Linn Town

Linn Town

The town of Linn is designated in the Government survey as Town 1, Range 17 east. It is bounded, north by the town of Geneva ; east by Bloomfield ; south by the State line ; and west by the town of Walworth. It was formerly embraced in the town of Geneva, as established in 1838, which at that time took in the four townships making the south-east quarter of the county, viz.: Bloomfield, Hudson, Geneva and Linn. It was set off and incorporated as a town, under its present name, by act of the Territorial Legislature, January 23, 1844. It was named in honor of Senator Linn, an early patriotic statesman of Missouri.

Natural Features

The surface of the town is varied and picturesque, mostly rolling, with here and there a small reach of prairie and oak openings. It was more heavily timbered than most of the other townships, especially along the high ground that borders Lake Geneva. There is little swamp land in town, there being a small patch, however, in the northeast corner.

This, the most beautiful lake in Southern Wisconsin, lies mostly in the two northern tiers of sections, and extends from east to west, entirely across the township. Its shores give a water-front in the town of nearly fourteen miles, still thickly wooded and skirted with villas. Summer residences, hotels, etc., nearly the entire distance. The water area within the town is about six square miles. It covers parts of Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ; all of Section 7 ; and parts of Sections 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17 and 18.

It is stated that an enterprising lirm in Racine, once loaned a more enterprising resident of the town who wished to raise money wherewith to go to California, a considerable sum, and took as security "an eighty" on Section 7. No railroad stock was ever more thoroughly watered than that piece of land. It still lies unfenced and uncultivated, a part of the bed of Geneva Lake. Whether the tract was ever redeemed by the shrewd mortgagor, tradition does not mention.

The town is drained by the west brancli of the Nippersink Creek, whicii flows through Sections 28, 29, 32, 33 and 34 in a southeasterly direction, and by the northwest branch of the same stream, which flows south and northeast through Sections 22, 27, 26, 23, 24 and 13. Thus the western, southern, and eastern portions of the town are finely drained, while the central and northern parts are abundantly watered by various small streams which flow into Lake Geneva.

The town was not thoroughly settled till later than other parts of the county, there being no village nucleus of population, except at Geneva, which being round the lake was not conveniently accessible. Further, much of the land was more heavily wooded, requiring more labor in clearing, and consequently not giving so speedy a return for the pioneers' first labors, as on the prairies and in the thin openings. Here and there, on favorable spots, the sturdy pioneers put in an early appearance, but Spring Prairie, Big Foot Prairie, and all along Sugar Creek, the government lands were well taken up by settlers before the woods of Linn were settled.

Early Settlers

The first actual settlement was made in the town by John Powers, who built a cabin on Section 1, in the Fall of 1836, into which he moved in the Spring of 1837. His place was afterward known as the " JManning farm." Mr. Powers was a native of Maine.

He settled afterward in New York State and then in Illinois, at Napierville. He came through from New York to Illinois with one of the first pair of horses brought into the far West. From Napierville to Walworth County the journey was made with an oxteam, Mr. Powers' wife and family accompanying him. He also purchased the Merriam property. Mr. Powers was, for many years, a member of the town board of supervisors, and generally popular and respected. In 1861, he removed to Geneva, and died May 20, 1866, sixty-four years of age. His widow is living in Iowa ; also two of his sons. One son is in Minnesota, and one, Steven, resides in the village of Geneva. One daughter died in California - two daughters are living.

In June of this year (18.37), Allen McBride, the Williams family, Samuel Ryland and Benjamin Ball, and his son Benjamin M., all became residents of the town. Mr. McBride came from Ohio with his wife and four children, arriving at his destination on Section 31, June 4, 1837. In July, he had erected a log hut, and then had to start back to Milwaukee for provisions. August 2, Mr. and Mrs. McBride welcomed an addition to their family in the person of their daughter - the first female child born in town. She is now the wife of J. E. Stoker.

In February, 1845, Rev. P. W. Lake conducted the first regular religious services at the funeral of their little girl, Clarinda, who died when but twenty-two months old. This was the first funeral in the town of Linn. Mr. McBride still lives with his wife on the same section on which he settled over forty-five years ago. The old log house, probably the oldest building in town, is standing, somewhat " shaky in the underpinnings," but good for five years more of existence. When it shall have completed its golden anniversary, then the owner thinks it will have outlived its usefulness. Mr. McBride has been honored with several local ofiices, one of the earliest being that of the overseer of roads. His district was the west half of the town, and when he came to assume the " duties " of his position, he discovered that they were not of an extremely arduous nature - there wasn't a single road in his territory.

Irael Williams, Sr., came later in the year 1887, and settled with his family on Section 18, south of the bay which bears his name. Irael Williams, Jr., with his wife came in at about the same time. Royal J. Williams, then a lad, also located upon the same section. The latter is still living in Walworth, irael Williams, Jr., the last heard from, was living in Minnesota. In 1844, he moved to Bloom Prairie, and in 1850, Major Ira Buell and family, from New York, purciiased a large portion of his land - the northwest quarter of Section 26. Mr. Williams moved to Belvidere, 111., run a paper mill in Beloit, during the war was in the commissary department, afterward run a cotton plantation with Gen Thomas' son - had, in fact quite a career - before he brought up in the state of Minnesota.

In 1838, Irael Williams, Sr., bought a claim on the west side of the bay, in the town of Walworth, on Section 36, living there until the time of his death, which occurred in 1849. His son. Royal J., still lives on the old place. In June, 1837, Henr}', son of Irael Williams, Jr., was recorded as the first birth in the Town of Linn. He died in early manhood in Belvidere, 111.

Benjamin Ball came from Illinois at the same time as Allen McBride. He did not settle upon Section 84, however, until the Fall of that year.

Samuel Ryland came from Ohio, with his family, during the Summer of 1887. He settled on Section 31, near Mr. McBride's ; built a log house and lived a pioneer's life with his neighbors.

Among the prominent settlers of the next two years - 1838 and 1839 - may be mentioned William Lanfear, Mr. Pond, James Duncan, David Prime, Perry Baker, Wm. Hubbard, Wm. K. May, John C. Ford, Jas. Nelson, J. E. Howe and Dr. McNish. The

General Early History

The life and growth of the town has been uneventful, as that of a peaceful, agricultural community must ever be. An eai-ly chronicler says : " We had but little claim trouble or excitement, compared with that of other towns. Benjamin Ball and Dr. Tiffany had a difQculty."

As no particulars were given, it was probably not serious. The same writer than goes on to relate what is termed "one of the most tragic affairs in Linn's history."' It illustrates the general quiet that has prevaded, that nothing more exciting has occurred in its history. The recital is as follows :

" On Section 31 of this town, was a valuable grove of heavy timber, in which was found nearly all the varieties of timber, such as : oak, ash, elm, black walnut, butternut, hickory, bass-wood, etc. It was first claimed by a Mr. Kinsman, but Nathan and Darius Disbrow and James Van Slj'ke, coveted the timber, and drove Kinsman off. The Disbrows subsequently took possession and denied Van Slyke's claim to any portion of it. Some time after the " Disbrows moved over the State line to hold some prairie claims they had made there. Van Slyke, taking advantage of their absence, sold his right and title to Collins Wadhams, who was running some breaking plows on Big-Foot Prairie, at that time. In the Fall of 18o7, Wadhams came on with his hands and teams and took possession of the claim, against the ineffectual remonstrances of the Disbrows. Finally they called out the settlers, a number of whom came from Geneva Village with most of the settlers of Linn. After hearing the evidence, pro and con, they refused to eject Wadhams. In the Winter of 1837-38, Wadhams hatl a large amount of rails split upon the claim. In the Fall of 1838, he went East for money to buy the land, at tlie coming " Land Sales." The Disbrows during his absence, commenced drawing off his rails. On his return lie watched the grove, and as he said, caught the Disbrows in the act of stealing his rails, whereupon he fell upon the marauders and thoroughly pounded one of the brothers, not one of the claimants. A suit before "Squire Williams for assault and battery, was the result. C. M. Baker was for the jjlaintifi:' Disbrow, and John BuUen for the defence. . It cost Wadhams ten dollars. Wadhams claimed that they drew off six thousand of his rails. He however, held the land, not from any title bought of Van Slyke, but by pre-emption, under an Act of Congress, granting pre-emption to settlers on Government land, which act was passed while Wadhams was located on the claim. Thus ended one of the most tragic affairs in Linn's history."

Another serious cause of dispute and bad feeling between Benjamin Ball and Dr. Tiffany, centered in the death of the former's grand-daughter. The small-pox broke out in 1840 or 1841, and a girl who afterwards worked in Benjamin Ball's family was certified b}' Dr. Tili'any as having no trace of the maladj'. She had the disease, however, went to work with the Balls at Napierville, and gave the small-pox to the grand-daughter. She died, and Mr. Ball never forgave the doctor for being the means of her death.

The first road laid out through the town was that which run from Geneva to Woodstock, 111., in 1840. The next one was from Geneva to Big Foot Prairie.

The first lawyer, and the only one the town ever possessed, was one Foote, who came from Chenango County, N. Y., and finding iiis legal talents unappreciated in Linn moved to Geneva about 1846. It was while there that he appeared in that prodigious vehicle, the front wheels of which were taken from an old cart, and the hind ones were grind-stones ; it was here that the cry was raised " clear the road for ' old Chenang ' " - and that is about all remembered of Linn's first and last practicing lawj'er. It is more than half suspected that the above was none other than Erastus Foote, many years ago, judge of the Criminal court in Milwaukee.

Mrs. Sidney Buell, in a paper read before the old settlers of Walworth County, at the reunion of 1881, thus depicts early times in Linn, and the region roundabout:

" The early history of the settlement of even the most favored portions of our county, is in detail a record of toil and hardship, of privation, of inconvenience, of voluntary self-sacrifice ; and reminescenses of the experience of pioneers, little incidents of those early days, however unimportant in themselves, are of interest to us, because, perliaps, they portray so clearly and truly the real condition of the early settler, his desperate struggles to advance, and the obstacles which he had to overcome.

" Somewhat of this experience and a few of these ' tales of olden times,' I was requested to present to-day. Therefore, with a few hastily prepared notes of gleanings from a day among the pioneers, I have endeavored to respond.

" My first call was upon Esq. Giddings, who was an Illinois volunteer and served from the commencement to the close of the Black Hawk war, when he went back to Illinois, where he became acquainted with Big Foot upon the occasion of a visit paid to one of the braves of his locality, who told him about Lake Geneva, at the head of which were his headquarters. Told him about the surrounding country - that it was a good country, and invited him to come and examine for himself - because ' Indian must go away, white man coming.'

" He accordingly went up to the Indian village, and from the point which is now known as ' Porter's Landing,' was paddled across to the settlement in a walnut ' dugout,' accompanied by the Indian chieftain and his squaw, which event occurred in the year 1836.

" A description of that clumsy bark forever destroyed the little fiction (suggested, no doubt, by some fanciful writer), a picture of which had long lingered in my imagination, of the light canoe of the Indian gliding over the clear beautiful waters, guided by the liands of the young brave as lie wooed his darkeyed enchantress. It might have existed in remote ages, but I strongly suspect that romances of that kind up to this period exhibited a reversible order of things, not in the wooing, but in the rowing, that in fact, instead of fancy, that it was the dusky maiden who vigorously plied the paddle, while her listless, indolent lover made love to iier.

" But to go back to my hero. After looking about somewhat, he made his selection of a claim south of Lake Geneva, about a mile south of the State line, where, in 1842, he erected a frame dwelling, which must have been a palace in comparison with the quaint, jirimitive log-cabin of those days. It is still a comfortable looking home.

" Interviewed another pioneer who established a claim in the same neighborhood in 1836. Soon after rolled up his little cabin, which was about 22x16, with a sort of platform staked in one side, sometimes two or three, according to tlie exigencies of the situation, one above another, in the form of berths in a cabin, from v/hich they doubtless got their idea, with straw and a Mackinac blanket made a ' handy affair,' so I was informed. So I inferred. Like the chest of drau ers in Goldsmitli's deserted village, it

" He then commenced work in earnest. Soon two or three others, all young men, came and located their claims near, and slept and ate breakfast and supper in his cabin. This man prided himself somewhat upon his skill in cooking ; told me that he learned to cook game, which was quite abundant, and soon learned to make good light bread of corn meal. Others whom I questioned on the subject were not so well satisfied, but laughed heartily over their unsuccessful attempts at getting up palatable meals, with the very limited resources they had at hand. I was told by one that he subsisted for a long time upon pancakes, mixed with water, upon which was spread potatoes, finely mashed and MM

" There was but one white woman for miles around. This dear, kind lady conceived the beautiful idea of inviting the lonely occupants of all the cabins within reach to assemble at her house on Sabbath afternoons and sing psalms, and it is said that she always regaled them with niitcakes before they departed from her house. Those delicious doughnuts, I know, were peculiarly grateful to their bachelor palates, and surely those sweet songs of hope and f'aitli must have been like manna to their lonely hearts and hungry souls. Tlie good old tune of Hebron was always sung, and was her favorite, so she named the town and thus it has ever been called.

" Not so with the majority of the early settlers of that vicinity. They, recognizing the fact that it is not good for man to be alone, as soon as a start was made brought wives to these incipient homes, and woman had her full share in the privations and sacrifices of the pioneer. If she had aught of feminine vanity, she had little with whicli to gratify its spirit. The ordinary dress of some of them was made of common factory cloth, dyed by their own hands with tlie bark of the oak. This state of things, however, did not long continue. The condition of the settlers began steadily, although slowly, to improve - slowly, the whys and wherefores of which may be summed up thusly: One of these men made a journey to Chicago with a huge load of j^roduce, drawn by two yoke of oxen, the first offerings of his land to the market. Result - one hat, a pair of overalls, and a pair of boots. It is said tliat at one time a yard of factory cloth could not be purchased for a bushel of wheat.

'' Nor were these all the hindrances to progress. They were legion. I enumerate but one. Their teams, turned out at night, would often wander away for miles, and a hunt through the long wet grass of the early morning would have to be instituted before the real labor of the day could commence; and yet men and women told me that they felt being shut out from the whole outside world, shut out from tidings of their old homes, with no fresh papers or journals to read, for it will be remembered that a long journey to Chicago had to be made before a mail could be received. This to them was the most bitter trial of all ; and yet these men and women were so firm in their conviction as to the possibilities of their future, so appreciative of the beauty of the native scenery, that they were willing to struggle on and patiently wait the better time, the fruition of all their toil. Fresh from the hand of nature, it must have been a picture of enchanting loveliness, these undulating prairies, gorgeous with their wreath of wild flowers ; the charming oak groves, as clean as well-kept gardens, the lovely valleys and picturesque lakes.

" No wonder that these men and women felt that they had been directed to a second Garden of Eden ; and those of them who live to-day to realize the progress of civilization during these few last years, to look abroad over the happy homes of plenty, to know that our schools and seminaries of learning are not inferior to tliose of the older States, must feel their hearts thrill with exalted pride that their feet led the way to such a favored spot - that their hands aimed the first blow to bring about such thrift and prosperity.

" For my own part, I confess to a feeling of tender reverence for these men and women who so bravely and heroically, through toil and sacrifice and firm endurance paved the way for those who now share in the possession of so much good, and say God bless you, every one! And may He wlio led you hither and upheld you by His own loving hand through the burden and heat of the day, guide you now that the evening shadows are closing around you, be lovingly near you through the night of death, and take you to dw^ll forever more in that better country where there is no sorrow, no irksome toil, and all is perfectness in peace."

Piest Meetings

At the first annual meeting held at the house of James Nelson, on the second of April 1844, the following persons were elected town officers :

Supervisors - Chairman, Ira Turner, Seymour Hatch, Samuel Ryland ; Clerk - Irael Williams, Jr.; Treasurer - Benjamin Ball ; Justices of the Peace - Ira Turner, Solomon Burdick ; Assessor - Seymour Hatch ; Constables - Calvin Traver, Caleb Preston ; Commissioners of Highways - Benjamin Bali, David Prime, Wni. B. Traver ; Commissioners of Schools - Calvin Grover, Nathan S. Bassett, L. Ingham; Collector - Caleb Preston ; Fence Viewers - Benjamin Ball, Hiram Downer, Samuel Ryland ; Sealer of Weights and Measures - Marshall F. Winters.

By-laws for the town of Linn for 1844 : No rams to run at large from July 1 to December 1, fine for above offence, §10 ; no boars over three months old to run at large, fine, $2 per week, and forfeit the boar ; school tax half of one per cent.; wages of township officers to be 75 cents per day ; whole expense of assessor, $6 ; commissioner of highways, $20 ; commissioner of schools, $8 ; supervisors, $10 ; clerk, $12 ; $10 for a contingent fund; $8 to pay arrearages in the town of Geneva, expenses for laying roads, rail fence four and a half feet high.

At a meeting held in the town before its organization, three names were suggested. 'Squire Ball argued for Franklin, A. McBride wanted Lake, and M. McBride pushed the claims of Liberty. The voting showed that Franklin was the favorite. When the bill was sent to Madison, it was discovered that there was another Franklin in the State, and consequently the territory became stamped as " Linn."

Roster Of Town Officers War Becobd

During the Great Rebellion, Linn stood nobly in the ranks with the other towns in the county. It is impracticable to give a separate account of the war services of the town. Full records of the soldiers appear in the war history of the county at large.

Linn furnished, and has credit on the war records of the State for fifty-five soldiers - one over her quota. The number of residents who did personal services can not be ascertained, as many enlisted in otlier towns and outside the county. The amount raised for bounties and other war purposes was il0,454.01, according to the books of the town clerk. During 1864, f5,300 was raised. Whatever may be said of Linn, history must say that, in proportion to her population, she " came down" as handsomely as any town in the county.

There are two cheese factories in the town ; at present, both idle. One on Section 27, is owned by James Emery ; the other. Section 21, by Wm. Fowl.

In 1881, there were sown to gi'ain 4,516 acres. There were 225 acres of orchard ; 3,517 acres of mowing and pasturage ; and 8,000 acres of growing timber.

There were eight whole, and two joint school districts. The number of scholars between the ages of four and eighteen was 340, of which number 199 attended school. There were eight schools, taught by eight teachers, at average monthly wages of $26.25 for male, and $19.25 for female teachers. There were eight school-houses, valued, including the sites, at $3,120. The annual amount expended for schools was $3,240.

The first saw mill was built on the Nippersink, on Section 35, by James F. Dickerson and James S. Stilson, in 1845. It is now entirely gone, no sawing having been done for fifteen years,

Mr. James F. Dickerson built the first grist mill in 1851, near the site of the saw mill. It is now owned by John A. Pierce, of Sugar Creek.

The following is a list of names appearing on the tax list of the town of Bloomfield as residents of said town in the year 1846, and is the oldest record of residents in the town ofiBce of said town :

The first settlers, many of them experienced great diflBculty in getting their mail matter, and mailing their letters, doing their mail business at Chicago, 111., distant sixtyfive miles.

If we had an half ounce letter in the post-office at Chicago, we must call in person, or send a written order, and if it had come over 400 hundred miles, pay twenty-five cents postage ; then we could get the letter, but as time wore on there was a post-office established at Crystal Lake, in McHenry Co., 111., distant twenty to twenty-five miles. That was a great convenience to at least some of the people of Linn.

The first mail route that passed through Linn was established at an early day. perhaps 1839 or 1840, from Chicago, 111., to Madison, Wis. The mail was carried on said route weekly on horseback by a man named Potter. But there was no post-office near the people of Linn on said route, and as the mail was carried by the residence of Allen McBride, on Section 31, he was solicited to accept the position of postmaster, but he could not at that time accept the aitpointment, but about the year 1843, James Duncan settled on Section 32, and was appointed postmaster. So James Duncan was the first postmaster, and we had an office near us, but after a few years it was removed into Illinois, and finally abolished, but the mail was still carried, and many of the inhabitants would get the mail carrier to bring their mail from distant offices on his route, and leave it at A. McBride's, till he was finally appointed postmaster, which place he filled for more than twenty-six years. The office was called " Tirade," and was at first supplied with a weekly mail. The route was altered or shortened at nearly every letting of mail routes, till the Northwestern railroad was built out from Chicago twelve miles in a northwesterly direction, when the Government let a route to be carried by stage from Delavan, Wis., to the then terminus of the railroad, a distance of about seventy-seven miles, three times per week each way, so that we had a mail one way or the other every day. The first change of horses and drivers was kept at Tirade. That was not only a great increase of mail service, but afforded facilities for traveling. Subsequently railroads were built, and new offices established with daily mails, when the Tirade office was no longer a necessity, and at the solicitation of the postmaster the office was abolished, and at this writing there is neither mail route nor post-office in the town. Notwithstanding this, the town of Linn has some great natural advantages, embracing, as it does, the principal part of the renowned Geneva Lake, which is justly temed the " Saratoga of tlie West."

Biographical Sketches

DWIGHT S. ALLEN, farmer, Ser. 23; P. O. Geneva; son of George Allen. He was born in Madison County, N. Y., in 1843. He enlisted in .\ugust, 1862, in the 22d Regiment W. V. I., Co. C, and was in active service till the close of the war. He was married to Miss Delia Sherman, who was liorn in the town of Eagle, Waukesha Co., Wis., in 1846. They have three children - Raymond, Elsie C. and James Garfield. They lost their three oldest children. He resides on a part of his father's farm, where he has lived since 1866. Mr. Allen has been Chairman of the Town Board of Linn since 1877 ; has been Chairman of the County Board for two years, and has held the office of Town Treasurer for three years.

GEORGE ALLEN, farmer, Sec. 24; P.O. Geneva. 'He was born in Madison County, N. Y., in 1820, where he was brought up. His parents were Walter and Harriet (Holbrook) Allen, who were natives of Worcester County, Mass., and moved to the town of Madison, Madison Co., N. Y., in 1815, came to the town of Lebanon, Madison Co., N. Y., in 1818. Mr.

Allen was married, in 1842, to Miss Harriett Buell, a daughter of Mr. Ira Buell. He came to Walworth County, and bought 100 acres of his present farm of Mr. James Nelson, who now lives in Livingston County, 111. The parents of Mr. Allen had six children, four sons and two daughters. He is the only surviving member of his father's family, and has been since 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have six children - Dwight S.; Mary, wife of H. H. Curtis; H. Frances, wife of J. P. Cheever; Walter, William G. and Hattie. They have lost three sons, two of whom died under extremely afflicting circumstances. One son, John W., was accidentally, fatally shot, in the Spring of 1878; another son, Ira B., graduated at Beloit College, in 1874, entered the Theological Department of Yale College, and died just on the eve of his graduation, in April, 1878. Mr. Allen, though not one of the earliest settlers of the town of Linn, is one of the best known. He has assessed the town nearly every year since 1862. He is one of the largest and most successful farmers, not only of the town of Linn, but of Walworth County. He is a man of much general information, and one of the foremost men of his town in the encouragement of all enterprises whose aim is the promotion of the interests of the people. His farm contains about 660 acres.

WALTER ALLEN, farmer, Sec. 24; P. O. Geneva; son of Mr. Geo. Allen. He was born in the town of Lebanon, Madison Co., N. Y., in 1850. He graduated from the State Normal School at White Water, in 1873, and was engaged for a number of years in teaching. He taught two years in Ripon, Wis., after graduating, and was also principal of the Geneva public schools, for several years. Has taught seventeen terms in Walworth County. His wife was Miss Ellen M. Joslin, daughter of Albert M. Joslin. Mrs. Allen was born in Cook Co., III. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have one daughter, Nella. Mr. .\llen bought his farm of Mr. Charles Ferguson, of Geneva; it is commonly known as the "Powers Farm;" it contains 160 acres. Mr. Allen also owns fourteen acres of Lake Shore land.

BENJAMIN M. BALL, farmer. Sec. 84; P. O. Hebron, McHenry Co., 111. He is one of the earliest settlers of the town of Linn ; his residence here dates from April, 1837. He was born in Franklin County, Vt., June 12, 1817. He removed with his parents to what is now Dupage County, 111., in July, 1836. He came with his father to this town in the following April. The latter made a claim on Sec. 34, a part of which is included in the farm, now owned by his son. His father, Benjamin Ball, was a native of Massachusetts. He resided in the town of Linn until his death, though he died suddenly at Naperville, Dupage Co., 111., Aug. 14, 1868. His wife died at Sparta, Wis., while visiting her daughter at that place, April 17, 1873. The parents of Mr. Ball had four children, one son and three daughters. Mr. Ball and his sister, Mrs. Angenette Walker, are the only members of his father's family, who live at Walworth County, the two others live at Dupage County, 111. Mrs. Ball was formerly Miss Elizabeth Ostrander, daughter of Anthony Ostrander ; she was born in the town of Royalton, Niagara Co., N. Y., June 27, 1827. They have three children - George A., Ida G. and Milton S. The sons reside at home; their daughter, Mrs. Slater, lives in Iowa. Mr. Ball has lived for a period of forty-five years, almost upon the identical spot where he now lives. He has probably lived longer in the town of Linn than any other resident.

W. ANSON BARNES, proprietor of Warwick Park on Lake Geneva, was born in Michigan, in 1852; was brought up and educated in Lansing in this State. He graduated at the Michigan Agricultural College in 187 1 ; was engaged for some years in fruit growing and landscape engineering. He came to Wisconsin in May, 1878, was engaged some months in beautifying the grounds of Mr. Arthur Kay, and was otherwise engaged until the Fall of 1879, when he purchased his present place. His grounds contain fifty-three acres. He has a fine location, and his grounds contain one of the most elevated points on the lake. His intentions are to beautify his park, and to lay out and make sale of lots. He purchased his grounds of late John A. Smith, Esq.

GEORGE VV. BARR, farmer, Sec. 15 : P. O. Geneva; son of John Barr, who was born in Scotland, and came to the United States with his oldest son, James Barr, in 1827. The remainder of the family came to this country in 1829. They lived in New York for several years, thence to Massachusetts, where they lived for fifteen years. The family came to the town of Linn in 1848, settled on this farm, which became the homestead, where the father died in 1 861. The parents of Mr. Barr had eight children, six of whom are still living. George W. Barr, the youngest child of his parents, was born in Columbia County, N. Y.,in 1830. He came West with his father in 1848, and has lived on the homestead, which he now owns since that time. Mrs. Barr was formerly Miss Phcebe A. Merriam, daughter of .\llan Merriam, a sketch of whom will be found elsevvhere. They have three children - Carrie L., Mary E. and Irene P. Mr. Barr's farm contains 200 acres.

JOHN W. BOYD, farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Geneva. Gen Boyd was born in the town of Charlton, Saratoga Co., N. Y., in 181 1. His parents removed to the town of Sodom, Cortland Co., when he was an infant, where he was brought up. His father, John L. Boyd, was a native of Saratoga County, where he was born Oct. 16, 1783. He was one of the substantial men of that county; was a man of strong religious convictions; politically, was strongly anti-slavery, and was at one time a member of the Legislature of the State of New York. Gen. Boyd came to Walworth County, from the town of Cincinnati, Cortland Co., in June, 1844, and bought 130 acres of his present land of Amos Pond. He is one of the prominent men, not only of the town of Linn, but of Walworth County. In early life he was a Democrat, but became identified with the Republican party in 1856, and has since been a warm adherent and an able defender of the principles of that party. His first official position was that of Chairman of the Town Board for 1845 and 1846. He was a member of the first Constitutional Convention, which was held in the Fall of 1846. He was a member of the Senate at the first legislative session of the State of Wisconsin, and was again elected to that branch of the Legislature in the Fall of 1857. In 1846, he was appointed Major General of the Third Division of Wisconsin militia, hence his title of General, by which he is generally known. He was for twenty years a director of the Madison Mutual Insurance Company, and for eight years was president of that organization. Gen. Boyd is a man of stern integrity, and of more than ordinary ability. He is a forcible public speaker, and is ever ready with his voice and means to assist in the promotion of all good works. He is especially forward in the advancement of the educational and religious interests of the people. He has been an elder in the Presbyterian Church of Geneva for thirtyseven years, and a teacher in the Sabbath-school. The Lake Geneva Seminary owes much of the success to which it has attained to his valuable assistance. . He has been married three times. His first wife was Miss Elizabeth Lee, who died within a year after their marriage. His second wife was Wealthy A. Hathaway, daughter of Gen. S. G. Hathaway, of Solon, Cortland Co., N. Y. She died in June, 1S55, leaving three daughters - Julia E., wife of Dr. Miles G. Hye, of the village of Cortland, Cortland Co., N. Y.; Helen Emma, wife of Robert W. Turner, Esq., attorney at law, of Elmira, N. Y., and Carrie Hathaway Boyd, who lives at the homestead of her grandfather, Gen. Hathaway, at Solon, N. Y. His present wife was Mrs. Abram Mudge, formerly Miss Persis A. Buell, a daughter of Ira Buell. She was born in Chenango County, N. Y., in 1823. Mr. Mudge died in 1848, leaving one daughter, Amelia A., now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd have three daughters - I^ouise H., a graduate of Lake Geneva Seminary; Alice I. and Florence May, students of that institution. Mrs. Boyd's father settled in the town of Linn in 1849. The following sketch was written by Judge John T. Wentworth, at the time of the death of Mr. Buell, in August, 1S74 :

MAJOR IR.A. BUELL. In the .\utumn of 1866, a goodly company assembled at the house of Ira Buell, in the town of Linn, to congratulate him and his dear wife on the fiftieth anniversary of their wedded life There were gathered together on that occasion the children and srand-children of the aged pair, with many old-time friends. It was a delightful, yet withal, to reflective minds, a solemn season - a happy mingling of the old and young. There in the midst stood Major Buell, with the memories of nearly three-quarters of a century crowding upon him, yet seeming almost as joyous as in days of yore, and by his side was one who had for half a century shared with him the joys and sorrows of life - " Chloe, the beautiful," - beautilul when young, and lovely no.v in the late .\utLimti of Life. The frosts of many Winters had whitened their locks, but had not chilled their hearts. From these hearts there still flowed a stream of benevolence, generous and pure, while all who stood around fondly wished that both these aged parents and friends might be spired many years, yet none had reason to expect it. But the earthly link that so long held this worthy pair is broken. One is gone, and the other is left to mourn and to follow on. A good man has fallen. .'V long and beautiful life is ended, and one who has for so many years lived to cheer and bless has passed from the scenes of earth to a better land. Ira Buell was born among the granite hills of New Hampshire in the year 1791. At the ea-ly age of six years, he removed with his parents to the county of Madison, N. Y.; then, to them, the far West, and there he lived and labored in the clearing and cultivation of his father's farm until his majority, whea he moved to the adjoining county of Chenango, and located in the town of Plymouth, where he continued to reside (with the exception of three years in Earlville, Madison Co.), until he came to this State. It was among the pleasant Plymouth hills that the greater part of his active life was spent. There he found his life partner, and was married to Chloe Holcomb, in 1816. There his children were born and reared, forming a most charming family circle, and then, above all, in the quiet town he commenced his Christian course, which he has so long and so undeviatingly pursued. In 1849, '^c removed his family to Wisconsin, and located on Bloom Prairie, in the town of Linn, where he lived to see si.x of his seven children settled around the parental home. Not only was it a home to them, but a home to all who sought an entrance. How many have found it so. How many have been made happy by the cordial welcome and kindly treatment received from that good man and his family. In that home no jarring discord, no petty jealousy or envying found a place; but a genial frankness, a hearty good will, was everywhere and at all times exhibited. It was music and sunshine all around. Major Buell was a man of noble and generous impulses. He was not one to pass by on the other side when the cry of distress was heard. This trait of his character led him early to espouse the cause of those who groaned in the house of bondage. At a time when obloquy was heaped upon the defender of the black man's rights, when fierce opposition to the friends of universal freedom raged throughout the Northern States, he stood boldly forth, and showed his adherence to the eternal principles of truth and justice, and fearlessly advocated the rights of the black man. Of all men, in a word he was an Abolitionist, with all that that term implies. He lived to see his principles vindicated, the slave emancipated, and his country saved. The commencement of his Christian life dates back to 1831, when during a protracted meeting his attention to religious matters was awakened, and he was led to embrace the truth as it is in Christ. He entered upon his new life with his characteristic ardor; in the path he then chose, he walked for more than fifty years iu the exercise of unfaltering faith, and during the long period the fire on the altar never went out. His religious character was not the outgrowth of sentimentality, but the product of a living faith. In the light of Christian principle he performed all his duties. Nor was his Christian life a gloomy one. He seemed ever to walk in the clear sunlight of God's goodness and mercy, with no repining, while his great good heart would leap with joy. In the highest and best sense, he was a good man ; but he who has so long stood the central figure in the happy family group is gone; and although stricken hearts must bleed, there need be no repining, for he has entered into his rest. He died August 17, 1874. Mrs. Buell is still living. The children are; Joseph Sidney, of Bloomfield, Wis.; Mrs. Harriet A. Allen, of Linn, Wis.; Mrs. Persis A. Boyd, of Linn, Wis.; Mrs. Helen M. Mudge, of Randalia, Iowa; William Ira, of Bloomfield, Wis.; Henry C, of Linn, Wis.; Charles Edwin, of Geneva, Wis.

CHAR[,ES E. BRANDOW, farmer, Sec. 32; P. O. Alden, 111. Mr. Brandow was born in Greene County, N. Y., in 1825. In 1839, his father, Joel Brandow, went to Illinois with his family, and settled in the town of Alden, McHenry Co. He died in Sharon in the Summer of 1877. The parents of Mr. Brandow had eight children, five of whom are living. Mrs. Brandow was formerly Lucetta Ryland, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Ryland, who came here with Mr. McBride, in 1837. Mr. Ryland made a claim of the farm of Mr. Brandow, which he purchased at the land sale of 1839. Mr. Ryland removed to Harvard, 111., in 1864, where he died in 1872. Mrs. Ryland, who is a sister of Mrs. McBride, lives with Mr. Brandow, who purchased the homestead of his father-in-law in 1864. Mrs. Brandow was born at the homestead Feb. 21, 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Brandow have one daughter, Iva. Mrs. Brandow has two children by a former marriage. Mr. Brandow's farm contains 200 acres.

HENRY C. BUELL, farmer. Sec. 26; P.O. Geneva. Mr. Buell is the son of Mr. Ira Buell, whose sketch appears elsewhere. He owns and occupies the homestead farm, where his father settled in 1849. He was born in the town of Plymouth, Chenango Co., N. Y., in 1832; came here with his father's family in 1849. Mrs. Buell was formerly Mary Thacher, daughter of Alfred and Susan (Baker) Thacher, natives of Massachusetts, who came to Wisconsin from the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1855. They now reside on Sec. 34. Mrs. Buell was born in Rhode Island in 1844. Mr. and Mrs. Buell have three children - Harry, Ralph and Lawrence. Mr. Buell's farm contains 370 acres of land.

ALEXANDER H. BUTTON, Sec. 12; P. O. Geneva. Mr. Button was born in town of Floyd, Oneida Co., N. Y., in 1828. He came to Walworth County, Nov. 11, 1850. The first land he owned in this county was on Sec. 32, in the town of Linn. He for many years followed the business of contracting and building. Many of the finest residences in this town were built by him, including the houses of Mr. George Allen, Mr. J. W. Boyd, Thomas Ledger, B. Alexander, James Emery, Malone Weter, etc. He married Miss Terissa Baker, daughter of Hiram Baker, an early settler of the town of Bloomfield. Mrs. Button was born at Niagara Falls. They have seven children - Clara May, Henry A., Ezra D., George A., Silus E., Frank M,, and Mabel L Mr. Button settled where he now lives in 1858, purchasing his farm of fifty-five acres of Mr. A. A. Thompson. His residence is beautifully located, near the outlet of Lake Geneva, and commands one of the finest views of this beautiful body of water.

ARCHIBALD CORNUE, farmer, Sec. 33 ; P. O. Hebron, 111.; son of Daniel Cornue, who was born in the town of Canajoharie, Montgomery Co., N. Y., in 1794. He came to Walworth County with his family in May, 1844; he settled on the farm now occupied by his son, Archibald, the following ; this farm became his homestead, where he lived till his death, which occurred January, 1876. His wife still resides at the homestead. The parents of Mr. Cornue had six children, four sons and two daughters, viz.: Jane M., who lives at the homestead ; Charles, Catherine, wife of P. C. Tremper ; Elisha, Archibald and James V. Archibald Cornue was married to Harriet L. Emery, daughter of James Emery. They have two children, Nellie C. and Arnold E. The homestead farm formerly contained over 200 acres, has now 150 acres.

CHARLES CORNUE, farmer. Sec. 33; P.O. Hebron, 111.; son of Daniel Cornue. He was born in Montgomery Co., N. Y., in 1S18, and came here with his parents in 1854. He married Mary Meyers, daughter of Joseph and Jane (Winn) Meyers. Herparents came to Walworth County in 1843, afterward settled in the town of Alden, McHenry Co., 111. Her father died at Racine, in the Fall of 1854; mother died in the Fall of 1863, at Neenah, Wis. Mrs. Catherine (Winn) Weaver an aunt of Mrs. Cornue's, came to Walworth County in 1842, and purchased this farm, where she resided till her death. May, 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Cornue had five children, four of whom are living - Anna, now Mrs. Osbert Clark ; Catherine Weaver, now Mrs. Porter Peck ; James B. and Edgar E. They lost a daughter, Haltie, she died March i, 1866, at the age of thirteen years. Mrs. Cornue's parents had six children, four of whom are living.

ELISHA CORNUE, farmer, Sec. 34; P. O. Geneva; son of Daniel Cornue. He was born in Montgomery Co., N. Y., in 1823, and came to Wisconsin with his parents. May, 1844. 100 acres of his present farm belonged to the homestead of his father. He settled here in 1855, Mr. Cornue married Sarah McBride, a daughter of Allen McBride. Mr. and Mrs. Cornue have two children, Georgeanna, now Mrs. Ehle, of Clear Lake, Iowa; and Gardiner C, at home. Mr. Cornue's farm contains 130 acres.

JOHN DILLENBECK, farmer, Sec. 16 ; P. O. Geneva; he was born in the town of Danube, Herkimer Co., N.Y., May 20, 1816. He was married in Jefferson County, to Julia Nellis, who was born in Montgomery Co., N. Y., in 1826. They came here from St. Lawrence County, in June 1854, and settled on this place. Mr. Dillenbeck purchased his farm of Peter Craton. Mr. and Mrs. Dillenbeck have five children - -Orlando, Jonas, Nancy, now l\Irs. Theodore Shondy ; Mary and Arvilla. Mr. Dillenbeck's farm contains 280 acres.

JOHN C. FORD (deceased) was born June 1 1, 1806, at Middlefield, Otsego Co., N. Y., and died at Madison, Wis., March 2, 1879. The chief facts in the life of this man, one of the early settlers of Walworth County, kind and conscientious in all his principles and actions, are as follows : at fourteen years of age he spent one year at Courtland, N. Y., learning the jeweler's trade, but returning to Middlefield, acquired the shoemaker's art and followed the business for some years. He was married to his now bereaved companion during the year 1833, in Springfield N. Y., and five years later, 1838, during the month of May first arrived in Geneva. During that year he assisted in erecting the first grist mill in the place. He made a claim in what is now the town of Linn, and purchased the land when it came into market. Here he followed agricultural pursuits until age and infirmity unfitted him for arduous labor. He left a widow, a son and two daughters, and an entire community to mourn his demise.

LORETTO W. FULLER, farmer. Sec. 12; P.O. Geneva; he was born in the town of Pen field, Monroe Co., N. Y., in 1823. He came to Milwaukee in the Spring of 1848, and to Geneva in the Fall of that year. He was married to Huldah Ann Ingham, daughter of Dr. Stephen Ingham, wlio settled in Herkimer, Co., N.Y., from the State of Massachusetts, where he practiced medicine for many years. Came to Geneva in 1841, and purchased the same year, the farm now owned by Mr. Fuller. He died in Elkhorn, December 1875, in his ninety-eighth year. His wife died January, i86o, in her ninety-second year. The parents of Mrs. Fuller had fifteen children, of which Mrs. Fuller was the youngest, nine of the children grew to maturity, and five of them are still living. Mr. Fuller has lived in this place since lie first came to Geneva. Mr. and Mrs. Fuller have eight children - Willard J., a graduate of the State University at Madison, Wis.; Henry E., a graduate of the University of Chi'-ago, studied theology, and is now pastor of the Baptist Church at Walnut, 111.; Albert W., graduate at the Chicago University in 1881, now a student at Morgan Park Seminary ; Roland J., Adell, Hattie, William H., and Anna L. Mr. Fuller and family are members of the Baptist Church.

GliORGE GREEN, resides at the homestead of his father, Russell Green, on south side of Lake Geneva. Russell Green was born in the State of New York, Aug. 6, 1808. He was one of the early settlers of Chicago, where he went in 1836. He was a resident of that city from 1837 until 1878. He was a prominent business man, and was engaged in the lumber business for many years. Wishing to retire with his family to private life, he purchased him a home and farm in the town of Linn, on the south shore of Lake Geneva, but he did not long survive to enjoy the quiet rural life which he had chosen for his reclining years. He died at his new home, May 10, 1880. His wife, formerly Caroline Hillard, survives her husband. Mr. Green left three children - George, Kllen and Frank. George was born in Chicago, in .\ugust, 1839, where he was brought up In 1862, he entered the United States Navy, where he remained about two years. Alter the war, he engaged witli Mr. Robert Law, an extensive coal dealer of Chicago, with whom he remained seventeen years. He now has general charge of his father's business, and lives at the new home in the town of Linn. His wife was Lydia A. Merritt, born in the State of New York. Ellen, now Mrs. George H. Gale, lives in Chicago ; Frank, an artist by profession, is now a resident of the City of New York.

JOHN W. GROESBECK, retired farmer. Sec. 31 ; P. O. Alden, III. Mr. Groesbeck was born in Rensselaer Co., N. Y., July i, 1802. He was married to Rebecca A. Knickerbocker, born in the town of Tiashoke, Rensselaer County, June 17, iSoi. They were married May 13, 1824, and have now, 1882, lived together fifty-eight years. A few years after their marriage they removed to Ontario County, and thence to Wayne County. They came to Walworth County in 1844. Mr. Groesbeck purchased his farm of Walter Clark, who bought of the Government. Mr. and Mrs. Groesbeck have had eight children, five of whom are living - Eliza, now Mrs. James Wood; Benjamin F , William II., John, and Margaret, now Mrs. Charles High. Their deceased children were : Phillip Henry, who was a Lieutenant in a Wisconsin Battery in the war of the Rebellion, some three years after the war, he practiced law, one year in Nashville, Tenn., but died of disease contracted in the army in 1866 ; Abram D. served too days in the army, died in Chicago, Oct. 5, 187 1 ; the other child died in infancy. Mr. Groesbeck has long been one of the substantial men of Walworth County, and he and his estimable wife are now enjoying the fruits of a long and well spent life. He has held several local offices, including Assessor, Justice of the Peace of his town His farm contains 235 acres.

WILLIAM H. GROESBECK, farmer, residence on Sec. 2, in the town of .\lden. He is a son of John W. Groesbeck, he was born in the town of Schaghticoke, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., in 1830. He came to Walworth County with his jjarents in 1844 ; he lived at the homestead about thirty years. His farm now lies on both sides of the State line. He has 450 acres of land, 150 of which is in the town of Linn, and the remainer in the town of Alden, 111. His residence is in the latter town. His wife was Miss Josephine, daughter of Alva Udells, an early settler of the town of .'Mden. They have three children - Jennie R., Grace and Ida.

SEYINIOUR N. HATCH, farmer. Sec. 15; P. O. Geneva. Mr. Hatch first came to the town of Linn in the Fall of 1838 ; he purchased his farm of the government at the land sale in the Spring of 1839. He did not settle here till the Fall of 1842. His wife was Miss Mary Stoneall, born in Wilshire, England, in 1822. She came to this country with her father, Richard Stoneall, in 1840. He settled in Bloom Prairie, in this town, soon after. Mr. and Mrs. Hatch have six children - Louisa, now Mrs. Isaac Moorehouse; Emily A., Norman H., Harvey R.,HobartM., and Mary H. They lost a son and a daughter. Mr. Hatch was born in LeRoy, Genesee Co., N. Y., in 1817. His father removed to Michigan from the State of New York, where he resided until his death. Mr. Hatch was .Assessor of the town of Linn for the years 1843 and 1844. His farm contains about 450 acres.

SILAS INGALLS, farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Walworth. He was born in Albany Co., N. Y. He came to Walworth County in the Spring of 1845. He bought Asa Stephens pre-emption of farm and entered the land. It is situated on the south side of Lake Geneva, near Kayes Park; he has i 20 acres. The siie of his residen -e is said to bs tht; highest | joint of land between Beloit and Kenosha, and the view from the observatory of his residence is as beautiful as it is extensive. Mr. Ingalls married Helen Snell, daughter of John P. Snell. Mr. and Mrs. Ingals have seven sons - -Jerome, Wallace, who graduated at the law school at Albany in 1882; Henry, John, Frank, Amos and Silas.

ARTHUR K.^YE, proprietor of Kaye's Park on Lake Geneva. He is the son of Abram Kaye, who was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1809; married Harriet Brayshaw, also born in Yorkshire. Mr. Abram Kaye came to the United States with his family in the Spring «f 1842, where he lived three years, thence to Montgomery County, Penn., where he also lived three years. He came to Walworth County with his family in 1848, and bought a farm of Henry Bailey, on Sec. 21, in the town of Linn, which became his homestead, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1875. His wife survives her husband and is still living at the homestead. The parents of Mr. Arthur Kaye had ten children, six sons and four daughters, all of whom are now living; four of the children, three sons and one daughter, are residents of Walworth County. Arthur, the eldest, was born in England, in 1831. He came to the United States with his parents, and has been a resident of the town of Linn since 1848, except two years in California, where he went with his brother Addin in 1852. His wife was Miss Anna CuUen, daughter of Patrick CuUen, a native of Ireland. Emigrated to Canada in 1846, and came to Walworth County in 1849, and settled on Sec. 16 in the town of Linn, on the farm now owned by his son Edward. They have eight children, two sons and six daughters. Mr. Kaye bought the location of his park in 187 1, and it was opened to the public in 1S73. He has one of the finest locations on Lake Geneva. He has spent a large amount of money in the improvement of his grounds, and in the construction of commodious buildings for the entertainment of his guests. His house contains a large number of rooms, elegantly furnished. He does a large and annually increasing business. His receipts for the three months of the season of 1881 was $20,000. Mr. Kaye is an intelligent and accommodating gentleman, and by the assistance of his excellent and energetic wife and amiable daughters, has made Kaye's Park one of the most popular places of resort to be found on the beautiful Lake Geneva.

THOMAS LEDGER, farmer. Sec. 23; P. O. Genoa. Mr. Ledger was born in Lincolnshire, England, in September, 1827. He came to the United States about 1850. He lived for a time in the State of Michigan, and came to the town of Linn in the Summer of 1S52. His first settlement was on the farm where he now lives, where he located about 1856. He bought his farm of Mr. Ira Turner. He married Fanny Sheppard, born in Lincolnshire, England, in September, 1827. Mr. Ledger returned to England, and was married Jan. 23, 1854, and returned the following May. Mr. and Mrs. Ledger have eight children, four sons and four daughters, viz. - John W., Sarah E., Palmer, Maria A., David, Susie, Charles S., Frances and Walter E. Mr. Ledger's farm contains 240 acres.

ALLEN McBRIDE, farmer. Sec. 31: P. O. Alden, 111. He is the oldest living settler in the town of Linn, who came here with his family. He came in June, 1837. Mr. Benjamin M. Ball came with his father the previous April, but was not married for some time after. Mr. McBride was born in Ohio, March 25, 1800. In 1836 he came to Northern Illinois, and June 4, 1837, he made a claim on Sec. 31 in the town of Linn ; that claim included his present farm. His claim was for 240 acres; after securing a deed, he sold 160 acres. His farm now contains 220 acres. Mr. McBride has been a great hunter, and has not yet lost his relish for his favorite pastime. His wife, who accompanied her husband to Wisconsin to assist in making for them a new home, was formerly Miss Latha Collier, born in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. McBride have seven children - Mrs, Sarah Cornue, Kesiah, now Mrs. H. A. Stone; Orpha O., now Mrs. J. E. Stoker; Elisabent Ann, now Mrs. H. P. Bayle ; Lucretia, now Mrs. James Tulip; Curtis H. and Charles A. They had nine children, seven of wliom were daughters. The aggregate and individual weight of the children of Mr. and Mrs. McBride is somewnat remarkable ; the aggregate weight of the seven is 1,474 pounds, and five of them weigh together 1,144 pounds, the average weight of the seven being nearly 211 pounds. Mr. McBride was Clerk of the first town meeting held in Linn, and was the first Collector of Taxes. He was Postmaster here for twenty-six years or more, but one child, their youngest son, remains at home.

JOHN McKIBIUN, farmer, Sec. 35 ; P.O. Hebron, McHenry Co., 111. Mr. McKibbin was born in Chenango County, N. Y., in 1822, where he lived till 1846, when he came to Walworth County. He accompanied Mr. Sidney Buell, on the return of the latter to Walworth

County from Chenango County, with a flock of 500 sheep, performing the distance in ninetysix days. He first settled on Sec. 34. Mrs. McKibbin was formerly Augusta Turner, daughter of Ira Turner, who came to Walworth County from Erie County, N. Y., in 1842. He first settled on Sec. 14, on the farm now owned by Peter Gaffney ; he afterward owned and occupied the farm now owned by Fordyce Merriaui, and thence to the farm now owned by Mr. McKibbin, thence to Sec. 26. He died in the town of Hebron, III., Feb. 23, 1880. His widow still lives in that town. Mr. Turner was prominent among the earlier settlers of this town. He raised a large family of children, three sons and five daughters, all of whom are living but one son, Charles I., who died in the town of Linn, May 23, 1S48. Mr. Turner was born in Oneida County, N. Y., Nov. 24, 1800. His wife was born in Franklin County, Vt., Feb. 23, iSoi.

FORDYCE B. MERRIAM, farmer. Sec. 14; P. O. Geneva; son of Allen Merriam. He was born in the town of Cicero, Onondago Co., N. Y., in 1834. He came to Walworth County with his parents in 1843. He owns and occupies the homestead farm where his father settled. His wife was Miss Sarah Turner, daughter of Ira Turner. They have three children - Jennie A., wife of George Lytle ; Anna U. and Jessie L. This farm originally contained 260 acres. Mr. Merriam now has 300 acres.

JOHN MERRIAM, farmer. Sec. 14; P. O. Geneva; son of Allen Merriam. He came to Walworth County with his father in 1843. He was born in the town of Ro.xbury, Delaware Co., N. Y., in 1822. Although Mr. Merriam came here in 1843, he does not date his residence in Walworth County from that time, as he returned to the State of New York in the following year. He returned here in 1858. His wife was Mary Collins, born in the town of Easton, Washington Co., N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Merriam have two daughters, Leonora and Capitola. The former was born in the State of New York; the latter in the town of Linn. Mr. Merriam 's farm contains 118 acres. He formerly had 183 acres, but recently sold sixty-five acres. The parents of Mr. Merriam had a numerous family of children. Those not mentioned elsewhere in this work are: Amny, who went from this town to California in 1S76; Henry, the eldest of the children, when last heard from was in San Francisco, Cal. ; Hamilton, in Chemung, McHenry Co., III., and Noah, who lives at Saginaw, Mich.

DAVID B. MICKLE, farmer, Sec. 31 ; P. O. Alden, III.; son of John Mickle, who was born in New York, and came to the town of Linn with his family, from the town of Floyd, Oneida Co., N. Y., in May, 1849, and purchased his farm of Mr. McBride, where he lived until his death, which occurred Dec. 15, 1870. Mr. John Mickle was married three times. His last wife survives him, and lives at the homestead with her son. Mr. Mickle, Sr., was a soldier of the war of 1812, and his widow now draws a pension for his se);vice in that war. The father of Mr. David Mickle was bom Feb. 20, 1790. His last wife was born March 28, 1803. He has three children by first wife, two by second, and three by third wife. The last are: Nicholas J., born Jan. 12, 1S36; Cordelia, born Nov. 25, 1838, and David B., born Jan. 29, 1840. The latter owns and occupies the homestead. He was born in the town of Floyd, Oneida Co. He married Mary Weter, daughter of Palmer Weter. She died Oct. 8, 1878. Mr. Mickle has two children, Cora Irene, born Jan. 29, 1864, and James Almon, May i8, 1869.

JAMES M. MILLARD, farmer, Ser. 30; P. O. Walworth; son of John Millard, who was born Nov. 26, 1798, at Petersburg, Rensselaer Co., N. Y. He removed to Brookfield, Otsego Co., with his parents; married Betsey Coon, who was born in Otsego County. They came to the town of Linn in 1844, and settled on Sec. 30, where he still lives. The parents of Mr. Millard had eight children, four of whom, two sons and two daughters, are still living, viz.: John M., resides in this town: James M., Emmeline and Ella. The mother of James M. died March 30, 1S77. James was born in West Edmeston, Otsego Co., N. Y., April 14,1838. He bought his present farm of eighty-five acres of N. L. Bassett. He was married to Sarah C. Cornue, daughter of Pfeter Cornue. They had one son, Charles, who died at the age of three years.

SAMUEL J. M. NICHOLS, farmer. Sec. 25. He was born in Franklm County, Vt., July 12, 1822, where he lived till June, 1854, when he came to Walworth County, and purchased 350 acres of his present farm, and also made other investments in real estate at that time. He bought his farm of Samuel I. Thorn, a resident of Ontario County, N. Y. Mr. Nichols was married in Franklin County, Vt., to Mary Adams, daughter of Timothy Adams. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols were both born in the same town in Vermont. They have five children - Levi A., Charles L., Frances Elizabeth (now Mrs. John J. Stewart), Mary A. and James G. Mr. Nichols is a large land owner, has 550 acres where he lives, and also owns land elsewhere. His farm is

MRS. LUCY ANN NORTH, Sec. 33 ; P. O. Hebron, 111. Mrs. North is the wife of James North. Her maiden name was Lucy A. Kent. She was born in Oneida County, N.Y., in 1820, where she was brought up; married Mr. Garrett Groesbeck, who was born in the State of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Groesbeck came to Wisconsin in 1844, and settled on this place, where Mr. Groesbeck died in 1857. Mrs. North had seven children by her former marriage, six of whom are living, three sons and three daughters. Her daughter Elizabeth Groesbeck, was tl.e wife of John A. Smith, Esq. (deceased), a prominent lawyer of Geneva. Mr. Smith was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., m 1842. He served tliree years in the army during the Rebellion; was captain of a company of the 49th W. V. I. He practiced law in Geneva for several years previous to his death, which occurred in September, 1881. His widow resides in Geneva. Garrett Groesbeck, son of Mrs. North, lives at the homestead, where he was born in 1853. He married Nettie Pierce, daughter of Delos Pierce. Mr. James North was born in England. Mr. and Mrs. North have two children.

SAMUEL ROBINSON, farmer. Sec. 14; P. O. Geneva. Mr. Robinson was born in Massachusetts, and removed when a boy with his parents to Chenango County, N. Y. He has been married twice. His first wife was Freelove Thornton, who died in the State of New York. Mr. Robinson came to Walworth County in 1844, and bought his present farm, but did not settle here until 1846. He was married in 1848, to Mrs. J. Marshall, widow of Horace Marshall. She was born in the town of Ovid, Seneca Co., N. Y., in 1808. When twelve years of age, she moved to Genesee County with her parents, then to Ohio with her parents, where she was married, and came to Walworth County in 1846. Her husband died soon after coming here. Mr. Robinson has one son by his former marriage, Irving Robinson, of this town. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have had two sons. Charles, the elder, was drowned in Geneva Lake, when but four years of age, and Albert S., who was born in the town of Linn in 1855. He resides at home. Mr. Robinson has sixty-one acres of land. Albert has a farm of eighty acres adjoining.

WILLIAM SHERMAN, farmer. Sec. 23 ; P. O. Geneva. His lather. Bill Sherman, was a native of Massachusetts ; removed to New York, and thence to Canada, where William Sherman was born April 26, 1809. He was married at Ripley, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in February, 1835, to Louisa Parsons, who was born in the town of Coldbrook, Coos Co., N. H., in 1813. Mr. Sherman learned the trade of a tanner and currier, at Dansville, Livingston Co., N. Y. He worked at his trade in Canada for several years. In July, 1836, he came to the Territory of Wisconsin, and settled in what is now the town of Eagle, Waukesha Co., and engaged in farming. He came to Walworth Courity in September, 1868, and bought a farm in the town of Whitewater. He went to California in 1875; returned in 1876; has resided where he now lives since that time. Mr. and Mrs. .Sherman have seven children - George, in California; Charles, who was the first white child born in the town of Eagle, Waukesha Co., at Carson City, Neb. ; William B., at Topeka, Kan.; Lewis M., in Milwaukee; Delia, wife of D wight S. Allen; Job, in Washington Territory, and Alice, at home. She graduated at the State Normal School at Whitewater, in 1878. They lost a daughter, Mary L., who died in her nineteenth year. Mrs. Sherman's parents came to Wisconsin in 1836, and soon after settled in the town of Eagle. Her father died in Waukesha County, Oct. i, 1856. Her mother died Oct. 20, of the same year.

NICHOLAS SMITH, farmer, Sec. - ; P. O. Geneva; son of William Smith, who was born in England, and came to this country when a young man. He settled in the town of Floyd, Oneida Co., N. Y. He was married at Rome, N. Y., and came to Wisconsin in 1855 ; settled on this farm. He removed to Sharon in 1870, where he resided till his death. His widow still lives at that place. The parents of Mr. Nicholas Smith had seven children. He was born in the State of Ne,w York, in March, 1845. ^'s wife was Miss Margaret Winn. They have three children - Willje, Minnie and Gertie. Mr. Smith's farm contains 120 acres, eighty of which belonged to his father's homestead.

JOSEPH STONEALL, farmer, Sec. 25 ; P. O. Hebron, McHenry Co., 111. He was born in Wiltshire, England, Feb. 7, 1816. He came to this country with his father, Richard Stoneall, in 1840. He first went to Kane County, 111., where his brother Henry had lived for several years, but came soon after to Walworth County, where he has since lived. His father resided in 'this town till his death. Mr. Stoneall began life here poor. He has acquired a fine property by hard work and economy. His farm contains 180 acres, with good improvements. His wife was Lucy

Rowe, a daughter of Lucian Rowe. She was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., in 1833. Her first husband was Hiram Everson, born in Onondaga County, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Stoneall have three children - Mattie, Seymour and George. Mrs. Stoneall has one son by her former marriage, Herbert C. Everson.

JUDSON TRAVER, Sec. 15; P. O. Geneva; son of William Traver, who was born in Rensselaer County, N. Y., in 1796. He came to Walworth County in 1839, and purchased this farm of the Government. He was married in the State of New York to Clara Earing. They had ten children, nme of whom are living. William Traver died Sept. 28, i860. His wife died Feb. 22, 1861. Judson Traver was born in the State of New York, Oct. 22, 1836. He learned the trade of a carpenter with his father, and now owns the homestead, where the latter settled in 1839. He married Melvina Nellis, daughter of Jonas and Nancy Nellis, who came to Walworth County from the State of New York in 1859, and settled on Sec. 33, in this town. Her father is deceased; her mother lives at the homestead.

FRANK E. WALSH, farmer. Sec. 21 ; P. O. Geneva ; son of John Walsh, a native of Ireland ; emigrated from his native land to Wisconsin in 1848. He settled on Sec. 21, where he now resides, about 1850. The parents of Frank Walsh have five children. He was born at the homestead in 1859; bought his present farm of Mr. Grove Sears, in the Spring of 1882.

SAMUEL B. WYNN, farmer. Sec. 30; P. O. Big Foot, McHenry Co., 111. Mr. Wynn was born in Canada in 1831. When about nineteen years of age, he removed to Jefferson County, N. Y. He lived at Stone Mills, in that county, for about sixteen years; was married to Anna M. Nellis, daughter of Jonas Nellis. Mrs. Wynn was born in the State of New York. They came to Walworth County in the Spring of i866. Mr. Wynn bought his farm of Dr. Gardiner. Mr. and Mrs. Wynn have had three children, but one of whom, Charles B., is living. They lost their first two children - the oldest, John, died in infancy; their second child, George S., died at the age of four years. Mr. Wynn's farm contains 120 acres.

Passenqers Bound For California, Colorado, Nebraska

Its Lines run from Chicago in so manj' directions that it is necessary to designate its Lines by certain specific names, which will give a correct idea to the passenger of the part of country each Line traverses. These Lines, nnmhering nine, are as follows:

These Lines enable the "CHICAGO 4 NOKTH-'WESTERN " to reach all principal points in tlin WEST, NORTHWEST, and, through its connections, the FAR WEST.

It glands second to no road in the West, and offers inducements and advantages that are not and cannot be offered by any of its competitors.

Its management adopts every improvement known to the modern Kailway System, and is determined that the CHICAGO & NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY shall remain the LEADING Railway of the GREAT WEST.

& yOKTH-WESTEBN RAILWAY. #«" BEAR IX MIND, no other road runs Pullman Hotel Cars, or any form of Hotel Cats, THROUGH between Chicago and the Missouri River. This is the only Line that has THROUGH EATING CARS of any sort.

Source changes here: from History of Walworth County, Wisconsin .., by Beckwith, Albert C. (Albert Clayton), published 1912; 1,324 words in this source stream.

Linn Town

Town i north, range 17 east, was set off from Geneva, January 23, 1844. and was named for Dr. Lewis Field Linn, of Missouri, who from 1833 to his death, October 3, 1843, was Colonel Benton's colleague in the Federal Senate, and of whose character and ability the Colonel wrote most appreciatively. It may be noted that at the naming of the town Doctor Linn's death was yet fresh in the memory of the territorial Democracy. Next southward lie the towns of Hebron and Alden, in Illinois. About one-sixth of the town's area i^ covered by Geneva lake, of which fair body of cold, pure, deep water much the greater part is in Linn. The area of that part of the town lying north of the lake is about two and one-half square miles. Thirteen sections of this town are more or less lake-covered. Of section 7 only Cedar Point, at the easl side of the entrance to Williams bay, about six acres of high and dry land are heaved up from the general submergence of that section. The greatest lake depths are found near tlie line of section 7 of Linn and section 12 of Walworth. Williams bay, an almost rectangular indentation, a scant half-mile wide, and reaching a large half-mile northward, is wholly in section 6. The shores of the lake arc high and uneven, were once thickly wooded, and are not now bare nor in any way unsightly, though architects and landscape makers have somewhat changed their primitive aspect.

The value of sin ire property is now based on measurement in feet along its water front. The general effect of shore improvement has been to raise the average value (in mm) of all the 18,961 acres of Linn to $264.77 Per ai re Such average acre-value for other towns ranges from $59.43 in Richmond to $140.25 in Delavan. The surface of the town is as variously fair to li n >k upi 'ii as in the neighbi iring towns. A branch of the Nippersink and several smaller and nameless streams carry its waste of waters to the Fox, while a little tribute is paid to the lake. The town was once well wooded, with alternations of prairie, and is mm well cultivated. Several of the must active and useful members of the ui hut's and dairyman's societies have been and are men of Linn. Bloom prairie lies partly in this town.

tions 36, 35, 27, 28. 29, 30, making a station named Zenda, in the southeast quarter of section 28, where a village may grow about its store and creamery and add its own to some larger history of Linn. At this point is the only postoffice in the town. At an early time, about 1843, and as late as 1869, there was a postoffice. named Tirade, near the state line and in section 32, discontinued in 1876. \\ "hat suggested such a name is now among those things unknown that men are fond of calling mysteries. About 1897 an office named Bissell was established near a cheese factory, in section 32. This was soon discontinued, and another office named Linton, was placed on the line of sections 20 and 21 and on the road from Lake Geneva to Fontana. This office, too, had a short existence.

On a map of the roads a noteworthy feature is the course of the old and well-made highway from Lake Geneva to Fontana, which follows mostly the Pottawattomie trail, and makes nine oblique angles and six slight turns before it reaches the Walworth line, having crossed eight sections from sections 1 to 19. both included. This, of course, avoids the long line of the south shore highlands and the few low places, and makes a somewhat striking exception to the more general movements by section lines and right angles. This road was of early importance to dwellers at each end of the lake as well as to those along its slightly devious course through a rich and pleasing part of the town.

John Powers (1803-1867), a native of Maine, made his claim in section 1 in 1836 and built the first house in Linn the next spring. He married Laura Stevens (born 1807) at Geneva, January 31. 1841. He died at Lake Geneva. Other settlers in 1837 were Benjamin Ball, section 34; Allen McBride, sections 31. ^t,: Samuel Ryland, section 31; Israel Williams, section 6. Within the next few years patents were granted at the land office to Joseph Bailey, Thomas Baker. John Barr, Sr., Lewis Barrett, Charles Beardsley (1819-1903). John W. Boyd. Peleg C. and Solomon C. Burdick, Thomas Chrystal. Peter S. Cooper, George and Peter Crayton, John Cumming, Thomas Davis, Daniel Downs, James Duncan, Thomas Dyer, John Chesley Ford. Daniel K. Franklin. Benj. F. Fridley, William Greenman, Francis Hanmore Hale, Seymour N. Hatch, Lorenzo Hinman. Joel Hopkins. Thomas Hovey, Joseph Fdwin Howe, William Hubbard, Silas tngalls, James and William Johnson, Lyman Jones,

Benjamin Ball (1780-1868) had wife Daphne (1790-1873). He was one of the first county commissioners, a native of Massachusetts, and for a few years resident in Dupage county, Illinois.

John Barr (1792-1860) married Barbara Black ( 1789- 1883) in Scotland and came to America in 1828. About twenty years later he bought land in sections 10, 15. One of his sons was for some years chairman of the county board of supervisors.

Michael Keenan (born 1820) and wife Ann (born 1823) settled in secti"ii 21, and Daniel Lloyd (born 18181 and wife Mary (born 1825) in section 28.

Mien McBride 1 [809-1884) married hatha Collier (born 1814). Both were natives of < Ihio, and came in 1837 to section 31, and also bought land in section 33; He was in various official ways useful to his townsmen.

Samuel Robinson (born 1811), a native of Massachusetts, came to section 14 in 1844 from Chenango county. His first wife was Freelove Thornton; the second, Mrs. Jane Marshall (born 1807).

John Peter Snell (1796-1852) and wife, Mary Ann Scouton (1798- 1858). came to section 19. He at once took his place among men of property and of influence in town and county affairs.

Israel Williams (1789-1846), son of Ephraim, of Franklin county, Massachusetts, with his wife, Lavina Joy (1787-1852), came in 1837, at first to section 18, a little later to section 6, and thus was named for him the bay which cuts so deeply and squarely into that section. So little of Linn west of the bay is land that he bought also in section 1 of Walworth, and, too, in section 24 of that town. His brother, Austin, and son, Moses Daniel Williams, settled in Walworth. His sons, Israel, Jr., Royal Joy and Festus A., came with him, and in the same year Henry was born. The exact birth-date is not told, and it is thus uncertain whether the first-born of Linn was Henry, or a son of William K. May, or a daughter of Benjamin Ball.

Zenda, the one railway station and postoffice now in the town, is 67.5 miles from Chicago and 31.5 miles from Janesville. Besides from this office, mail is distributed by rural delivery routes from Lake Geneva and Walworth and from Hebron, Illinois.

There are two school districts jointly with Bloomfield, one with Walworth, and three are wholly within the town. The school at Zenda has two departments.

The population of Linn at the decennial census was: 1850, 630; i860, 1,008; 1870, 895; 1880, 823; 1890, 854; 1900, 1.082; 1910, 1,201. This increase in the number of inhabitants for the past twenty years is mostly attributable to the coming of families from the din and murk of the city Enormous to the strips of wooded highland along the shores of the lake Beautiful. These newcomers brought with them wealth and cultivated tastes, whence slopes so fair in their savage state have been made yet more sightly to unenvying eyes, and this without needlessly marring primitive comeliness.