Reedsburg City (part 1 of 9)

Reedsburg City

r V votin- precinct was set off by the name of Bamboo, in the Fall of \ 1848. The first poll was opened in a little shanty in front of where the

Tins town embraces territory that was originally called Baraboo, which was one of the six towns that Sank county was divided into, January 10th, 1849. When the territory of Wisconsin took her position as a state, equal in rights with her sisters, and the precinct districts retired for the erection of town governments, this town of Baraboo was made to include what is now Dellona, Wintield. La Yalle. Woodland, the north halt of fronton, ReedsbUrg and Excelsior.

The first election was fceld May 19th. This was a special election. Win. Van Bergen* Lewis Butterheld. and Lewis Johnson were elected justices of the peace and $250 voted to be raised by tax for town purposes. A law restraining hogs from running at larue. _ A report of tne school superintendent was read: 'Dnrmgtlie past year a school has been taught in District ISo. 2 tor three months at 81.50 per week; that the county nacl assessed upon the town a tax of S118.£7 for school purposes; 8^4.90 was collected.'' It appears that there was no record book provided for the town until 1852.

At the regular election of this year David C. Beed, Lewis BuSteriield and John Kork were .elected supervisors, O. 11. Perrv. Clerk. At the town meeting in April, 1850, Samuel JSTorthip was elected chairman ot the board of supervisors. The other officials were reelected. JLTJw name of Baraboo for the town became objectionable as there was a" village by this name upon the rapids of the river, laid out prior to the organization of this town. The shear town of the count}" was laid out adjoining the village of Baraboo and called Adams by the county commissioners in April, 1847. The postoffiee was called Baraboo at the county seat, although located in the village of Adams. The only postoffice in the town of Baraboo was called Reedsburg. Several names became confounded with that of Baraboo in different localities, hence the town of Reedsburg was organized to extricate themselves from this medley.

Upon petition of J. H. Rork and others, while this gentleman was acting as chairman of the board of supervisors of this town, a new town was created out of the towns of Baraboo and Eagle. It comprised the present towns of Winiield, La Valle, Woodland, the north half of Ironton and Reedsburg. This act was taken December 11th. 1850. It was named Reedsburg in honor of the first settler of the village of Reedsburg, David C Reed, who caused to be erected the first saw and grist mill here.

. The first town meeting was called in compliance with the act of organization, at the house of John Clark, April 1st, 1851, and adjourned to the school house of District No. 1. John Rork, Sebastian Kerstetter and Wm. P. Randall were elected supervisors; Oliver H. Perry, town clerk; Wm. Andrus and John Randall justices of the peace; Daniel Carver, treasurer? Alanson C. Reed and John Randall, assessors. April 19th S. Gay Sperry was appointed school superintendent. The town of Marstpn was organized out of Reedsburg

Washington, Ironton, LaYalle and Woodland. This year the board consisted of John Rork, John Pelton and II. P. Smith; E. G. Wheeler, school superintendent; Rolin M. Strong, clerk; S. A. Dwinnel and Horace Oroswell, assessors; Daniel Carver, Treasurer. July 27th, ^7a was appropriated to build a. bridge across the Baraboo river at Reedsburg. December loth, Winfield was set off from Reedsburg.

March, Westfield was set off from Ree&sburg and Freedom. This change reduces Reedsburg to its present boundaries - a congressional township, viz: T. 12 N., R. 4 E.

1865 - A special town meeting was called January 14th, and 8200 voted to each person who would enlist into the service of the United States. February 8th, another special meeting was called, and §S00 voted to assist in sustaining families of men that had enlisted into tin' army. The annual town meeting was held in April. Yolney Ayres, John Fosnot and Wm. P. Randall, supervisors; James Miles, clerk; W. I. Carver, treasurer; ''and Moses Young was duly elected assessor.'* October 10th, a special meeting was called, and 8400

1870 - Austin Secley, T. Darger and S. Dearbourn, supervisors: A. F. Leonard, treasurer; R. A. Wheeler, clerk; John Kellogg, assessor. A special town meeting was held September 14th and 825,000 voted in town bonds for stock in the Baraboo Air Line railroad. A

1871 - A special town meeting was called January 17th, and §000 voted to build the Fordam bridge (so called) across the Baraboo river 1§ miles south of the village of Reedsburg.

In 1870, there were 557 foreigners, mostly Hanoverians. For the first ten years the population was almost purely of American birth. The population would now figure up at nearly "2,000 souls.

There were 14 persons died in the year ending June 1st, 1870. 4 of consumption, 1 of billious fever, 2 of typhoid fever, 1 of pal sey, 1 of whooping cough, 1 of inilamation of the brain, 1 unknown, 1 of child-birth and 2 by accident. The health of the town may be judged by the above statement.

The largest portion of this town is valley land. The Baraboo river passes through the northeastern portion of it. and Narrows creek through the southeastern part. Each are large streams and have broad valleys. Then there is Babbs creek that drains an area of nine or ten square miles and furnishing about fifty inches of water, that lies almost entirely within the northwestern portion, falling- into the Baraboo river at the west side of the village of Eeedsburg. Hay creek, a stream but a little smaller, empties into the river directly opposite to tlit,' month of Babbs creek. Copper creek runs through the northeastern corner of the town. Of river and creek bottoms, and marsh and swamp lands, there is not to exceed eight square miles. These lands will not detract from the natural wealth of the town - as the farmer becomes able to bring them under cultivation they will ever after form the most valuable part of his possessions. There is, east of the village, about two square miles of rather a lean sandy soil; most of this has a clay subsoil, and by proper management will undoubtedly in time make the finest of farms. Of the bluffs that are not available for the plow, we estimate not to exceed four square miles. If the bluffs, the marshes and bottom lands, and the light sandy soil were added together there will still remain twenty square miles. These broad acres are the choicest of lands, with living running creeks, springs or brooklets upon al most every quarter section . The soil is a clayey loam with much vegetable matter mixed in the deluviuin.

So called from James W. Babb, the first settler who tilled the soil in the town of Reedsburg. This prairie in a state of nature formed a most unique landscape picture, being altogether different from ordinary prairie scenery. It contained from twelve to fifteen hundred acres of land in an irregular form with arms running oft* in different directions, sometimes enlarging into a little prairielet, all of which was ensconced in heavy timber. The stalwart tree, the underbrush and bramble coming to the prairie line and going not an inch further, reaching their limbs over into the open space to get more sunlight, looking much like the shore of a Take. There was a chain of islands of timber dotted across it. There is a creek running through it and the Baraboo river running near it upon its northeast side. Twenty-right years ago we saw this beautiful landscape as dressed in 'tin' garb made by God's own hand. The Prairie was a complete Uowcr garden; the forest, a fruit garden. Here grew in profusion the apple, plum, cherry, gooseberry, currant, blackberry, raspberry and hawse. The Scotch c]aim that the Garden of Eden was located at fehedf Bd&ribvLfg. We claim it was located here; the Euphrates flows by it: it is watered by crystal streams; and as proof positive, we aver that there are at several places about it ancient garden beds of the same forms that are commonly made at the present day by the people of Keedsburg or any other civilized people. They most assuredly ante-date the American Indian form of cultivation. The soil is a deep clay loam. A more beautiful prairie never was made.

Narrows Praikie

Lies two miles southeast of Babb's prairie upon a creek that bears this name, which was given it from the circumstance of its passing through a canyon-like gorge of quartzite rock, a little east of the town line/' The prairie extends in patches up the stream for live or six miles beyond this town, and probably contains in all about 2,000 acres of land, about 1,000 laying in this town. As a landscape, the beauty is not equal to Babb's, but it is its equal in the quality of its soil. It is very finely watered by abundance of springs from the bluffs that make their courses across the prairie to Xarrows creek.

The Timber

Of the ridges is chiefly white and red oak and aspen, with underbrush and brambles as about Babb's prairie. The bottoms have elm, maple, ash, butternut, cherry, basswdod, aspen with undergrowth of alder, wahoo, prickly-ash, thorn, apple, plum and willow. Tamarac in the swamps.

Its Geolooy

The rock is mostly in place showing very little if any disturbance. It is sand rock of the Potsdam classification. On sections '20 and 30 the magnesian lime rock caps the top of the bluffs; it is here burned for masonry. Keedsburg lies without the glacerial range. There, is no boulders within the town, nor swirl holes nor drift knolls, on still markings.

Iron and copper undoubtedly are emboweled in the earth within the town. There may never be a bank of iron ore found here, yet iloat-ore can be picked up at several places, and there are places that the earth is quite oehreous. Of copper, a ''lode" was discovered at an early day upon the southeast quarter of section one, and several tons thrown out. The discoverer, Don C. Barry, writes to S. A. Dwinnell, "In the Fall of 1844, myself and a man by the name of Harry Perry were passing that part of the county, - had been looking for a location to lumber on Big creek. On our return I discovered, where water had washed away the earth, what I supposed to be copper ore. Early in the Spring Harry Perry died, and I took in two partners that had been miners at Mineral Point, to assist me in opening our copper mine- We raised about two tons without much expense, it being the deepest about four feet from the surface; it gave out as we struck the sand rock. We stuck to it all that summer, sinking shafts; the deepest was, I think, about thirty-two feet in the rock below the deposit of ore, following down a seam. We abandoned the mine on account of water and limited means. I had the ore hauled to Mineral Point, where it sold for $90 per ton.1'

We think Mr. Barry should have mentioned that he found a small deposit of ore at two different places as he proceed down with his shaft, in the crevice of the rock. We think Mr. B. was offered 81,500 for his mine by Mi'. Kendall, who owned a copper mine and a copper smelting furnace at Mineral Point, at one time, which he refused.

If John Mrinsirs theory be true, that most of our metals are brought in a gaseous state from a great depth in the earth to near the surface, or to the surface, and deposited in '- lodes'' in crevices, why may tliere not be ore yet in the Barry crevice? It was a well delined crevice but nearly closed at the time he stopped digging. If in digging one foot farther the crevice should enlarge, there would probably be copper ore therein.

But, says one, this was probably drift from lake Superior. This point is without the glacial range; there is not a boulder, or cobble stone, or glacial mark of any kind within live miles of this place. Again, it is a carbonate, and laying in the jaws or mouth of and along down a well defined crevice. Again, it is on the great mineral backbone from lake Superior, via Black River, Ironton, Kickapoo, and the lead regions of Wis- consin and Iowa. According to geology, an upheaved crest forming an antielinial.axis six to eight hundred miles in length, across which in places are crevices filled with metalic ores. Hence we cannot see from the light before us but what there may yet be a large mine of copper opened at or in the vicinity of Barry's digging on section one.

As an episode to this subject of mining we would relate, that sometime in August, 1845, a rumor leaked out that there was a large body of copper ore of sufficient richness to pay for working, that lay in a sheet from ten to twenty feet below the surface, besides there was a prospect of striking a rich vein. Upon a certain day all of Sauk county, with mining tools, was astir for the copper diggings, each person trying to get there before the other. The next day proved it a hallucination, and the copper fever soon abated.

The Rev. S. A. Dwiunell, has in his old manuscript bundle, written out that mining anecdote of S. Gay Sperries, at the village of lieedsburg, which we copy : "In the autumn of 1856i, an attempt at swindling was made here which has no counterpart in the history of the country, and which excited a great deal of attention at tlie time, wherever known. L. Gay Sperry, an early settler and prominent citizen, owned a village block, just north of the Congregational church, upon which was a house and improvements worth some live hundred dollars, which he wished to sell. He devised the following plan to do it: A letter was prepared, purporting to have been written from England to a friend in Cincinnati, by the last survivor of a band of buccanneers that formerly infested the Mississippi river, lie stated to his friend that the members of this company of robbers at one time ascended the Mississippi river to h certain point, landed on the east bank and proceeded eastwardly to a point on the Baraboo river, where they buried a large amount of gold and silver coin. Enclosed in this letter was a minute description of the exact locality of the hidden treasure, purporting to have been written at tic time it was deposited, - upon an elevated piece of ground at such a distance and direction from their place of landing, in such a direction from the rapids oi* p.araboo river, between certain white oak trees, which were described. and points of compass given. The treasure was. in an iron pot, with a charred stick planted upon it and running to near the surface of the ground. The paper upon which this was written was worn and dingy with age. The whole was put up and marked in a business manner and fastened with red tape, - was taken to Beaver Dam, and dropped in a thicket of small trees

It was soon afterwards found by him with every indication of having fallen accidentally from the pocket of the owner. He went to the hotel registers and found upon one of them the name of the person to whom the letter was addressed and hailing from Cincinnati. Leaving all business he mounted his buggy and proceeded in haste in the direction of the hidden treasure.

village. After thorough search, guided by the directions in the lost paper, they were satisfied that the treasure was upon the land of Mr. Sperry, a few rods and enquired his price for his village property. Sperry replied that a stranger from Cincinnati had the day previous offered him 82,300 for it, but his price was $2,400. A bargain was soon consummated and the property exchanged hands. On the succeeding night, others, proceeded to his newly purchased possessions to dig for the long buried coin, carrying with them coffee sacks in which to bear it away. They found the charred stick at the designated spot, and they were much elated with the belief .that their coffee sacks would soon be called into requisition. They left, sadder if not wiser men.*'

Its Agriculture

The different varieties of soil renders the town susceptible of a wide range of products. Now that there are railroad facilities, advantage will be taken of these conditions more than heretofore. Almost every quarter section has living running water upon it. The meadow land and plow land is desirably commingled. The United States census reports do not always give a true condition of facts, yet it is the best medium of knowledge we have, official.

It will be noticed that the products are not in the narrow range of wheat, oats and corn, which is usual in the settlement of a new country in this latitude of the northwest. From 1805 to 186S hop growing was entered into largely in common with the surrounding country. The hop trade gravitated to the village of lleedsburg, where large quantities were bought and sold

The first school was taught by Amanda Saxby as a private school in the winter of 1849-50, in her father's house which was a log cabin covered with bark. Says an old settler, "we well remember seeing about 10 or 12 urchins strung along on a bench while the ordinary household affairs were going on about them." The second school was taught by or commenced by Miss Amanda Wheeler; on the second day of her school she was married to S. II. Chase, in tin1 spring and summer of 1850. in the old mill house for three months and one month in the Saxby house. She had 31 scholars. This was a private school.

The first district school was taught by Roll in M. Strong. (Mr. Strong is the present County Treasurer generally known as Col, Strong, which title he earned in the war of the rebellion). The Colonel says "that soon after the organization of the school district they purchased lot Xo. 6 in block Xo. 7, upon which there was a small frame house". The partitions were taken out and the building converted into a school house. It was in this building that I taught the first district school of Reectsburg. The people of Reedsburg have always united in sustaining a district school of such a character that it would fully subserve the ends of primary and academic education.

In 1850, the district purchased | of an acre of land of Messrs J. &S. Mackey, adjoining the north east corner of the village plot and put up a substantial frame 30x40, two stories high arranged for two departments. In Feb. 1S08, this tine building burned down by ashes turned down beside it. During the following summer and fall a new building was erected, 40x36, two stories high; the upper, an assembly hall for the higher department: the lower, divided into two rooms for the primary and intermediate departments. Cost of building, $5,500. Albert Earthman, a gentleman of acknowledged ability, was hired to take charge of the school in the autumn of 1808. He graded it in accordance with the laws of the state, and has to the present time conducted one of the best schools in the state. lie has been nut only a "live" teacher for their school, but a pillar of support to the intellectual, religious and refined society of the village.

Religious

A. Lock preached the tirst sermon in Reedsburg, and has since, for nearly a quarter of a century, held religious service in and about the place. He does not adhere to any religious denomination; he holds sacred the seventh day. aid lias a remarkable memory of the scriptures and his discourses are chielly made up of quotations therefrom.

"The Methodist Episcopal church was organized by Rev. Nelson Butler, of Adams circuit, afterward Baraboo circuit, Madison district, "Wisconsin conference, at the house of John Clark, November, 1850, and consisted of twelve persons, six of whom were received on probation, as follows: Zebina Bishop, John lv. Rork, Dinna Hoik, Garrett Kathburn, Susannah Rathburn, John Clark, Sarah Clark, Mary A. Bowen, Amanda Barrengcr, Jane Spink, Mary R^vd and Phillip B. Smith. Z. Bishop was appointed class leader. The

In the fall of 1855, the Reedsburg church erected a tabernacle of boards at the northwest corner of the intersection of Fourth street and Locust, 20x30, which has served them us a comfortable place of meeting for some ten years. In the spring of 1872 an edilice was built, 50x35. with 20 foot posts; truss supported roof. The class at Reedsburg now numbers some 39 members. There is a class upon Narrows prairie numbering 23 members, S. M. Burt, class leader.

The Congregational Church was organized February 8th, 1851 , in the school house, at the village by W. Cochran, of Baraboo and James Saxby, of Excelsior. The first members were Nelson Cornish. Mercy M. Cornish, Wm. Dubois, Cynthia Dubois, Henry Dubois, Sarah Dubois, Lyman R. Morley, Harriet Motley, Isaac W. Morley, Marrietta Morley. J. S. Strong, Harriet H. Strong, J. S. Saxby. Sarah Saxby, Amanda Saxby, Peter Getman, Laura Huntington, Maliala Thompson: 10 members. There lias since been added 134. The present resident membership is 52; whole number, 67.

Rev. S. A. Dwinnel was pastor from January, 1852 to December 31st, 1857. (Installed pastor February, 1859 - sermon by Rev. Warren Cochran). Rev. Warren Cochran from January to December, 1868. H. H. Hin-

The following deacons have served the church: Wm. Dubois, L. Russell Morlev, Nelson Cornish, I.W. Mordey, Martin L. Cooper, J.*S. Worthman and D. C. Sheldon. The church has been united in sustaining their ministers in the application of the gospel to all forms of sin, and in promoting especially the temperance and anti-slavery reforms which have been prominently before the nation from the time of its organization.

In 1855, the society built a church edifice, 32x50 feet, valued at .$1,600, and located it upon the southwest corner of the intersection of Pine and Third streets. Abram West and Yolney Spink, builders. It was dedicated October 18th, 185b, Rev. Warren Cochran preaching the dedicatory sermon. It was the first church edifice in the village. The nearest one east was at Baraboo; south, Dodgeville; west, La Crosse; north, Stevens Point. At the time the house was put up cash was not easily obtained. The first subscriptions circulated previous to and during the summer of 1854, contained the names of 49 subscribers, answering to the sum of §720.50. Of this sum, §703.50 was to lie paid in lands, merchandise, lumber, labor, furniture, blacksmithing, harness making, shoe making and a new two horse wagon. There was 823 subscribed to be paid in cash, and just one dollar collected. In 1871 the house was repaired and re-furnished at an expense of $1,200.

In reply to your note, I would say that the first Baptist church of Reedsburg was organized by Elder Peter Conrad, of Baraboo, Jan. 24 1852, who was their pastor until Dec, J 852: E. I). Barber, was pastor from Dec, 1852, untill June, 1858; Elder B. I). Sprague, was pastor from Aug., 1858 to 18(50; Elder Wm. J. Chapin. from Sept., I860, to Sep.. 1S63 ; Elder Mead Bailey , from April. 1SGG to Oct., 18C7; Elder John. Scamons, from Nov., 1809 to Oct., 1871; Elder E. D. Barbour, was called to the pastorate the second time, April, 1872. and is at present so officiating. The church is now erecting a new edifice 32x4(5 feet, in the village of Reeds-

This new church has very symmetrical proportions and makes a fine appearance." The steeple is 70 feet high. It stands a credit to the architect and builder, J. N. Parker.

The Presbyterian church here was organized in 1857 with seven mem inns; it lias now fifty-one. The rulingelders of the church arc five, viz: Lewis Gilford, Chester Buck, Samuel Ramsey, Joseph Mackey and John V. Kelsey. The Sabbath school numbers one hundred. A cnurch edifice 38x40 has just been completed at a cost of £r>,2Q0. Yours, Truly, Wm. Lusk.

The pastors of this church, according to the Dwinnell papers, have been: Wm. Lusk, from Nov., 1857 to May, 1860; Wm. Lusk, Jr., from May, I860 to Sept, I860; Timothy Williston, from Sept/. I860 to March, 1861; A. S. Whitcomb, from Sept.. 1861 to Oct., I860; Wm. Lusk, from Oct , 1860 to the present time.

Relative to our Church I would say: The first Christian Church of Reedsburg is onNarrows prairie and was organized March 20th, 1863, at the school house near Hirona Parker's by the Rev. W. Shumway, of 8 members. W. Shumway, chosen pastor. Daniel Rowley and George Williams, were appointed Deacons and remained such with Fidelity to the cause until! Nov. 30 1871, when George Williams, was killed by the falling of a tree the loss of which the church feel deeply. Its present membership is twenty live. The Church had my labors as pastor for six years, when my health failed. In 1860, the Rev. Hiram Hall, was chosen pastor for two years, during which time my heltli improved and was again chosen the pastor. The church has the

This German Evangelical Lutheran Congregation was formerly an out-parish belonging to that of Westfield, eight miles south of Reedsburg, until 1S68, when it became independent of the Westlield parish. They purchased an entire block (No. 9) in the village of Reedsburg. upon the height of ground near Union park. There was a dwelling house upon the property that was finished up for a parsonage. A church edifice was commenced upon the property in the spring of 1870, under the supervision of the present pastor. On Sunday, 10th after Trinity, it was dedicated to the Triune God. It is 70 feet long, 40 feet broad, and 22 feet high in the audience hall. It has a steeple 80 feet high, in which hangs a bell of 1,500 rhs weight. The audience room is nicely furnished. There are at present 120 families belonging to the congregation and 350 communicants. In the fall of 1800 the Rev. August Rohrbach arrived here, and has since had charge of the parish. Yours, Truly, August Roiikbach.

This congregation is composed almost entirely if not quite so, of people from Hanover, Germany. There is a parish in the west part of the town of German Lutherans, chiefly Prussians, that number some 12 or 14 families. They have a small chapel, and preaching in it once in two weeks by the minister from westlield.

Benevolent Societies

Subordinate Lodge of I. O. of O. P. was organized in 1800, with fifteen members. Nelson Wheeler, 2sT. G.. A. Spoon, V. G. lias now, 1872, 45 members.

Reedsburg, Masonic Lodge No. 79 Organised 1S56, E. G. Wheeler, W. M., W. H. Young, S. W., Moses Young, J. W,, in 1864, liad 'J5 members most of whom were in the army in 1865. The Lodge was moved to Ironton, and name changed to Irohton Lodge. The present Masonic Lodge at Reedsburg, No. 157 was organized in 1860 with 16 members. First officers were, Moses Young, W, M.; G. Stevens, 8. AV.; H. A. Tator, J. W. Lodge has now 1872, 45 members and a fund of 8500 invested in Lodge Room.

Personal Chronology And Biography

The first white inhabitant Don Carlos Barry, settled at the Copper diggings in the town of Reedsburg, before spoken of in the Spring of 1845. James TY. Babb, made his settlement upon the prairie, now known as Babb's Prarie, May 17th, 1845. His first visit to it was by crossing the river, near the narrows and passing through Narrows prairie. He put up a hewed log house this season. He formed an intimacy right away with the Winnebago Indians who ever after were his friends. Several families would frequently come to visit him putting up their tents and staying several days. Babb undertook to raise his house by their aid but his imperfect knowledge of their language, and their boisterous manner of proceedure, determined him to abandon the undertaking. He sent to the settlement at the rapids for white men to help him raise his house, they werethree days in putting it up. It was 22x46. This Summer he broke CO acres, raised 20 acres buckwheat, corn and potatoes and put in 30 acres of winter wheat. After this seasons labor, late in the fall he left his effects goods and chatles in the hands of the Indians, and returned to Ohio. When he came back in the spring he found his property ail safe. John Babb and family (son of James AY. Babb) came this spring (1846). In Nov. 1847. James W. Babb bought his land at the public Land Sale at Mineral Point, 960 acres and has increased it to 1050. James AV. Babb's family moved to their now residence in Xov., 1847. A son-in-laAv, Stern Baker, and family came at the same time. There

The first Child born in the town of Reedstrarg was a daughter to Thompson Shepard, Josephine, January 14 1848^ The second, a pair of twin girls to Don C. Barrv, Agnes aM Alice. Third, a daughter to Stern Baker, Match 18th. 1848,. Isa Binda. The first male child was a son to Strother Babb, August 18th, 1848, Thomas. In 1847. there were in the town, James W. Babb. John Babb, John Ladd, Strother and Phillip Babb (single men). Stern Baker and family, Thompson Shephard and family, Wm. Wood.

The first couple married were Washington Gray to Frances Swallow, by John K. Rork, Esq., at the house of L. M. Swallow, the bride's father, on Narrows Prairie, in Mav, 1840. The house was a shanty set into the south bank of Bear creek, where L. D." Craker now lives.

The fust couple married in the village was Samuel II. Chase to Miss Amanda E. Wheeler, June 2d. 1850, at the house pi' the bride's father, E. G. Wheeler, by David Baxter.

1848 - Thompson Shepard and family, Jonathan Hunter and family in June, Joel Hunter, Geo. Randall, fall, Benj. Thornton, January, Orrin S. Ward, JolmK. Rork and family.

1840 - A. R. Sprague. October, Austin Seeley and family, Eber Benedict and family, Mrs. S. H. Chase, Mrs. A. E. Mnrkee. Charles Reed, Morris E. Seeley, Lansing Carver, Geo. Benedict, Henry Benedict, Z. Bishop.

1850 - L. B. Carvei-, Zalman Carver and family, Alworth Cole and family. Mrs. Alden Allen and family, O. II. Perry, Thomas Rathbnrn, John Stone, Charles Stone, W. J. Carver, 11. S. Carver, Mrs. Daniel Carver and family, K. Priest and family.

1851 - Win. N. Carvei-, S. A. Dwinnell and family, Mrs. M. A. Dixon and family, Oscar Dixon, Albert Dixon, Abram West and family, Mrs. Sidney West and family. v

1852 - A. M. Waltz and family, Alex. Weidman, L. D. Craker, John Sanders, Noble Armstrong, A. M. Sanders, David Barnhart and family, Edward Bnlow.

1853 - John Flitcroft and family, February 28th, R. Priest and family, Dr. S. Ramsey and family, S. II. Harris and family, H. H. Treadwell and family, Richard Bailey, Peter Empser.

1854 - G. Bogenrief and family, November, W. Shumway and family, August, W. H. Young and family, spring, Chester Buck and family, spring, N. and P. Buck, sons of Chester, spring, James Armstrong, fall, Elijah Glcasou and family, Lorenzo Gleason, Mrs. PameliaTator and family, Giles Stephens, J. Mackeyand family in Juno, Safford Mac-key, Moses Young* Mrs. John Miles and family, John Miles, Mrs. Edward Layman, Mrs. M. A. Hunt and family, J. Y. Kelsey, C. S. Hunt, Henry C. Hunt.

1855 - J. Quirk and family, John Safford, spring, Walter Wood, fall, Henry Wood, fall, P. W. Jones and family, November, L. Gilford. C. IL Knapp and family. June 14th, M. A. Knapp, June 14th, Edwin An drus and family, November 15th, Wm. Andrus, November 14th, Ransom Andrus, November 14th, W. Warren and family, Mort Finch. Geo. Meyers, Wm. W. Winchester, J. F. Danforth, G.-W. Henderson, W. W. Henderson, Mrs. J. M. Flautt and family, George H. Flautt J. B. Flautt, P. C. Flautt, Mrs. G. W. Henderson and family.

1S5G - D. Rowley and family, July 10th, L. D. Rowley, January loth, Israel Root and family, May, Samuel Brooks and family, April, W. W. Henderson and family, James Lake, Mrs. Wm. Donley, Mrs. F. Shaw.

ISS? - J- B. Graham and family, spring, Jesse Graham, Mrs. J. Sanford. Eber Cummins, Milo Smith. Philo Lane, N. Y. Chandler, Smith Devereaux and family, Charles Hinkley and family.

1858 - H. Parker and family, spring. Jerry Barnhart and family, J. W. Lusk, John Kellogg and family, A. F. Leonard and family, E. L. Leonard. Mis. Ambrose Smith, D. R. Kellogg.

It is no uncommon occurrence for four generations of a family to meet together, but for a parent to look down upon a great great grandchild is an occurrence worthy of note. Mrs. Cynthia Rollson, mother of Mrs. Hannah Barry, mother of Don Carlos Barry, father of Almira Barry Manger, mother of Adelbert. These live generations of the above named persons for about two years met at the house of Thompson Shepard, on Copper cr^ek, whore the great great grandmother lived the last years of her life. She was blind for several years previous to her death, and only saw her, great great grandson through the touch of her fingers and through her imagination. She knew the child by his voice; the neighbors were also quickly recognized in this way, and she would feel hard did they not call in her room and converse with her. In 1856 she died, aged 82 years. Her life was a very chequered one. She first married John Rollson. who was of a roving disposition. He soon after enlisted as a soldier in the Turkish war, and was at the seige of Tripoli under Commodore Bainbridge, and was there taken prisoner and exchanged. He served his time out, and hearing that his wife was dead, married again to a lady near Phil adel phi a} with whom he lived fifteen or sixteen years, and had three children, when she died. In the meantime Mrs. Rollson married Thomas Hill, in 1607. Mr. Hill died in 1814. They had three sons. Lafayette Hill, who lived for a while at Portage City, was one of these children.

In 1819, Mr. Rollson, with his eldest son, to partly satisfy a roving disposition, made a visit to Colechester, where he married his first wife. He found one of his children, a daughter, who had grown up and married John Barry, who had then a son, Don Carlos (first settler of Reeds'burg). Carl was sent to inform an aunt, and it so happened that his grandmother was present. They could hardly make out by the boy who had come, and they went with much curiosity to see. The old first loves recognized each other, and met in the door. Each had supposed the other dead: each had married a second time and each had three children, and the lawful partner of each wras dead. How singular was the meeting! So excited was he that lage drops of sweat stood upon his forehead. They were botlj overjoyed and almost overpowered. In a short time they were re-united in marriage after a separation of seventeen years. In a few years after this event Mr. Tlollson died, and finally Mrs. Rollson came to her granddaughter. Mrs. T. Shepard, on Copper creek, in the town of Iteedsburg, Sauk county, where, in two or three years afterwards, she died. The daughter of Mrs. Rollson, old lady Barry, mother of Don Carlos Barry and Mrs. Shepard, is now living near Kilbourn City. She is eighty-two years old and very smart; during the last year she has woven in her hand loom upwards of 200 yards of cloth.

More romance. - Another re-union of first plighted faith occurs with a great granddaughter of Mrs. Rollson, daughter of D. C. Barry. In 1840, Almira hired out to team from Omaha to Salt Lake City; from there lit1 went to California. Although writing to his wife often she received not his letters and of a consequence lie received no answers. The sixth year after his absence she applied for and obtained a divorce. Three years from this time ('making nine years of absence), Munger returned and again the hymenial knot was tied between them.

Plussed. - Our old first settler of Reedsburg has two interesting pairs of twins in his family - first, daughters, Alice and Agnes; second, sons, Edgar and Edward. On the first clay of the year 1SG8, these daughters were married - Agnes to Albert Miner, Alice to George Diggins, cousins. These; cousins were partners in business; each set up keeping house in the same building on the same day. The sons at this date (lb72) are about seventeen years old.

D. C. Barry is. and always has been, a pleasaiit man, full of life, and a man of strongly marked character, of a restless, roving disposition. He made several different settlements in Sauk county. He went to California, gold hunting, and came back; after a few years he went to Pikes Peak on the same errand and came back. When the great rebellion broke out. out of duty and probably more out of the wild excitement it afforded, lie enlisted to help put it down. This was purely from choice as his age cleared him from military duties, lie was of strong democratic proclivities from beginning to end, and to the present time.

Interest?: nr/ {to Mm if Collected). - A few years ago Mr. Barry's attention was drawn to a notice published in a New York paper that there was a certain sum of money in tile hands of the Court of Chancery, in England, for the heirs, if living, in America, describing thetpast history of his family so accurately that lie determined to write to England and see if he would get an answer. He received an answer and wrote to his mother. " I have received a letter from England by last mail. There is a large estate laying unclaimed'in the court of chancery, in England, for the heirs of Patrick Barry, who are in America, and they offer to collect it for 10 per cent. I send yon a copy.

Patrick Barry was an Irishman who came to this country when he was young. In 1774 he married Lucretia \Vestover. and 'lived with her about a year in Sheffield, Massachusetts, teaching a school. There, however, he was mistrusted by the inhabitants as acting the part of a spy to the British government, He tofd his wife he was' rich and wished her to go to England with him. which she refused to do. He left rather summarily and was not after heard from. About two months after his departure his wife had a child born, which she named John, who grew up and married Hannah, daughter of Mrs. Diantha Rollson. I>. C. Barry and Mrs. T. Shepard were the fruits of this marriage.

Seven years after the departure of Patrick Barry his wife obtained a divorce and married Dubartius Willard, who was the father of the t; Willard boys/' Edward and George, who, in company with I). C. Barry, built the "upper mill" at Baraboo, *in 1?44, who are so well known in the Baraboo valley.

D. C Barry is again in a new country, O'Brien Co., Iowa. His family "are all settled about him. and yet we are informed he is not contented.

Is located on sections 9 and 10, T. 12 X., R. 4 E., on the Baraboo river and Chicago .1' Northwestern railroad. 10 miles from Baraboo, r>2 miles from Madison by rail, Hi miles from Kilbourn City, which is the nearest point to the Milwaukee and La Crosse railroad, and 30 miles to the Prairie du Chieu railroad at Spring- Green.

The site of the village in a state of nature was an unpleasant, marshy bottom land backed by sand hills covered with a growth of scrubby black oak timber. The beautiful surrounding country could not be viewed from the plat. Yet, forsooth, Jove decreed that a Burg should here spring up that would dry the marshes, level the hills and supplant the rose for the tag alder.

It is no disparagement to a place to say they have "grappled the bull by the horns." There were two important reasons for selecting this point for a village site. First, here was an old Indian ford, the river having a rock bottom which formed a good base to construct a dam upon . Second, the basins of several creeks pointed here as a center to which trade would flow when the country settled up. Time has settled the question of the judgment of its early founders.

We can safely say that there is no place of the same number of inhabitants in the state of Wisconsin considering its facilities for commerce and trade that has done a larger and more lucrative business than this place.

u In 1847. a person, whose name to me is now unknown, came up to Sauk county, discovered the iron mines and returned to Big Foot prairie, where he was taken sick and died. Prior to his death he communi rated to D. C. Reed his discovery. Mr. Reed immediately came up, entered 200 acres including the mines; also, the southwest quarter of section 10, T. 12 N., R. 4 E., it being now that portion of Reedsburg that lies south of Main street. Caleb Croswell, then of Delavan, and a Mr. Powell became interested with Mr. Reed and in 1848 the improvement of the water power was commenced. A grist and saw mill were erected. A Mr. Yan Bergen became interested in the property with Reed. The interest of all these parties Anally passed into the hands of Reed, who became heavily involved. He sold his interest to J. Mackey in August, 1853; said Mackey moved on with his family in May, 1854, arriving here about the 1st of June. J. Mackey sold an interest in the property to his brother Sailbrd in 1854. In 1855 to E. Mackey an interest. Included in the above purchase was the 200 acres of what is now Ironton, embracing the ore bed, also about 600 acres of pine lands. The iron lands were sold to Jonas Tower in 1855. The first grist and saw mill was burned on December 8th, 1800.' In 1S61 the new mills, 40xG0 feet and live stories high, now standing, were erected by the Messrs. Mackey. The quarter section north of Main street was entered for Mr. Reed by A. Mott, of New York, and a contract taken for same by 1). C. Reed, afterwards transferred to A. EL Irving. Mr. J. Mackey, on purchasing interest of Reed, secured a deed of same, including prior lands from said Irving.

The Mackey grist mill has four run of stone, and is capable of flouring about 12,000 bushels of wheat in a year. For the past years it has done custom work entirely. G. Bellenger, an accomplished builder and millwright, built the mill.

W. J. Carver, Harmon Carver; Theodore L. Hansen & Co.; J. V. Kelsey; Peter Byrne. Groceries - A. F. Leonard; S. J. Dearholt & Co., groceries and clothing. Boots and Shoes - Paul Bishop. Furniture Store -

Reedsbnrg has received the benefit of a newspaper at three different periods. The first for about a year. The Herald, was published 185(5-7, by C. Lohman; TteFree Press, in 1860-1, by N. V. Chandler. The Free Press, re-established by N. V. Chandler in 1872, and now stands on a firm footing, and is what Reedsbnrg has ever needed. It is the soul of the place. An intellectual elevation of 1,000 feet above the "Mud CM." A profitable investment for the town; a "sheet anchor" to commerce; a desideratum.

The first postofBce was established in the village in 1840; Horace Crosweli appointed postmaster. The mail was supplied from Baraboo for some five years, and carried once a week, most of the time by a man on foot. In 1854 A. II. Clark put on a tri-weekly stage between Reedsburg and Baraboo, which was continued until the La Crosse railroad was built, since which time the mail was supplied from Kilbourn City six times a week.

Caleb Crosweli. brother of Horace, was elected member of the state Assembly from Reedsburg, for Sauk county, in 1850. A. West, for the north Assembly district of Sauk county in 1857, and Eli O. Rudd in 1850.

The first physician and M. D. was R. G. Williams, who came in the fall of 1850. The second, Samuel Ramsey, who came in the fall of 1853. The third, D. X. Hunt, 1854. The fourth. E. R. Mackey, 1855.

The first lawyer was the Hon. E. G. Wheeler, who came in May, 1850. The second, Joseph Mackey, in the spring of 1854. The third, Giles Stephens. * The fourth Wm. Miles.

The first tavern was owned by John Clark, a temperance house, opened 1850. The Alba House, 40x02 was built by Alba B. Smith, 185G. The Mansion House, by E. R. Mackey and D. C. Reed, 30x60, 1856.

Record Of Reedsburg In The War

Reedsburg has a record of which she need not be ashamed and too valuable to lose. It will pass into history. It ought now to be collected, and put in form to be preserved, before it is lost from the memory of man.

There enlisted from this town, so far as I can ascertain, one hundred and forty persons. One went who was drafted. Others was drafted who commuted three hundred dollars.

Of those who volunteered, one hundred and eleven entered the service during the first year of the war, when they received no other bounty than that paid by the United States, which was one hundred dollars.

Most of those who entered the service at a later period, were too young to be enlisted at the commencement of the war. As near as I can ascertain, this was true of about four-lifths.

Of those who entered the service as commissioned officers from this town, Capt. R. M. Strong was promoted to Lieut. Colonel; Lieut. Henry A. Tator to Captain; Lieut. A. A.Ellinwood to Captain: 2d Lieut. Jas. W. Lusk to 1st Lieutenant; Serg. John A. Coughran was also promoted to 2d Lieutenant; and Serg. Chas. A. Chandler to 2d Lieutenant; the latter was appointed Captain but not mustered.

It has been no easy matter to obtain the names of of all of our soldiers, together with the regiment in which they were mustered. I have done the best I could to make a correct list. My inquiries have been numerous. After all, it may not be perfect. Some names may have been overlooked that ought to have been set down to us. If any person knows of such, they will please oblige me by forwarding them to me at once, together with their regiment, and if they were veterans say so.

Many families changed their residence just as the war commenced, and in some cases it is impossible to ascertain the exact time of their removal. For this reason, perhaps a wrong credit may have been given in two or three instances.

Thirty-three lost their lives - eight of them were killed in action, rive died of wounds incurred in battle, one by accident and nineteen by disease.

Of these, eight lost their lives, most of them in battle after their re-enlistment. From this town there entered the arm}', six fathers with one son each, two fathers with two sons each, and one father with three sons. There went al so, twenty pairs of brothers. In addition to this, there were live instances where three brothers went from a family, and in one case four; making seventy-nine in all, who stood in relation of father, son and brother to each other.

This case is probaly without a parallel in a town of twelve hundred inhabitants in the entire land, where they entered the army voluntarily, and shows how very heartily fathers and sons and brothers threw themselves into the work of saving the nation in the hour of danger.

The following individuals volunteered in the army. Those who removed their families here before they were sworn into the service of the United States, I have credited to this town:

The Dead Of Reedsburg

There appears to be no list of those from this town, who fell in the late war, yet made oat. Believing it to " be due to the memory of those who sacrificed their lives in defence of their country, as well as to the future historian of the town that such a record be made, I have taken considerable pains to perfect one. This has required a good deal of labor, some of the names not appearing in the Adjutant General's report of our dead, and others being mis-spelled. It is possible that 1 have failed to report all; if so, let any person having a knowledge of the fads send to me, and I will add to this list/' Wm. Miller, enlisted from Winfield, but removed his family from this town. Hugh Collins audJ. Wesley, Dickens died after their discharge, from disease contracted in the army, three families lost two each: Collins, father and son; and Miles and Pitts two sons each.

After the following names, k stands for killed in action, w for died of wounds and d for died of disease. The number before the name indicates the regiment.

Infantry Cavalry

From this "list, we find that Reedsburg lost a larger number than any one supposed, being about one-foimh of all who enlisted. Of these, eight were killed, six died of wounds, and eighteen of disease. The 19th, Regiment took more from this town than any other, and consequently lost more.

Henry Bulow, was murdered, with all the Regimental Band of the 3d Cavalry, after surrender, and their bodies thrown under the band wagon and burned, by order of the infamous Quantrel, who, with 5U0 rebels, were disguised in Federal uniforms.

The Rev. S. A. Dwinnell, is at the present time publishing a series of articles, in the Reedsburg Free Press, of the "Record of Reedsburg, in the War of the Rebellion." There are many personal incidents related that are verv interesting to a Reedsburgan in particular. It would be a pleasure to see it in pamphlet or book form.

To the Rev. S. A. Dwinnell, we are much indebted for a large amount of matter for this sixth, or Reedsburg sketch; also, we are indebted for communications from, Rev. Robt. Longley, Methodist; Z. D. Barber, Baptist; Wm. Lusk, Presbyterian; W. Shumway, Christian; August Rohrback, Lutherian ; and to Moses Young, on benevolent societies. - W. H. C.

On 2d page, 3d p.irrtixiiipli, vih line, rear'. L. Gay Pperry. Same page and paragraph, lltli line should read - Tito town of Maistou was organized out of the towns of Keedsburg and Eagle, in 1S52, and comprised the present towns of Washington, Irouton, Lav all e and Woodland. Same paragraph, 13th line should read (here and elsewhere) John II. Rork. Fourth paragraph,' 1st line should read (here and elsewhere) J. L. Creep.

On 3d page, under date of 1551, should read - Supervisors, John H. Rork, John Fosnot and S. Mackey. .Under date of 1857 the name of Henry W. Audi-its should read (here and elsewhere; 11. W. Andrews. Under date of 1S6I, 11.' Palmer should read II. Parker. Under date of 1864, M. A. Cochran should read J. A. Coughran.

The following are the town officers for 1S72': ' A'. P. Ellinwood, supervisor-; D. R. Kellogg, cleric: A. F. Leonard, treasurer; Wm. Andrews, assessor. - . Census of 1570 should, read - 1,030. , -

Page 17, second paragraph, -3d line, read L.- 15. Swallow. Third paragraph, 3d line, read bride's brother. Under -date 1S48, read Ben}. Thorn, Orson S. Ward, John II. Rork. Under' date ISi'), read Dennis Bishop. John Fosnot settled here Nov. 15, 1552. His sons, Joseph and John, are now heads of families. Under date 1550, L. B. Carver should be omitted, and the name of John D. Sanford appear under this head. Under date of 1554 should have been inserted James and David Miles - insert before C. S. Hunt the name of A. 0. Hunt. Under date 1555, after J. F. Danforth, read O. L. Henderson.

Nov. 1st, 1572. - It is now nearly a year since Reedsburg has had railroad advantages. Since the baptism, several business houses have been added, old ones enlarged, many small dwellings and shops and several line suburban residences have been built, additions to the village plot made, streets improved, and graded and extended, two new church buildings erected and finished, (Methodist and Baptist' - making live Hue houses of worship here. There is a large and commodtns sc lipid house, arranged for three departments. It has a very comfortable hotel, a saw mill, a Lrnst and flouring mill, run by water, and a tight barrel stave factory by steam. At the R. It. Depot grounds there is a passenger depot and a freight depot, a well, water tank, and double wind-mill, two warehouses and a stock-yard.

Joseph Mackey has my sincere thanks for Direct assistance rendered and encouragement given to the complication of this Sketch. Also, Jerry Harnhart has my best regards for favors bestowed.

Source changes here: from The History of Sauk County, Wisconsin, Containing an Account of Settlement, Growth, Development and Resources ... Biographical Sketches ... the Whole Preceded by a History of Wisconsin, by Western Historical Co, published 1880; 122,327 words in this source stream.

Tilden Foundations

to advance the general interests of the community and to improve the former high standard of the paper. In 1879, the paper was enlarged by a weekly supplement, patent-sheet, called " The Story Teller," issued every week. The Pioneer and Wisconsin is now the oldest living paper in Sauk County, and is said to be the oldest paper in the State printed in the German language. It is ably edited and has a large circulation.

The Reedsburg Herald - Made its first appearance on the 21st day of October, 1856, published by C. Lowman and P. Ruge, in the west wing of the Reedsburg Hotel (L. Ordway's building), $1.50 per annum, " invariably in advance." The Herald was a seven-column quarto, filled with interesting reading matter and local advertisements, and, if we are to judge from the character of the selections on the first page, its "scissor editor" was brimful of the tender passion, - for there we find two pieces of poetry : "Think Not, Sweet One," and "True Purpose of Woman's Lips," the latter containing all the words in the vocabulary that would rhyme with " Kiss," These were followed by a story from Putnam s Monthly, entitled " How I Courted Lulu," in seven tableaux. The first column of the first page was devoted to professional and business cards, among which we find those of " E. G. Wheeler, attorney and counselor at law, County Judge and general land agent; " "J. Mackey, attorney and counselor at law, and Commissioner for the State of New York ;" " E. W. Olin, attorney at law and Notary Public;" "William Miles, attorney at law, Notary Public and land agent;" " G. Stevens, civil engineer and County Surveyor ;" " Dr. Ramsey, office at post office." Among the business cards were the announcements of J. B. Gregory, brickmason, and W. Warren, blacksmith; and Alba B. Smith and J. and A. Smith carried on the Alba and Mansion Houses, respectively.

Turning to the second page of this the first copy of the Herald, we find, in large, black campaign type, the names of James Buchanan, for President of the United States, and John -C. Breckenridge for Vice President. Samuel Crawford was the choice of the Herald for Congress, and J. H. Wells and M. C. Waite for Senator and Assemblyman. E. C. Watson headed the county ticket for Sheriif, followed by E. P. Spencer for Register of Deeds, Charles Halasz for Treasurer, H. Nickerson for Clerk of the Board, William H. Joy for Clerk of the Court, William J. Huntington for Coroner, Giles Stevens for Surveyor and J. S. Tripp for District Attorney.

Just how the Herald came to be Democratic in politics, we propose to let its editors tell in their own language. The " To the Public " or salutatory was signed by J. Mackey, E. G. Wheeler and S. Ramsey, who, after a brief appeal for public patronage in the measure of their merit, say :

" In coming before you to make our editorial bow, and ask your aid in carrying forward an enterprise, we shall depart somewhat from the path usually marked out by our predecessors, and shall confine ourselves to a brief statement of the facts connected with the origin of the Herald, and which have led to its publication, and given it the character in which it now appears. Some two months ago one of the publishers of this paper came here with the greater part of type and other printing materials, wishing to establish a paper in our village, and sought the aid of our citizens in the enterprise. The proprietor met with encouragement - the people were anxious (or seemed to be) to have such a channel of communication. Subscriptions were made and money raised to procure a press, and it was agreed by those mostly interested ia the matter, that the paper should be devoted to home and foreign news, agriculture, literature, science, local information, etc., and independent in politics, and a prospectus was issued accordingly. In the meantime, a variety of causes, incident to a project of this nature, conspired to delay its publication for some weeks longer than was anticipated, and it was finally ascertained, that in order to bring the paper out at all, and give it such a character for stability and permanency as is necessary to secure the public patronage, the individuals whose money and credit had procured the press, etc., should take the conduct and management of the paper into their own hands. With that view, a meeting of the stockholders was called, and the subject freely discussed, re>5ulting in the appointment of the undersigned* as editors of the paper. The offer had been freely made to all classes of our citizens to take stock in the press at $5 a share, thus bringing it within the reach of all, and, though this offer had been before the public for nearly two months, and this, too, with the understanding that the paper should be independent in politics, yet when the stockholders were called together, it was ascertained that, out of 120 shares, only three were owned by Republicans - the Republican party thus giving the project the ' cold shoulder.' It was therefore agreed, that, inasmuch as the Democrats of the village were obliged to take the whole burden upon their own shoulders, justice and sound policy would dictate that the paper should advocate the sentiments of the Democratic party of the country. It was with this understanding that the undersigned accepted the appointment of the chair editorial. We have accordingly raised to our ' mast head ' the Democratic national. State and county tickets, and shall float them there and battle for their success, until their final ratification by the people on the 4th of November next."

Following this was an editorial article, addressed " To the Electors of Sauk County," setting forth the rare and righteous principles then claimed for the Democratic party, and perforating the Republican platform with virtuous anathemas. An account of the troubles in Kansas, a telegraphic dispatch conveying the news of Democratic victories in Pennsylvania and Indiana, and an article on the early settlement and commercial advantages of Reedsburg, completed the contents of the second page.

On the third page were the marriage notices of Walter Bates and Isaac Flinn, of Baraboo, to Miss Ruth Bunker and Miss Emily L. Bunker, of New Buffalo ; Stephen A. Greenslitt to Miss Minora Loomis, both of Dellona ; Moses Young, of Reedsburg, to Miss Catharine Amelia Medberry, of Troy; and Jonathan Knoles, of Freedom, to Miss Lydia Burnard, of Washington ; a list of letters remaining unclaimed in the post office of Reedsburg (E. W. Young, P. M.); the advertisements of Green & Waterman, dry goods, groceries, etc. ; L. H. Jewett, variety store ; A. Petty, jewelry ; M. & E. W. Young, staple and fancy goods; T. Lichtenhein & Co., dry goods and ready-made clothing; M. Finch, harness and saddlery; J. & A. Smith, stage line ; Ring & Demerest, market, eating saloon and groceries ; Clark & Sanburn, livery stable ; George Meyers, furniture and hardware, and numerous smaller notices of farms for sale, etc.

The fourth page contained a few short selections, and most of the third-page advertisements alreadv mentioned, which the editors were compelled to duplicate to " fill up."

Number 3 of the Herald announced the result of the election as follows : " Three cheers for the Democracy of Reedsburg ! They have done nobly. Within the last year, they have increased their vote from 46 to 110, while the Shanghais have increased theirs since last fall but 8. So much for a full discussion of our principles ; they have but to be understood to be embraced. Our opponents, who counted on 150 majority, have but 84.

On the 5th of March, 1857, a dissolution of copartnership took place between Messrs. Lowman & Ruge, in the publication of the Herald, Mr. Ruge retiring from the firm and Mr. Lowman reraainingr as sole publisher. In April, there having arisen some dispute between the Herald and a Baraboo cotemporary, as to the authorship of a certain article, Mr. Lowman's name was placed at the head of the local columns, with the announcement that he would be responsible for all that appeared therein in the future ; and a month later (June 4) the Herald passed entirely to the management of Mr. Lowman, he having purchased it from the stockholders. Messrs. Mackey, Wheeler and Ramsey also withdrew from editorial responsibility, and Mr. Lowman's name appeared as sole editor and proprietor. But the struggle for existence, though manful, was without avail, and on the 21st of November, in Number 4 of Volume II, the editor made an able appeal to his patrons, pointing out to them their duty toward their adopted party organ. The appeal, however, had not the desired effect of bringing a sufficient number of the delinquents to time to encourage Mr. Lowman's further publication of the Her- aid, and the property was turned over to its original editors, Messrs. Wheeler, Ramsey and Mackey, who, after a delay of about a month, brought it out reduced in size to a six-column quarto. The editors acknowledged that they were not surprised to see, "notwithstanding the three weeks' repose of the Herald,'' that the world had continued to wag. The old year had gone, and the new arrived ; Kansas had not failed to bleed ; the Wisconsin Legislature had assembled in annual session, ostensibly to make laws, but, as the editor feared, only to do mischief; the President had not changed his Kansas policy - and still the Herald had actually been in a state of suspension for nearly a month ! The new management was very brief. Retrenchment became so urgently necessary that N. V. Chandler, who had removed hither but a short time previous, was employed to get out the paper at a stipulated price per week, which he continued to do until some time in February, 1858, when, on consultation of the . managers, examination of books, etc., it was demonstrated that every number published involved a positive loss ; under these circumstances, it was resolved to suspend publication forthwith, and the Reedsburg ^eraZc? was numbered among the things that were.

The Reedshurg Free Press. - The life of a country editor, as we all know, is not an easy one ; even after he becomes permanently established his trials do not cease. He still continues to be the ill-paid subject of merciless criticism, unless it so happens that within his composition is found that anomalous quality fitting him for the exceptional position of one who knows how to run a paper to suit everybody. But rarely have we encountered a recital of tribulations so vivid as the following from the pen of N. V. Chandler, the founder of the Free Press. For genuine perseverance and perpetual disappointment, the case, we believe, is without a parallel. "After the suspension of the Herald" says Mr. Chandler, "upon the publication of which I was employed by the Herald Printing Company, after the ' Lowman fiasco,' I busied myself as best I could, doing such jobs of printing as I could obtain to do, using the material of the defunct Herald, which I rented for that purpose, and, to eke out a subsistence, doing any other kind of work that offered, and even going to Baraboo and other points to work at my trade, when work could be procured. Sometime in the fall or winter of 1859-60, E. G. Wheeler, who had acquired a controlling interest in the stock of the company, sold the material of the Herald to a Mr. Wells, of New Lisbon, and I was thus deprived of my chief source of income. Business of all kinds, all over the country, was at a very low ebb, and the prospect of success in the newspaper business was far from flattering, even if I had possessed capital to embark in it. One day I was remarking to a friend, Mr. Willard Shumway, the low condition of my finances, and despondingly inquired how I was to obtain the means of supporting my family, when he said to me 'Why don't you start a paper here?' 'Start a paper!' said I. 'What have I got to start a paper with? ' Circulate a subscription,' said he, ' among the business men.' 'How much will you give?' said I, somewhat amused at the idea, which at the moment I did not entertain at all. ' Oh, I will give something,' said he. And so the conversation terminated. But the idea remained with me. I had canvassed almost every other scheme for obtaining an honest livelihood, and the prospect looked gloomy enough. After thinking the matter over for a day or two, I came to the conclusion that it could do no hurt to try the experiment. I had heard of a second-hand press I could buy at Richland Center for $50, and I believed that for $200 I could get together enough second-hand material to print a six-column paper.

"Accordingly, I drew up a subscription paper, setting forth my intentions, and promising that if the sum of $200 was raised, I would establish a paper and publish it one year, refunding the amount in advertising, job work or subscription - no portion of the money to be paid to me until the first number appeared. Notwithstanding the liberality of this proposition, after two weeks of persistent canvassing (during which I exhausted my powers of rhetoric and persuasion, and after demonstrating over and over again to my own satisfaction, at least, that if the amount was forthcoming, the paper would be also, and that for one year, at least, Reedshurg would be represented among the newspaper towns of the State), I had only obtained the pledge of $165, in sums of $5 to $20. In a fit of desperation, I went to J. F. Danforth, who was known to have some money, and proposed to him that if he would put down his name for the balance,

SS'), I would give him a mortgage on the material of the office, when procured, before demanding the money, and would repay the loan in cash, with lawful interest, which was then, I think, 12 per cent. After thinking the matter over two or three days, and after much urging, and after taking counsel as to the binding nature of the agreement, he finally signed the subscription.

'-All this looks very ridiculous at this distance of time, and in the light of the recent financial prosperity of the town and surrounding country ; but it was all dead earnest then. Like the boy engaged digging out a wood- chuck by the roadside, when asked by a traveling preacher who came along, if he thought he would get the animal. ' Get him?' said the boy, ' I've got to get him I - we're out of meat, and the minister is to be at our house to-night !' I was out of meat, and something had to be done.

" Well, the amount of $200 being subscribed, the question arose as to how I was to make it available to purchase material. By its terms, no part of the subscription Avas to be paid until the appearance of the first number. My whole available capital was §5 in gold, while I was in debt to the various merchants for the means of previous subsistence. But faith in my ability to accomplish whatever I undertook was then strong within me, and, nothing daunted, I set out for Richland Center to secure the press, walking the entire distance. I left Reedsburg about 11 A. M. of a hot day in the beginning of May, and traveled through the woods, over roads entirely new to me, a considerable part of the way, to everybody else, also, as I could scarcely distinguish the track, and only went by ' blazed ' trees. I stayed all night at a farmhouse six miles this side of the Center, and the next morning walked in, through a drizzling rain. I saw the press and its owner, and quickly agreed upon terms - which were that I should pay $50 for the press, and 15 cents a pound for about a hundred pounds of nearly new minion type, which was in a ' pied ' condition - he making the purchase of the type a condition of selling me the press. But when the question of pay came to be discussed, a difficulty arose that threatened to be fatal to the enterprise. He knew nobody in Reedsburg ; I was known by nobody at Richland Center. I offered a note signed by myself and two citizens of Reedsburg, payable in two months. Finally, he bethought him that he had a slight acquaintance with George Flautt, then a law student at Reedsburg, and wrote him a letter, in which he stated that if George would certify to the responsibility of my indorsers, he would sell me the press. I immediately started for home, where I arrived the same night, having walked thirty-six miles, and made the bargain that day.

" George Flautt having signed a statement that the indorsers of my note were good, I procured a team and went for my press and my hundred pounds of minion type. After resting a few days, I started for Milwaukee and intermediate points, to hunt up the balance of the type necessary to get out a paper. I walked to a point fourteen miles beyond Portage, forty-four miles from Reedsburg, the first day ; and the next morning walked four miles further, to Cambria Station, and took the cars for Beaver Dam, where I had acquaintances. I went to the Citizen office and inquired of the proprietor if he had any second-hand type for sale. He said he had not, but, after a few moments' thought, said there was an old disused office lying in town, and that George Stewart was agent for the sale of it. I went to Stewart, who at first refused to sell a part unless he could sell the whole, which included a power-press ; but finally he acted upon my suggestion that he ask the advice of Mr. Wells, of the Citizen. This gentleman, upon being consulted as to what he would do with the material in question if he owned it, replied : 'Box it up and send it to the foundry for old type, as quick as I could.' This decided Mr. Stewart to sell, and he asked me what proposition I had to make. I told him I would give him 50 per cent of the type-foundry price for everything I selected, which Mr. Wells told him was an exceedingly liberal offer. Then came the question of pay, and I had a much harder time to convince Mr. Stewart of the safety of selling me $200 worth of material than I had the Richland Center man. He was not convinced of the responsibility of my sureties, and one proposition after another was rejected, until finally I proposed to re-enforce the note signed by myself and the two Reedsburg men (one of whom was John Kellogg, whose unindorsed note would now be good for thousands of dollars) with a mortgage upon the materials purchased, and upon the press which I had at home. This proposition was accepted, and I succeeded in selecting type, cases, sticks, rules, dashes, etc., to the amount of $225, which I boxed up and shipped to Reedsburg without further delay. Eight miles from Beaver Dam, I had two brothers living, and one of them, Charles A. Chandler, who was a mechanic, accompanied me home to assist me in getting the office running. In the course of a month, on the 25th of June, 1860, I got out my first paper upon this condemned, second-hand type, which an excellent printer, Mr. Cullaton, had pronounced utterly unfit for use, and upon the $50 press, which, when I bought it, was so utterly out of joint that the seller had no idea that it could ever be used ; and so well did I use my knowledge of presses and type that, when it appeared, the paper was highly complimented by the State press, and the Milwaukee Sentinel., in noticing it, went so far as to say, ' printed from new type.' Upon the issue of the paper. I realized upon my subscription paper which I had previously circulated, $160, not availing myself of the arrangement with Mr. Danforth ; and, as the number of cash-paying subscribers was very fair, I was at once able to liquidate the indebtedness, and put the paper, which I had christened the Free Press., upon a paying basis.

" I fulfilled my agreement with the citizens of Reedsburg, continuing the paper until the 7th of September, 1861, when, the war being then in progress, the people of this community, like those of every other throughout the nation, were greatly exercised over the heavy taxation, expected to ensue, and could give no positive assurance of support, though they professed themselves satisfied with the paper, and would do what they could to support it. But Mr. Wells, of New Lisbon, having lost his press, through inability to pay for it, made me what I regarded a good offer, to move my press up there, which I did. I run the Juneau County Argus until the fall of 1862, when, the county having gone Democratic and elected a county ticket in the interest of Mauston, thus depriving me of the county printing, I suspended publication, and in February following moved my family and printing material back to Reedsburg ; but I did not engage in publishing a paper, because of the unsettled and embittered state of public feeling. In the last days of that year 1863, 1 entered the military service, where I remained until June, 1866 - more than a year after the close of the war. Upon arriving home, I found that my press and material had been sold, to go to Mazo Manie, and I therefore turned my attention to other pursuits."

Mr. Chandler has neglected to mention the fact - which of course every one then knew, but which every one would not know a hundred years hence should we now fail to record it - that the Free Press was a stanch Republican paper, and its first number was issued just in time to announce the nominees of the Chicago Convention of June, 1860 - Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin. In his indorsement of the nominees, the editor said: " As to our political course, we need only to refer our readers to the flag which we carry at the mast-head, inscribed with the names of the gallant rail-splitter of Illinois and the printer-lawyer of Maine, and to the declaration of principles as set forth by the Republican National Convention. * * * And now up to the ceiling goes the editorial felt, while we hurrah for Old Abe, the giant of the West."

The motto of the Free Press was, "Pledged but to truth, to liberty and law." Typographically it was probably the neatest paper in the Northwest. In its first number we find the business cards of Stevens & Miles, J. Mackey and E. G. Wheeler, attorneys at law ; of A. 0 Hunt and A. West, Justices of the Peace; of Dr. S. Hall, physician and surgeon; of J. Barnhart, wagon and carriage maker ; of M. Finch, harness-maker ; of A. Pettyes, fashionable tailor ; of William A. Pixley, watchmaker and jeweler ; F. A. Weir, advertised the Alba House, and Perley Sargent the Western Hotel, while Justus Freer appeared as the landlord of Cottage Inn, at Delton. Sanford & Son sold sufficient dry goods to enable them to employ a column of the Free Press to tell the people about it, while J. L. Green was not far behind in the same line of business. John Kellogg sold plows and ice cream and lemonade and anvils, and anything else in any other line to be thought of. Dr. Ramsey sold drugs, paints, highwines, etc.; Volney Ay res did blacksmithing, and Electa Ay res had a farm for sale ; R- C. Lewis was the village tinner, and D. R. Kellogg took pictures ; J. W. Lusk and H. M. Haskell, issued insurance policies, and M. Shumway sold ice ; Murray & Jones, Baraboo, kept hardware, while Moritz Pietzsch bound books ; G. H. Stewart & Co., of Beaver Dam, advertised the product of their woolen mill - and altogether the Free Press was well patronized.

As has been stated by Mr. Chandler in his reminiscence, the Free Press was suspended in September, 1861. After a sleep of nearly eleven years, it was resurrected. The first number of the new series appeared March 22, 1872, and the success of the enterprise, it is said, was marked and immediate. Mr. Chandler continued its publication until July 1, 1878, when he disposed of what he had made a very good property to John W, Blake, a veteran typo and publisher, and John H. Powers, the latter now being one of the publishers of the Baraboo Republic. In November, 1879, Mr. Powers sold his interest to his partner, Mr. Blake, who is at present the sole proprietor. The Free Press is the largest paper published in Sauk County, being a nine-column quarto. On political propositions it has always been soundly Republican ; locally, it is a fair specimen of what a local paper should be.

The SauJc County Herold - Printed in the German language, is the title of the only other newspaper published in Reedsburg. It was established in 1876, the first number being issued on the 22d of December of that year, by William Raetzmann and Richard Porsch. It is an eight-column quarto, ably edited and carefully printed. In the spring of 1877, Mr. Raetzmann purchased his partner's interest and is now the sole publisher and responsible editor.

Sauk County News. - This paper was established by the firm of Burnett & Son, of Black Earth, Dane County, and G. W. Ashton, of Prairie du Sac, on the 21st of October, 1876. It was a six-column quarto, with E. W. Ashton as responsible editor. The News was printed at Black Earth and published at Prairie du Sac. Mr. Ashton conducted the paper until Nov. 1877, when his interest passed into the hands of S. W. Corwith, who enlarged it, adding one column to each of its four pages. Politically and socially, let the Neivs speak for itself, in a prospectus issued by its present editor, Mr. Corwith, soon after mounting the editorial tripod : " It will advocate good government, independent of party lines. Principles first, men and parties afterward. The News will labor for the interests of this town and the county in particular, and the world in general. It will appreciate kindness from its friends and kicks from its enemies, if any there be. For every dollar it receives it will give value in the very best service that can be rendered through its columns. The Neivs will always exercise the broadest charity consistent with right and justice; it will not censure without cause, or approve that which has no merit." The circulation of the News has increased from 150 copies, under former management, to 600. . . ^

In December, 1877, J. F. Morrow, of Spring Green, established the Dollar Times, a weekly journal with greenback proclivities and patent outside, printed at Black Earth, Dane County, and dated and circulated in Baraboo and Spring Green. Robert T. Warner was the editor of the Baraboo edition, while Mr. Morrow conducted the Spring Green issue. The Dollar Timrs was a sprightly local paper, but seems to have espoused an unpopular political cause. The Baraboo issue was suspended under a postal regulation relative to rates of postage. About this time the name of the paper was changed to the Inter-County Times, and under this title, suspended publication in the spring of 1880.

The compiler of this work has been only partially successful in his efForis to secure for its pages sketches of the lives of the leading actors in tliis historical drama. Not a few of the early settlers and others prominent in the county's history have passed away, leaving no record of their lives ; and, in some instances, there are no relatives, at this late date, to furnish the desired information.

was born in Milton, Conn., September 14, 1793 ; he died in the village of Lyons on the 14th of January, 1879. When quite young, his parents moved to Scipio, Cayuga Co., N. Y., and at theage of eighteen he left his home and went to the head of the Alleghany River and engaged in lumbering, rafting on that and the Ohio River. In 1813, he spent ten months in the army and helped to build Fort Stephenson, on the Lower Sandusky, being engaged meantime in several skirmishes with Indians.

In 1835, he came to Wisconsin, and in 1836 first saw the soil of Sauk County, being of a party of surveyors that platted " Superior City," on the Wisconsin River, opposite what is now Sauk City. In June, 1839, he moved to Sauk Prairie, and there raised the first oats, corn, wheat and potatoes ever brought forth from Sauk County soil. He was married in 1818, and eight daughters and one son was the result of this union. He became a widower, and in due course of time - June 12, 1845 - married a sister of William Johnson. By her he had one child, a daughter, now the wife of J. B. Duncan. The daughters of his first wife grew to womanhood ; the son died young. Jonathan Hatch was highly respected.

was one of the very first pioneers of Sauk County, Mrs. Alban being the first white woman in the county. He located on Sauk Prairie in January of 1839, and afterward engaged in the practice of law at Sauk City. He was well read in his profession. About 1850, he removed to Plovei*, where he was subsequently chosen to represent his constituents in the Legislature. He also served as County Judge, and, when the rebellion broke out, entered the Union army as Colonel of the Eighteenth Regiment. He lost his life on the battle-field at Shiloh.

emigrated from the town of Shrewsbury, Worcester Co., Mass., to Blue Mounds, Wis., in 1838 ; thence to Sauk County in June, 1840, Mrs. Brigham died October 20, 1846, and is remembered as a most excellent woman. Their house was like an oasis in the desert, ever open to strangers and neighbors. Mr. Brigham's last days were spent with his son-in-law, T. B. Cowles, in the town of Sumter. At an early day, he was an advocate for locating the county seat at Baraboo Rapids, as it was then called, and loaned to the county the money with which to purchase from the Government the quarter-section of land upon which the village now stands. Out of respect for Mr. Brigham, the place was first called Adams, by his request, from the great esteem in which he held John Quincy Adams. Mr. Brigham was elected to the office of Register of Deeds in 1845, serving two years. He died on the 28th of May, 1862.

was born in Shoreham, Addison Co., Vt., in 1804, and was taken to Middlebury, Genessee, now Wyoming County, N. Y., by his parents when quite a child, and on his return to Vermont in 1827, he established himself in business in Middleton, Rutland County. There he was married February 24, 1829, to Miss Roseline Willard, whose mother was Julia Ann Burnham, and her grandmother Burnham (wife of John Burnham, an able member of the Bennington bar) was a sister of Gen. Isaac Clark, of Castleton, Vt., a soldier of the Revolution, who also commanded a regiment in the war of 1812, and was a member of the Constitutional Convention and Judge of the County Court; died at Castleton January 31, 1822. Gen. Clark was the grandfather of Satterlee Clark, a Wisconsin pioneer of 1830. Miss Willard was born February 24, 1808, at Middleton. She was married in the house in which she was born, her parents, grandparents and others being present. In 1832, they removed to Middlebury, N. Y., and thence, in 1836, to Blue Mounds, Wis. Mrs. Peck was the first white woman to cross the Baraboo Bluffs. She now resides on her farm near Baraboo, in the enjoyment of good health. Mr. Peck started for California in 1844, and, though since reported as in Texas or New Mexico, is supposed to have been massacred by savages on the plains.

more familiarly known as Count Hai-aszthy, was born in 1812, in the Comitat of Bacska, Hungary. His family was one of the oldest and most influential of the old nobility, the name appearing frequently in the history of that country extending over a period of seven hundred and sixty years. He was educated to the law, as was the custom there, and at the age of eighteen was a member of the body-guard of the Emperor Ferdinand, which was composed of nobles. After filling the oflSce of Chief Executive of State for a period, he became the Private Secretary of the Viceroy. When the Liberal movement began in 1839-40, he at once took the lead of that party, but was afterward, through the failure of the movement, compelled to leave his country. He came to New York, and, after traveling over the United States, he wrote and published a book upon their resources. The work was designed to invite emigration from Hungary, and was the first work upon that subject ever printed in the Hungarian language. About 1840, he made Wisconsin his home, purchasing large tracts of land, founding several settlements, building bridges, constructing roads and establishing ferries. Having in his possession valuable State papers, the Austrian Government opened negotiations for their surrender. The question was referred to Lewis Cass, "who succeeded in gaining permission for Havaszthy to return to Hungary and remain for one year. This he did, settling up his affairs, and, although his landed estates were confiscated, he succeeded in saving $150,000, which he brought with him to this country, together with his family and a large portion of the family plate and paintings. Returning to Wisconsin, he engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1842, after having, through the perfidy of a land officer, lost $5,000 in attempting to establish a colony, he came to the beautiful spot where now stands the village of Prairie du Sac. Here he founded a new colony, calling it by his own name (Haraszthy), and had it incorporated. He started a horse ferry across the river, mape excellent roads, established mills and stores, and subsequently ran a steamboat down the Wisconsin and Mississippi to St. Louis. But yearly recurring prairie fires destroyed his crops and many of his buildings ; besides, the commercial crisis of 1847 crippled him severely. His family joined him in 1844, and in 1846 he succeeded in having his place selected as the county seat of Sauk County, building a court house at his own expense. Still, the many losses between that year and 1849 told heavily on his finances, and, with a long train of over fifty associates, he started overland for California. He settled at San Diego, was elected Sheriff" of the county, afterward laid out '' Middle San Diego," and, in 1852, was elected a member of the Legislature. From San Diego, he removed to San Francisco, thence to the adjoining county of San Mateo, devoting himself to agriculture. President Pierce appointed him Assayer in the United States Branch Mint in San Francisco, and at a later period he was made melter and refiner. In 1856, he removed to Sonoma County, and engaged in viniculture. He was the first to employ Chinese labor in his vineyards. In 1861, he was appointed by the Governor of California as a Commissioner to visit the wine countries of Europe, which resulted in the importation of four hundred diff"orent varieties of grapevines. A year later, he was chosen President of the California State Agricultural Society. In 1863, he organized the Buena Vista Vinicultural Society, to which he conveyed his four hundred acres of vines in Sonoma County. In 1868, he went to Nicaragua, where he became interested in sugar plantations, and erected an extensive distillery for the manufacture of spirits. In 1869-70, he returned to California to charter a vessel with which to open trade between San Francisco and the ports of Nicaragua. Upon his return to Central America, he was drowned while attempting to cross a stream of water by means of a fallen tree which reached from bank to bank. His body was never found, and it is supposed to have been devoured by crocodiles or carried by the swift current to the ocean, four miles distant from the scene of the tragedy. Count Haraszthy will long be remembered as one of the substantial pioneers of " Old Sauk."

James Maxwkll WHS born at Guilford, Windham Co., Vt., May 1, 1789. Removed to Walworth County in 1837, which county he represented in the Territorial Council for six years, being President of that body in 1840. In the spring of that year, he crossed the Baraboo Bluffs and began at Manchester the improvement of the water-power, but soon after he returned to Walworth County, where he continued to reside until 1846, when he came to Baraboo the second time, and made a permanent settlement. In the same year, he erected the first building upon the public square, the once well-known old corner store. The only other building in Baraboo proper at that time, was the log schoolhouse. In 1851 and 1853, he was a prominent candidate in the Whig conventions of the State, and at one of those conventions was nominated for Secretary of State. The decline of that party worked Mr. Maxwell's defeat. In 1856, he removed to the western part of Nebraska and opened a large farm on the Platte River. At the date of his death - the 16th of December, 1869 - he was residing at the home of his son in Baraboo.

was born December 25, 1809, in the town of Bethlehem, Albany County, State of New York. He died July 16, 1880, at Ableman, Wis. His father, Christian G. Ableman, was born in Prussia, Germany. He was a soldier of our Revolution. His mother, Reirina Kanier, was born in Claverack, Columbia Co., N. Y. In a few months after, her parents arrived from Bordeaux, in France. In 1820, his parents moved to Albany. Stephen for two years was sent to the Lancastarian School in that city. In May, 1822, he was bound an apprentice during his minority, as the old indenture reads, "to learn the art, trade and mystery of a carpenter and joiner, after the manner of an apprentice, for and during the full end of the term, during all which the said operative, his said masters, faithfully shall serve, their secrets keep, and their lawful commands everywhere readily obey. He shall do no damage to his said masters, or see it done by others without letting or giving notice thereof to his said masters, nor waste his masters' goods, nor lend them unlawfully to any person. At cards, dice or any other unlawful game he shall not play. Whereby his said masters may have damage with their own goods or the goods of others ; without license from his said masters, he shall neither buy nor sell. He shall not absent himself day or night from his masters' service without their leave ; nor haunt ale-houses, taverns or play-houses, but in all things behave himself as a faithful operative ought during the said term ; and the said masters shall use the utmost of their endeavors to teach or cause to be taught or instructed the said operative in the art, trade and mysteries of a carpenter and joiner, and promise to provide for him sufficient meat, drink, boarding, mending, lodging and washing, fitting for an operative during said term of time, and pay him in cash the sum of $25 per year, to be advanced and paid as his necessities may require. Signed and sealed." This indenture was canceled December 25, 1830.

In 1825, by the consent of his masters, he enlisted as a drummer in the National Guards, Ninth Rifle Regiment, and served in all their drills in this capacity for four years. He was then chosen Ensign, and rendered this service for three years, until elected Captain of the same company. He then took his discharge. It reads, "Thirty- first Brigade, Ninth Rifle Regiment. S. V. R. Ableman has paraded in the said Ninth Rifle Regiment, uniformed and equipped according to law, and has performed all such military duty as has been required of him for the space of seven years last past, and is, therefore, free from military duty, except in cases of insurrection or invasion, or when called into actual service."