper, Clara L., Hattie E. and George M., all at home except the first two; Ellen is Mrs. F. Bloom, of Fort Winnebago, and Mary L. is Airs. Charles E.Perkins, of Colby. Marathon Co., Wis. ; has lost three children : Almeron W. was in the 37th W. V. I., Co. A, and was killed in the three-days battle before Petersburg, Ya., June 18, 1864, aged 16; Culver died in 1854, at the age of 10 months, and one died in infancy.

Town Of Lowville

Mr. Whitney is a surveyor, and was engaged in that business from 1850 till 1863 ; was afterward County Surveyor two years ; was Chairman two terms, 1850 and 1851 ; was Justice of the Peace two years, and has 96 acres of land ; is a Republican, and has been Postmaster ever since 1849, except three years of the time.

ALFRED \HLLCOX, ftirmer. Sec. 12 ; P. 0. Portage City; was born in Somersetshire, England, June 24, 1812. Was married in England, May 23, 1840, to Ann, daughter of William and Sarah A. Savage, born in the same county he was ; he was hired as a farmer ; came to America in 1855, and settled on the farm he now owns ; first bought 120 acres with only 8 acres cleared ; had heavy timber, but has kept adding to it till he now owns 532 acres, 150 acres of it under improvement, and has good farm buildings ; 160 acres of his land is in Sec. 8, in Maroellon, adjoining the farm of William Goodman, where they are mining for silver ; has the west half of the east half of section ; has three children - John Alfred, Albert and Sarah Ann, the last two at home. Mr. Willcox is a Republican, and has been Supervisor and Justice of the Peace ; both members of the Baptist Church.

J. B. WOOD, farmer. Sec. 22; P. 0. Portage City ; born Dec. 20, 1831, in Windsor Co., Vt.; came to Wisconsin in 1854, and settled in Marcellon Village, where he followed teaching three years. Was married, June 14, 1855, to Almeda C. Kincaid, who was born in Berks Co., Penn., Feb. 14, 1832 ; daughter of Usebius Kincaid, who came to Wisconsin in 1851. Mr. Wood was Town Clerk in I860, and Town Superintendent in 1861, being the last one in the town to hold that office ; was also Town Clerk in 1862 and 1865, and has been Justice of the Peace the last two years. Is a Republican ; has 120 acres of land; was enrolling and drilling officer in his town from the beginning of the war in 1861, till 1864; his first wife died March 9, 1874, leaving two children - Emma Eugenia, born Nov. 26, 1857, and Edna Lillian, born Aug. 25, 1861. Was married again, March 13, 1878, to Margaret C. Davis, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 19, 1833, daughter of William Denny, and widow of John N. Davis, of Portage City.

ELrBRIDGE CURTIS, farmer. Sec. 18; P. 0. Poynette ; born Nov. 2, 1826, in the town of Maine, Broome Co., N. Y., son of John C. Curtis; came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1849, and settled in the town of Lowville, the next winter, where he made his home with his brother. Was married, in 1857, to Mary E. Bennett, who was born in 1841, in Chemung Co., N: Y.; has seven children living- Irene (now Mrs. Harrison Cutsworth, of the town of Pacific), Alma, John C, Tinie, Lewis B., Harry and Edgar, all at home except ihe one married ; lost one daughter, Sarah, 15 months old. He is a Republican, and has been Supervisor and Assessor, and has been Pathmaster for the last twenty years ; has 180 acres of land.

F. C. CURTIS, farmer; P. 0. Rocky Run; was born Sept. 3, 1819, in the town of Stockbridge, Berkshire Co., Mass.; his father's name was Harvey Curtis, who was a descendant of Miles Standish, of the Mayflower Pilgrims, of the seventh remove from that somewhat distinguished personage ; his mother's name was Fannie Warner, of Canaan, N. Y. His father removed to Canaan, N. Y., when he was 4 years old. At the age of 7 years, the subject of this sketch went to live with his grandfather, Lupton Warner, who was a farmer, where he remained until he was 15, attending school winters and working upon the farm the rest of the year. He was then apprenticed to F. B. Walbridge, of Pittsfield, Mass., to learn the saddlery and harness trade. At the end of about two years, his employer removed to Ohio, and he was left upon his own resources ; he hid made such good use of his time that he was master of his trade, or at least a pretty good workman. His compensation was $35 a year and board, with some opportunity for overwork when trade was good. He was very industrious, and, when not otherwise occupied, studied his books. These spare hours and the winter's school were all the opportunity he had for acquiring an education. When his employer left Pittsfield, he gave him his time ; he was to have remained with him until he was 21 ; he then went to Hudson, N. Y., and engaged work with Conklin Terry for six months ; this was extended for one year longer, which carried him over the depressed times of 1837 In the spring of 1838, trade was still dull, and he found his old employer, Walbridge, was at Cleveland, Ohio; he went there and worked for him about six months, and should have remained longer, but the fever and ague greatly impaired his health, and he returned to Canaan, where he worked at his trade until the flxU of 1839, when he went out to Columbia, S. C, upon a contract with Levi Hanley, in whose employ he remained near eight years. During those eight years, he spent three summers at the North to recuperate his health. Although his business was of a mechanical nature, he never lost sight of the farm, and was known or considered as an agriculturist, and was often consulted by planters. J. S. Preston used often to consult him, and made him a very lucrative ofi'er to go on to his Louisiana sugar plantation as manager, and many other flatterin<; offers were miidehim to induce him to settle permanently at the South, all of which he declined, mainly for the reasons that he thought the slavery question was bound to make trouble, and he had become tired of the competition in trade. He left South Carolina in the spring of 1847, and Canaan July 3 of that year for Wisconsin, designing to purchase land and improve it with his own labor. He went to Fort Wayne, Ind., where he purchased a horse, which he rode to his present home, arriving here July 28. He was acquainted with Jacob Low, with whom he had had correspondence, and came to his house, where a hearty welcome awaited him. At that time, there were considerable many settlers who had settled upon and claimed the land, but had not purchased it from the Government, holding under a higher law. Mr. C. purchased the land upon which he now resides and has resided since ; he erected a house, and expended all the funds he had with him ; expecting a remittance from New York to enable him to return East, but, not arriving, he started for Milwaukee, with only 35 cents in his pocket; put up the first night with Mr. Alfred Toplotf, of Fountain Prairie, who made him welcome, and walked the balance of the distance in two days. At Milwaukee he shipped for Buffalo as an employe at $14 per month; received $2 and borrowed $5 from an acquaintance, and thus he was supplied with funds for the balance of his journey, and arrived in Columbia Co., N. Y., the latter part of September. He was married at Canaan Four Corners, Columbia Co., N. Y., Oct. 18, 1847, t) Miss Elizabeth Lea, daughter of George Lea and Ellen Hallanbeck, of Richmond, Mass., who was born at Athens, Greene Co., N. Y., April 7, 1828 ; they left for Wisconsin on the same day, and arrived at Milwaukee Nov. 1, after a very boisterous passage around the lakes of eleven days. Their children are Mary Anna, now Mrs. 0. D. Orvis, of San Francisco, Cal.; Emma, now Mrs. A. H. Carman, of Morgan Park, Cook Co., III.; Ella C. Curtis and Lizzie, residing at home; George L., who died Dec. 20, 18G0. Mr. Curtis is a Democrat; has been Chairman of Lowville quite a number of times, and was nominated for the Assembly in 1853 ; in 185(5, he was nominated for State Senator, twice for Sheriff and again for Senator in 1868. He was elected Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors in 1856 and 1857, when the members of the bo:ird were strongly in the majority, and were opposed to him politically. Mr. Curtis' business has been mainly farming ; has taken an active part in the Columbia County Agricultural Society, and was one of the gentlemen who helped to establish it in 1851 ; was President of it for four years, and has been one of its Executive Board ever since ; has attended every executive meeting and fair of said society, which has been held yearly since its organizition. His farm consists of 270 acres; his buildings are mainly of stone, made in a substantial manner, which have the appearance of lasting as long as they are well roofed.

JOHN CURTIS, farmer; P. 0. Poynette; born in the town of Canaan, Columbia Co., N. Y., July 19, 1830, son of Harvey Curtis. He was married Sept. 14, 1854, in Berkshire Co., Mass., to Statira Davis, who was born June 26, 1834, in the same county in which she was married ; Mr. Curtis resided in his native county till the spring of 1864 ; then came to Wisconsin and located in the town of Lowville, where he still lives, and has 140 acres of land ; has two children - Anna, born Feb. 16, 1855, and Edith, born Sept. 23, 1867. In politics, a Democrat.

PETER DRAKE, farmer. Sees. 8 and 17 ; P. 0. Rocky Run ; was born in the town of Roxbury, Morris Co., N. J., July 10, 1818, son of Peter D. and Charity (Wilkerso'n) Drake ; came to Wisconsin in September, 1S48, and located on the farm he now owns ; he first built a cabin of poles, in which he " kept bach " about six years ; then built his present residence ; his parents afterward came to Wisconsin and resided awhile in the town of Lowville, and his mother died at his home. He was married in the town of Pacific to Martha A. Porter, daughter of Amasa Porter; she was born Nov. 3, 18^8, in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y.; they have four children - Earl W., born Sept. 1, 1867 ; Carl A., born Nov. 10, 1868 ; Mark L., born Oct. 3, 1870, and Kitty May, born Jan. 14, 1878 ; lost an infant son Jan. 14, 1875. He has 447 acres of land, and is a Republican every time.

SAMUEL, DUNN, farmer. Sec. 8 ; P. O. Rocky Run ; born in 1821 in County Tyrone, Ireland, son of Samuel and Lattia (Campbell) Dunn ; came to America in 1840, and in December of that year he settled in Portage, and has lived in Columbia Co. ever since, except about one and a half years he spent in the pinery. He was married Nov. 20, 1856, to Sarah Campbell, daughter of Robert Campbell, who was a native of County Tyrone, Ireland ; they have three children - Samuel C, born July 28, 1860 ; Mary L., born Sept. 25, 1865, and Sarah, born Nov. 25, 1872. He has 480 acres of land. He is a Democrat and has held the office of Chairman about seven years, and Town Clerk eighteen or twenty years. In 1855, he made a visit to the old country, leaving home in November and returning in April, 1856 ; he visited his parents in Ireland, who were both living at that time. He now holds the office of Town Clerk.

WARREN (GILBERT, farmer, residence on Sec. 26 ; P. 0. Rio; was born June 22, 1827, in Herkimer Co., N. Y. ; son of Erastus and Nancy Gilbert. When he was only 3 years old, his father was accidentally killed by a fall in his barn. After the death of his father, he went to live with his grandmother, where he lived till he was 14 years old, then went out to work by the month, and continued at that till 1848, making his home with his grandmother during that time, and taking her advice in all his business operations. Having saved up about 8500 from his earnings, he concluded (still taking his grandmother's advice), to come West and "grow up with the country." With that end iu view, he came to Wisconsin in 1848, bought 60 acres of his present farm, for which he paid $250, then pre-empted 160 acres more, which cost him S200, and settled down to business. In 1849, he married Miss Mary Widrich, of the State of New York, by whom he has five children - George Henry (living in Lowville), Albert (in Minnesota), James W. (at home), Charles L., (in Iowa), and Eugene. Mr. Gilbert is one of the largest farmers in Columbia Co., having in his home farm 2,500 acres of land, all in a body, all improved, and 300 acres more, near enough so he works it all together. He also has about 2,300 acre* in Freeborn Co., Minn., with about 1,400 acr;s under the plow, and 1,200 acres in Martin Co., Minn., 800 acres of which are under the plow. He considers his real estate alone worth upward of $100,000; sold $10,000 worth of produce in one year during the war, from his home farm, his wool amounting to $3,300 of it ; sold $3,000 worth of timothy seed in 1839, but which was a part of three years' crops. Keeps twenty-five horses, about sixty head of cattle and 400 head of sheep. He has never followed any other business but farming, and never had a dollar given him by friend or foe. His motio has always been to " never go in debt," and always " live within your means." He gives his personal attention to all the details of his business, and keeps a diary, in which he records all his business transactions. He finds but little time to devote to politics, but is of the Democratic persuasion.

JOHN B. HAIiPIX, farmer. Sec. 9 ; P. 0. Rocky Run; born May 10, 1832, in County Meath, Ireland ; son of Bartholomew and Mary M. Halpin ; came to America in 1851 ; lived about a year in Onondaga Co.. N. Y., then came to Wisconsin, and lived in the town of Pacific till 1860, since which time he has been in his present location. He was married in 1857, in Portage, to Marcella Timmons, daughter of Phillip Timmons. Has ten children - Mary, Catherine, Lucy, Marcella, Charlotte, Nellie, Ambrose, Bartholomew, John and Philip, all at home. All members of the Catholic Church. He is a Democrat and has 120 acres of land.

OLIVER CUMMISTGS HOWE (deceased) was among the first settlers of the town of Lowville, and one of the most prominent men in the town; he was a native of Attica, Wyoming Co., N. Y., and was born Dec. 18, 1813; his father's name was Jacob Howe, and his mother's maiden name was Azuba Sprout; in early life, he was engaged in the mercantile business in his native town, and afterward carried on the same business in South St. Paul street, Rochester, N. Y.; failing in business there, he coneluded to seek his fortune among strangers, in a strange land ; he accordingly left that State, and came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1846, landing at Sheboygan, from which place he made his way on foot to Columbia Co., arriving in what is now the town of Lowville, with only $0 in his pocket ; he at once located some land on Sec. 36, and commenced breaking; the next fall, he built a cabin in which himself and brother, James N. Howe, who joined him about that time, resided, and kept house by tlieiuselves till the death of Ja nes, which occurred in July, 1845, being struck by lightning and instantly killed while going from his own home to one of his neighbors ; his father (who had been living with them two or three years) died the next April, leaving him entirely alone. His first wife, Lydia Tobias, to whom he was married in 1841, having died about a year after marriage, before he left Attica. March 31, 1857, he was married to his second wife, Juliette Barber, who was born April 6, 1826, in Greene Co., N. Y., town of Durham, daughter of John and Clarrissa (Virgil) Curtis, and widow of Brazilla Barber, who died in New York in 1854 ; her mother, Mrs. Curtis, is still living with her in Lowville, at the age of 94. Mr. Howe left two daughters - Jeanette C, who is now Mrs. Elliott Scott, of the town of Leeds, and Julia F., who is living on the homestead with her mother. His death occurred April 21, 1879, of apoplexy. In addition to his farming, Mr. Howe practiced law, the last twenty-five years of his life, having been admitted to the bar April 13, 1854 ; he figured conspicuously in politics in the early history of the State, and represented his district in the Assembly three successive terms, being in the Legislature of 1856-57, during the celebrated " Barstow administration." He made a public profession of religion and joined the Congregational Church of Leeds in 1863, but afterward severed his connection with this church and joined at Rio, where he held at different times the offices of Deacon, Clerk and Trustee, and contributed about $1,100 toward building the Congregational Church at that place; he left an estate of about 1,000 acres improved land, which i-i occupied by his widow and daughter, Julia V. ; P. 0. Rio.

JESSIE F. HAND, farmer. Sec. 5 ; P. 0. Rocky Run ; was born in New Lebanon, Columbia Co., N. Y., on the 24th day of March, 1816; went to Akron, Summit Co., Ohio, in 1840. Was married to Mary Wheeler on the 8th of November, 1841 ; removed to Lyons, Walworth Co., Wis., in 1845 thence to Lowville, Columbia Co., on to the quarter section of land he now lives on, purchased from the Government in 1846 in 1849 ; in politics was a Whig until the organization of the Republican party - since that time has been a Republican ; was a member of the Methodist Church about twenty years, and for the last twenty-seven years has been a member of the Episcopal Church ; was the first Town Clerk of Lowville ; elected a Justice of the Peace at the same time, and now holding that oflBce for the third or fourth time ; was three years Town Superintendent of Schools ; was Chairman of Supervisors often ; two years was Enrolling Officer in 1861 ; was Postmaster of Rocky Run Post Office nearly twenty-six years; was elected Member of the Assembly in 1864, and voted in favor of the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, abolishing slavery. His oldest son, George, died at Andersonville, Ga., January, 186.5 ; the names of the others are Antoinette, Martha, Willis, Harper, Mary Alice, Isabel! and Edwin Wheeler, all living in Wisconsin but Martha.

F. L.. HKNRY, farmer. Sec. 3-1; P. 0. Lowville; born Sept. 22, 1823, in Lewis Co., N. Y., town of Martinsburg ; son of William and Anna Henry, who were among the first settlers in that town ; Mr. Henry came to Wisconsin in May, 1846, located a part of his present farm in October of that year, but made his home in La Grange, Walworth Co., for about two years. Was married there, April 2, 1848, to Eliza W., daughter of Elisha Cronk ; she was born in Seneca Co., N. Y., July 22, 1825 ; immediately after marriage he came to live on his farm, and has been there ever since; has three children - Margaret A. (now Mrs. Wm. H. Evarts, of Lowville); Florence Louisa and Frederick William; he lost two at home. Mr. Henry is a Republican, and has been Town Clerk and Town Superintendent several terms ; he has a receipt for the tax of 1847, which he thinks was one of the tax receipts issued in the town ; him.self and wife both belong to the Presbyterian Church, and he has been a member twenty-two years ; has 270 acres of land in his farm, with first-class farm buildings ; keeps 400 head of sheep and thirty head of cattle.

SII.AS \\. HERRIX<J, farmer, Sec. 28; P. 0. Lowville; born April 23, 1821, in Lowville, Lewis Co., N. Y. ; son of Henry and Polly Herring; came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1844 ; lived in York, Dane Co., till the fall of 1845, then came to Columbia Co. and settled on the farm he now owns; at that time there was only four other settlers in what is now the town of Lowville; he helped to organize the town, was its first Treasurer, and since that has held the office of Chairman and Assessor, two terms each. Was married, Dec. 28, 1855, in Wyocena, to Miss T. M. Webb, daughter of Sylvester P. Webb; she was born in New Lebanon, Columbia Co., N. Y., Dec. 12, 1829 ; has two children - Hubert C , born Oct. 30, 1859, and Carl E., born Aug. 28, 1863, both at home. When he was 12 years old, his parents removed to Chautauqua Co., N. Y.,town of Cherry Creek, where he lived till he came to Wisconsin. Mrs. Herring is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He was an old-time Abolitionist, and has been a Republican over since the party was organized ; has 295 acres of land.

JAMES PRICE, former, Sec. 18; P. 0. Poynette; born Sept. 12, 1832, in Albany, N. Y. His fither, John Price, died when he (James) was an infant ; came to Wisconsin in 1851, and settled in Lowville, where he has since resided. Was married in 1855 to Emily S. Mason, who was born Nov. 5, 1838, in Rutland, Vt.; has nine children - James C, living in Montana; Maria E., J]llen A., Sarah, Mary, Frederick C., Charles, Albert and Nettie; all at home, except the oldest ; lost one son - Lewis, 2 years old. Mr. Price enlisted, Sept. 9, 1861, in the 2d W. V. C, Co. E, and was discharged Dec. 15, 1865 ; came on his farm in 1866. Is a Democrat ; has held the office of Town Clerk, and is the present Chairman of the town ; while in the army, held the office of Corporal, Quartermaster Sergeant, Orderly Sergeant and Second Lieutenant. Has 200 acres of land.

JttATHIAS TROUT, farmer, Sees. 10 and 15; P. 0. Rio; born Oct. 18, 1818, in Harixhieni by LauJen, in Bavaria, Germany ; son of Theodore Trout, who died in Germany, when 45 or 46 years old ; Mr. Trout come to America in 1850, arriving in New York April 7 ; came direct to AVisconsin; lived in Ft. Atkinson till the spring of 1851 ; then came to Lowville, and has lived there ever since. Was married, Feb. 8, 1830, in Germany, to Helena Flick; has nine children - Kate, now Mrs. Wra. Verhalen, of Jefi'erson, Wis.; John, living in Lowville; Lane, living in Chicago; Valentine; Mary, now Mrs. Justin Clear, of Mazeppa Co., Minn.; Willie, Rosa, Josephine and George, all four at home. Mr. Trout is at present one of the Side Supervisors of the town, and has held the office several terms. Is a Democrat, and member of the Catholic Church ; has been School District Treasurer several years, and Treasurer in the church ; has 170 acres of land.

<i}EOR<;E W. WEBR, farmer, Sec. 20; P. 0. Poynette; born May 18, 1827, in Columbia Co., N. Y., town of New Lebanon ; son of Sylvester P. and Harriet P. Webb, who came to Wisconsin in 1846, and settled in what is now the town of Lowville, on Sec. 20. Was married, Jan. 30, 1853, to Eliza Blair, daughter of Deacon Linus Blair, of Wyocena (see his biography) ; has three children - Harry A., Genevieve L. and Albert W. Mrs. Webb is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He has 120 acres of land, and is a Republican.

Town Of Dekorra

G. ACKERMAN, farmer, Sec. 26 ; P. 0. Poynette ; was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., in 1832 ; he removed with his parents to Waukesha Co., Wis., June, 18-17 ; in the fall of that year, the family removed to Walworth Co.; they lived in Walworth and Racine Cos. about four years; in 1851, his father removed to Columbia Co., and settled on a part of the flirm which his son now owns, where he resided till his death in December, 1877 ; his mother died in Walworth Co. Mr. Ackerman was married in 1857 to Miss Maria Todd, born in the State of New York. He enlisted Aug. 15, 1862, in the 23d W. V. I.; except while a prisoner of war, he participated in all the battles and campaigns in which the 23d took part; he was taken prisoner at the battle of Sabine Cross Roads, October, 1863, but was exchanged after a few weeks ; was again taken prisoner the following spring, at the battle of Mansfield, and kept a prisoner till the close of the war. He has four children - -Jennie, Emmett C, Maria and Herman F. His farm contains 200 acres.

JOHN BROWN, farmer and gardener. Sec. 5 ; P. 0. Dekorra ; was born in Scotland in 1808 ; he came to Wisconsin in 1840, and settled at Fort Atkinson, where he lived two years; thence to Cambridge, Dane Co.; he came to the village of Dekorra in 1851, where he kept a store till 1868, when he settled on his present farm, which he had purchased in 1859. He was married in Scotland to Margaret Geddes ; she died in 1871. Miss Jenny G. Brown, a niece of Mr. Brown's, born in 1854, has resided -with him since her early childhood.

BENJAMIN S. BUCK, farmer. Sec. 36; P. O. Poynette; was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1818, where before removing West, he was engaged in cotton manufacturing for many years. He was married to Hannah Strackan, born in Scotland ; her parents removed to Troy, N. Y., when she was a child. Mr. Buck came to Wisconsin and settled on his farm in the fall of 1857, but he had owned the land about fourteen years previous to that time ; in 1862, he left his farm and removed to St. Louis, where he was enj;aged as receiving clerk for the Excelsior Manufacturing Co. for fourteen years, when he returned to his farm. Mr. Buck has had two children, neither of whom are living ; the older child, Henry M., was born in Troy, N. Y., Oct. 3, 1843; he enlisted in the 7th W. V. I., in the spring of 1861 ; at the expiration of his term of service he re-enlisted ; after participating in all the battles of the war in which his regiment was engaged, he was mortally wounded at the battle of the Wilderness. His second child, Mary I., was born in Troy, April 22, 1845, and died May 22, 1846. When Mr. Buck took possession of his farm, it was entirely unimproved ; he has now 40 acres improved ; the farm contains 80 acres. He has been Chairman of the Board of Supervisors one term, also Town Clerk one term.

JOHN BINNIE, M. D., Poynette. Dr. Binnie was born in Stirlingshire, Scotland, Sept. 16, 1844; he came to the United States with his parents in 1851; they settled in McDonough Co., 111., where they lived ten years ; thence to the town of Caledonia, Columbia Co., in 1861 ; be began the study of medicine in 1866. with Dr. Waterhouse, of Portage ; he passed an examination before the State Board of Censors of the Wisconsin State Medical Society, June 17, 1870 ; attended his first course of lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago, in the winter of 1868-69, second course in 1869-70, third in 1874-75, graduating Feb. 16, 1875; practiced medicine in Poynette before and since graduating. His first wife was Miss Josephine E. Axon, who died Jan. 9, 1876 ; his present wife was Miss Bridgetta A. Walters; has one child by his second marriage, Mary J.

SAmUEL. CARR, farmer. Sec. 5 ; P. 0. Dekorra; was born in East Virginia in 1808; his parents removed to Western Virginia when he was 12 years of age, and thence to Washington Co., Penn., where the family lived for a number of years, when they went to Morgan Co., Ohio, where Mr. Carr was married to Miss Sarah R. Shannon ; he removed to Highland Co., Ohio, in 1846 ; he came to Columbia Co. in the spring of 1852, and settled where he now lives. Mr. Carr has followed the occupation of farming the greater part of his life ; for about sixteen years, he owned the Dekorra Mill, during which time he followed the occupation of milling; was appointed, in 1868, one of seven Farm Mortgage Land Commissioners, whose duty it is to sell certain lands deeded to them by the railroad companies to indemnify, in part, what was lost by farmers in mortgaging their lands; this office, which he received from the Government of the State of Wisconsin, he still holds. His wife died Dec. 7, 1879; he has four children - -Ruth A., wife of Rev. Newel Griffith ; Joseph S., George and James M.; Temperance, who married Mr. W. C. Allen, died April 7, 1876; two other children died in infancy; Joseph S., lawyer by profession, resides at San Antonio, Tex.; James M., also a lawyer, lives at Chippewa Falls, Wis.

FRANK A. DOLE, proprietor of Lower Mills, Poynette ; born in Greenfield, Mass., Nov. 21, 1855; he was the son of Augustus 0. Dole, who was born in Franklin Co., Mass., Feb. 11, 1816; he was a miller and millwright by trade; came to Wisconsin in 185(i, and settled in the town of Arlington, Columbia Co., whence he removed to Poynette, in 1866. He was married to Sarah E. Bush, of Springfield, Mass., born Oct. 6, 1820 ; they had three children - Nellie, now Mrs. S. F. Joseph, of Neillsville, and Frank A.; lost second child - Florence E., who died in 1873, in her 22d year. Mr. Dole has been a member of the Legislature and held various town offices ; he died Dec. 7, 1876. Frank A. assumed the ownership and control of the mill property on the death of his father.

JESSE FISH, farmer, Sec. 25 ; P. 0. Poynette ; was born in Canada in February, 1828. He was married to i^Iary York, born in the State of New York ; he came to Columbia Co. in 1859, and settled where he now lives; his farm contains 160 acres; he has four children - Samuel, Elias, Harry and Deborah.

JOHN FORSYTHE, farmer, Sec. 36 ; P. 0. Poynette ; born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, about 1817. He was married to Margaret Simpson ; they came to the United States in 1853; lived in Buffalo, N. Y., about two years ; then came to Columbia Co., and settled on Sec. 35, Dekorra, where tliey lived three years ; then removed to the town of Arlington, where they lived about three years ; then returned to the town of Dekorra and settled on present farm ; they have one son - John ; farm contains 80 acres.

JOHN FFLTOX, merchant and firmer, Sec. 5 ; P. 0. Dekorra ; was born in Scotland in 1820; he came to the United States in the fall of 1849; has resided in Columbia Co. since that time. He purchased land in what is now the town of Caledonia, soon after he came to the county ; he was for twelve years engaged in the mercantile business in Portage City ; he now resides in what was once the thriving village of Dekorra, where he is engaged as merchant and farmer, and where he owns considerable property. His first wife was Elizabeth McMillan, a sister of James R. McMillan; his present wife was Mrs. Catherine Church.

THOMAS HACJAN, boot and shoe dealer, Poynette ; was born in Canada in February, 1848. He came to Portage with his parents about 1850 ; his father now resides in the town of Arlington. Mr. Hagan engaged iu business in Poynette in 1868. He was married to Bridget O'Shaughnessy, born in Vermont ; they have three children - Milo C, Mary C. and Joseph T.

HEXRV HALL, farmer, Sec. 15 ; P. 0. H;irtman ; was born in Canada in 1834. He came to Columbia Co. in 1857; has resided where he now lives since that time. He was married to Mrs. Mary S. Cook ; she was born in Attica, N. Y., in 1815; her first husband was Christopher Randall, with whom she came to Columbia Co. in 1842; Mr. Randall died in March, 1856; she afterward married Samuel Cook, who died in 1860; she was married to Mr. Hall in 1862. Mrs. Hall has three children by her first marriage - Margaret, Jane and Susan. Lost two children, the eldest and youngest. Farm contains 175 acres.

JOSEPH HARTMAX, farmer. Sec. 10; P. 0. Hartman ; was born in West Virginia; his parents renjuved to Ohio when he was a boy. He was married to Mary Ann Grier, a native of Ireland. He removed to Carroll Co., Ind., in l8oS, where he purchased a farm, and worked at his trade, that of a blacksmith ; he came to Columbia Co. in the fall of 1849, and settled where he now lives ; his farm contains 180 acres. Mr. Hartman has been Postmaster of Hartman Post Office for nine years; has been Justice of the Peace for twenty-six years. He has six children - Alvanus, Melvin W., Zilpha, Anna J., Ella and Evert.

J. R. HASTIE, former. Sec. IS ; P. 0. Dekorra ; the son of Mr. Archibald Hastie, of the town of Dekorra ; the family came from Vermont in 1856. Mr. J. S. Hastie was born in the town of Barnet, Vt., in 1843. He was married to Miss Sarah Reedal, daughter of Henry Reedal. He has taught thirteen terms of school in Columbia Co. ; is Chairman of Board of Supervisors ; his farm eontains SO acres; has one child - (Jrace.

Hl'CwH JAMIESON, capitali^t, Poynette; was born in Scotland, May, 1829; he came to Wisconsin fmni Scotland in the spring of 1848; came to Columbia Co. in the spring of 1849, and, with his brother-iii-law, Robert Wilson, purchased one quarter of Sec. 34, Dekorra. He was married to Lucy Thomas, whose parents. Samuel and B. Thomas, came to Columbia Co., from Pennsylvania, in 1848 ; they have had nine children, seven of whom are living - Hugh P., William W., Addison J., Janet, John, Samuel and Alice. Mr. Jamieson has always been actively and extensively engaged in business ; for the first fifteen years of his residence here, he kept hotel in connection with his farming business; he built the Poynette House in 1858, which he conducted for about ten years ; he built the elevator in 1871 ; has been engaged in the grain and lumber trade since 1871. Mr. Jamieson has been very successful in his business relations and the village of Poynette owes much of its growth and prosperity to his energy and ability as a business man.