Vernon Village

Vernon Village

ward J., Elizabeth C. and Rosanna E. ; the eldest now owns the homestead of 410 acres, 160 of which was claimed by his honored father in 1836 ; E. J. was in the IT. S. Naval Service during the war and now lives in Chicago ; E. C. is now Mrs. W. A. Gault and R. F. is the wife of A. D. Hager. Mr. Blood was a steadfast Republican of Abolition antecedents, and was County Surveyor at his death.

DIJXCAN' CAMERON, farmer, Sees. 8 and 17; F. 0. Vernon; "was born in Caledonia, Livingston Co., N. Y., .March 26, 1817; is a son of Duncan A. and Sarah (McCall) Cameron; his father emigrated from' Scotland about eighty years ago and his mother a few years later; they were married in Caledonia in 1812 and had ten children - Hugh, Duncan, Mary, Kate, Daniel, Angus, Dugal, Charles, Alexander and Margaret ; Dugal and Daniel were both successful physicians in Wisconsin, while Hugh, Angus and Alexander, all lawyers, located at La Crosse, where Angus and Hugh still reside ; Alexander and Dugal were both in the U. S. service during the war, Alexander dying at the old Caledonia home while Dugal was drowned in the Mississippi at LaCrosse; Angus has now nearly completed his term as U. S. Senator from Wisconsin. Duncan, the only farmer in the family, was the first of these noted brothers to locate in Wisconsin, and was an early settler in Vernon, which he reached in October 1841 ; he was educated in Lima Seminary, a good old Methodist school," as he says ; his first night in Vernon was spent in Asa A. Flint's old log tavern, and ten days later he bought his homestead ; building a log house he "bached it" until June 19, 1845, when he married Miss Mary, daughter of Porter Daniels, of Manchester, Conn.; she was a most worthy wife, and at her death, Aug. 4, 1879, left him three children - Charle.s, Jane and George; the eldest is a resident of Yankton, D. T., and ere this is printed will have married Miss Sarah Jakinson, now of Yankton, formerly of Coony ; Jane is Mrs. L. Baldwin, a resident of Glendale, Monroe Co, Wis ; George is now on the old homestead of 180 acres, which is mainly under cultivation. Mr. Cameron is a Republican of Greenback proclivities, and has assessed the town fifteen times ; perhaps no one in the county can equal this ; he has also served as Justice of the Peace a number of terms ; was one of the founders and a leading member of the Vernon U. P. Church.

PERRY CRAKi}, farmer, Sec. 32 ; P. 0. Caldwell's Prairie, Racine Co., Wis. ; Mr. Crai? is a native of Hamburg, Erie Co., N. Y. ; born Jan. 12, 1819 ; his early life was spent and his education attained in his native State; being left fatherless when but 8 years of age, as may be seen, Mr. C.'s success in life is owing solely to his own efforts; January, 1841, found him in Milwaukee, Wis., with 2 cents in his pocket, he having made the winter trip on horseback ; leaving Milwaukee, dinnerless, he rode to Mukwonago, and made this town his residence for five years ; a carpen^r by trade, his work in early times was in building the old hotel of J. H. Camp, the house of Judge Feilds, the saw and flouring mills at Saylesville, etc. Married Miss Maria L., daughter of Asa Hollister (a pioneer of " '38 "), and in the spring of 1846, began on 80 acres. of his present farm, of this, perhaps 20 were somewhat improved,, the 16x20 oak-boarded house comprising the buildings ; rewarded by thirty-four years of intelligent labor here, Mr. Craig now owns 240 acres, with 20 of marsh in Racine Co., a substantial stone farmhouse replacing the shanty of 184(j, whicli is now a stable ; his farm was the scene of a well remembered fire years ago, his barn and sheds burning to the ground in spite of the efforts of the people, who left the church in the village to aid him, the fire occurring on Sunday ; the new barn, built in 1871, is 32x42, with basement and roomy sheds attached. Mr. and Mrs. Craig have five children - Pascal L., Asa H., Francis. D., Sylvius S. and Bertie W., the eldest born in Mukwonago, and the others on the homestead; Alice, the only girl, died when 10 years old ; ,the eldest is a graduate of Rush Medical College, and one of the first settlers and most successful practitioners in Alamosa, Colo., he also having a drug store and mining interest there; Asa H., born Dec. 19, 1847, was educated at Albion Academy, Dane Co. ; is author and publisher of " The Common School Question Book," " Parliamentary Practice," etc. ; served as County Superintendent of Instruction in 1875, and is now one of the Supervisors of Vernon, and Secretary of the W. G. and S. B. Association ; is intending to locate in Greeley, Colo., and to become one of the representative sheep-growers of that State ; Francis D. is now editor of the Bast Troy Gazette, a six-column weekly, with a subscription list of 550. Perry Craig is better known than almost any other member of the Southeastern Wisconsin Sheep Breeders' and Wool Growers' Association, of which he was one of the fathers, and its most faithful Secretary for many years; he has also been Assessor, Collector, Supervisor and Chairman, lacking only one vote of representing his district in the Legislature of 1866 ; is a Democrat, and favors the greenback. In 1853, Mr. Craig bought a flock of the famous Atwood sheep, of Allen Shepard ; has constantly devoted himself to the work of improving his flock since that time ; " Capt. Jack," bred by Millen heads his flock of 175 noble animals, fleeces of which averaged fourteen pounds in 1879.

LiEOXARD DANIELS, farmer, Sec. 8; P. O.Vernon; is' a son of Porter and Cleantha Daniels, and was born in Coventry, Herkimer Co., N. Y., April 21, 1840 ; Porter Daniels was born March

17, 1803, in East Windsor, Hartford Co., Conn. ; his early life was spent in the " Nutmeg State," working in the paper mills, and as a manufacturer of the time-honored Connecticut clocks, at Bristol. He married, in 1825, Miss Cleantha Carpenter, and in 1843, came with his family to Wisconsin, reaching Vernon in June ; here he bought 80 acres of Uncle Sam, which he sold to Amos GroS after five years, and bought the present homestead on Sec. 8; Mr. D. has built two log and two frame houses in Wisconsin, and did the best of work as one of the early settlers, so that his present retirement is merited. His faithful wife died in November, 1879, at the age of 74, leaving six children - Mary, late wife of Duncan Cameron ; Edwin H., Watson, Henry, Jane (Mrs. Isaac Sharp) and Leonard ; E. H. is a leading merchant of St. Croix Co., Wis. ; Henry has been, for thirteen years, in business in Vernon ; Watson and Leonard are on the homestead ; Leonard Daniels has spent his life and been educated in Vernon, where he also engaged in business for a number of years. He married, in September, 1867, Miss Caroline Kells, a resident of Mukwonago, and a native of New York ; they have two children - Cymbria and Porter H. The farm of 120 acres is now owned by the brothers, Leonard and family living in the pleasant farmhouse built by his father, and is now raising and remodeling the barn. In politics, Mr. D. is a Grreeiibacker.

JOHIV DARLING}, farmer, Sec. 12 ; P. 0. Big Bend ; is the eldest son of John and Elizabeth (Wight) Darling, and was born May 11, 1824 ; his mother died in September, 1843, in Scotland, leaving three sons - John, James and Thomas all born in Berwickshire ; the father married again to Miss Susan Bertram, by whom he had five children - Peter, David, Elizabeth, Catherine and Andrew; in 1849, the family emigrated, and settled in Vernon, biiying the homestead of 148 acres and 20 of marsh ; John Darling, Sr., died June 7, 1872, leaving a record which is an example to all ; he was a native of Berwickshire, and lived and died a member of the United Presbyterian Church; he was a Republican, as are all his sons ; his eldest son has proven a worthy succesor to the homestead with its substantial house and barns ; the old farm was, in early times, a forest, 120 acres now being under cultivation ; his stepmother is still with him. Mr. Darling has served twice as Supervisor of Vernon and is one of her substantial farmers.

THOMAS DARLiIlVG-, farmer and carpenter, Sec. 14 ; P. 0. Big Bend ; born June 13, 1830, in Berwickshire, Scotland; he is the son of John and Elizabeth (Wight) Darling ; the family came to America and settled on Sec. 12, in Vernon, in 1849 ; Thomas Darling learned both the carpenter and mason's trade without help of any kind ; he has done most of the mason work on the County Poor Farm, built the houses of William Sharp, W. R. Harris and others, having worked at his trade every summer for twenty years;' Mr. Darling spent the winter of 1849 in Ohio and Kentucky, and the next summer in New York ; he owns 51 acres in Vernon and a pleasant home. He married Miss Elizabeth Purvis, of Berwickshire, by whom he has six children - Elizabeth, Susan, Crissie, Mary, John and William. Mr. Darling is a Republican and served many years as Supervisor, and in 1872 and 1873 as Town Treasurer; he is a member with his wife of the United Presbyterian Church. (For further history of the family, see biography of John Darling.)

JAMES OARldNGr, farmer. Sec. 11; P. 0. Vernon; born in Berwickshire, Scotland, in 1827 ; his early life was spent at farming ; his father, John Darling, emigrated to the United States with his family in 1849 ; there being three sons by the first wife, viz.; John, James and Thomas; the family settled on Sec. 12, in Vernon, James Darling going two years later to Michigan, working three years in the pineries. He married in Michigan, January, 1853, Miss Elizabeth Harris, a sister of W. R.; she was born in Anglesea, Wales, in 1854 ; he returned and bought his farm of 75^ acres; of this, 20 acres were poorly broken and improved, the remainder being mostly timber and brush ; the old log house of this day is replaced by a substantial frame one, and the entire farm reclaimed ; Mr. and Mrs. Darling have four living children - John, Rowland, Jennie and Thomas ; the first born, a . daughter Elizabeth, married William Killips, and died in 1872. Mr. Darling and wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church, he having united at 1 8 years of age, and serving many years as a Trustee ; he is Independent in politics and was twice elected Town Treasurer on the peoples' ticket.

AMOS GOFF, farmer. Sec. 10 and 3 ; P. 0. Vernon ; born in Burlington, Otsego Co., N. Y,. May 16. 1806 ; his early life was spent in Oswego Co., N. Y., where he obtained his schooling ; he began teaching at 19 years of age and taught ten or twelve terms. He married, in Onondaga Co., N. Y., Miss Mary Sayles, and in 1844, removed to Wisconsin, he buying 80 acres of the openings of Vernon; they began life here in a primative fashion, Mrs Groff cooking in a cauldron kettle hung out of doors, and washing half a mile from home, beside a brook in Mr. Clifton's woods ; money due JVIr. Gofi' was finally sent him, so that he bought a, cook stove and an ox team ; the worst of fortune attended his early efforts, as he lost two good oxen by death ; during the first winter here, Mr. Goff chopped 9 acres, though he found it hard work, and the next season planted it to corn which his young sons kept clean with hoes, finding that still harder ; by exchanging days' work, Mr. GofF gradually added to his clearing, living meanwhile in a most comfortable log house ; he now has 135 acres, a tasteful and pleasant home, and he has had a family of eleven children - Emily (Mrs. Henry Colyer), Elisha, Dorr Wallace, Ann (Mrs James Stuart), Mary (Mrs. Mark Ehle), Amos Jr., Clentha, Aurelia C. (Mrs. Charles Perry), Samuel D., and Chauncy ; the three oldest sons were Union soldiers, Elisha serving most of the time in the Par West, Wallace earning a Lieutenants commission, and Dorr dying in a Xashville hospital ; Mr. GoiF is a Universalist and a radical advocate of the greenback ; he was formerly a Republican and a man whose heart, purse and sons were for the Union.

WILIilAM R. HA.RRIS, farmer. Sec. 11; P. 0. Vernon; is a native of Anglesea, Wales; born in 1815 ; was from boyhood a farmer ; emigrated to America in 1852 ; spent three years in Michigan, then came to Wisconsin, locating near Janesville ; after a few months, bought his present farm of 100 acres ; since this, he has returned several times to Michigan, engaging in the pineries, but has done the best of work on his farm during these twenty-five years, building a roomy farmhouse in place of the shanty of early times ; his barn was built by A. Webster, thejformer owner of the farm. Mr. Harris married Miss J ane Lewis, of Anglesea; their children, Rowland and Jane, were born in Wales; are both in Menomonee, Mich., Jane being the wife of Samuel Stevenson, one of the leading lumber manufacturers there, he owning two saw-mills and turning out from forty to fifty million feet of lumber per annum. Mr. Harris is a man who has led a quiet and honorable life, and generally succeeded. He is an Independent Democrat.

JAMES HAY, deceased ; born in Perthshire, Scotland; about 184:0, he came to America, and in 1851 married Mrs. Barbara Smith; they soon removed from New York to Wisconsin, Mr. Hay having owned the homestead in Vernon for several years ; Mr. Hay built here a small log house, and made a good beginning for his family. He died four years later, leaving four children, all of whom were attacked with that dread disease, diphtherii, and gave up their young lives within a few days; it was a crushing blow to follow the death of her husband, but she bravely resumed her Cross, and, ably seconded by her only son, James Smith, made her farm and home what it is. This lady was born in Inverness-shire, Scotland, and married her first husband, Robert Smith, in (xlasgow ; he died in 1849, after a residence of three years in Livingston County, NT.; his only son, James, was born in Kilsythe, Scotland; married Miss Jane, daughter of William Evans, and is now in charge of the homestead; has two children^Barbara J., and an intant. A tasteful and pleasantly located farmhouse has replaced the old-time log house, and substantial barns built. His honored mother looks back with a feeling of mingled sorrow and pride over her varied experiences in Wisconsin. She is a member, with Mrs. Smith, of the U. P. Church.

HOLLIS HOL.LISTER, farmer, Sec. 28, 29 and 20 ; P. 0. Dodge's Corners; is a son of Asa and Almira HoUister, and was born in the town of Barford, Canada, in 1832 ; the family came to Vernon in the fall of 1839 ; Asa H. being the first blacksmith in the town ; he bought 80 acres of Government land in 1840, and also ten cows, which jan at large in the openings around them. Asa Hollister was a pioneer, and a successful one, as he left at his death, in 1858, a section of land on which he had built a substantial house and good barns ; there were seven children - Maria, Mariette, Jane, Emmeline, Roxina, Hollis and Adelaide ; the only son is a' worthy follower of his father's honored footsteps ; he also having erected buildings and improved the farm. Married Miss Esther, daughter of Thomas and Mary Clark, of Vermont, by whom he has four children - Alfred, Orra, Mary and Rose. Mr. Hollister is a Greenbacker, Justice of the Peace for the second time, and has held minor offices. Has 500 acres and owns 500 fino-wool shssp, 21 of which are registared ; lis being a leading mombjr of ths Woo'.-Grjwors and Sheop- Breeders' Association, has bought and bred from the flocks of breeders like Perry Craig, A. E: Perkins, J. H. Paul, etc., also of Parnham and Burchard, of Vermont.

HENRY HUJVKINS, farmer. Sees. 4 and 5 ; P. 0. Vernon ; was born May 8, 1830, at Danville, Vt. ; his infancy was passed at Lancaster, N. H., to which point his parents removed when he was an infant in 1837, the family, intsndi ig to go to Illinois, were prevented by adverse winds on Lake Michigan, and obliged to land at Milwaukee ; nearly all they had was paid in passage money, and, after a few weeks spent in Milwaukee, they located in the town of Waukesha, and spent the summer, Mr. Hunkins making a claim in New Berlin, and building a one-story bark-roofed home, 14x18, using only an augur and ax in its construction ; windows were apertures cut in the logs and hung with blankets ; a huge stone fire-place with a stick and mud chimney completed a home, and, says Mr. Hunkins, the son of the builder, " we enjoyed ourselves here through the long winter evenings, reading by the firelight." Too poor to buy a team, Mr. H. cut away the small trees, and girdled the large ones, then sowed dn acre of wheat, and actually covered the grain with a hoe. The son remembers tramping over an Indian trail to M. D. Cutler's place to help his poor but plucky sire to dig potatoes prior to 1840 ; $20 of Mr. H.'s hard earnings proved counterfeit money when presented by him in Milwaukee. Such a beginning is sure of a reward, and in 1839, he sold out the claim for $200, and then bought the farm on the Mukwonago road, where he died, an honored veteran pioneer, Jan. 1, 1866 ; his wife followed him in October, 1878. The son received most of his education among the trees around his early home, hard work and poverty beinap his teachers ; attaining his majority, his father gave him 40 acres, which he cleared of heavy timber; selling it about 1864- and buying the old Webster farm in Vernon. He married, at 24, Miss Polly St. John, a native of New York State, who died on the Webster farm, leaving two children - James H. and Rebecca P. In 1866, he married Miss Margaret, daughter of William Beggs, a pioneer of Waukesha Township, where she was born ; they have seven children - Charles, Sarah P., Ernest, George, William, Nettie and Herbert. Mr. H. is an Independent in politics, and a progressive farmer ; he has owned his present farm of 230 acres since 1869, and made lasting improvements upon it.

THOMAS HOWIE, deceased ; was born in 1811, in Ayrshire, Scotland. In 1836, he married Miss Mary Morton, who was born in 1813, in the parish of Galstion, Ayrshire; Mr. Howie engaged for three years in the mercantile business in Kilmarnock, and in 1839 emigrated to America ; three years of toil near Inverness, N. Y., enabled him to earn money enough to make a start in Vernon, where he bought a farm of 80 acres, adding 40 and doing good work ; Mr. Howie making a never-tobe-forgottea record here, as he was a founder and leading member of the U. P Church, the society being organized at his house ; he also donated the site of the church, and was so loved as to make his memory dear to all. As a Christian gentleman of generosity and honor, his death, in 1858, was much deplored. He left five children - Janet, John, Thomas, Matthew and David. Mary (Mrs. James Mais) died a few days before her father ; John, one of the 28th W. V. I., died in a St. Louis hospital ; Janet is Mrs. John Purvis, of Vernon ; Thomas is a farmer and stock dealer at Big Bend ; Matthew is a butcher at Sioux Palls ; David remaining on the homestead, he having married Miss Ellen McKenzie, of Vernon. The farm of 252 J acres was well managed by Mrs. Howie after her husband's death, having but little help during the first few lonesome years; as an evidence of her ability we notice the handsome residence and substantial barn built by her.

JOHN A. McKEBiZIlii, farmer, Sec. 1 ; P. O. Vernon ; born in Caledonia Livingston Co., N. Y., Peb. 18, 1823 ; his younger life was spent in his native State ; on the 20th of May, 1843, he landed at Milwaukee, and the next day left for Vernon, passing the site of Waukesha on the way, and well remembers seeing cattle grazing on the same turf now trod by the pleasure-seekers of the noted watering place ; after a month spenj, in traveling over the county, he became hdmesick and would gladly have returned East, but did not have the means ; so rolling up his sleeves he went to work in Mukwonago at $10 per month, and worked in the neighboring country part of the time as a thrasher for the next ten years ; he then decided to go to California via the Nicaraugua route, but on reaching that land of fever and death, learned of the wreck of the Golden Gate, and resolved to give up his dreams of wealth in the mines, and to return to Wisconsin and dig it out of its fertile soil. He not long after bought the farm and married the daughter of his former employer, Robert Weir ; Mr. McKenzie had worked for seven or eight years for Mr. Weir, who wag a well-known but unfortunate pioneer, whose daughter Margaret E., born in Caledonia, is now Mrs. McKenzie and the mother of seven children - Elizabeth, Mary J., Ellen S., John E., Janet, Flora A. and Margaret A; the youngest daughter, Mabel, died Peb. 10, 1880, aged 4. Mr. McKenzie has 156 acres, well improved, which was in a semi-cultivated state when he bought it, a log house comprising the buildings ; he afterward built a frame house which is now overshadowed by an elegant residence, built in 1871, of the famous Cream City brick. Mr. McKenzie is a Republican, and has been one of the Town Board a number of years. His wife and daughters are members of the U. P. Church.

PETER iUcKEKIZIE. farmer. Sec. 15 ; P. 0. Vernon; born in Caledonia, Livingston Co., N. Y., Oct. 1, 1829 ; he spent his early life in " York. State, " and when a boy of 18, came to Waukesha Co., having spent a year as a clerk in Washington Co. In March, 1850, Mr. McKenzie joined a party of fifteen others and made the memorable six months' trip to California, crossing the plains with oxen ; after five years in the mines of the Golden Gate, he returned via Panama and New York City to Wisconsin ; in 1856, he bought 120 acres of his present farm, of which 15 or 20 were improved, and on which was a log house, the remainder being heavy timbers, among which he did the best of work, chopping and logging, breaking and fencing; he has added 70, acres and has to reward these twenty-five years of honest toil an improved farm, with the best of buildings ; the main barn is 34x52, 18-foot posts with basement; in 1874, he supplanted the log house with a handsome two-story brick, With all modern improvements. Hifl is not a bad record for a man who, thirty-three years ago, reached Barton, Washington Co., penniless and supperless. He married Mis8 Mary J., daughter of Robert Weir, by whom he has nine children - Frank A., James A., Ellen M., Robert, Clarence, William, Sarah J., Margaret C. and an infant. Mr. McKenzie is a Republican, and has usually refused all office, though he has been both Supervisor and Assessor, and a school district officer over twenty years in succession.

FINDLEY McNAlIGHTON, farmer. Sec. 12 ; P. O. Vernon; born in Johnstown, Montgomery Co., N. Y., Dec. 30, 1810 ; his early life was spent in Genesee County ; at 15, he settled in Canandaigua, residing there until 1 847, v?hen he came to Wisconsin, reaching Vernon that fall with wife and family ; had previously bought what is now the county farm, of John Post, its original owner ; in 1856, Mr. McNaughton, having been Chairman of his town for three years, was appointed Overseer of the Poor Farm, then located in the town of Waukesha ; a few years later, the county rented Mr. McNaughton's farm, he having charge of it, and erectii)g most of the buildings upon it, until 1872, when he resigned and sold the farm to the county ; he did more than any man in the county to secure the care of the poor by the county while on the County Board for three years ; prior to this, he was engaged for three years in Weir's saw-mill at Big Bend, as head-sawyer, book-keeper and engineer; in 1851, was elected to the Legisture over no less popular an opponent than Jesse Smith, wlio was often his opponent for office. Mr. McNaughton has had thirteen children by two marriages - Margaret, Malcolm (deceased), John (deceased), Christie A., Samuel M., Findley J., William A., Mary (deceased), James and Archibald A. By the present wife, who was Miss Mary Espie, he has three - Sarah, Clarissa A. and Adeline C. Mr. McNaughton was one of the first Board of Trustees and a leading spirit in the building of the Vernon United Presbyterian Church ; has always been a member and Trustee ; now owns 240 acres of land and a good and pleasant home, in striking contrast to the log shanty in which his family spent the first winter in Wisconsin.

liEOIVARD MARTIN, farmer, merchant and proprietor hotel ; P. 0. Big Bend; bom in Ferrisburg, Vt., April 16, 1814; his younger life was spent at school in old Vermont, where he learned surveying ; in the spring of 1836, he reached Milwaukee, and remained there until fall, when he made first claim at the noted Oak Orchard of pioneer times ; during the winter, he surveyed the plat of Kewaunee, Wis., not seeing other men than those with him for two months; returning in the spring of 1837, he built on his claim, just across the line in Muskego, the inevitable log house, and began life a lone bachelor, " poor as Job's turkey," his musty flour, etc., earned by hard day's work. March 11, 1840, he married Miss Betsey F. Munson, of Bristol, Vt.; to pay for his land when it came into market, he hired money at 50 per cent. ; in 1852, Mr. Martin built a hotel and store on a large scale, main building 41x51, with kitchen 32x48, which, with its additions, is known over South Wisconsin as " Martin's Tavern ; " the generous old hostelry, with its three floors, being oft^n crowded in the palmy days of Janesville and Milwaukee plank road. His stock of goods is very large ; " too much stock," says Mr. Martin ; " everything from a needle to a plow." He is a genuine " old settler," and dug the first well in Muskego ; his farm of 450 acres, with a small village of tenement houses, gives his place a business-like look. Mr. Martin was the first County Surveyor, Chairman of Muskego four years prior to this, member of the last Territorial Legislature in 1847, was County Commissioner in old times, and is now serving his fourth term as Chairman of the largely Republican town of Vernon, though he is a radical old Jacksonian Democrat ; he says his fearless advocacy of these principles has beaten him for more offices than any other man in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have three children - Ann E., widow of Everett Chamberlain ; Sarah E., Mrs. 0. A. Pride, and a son, S. Munson, who married Miss Emma Keyser, of New York, and is with his father.

J. X. MORRIS, County Overseer of the Poor ; P. 0. Waukesha ; born in Orange County, N. Y., in 1818 ; losing his father when but an infant, he was compelled to begin life's battle at an early age, and has seen much of the hard, cheerless side of this world, working for three or four years in an ax factory in Napanock, Ulster Co., N. Y. He married Miss Maria Evans, of Sullivan County, N. Y. ; they came to Wisconsin with but little means in 1852 ; he began by renting a farm in Muskego, dealing for seventeen successive years with its owner without a line of writing having been drawn or a harsh word spoken ; probably no parallel case can be furnished in the county ; his management having made this farm a valuable one, he resolved to own one of his own, and bought near Big Bend ; lived there six years, or until 1875, when he was appointed to his present position, which he has so satisfactorily filled. " I keep this place in a condition fit to be visited by any one at any time," says Mr. Morris, and a walk among and through the buildings proved it. He is, politically. Independent, voting for men and ideas instead of party, has served as Supervisor, Justice of the Peace, etc., in Muskego. Mr. and Mrs. Morris have an adopted son Albert (formerly Avery) Morris.

JOHN W. PARK, (deceased), was born June 15, 1830, in Weston, Windsor Co., Vt.; the years of his boyhood and youth were spent at school, aild in assisting his father on the farm ; about the time he attained his majority, he joined a company from his native place and went to Winona, Minn.; dissatisfied with the outlook there, he returned as far as Vernon, joining relatives here ; remained two or three years in Wisconsin, teaching a year in Dane County :he and S. B. Smith, with a party from Vernon, again left for the West ; finally locating where the city of Owatonna now stands. Park and Smith surveying and naming that town, and opened the first store in Steele County ; Mr. Park being the first Postmaster of Owatonna ; the people successively honored him with the ofiSces of County Surveyor, Commissioner, and Register of Deeds. In 1856, he revisited Wisconsin and married Miss Sarah L., daughter of John Thomas, one of Vernon's earliest and most honored pioneers. Upon the death of Mr. Thomas a year and a half later, Mr. P. and wife returned and located on the old homestead, where he made a permanent home and devoted himself to the interests of his large farm, which devotion was duly rewarded by his becoming one of the leading stock-growers and farmers in his vicinity. Mr. Park was thoroughly in love with his profession, and took a deep interest in everything that had for its object the advancement of farming interests ; for many years his face was a familiar-one at county and State fairs, where he was often an exhibitor, and often filled positions of trust and honor ; he had a large circle of acquaintances, and " every acquaintance was a friend." There was something in his genial face and hearty greeting that won all hearts to him and made them at once his friends ; to his friends his daily walk in life was an example such as challenged their admiration, and won their highest respect and love. For a few years prior to his death, he was in failing health, but was able to superintend his 430-acre farm, until July, 1879, when he was taken suddenly worse, and sank rapidly until the 8th of August, when he quietly breathed his' last. Mr. Park was in accord with the Universalist faith, though not a church member ; he left a devoted wife and six children. Living, he was an aifectionate husband and father, and a kind and honorable neighbor and friend. Looking back over his life-work, we may justly say that he left an example that his children and all who knew him may well emulate;

A. H. PIEBCEi, farmer, Sees. 27 and 22 ; P. 0. Dodge's Corners ; born in Andover, Windsor Co., Vt., May 23, 1822 ; is a son of Abial and Nancy Pierce. AbialP. was a native of New Hampshire, and his first wife dying Jan. 13, 1828, he married again Miss H. R. Manning ; the family were residents of Vermont until 1838, when they removed to Wisconsin, reaching Vernon early in August ; there were four children - Dorcas L., Dorathy D., Abial H. and Lucinda W ; the eldest married 0. B. Haseltine, and died at Black Earth, Dane Co., Wis., in March, 1874 ; the second is the widow of John Dodge, who, like Mr. Haseltine, was one of the four first settlers of Vernon ; Mr. Dodge died Aug. 29, 1859 ; Lucinda W., is the widow of Curtis Carleton, who died in August, 1855 ; both Mrs. Dodge and Mrs. Carleton are now living on the original homestead of John Dodge ; Abial Pierce bought the Pierce holnestead of the Government, improved it and died upon it Nov. 30, 1871, his widow surviving until Jan. 1, 1878. The only son, our subject, attended the first school kept in the town, by Ira S. Haseltine, and has spent his life upon the old acres. Married, Dec. 23, 1848, in Waterford, Racine Co., Wis., Miss Cordelia B., dmghter of John and Eliza Finton, she being a native of Monroe, Ashtabula Co., Ohio ; born Oct. 24 1827 ; they have four children - Frank A., J. Byron, William A. and Clement H.; the eldest is farming in Rochester, Wis., and the others are on the homestead, now well improved and containing 236 acres, devoted to fine-wool sheep and other -stock. Mr. Pierce, like all true sons of Vermont, is a Republican, and has filled many minor town ofiices.

AtLEN PORTER, farmer, Sees. 32 and 29 ; P. 0. Dodge's Corners; born in Athens, Windham Co., Vt., July 15, 1814. His younger life was spent in his native State, where he married Miss Syrena Lewis, of Chester, Vt.; a month later the young couple left for Wisconsin, spending six days on the canal fi-om Troy to Bufi"alo ; reaching Milwaukee early in June, they soon joined the family of Ira Blood, in Vernon, Mr. Porter buying 120 acres of Uncle Sam at $2.50 per acre; his first work was to dig a well 25ffeet deep, still in existence, but in disuse, then to build a house 16 feet square, which was completed in four days, so the family moved in, though blankets hung across the windows, and it was two years before it was plastered; Mr. Porter bought a yoke of cattle and by "changing works-' with his neighbor, was enabled to sow an acre and a half of wheat that fall ; as a rail-splitter, Mr. P. was second only to Lincoln, though he followed the good old custom then prevailing and purloined most of his fencing from the Government land around him. He relates that one summer, not being then able to own a wagon, and being desirous of attending meeting with his family, he attached his oxen to his sled and went, though the novel "rig" was left in the grove, out of sight of the schoolhouse; many a time has he carried a borrowed plow on his back from Caldwell's Prairie and returned it in the same way - a hard way to begin, but it met with a reward in the shape of the 280-aore farm of which 100 have been cleared and broken by him, and the tasteful and substantial farm buildicgs, and the house built during the nation's centennial. There are two children, Susan M. and RoUand L.; the daughter resides in "Waukesha, and the son is one of the firm of Davis Bros. & Porter, oil dealers in Milwaukee. Mr. Porter is a Republican, and was for years a noted breeder and dealer in fine horses^-he selling one team for |80((, often wintering 15 horses and colts ; of late he has devoted himself to steep, owning now 400, with two registered rams ; he also has a few Jersey cattle, two thoroughbreds.

GEORGE W. PORTER, farmer. Sees. 32 and 29; P. 0. Dodge's Corners; is a native of Athens, "Windham Co., Vt., bom Dec. 26, 1816 ; has been a life-long farmer ; in 1842, he left Vermont for "Wisconsin, reaching Milwaukee on the 19th of June, and then joined his brother Allen, who had settled in Vernon two years before ; Mr. Porter soon bought 40 acres of Government land, and 80 of one Roberts, the whole being as nature left it; Mr. P. turning every furrow and building every rod of fence himself. He boarded with his brother until May 13, 1845, when he married Miss Lois Yearly, a native of Dublin, N. H.; who had spent most of her life at Londonderry, Vt., ^nd who had settled at Mukwonago a year or so prior to the wedding. Mr. Porter now owns 240 acres of well-improved land, a spacious and tasteftil farm-house, well-planted grounds and substantial barns, the main one 62x34 with lean-to additions, sheep barn 24x60, hog house 24x30, etc., etc.; all placed there by the labor and good sense of the man who cut the farm from the oak openings of this town. Mr. and Mrs. Porter have four children - George Y., Abbie S., John T., and Ida L. George married Miss Rose Clark, and is one of the successful farmers of Caldwell's Priarie ; the other three are on the homestead, the youngest an invalid. Mr. P., like most ^^ermonters, is a Republican, and is not an office seeker but a successful farmer and stock-breeder. It is worthy of note that these facts were furnished and recorded on the 35th anniversary of the wedding day.

AHOS PUTNAM, sawyer. Big Bend ; born April 15, 1808, in Andover, Vt,, where he lived until the day Van Buren was inaugurated President, when he left for the new, wild We.st ; reaching Vernon during the same spring (1837), he made a claim, which he sold in 1840, and, during 1840, he and his brother, Aaron, dug the ditches which, by draining springs, formed the pond or reservoir, perhaps forty rods north of the banks of Fox River ; the water was conducted in a race to the bank of the said river, and, on reaching the huge wheel of the old saw-mill built there by them at this time, was found to have a direct fall of eighteen feet; the mill was set in motion in April, 1841, and here Mr. P. was inbusiness until 1868, when he sold out. He married, in 1843, Miss Frances Otis, a native of "Washington Co., N. Y., who died in 1858 ; married again Mrs. Margaret Hatchings, a daughter of Samuel Jones, of Peekskill, N. Y. ; her former husband, P. G. Hutchings, died in 1853, leaving her three children - William, Samuel and Mary (Mrs. Thomas Howie). Mr. Putnam has a pleasant home in the village, and owns 8*7 acres on Sec. 25, in "vemon ; is a radical Greenbacker, of Republican antecedents ; the old mill was torn down in 1855, and replaced by one which burned in 1875, the present mill being built that year. Mr. P. says that 1837 was so cold that sap ran from the giant maples around him until the 10th of May, and that boats did not leave Bufialo until the 4th of June.

PRUCIUS PUTNAM, farmer. Sec. 34 ; P. 0. Dodge's Corners ; was born Sept. 24, 1813, in Andover, Vt. ; his early life was spent as a farmer in the Green Mountain State ; in the fall of 1836, in company with nine others from Andover, he left for the wilds of Wisconsin ; John Dodge, the Haseltine brothers and himself left Chicago with a team, reaching Vernon Nov. 1, 1836 ; these were the four first actual settlers of the town, and each made a claim on Sees. 27 and 34 ; they also built the first white man's house that fall, which stood, 15x16 feet in size, a few rods south of the present schoolhouse at Dodge's Corners ; their provisions that fall were brought from Chicago, pork at $28 per barrel, and flour at $10 ; they" did some frontier work here, and on the 9th of January, 1838, Dodge and Putnam left for Chicao;o, and, on their return in the spring, each settled upon his own claim ; they were soon joined by others whose names figure in the history of Vernon. On the 1st of January, 1838, Mr. Putnam married Miss Emmehne B., daughter of Col. Orien Haseltine, it being the first wedding in Town of Vernon, though Curtis W. Haseltine married Merial, daughter of John Thomas, in the evening of the same day. Mr. P. raised buckwheat and turnips for his first crop, corn, wheat and oats failing on account of the unprecedented cold season of 1838 ; he now has 365 acres, with buildings in striking contrast to those existing when Indians were his neighbors, and Indian trails his roads. A stanch Republican, he has been in various town offices ; he also had the honor to open the first store in his town, in 1846. There are four living children by this historic marriage - P. W., B. B., W. T. and L. L. Mr. Putnam relates that when the four were en route for Vernon, in October, 1836, they did not see a house from fifteen miles north of Chicago, to Burlington, Wis., where a settler, named Smith, had a, shaker-roofed shanty built ; in January, while lie and Dodge were returning to Chicago, they lunched at Levi Godfrey's, who was then the only man at what is now Rochester, Wis. ; cold biscuit, washed down with colder water, then a fifteen-mile tramp to Ives' G-rove, through a blinding snow-storm, Mr. P. suflFering untold misery from an attack of found a sick family, with only a girl able to get supper for them, and to wait on the sick ; the supper consisted of a kettle of hot mush, with milk ; this was quickly hidden by the hungry men, and more called for, when the girl set out a huge plate of cold mush, which was also disposed of; Mr. P. declares that Dodge ate more than half, and that he ftiUy expected a funeral, but both reached Chicago safely.

DAVID RE A, farmer. Sec. 2 ; P. 0. Waukesha ; born and educated in County Tyrone, Ireland ; born Aug. 26, 1815 ; emigrated to America in 1832, and spent four years in Toronto, Canada ; in the fall of 1836, he visited Milwaukee and Prairieville, and a few days later went to Illinois ; one winter was spent near Natchez, Miss.; in 1839, he bought 104 acres of his present farm ; after this, he spent some time in Central Illinois, voting, in Joliet, for Harrison, after the log-cabin and hard-cider campaign of 1840 ; fever and ague finally drove him to Wisconsin as a permanent settler, he reaching Vernon on the 1 st of January, 1841 ; building a log house, he " bached it" here for a number of. years; returning one night, he unlocked his cabin and found an Indian fast asleep beside a roaring fire ; seizing the Indian's gun, he covered him with it and awoke him; the "Injun" was scared and at once left; after getting his blanket out of the "oxen's wigwam ; " this dusky savage must have climbed down the wide chimney, as every window and door was fastened securely, and found as it was left. Mr. Ilea now has over 300 acres, with good house and capacious barns. He married Mrs. Sarah Begg, widow of William'Begg, by whom he had four children - John, DaVid, Sarah (deceased) and Martha (deceased). He is a Democrat, and a man who has earned every dollar of his property himself; he relates that in an early day he was offered 16 acres of land and the Bethesda Spring for a farm wagon.

H. F. SARGE AlVT, farmer, Sees. 28 and 29 ; P. 0. Dodge's Corners ; 'was born Sept. 5, 1840, on the homestead in Vernon ; son of Otis T. and Nancy P. Sargeant, both natives and residents of Chester, Vt., who settled in Veriion early in 1840 ; 0. T. Sargeant bought 80 acres of Government land, and built that summer the first frame house in the town, the oaken timbers 6x8 inches, with the shaker roof, enabling it to stand four-square to-day ; here H. F. spent his boyhood, often waking to find six inches of snow, over him, which had drifted through the warped oaken sides of the house ; ox teams took them "to mill and to meeting," a-nd once when his father crossed Fox River with a load of logs chained to his ox-sled, the ice gave way, and the load sank like lead ; twice did this hardy old frontiersman dive to the bottom of the icy water ere he could unloose the chain and free the logs ; his clothing, of course, froze stiff at once, but he reached home and a welcome fire in safety. His son attended the pioneer school, taught by Mrs. Ira Blood and others, one term, in a barn where horses and cattle occupied the basement. He married Miss Irene C, daughter of Warren Greeley, of Caldwell's Prairie, in 1867, by whom he has two children - Lester N. and Roy ; is a live young farmer of his native town, as may be seen by his management of the 225-acre homestead, setting out shade and ornamental trees, rebuilding the barns, etc.; he is a Republican. The old couple are now residents of Mukwonago, while the old house is kept as a memento of old times, with its huge mud-and-stone chimney, odd fire-place, etc.

JESSE SMITH, farmer. Sec. 33; P. 0. Dodge's Corners; born in Andover, Windsor Co., Vt., July 31, 1804 ; he grew to manhood there and married, Jan. 18, 1828, Miss oylvia Barton, who was born July 22, 1805, in Andover; in the spring of 1837, Mr. Smith, with the brothers Aaron and Amos Putnam, Col. Orien Haseltine and John Thomas, came to Vernon, Mr. S. buying his present farm of Calvin Gault ; this claim lay in the beautiful oak openings in the south part of the town ; Indians were encamped in sight of his log house, finished by Mr. Gault, and occupied by him on the arrival of Mr. Smith's wife and family that fall ; the next year, Mr. Smith built the first frame barn in the town, and in 1842, a frame house where he used to lodge many a weary traveler over the then new road ; this burned down five years later, and was replaced by a very large two-and-a-half-story stone house, well remembered by the teamsters and farmers of "plank-road days;" the generous old dining-room, fifty feet in length, was often crowded, and it was not unusual for him to lodge 100 persons over night; and for a month or more, each fall, to average twenty-five or thirty teams per night was not strange when we consider that from 300 to 400 teams per day passed here, many from the lead mines of Southwest Wisconsin ; it was a oommoa thing for men to order breakfast at 4 in the morning, and to find men waiting to occupy their stalls with tired teams ; the noted spring, situated on the hill back of the house was furnished with wooden piping in 1842, and has since supplied his house and barns with water for all purposes, and refreshed many a "wayfaring man" and team. No better representative of the good old Vermont stock can be found in the West than is found in " Uncle Jesse iSmith,'' known as the genial old landlord, all over Southern Wisconsin. He now has a 350-aore homestead, on which are over 400 grade merinos, with other stock. Mr. Smith is a steadfast Republican ; was one of the first Town Board of Vernon, Chairman of the town twelve or more years, and represented his district in the Legislature of 1854, 1866 and 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have five living children - Samuel B., Carlos P., Horace W., Loneann (Mrs. J. N. Crawford) and Josephine (Mrs. M. L. Davis) ; they have lost three daughters; S. B. owns a large farm in Vernon, and an interest in the Waterford flouring-mill ; C. P. is also one of Vernon's substantial farmers, whOe H. W. succeeds as well on Caldwell's Prairie.

J. H. STICKNE Y, farmer. Sees. 23, 14 and 22 ; P. O. Big Bend ; born in Andover, Vt., 1811, resided there until he was 22, when he went to Troy, N. Y., and after a year, to Boston, where he spent three ; returning to Andover, he remained a short time, and reached Vernon on the 18th of August, 1838 ; a carpenter by trade, he worked at building log houses and barns for the settlers. Married in 1840, Miss E. A., daughter of Col. Orien Haseltine, and settled on 240 acres of his present farm ; on this the Indians had formerly a cornfield, the stalks and cobs being still visible. None of the pioneers of Vernon have done better than he, as he is now the large.9t land owner in it, having 620 acres, and on it more and better timber than any man in the county ; his maple grove is simply grand; the yield of 1,000 pounds of sugar per annum, adding to its attractions; in these woods in an early day, Mr. S had many an exciting, and sometimes dangerous adventure with the half-wild hogs, and wilder wolves and lynxes. He is a Republican, and was the third Treasurer ot Vernon. In 1847, he removed to Dodge Co., W^., and remained until 1852. Mr. and Mrs. S. have nine living children - Warren, Annie, Alice, Rollin, Volney, Emily, Perris, Elva and Ida ; also an adopted son, George. To these children, Mr. S. has given over much of the care involved in managing the estate.

EDWIW B.THOMAS, farmer. Sees. 34, 35 and 25; P. 0. Dodge's Corners ; is a son of John and Merial Thomas ; his father was born at Hopkinton, N. H., April 6, 1806, and was both a farmer and carpenter ; in company with Col. Orien Haseltine, he visited Vernon, in February, 1837, and made a claim among the openings of Vernon on Sec. 26 ; with his wife and six children he settled here in October, 1837, the family spending the winter with 0. B. Haseltine ; in t'ae spring of 1838, Mr. Thomas built a peculiar log house, hewing the logs and inserting them in sills palisade fashion ; the old landmark still stands, and was the family home until the death of Mr. Thomas, in August, 1857. He was a man of spotless integrity, and whose place as one of nature's noblemen was hard to fill ; many missed the inspiring example of this gentleman, as he was a man of wealth, brains and character ; his estate of 1800 acres, w^ shared by his sons-inlaw, S. B. Smith and J. W.Park, and his only son, Edwin B., the subject of this imperfect sketch ; he was born Aug. 22, 1826, in Andover, Vt. ; was educated in the pioneer schools of Vernon, and in the old Waukesha Academy, under tuition of Prof. Bleazer Root, one of the founders of Wisconsin's present school system ; after leaving school he taught a number of terms in his own and adjoining towns. He took his 560 acres almost as it was left by nature's hand, and has made of it one of the most beautiful homes in the Northwest ; in this, he has been ably seconded by his wife, who was Miss Cornelia, daughter of Gains Mun- 'ger, a pioneer of 1837 ; she was born in New Durham, La Porte Co., Ind., and married Mr. T., May 3, 1854. A description of the place is difiioult to write, but we may say that Mr. T. began by setting appletrees and Delaware grapevines years ago, and that his gxounds, now comprising 15 acres, are laid out in the most tasteful manner, and planted with the best known fruit and oranmental trees, while his vineyard produces from four to five tons of grapes per annum, he making a specialty of the Delaware, Rodgers No. 4 and 15, the Salem No. 53 ; is now testing others including 1,000 Dutchess. Mr. Thomas is also one of the owners of the Waterford Mills, and was an active party in the famous mill-dam lawsuit years ago. Is independent in politics, favoring the Greenback ; was well known as Town Superintendent of schools under the old system, and is a man warmly in favor of the cause of education, giving his children the best of advantages. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have seven children - John W., M. Isadore, Arthur E., Clarence G., Wesley M., Colby N. and Albert A.

JOHN VAIV BURE1V, farmer, Sees. 9, 16 and 6 ; P. 0. Vernon; born Jan. 14, 1836, in Otseo-o Co., N. Y.; his parents, Peter and Isabella (Sharp) Van Buren, settled in Vernon in 1844 ; here he attended school, living with his parents until the spring of 1866, when he settled on his present farm of 152J acfes ; he farmed this two years in partnership with Abram Sharp ; the farm was then covered with stumps of the forest trees, which were its first crop, and with countless boulders and stones ; the buildings were small and poor; to-day a 36x60 and an 18x38 bam, with a large, well appointed farm-house, and the smooth, handsome fields tell the story of fourteen well-spent years, which have made John Van Buren one of Vernon's most respected farmers. He married Miss Sarah A. Carmichael, who died in 1873, leaving two sons - Edgar and John ; by the present wife, formerly Anna Platz, he has a son, Peter W. Mr. Van- Buren is a Democrat and is now serving his second term as Supervisor ; he has seventy crossed merino and Cotswold sheep.

PETER VAN BUREIV, proprietor of the Vernon Mills, was born Oct. 29, 1808, in Schenec tady Co., N. Y.; he is the son of Henry and Dorathy (Hollenbeck) Van Buren ; the family is of the old Holland stock ; Mr. Van Buren lost his father when a child and hismother at 17 years of age ; thrown thus upon the world, he for years, when it was most needed, did not know the blessings of a home. He married in Albany Co., N. Y., Miss Isabella, daughter of John and Catherine Sharp ; she was born in Guilderland, Albany Co., and resided there until married in March, 1835 ; in 1844, they came to Wisconsin, Mr. Van Buren buying the farm on Sec. 9, where his youngest son now lives ; the giant trees with which it was then covered, were cut by Mr. Van Buren, i oiled up and burned in log heaps, he then doing the work which told upon his tough and hardy constitution ; he has steadily prospered, however, and made a competence ; after leaving his farm he spent a short time in Vernon Valley, then removed to a farm now occupied by Hy Groute, where he lived nine years ; the mill fell into his hands through the failure of its former owner ; this mill has been completely overhauled and repaired by him, and is now for sale at the most liberal terms, as Mr. Van Buren does not want the care it entails upon him. He is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Van Buren are a hale and hearty old couple and a type of the energetic and successful New Yorkers, who have made Wisconsin what it is ; they have three children all settled near them ; John and Catherine were born in " York State," while Henry is a Badger by birth, John married Miss Sarah Carmichael who died leaving him two sons ; his present wife, formerly Anna Platts, has a son; Catherine is a soldier's widow, her husband, John Howile, having laid down his life on the altar of his country, leaving an honorable and brave record to his two children ; Henry married Miss Isabella Carmichael, by whom he has two children, having lost his eldest.

A. C. VAlVDERPOOIi, farmer. Sec. 17 ; P. 0. Mukwonago ; born Nov. 10, 1836, in Albany Co., N. Y.; son of Charles and Lavina, who were also natives of York State ; the family is of the old Knickerbocker stock, and were early settlers in the Van Rensselaer claim, or part. of the famous Holland Purchase ; the grandsire of Mr. Vanderpool, born there, is now in his 98th year ; A. C. was educated in the old Dutch town of Schenectady, where all his younger life was spent ; in February, 1853, his father bought the homestead in Vernon, and when spring opened the son came out ; he stopped two months with his uncle, William A. Vanderpool, and put in the first crop of wheat ; all the buildings then were a log cabin and an 18x24 barn ; the result of twenty-seven years of intelligent labor and management are now manifest in the handsome and roomy farmhouse and the barns, the old one having been enlarged and one built in 1870, 36x60 with basement, and still not satisfied, he is building a 24x84-foot sheep barn, the farm now consisting of 206 acres of the best land, 30 of timber and 10 of marsh. Mr. Vanderpool married March 21, 1861, Miss Annie Shaw, a native of Groton, Tompkins Co., N. Y.; they have three children - Ada, Charles E., and Vinnie. Mr. Vanderpool is a stanch Democrat and Greenbacker. The old couple are still with him on the farm His flock of nearly 200 fine-wool sheep, were bred from that of A. B. Perkins, Mukwonago.

GEORGE J. VAN DERPOOL,, farmer. Sec. 19 ; P. 0. Mukwonago ; born in Albany Co., N. Y., 1831, son of William and Lanna (Van Benscotenj Van Derpool ; as may be seen by the prefix of the name, the family are of Dutch descent, the grandsire of Mr. V. on his father's side, coming from Holland. His father, a shoemaker, was compelled to give up business on account of loss of eyesight ; in 1847, the family settled in the woods, on Sec. 18, Vernon, living in a rude plank house, with the care of a blind father on their hands ; there were six children, and, says Mr. Van Derpool, the first winter the Lord was on our side, they were fortunate enough to sell thirty cords of wood in the tree at a dollar a cord the buyer cutting it. George J. and a brother spent this winter at the new, hard work of chopping, he cutting many a cord at 25 cents ; to-day, after several removals, Mr. V. has 88 acres of as fine land as the sun shines on, he clearing most of it hlmsejf, and replacing the old frame house bought with the land, by an elegant modern residence, built 1879 ; he, prior to this, had built a 30x40 barn, and during the Centennial, celebrated by adding twenty-five feet to its length, and putting the whole on a basement wall. He married in 1855, Miss Catherine, daughter of Garrett and Debora (Cornick) Van Buren, who were related to ex-President Martin Van Buren ; she was born in Guilderland Albany Co., N. Y. ; they have five children - Byron V., Leslie, Linden, Lillie M. and George ; in 1870, they lost a ten-year-old son. Mr. Van Derpool enlisted Aug. 15, 1862, in the 28th W. V. I.; the regiment fought and worsted the guerilla Price at Helena, and remained in Arkansas until February, 1865, when they were sent to Mobile, and did heroic service in the reduction of the forts there, being for thirteen days and nights under a heavy fire ; Mobile urrendered and rebeldom collapsed, the brave boys being then transferred to Texas, where they were mustered out in August, 1865. Mr. V. is a Republican, and has been Supervisor, etc.

HARMON WARFIELD, farmer. Sec. 17 ; P. 0. Vernon ; born in Vernon, Waukesha Co., Wig , 1846 ; son of Nathan Warfield, who was from New York. He married Lucy Young, who was born in Connecticut, and, in 1843, settled in Vernon ; was a cooper by trade, and settled on 40 acres, now part of A. C. Vanderpooi's farm ; Harmon was born here; in 1864, the family located on the present farm of 11 2 J acres, it being then in a rough, half-cultivated condition; the house was built by W. A. Vanderpool, but the barns, one 26x31 and another 21x63, were built by the Warfields. He married Miss Mary, daughter of John Sprague, one of the old residents of Mukwonago. The father of Mr. W. died May 11, 1872 ; his mother is now living in Monroe, Wis. Father and son were Repubhcans. Mr. Warfield is a most sucessful breeder of fine-wool sheep, his flock of over 100 being bred from those of A. E. Perkins, J. N. Crawford, J. H. Paul, Capt. Lawrence and A. C. Whitmore; the average weight of wool grown by eax;h of these 100 sheep during the eleven months ending May 20, is a trifle over eight pounds ; Jlr. W. also owns the 6-year-old stallion " Farmer's Glory," bred by Martin Pollard ; the dam of said horse was a Farmer's Glory, and the sire a Percheron ; he is 16J hands high, weighs 1,450, and is, in all respects, a first-class horse.

AL.MON WELCH, farmer, Sees. 8, 9 and 5 ; P. 0. Waukesha ; born in Stafi^ord, Conn., March 15, 1817 ; his mother, formerly Abi Cushman, died when he was an infant, his father soon after removing to Homer, N. Y. ; his younger life was spent here and in Tompkins Co., N. Y. ; in company with Asa A. Flint and his relatives, he left Cortland village with a team, and reached Oak Creek, Wis., July 9, 1837 ; Mr. F. remained here while Mr. W. took an Indian trail leading to (3ak Orchard, where Isaac Flint, a brother of Asa, had settled ; on the east side of Muskego Lake, Mr. W. came upon a large camp of Indians, and says he was nervo,us, but put on a bold face and stalked through the camp without looking to the right or left ; in due time, he found Flint, N. K. Smith, C. W. Haseltine and other settlers at Oak Orchard^ who soon brought out Asa A. ; a bitter feud existed in this naturally lovely locality at this time, on account of disputed claims, C. V«'. Haseltine carrying a pocketful of red pepper to dust the eyes of Isaac Flint, while the latter carried a pistol, and swore he would shoot Haseltine on sight ; a similar " unlovely " feeling prevailed between N. K. Smith and L. Whipple ; the first Sunday dinner eaten by Mr. Welch was when visiting Henry Vail, a bachelor, who carried a pan of flour half a mile to a creek, wet and mixed it, returned and baked it, fried some bacon, and "got dinner ;" Jlr. W. says the happie