Sharon Town (part 1 of 3)

Organization

When the county of Walworth was iirst divided into towns, by act of the Territorial Legislatiu'e, approved .January 2, 1S38, the ten-itory now constituting the town of Sharon was a portion of the town of Delavan; it so remained imtil the early part of 18.39, when Towns No. 1, in Ranges 15 and 17 east, were set off from Delavan, aud formed a separate town by the name of W^alworth. By an act of the Territorial Legislature. aj>proved March 21, 1843, Town 1 north, in Range 15 east, was set off from Walworth, and formed into a separate town and called Sharon. The tii'st town meeting in accordance with this act was held at the house of Josiah Topping, on the 4th day of the succeeding month.

Natural Fe.Atures

The surface of the town of Sharon is rolling. Therej are about two thousand acres of marsh land, principally in the southeastern part, and on Sections 4 and 11, together with a number of small marshes in various portions of the town. Tiu'tle Prairie extends into the town some distance, covering principally Sections 1 and 2. Biu-r-oak openings are scattered promiscuously throughout nearly the whole town. On Section 29 and on Section 22 ai'e the headwaters of two small streams, which flow in a northerly direction, and. uniting in the southern part of Section 7, fomi the South Branch of Tm-tle Creek, which, with many a circuitous bend, flows in a general northerly direction, and leaves the town on Section 6, near the village of Allen's Grove. Near this branch of Tiu'tle Creek, and on Section 7, are large quarries of limestone. The Piscasaw Creek rises on Section 24, and flows aliuost straight south, leaving the town on Section 30.

As an agrieultiu'al town, Sharon is not equaled by any town in the county, the soil being generally excellent in quality, of a heavy clay loam on the higher lands, with rich alluvial deposits in the lower lying bottoms. The timber is similar to that of the sui'roundiug towns, being in the main white and buiT oak, interspersed with hickory, poplar, ash aud other indigenous varieties. The streams already mentioned, with their small tributaries, constitute the water supply.

While wheat and the other small grains, such as were mainly raised in early days, are still raised to considerable extent, the attention of the farmers dm'ing the later years has been more devoted to the raising of stock, hay, wheat and com. The inhabitants of Sharon are principally Americans, with a generous sprinkling of Germans and Norwegians. The social and religious condition of the town is good, and excellent schools are maintained. The population in 1875 was 1,989; it is now 1,956.

Pioneer History

To John Reeder is due the credit of having been the first settler in this town. He located on Section 27, in what is now Reeder's Grove, as early certainly as in Febniary, 1837. He remained here but a short time, and built a small log shanty. Mr. Reeder was an Englishman, and had his family with him. Good authority says " that, late one afternoon, jMr. Reeder noticed two horses following up the old army trail that led across the county from the head of Geneva Lake, and about a mile north fi'om where he had located. In a few moments afterward, he saw two men following the same trail and in the same direction. This led him to think that he probably had some neighbors in that vicinity; so, early the next morning, he started out to see if he could find them. He soon reached the present village of Darien, where he found and made the acquaintance of John Bruce and a companion, who were then engaged in erecting a small cabin. On the preceding night, their horses had broken loose, and they followed and caught them, and were the men that Mr. Reeder had seen." The same authority says that at one time, soon after he located here, Mr. Reeder went to Chicago for provisions. He was delayed longer tlian he expected on account of bad roads, etc., and wlien lie returned his family had been for fom- days with nothing to eat but a few dry crusts of bread. Mr. Keeder did the first breaking in the town of Sharon. He afterward removed into the town of Walworth, where he resided until a few years ago, when he removed to the village of Delavan, where he died. Among the other early settlers who located in the town of Sharon are H. Smith Young, on Section 12; Robert Young, on Section 13; Timothy O'Connor, on Section 2: G. Langdon, on Section 6; Josiah Topping, on Section 1; J. H. Topping, on Section 2; Henry DaiTow, on Section 6; George Winters, on Section 17: Theodore Wheeler, on Section 17; M. Winters, on Section 17; D. J. Best, on Section 17; Joseph Brown, on Section 17; J. McKonkey, on Section 1; J. and M. Auchampach, on Section 10; M. B. Goff, on Section 1; Mi-. Blake, on Section 28. Mr. Billings, on Section 9; J. Van Ostrand, on Section 33; H. and I. Case, on Section 14; D. Wilcox, on Section 14; D. Wilcox, on Section 23; Mr. Condor, on Section 26; J. Bell, on Section 31; Hemy Dennis, on Section 31; E. L. Eeynolds, on Section 36; W. Van Wormer, on Section 1 ; A. Matteson, on Section 13 ; John Mereness, on Section 3 ; Mr. Kirby, on Section 33 ; and Derias Mason, on Section 13. Some of these persons are still living where they first located, while some have died, and others have moved away. The lands in Sharon are excellent, which invited emigration, and it is now one of the most resjiectable and wealthy farming towns in the county. A few incidents of the early settlement, which the old settlers yet like to laugh over, may be pardonable. It is said that money was scarce among them in an early day, and one of the greatest hai'dships they had to endure was paying taxes. Potatoes were nearly as scarce as money. The first Collector discovered a hole of potatoes belonging to a person who had neglected to pay his taxes, and advertised a " potato hole " for sale. The tax-payers, before the day of sale, took the jjotatoes out and left the hole as advertised, to the great merriment of all but the Collector.

It is related again that D. J. Best and William P. Allen embarked in the mercantile business at a veiy early day, and with very little money. They were in need of goods, and accordingly went to Chicago and made ajiplication to Charles W^alker for a stock of goods on time. Mr. Walker, after looking the gentlemen over rather closely, and making some inquiries, finally said: " Gentlemen, I don't know you." Mr. Best, with his usual wit, quickly replied: " Neither do we know you, but we will take oiu- chances if you will." It is needless to state that these gentlemen obtained all the goods they wished.

In the early settlement of the country, farmers from Darien and Turtle Piairie put in their winters hunting timber fi'om Government land in Sharon, and many of them yet say that they worked harder for " I^ncle Sam " during the winters than they did for themselves. The settlers of Sharon finally became somewhat indignant at these proceedings. A new settler finally came in and commenced the erection of a house, but could get no lumber for rafters tir roof. Some of the older settlers said to him one evening: " We can help you some, as there is a big log on could not draw. Now, we will take oiu- ' stags," and you put your horses on, and we will soon have some lumber for you." They accordingly drew the log to Pierce's saw-mill, rolled it over all the logs in the log-way, had it sawed, and drew the lumber home. They then drew the sled

The first mill was built on Section 7, on Turtle Creek, by a Joseph Pierce, in 1841. It is now owned by Pramer & Winters, and has two run of stone. Another small mill was built at Allen's Grove, on the same stream, but was run only a short time, as it never paid expenses.

The first school was taught in 1841, on Section 2, on Tiu-tle Prairie. This school was taught in the first schoolhouse built in the town, dm-iug that year.

Two " neighborhoods " sprang up in the town of Sharon soon after it was first settled - South Grove and Sharon Corners. At Shai-on Comers, the first regular store in the town was opened by M. Van Winters. Here also the first hotel was built, by J. Jones, at about the same time. The first post office in the town was established at this point in 1843, and Isaac Case

At South Grove, a store was opened by D. J. Best in 1845, and a post office established during the same year, with Mr. Best as Postmaster. This office has continued under the administration of various persons until a few years ago, wheii it was also discontinued. Mr. Best made the fu'st boots and shoes that were made in the town at this place.

Official

The town of Sharon, as before stated, was set off and organized as a town by special act of the Ten-itorial Legislatiu-e, approved March 21, 1843. The first town meeting and election of officers in accordance with this act was held at the house of Josiah Tojiping, on Section 1, April 4, 1843. Amos Wheeler was a^ipointed as Moderator, and Aaron Carr as Clerk of this meeting. Among others, the following resohitions were passed: " That but one Assessor and one Constable be elected: that one-half of 1 per cent upon the assessment roll be raised as a school fund; that the compensation of the Supervisors be $1 per day for their sei-vices, and that of the remainder of the officers be the same as is allowed in the State of New York."

1846 - Supervisors, Pliny Allen, Chairman, E. C. L. Reynolds, Josiah Topping ; Luke 0. Ladd, Clerk ; John H. Topping, Treasurer ; Alvah Salisbury, George Sykes, Assessors ; David J. Best, Collector ; William P. Allen, A. Matteson, H. Smith Young, Commissioners of Schools ; David Larkin, Julius A. Treat, M. B. GoflT, Justices of the Peace ; Lewis Pramer, Horace Smith, George Densmore, Constables.

1849 - Supervisors, David Wilcox, Chairman, L. J. AVilkins, David Hoard ; William P. Allen, Clerk ; George Sykes, Assessor ; Alonzo McGraw, Treasurer ; M. W. Empie. Superintendent of Schools ; J. A. Treat, Isaac Searl. Aaron Budlong, M. B. Goff, Justices of the Peace ; J. G. Callender, William Loucks, R, F. Sbeldon, Constables.

Allen, Clerk ; J. A. Treat, Assessor ; David C. Hoard, Treasurer ; M. W. Empie, Superintendent of Schools ; Aaron Budlong, D. W. Larkin, Justices of the Peace ; A. L. Mason, Aaron Gardiner, D. W. Baldwin, Constaljles.

1852 - Supervisors, S. W. Voorhees, Chairman, George Mansfield, George Winter ; William P. Allen, Clerk ; John Ladd, Assessor ; John Mereness, Treasurer ; M. W. p]mpie, Superintendent of Schools ; George Densmore, J. A. Treat, Isaac Searl, Justices of the Peace ; D. W. Baldwin, B. G. Dow, Alvin Beardsley, Constables.

1855 - Supervisors, Pliny Allen, Chairman. Justin Wright, Jay G. Callender ; William P. Allen, Clerk ; James W. Snyder, Treasurer ; S. W. Voorhees, John W. Bronson, N. E. Bennett, Assessors ; N. E. Bennett, Superintendent of Schools ; A. L. INIason, Seth Doolittle, A. Woodward, William P. Allen, Justices of the Peace ; Marvin James. William Rafety, B. G. Dow, Constables.

1856 - Supervisors, George Mansfield. Chairman. Walter Stocking, S. W. Voorhees ; William P. Allen. Clerk ; P. G. Spencer, Treasurer ; D. V. Milmine, Assessor ; J. B. Hutchins, Superintendent of Schools ; J. W. Bronson, A. L. Mason, Justices of the Peace ; William Rafety, B. G. Dow, W. H. Voorhees, Constables.

1857 - Supervisors, George Mansfield, Chairman, George Densmore, D. E. Hoard ; William P. Allen, Clerk ; Michael Knaub. Treasurer ; J. A. Treat, Assessor ; C. A. Hutchins, Superintendent of Schools ; A. Woodward, William P. Allen, Justices of the Peace ; B. G. Dow, Sardis Pixley, William Voorhees, Constables.

1858 - Supervisors, David Wilcox, Chairman, George Densmore, Justin Wright ; John Goodland. Clerk ; Joseph Stam, Treasurer ; J. A. Treat, Assessor ; J. B. Hutchins, Superintendent of Schools ; A. L. Mason, Seth Doolittle, Justices of the Peace ; Samuel C. Sanders, Sardis Pixley, W. C. Van Elten, Constables.

1859 - Supervisors, F. P. Arnold, Chairman, Walter Stocking, Justin Wright ; John Goodland, Clerk ; B. P. Levalley, Treasurer ; J. A. Treat, Asses.sor ; N. E. Bennett, Superintendent of Schools ; John Goodland, A. Woodward, Justices of the Peace ; Sardis Pixley, S. C. Sanders, H. W. Randall, Constables.

1861 - Supervisors, F. P. Arnold. Chairman, Nathan Gill, C. B, Miner ; William P. Allen, Clerk ; J. C. Sanders, Treasurer ; J. A. Treat, Assessor ; Charles Allen, Superintendent of Schools ; George Winters, S. G. Arnold, Justices of the Peace ; William H. Babcock, Sardis Pixley, S. C. Sanders, Constables.

1862 - Supervisors, F. P. Arnold, Chairman, Charles Allen, Walter Stocking ; John Goodland, Clerk ; Garrett Mereness, Treasurer ; A. L. Mason, Assessor ; John Goodland. A. L. Mason, John Dickson, Justices of the Peace ; W. H. Babcock, Charles Lewis, A. B. Clark, Constables.

1863 - Supervisors, F. P. Arnold, Chairman, Charles Allen. George Mansfield ; William P. Allen, Clerk; John Goodland, Treasurer; A. L. Mason, Assessor; N. E. Bennett, William Pramer, Justices of the Peace ; D. W. Baldwin. A. B. Clark, Joseph Conley, Constables.

1864 - Supervisors, Walter Stocking, Chairman, Justin Wright, George Mansfield ; C. A. Hutchins, Clerk ; William J. Arnold. Treasurer ; A. L. Mason, Assessor ; William P. Allen, A. L. Mason, George Pramer, Jr., Justices of the Peace ; W. V. Clymer, P. M. Ottman, Joseph Conley, Constables. 1865 and 1866 - The names of the officers for the two years have not been entered in the town records, and are not to be found.

1867 - Supervisors, John Mereness, Chairman, Jeremiah Daniels, Henry Dennis ; William P. Allen, Clerk ; William Humphrey, Treasurer ; J. A. Treat, Assessor ; A. L. Mason, William P. Al-

1868 - Supervisors, Heur}- Dennis, Chairman, M. R. Hoard, Justin Wright ; AVilliam P. Allen, Clerk ; Levi E. Allen, Assessor ; Jacob Stale}-, Treasurer ; Miles Chafee, A. Matteson, John Dickson, Justices of the Peace ; Jacob Stalej-, Henry Babcock, George Horn, Constables.

1870 - Supervisors, John Mereness, Chairman, S. W. Voorhees, Joseph Conlej' ; William P. Allen, Clerk ; C. A. Brownson, Treasurer ; A. L. Ma.son, Assessor ; D. G. Morris, N. E. Bennett, F. W. Hutchins, Justices of the Peace ; W. H. Babcock, George Markle, P. H. Hausbergh, Constables.

1872 - Supervisors, J. A. Treat, Chairman. Justin Wright, G. Mereness ; William P. Allen, Clerk ; George Pramer, Treasurer ; A. L. Mason, Asses.sor ; John Dickson, D. G. Morris, N. E. Bennett, Justices of the Peace ; W. H. Babcock, Peter Flansburgh, L. W. Parks, Constables.

1S75 - Supervisors, J. A. Treat, Chairman, George Sikes, J. H. Topping ; William P. Allen, Clerk ; C. R. Treat; Treasurer ; A. L. Mason, Assessor ; William P. Allen. Justin Wright, A. C. Lebaron. Justices of the Peace ; Henrj' Truax, William Hamlin, W. H. Babcock, Constables.

1876 - Supervisors, J. A. Treat, Chairman, George Sikes, Jared Topping ; William P. Allen, Clerk ; A. L. Mason, Treasurer ; 0. C. Moon, A. Woodard, Jr., A. Matteson, Justices of the Peace ; Henry Truax, Henry Babcock, Elmer Mattesen, Constables.

1877 - Supervisors, J. A. Treat, Chairman, George Sikes, J. H. Topping ; William P. Allen, Clerk ; C. F. Arnold, Treasurer ; A. L. Mason, Assessor ; William P. Allen, A. Woodard, Jr., Howland Fish, Adam Peters, Justices of the Peace ; James Welch, William Markle, Alden Field, Constables.

1878 - Supervisors, J. A. Treat, Chairman, George Sikes, George Winters ; William P, Allen, Clerk ; C. F. Arnold, Treasurer ; A. L. Mason, Assessor ; Howland Fish, A. P. Wilkins, A. L. Mason, Justices of the Peace ; W. H. Babcock. Henry Truax, Elmer Matteson, Constables.

1879 - Supervisors, J. A. Treat, Chairman, G. Mereness, J. Daniels ; William P. Allen, Clerk ; W. E. Mereness, Treasurer ; J. W. Brownson, Assessor ; William P, Allen, A. Woodard, Jr.. A Schellenger, A. Matteson, Justices of the Peace ; J. W. Welch. W. H. Babcock, Elmer Matteson, Constables.

1881 - Supervisors, W. R. Herron, Chairman. Jerry Daniels, Morris Isaacs ; L. P. Ballard, Clerk ; William S. Hamlin, Treasurer ; H. G. Bardwell, Assessor ; A Woodard, Jr., William P. Allen, A. L. Mason, Justices of the Peace; Peter Gosso, D. McDonald, H. Miller, Frank Moon, Constables.

The village of Sharon is located on Section 33 of the town of Sharon, on the Wisconsin Division of the Chicago & North-Western Railroad, which enters the town on Section 34, and, running in a northwesterly direction, passes out on Section 30. The first settlers of the village were William Van Ostrand and a Mr. Southai'd, who located in 1842.

Previous to the coming of the railroad, there were no other dwellings in the vicinity than those of the first settlers. For some time, the location of the depot and gi-onnds was uncertain - whether it should be a mile east of where it now is, on the State line, or about the same distance west. This uncertainty, however, was dispelled in 1855, when it received its present location. About this time, Kobert Campbell, of Oshkosh, having purchased the land on which the village is now located, laid out forty acres into village lots. The fii-st lots were pui'chased by H. H. Bidwell. The railroad was built through in 185H. and since then the village has had rather a rapid and permanent gTowth.

The first store was built and opened by George Millmine, in 1856. Sam Sanderson kept the first saloon. The first blacksmith was John Gochey. He is now living in Darien.

This building was a small two-story frame, and is now standing and used ^s a dwelling house. Ml'. Rice previously kept a " stopping- place " in a log house built by William Van Ostrand.

A Ml'. Wilson was the first to blister, bleed and dose with calomel, while F. P. Arnold attended to all legal matters to the entire satisfaction of the one side and the utter disgust of the other in every suit at law.

Sharon's business is at present represented by ioxir stores, carrying a stock of clothing, dry goods, hats and caps, boots and shoes, etc. ; one gi-ocery store, three drug stores, two hardware stores, one variety store, two shoe stores, three restaurants, two hotels, one flouring-mill, one cheese factory, seven physicians, five ministers, and a number of mechanics and mechanics' shops.

A schoolhouse was built near the site of the present one in the village of Sharon in about 1848. This was replaced by the present schoolhouse a few years afterwai'd, which has from time to time been remodeled and added to. It is situated in the northern part of the village, and is a two-story frame building, representing a valuation of aliout ?3,000.

Through the eflbrts of Rev. .1. G. Schaeffer. then pastor of the Lutheran Church, a normal institute was formed in October, 180B. A building was erected through the enteqarise of public-spirited citizens, and the Sharon Academy, as it was then called, coinxnenced its first session in December, 1867, with ninety-six students, under the principalship of Mr. Schaeffer and Prof. E. S. Chadwick. of Beloit. The next year, a regular training school was organized. In June of that year, Mr. Schaeffer resigned on account of ill health and the pressui'e of multitudinous duties, to the sincere and publicly expressed regret of all those interested in the growth and permanency of the Sharon Academy. To push the enterprise, he also established and edited the Mirror, which made its first appearance June 5, 1868. The school gi'eatly flourished under his management, and continued actively in the field of education until 1878, when it was closed. The building is a two story frame structure, situated in the southern part of the village, on a commanding eminence. In 1880, a free high school was organized, its Principal being James Ellis.

Post Office

In 1858, a petition was presented to the Post Office Department at Washington for the establishment of a post office at this point, which petition was acted upon favorably and the office opened, with John Hodgdon as Postmaster. It was then kept in the corner building, formerly owned by Seth Doolittle, and now the property of William Veley, who is about to erect a business block in its place. The receipts at this time amounted to from $'25 to $30 per quarter. Mr. Hodgdon remained in possession of the office until 1861, when W. R. Herron was commissioned. Mr. Herron removed the office to the corner building, then occupied by himself as a dry goods store, and now occupied by Lyman Brothers. lender his administration, the quarterly receipts were increased to about .$70. In 1868. the present Postmaster, William P. -\llen, was appointed. Mr. Allen has kept the office in various places until, 1873, it was removed to its present location, in the building o^vned and occupied by S. P. Ballard. Under Mr. Allen's administration, the quarterly receipts have been increased to about $160.

The Pbess

The first paper published in Sharon was the Mirror, edited by Rev. J. G. Schaeffer, Pastor of the Lutheran Church and Principal of the Sharon Academy. Its first number was issued

June 5, 1868. In December, 1869, C. C. Hanford took charge of the Mirror, and continued to act as editor and proprietor until January 13. 1871. S. B. Ballard then assumed charge, and continued its publication until September 15 of that year, when the paper was suspended. December 1, 1871, George F. Brigham established the Gazette, and remained in its control until September 12, 1873. During that month, J. C. Keeney, now proprietor of the Woyauwega Chroniele, esta'^lished the Sharon Inquirer. In September, 1876, Clarence Conalile piu'chased the establishment, and remained its proprietor until August 8, 1876, when he removed to Delavan. His presses and much of his ofHce material were pm-chased by James H. Pheli)s and Georcre Ziecaus. Starting out with a fresh subscription list of 200 names, they founded the Sharon Reporter, as a five-column quarto, the first number appearing August 29, 1878. There has been no change in form or proprietorship since, but there is a marked difference in the subscription list, which now numbers 725 names. The office, neat, convenient and airy, is located in Daniel's Block. In addition to the patronage which the paper has earned by its faithful attention to local and county matters, the job work turned out, of every variety, is a source of prosperity. Connected with the establishment is also a store for the sale of music and musical instruments. The Reporter is independent in politics, but sensibly confines itself almost entirely to home industries and home interests.

Sharon hxlge. No. 116, A., F. & A. M. - This Masonic body was instituted in 1879, and their charter is dated Jime 15, 1879. The charter was issued by the Grand Lodge, in session at Milwaukee, with George K. Milmine, W. M. ; E. Wilson, S. W.; E. Thompson, J. W. The charter was signed by Luther Martin Tracy, Grand Master; L. M. Strong, Grand Senior Warden; and Algernon Sidney Wood, Grand Junior Warden. The present oflicers are: W. R. Herron, W. M. ; A. Schellenger, S. W. -, John Goelzer, J. W.; W. S. Hamlin, Secretary: Joseph M. Yates, Treasurer; G. W. Scott, S. D.; A. D. Truax, J. D.; David McDonald. Tiler. They have fitted up a hall at an expense of about $500, and their meetings are held on the first and third Saturdays of each month. The present number of members is fifty-four.

Brown Lotlije. No. Hr)4. I. O. G. T., was instituted May 16. 1881, by a Mrs. Brown, of Milwaukee. The charter members were: Mi's. E. E. Yates, Mrs. R. Wesell. James Ellis. Mrs. S. L. Ellis. Mont Goff. Marius Hanford. Mrs. E. Hutchins. Miss B. Hutchins, Miss Louise Keyes, Charles Milmine. Andy Nicholson. Dana Sizer. Ida Searles. Herbert Woods. Charles Woods, Fred Woods. Miss Effie WaiTen. Mrs. Bertha Yates, Misses Cora and Hattie Yates, Willie Yates and Owen Bird. The first officers were: James Ellis, W. C. T. ; Mrs. Bertha Yates, W. V. T. ; Mrs. E. Hutchins, W. C. ; Marius Hanford, W. S. : Dana Sizer, W. F. S. ; Miss Louise Keyes, W. T. ; Miss Blanche Hutchins, W. M. ; Miss Ida Searles, I. G. ; Andy Nicholson, O. G. The present officers are : James Phelps, W. C. T. ; Miss Cora Tm-ner, W. V. T. ; Miss Cora Yates, W. C; Jason Sizer, W. S. ; Dana Sizer, W. F. S.; Miss Emma Bird, W. T. ; Owen Bird. W. M. ; Amelia Bird, I. G. ; Jessie Scheelenger, O. G. ; James Ellis, P. W. C. T. The order has at present a memberslnp of forty-two. Meetings are held in the lecture room of the Congregational Chm'ch every Monday evening.

The Lutlieran Churcli was built on Section 34, in 1853. It was built at a cost of |2,000- After the village of Sharon sprang up, it was moved there, and was dedicated to the worship of God June 7, 1(860, a Rev. Mr. Dox, of New York, delivering the dedicatory sermon.

Ttie MetliodiM Cliurch society was organized at Soutla Grove in 18-13, with about twelve members. They first held prayer meetings in the private dwellings, and subsequently obtained the services of a circuit preacher. After the village of Sharon had obtained a start, the place of meeting was then removed, and in 1856 a church edifice was erected, at a cost of S2.00(). It is a wooden structm-e. and is in size 46x56). Its present membership is eighty-five.

Tlie Congregational Cliurch society was formed June 10. 1868. by a council from the Congregational Church at Beloit. It had at its organization nineteen members. Their church edifice was erected the same year. It is of frame, and in size 40x6)0. constructed at a cost of $4,000. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Dr. Whiting, of Janesville, in November of that year. Its first pastor was Rev. J. G. Schaeffer. It has at present no resident minister, the pulpit being supplied by Prof. O. U. Whitford. Its present membership is sixty-five.

The Protestant Episcopal Church. - Work began in St. Mary's Mission, of this church, by a few lay members, as early as the year 1866. under the leadership of George F. Brigham. one of their members. Sei'vices were held for about eight years in the railway station. On the 11th day of June. 1876. Mi-. Brigham was made Deacon, and. in the winter and spring of 1879-80, a chapel was built. Its size is 18x32, with a wing 8x16, and cost $600. The mission was formally organized by Bishop Wells, April 17, 1880, with thirteen communicants. The mission has at present a total membership of forty persons, with Mr. Brigham as pastor.

The Free Methodist CImrch society was organized in 1874, with seven or eight members. In 1876, they erected a house of worship, which is of frame, and in size 36x44, at a cost of .ll, '200. Its present membership is twelve.

Central House. - This hotel was built in 1864, by Mr. Vedder, and was called the Vedder House. Its first landlord was a IVIr. Colgi-ove. The hotel has changed hands several times, and in 1877 was purchased by its present owner and jiroprietor, William Veley, and its name changed to the Central House. It is in size 40x50, and three stories high, and represents a valuation of about 18,000. Mr. Veley has made nimierous repairs on the house since he piu'chased it; it is now an elegant and imposing structure. On the first floor is the office, billiard room, dining room, kitchen, etc. ; on the second floor is the parlor, sitting room and sleeping rooms. In the third story is a hall 30x40 feet, and a number of sleej)ing rooms. The house is situated in the main business block near the depot.

Yates' Block and Hotel. - This large brick structure was commenced in 1874 and finished in 1876. It is in size 23x132, with an ell on south side 20x25. It cost S15,000. The building fronts Plain street on the north and Baldwin street on the east. On the first floor is the drug store of Snowden & Ladd, the hotel office, etc. , and bank. The part of the building occupied as a store is two stories high, the remainder of the building being three stories in height. In the second story, over the store, is Yates' Hall, 23x65, and in the hotel part is a parlor, sitting room and sleeping rooms. In the third story are sleeping rooms. In the basement is the kitchen, dining room and billiard room. The building is finished with all the modern imjarovements, is located in the main business block, and is an ornament to the village. The present proprietor of the hotel is H. M. Fitzgerald.

Bank Of Sharon

In 1874, J. M. Yates and Howland Fish established a private bank in Sharon, with a capital stock of 110,000. J. M. Yates was President, and Howland Fish, Cashier. A short time ago, Mr. Fish withdrew, and George C. Mansfield became a pai-tner, and is now Cashier, with 'Mi. Yates still President. They transact a general banking business, and sell exchanges on Chicago, New York, and all principal cities of Eurojie. The bank is in Yates' Block, on Plain street.

Cheese Factory

In 1870, a factory was built in Sharon by Kobert Pearson and H. H. Bent. In the spring of 1874, William Pearson piu-chased the interest of Mr. Bent, and the factory is now owned and operated by Pearson Brothers. The factory is of frame, in size 30x60, with a south wing 27x30. The main part is two stories high, with the wing but one story. It represents a total valuation of 15,000. When the factory was first started, it consumed the milk of about three hundred cows. This number has since been increased, and at present the milk of 1,500 cows is used. The Pearson Brothel's superintend the manufacture of thecheese themselves, making about fortyseven cheeses per day, or about three thousand pounds. This cheese is sold mostly at the factory to Eastern merchants. Seven hands are employed. The largest amount of milk received at the factory in any one day was 30,160 ])Ounds. About the 1st of September, they commence making butter, and continue it until the 1st of May, making, on an average, 150 pounds jier day. On account of this, through the winter they manufacture "skimmed milk cheese," and "full cream cheese" through the summer. This is the largest factory in the State.

This mill was built by the citizens of Sharon in 1875, and the machinery was put in by James Ashley as soon as completed. The mill is 30x40, two stories high, with an engine room 15x24, a corn-shelling room 12x11, and a coal shed 10x21. The mill has four run of stone, and the motive power is a thirty -five horse-power engine. Two run of stone are for flour, and the other two for feed and middlings. In 1877 or 1878, Mary A. Slocum purchased a half interest in the-mill, and in 1879 Mr. Ashley sold the remaining interest to John Ladd. It is now owned by these parties, and operated by William Fisk. The mill has a cajiacity of twenty barrels of flour per day, and rejiresents an investment of $5,000.

The village of Allen's Grove is situated on Section 31 of Darien, and Section 6 of Sharon. It is on the South-Western Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. That part of the village in Sharon was laid out liy Pliny Allen in 1852, and that in Darien by Sidney Allen in 1856. The village is unincorporated. It was first settled in 1845, by a colony of sixtyfive persons from New York, the proprietors of this colony being Pliny, Sidney, Asa Keyes, Harvey and Philipp Allen, Jr. - five brothers.

The following account is given by Sidney Allen, the sole survivor of this colony and a resident of the village: " In 1843, I was residing in the city of Rochester, N. Y. In June of that year, my wife and myself left home, ostensibly for Buffalo, but came directly to Chicago. My wife took the stage there for Belvidere and Rockford. where we had friends, and I went to Milwaukee, and from there to Rockford across the country. After a week's visit there, I returned to Chicago, and then home. During that trip, I became possessed of the " "Western fever " so badly that I never recovered, and the next spring I purchased and shipped to Chicago a twoseated light wagon, together with a harness, spade, ax, rifle, pocket compass, and a good-sized provision chest, which was fitted under the back seat of the wagon and served to hold the other articles. On the 1st day of July, 1844, my brother Pliny, who resided in Brooklyn, N. Y., and myself, started West. At Y'psilanti, Mich., we were joined by my oldest brother, Asa Keyes Allen, and his son. Dr. J. C. Allen. "We continued our journey toward Chicago, and the cars dropjjed us at Marshall, the then terminus of the railroad. From there we took the stage, and on the 4th day of July, at noon, arrived in Chicago, and stopped at the American, a temperance house. Before eating dinner, I piu'chased the tine bay team that di-ew us to the hotel in the omnibus. Immediately after dinner, I had the horses hitched to the wagon which I had shipped, while the others, in the meantime, tilled the " chest " with such eatables as they desired. "We then " started West,'" but had not proceeded more than perhaps a mile before we were convinced that to go farther would be dangerous, as the prairie was covered with water and there was no sign of a road. We retmmed to the hotel, and there luckily found a man who kept a tavern on our route, twelve miles distant. He had just arrived at the hotel, and was intending to remain overnight, but we gave him $2 and agreed to stop with him overnight besides if he would guide us through safely. He therefore went ahead, and we followed, and, later on, arrived safely at his abode. The axletrees of our wagon were under water most of the distance. On the next day, we drove to Racine, and on the next to Milwaukee. Before leaving home, we had decided to drive between Racine and the Rock River. At Milwaukee, we procured maps showing all the vacant lands, and on the following day drove as far as Geneva. We started early the next morning, di'iving to Sunuuerville, one and a half miles west of here, where we took dinner, and then to Rockford, where we spent the Sabbath among our friends. From Rockford we went to Belvidere, where my brother, Asa K., and the Doctor, left us. Pliny and myself then went to where Allen's Grove now is, where we remained ten days, and purchased some over a thousand acres of land. We then went to Kenosha, where we sold om* team and took the boat ai-ound the lakes to Buffalo, and then overland to Rochester. On the 1st of May, 1845, my brothers, Pliny, Harvey, Philipp, Jr., and myself, loaded two canal-boats with fm'niture, doors, windows, nails, hardwai'e, paints, etc., etc., enough for each of us a house, and with our families, a sister - Mrs. Scotield - and om' father, then eighty-eight years of age, started for Kenosha. At Buffalo, we took passage on a steamboat, and aiTived at Kenosha on the 14Lh of May. On the 15th. we all, sixty-five in uiimber. went to Darien. There we rented two houses for father, sister and others to live in. My family and some of the others went to Belvidere, while others still went to Rockford. On the 16th, my brothers and myself, together with the fom- carpenters we had in the company with us. came here to what afterward became Allen's Grove, and, on the same day, put up a small shanty of two rooms. We then built a cottage for the hired men, and by the 1st of September each had a house up and inclosed, but no plastering was done that winter. We then, with our families, took om- permanent abode in Allen's Grove. When the first house was inclosed, being brother Philipp's. the Congregational Church society was organized there on the 10th of August. Thereafter, during pleasant weather, a new wagon was drawn into the grove, and served as a pulpit, being occupied by Rev. S. H. Thompson.

" On the 29th of June, 1845, a Sabbath school was organized, and on the 4th of July, 1846, we had a Sabbath school celebration, when 777 scholars and teachers were present. In July, 1845, om- honored father died, and was buried in the cemetery where now my fom- brothei-s and their wives are bm-ied. This was the first death in the village. The first marriage ceremony was performed at my house, in 1846. the contracting parties being Preston W. Smith and Miss Frances Scofield. The fii-st child born was Preston H. Allen, in 1846, now of Rochester, N. Y. In that year, my brother, Asa Keyes Allen, his son. Dr. Joseph C. Allen, and his son-in-law, Ezra P. Teale, came with their families from Michigan. The Doctor and Ezra Teale erected a store building that year and opened a |6,000 stock of goods, they being our first merchants, under the firm name of Teale & Allen. "

The first school was taught in 1846, over the store building built in that year-. The teacher was Miss Mary Wallingford. The schoolhouse was built in 1847. The present schoolhouse was built in 1856. as an academy. It was afterward occupied for a number of years by Rev. M. Montgomery as such. The main building is 20x40, with an ell 20x22, each two stories high. It is situated in the western part of the village, in a beautiful grove of five acres. A male and female teacher are employed both summer and winter.

Congregational Church

The society of this church was organized August 10, 1845, at the house of Pliny Allen, with but few members. The chiu'ch building was built in 1852. It is in size 35x55, and cost about $2,000. At present, they have no resident minister.

The Methodist Church

The Methodist Church society was organized November 26, 1858, with twenty-six members. They soon afterward built a church, in size 36x56, at a cost of $1,800.

The Post Office

The post office was established in 1846, and Philipp Allen, Jr., was appointed as Postmaster. The office was held at his house for some time. He has been succeeded by Aaron Budlong, John Dixon. E. P. Teale, Mi-s. Eliza Wilkins, and the present Postmaster, Edward Hall.

The cheese factory was built by Simon Noyes in 1865. Since 1871, it has been run by T. P. Davis. It consumes the milk of about, 730 cows, or 11,000 poimds of milk daily. One hundred and twenty thousand pounds of cheese are made yearly, which is mostly sold at the factory to Eastern merchants. The factoiy represents an investment of $1,500.

War Histort

The town of Sharon, during the war, sent out 108 men. Their names and the part taken by them in the bloody fights will be found in the general war history. The town also raised her share of money.

In 1881, there were 5,294 acres of gi-owing grain, 240 acres of ai:)ple orchard, 1,820 acres of mowing and pastiu-age, and 1,550 acres of growing timber; the number of milch cows was 821. valued at $17,175. '

There were seven whole and seven union school districts. The number of scholars between loxcc and twenty years of age was 645, of which number 596 attended school. There were twelve schools, one of which was graded. Sixteen teachers were employed, at monthly average wages of $40.50 for male and 3?26.11 for female teachers. There were twelve schoolhouses, valued at $9,900, including the sites.

Biographical Sketches

WILLIAM P. ALLEN, Postmaster of Sharon ; was born in Jefferson Co.,N. Y., in 1821, where he lived till 21 years of age. fie then went to Portagevilie in his native State, where he engaged in teaching; he has been a resident of Sharon since 1845. After ccning to Walworth Co., was engaged for some time in teaching; has been a resident of the village sinee 1850 ; w.is engaged here in merchandising for a number of years ; has held several town offices for a long series of years. He has been Town Clerk during the greater part of the time he has resid-id here ; has been a Justice of the Peace the samj length of time, and has been Postmaster since 1873. Mr. Allen, during his long residence in Sharon, has acquired and maintained a reputation for uprightness and fair dealing, that has secured for him, in an eminent degree, the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens. Mrs. Allen, formerly Miss Sophrona L. Lyman, was born in Jefferson Co. They have no children.

HERMAN ALLEN, f\irmer. Sec. 19 ; P. 0. Sharon. He was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., in 1834 ; son of John and brother of Wm. P. and L. E. Allen; he came to Sharon in 1845 ; moved to McHenry Co., 111., in 1853, and engaged in farming; moved to Sharon again in 1870. He married Martha C. Sil.sburg, born in Schoharie Co., N. Y. ; his present wife was Amelia Welch. He had three children by first wife - Burleigh E., Alvah and Julitte; has two children by present wife - Mary M. and Dora. He purchased his farm, which contains 100 acres, of Lewis Pramer ; the farm was originally settled by Benjamin Wheeler.

SALMON G. ARNOLD, retired farmer; born in Washington Co., N. Y., July 15, 1820, where he was brought up ; came to Walworth Co. in June, 1851, and settled at South Grove in the town of Sharon ; was a very successful and prominent farmer, and well-known through the county ; never sought office, but held the officeof Justice of the Peace with several other offices. Was a member of the M. E. Church. Resided on the farm at S )uth Grove till the fall of 1875 ; he still owns the farm where he first settled. Mrs. Arnold was Miss Ann Eliza Hotchkiss, of Hampton, Washington Co., N. Y. They have five children- Mary, now Mrs. N. J. Davis ; Maria, now Mrs. H. Wilson ; Alice, wife of J. B. Wise ; Luther S. married Minnie Brigham, of Sharon ; and Willard G.

EDWARD BILYEA, carpenter and farmer, Sec. 34 ; P. 0. Sharon ; was born in Otsego Co., N. Y., in 1831 ; came to Walworth Co. in spring of 1855, and engaged in work at his trade; he made a location at Douglass Corners that year, which was Ms home till 1871, when he settled where he now lives ; his parents, Nathaniel and Polly B., came to Walworth Co. in 1865, and settled in the town of Walworth, where they resided till their death ; his wife was Esther L. Ostrom, born in Schoharie Co., N. Y., and came to Walworth Co. with her parents, Daniel and Sarah Race Ostrom, in 1848, who settled in Sharon. They have two children - Cora B. and Floyd E. Mr. Bilyea's farm contains 60 acres.

GEORGE F. BRIGHAM, station agent, Sharon ; was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in 1827 ; was a telegraph operator in the early history of telegraphy ; he learned the art of telegriphing in Fredonia, N.

Y., more than thirty years ago, when the science was io its infancy. The practice of dispatching trainsby telegraph was first attempted on the N. Y. & Brie R. R. and he as operator sent the first dispatch in that experiment, thus inaugurating a system of running trains, which is wonderful, and almost startling to contemplate. In 1863, he went to Chicago, where he was employed in the U. S. telegraph oflBce for several years ; he came to Sharon in 1866, and has had charge of the station here since that time ; he has long been a student and laborer in the interests of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Through his labors, a society has been organized of that church, in Sharon, and a neat and comfortable chapel was built; he took orders as Deacon, in Milwaukee, in 1876, and since that time has officiated as pastor of the church ; his wife was formerly Miss Aurilla A. Douglass, born in Genesee Co., N. Y. They had six children, four of whom are living, viz., Edmund D., Fannie A., George F., Jr., and Henry.

J. W. BROWNSON, of the firm of Wolf & Brownson, Sharon. Mr. Brownson was born at Gainesville, Wyoming Co., N.Y., in 1842 ; his father, John W. Brownson, emigrated to Wisconsin and settled in the town of Sharon, in the spring of 1852. Theparents of Mr. Brownson had three children - Ellen, now Mrs. J. A. Treat ; J. W. and Charles A. The latter is the present County Judge of Racine Co. J. W. enlisted in September, 1861, in the 13th W. V. I., and served until December, 1865. The firm of Wolf & Brownson has existed since 1866. Mr. Brownson was married to Miss E. Allen, daughter of Henry Allen. They have one daughter - Laura ; they lost their first child - Allen.

JOHN S. BURGET, blacksmith, resides on Sec. 34; P. 0. Sharon ; he was born in Pulton, Schoharie Co., N. Y., in 1828 ; his parents were Storm A. and Sally (Banner) Burget; his father was of Dutch decent ; his grandfather, Millbury Burget, was born in Holland, and came to the United States with several brothers ; he was Fife Major during the Revolutionary war ; was at the battle of Saratoga, when Gen. Burgoyne was taken prisoner, and after the war was pensioned as a Revolutionary soldier ; his father was a native of Schoharie Co., N. Y., and resided ia that State till his death. Mr. Burget came to Walworth Co., in May, 1858, and settled where he now lives ; his wife was Mary Welch, born in Schoharie Co. They have two children - -Addison and Storm Abram.

ACKLEY CARTER, farmer. Sec. 1 ; P. 0. Daneh ; is a brother of William and Orange Carter, of Darien, born in the town of Darien, Genesee Co., N. Y., in 1808 ; he came to Walworth Co., with his brother. Orange, in the sjiring of 1839 ; he, however, located in Milwaukee, which was his home for many years; he was engaged in the grocery trade while in Milwaukee; he settled on Sec. 21, in the town of Sharon, in 1849 ; he went to California in 1850, and engaged in mining; returned in 1856, and soon after removed to Dakota Co., Minn., where he lived ten years ; he bought his present farm in 1867 ; was married to Melissa Hough, born in Genesee Co., N. Y. ; she died December, 1878. Mr. Carter has two children - Edwin B. and Annette.

CHARLES W. CRANDALL, painter and grainer, Walworth ; son of Welcome B. Crandall, who was bora in Brookfield, Madison Co., N. Y. ; married to Emily Dowse, and came to Walworth Co. and settled in the town of Walworth in 1855. Mr. Welcome B. Crandall had five sons, four of whom are living - Roswell, Charles W., William and Paul, all of whom are residents of the town of Walworth but William. John was a member of 13th W. V. I., and died at Columbus, Ky. Charles W. enlisted in 22d W. V. I., and served about one year, when he was discharged for disability. Paul was a member of the 40th W. V. I. Charles W. was born in 1833 ; has followed the business of painting constantly since 1865, also for several years previous to the war; he married Frances Djnnison, born in the State of New York. They have two children - Hattie and Fannie.

B. M. COREY, Sharon, born in Saratoga Co., N. Y., in 181U, where he was brought up ; married Maria L. Arnold, daughter of Jeremiah Arnold; she died at Glens Falls, N. Y., Sept. 25, 1843; he was married Aug. 30, 1846, to Mellisse Arnold, a sister of his first wife. They came to Sharon in June, 1848. Mr. Corey engaged in farming until the breaking-out of the war, when he enlisted in the 13th W. V. I. ; he served one year; his oldest son. Charles H. (by his first wife) enlisted at the same time, in the same regiment, and died at Leavenworth, Kan., Feb. 21, 1862; Mr. Corey has two sons by present wife - George, born July 14, 1848, and Albert L , born Sept. 26, 1852 ; they reside at Marengo, III.

IRA DAVIS, farmer. Sec. 30 ; P. 0. Sharon ; he was born in Vermont in 1808. His parents removed to what is now the town of Holland, Erie Co , N. Y., when he was le.ss than 1 year old. When he was 13 years old he removed to the town of Machias, Cattarausus Co., where he lived till 21 years of age ; he returned to Erie Co. aud was married to Betsy Ann Stevens, who was born in the town of Warren, Otsego Co., N. Y., in February, 1819. In 1843, they removed to Racine Co., Wis., where Mr. Davi-s took up a farm, but removed to Sharon in December. 1844, and settled on his present farm, where he has since resided. His farm contains 154 acres. They have no children living. They have had two sons, Lendol S., born April, 1844, and died March, 1847 ; Jesse S. was born October, 1846, married Emily Judge ; died April 12, 1881. He left a widow and one child, a daughter, Jes.sie.

HENRY DH;NNIS, retired farmer, Sharon; born in Union Co., Penn., in 1813. He removed to Medina, Ohio, in 1834. His father was Michael Dennis. Mr. Henry Dennis was married to Margaret Smith, born in Chester Co., Penn. They came to Walworth Co. in 1842. and settled on See. 31, where he resided until the spring of 1869. He then retired from farming and settled in the village. Mr. and Mrs. Dennis have seven children - Harrison, Morris, Eliza, Francis, Kate, Ellen and Clarence. Mr. D. has sold the fiirm on Sec. 31, where he resided for so many years. He has a pleasant home in the village, which he built in 1868.

WILLIAM DOUGALL, farmer. Sec. 33; P.O. Sharon; born in Schenectady Co., N. Y., in 1807. His parents, John and Ellen Miller Dougall, were natives of Scotland and emigrated to the State of New York in 1800. His parents had five sons and one daughter. William is the only one who came West to reside; his brother James, however, came with him to Walworth Co. but soon after returned to the State of New York. Mr. D. bought his farm of Mr. Wheeler Hunt; he returned to the State of New York the same year, and brought out his family. He married Miss Anna Kelly, born in Montgomery Co., in 1815 ; she died December, 1880. Mr. D. has six children - Thomas, Jane H., Hannah, John, George and Senath. He lost six children - Nettie, aged 24 years ; Rachel, aged 22 years; William, aged 32 years ; and three children in infancy. His farm consists of 260 acres.

CHAS. C. HANFORD, grocer, Sharon; was born in Monroe Co., N. Y'., in 1827 ; was reared in the same county; was engaged for many years in the mercantile business at Seottsville ; came to Sharon in April, 1868. His health having become impaired by the long and constant confinement incident to a mercantile life, he came for the purpose of engaging in the culture of hops, which at that time promised to be a renumerative business, and which would afford him the out-of-door exercise which he required. He was one of the very first to engage in the culture of hops in Walworth Co. He put out his first yard in April, 1868, and gathered his first crop in September, 1869. He engaged quite extensively in the business for several years. His present business was established in 1870, in the firm name of Hanford & Co., his brother engaging in business with him; this brother is now a resident of Iowa. Mrs. Hanford was formerly Miss Lois Parmelee, born in Lima, Livingston Co., N. Y. They have one son, Marius P., born in Monroe Co., N. Y., in 1863.

WILSON R. HER RON, Sharon ; son of James Herron, who was born in Hebron, Washington Co., N. Y., and removed to Walworth Co. with his family in 1844, and settled on Sec. 29, town of Sharon, where he lived till 1868, when he removed to the village, where he resided till his death, which occurred July 20, 1876. He was born October 4, 1792. His wife, Hannah ( Whitney) Herron, was born October, 1791, in Washington Co., N. Y., and died July 17, 1874. W. R., the youngest of the children, was born in Washington Co. in 1831 ; he came West with his parents, engaged in farming till 1858, when he came to the village, erected a store and engaged in general merchandising. This building he occupied till 1867, when it was removed and he erected upon its site the store now occupied by Lvman Bros. He continued in trade till 1872. In 1874, he re-opened business at the same place, and sold out in 1877. Since that time he has been variously engaged ; bought wool for several years, etc. Mr. Herron represented the 2nd Assembly District in the Legislature in 1874 and 1877. He is at present Chairman of the Board of Sharon, a position he has held for several years. His wife was Miss Adelia Loucks ; born in Montgomery Co., N. Y. They have two children - Belle and Fred W.

MANNING R. HOARD, retired, Sharon; was born in Bristol Co., Mass , in 1818, where he lived till 8 or 9 years of age, when he removed with his parents to Allegany Co., N. Y. His parents were Manning and Prudency Hoard. Mr. Hoard lived in Western New York till 23 years of age, when he went to the State of Illinois, and came to Walworth Co. in the fall of 1843; settled on a farm in the town of Sharon. His brother, David E. Hoard, came at same time, and settled on the same section. Mr. Hoard engaged in farming for a number of years, and then settled in the village. His wife was Miss Lydia A. Burton, daughter of Philip and Nancy (Quackenbush ) Burton. Her father was born in New Jersey; removed to Montgomery Co., N. Y., and thence to McHenry Co , III. Mrs. Hoard was born in Montgomery in 1826. They have two children - Louise, now Mrs. C. B. Wolcot, and Murcus K.

DAVID E. HOARD was born in Schoharie Co., N. Y., about 1820. tie came to Walworth Co. and settled in the town of Sharon in 1843, on Stc. 26. In 1859, he engaged in the lumber trade with J. A. Treat, buying the lumber interests of Mr. D. Wheeler. He continued in the lumber business until his death, which occurred in 1873. His wife was Miss Burton, a daughter of Philip Burton ; she died several years previous to the death of her husband ; Mr. Hoard married a second time ; his widow survives

History Of Walworth Cou-Nty

'him ; he had five children by his first marriage, two of whom are living - W. E. and Andrew J. The termer was born in the town of Sharon in 1851 ; he succeeded to the lumber business of his father at his death in 1873 ; he was married to Emma, daughter of F. P. Arnold. They have one son - Ralph ; they lost their first child, a daughter. F. P. Arnold, Esq., father of Mrs. Hoard, was born in the town of Gainsville, Washington Co., N. Y., in 1326 ; he was educated at the Poultney Academy, Vermont ; he studied law in his native town, and came to Sharon in 1850, and was admitted to the bar at Elkhorn in 1851 ; he represented the Second Assembly District in the Legislature of Wisconsin in 1862, and was Chairman of the Town Board of Sharon for sixteen years. Mr. Arnold was a man who possessed the respect and esteem of all ; as a lawyer, he always counseled the settlement of differences without resort to litigation, thus disregarding his own interest to produce an amicable settlement between neighbors ; his influence is still felt in Sharon, and a lawsuit to adjust a difference is an uncommon occurrence ; he was an honest citizen and a good man, and his memory is held in marked respect by all who knew him; he died Jan. 19, 1872; he was married in Washington Co., N. Y., to Jane Willis, born in 1830; he had five children, four of whom are living - Cassius, Emma S., wife of Mr. W. E. Hoard; Ella, wife of William Pearson ; and Laura. He lost one daughter, Jennie ; his wife is now Mrs. Royal Perkins, of the town of Sharon.

H. B. HOWELL, proprietor of a livery stable in Sharon, was born in Wyoming Co., N. Y., in 1827. In the fall of 1855, he went to Green Lake Co., Wis., and came to Sharon in the spring of 1856 ; he was engaged for a time in farming, then in the farm and stock business till 1870, when he purchased the livery business of Elias Griffin, and has followed that business since that time ; his wife was Hannah LeFevre, daughter of George LeFevre ; they have two children - James and Rae.

MORRIS ISAACS, farmer. Sec. 2; P. 0. Darieu ; born in Wales in 1831. He emigrated to the State of New York with his brother Edward in 1853 ; the latter died the following year. Mr. Isaacs went to Delavan, Walworth Co., in 1855 ; he went to Minnesota in the fall of 1856, and returned to Walworth Co. in the fall of 1857, and bought his farm of William C. Allen, where he has since resided ; his farm contains 120 acres. Mrs. Isaacs was formerly Miss Mary Allen, daughter of Jacob Allen ; she is a native of the State of New York.

JOHN JEFFERS, farmer. Sec. 2 ; P. 0. Daricn. He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1822 ; but was biought to this country when an infant by his parents, who settled in Oneida Co., N. Y. ; he was married to Miss Flora Ann Armstrong; they came to Walworth Co. in 1852, and purchased the farm which he now owns ; he went back to the State of New York and returned with his family the following year ; he has a fine farm of about 200 acres ; he represented the Second Assembly District in the Legislature of 1864, and again in 1871 ; he was President of the Walworth Co. Agricultural Society in 1876. They have had nine children, seven of whom are living - William A., Ann Eliza, now Mrs. Van Schaick ; John W., Henry, Susan (now Mrs. M. B. Conant). Flora and Adeline. The names of the children deceased are Thompson and Edward.

LAVERNO V. KENYON, farmer. Sec. 31 ; P. 0. Sharon ; soq of James Nelson Kenyon. who was born in the State of New York, and was one of the earliest settlers in the town of Sharon ; he came to Walworth Co., from Steuben Co., N. Y., and purchased eighty acres of land of the Government, on Sec. 31, town of Sharon ; he lost his eye-sight by accident when he was 27 years of age, yet notwithstanding the fact that he was totally blind, he came West, settled on a new farm, which he cleared up with his own hands, and carried on the business of farming successfully. In fact, he is a wonderful example of what may be accomplished by determined will, when deprived of one of the most valuable blessings of life, the sense of sight ; he not only cleared up and cultivated his eighty acre% but eventually numbered among the most wealthy farmers of Walworth Co., owning 430 acres of laud ; he was married to Mary A. Benedick, born in the State of New York ; they have six children - Vestelina, now Mrs. Olender Salisbury ; Neumentia, now Mrs. Henry McCorraiek, a Profe.ssor in the State Normal School of Illinois ; Ferdinand Claudius, Brazillo and Laverno V., the latter owns the original homestead where he was born in 1860 ; he was married to Bessy Dullain, daughter of Thomas and Mary D., natives of England, and came to the United States in 1840 ; Mrs. Kenyon was born in Boone Co., III., in 1859.

JOHN LADD, Sharon ; .^Ir. Ladd is one of the prominent and well-known early settlers of the town of Sharon; in 1844 he, with an older brother, Luke 0. Ladd, came to Walworth Co. and purchased a farm on Sec. 20 in this town ; his brother died Aug. 27, 1845. In 1849, Mr. Ladd returned to the State of New York, and was married to Miss Sarah Willraarth, born in Oneida Co.; on account of falling health Mr. Ladd retired from farming and settled in the village in 1874 ; he is now engaged in the drug business, under the firm name of Snowdon & Ladd. Mr. and Mrs. Ladd have sis children - -Samuel H., Scott M., John, Esther E., Orrin 0. and Nathan B. They have lost their two oldest children - Willmarth, died at the age of 19 years, and Sarah, at the age of 4 years.

GE3RGE W. LAMONT, farmer, Sec. 4, Allen's Grove; born in the town of Sumraif. Schoharie Co., N. Y., in 1821, where he was brought up and where he lived, in Charlotteville, until 185(5, when he came to Walworth Co. and settled in the town of D.irien, purchasing the farm of Mr. James Sherwood, which he sold to Orange Carter in 1867 ; he then went to Chicago and engaged in the real estate business ; he afterward went to Janesville, Wis., and engaged in the mercantile business; thence to Clinton, Rock Co.; he returned to Walworth (!o. in January, 1881, and purchased his present farm of Mr. E. H. Whitney. He married Mrs. Harriet Simmons Morrison in September, 1844 ; they have had seven children, only two of whom, George H. and Ruth E., are living; the former lives in Nebraska, the latter is the wife of Mr. J. W. Hartshorn, of Clinton, Rock Co. Mrs. Lamont has one daughter by former marriage, now the wife of Archibald Woodward, Jr.; five children of Mr. and Mrs. Lamont died between the age.'* of 3 and 24 years. His farm contains 266 acres.

ABRAHAM B. LOWELL, farmer, Sec. 30 ; P. 0. Sharon; he was born in the town of Sharon, Schoharie Co., N. Y., in January, 1805 ; his father, Abram Lowell, was born in the State of Connecticut, but was brought up in the State of Vermont; he moved from there to Schoharie Co., N. Y., where he resided until his death. Abram B. Lowell was married in December, 1827, to Anna Seeber, who was born in Cherry Valley, Otsego Co., N. Y., in 1812; they came to Walworth Co. in 1844; Mr. Lowell brought with him from the State of New York, his wife and six children; he had no money with which to enter Government land, but he preempted eighty acres and began a struggle for a home with nothing but a strong arm and a determined will to aid him ; probably very few if any of the pioneers of Walworth Co., who afterward arose to a position of affluence, fought harder for a start in life than he ; he hired a man with an ox team to move his family and goods from South Grove to the spot where he decided to make his home. A hastily-made tent of rude construction, the sides being of bed quilts, fastened to poles which supported the roof, that was of straw, was the only home, the only shelter, he could provide for his family, and this afforded but a slight protection against a terrible wind and thunder storm that visited them on the first night after their arrival, during which the family were arou.sed, and those that were able were obliged to help hold the quilts down around the sides of the tent, which the wind threatened at every moment to overturn ; and the mother put the smaller ones on a box to keep them out of the water that run over the ground through the tent, and held the umbrella over them to keep them from being drowned by the torrents of water that came through the roof; and this was only a sample of the hardships that beset them during the first years of their life in this county ; he erected a log house the first season. He was a brick-maker, also a pump-maker by trade, and although the county was sparsely inhabited yet, an occasional job helped him to procure money with which to enter his land ; and even then, he was so hard pressed at one time that he was obliged to .sell his only cow to raise money for that purpose ; but perseverance and hard work finally prevailed, and he veritably became the owner of 500 acres of valuable farming land, and is numbered among the wealthiest and most successful farmers of Walworth Co. His first wife, Anna Seeber Lowell, died in 1869 ; his second wife, Mrs. Sarah L. Northrop Owles Lowell, to whom he was married in September, 1869, died March, 1876; his present wife was Mrs. Maiy S. Lamphear Ilett, to whom he was married November, 1876. Mr. Lowell had ten children by his first wife, nine of whom are living, seven of them having settled in Walworth Co. and two in McHenry Co., 111. He has twenty-five grandchildren; his oldest child, Clarissa M., born May, 1831, married Mr. H. Zimbeck, September, 1854; Darius W., born May, 1833, married Miss A. P. White, November, 1869 ; Lorenzo D., born July, 1836, married Miss Sarah Miller, July, 1862 ; Celia E., born September, 1840, married Mr. George Horn, July, 1859 ; Emery E., born March, 1843, married Miss Caroline Whitlock, January, 1865 ; Abram A., born March, 1845; Atharida J., born February, 1847, married Mr. F. E. Kinyon February, 1863; Angevine D., born June, 1849, married Miss J. A. Kinyon, January, 1873; Reuben D., born August, 1851, married Miss Etta Clement, March, 1877; Othello D., born October, 1855, died April, 1877.

LYMAN BROTHERS, general merchants, Sharon ; sons of George B. Lyman, an early settler of Rock Co. The Lyman Brothers succeeded W. B. Herron in business in 1877 ; they do a general merchandising bu.siness, carrying a large stock of dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes, etc.; their sales for 1880 amounted to $36,000. B. G. Lyman was born in Rock Co. in 1851 ; A. A. Lyman was born in Rock Co. in 1854 ; was married to Rachael Stevens, daughter of J. H. Stevens.

GEORGE C. MANSFIELD, Cashier of the Bank of Sharon, son of George Mansfield, who was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., in 1818, and came to Wisconsin in 1842; was engaged in teaching for a time near Milwaukee, before he settled on his farm, on Sec. 26, which was taken up in 1844 ; there he resided till his death, which occurred Nov. 22, 1877. Mr. George Mansfield was married to Miss Huldah

Mulford, daughter of Dr. Mulford, who was born in Albany Co., N. Y., in 1804, and cialne to Walworth Co., in 1845, and settled on Big Foot Prairie, where he died Nov. 1, 1861 ; he was a member of the convention that framed the Constitution of the State of Wisconsin ; he owned a large farm and was also engaged in the practice of his profession. Mrs. Mansfield had four children, of whom two are living, a son and a daughter. George C. Mansfield was born in the town of Sharon in 1856 ; he has been cashier of the Bank of Sharon since February, 1879.

ALBERT L. MASON, farmer, Sec. 13 ; P. 0. Sharon ; son of Darius B. Mason, who was born in Berkshire Co., Mass., in 1800 ; he removed to the State of New York with his parents when a boy. Was married to Harriet C. Starr, born in Danbury, Conn.; who also moved to the State of New York at an early age. Mr. D. B. Mason came to Walworth Co. in 1836, and made a claim on Sec. 30, town of Walworth ; he returned the same season to the State of New York for his family ; he did not return until September, 1840 ; he of course had forfeited his claim, but he bought at Government price land on Sec. 24, town of Sharon; also bought land in the town of Walworth ; he cleared up a farm and sold it to its present owners, Marvin and Harris Wilson. He also owned other land in Walworth Co.; he was a resident of the town of Sharon until 1854, when he removed to Mason City, Iowa, where he now resides. The parents of Mr. Mason had eleven children, eight of whom are living, four sons and four daughters. Albert L. is the only one living in Walworth Co., he was born in Cooperstown, Otsego, N. Y., in 1824; he came to Walworth Co. with his parents, in 1840 ; he has lived within three miles of his present residence since that time. His wife was Miss Sophronia Joiner, a daughter of William Joiner, who came to Walworth Co. from the State of New York in 1847. They have two children^Darius B. and Jessie. They lost a daughter. Mr. Mason received an academic education, has held various town olfices, including Justice of the Peace and Assessor ; he was also Postmaster of Sharon Post OflBce for a number of years ; he represented the Second Assembly District in the Legislature of 1879, without opposition, receiving 950 votes. He settled on his present farm in 1855; he has 204 acres; he built his first house in 1853 ; he has owned a number of farms ; he has probably cleared and broke more land than any other man in the town of Sharon.

ALBIN MATTESON, retired farmer. Sec. 13 ; P. 0. Sharon ; he was born in Shaftsbury, Bennington Co., Vt., in 1813, where he lived until 21 years of age, when he went, to Geneva, Ontario Co., N. Y., where he was employed in clerking. He was married in Vermont, to Philena Stockwell, born in Vermont ; she died in Geneva. Mr. Matteson came to Walworth Co. in the fall of 1842 ; he made his home at Mr. Warren Matteson's for several years, in the town of Walworth. He was married in 1845 to Sarah, widow of Warren Matteson. Mrs. Matteson was born in England, and came to America when three years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Matteson have three children - Elmer J., who resides at the homestead; Edgar A., in Colorado, and Albin W.; they lost one son, a twin brother of Albin, who died at the age of 12i years ; Elmer J. was born Nov. 20, 1846; Edgar A. was born March 26, 1850, and Albin W. was born May 20, 1856. The farm of Mr. Matteson contains 98 acres. He settled here in the fall of 1846.

BENJAMIN P. PATTEN, retired farmer, Sharon, born in the town of Porapey, Onondaga Co.i N. Y., May 9, 1809 ; his father was born in Rensselaer Co., N. Y., in 1773, but removed to the town of Bennington, Vt., with his parents when a child, but afterward removed to the State of New York. Mr. Patten resided in the State of New York until 1845, when he removed to the town of Le Roy, Boone Co., 111., where he lived until 1869, when he retired from farming and settled in Sharon. His wife was Maria Sutherland, born in the town of Pompey, Feb. 9, 1812. They have had four children, two of whom are living; their oldest son, James A., enlisted in the war of the rebellion as a member of the 13lh W. V. I., he lost his health in the army and died at home in 1864. Their second son, Duane, enlisted in the 7th Mich. V. I., and was killed in the campaign of the Wilderness, near Spotsylvania, in 1864. Their oldest child, Ellen, resides at home. H. Millard is an engineer on the C. W. R. R. Mr. Patten, though over 70 years of age, is remarkably well preserved for a man of his age ; his memory of events, and the date of their occurrence is certainly remarkable.

WILLIAM PEARSON, of the firm of Pearson Brothers, proprietors of the Sharon Cheese Factory. William was born in Scotland, in 1851; emigrated to Jefferson Co., N. Y., with his parents in 1853; he came to Sharon in 1874. Married Miss Ella H. Arnold, daughter of F. P. Arnold. Robert Pearson was born in Scotland, in 1843 ; he came to Wisconsin in 1870.

FRANKLIN PBETS, farmer. Sec. 12; P. 0. Darien. He was born in Washington Co., N. Y., but removed to Wyoming Co.; he was married in Washington to Margaret Blake. They came to Walworth Co. in June, 1852, and settled on present farm. They have three children - T. S ; Maria, now Mrs. N. Keeler, and Minnie, now Mrs. John Passage. T. S. was born in Washington Co., N. Y., Septem-

WILLIAM PELLINGTON, farmer, Sec. 35 ; P.O.Sharon; born near Newark, N. J., in 1819. His parents removed to the city of New York, when he was one year of age. Mr. Pellington was brought up in the city of New York, where he learned the trade of a silversmith; his father also followed that bu.siness. His parents resided in the city of New York till their death. Mr. Pellington removed to McHenry Co., 111., in 1850, and engaged in farming. He lived in Illinois till 1866, when he came to the town of Sharon ; he bought his farm of Reuben Wessell. The farm was first settled by Wheeler Hunt. Mrs. Pellington was formerly Miss Helen Church, daughter of Jaojes B. Church, who removed to McHenry C^. in 1850. They have one son, William II., born in McHenry Co., in 1857. They lost their oldest son, James, aged 17 years. Mr. Pellington's fiirm contains 100 acres.

ROYAL PERKINS, farmer. Sec. 33 ; P. O. Sharon. Mr. Perkins was born in Vermont, in 1824 ; he removed to the State of New York, with his parents, when a boy, and thence to McHenry Co., 111., where his parents resided till their death. He came to the town of Walworth in November, 18T6. He lost his first wife in Illinois. His present wife was Mrs. Jane (Willis) Arnold (See sketch of W. E. Hoard). Mr. Perkins had five children by his first wife, four of whom are living - Emma, Mary, Harvey and Jay.

PHELPS & ZIEGAUS, editors and proprietors of the Sharon Reporter. James H. Phelps was born in Whitewater, Walworth Co., Wis., Jan. 4, 1857. His father died when he was 5 years of age. He was adopted by Mr. Yeoman Kitely, of the town of Sharon, with whom he lived until he was 21 years of age. Ho received an academic education in the village of Sharon ; engaged in teaching fur a time, and learned the printing business in the office of the Sharon Inquirer. Geo. Ziegaus was born in Bavaria, Germany, in December, 1854. He is the son of Michael Ziegaus, who emigrated to the United States, with his family, in July, 1868, and settled in Jeiferson Co., Wis. He began learning the printing business at Edgerton, Rock Co., and completed his apprenticeship in the ofiice of the Weekly Recorder, of Janesville. In 1877, he came to Sharon, and worked in the office of the Sharon Inquirer for about one and a half years. When the Inquirer vi\is discontinued, in August, 1878, Phelp'i & Ziegaus established their present paper, which now has a circulation of 750 copies per week.

JOHN PRINDLE, Sharon, was born in Williamston, Mass., in 1815. His father, John Prindle, was a native of Connecticut He went from Massachusetts to Lake Co., 111., near Kenosha, where he purchased a farm, but soon after settled in the town of Leroy, where he purchased a farm from the Government in 1842; he resided in Boone Co. till he came to Sharon in 1869. He was married in Massachusetts to Cornelia Walley, who was born in the town of Bethlehem, Albany Co., N. Y. They have had five children, four of whom are living - Franklin, enlisted in the 13th W. V. I., and died in the hospital at Leavenworth in 1862. The names of the o; her children are Steven W., Juniette, Martha and Lydia. Mr. Prindle owns a farm of 380 acres, where he first settled, in Boone Co. He has a cheese fiictory on his farm, and manufactures a large amount of cheese annually.

BENJAMIN ROGERS, farmer; resides in village of Allen's Grove ; was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., March, 1828 ; his father was VVm. Rogers. Mr. Rogers came to Wisconsin from Tompkins Co., and settled in the town of Sugar Creek. He came to Allen's Grove in March, 1878. His wife was Catherine Tremper ; born in Cayuga Co., N. Y. They have six children - Libbic (now Mrs. Charles Williams), Jennie (now Mrs. Sewell Phillips), Lyra (now Mrs. Monroe Mowers), Benjamin, William and Calvin.

CAPT. ALMON SCHELLENGER; Sharon ; born in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, in 1834. He removed with his parents. Hector and Cynthia Schellenger, to Boone Co., 111., in 1853. He enlisted Aug. 11, 1862, in the 95th 111. V. I. On the organization of the regiment he was elected to a First Lieutenancy. The Captain of his company being killed at the siege of Vicksburg, his commission as Captain dates from that event. He participated in fourteen general engagements, and was brevetted Major for gallant and meritorious conduct at the battle siege of Mobile in March, 1865. Among the battles that he participated in were Champion Hills, Siege of Vicksburg, Banks' Red River expedition, battle ofGuntown, Miss., where his regiment lost seven officers out of fourteen, including the Colonel. On the death of the Colonel, Capt. Schellenger took command of the regiment. He was a gallant and faithful soldier ; notwithstanding the many and severe battles in which he was engaged, escaped without a wound from the enemy, though he was once severely wounded by a bayonet accidentally thrust in the hands of one of his own men. He returned to Boone Co. at the close of the war and engaged in farming. He came to Sharon in November, 1877. His wife was Rachael Robbins, born in Ohio. They have'five children - Jesse, Hattie, Emma, Nellie and Lottie. Capt. SchellengeT lost his father in 1854. His mother, Cynthia (Parker) Schellenger, was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., in 1809, and lives with her son.

ISAAC SEARL, retired farmer, of Sharon. He was born in the town of Whitehall, Washington Co., N. Y., May 26, 1814 ; when he was 9 years of age, his parents removed to Cattaraugus Co., town of Eilicottville, where his parents resided until their death. Mr. Searl was married in 1839, to Deliah Densiiiore, daughter of George Densmore. She was born in Warsaw, Wyoming Co., N. Y., in 1816. They came to Walworth Co. in the fall of 1845, and settled on Sec. 3, town of Sharon, where they lived until 1860, when they removed to McHenry Co.. 111., where they lived one year, and then removed to Boone Co., where they lived four years, then they settled in Sharon. The father of Mrs. Searl removed to Boone Co., 111., from the State of New York, in 1846, where they resided until their death. They have three children - B. F. S., who resides in the city of Rockford, 111; Melissa (now Mrs. E. Perrin), and Chas. Wilson.

JACOB SKUNK, farmer. Sec. 1, town of Leroy, Boone Co., 111.; P. 0. Sharon. He resides on the Illinois side of the State line that separates Sharon and Leroy Townships, and a large part of his farm lies in the town of Sharon. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1815. He emigrated to Montgomery Co., N. Y., in 1837, and then to Schoharie Co. He came to Walworth Co. in 1843. He was married to Miss Betsy Herron, born in Washington Co., N. Y., in 1816. They have' five children - John, Mary J., James H., Wilson L. and Frank J^ They lost two children, Hannah M., their second child aged 32 years, and an infant son. He has a fine farm which consists of 234 acres in the town of Sharon, and 140 acres in town of Leroy ; has also another farm in Boone Co. 111.

CHARLES A. SIKES, farmer. Sec. 26; P. 0. Sharon; son of George Sikes, who was born in Connecticut December, 1816. He removed with his parents to the Scale of New York, where he was brought up. When a young man, he went West and South ; was in Louisiana and Mississippi, and elsewhere along the Mississippi River, variously engaged for eleven or twelve years. He came to Walworth Co. and purchased a farm of the Government in Sec. 23, just north of the farm of his son, Charles A. Thi* farm he still owns. After purchasing his farm he went to Galena, and was engaged in chooping wood. In the following spring, he settled on hi.-; farm, in 1844 ; was a member of the Wisconsin Legislature in 1850 ; married Miss Alvira Perkins, daughter of Wesley Perkins, an early setder of Boone Co., 111. They have five children - Charles A., Mary, Martha, Clara and George; Charles A. was born on the homestead in 1849: married Ella Dennis, a daughter of Henry Dennis. They have one child, Albert H., bortt in 1879. Mr. Sikes' farm contains 100 acres ; his father's farm contains 200 acres.

GEORGE C. SMITH, farmer ; Sec. 36, P. 0. Sharon; he was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., in 1827 ; his father was Jabes H. Smith ; was a native of Vermont ; his mother was Annie R. Smith. He removed from New York to the State of Ohio with his parents in 1834, and to Walworth Co. in 1840, and settled in Big Foot Prairie, town of Walworth, in December, 1843 ; his father removed to the farm where George now lives, and died here in 1862 ; his mother died in 1876. His parents had six children, three of whom are now living - Lucius, Horace G. and George C. The names of the deceased children were Sophie, Maria and Caroline. George was married to Mrs. Polly Foot, born in Delaware Co., N. Y. Her father was William Dennins ; Mr. Smith has no children; his wife has two - Delia and Harry Foot. Mr. Smith's farm contains 80 acres.

REV. DAVID H. SNOWDEN, M. D., PH. D., Sharon ; was born at Fairview Court House, Va., in 1841 ; was educated at Jefferson College, in Pennsylvania ; was also a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College; at the breaking-out of the rebellion, he enlisted in the Third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the first battle of Bull Run ; at the expiration of his term of service, he re-enlisted in the Twelfth West Virginia Regiment; he was appointed Surgeon in the regular army, in 1864, and served in that capacity until December, 1865. After the close of the war, he engaged in the practice of medicine at Pittsburgh, Penn. In 1869, he entered the ministry of the M. E. Church, where he remained seven years. He then entered the ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church ; he resigned the pastorate of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cleveland, Ohio, in 1878, and came to Sharon and resumed the pastoral charge of the church of his denomination of this place. The Doctor entered the lecture field in 1866, and since that time has visited various parts of the Union. During his lecture seasons, he lectured on various subjects, scientific and literary, and his popularity as a public speaker and his well-known abilities attest his success in the lecture field. His wife i.s the daughter of Gen. Robert E. Faulkner, of Pennsylvania. They have one daughter - Mary Elizabeth. Dr. Snowden is of splendid physique; stands considerable over six feet in height, and weighing over two hundred pounds, and is well proportioned. Though a Virginian by birth and education, he quickly espoused the cause of the Union, when his native State joined in the slaveholders' rebellion. He was a gallant soldier ; was several times severely wounded, and was a prisoner in the hands of the enemy, for a year, being confined in Libby Prison and Bell Isle, Va.

W. A. STANBRO, of the firm of Stanbro, Petty & Co., general merchants, Sharon. The business of this house was established in August, 1878, under the firm name of Stanbro & White. In the following February, the firm became Stanbro & Petty, and afterward became Stanbro, Petty & Co. This firm do an extensive business, their sales amounting to ab )ut $40,000 a year. They have another store at Darien, in charge of Mr. Petty. The business at the latter pi af amounts to about 830,000 per annum. Mr. Petty was born in Erie Co., N. Y., in 1854. He was well versed in the dry goods trade before coming to Sharon, having been six years with J. V. Farwell & Co., Chicago.

NELSON J. STORY, farmer. Sec. 25 ; P. 0. Sharon ; son of Nelson Story (deceased), who was born in Oswego Co., N. Y., in 1811, where he was brought up. He was married to Dilla Camp, born in Oswego Co., N. Y. ; came to Walworth Co. in the spring of 1842, and lived in the town of Spring Prairie for two years. They came to the town of Sharon in April, 1844, and settled on the farm where Nelson J. now lives, purchasing of Government. Mr. Nelson Story died Jan. 28, 1881 ; Mrs. Dilla Story has six children - Hannah, now Mrs. Wm. Adams; Mary, now Mrs. Henry Wheeler; Sarah, now Mrs. Seth Adams; Nelson J., Franklin and William. Nelson J. was born in the town of Spring Prairie in 1844; married Emma Searles. born in Bradford Co., Penn. They have one son - Judson. Farm contains 140 acres.

RENSELAER L. STORY, retired farmer, Sec. 24; P. O. Sharon; was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., in 1802, where he was married to Rosannah Olmstead, and came to Walworth Co. in July, 1844, and settled where he now lives. He purchased 40 acres of his farm of the Government; it now contains 120 acres. His wife died Jan. 23, 1880. They have had nine children, five of whom are living - Emiline, now Mrs. Benjamin Gibson ; Melvin, now Mrs. Ophelia Hardver ; Elliott and Alwilda. The latter was born at the homestead, in the town of Sharon, in 1845 ; Maud, now Mrs. Ayers, has two children - Earl and Ophelia. The names of the deceased children were John Q., Mitty Bullen, Columbus, Lunnetta and Downings.

L. P. SWART, retired farmer, Sharon, born in the town of Davenport, Delaware Co., N. Y., July, 1807 ; he came to Delavan in May, 1845, and from there went to Walworth Co. in 1845 ; in August of that year he purchased a farm on the State line on the Illinois side in the town of Leroy, Boone Co., 111., which he still owns ; his wife was Julia Boys, daughter of Peter Boys, who came to Walworth Co. in 1837, and settled in Delavan, where they resided until their death. Mrs. Swart was born in Schoharie Co., N. Y., in 1813 ; came to Wisconsin with her parents in 1837, but returned to the State of New York in 1830, and was married to Mr. Swart in 1840. The parents of Mr. Swart had seven children, five of whom are living; he has lived in the village of Sharon since 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Swart have two children - Riley, who enlisted in the W. V. I., and served three years ; he now resides in Chicago, and is engaged in the bakery business; their second son, Albert, resides on the homestead, in McHenry Co., 111.

JULIUS A. TREAT, lumber dealer, Sharon ; he was born at Aurora, Erie Co., N. Y., in 1814 ; his father was Oren Treat, born near Malone, Franklin Co , N. Y. ; he is still living in Erie Co., at the age of 95 years ; he learned the business of surveying when a young man, which he followed to a greater or less extent for many years ; he came to Walworth Co. from the State of New York, in November, 1844, and located a farmer on Sec. 25, in the town of Sharon; here he resided for several years, and owned the farm until within a few years ; he lived on the farm for a few years and then removed to Elton, in this town, and engaged in the mercantile business, which he continued two or three years, when he sold out and returned to his farm ; he removed to the village of Sharon in 1858 ; in 1859 engaged in the lumber trade with Mr. David Hoard ; he has been engaged in same trade since that time,' though the partnership with Mr. Hoard continued but a few years ; he now owns lumbering interests on the Menominee River, in this State ; is President of the J. A. Treat Lumber Company ; he has had an active and successful business life ; he is known as a man of some business principles, and is an upright, reliable citizen, and in an eminent degree possesses the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens ; he wa.s Chairman of the Town Board five years and Chairman of the County Board one year, and Justice of the Peace for many years ; he has been married twice ; his present wife was Miss Ellen Brownsou, born in Gainesville, Wyoming Co., N. Y., in 1835 ; he has two children - Fayette, born in the town of Sharon in 1846, he is now in charge of a lumber yard at Appleton, Wis., and Jennie, now Mrs. D. E. Sedgewick, a physician at York, Neb.

GEORGE TREAT, farmer. Sec. 30 ; P. 0. Sharon ; he was born in Erie Co., N. Y., in 1818; he is the son of Oren Treat, and a brother of Julius A. Treat, Esq. ; he went to the State of Ohio in December, 1839 ; in the spring of 1842 he came to Walworth Co., and has been a resident of same county since that time ; his wife was Sarah C. Foster, daughter of Thomas Foster, who settled in Walworth Co. in .1847. They have four children - Flora L., now Mrs. M. W. Pierce ; Mattie H., now Mrs. J. C. Miller ;

Grace and Mamie. Mr. Treat entered a part of his present farm in 1843 : made first improvements in 1847 ; the parents of Mrs. Treat, Thomas and Lucinda Foster, removed from Onondaga Co., N. Y., in 1837, thence to Illinois, and to Walworth Co. in 1847 ; her father died at the house of Mr. Treat in the spring of 1879 ; her mother died many years before in Whiteside Co., 111.

JARED H. TOPPING resides on Sec. 2 ; P. 0. Darien ; son of Thomas T., who was born in Montgomery Co., N. Y., where he was brouaht up ; came to Walworth Co. in 1840, and settled at Delavati the following year, where he engaged in the mercantile business, starting the first general store in thiit village ; his family came in 1841 ; in 1842, while on a trip East for the purchase of goods, the father of Mr. Topping was accidently killed ; this sad event occurred in Montgomery Co., N. Y. Mr. Thomas Topping left a widow and five children, of whom Jared was the oldest. The family continued to reside at Delavan for five years after the death of the head of the family, and then removed to what has since been known as Topping's Corners, in the town of Sharon, and settled on the farm which Mr. Topping, Sr., had purchased in 1840. The names of the children of Thomas Topoing were Jared H.; Mary, who married Mr. F. K. Phoenix ; Sarah, who married Mr. W. Carpenter ; Joseph A. and John. The surviving children are Jared, Mrs. Phoenix and Mrs. Carpenter; their mother died at Delavan in 1871. Jared H. was born in the State of New York in 1828 ; he purchased his present farm in 1852, but after a residence there of two years he removed to Delavan and engaged in business; he returned to his farm in 1865 ; he has 152 a res of land. They have eight children, four sons and four daughters. Mr. Josiah Topping, a brother of Thomas (who named the town of Sharon fro'ii town of same name in Schoharie Co., N. Y. ; he is also the oldest setiler of the town of Sharon, now living in the town), settled on Sees. 1 and 12 in this town in 1838 ; he still lives where he first located ; he was born in Montgomery Co. in 1798 ; the wife of Mr. Jared Topping was Miss Mary Conrick ; her parents settled in the town of Sharon in the year of 1843.