Magnolia Town

Magnolia Town

Is about fifteen miles west from JanesviUe, The face of the oountry mostly undulating, bur oak openings, with a mixture of some prairie ; making many very desirable farms. It is well watered by springs of the purest quality ; here is also a fine creek and considerable first quahty marsh, inexhaustible iu richness, producing heavy crops of gi'ass. The soil is a sandy loam, on a sub-soil of clay, producing abundant crops. This town is somewhat noted for its grass seed, which it produces in considerable quantities, and is shipped east. Here are some of the best stock farms in the State. The settlers were mostly from New York foi-rnerly. It has a good water power - six feet head; and one grist mill and one saw mill.

The first settlers were John N. Palmer, Joseph Prentice, Andrew Cotter, Washington Adams, Wendall Fockler, Abram Fox, Jonathan Cook, Edmund Basy, Ambrose Moore, George McKenzie, Widow Hines and her son Wm. L. Hines, and, Sanford P. Hammond.

The population in 1850, was 630; in. 1855, 989. It has nine school dis-. tricts, and seven good stone and-frame school houses; 446 scholara, and receives the present year from the State School Fund, $296,

One CoBgregational church, Rev. J. J, Jameson, pastor; one Free- Will Baptist church, organized in this town and Spring Valleys Rev. James E. Pope, preacher. The Methodists also have meetings here ; Elders Butler and Webster, preachers. The UniversaUsts have regular meetings ; Rev. G. W. Lavfrence, preacher.

The Congregationalists only have a church edifice ; in the building of which, they were assisted by the Baptists, Methodists and Universalists, It was constructed in 1854.

Town Officers For 1854

Supervisor* - Joseph Doohttle, Chairman ; A. U. Thomas, James A. Robson. Joshua Dunbar, Town Clerk. Andrew Cotter, Ambrose Spenser, Frederic Barrett, Assessors. James Jones, Treasurer; Arba Townsend, Superintendent. John Howe, N. B. Howard, Seth J. Cain and George Patch-, en, Justices of the Peace.

Town Officers For 1865

Supervisors - Joseph Doohttle, Chairman; N. B..Howard, James A. Robson. Joshua Dunbar, Town Clerk ; C. N, Moon, Treasurer; Arba Townsend, Superintendenti N. B. Howard, Geo, Patchen, John S. Niles, Justices, of the Peace.

N. B. Howard, Esq., member of the Assembly from his district, in 1 854, resides in this town. Col. Ezra Miller, also a member of the Senate fronoi the I7th district, for the years 1853 and 1854, resides in this town, and has a very fine, well regulated farm.

Source changes here: from The History of Rock County, Wisconsin; Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., by Wesern Historical Company, Chicago, Pub, published 1879; 5,896 words in this source stream.

Magnolia Town

This town is situated in the northwest part of the county, adjoining Green! It was organized by act of the Territorial Legislature, approved February 2, 1846. By this act, it was made to include Township 3 north, of Range 10 east, its present limits.

The first settlements made in the town were in 1840, by J. N. Palmer, Joseph Prentice, Andrew Cotter, W. Adams, W. Fockler, Abram Fox, Jonathan Cook, Edmund Basy, Ambrose Moore, George McKenzie, Widow Hines and her son, William L. Hines, and Sanford P. Hammond.

The Chicago & North-Western Railway, formerly the Beloit & Madison Railroad, enters the town on the eastern border, on Section 24 ; runs northerly, passing into the town of Union from Section 2. A reliable record gives the following, among others, of the principal farmers in Magnolia at an early day : N. B. Howard, James A. Robson, William P. Hammond, A. K. Barrett, Jopthan Laiten, T. M. Lockwood, James M. Smith, William Huyke, Ezra Miller, Charles S. Dunbar, Hiram Barr and James F. Jones.

a little village two miles'from the railroad, was located in the fall of 1843, by Joshua Dunbar, Andrew Cotter, Joseph Prentice and a man named Jenkins, each of whom settled on dififerent sections, as follows : Dunbar on the northwest corner of Section 23, Cotter on the northeast corner 6{ Section 22, Prentice on the southwest corner of Section 14, and Jenkins, by an agent, on the southeast corner of Section 15. In 1845, in consequence of the advent of a number of settlers, Mr. Cotter had a portion of his ground platted for building purposes; but settlers evidently preferred to choose their own sites, and so his scheme was a failure. "Uncle Sam " made his presence felt in 1848 by establishing a post office, his representative being Mr. George McEnzie, whose duties, however, were of the lightest description, consisting merely of the reception and dispatching of a weekly mail via Monticello and Janesville. Subsequent Postmasters were Joshua Dunbar, Oliver Eager, James Howard and Wilson Brown, the present incumbent. The spiritual welfare of the residents is cared for by a Congregational and a Methodist Church, the former of which was organized in the fall of 1850, by Rev. J. Jameson, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Foote, of Janesville, the following persons uniting with it : Simon Reed and wife, Mrs. Prentice, B. Leonard and wife. Miss Althea Leonard, Miss Harper, Mrs. McEnzie, James Hawes, Miss Wealthy Hawes, Mrs. Betsy Hammon and J. Janison and wife. For a number of years, meetings were held in the schoolhouse, but, in 1854, they erected the present church, at a cost of $1,300. It is a frame building, with a seating capacity of about one hundred and fifty. The present membership is about twenty. The Rev. Mr. Jameson, who first preached the Word here, gave up his charge in 1869, and was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Morris, who remained one year. The Rev. Mr. Sabin was then installed as Pastor, and remained three years, being succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Doremus, who retired after eighteen months' service, leaving a vacancy which has not yet been filled. The Methodist Church is a much older institution, having been organized in 1844, with twelve members, some of whom were as follows : Andrew Cotter and wife, Harvey Partridge and wife, Mrs. Morrill and Mrs. Ogden Barrett. In 1872, a church edifice, having a seating capacity of about one hundred and fifty, was erected, at a cost of f2,200. The present membership is about forty-five, who receive their Sunday meal of grace from the lips of the minister at Footville, they constituting a portion of his charge. In connection with the church is a Bible Society, which was established in 1849, with Lyman Bates as Depositary. The present officers are - President, J. B. Hartley; Secretary, George E. Austin; Treasurer and Depositary, Langford Burton.

The other institutions of the village come under the head of manufactures, and consist of a spring-bed manufactory, started in 1877 by Osborn Howard, under the name of the Automatic Spring-Bed Company, which now employs five hands and turns out about one hundred beds per week ; and a sulky-plow manufactory, started this current year by Mr. J. R. Whitney. This is, as yet, only in its infancy, as it was only patented last February, but as it is an excellent invention and calculated, owing to its lightness and other excellent qualities, to save considerable wear of horse-fiesh, it will not be long, once it is fairly introduced to the farming community, before its merits are properly appreciated and a good trade results. The rest of the business portion of the village consists of a store, a blacksmith-shop, a shoe-shop, a hotel and a schoolhouse ; the latter is under the control of a Board of Directors consisting of J. R. Whitney, Derector ; George H. Austin, Treasurer ; George Howard, Clerk. It is a neat frame building, erected in 1872, at a cost of $1,400, and was last under the charge of Warren Howard.

History Of Rock Couxty Magnolia Station

This village, generally known as Cainville, owes is existence, as a settlement, to the Chicago & North- Western Railway, which passed through there in 1860. The immediate vicinity was located, however, as early as 1848 ; but there was nothing in it to attract settlement. It owes its latter name to Mr. S. J. Cain, who was instrumental in procuring the establishment of a post oflSce there in 1861, the gentleman appointed to take charge of " Uncle Sam's " budget being a Mr. Howell. Subsequent gentlemen acting in that capacity were Louis Hall, S. S. Bagley, Thomas Chase and W. P. Styles, the present incumbent. The settlement now comprises a store, a neat frame schoolhouse (erected in 1869), a depot and warehouse, and the dwellinghouses of about a dozen families.

Emeeald Grove

This village, so called from that gem of the prairie, " Emerald Grove," is located on the south part of Section 6, in the town of Bradford. In 1856, it contained " one post office, one tavern, one church, one blacksmith-shop, one store, one grocery, one schoolhouse and' fifteen dwellings." Since this early date, the village has considerably increased. It is a thriving place, eight miles from Janesville, has a good hotel, a harness-shop, a general store, two blacksmithshops, a shoemaker's shop and a few other establishments.

JOHN S. ANDREW, farmer, Sec. 13; P. 0. Magnolia; born Feb. 11, 1825, in Herkiniei Co., N. Y., and worked on his father's farm till about 1840, when they sold out; in 1847, he came to Wisconsin, and located in Magnolia Township and bought 180 acres of land of Mr. Morrell, who moved a log cabin on to the land for him ; he built his homestead in 1855, and now owns 170 acres of land and raises all kinds of grain and stock. Married Miss Henrietta Howard, of Frankfort, Herkimer Co., N.Y., March 10, 1847 ; have seven children - Lucius, born Dec. 19, 1847; Wallace, June 19, 1850; Orissa, May 18, 1855; Louis, Feb. 21, 1857; Bayard, Sept. 4, 1858; Truman, June 20, 1865; Bertha, May 2, 1868. He was Chairman of Supervisors one year; Assessor two years; Clerk of School District several years; member of Footville Lodge and Evansville Chapter of Masons. His house has been struck twice by lightning, tearing up partitions, knocking down chimneys, etc., in 1868 and 1872.

WILIilAM H. BUMP, farmer. Sees. 7, 8 and 17 ; P. 0. West Magnolia; born Feb. 4, 1826, in Grenesee Co., N. Y.; moved with parents, when quite young, to Wyoming Co., N. Y., and worked there as a farmer ; in June, 1845, they came to Wisconsin and located in Darien, Walworth Co., working there till 1846, when he visited Magnolia Township, and took up eighty acres of Government wild land and moved on to it in 1850, and built a log house ; he erected his present homestead in 1867, and now owns 240 acres of land, on which he raises all kinds of grain and stock, and manufactures butter for the market. Married Miss Sally Briggs, of Wyoming Co., N. Y., Dec. 31, 1844; she died Oct. 9, 1846, leaving one child - Nelson A., born in 1845, who, in the fall of 1861, enlisted in the 33d Wis. V. I., and fought all battles in which his regiment was engaged till wounded at Tupelo, where he was left on the field and taken prisoner, and was in the prisons of Atlanta, Macon and Andcrsonville ; at the close of the war he was liberated. April 12, 1848, Mr. W. H. Bump married Miss Fanny Briggs, of Wyoming Co., N. Y., and they had nine children - Francis H., born March 19, 1849, Harriet 0., Oct. 19, 1850; George L., Oct. 7, 1852 ; Alice A., March 9, 1854, died April 19, 1862 ; Adelpha M., born Dec. 2, 1855 ; Amy B., April 3, 1857 ; Frank E., Sept. 17, 1862 ; Dwight E., Aug. 24, 1868 ; William H., Feb. 9, 1871. Mr. B. is serving his twelfth year as Postmaster of West Magnolia ; has been Assessor two years ; also Clerk, Director and Treasurer of School District at various periods, and holds the latter position now ; he assisted to organize School District No. 2, and was a member of the Board who built the present substantial stone schoolhouse ; he was Justice of the Peace for four years and is a member of Magnolia Grange, No. 108.

JOHN W. ClilFFOKD, farmer, Sec. 17; P. 0. Magnolia; born Feb. 27, 1825, in Grantham, Sullivan Co., N. H.; moved with his parents to AValdo Co., Maine, when 6 years old. where he worked on his father's farm and taught school winters till 1847, when he went to Dedham, Mass., and worked as a carpenter and joiner ; in 1848, he and his brother built a store and carried on a general mercantile business ; in 1850, he went to Boston and worked in the freight depot of the Taunton & New Bedford R. R.; in 1855, he came to Wisconsin and located at Magnolia Corners, Rock Co., where his father, himself and brother-in-law, rented 240 acres of land and the two latter bought eighty acres ; in 1858, moved to Footville, and visited Dedham, Mass., to repair some houses which he owned there; in the spring of 1859, returned to Magnolia and bought eighty acres ; went back to Dedham, in 1864, and sold his property ; in 1867, he bought eighty acres and now owns 160, on which he raises all kinds of grain and stock. Married Mrs. EllenB. Clifford, of Dedham, Mass., Feb. 11,1850; they had ten children - Olivia J., born Dec. 22,1850 ; John M., June 24, 1854 ; Alvin S.. June 17,1856 ; Herbert F.,Sept. 11, 1860 ; Willie L., May 22,1864; Elmer D., Oct. 8, 1866; Ellen Ora, Nov. 17,1868; Julia S., Oct. 7, 1870; Daisy E., March 23, 1873; Cecil L., Nov. 2, 1876. He has been Assessor six years. Town Clerk one year and Justice of the Peace four years; he is a member of Magnolia Grange, No. 108, xif which he is Secretary, and has been since its foundation, in 1873, excepting one year.

JONATHAN COOK, farmer and proprietor of hotel in Magnolia Village; born March 17, 1811, in Chenango Co., N. Y.; moved to Monroe Co. in 1832, and, in the spring of 1844, came to Wisconsin when it was a Territory, and located in what is now Magnolia Township, Rock Co.; he took up 160 acres of Government land and built a log house; the following spring he sold out, and in the spring of 1846 took up 160 acres again and built a log house, and he farmed this land till 1856 ; in 1857, he bought 120 acres and cultivated it till 1860, when he traded all but forty acres for a house and lot in Magnolia Village ; at this time he was manufacturing drums as well as attending to hLs farm ; in 1864, he bought the hotel ; he now owns it and about four acres of land. Married Miss Marietta Janes, of Chenango Co., N. Y., in the fall of 1831 ; they have one child - Charles F., who enlisted in the 13th W. V. I., and served till the close of the war. Mr. Cook served as Justice of the Peace for thirteen years ; Side Supervisor for several years ; is a member of the Excelsior Grange, No. 108, Magnolia.

THOMAS DREW, farmer. Sec. 35 ; P. 0. Magnolia; born in 1824, in County Louth, Ireland; came to America in 1840, and first worked in Kahway, N. J.; in 1844, he went to Flushing, N. Y., working in the Insane Asylum ; in 1846, to Fort Hamilton, working for a surgeon in the U. S. A. ; in 1847, he came to Wisconsin with Col. Miller, inventor of the Miller Platform and Coupler, and located in Magnolia Township. At this time, the nearest place of worship was Janesville, and when Mr. Drew wished to attend, he had to walk fifteen miles and back. He stayed in this employ till 1849, but had ^bought eighty acres of laud, on which there was a mortgage of $200 ; in the spring of 1850, he increased the mortgage by $100, borrowing money at 25 per cent, and went to California, where he was successful at gold digging ; in 1852, he returned, paid off the mortgage and made his brother a present of the land ; in the spring of 1 853, he bought his present farm of 320 acres, which is free from incumbrance, well stocked, and OD which he raises general produce. Married Miss Hannah Buckley, of Janesville, Feb. 21, 1859 ; she died in 1865 ; they had four children - John, Nov. 22, 1859 ; Maggie, Dec. 1, 1860 ; Thomas, July 13, 1862 ; Mary, Oct. 2, 1863. He married Miss Mary Mulcahy, of Footville, May 1, 1871 ; have three children - Daniel, born Feb. 12, 1872 ; Anna S., Aug. 17, 1873; William, Feb. 28, 1875. Mr. D. was Koadmaster one year. He and his family are members of the Roman Catholic Church.

THOMAS FIKNAM, farmer, Sec. 14 ; P. 0. Magnolia ; born in 1802, Galway, Ireland ; -came to America in 1857, and first located in New Jersey ; came to Wisconsin in 1869, and settled in Magnolia Township, Rock Co., where he owns twenty acres of land and raises general produce. Married Miss Catherine Kelly, of Roscommon, Ireland, in 1842 ; has two sons and four daughters. Members of the Roman Catholic Church ; Democrat. ,

(ilORDON C. GARDNER, farmer. Sec. 29 ; P. 0. Brodhead ; born April 13, 1836, iu Bennington, Vt. In 1846, came to Wisconsin with his parents, who located in Green Co., where his iather bought 500 acres of land, and, in 1867, he bought 440 acres in Magnolia Township, Rock Co.; at his death, in 1873, Mr. G. C. Gardner inherited the property in Magnolia Township; it was first owned by Mr. Fox, who took it up from the Government, then by Mr. Rockwood, then by Mr. Horn, from whom Mr. G. bought it. Married Miss Amanda L. Fleek, of Green Co., June 22, 1865 ; have one child - Frank D., born March 14, 1866. He is serving as Treasurer of the School District for the tenth jear. Is a member of Magnolia Grange. Republican.

JOHN GrAVIKT, deceased; born May 12, 1812, in County Galway, Ireland. Came to America an 1839, and located in New York City ; next went to Troy; then to Albany, and afterward to Massachusetts; came to Wisconsin in 1848 ; stayed in Milwaukee a short time ; then went to Troy, Walworth Co.; then to Decatur, Green Co., and finally settled in Magnolia Township, Rock Co.; in the spring of 1855, bought 120 acres of land and built his house. Married Miss Honora Conallin, of Ireland, in 1837 ; he died April 11, 1879, leaving eight children - Patrick H., Margaret, Eleanor, John C, Michael S., Honora, William P. and James F. He was Supervisor of the Township one term and Clerk of the District School several years. Family are members of the R. C. Church. The estate is undivided and belongs to the widow and children, and is managed by William P. and James F. Gavin, Sec. 30 ; P. 0. Brodhead. Mr. John Gavin and his sons P. H. and J. C. were in the Government's employ during the war, and the latter bore arms at Nashville as a volunteer. All the children, except Messrs. J. C. and M. S., have taught in the district school, some of them for several terms ; Miss Eleanor, now living at home, has iaught for fourteen years.

NATHANIEL B. HOWARD, farmer. Sees. 14, 15 and 22; P. 0. Magnolia; born June 11, 1806, in Oneida Co., N. Y. ; carried on grocery business and farming in Herkimer Co., N. Y., and ran a boat on the Erie Canal. In 1848, went from Buffalo to Chicago on a canal-boat, and ran from there to Peoria and back till navigation closed. In the fall of 1848, visited Wisconsin when it was a Territory; purchased 240 acres of land and moved on to it in the spring of 1849, and built a house that summer ; he has sold 200 acres of the original purchase, but now owns seventy acres, and has deeded sixty acres more to his son Cassius. His residence was built in 1847 by Joseph Prentice. For several years, he dealt in produce, shipping grain and stock to Chicago, and kept a store in Magnolia for about two years.. He took an active part in the late war, paying bounties out of his own pocket to induce volunteers to enlist. He had two sons there - Francis, in the 13th Wisconsin Infantry for three years, principally in the Provost Marshal's ofiice, and Cassius; his son-in-law also fought for his country; he is now dead. Mr. Howard married Miss Mary Bouck, of Herkimer Co., N. Y., April 6, 1862; she was born June 15, 1807, in Sharon,

Schoharie Co., N. Y. ; she died March 8, 1879 ; they had eleven children, seven now living. He was Justice of the Peace of Magnolia about ten years ; Town Treasurer two years ; Chairman of Supervisors eight years; Side Supervisor one year; member of State Legislature in 1855 and 1862; Republican.

G£ORGE HOWARD, Pastor of the Advent Christian Church at Magnolia, also farmer, Sees. 14 and 24; P. 0. Magnolia; born April 15, 1830, in Herkimer Co., N.iY., where he was educated. In 1844, he began to work on the Erie Canal ; in the fall of 1848, went to Illinois and worked on the Illinois Canal, and visited Wisconsin ; went home, and, in the spring of 1849, returned to Wisconsin and settled on land he had bought the previous winter in Magnolia Township ; he remained here farming till the spring of 1852, when he went to California, gold digging; in 1855, he returned and has since been farming, but, at different time.<, has followed other occupations in connection ; from 1858 to 1861, a store in Magnolia Village with his brother, and from then till 1866 bought grain and stock to ship to Chicago and Milwaukee. His farm consists of 130 acres of land, on which he raises grain and stock ; be also makes creamery butter for the market; he built his homestead in 1868. In 1871, he was ordained minister by the Wisconsin Conference of the Advent Christian Church, and same year was elected Pastor of the Church at Magnolia, and still officiates in that high calling. He has been President of the Conference for two years up to date, and Secretary of the Wisconsin Missionary Society for the same length of time. He married Miss Parmelia Andrew, of Herkimer Co., N. Y., March 14, 1849 ; they had three children - Alice E., born June 6, 1850, and died April 11,1875; Fannie V., born Oct. 15, 1856; George H., born Sept. 20, 1860. He was Town Clerk for two years, Treasurer for two years, and Side Supervisor for two years ; is Chairman of the Supervisors for the second year. The family are members of his Church.

CASSIUS C. HOWARD, son of the above, was born Sept. 20, 1845, in Herkimer Co. N. Y. ; came to Wisconsin with parents as above. Enlisted Aug. 28, 1864, in the 42d Wisconsin Infantry, served with them till the close of the war. He owns sixty acres of land in Section 15 ; also, house and lot in Magnolia. Married Miss Alice Rolson, of Magnolia Township, Dec. 31, 1867 ; has one child - Jessie M. Republican.

WILLIAH HUYKE, farmer, Sees. 34 and 26; P. 0. Magnolia; born July 31, 1818, in Montgomery Co., N. Y., where he was educated, and worked on his father's farm till 1831, when his father died ; he then worked out till 1838, when he bought a hotel and managed it till 1841 ; he then went to Michigan. In 1844, he came to Wisconsin and bought 160 acres of land in Magnolia Township, Rock Co., which he sold. In 1858, he bought his present farm of 160 acres on which he raises general produce and stock. Married Miss Mary Ann Letts, of New York, Sept. 10, 1841 ; she died Feb. 27, 1855, leaving four children - Clement A., born June 28, 1843; (Jeorge, born Nov. 10, 1845; Byron T., born July 24, 1848; Amelia, born Jan. 3, 1851. He married again Miss Carrie Lane, of Rock Co., Oct. 7, 1865 ; had two children - William, born Jan. 26, 1869; Frederick, born Oct. 1, 1874, died Jan. 21, 1877. He was Deputy Sheriff four years. Mr. and Mrs. Huyke are members of the Universalist Church. '

JAIIEi^ JAMEISOX, Congregational minister, Sec. 16 ; P. 0. Magnolia; born April 15, 1803, in Glasgow, Scotland ; there and in Edinburgh he was educated ; came to America in.l820, and stayed in Canada till 1828, when he moved to New York ; was in business there for six years; was a Methodist minister for fourteen years. In 1849, he came to Wisconsin and settled in Rock Co. ; he then united with the Congregational Convention and officiated as a minister in Center, Magnolia and Albany, till 1858, when Center was able to support a minister of its own, and he continued the other two till 1870, when he went to Grant Co., and continued his ministrations in Muscoda and Avoca, two villages, one in Iowa Co., and the other in Grant Co. During the first nine years, he built churches at Center, Blagnolia and Albany. In 1874, he resigned his pastorate on account of his age. In 1862, he purchased 100 acres of land in Magnolia Township, rebuilt the house, erected barns, etc., and is now living upon his property. Married Miss Ann Smith, of Canada, Jan. 23, 1828. He was Town Superintendent of Schools for 1850.

CALEB E. LEE, Lieut, of Engineers U. S. N., Sec. 12 ; P. 0. Evansville ; born Nov. 19, 1835, in Crawford Co., Penn.; came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1847, and worked for his father till 1853, when he went to Janesville and learned a mechanic's trade with the Western Novelty Works ; in the spring of 1856, he went to Minnesota, and worked at his profession as engineer on the river and in a sawmill ; in the fall of 1858, he went to New York City and followed his trade till April, 1861, when he received the appointment of Third Assistant Engineer, U. S. N.; in January, 1863, was promoted Second Assistant Engineer, and, in January, 1 865, First Assistant Engineer, now called Past Assistant Engineer, with the assimilated rank of Lieutenant ; from the 3d of May, 1861, to the 16th of June, 1865, Mr. Lee served continuously through the war; he was on the U. S. S. Anacosta, on the Potomac River, on picket duty principally, but they fought and silenced the rebel battery on Atacquia Creek ; he served on the Pocahontas, under Admiral Dupont, at the taking of Port Royal, S. C. , in the fall of 1861 ; went on this station till the following summer, fighting; several engagements along the coast ; in the fall of 1862, they joined Admiral Farragut's fleet in a blockade off Mobile, Ala., where they captured several blockade runners ; on the Tacony, he served under Admirals Lee and Porter with the North Atlantic Squadron ; fought both engagements at Port Fisher, and was at the surrender and retaking of Plymouth on the Roanoke River, N. C, and was on blockade duty on the Albermarle and Pamlico Sounds ; he returned with this ship to Boston, Mass., which went out of commission at the close of the war; in August, 1865, he joined the U. S. S. Wasp, at Philadelphia, and went with the Brazilian Squadron, visiting the whole east coast of South America, the Falkland Islands, the west coast of Africa, from Cape Town to the Congo River, St. Helena, etc.; he returned home in the fall of 1868; in the spring of 1869, he was ordered to the Mound City Navy Yard, Illinois, for iron clad duty, remaining there and at New Orleans for two and onehalf years; in the fall of 1871, he joined the U. S. S. Pensacola, at San Francisco, cruising on the west coast of South America; in September, 1872, he was sent home from Panama, sick, and was on sick leave till the fall of 1875, when he joined the iron-clad steamer Mahopac, at Pensacola, Fla., but in three months was sent home by medical survey ; in December, 1876, he was placed on the retired list, and is at present living on his farm of 280 acres, in Magnolia Township, Rock Co., Wis.; he is a member of Lodge Ko. 32, Chapter No. 35, Masons.

JOHIVIH. liEE, farmer, Sec. 1 ; P. 0. Bvansville; born July 26, 1841, in Crawford Co., Penn.; came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1847 ; enlisted in Co. D, 13th W. V. I., Nov. 21, 1860, and was discharged Dec. 24, 1864, when he returned home; in 1866, bought his farm of eighty acres of land. Married Miss Lottie Donaldson, of Rock Co., Nov. 28, 1869 ; they have two children - Harry and Eugene. He is a member of Excelsior Grange, No. 108 ; he and his wife are members of the Congregational Church.

MARTIX E. liEE, farmer. Sees. 1 and 12 ; P. 0. Evansville; born July 30, 1806, in Wash, ington Co., N. Y.; came to Wisconsin in 1847, and to Magnolia Township, Rock Co., in 1850 ; he owns 160 acres of land. Married Miss Grace D. Stratton, of New York, June 5, 1834 ; they have nine children, six boys and three girls ; the biographies of two sons are given above ; he was Assessor three years and Treasurer of District Schools three years.

JOHIV McMAlVIS, farmer. Sec. 8 ; P. 0. Footville ; was born in Ireland in 1813 ; came to America in 1850; came to Wisconsin in 1858. Married in 1845; his wife was born in Ireland; they have six children living, and have lost four ; Mr. McManis owns sixty acres of land.

CLiIJVTOlV W. IIOORE, farmer, Sec. 8;' P. 0. Evansville; born Sept. 8, 1836, in Durham, Greene Co., N. Y. ; came to Wisconsin Nov. 7, 1853, and worked for his father until 1860, when he bought his farm of eighty-three and one-half acres. In the fall of 1864, he enlisted in the 44th W. V, I., and served with them till the fall of 1865, when he received his discharge. The land was wild when he purchased it, but it is now thoroughly cultivated, and he has built a large barn, enlarged and improved the house, and made many other improvements. He raises general farm produce, stock, grain, hay, etc. Married Miss Abbie J. Babcock, of Magnolia Township, Nov. 10, 1856. Had five children - Phila, born Sept. 17, 1859, died April 16, 1860; Albert 0., born June 17, 1861 ; Myrtie,born Aug. 5, 1867 ; Guy, born October 25, 1873 ; Arthur, born Jan. 22, 1879. He is a Director of the School District, has served as Pathmaster five years, and is a member of the Evansville Grange.

JOHN XEVIIili, farmer, Sec. 10; P. 0. Magnolia; born Dec. 11, 1813, in Yorkshire, Eng.; came to America in June, 1854, and located in Union Township. Rock Co., Wis. In 1855, he rented a farm from J. Montgomery, and, in 1856, managed one for W. Higby. In February, 1858, he came to Magnolia Township, and worked a farm till I860, then rented one till 1864, when he bought eighty acres of land from Joel Campbell. He raises ail kinds of grain and stock. Married Miss Anna Born, of Yorkshire, Eng.. Feb. 19, 1836. They have seven children, three boys and four girls.

MARVIX OSBORIVE, farmer.-Secs 10 and 3; P. 0. Magnolia; born June 22, 1817, in Madison Co., N. Y. ; came to Wisconsin in 1853 ; in 1860, moved to Magnolia Township, Rock Co., and bought his farm of 120 acres. He was Chairman of the Board of Supervisors two years, and member of the State Letrislature for 1874 and 1875. He is a member of Lodge No. 32, Masons.

SIMEON S. REED, farmer. Sec. 2; P. 0. Evansville; born April 19,18j5, in Orleans Co., N. Y. ; went with his parents to Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in 1827. In 1833, they move t to Geauga Co., Ohio, where he worked on his father's farm until 1835, when he returned to Orleans Co. and worked out. He afterward went back to Ohio, and bought a farm. After traveling through 01. io, Pennsylvania. Illinois and Missouri, he stopped at Cherry Valley, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, and bought a fa/m there, la tne fall of 1845, h"e came to Wisconsin, and took up sixty-eight acres of Government wild land, in what is now Magnolia Township, Rock Co., and built the third log house in this neighborhood. He now owi s 120 acres of land, and raises all kinds of grain and stock. At various periods he has added to and improved the homestead, which was built by Gr. & A. T. Morrows, in the spring of 1856. Married Miss Adeline Olds, of Ohio, June 18, 1844. Has three children - George H., Lucy A. and Franklin D. He was Constable one year ; Justice of the Peace, Supervisor and Assessor several times. They are members of the Congregational Church.

IIORDECAI SAYLiES, farmer, Sec. 2; P. 0. Evansville; born Jan. 16, 1816, in West Bloomfield, Ontario Co., N. Y. ; moved, with his parents, to Steuben Co. in 1837, and, in 1845, he came to Wisconsin, located at Darien, Walworth Co., where he resided until 1850, then went to Dane Co., near Madison, and when he wished to build his house he had to draw lumber from Racine, fifly miles, calling at Darien to have the frame fitted, and paying for it in wheat, beef, etc. In 1868, he moved to Magnolia Township, Rock Co., and bought eighty acres of land, on which he raises corn, oats, winter wheat, and keeps a butter dairy, averaging about 800 pounds per annum. He also raises stock. Married Miss Luey P. Beebe, of Ontario Co., N. Y., March 29, 1837. She died May 31, 1868. They had eight children- Polly A., born Jan. 29, 1838; W. H. Harrison, born July 19, 1839; he lost his left legat Vicksburg ; Hepzibah L., born Jan 29, 1841 ; Mordecai, born Dec. 5, 1842, died Aug. 4, 1862, in the Good Samaritan Hospital, St Louis ; Roxa A., born March 25, 1845; Mary E., born March 3, 1848; Frank M, born Feb. 12, 1851 ; Sarah L., born Oct. 13, 1853. He again married Miss Nancy H. Wadsworth, of Hamilton Co., N. Y., Sept. 8, 1869. They have had three children - Lilian M., bftrn Nov. 6, 1870; Arthur L., born Sept. 19, 1872 ; Nettie C, born Deo. 22, 1874. He was Postmaster in Dane Co. Mrs. Sayles is a member of the Close Communion Baptist Church.

JOHN WOOD, farmer, Sec. 8 ; P. 0. Evansville ; born Dec. 12, 1824. in Brighton, Sussex, Bug., where he followed the occupation of shoemaking ; came to America in March, 1852, and first located in Astoria, L. I.; came to Wisconsin the same year via canal to Buffalo, and by the lakes to Milwaukee, thence to Footville, Rock Co., by land, from there he went to Janesville, still working at his profession. He bought an acre of land, and built a house on Milton avenue, which, in 1855, he traded for eighty acres of land in Magnolia Township, on to which he moved, and commenced farming under adverse circumstances, not having any experience. He had to carry his produce to Janesville, and sell wheat at 48 cents per bushel, corn and oats, 10 to 12 cents per bushel, and had to work at his trade, in Albany, during the winter, to pay running expenses. He erected his homestead in 1859, and has made all the improvements himself; he now owns 120 acres clear of debt; raises all kinds of grain, and has sixteen head of horned stock, six horses, fifty-nine sheep, and a number of hogs. Married Miss Ann White, of Bath, Eng., June 22, 1850 ; they have three children living - Sarah A., Edward T. and Isabelle ; he has served as Pathmaster, Clerk and Treasurer of School District, and is a member of Lodge No. 32, Masons. Republican.

RALPH H. YORK, farmer. Sec. 10; P. 0. Magnolia; born Dec. 10, 1816, in Connecticut; moved to Genesee Co., N. Y., when quite young ; he was educated there, and worked as a farmer and builder till 1846, when he came to Wisconsin and stopped on Hart Prairie, Walworth Co., till 1847, when he moved to Magnolia Township, Rock Co., and on arrival here, payed out his last cent for toll, when crossing the river ; he took up eighty acres of Government land, all wild, and built a frame shanty, being the first of that description in the neighborhood. In 1861, he built his present homestead, but has a(|ded to it since ; he owned 200 aores, unincumbered, but has given some to his sons, and sold more, so that he retains eighty acres, and raises all kinds of grain and stock. Married Miss Prudence P. Hall, of Wyoming Co., N. Y., in 1836, and has four children - Hiram, Elmeron, Asaph and Thaddeus. Elmeron enlisted in the 13th "Wis. Regt., and re-enlisted in the Veteran Regiment ; served through the whole campaign ; Asaph enlisted toward the close, and went to Cairo for a few months. Mr. York has been Clerk, Director and Treasurer of School District at various periods.