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    WILLIAM JENKINS WAGGONER is one of the sterling pioneer citizens of Richland county and one of the most prominent and progressive business men of the village of Viola. He has been conspicuously concerned in many enterprises and undertakings which have made for the advancement and wellbeing of the community and has held as his own the unqualified respect and confidence of his fellow men. Mr. Waggoner was born in East Springfield, Jefferson county, O., Oct. 7, 1839, and is a son of Caleb and Nancy (Jenkins) Waggoner, native of Jefferson county, O., where the former was born Sept. 18, 1813, and the latter Jan. 22, 1814. Their marriage was solemnized in that county, Feb. 9, 1837. They became the parents of thirteen children, of whom only four attained to years of maturity,--William J., James H., Edwin B., and Joseph M. Mrs. Nancy (Jenkins) Waggoner was the daughter of Solomon and Sarah (Jackson) Jenkins, who were born in Virginia and located on land near Salem, Jefferson county, O., where they lived and died. They reared a family of seven children. Caleb Waggoner was a son of William and Sarah, (Jackson) Waggoner. William Waggoner was born in Cecil county, Md., near the Pennsylvania line, July 1, 1776. From the early records of the state of Pennsylvania it is essentially certain that ancestors of the Waggoner family were numbered among the first German Immigrants who came from the Palatinate and settled in the province of Pennsylvania in 1727. William Waggoner's mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Weir was born in Ireland and came to America when a child. She was left a widow, with five children, early in life. William Waggoner was married in 1804 and in the following year he removed with his young wife to the wilds of eastern Ohio, which state was admitted to the Union in that year. He became one of the early settlers of Jefferson county, where he took up government land developing the same and passing the remainder of his life on the homestead, the property being now owned by his grandson and namesake. He died I 1854. His wife was born in Maryland, Oct. 6, 1785, and her death occurred in 1830. She was a daughter of Alexander Jackson, son of Thomas, who was a son of William, who came from England to America and settled in the midst of the native forests of Maryland, his grant of land, from the English authorities, bearing date of Apr. 17, 1737. Caleb Waggoner, father of the subject of this sketch, came with his family to Wisconsin in 1854, arriving in Richland Center on July 2. The family was the eighth one to establish a home in the little village which is now the thriving county-seat. Caleb was zealous in developing the industrial, civic, social and religious interests of the county and was a citizen of prominence and influence in the pioneer community. He was a wagon-maker by trade but after coming to Richland county he established himself in a general merchandise business in Richland Center, building up a large and prosperous trade and continuing in this line of enterprise for many years. He also dealt somewhat extensively in real estate. In politics he was originally an old-line Whig, espousing the cause of the Republican party at the time of its organization. He held various town and school offices and to him was accorded the highest of esteem in the community to whose upbuilding he contributed in so large measure. He died Oct. 16, 1883, while attending a family reunion in Ohio, and his wife passed her declining days in the home of the subject of this sketch, at Viola, where she died Mar. 7, 1892. Both were devoted members of the Presbyterian church and were numbered among the founders of this church in Richland Center. William Jenkins Waggoner, the immediate subject of this resume, was educated in the common schools of Jefferson county, O., and Richland Center, Wis., having been fourteen years of age at the time of the family removal to Richland county. He made good use of his scholastic advantages and at the age of eighteen years began teaching in the district schools of Richland county, meeting with marked success in the pedagogic work, in which he continued until 1861, when he enlisted as a musician in the band of the Sixth Regiment of Wisconsin volunteer infantry, with which he served nine months, when the regimental band was mustered out. Mr. Waggoner then returned to his home in Richland Center, where he was associated in the publication of the Richland County Observer, a Republican weekly paper, for eighteen months, at the expiration of which he turned his attention to the general merchandise business, in which he continued at Richland Center until 1875, when he took up his residence in the village of Viola, here establishing a general store the following year and having since been identified with the business interests of the village as one of its popular and leading merchants. For a number of years he also had extensive farming interests in Forest township and owned the grist-mill at Viola, disposing of these interests in 1900. No citizen has been more loyal and public-spirited and his influence and tangible aid have been given in support of all worthy measures advanced for the general good. He was a stockholder in the Pine River Valley Railroad, the Richland County Agricultural Society, the Viola Agricultural and Trotting Park Association, the Viola Warehouse Company, the Viola Creamery Company and the state bank of Viola, having served in an official capacity in all but the first and last mentioned. In his political allegiance, Mr. Waggoner is a stanch Republican, and he served two years as chairman of the town board of Forest and for a number of years as justice of the peace. From 1872 to 1876 he served with marked efficiency as county superintendent of schools. He has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since June, 1869, being affiliated with Viola Lodge, No. 182, and being a charter member of Mount Nebo Rebekah degree lodge, which was instituted Oct. 5, 1889. He is also a charger member of Jerry Turner Post, No. 85, Grand Army of the Republic, of which he is commander in 1906, the post having been organized May 24, 1883. He is also affiliated with the Free and Accepted Masons, having been initiated in Rockton Lodge, Aug. 10, 1878, and being now a member of Viola Lodge, No. 257. While he was never formally united with any church he was reared in the Presbyterian faith and has ever retained the greatest reverence for the spiritual verities of the Christian religion and he has served thirty years as a member of the board of trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church in Viola. In a reminiscent way Mr. Waggoner states that in July, 1854, shortly after the family took up their residence in Richland Center, he mowed a path through the hazel brush from the corner where now stands the Union block to the new home of the family, on the Bailey corner, in the very center of the present thriving little city. In March, 1864, Mr. Waggoner was united in marriage to Miss Alice S. Turner, who was born in Niagara county, N.Y., May 23, 1845, being a daughter of Capt. Hartwell L. and Sophia (Drake) Turner who came to Richland county and located at Viola, in the town of Forest, in September, 1854. Here Captain Turner erected a saw- and grist-mill, operating the same for some time and then removing to Green Bay, where he was engaged in shipbuilding. He passed the last days of his life in Viola, where both he and his wife died in the year 1890. Alice S. (Turner) Waggoner was summoned to the life eternal Aug. 27, 1880, and of the five children of this union the following data are given: Earl L., who was born at Richland Center, Oct. 18, 1865, died August 23 of the following year; Alice Lillian, who was born Jan. 13, 1867, is the wife of Dr. John W. Burns, who is a successful physician and surgeon, engaged in practice at Marshfield, this state; Rose B., who was born July 7, 1869, and who had charge of her father's mercantile business for a number of years, was graduated in the Chicago Musical College and is now teaching music in Los Angeles, Cal.; George W., who was born Nov. 5, 1870, was graduated in the Viola high school and is now engaged in the mercantile and real-estate business in Los Angeles, Cal.; Rena M., who was born May 10, 1877, is likewise a resident of Los Angeles. All of the children except the last named were born in Richland Center. Nov. 14, 1883, Mr. Waggoner contracted a second marriage, being united to Mrs. Mary E. Scott, who was born in Richmond, O., and they have one child, Lizzie Grace, who was born May 13, 1886.
    DIGHTON C. WAIT is one of the estimable citizens of Richland Center who is living a comparatively retired life after years devoted assiduously to that greatest of all occupations, the basic industry of agriculture. He is a product of Richland county, having been born in the town of Sylvan on Feb. 25, 1861, and his parents are Lorenzo and Rachel (Townsend) Wait, both of whom are natives of Ohio, and who now reside in the town of Orion. The father came to Wisconsin in an early day and settled in the town of Sylva, and farming has always been his occupation. He was born in 1832, and his good wife, the mother of the subject of this review, was born in 1836. D. C. Wait is one of seven children born to these honored parents: Helen married Jerome Cross and resides at Boaz; D. C. is he whose name introduces this review; Ione married William Jones and resides in Kimball, S.D.; Nora married Albert Monell and resides in Sioux City, Ia.; Levi is a resident of Armour, S.D.; Charles superintends his father's farm in the town of Orion; and Nellie married Eugene Wallace. D. C. Wait was reared and educated in Richland county, and as a boy assisted his father on the farm. At the early age of twenty years he began his independent career by engaging in farming in the town of Eagle, and he followed that useful and honorable occupation there for twenty-three years, until 1903, when he removed to Richland Center, the place where he has since resided, still retaining the ownership of his farm, which is operated by a tenant. He was married Dec. 25, 1879, to Miss Susan Gunnell, who was born in Platteville, Grant county, the daughter of Thomas and Ann (Baird) Gunnell, the former a native of England and the latter of Ireland. The father came to Wisconsin, Feb. 15, 1856, and in the May following moved his family to the town of Eagle, in Richland county, where his widow still resides. Thomas Gunnell enlisted, on Feb. 26, 1864, in Company B of the Thirty-sixth Wisconsin volunteer infantry and served with that command until Aug. 14, 1864, when he was killed in the battle of Deep Bottom, Va., being hit by a musket ball. The mother was then left alone with her little family of three children of whom the present Mrs. Wait was the eldest, she being eight years of age at the time. Her sister, Elizabeth, married George Sharp in 1878, but died three years later, in December, 1881; and her brother, John L., who was the youngest of the family, resides in the town of Eagle. Upon thus being left alone, Mrs. Gunnell assumed the sole management of her farm and the care of her children, and has had the satisfaction of living to see them grow to manhood and womanhood, becoming highly respected citizens in the community in which they lived. Mr. and Mrs. Wait are the parents of three children: Thomas L., who resides in the town of Eagle; Herbert C. resides at home with his parents in Richland Center; Odessa is a student in the Richland Center schools. Fraternally, Mr. Wait is a member of the Modern Woodmen of American and the Mystic Workers, and in politics he has always given an unswerving allegiance to the principles of the Democratic party.
    HARLOW O. WALKER is numbered among the successful farmers and popular citizens of Sylvan township, where he has a well improved farm of eighty acres. His career has been a somewhat eventful one in the matter of his having had varied places of residence and varied occupations, and he has gained independence and infinite prosperity through his own efforts. Mr. Walker was born in Broome county, N. Y., Nov. 3, 1848, being a son of James K. and Anner (Austin) Walker, the former of whom died when the subject of this sketch was a mere infant, having been killed by a shark, in South American waters, while en route to California during the memorable gold excitement of 1849. He started to make the trip by way of Cape Horn, stopping at San Juan, in the vicinity of which place he met his tragic death. As soon as his widow learned of his death she started for Wisconsin, making the trip by canal from Syracuse to Buffalo, N. Y., and thence by the Great Lakes to her destination. In 1852 she located in Rock county, Wis.; and there she united in marriage to Leman Ford. Mr. Ford came to Richland county and secured forty acres of government land, in Sylvan township. He then started on the return trip to Rock county and the stage in which he was riding was overturned, so seriously injuring him that he died with a short time. After the death of her second husband, Mrs. Walker came with her children to the pioneer farm secured by Mr. Ford, remaining on the place about three years, within which time she contracted a third marriage, becoming the wife of Stephen March, who died about thirty years ago. She survived him by several years. Of the first marriage were born four children, two of whom died in infancy and one of whom met his death while serving as a soldier in the Civil War. Thus the subject of this review is the only survivor, except on half-brother, a son of the second marriage. Mr. Walker received a fair common-school education, having been reared principally on the farm, and he remained with his mother until he had attained to the age of twenty-four years, when he married. Thereafter he moved about to a very considerable extent, working principally at the carpenter's trade. In 1876 he removed with his family to Kansas, where he remained about three years, at the expiration of which he returned to Richland county, where he made his home until 1892, when he went to Minnesota, from which state he returned to Richland county in 1894, purchasing a farm of forty acres, in Sylvan township, where he now resides, having since added another forty acres and thus having a good farm of eighty acres on which he has made many improvements. Mr. Walker has been successful as a general farmer and for the past two years he has also devoted considerable attention to view-photography about this section. He has recently built a car, which he has equipped with modern photographic apparatus and facilities, and he will expand the scope of his enterprise in this line, having found this business profitable and enjoyable. He is held in high esteem in the community, is a Prohibitionist in his political allegiance and he served seven years as township clerk. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he and his family are members of the Christian church. In 1873 Mr. Walker was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jones, who was born in Meigs county, O., Sept. 10, 1854, being a daughter of the late Richard Jones, who came to Richland county, Wis., in 1869, both he and his wife passing the remainder of their lives in this state. To Mr. and Mrs. Walker were born six children, all of whom are living except one. Otto is engaged in farming in Sylvan township; Myrtle is the wife of John Slaback, of the same township; Elizabeth is the wife of Lee Cook, of this township; Clarence is associated with his father in the work of the home farm; Clara, twin of Clarence, died at the age of seven years; and Hazel remains at the parental home.
    THOMAS C. WALLACE, who is an honored citizen and substantial farmer of Richland township, was born on the Isle of Man, in the Irish sea, Apr. 19, 1838, being a son of John and Annie (Cavanagh) Wallace, both native of Ireland. They embarked for America in 1838, and the vessel on which they originally took passage was wrecked and went ashore on the Isle of Man, where the subject of this sketch was shortly afterward born. The parents came to the United States a few weeks after his birth and settled in New York City, removing to Pennsylvania two years later. In 1855 they came to Richland county, Wis., and settled in Marshall township, where the father secured 200 acres of land, the greater portion being covered with heavy timber, and here he reclaimed a good farm, remaining on the old homestead until his death, as did also his wife. They became the parents of seven children, of whom only two are living, the subject of this sketch being the elder. Patrick is a resident of Richland Center, this county. In Pennsylvania John Wallace had been a coal miner and a mining contractor, and he was very successful in his operations, as was he later as a farmer in Wisconsin. In politics he was a Democrat and both he and his wife were devoted communicants of the Catholic church. Thomas C. Wallace was reared on the home farm and was afforded the advantages of the common schools. He remained at the parental home until he felt constrained to obey the call to go forth in defense of the Union, whose integrity was menaced by armed rebellion. In 1862 he enlisted as a member of Company G, Twenty-seventh Wisconsin volunteer infantry, with which he served until the close of the war, taking part in the battle of Columbus, the siege of Vicksburg and the engagements at Jackson and Little Rock. He made a record for faithful and gallant service and by virtue of the same he is included in the roster of that noble organization the Grand Army of the Republic. After the close of the war Mr. Wallace returned to Richland county, and for the ensuing thirteen years he gave his attention principally to work on steamboats plying the Wisconsin river. He then engaged in farming, having bought and sold numerous properties in Richland county and still owning a considerable tract of land in Richwood township. He maintains a general supervision of his farm property but is living practically retired. In politics he accords allegiance to the Republican party, and he has served as constable and also held the office of deputy sheriff for a number of years. As a young man Mr. Wallace married Miss Mary McCalley, who was born in Rockbridge township, this county, where her father, Alexander McCalley, was an early settler. Of this union were born two children,-William and Susan, the latter of whom is deceased. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Wallace wedded Miss Ida Morgan, of Richwood township, and they have one son, Thomas, who remains at the parental home.
    DAVID N. WALLER a prominent and successful farmer of Sylvan township is one of the sterling citizens whom the Buckeye State has given to Richland county. He was born and reared in Monroe county, O., the date of his nativity having been Mar. 26, 1845. He is a son of George and Sarah (Johnson) Waller, whose marriage was solemnized Mar. 8, 1838. The father was born in Greens county, Pa., Sept. 4, 1812, and the mother was born in Monroe county, O., Mar. 25, 1819. When he was about four years of age the parents of George W. Waller removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio, numbering themselves among the pioneers of Monroe county. He assisted in reclaiming a farm in the midst of the forest, and his educational advantages were those afforded in the primitive log school house, with its puncheon floors, slab benches, yawning fireplace and windows of oiled paper in lieu of glass. He continued his residence in Ohio until 1863, having become the owner of 200 acres of land in Monroe county and having brought about one-half of the tract under cultivation. In the year mentioned he disposed of his holding in Ohio and came to Wisconsin, making Richland county his destination. In April of that year he bought 360 acres, of which about fifty acres had been cleared, the remainder being covered with heavy timber. He cleared about fifty acres more, erected good buildings, and continued to reside on this farm, in Sylvan township, until 1882, when he sold the property and passed a few months at Mill Creek, Akan township, then purchasing a farm in Eagle township, where he passed the remainder of his life, honored by all who knew him. His wife survived him by about two years. Concerning their seven children the following data are given: Rachel, born June 1, 1839, is now deceased, as is also Sarah, born July 30, 1841; Mary, born Apr. 17, 1843, is the wife of Henderson Hillsbury, a representative farmer of this county; the subject of this review was the next in order of birth; Deborah Ann, born Apr. 11, 1847, is the wife of Nathan Higenbotham and they reside at Sabin, this county; Elizabeth, born Oct. 18, 1849, and Susanna, born Sept. 5, 1851, are both residents of Richland county. David N. Waller was a youth of eighteen years at the time of accompanying his parents on their removal form Ohio to Richland county, and he ably assisted his father in the reclamation and cultivation of the home farm. He finally learned the carpenter's trade, and at the age of twenty-six years he initiated his independent career, following his trade until his marriage, in 1876, when he purchased 160 acres of his present homestead, erecting good buildings and subsequently buying an additional sixty acres, so that he now has a fine estate of 220 acres. He cleared a considerable portion of the land and has made the best of improvements on the farm, which is recognized as one of the fine places of the county. Three springs of excellent water are found on the farm, and from one of the same the water is piped to the well house, eighty rods distant, thence to the spring-house and finally to the trough utilized for watering the farm stock, then running off the surplus into the main drainage ditch of the farm. Mr. Waller is agent for a patent gate, and has marked mechanical ability and ingenuity. From his woodhouse, which will hold four cords of stove wood, he has equipped a track and car by which the wood is transported to a self-feeding woodbox in the kitchen. He is at the present time completing a water-elevator, having been experimenting in the connection for the past twenty years, and the device will be patented by him. His farm is under effective cultivation, has a large orchard and is provided with good buildings for the care of stock and produce. He raised a considerable amount of live stock, having a herd of good dairy cattle and patronizing the local creamery. In politics he is a radical Democrat. His wife is a member of the Baptist church. Sept. 19, 1876, Mr. Waller was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Jane Queen, who was born in Pennsylvania, being the eldest of the eight children of Benjamin W. and Mena Ann (Barclay) Queen, both of whom passed the closing years of their lives in Richland county, Wis. The father was born in Fayette county, Pa., Sept. 11, 1823, and was a man of much intellectuality, having received good educational advantages. He was married in 1850 to Miss Mena A. Barclay, who was born in Fox township, Carroll county, O., Mar. 26, 1824, and they thereafter resided in Fayette county, Pa., until 1854, when they came to Richland county, Wis., being numbered among the early settlers of Marshall township, where he built his little log house, in section 8, taking up a considerable tract of government land. In 1865 he entered the Union service, becoming a private in Company G, Eleventh Wisconsin infantry, and his death resulted from disease contracted in the service. He died in the marine hospital at Mobil, Ala., Sept. 2, 1865, and his wife survived him by a number of years. He was a Democrat in politics and his name merits a place of honor on the roster of the pioneers of Richland county, where he owned a farm of 240 acres at the time of his demise. Mr. and Mrs. Waller became the parents of seven children, concerning whom the following brief record is entered: Alta May, born Aug. 12, 1877, is the wife of William McAfee, of Marshall township, and they have one son and two daughters; George W., born Mar. 5, 1879, was married in September, 1904, to Miss Elizabeth A. Cook, and they reside on a farm adjoining that of his father; Myrn Olive, born Jan. 1, 1882, is the wife of Frederick Janny, of Little Falls, Minn., and they have one child; David N., Jr., who was born Dec. 28, 1883, died Oct. 21, 1896; Elizabeth Jane, who was born May 9, 1887, was graduated from the normal training school at Richland Center, and is now a successful and popular teacher in Willow township; Gaius Queen, born Apr. 27, 1891, is attending school, as is also Lucy Violet, who was born Mar. 8, 1893.
    FRANCIS A. WALSH is the owner of a well improved farm in Akan township and has passed his entire life in this section of the state, having been born in the adjoining county of Crawford, Jan. 9, 1858. He is a son of Robert and Johanna Walsh, both native of Ireland, where the former was born Mar. 14, 1816 and the latter June 24, 1822. They were married in the Emerald Isle and soon afterward immigrated to America, coming to Crawford county, Wis., in the early fifties. In 1856 Robert Walsh secured 160 acres of government land in that county, reclaiming the same from the forest and eventually becoming the owner of a well improved landed estate of 400 acres. He was a Democrat in politics and served about two years as a member of the town board. He and his wife were communicants of the Catholic church. Mr. Walsh passed to the life eternal July 17, 1892, and his wife in February, 1903. Of their thirteen children only five are living. Francis A. Walsh, subject of this sketch, was reared on the home farm and was educated in the common schools of his native county. He has been identified with the agricultural industry from his youth to the present and is now the owner of a fine farm of 360 acres, the greater portion of which he personally cleared, having erected good buildings and made other excellent improvements of a permanent order. He has gained success through his own efforts and is one of the substantial and honored citizens of his township. In politics he is a supporter of the policies of the Democratic party but is independent in local affairs. He has served a totally of five years as town treasurer, and he is at the present time chairman of the town board of Akan. He and his wife are communicants of St. Philip's Catholic church, at Keyesville. Jan. 22, 1884, Mr. Walsh was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Forman, who was born in Crawford county, Wis., July 9, 1863, a daughter of John and Margaret (Tracey) Gorman, who settled in that county about 1860. Mr. Gorman died in Akan township, Richland county, in December, 1880, his wife having died at Boscobel, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Walsh have fine children: Robert, Mary, Elizabeth, Kate and John, and the family is most popular in connection with the social activities of the community.
    JOSEPH J. WANEK, a successful farmer and popular citizen of the town of Richwood, was born in Germany, Feb. 2, 1855, and is a son of Joseph and Josephine Wanek, the former of whom died in Germany, and the latter of whom came to America in 1861, locating in Grant county, Wis. She is still living and is seventy-six years of age. Of the two children, the subject of this sketch is the elder, and his brother Frank, is a resident of Grant county, this state. The paternal grandfather, Joseph Wanek, immigrated with his family to America and located in Grant county, Wis., where he died in 1872, aged seventy-three years. His wife, whose maiden name was Gertrude Pickle, died in 1868. He was a successful farmer of Grant county, where he owned 200 acres of land. Joseph J. Wanek, the immediate subject of this sketch, was six years of age at the time of his mother's removal to America, and he was reared to manhood on his grandfather's farm, in Grant county, where he was afforded the advantages of the public schools. He became the owner of his grandfather's farm and he disposed of the property in 1877 and came to Richland county, buying 837 acres of land, in Richwood township, where he has since maintained his home, being one of the most extensive farmers of the county and having made the best of improvements on his place. In 1905 he erected a large and modern brick residence, which is one of the best farm houses in this section of the county and he has a fine barn thirty-seven by seventy-four feet in dimensions. He devotes his attention to diversified agriculture and to the raising of high-grade live stock. He was one of the organizers of the Union Bridge Company, at Port Andrew, this county, and is a member of its directorate. He is a Democrat in his political allegiance and he and his family are communicants of the Catholic church. He has served as treasurer of his school district and takes a deep interest in local affairs of a public nature. In 1877 Mr. Wanek was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Dieter, who was born at Castle Rock, Grant county, Wis., Nov. 21, 1854, being a daughter of Christopher and Gertrude (Brimmer) Dieter, who were born in Germany. The father came to America as a young man, first locating in Pennsylvania and thence coming to Wisconsin, being and early settler of Grant county, where he died Feb. 15, 1893, at the age of seventy-six years. His widow is still living as are also their four children. Mr. Dieter was a shoemaker by trade but after coming to Wisconsin he became a farmer, having been one of the extensive landholders of Grant county. To Mr. and Mrs. Wanek have been born eleven children, of whom two are deceased. Those living are Alvin C., Clara J., Herman A., Augustus W., Etta G., George H., Anna A., Agnes B. and Thomas R.
    BENJAMIN F. WASHBURN, who is engaged in the manufacturing of lumber in the village of Excelsior, Richwood township, and who is the owner of a well improved farm in the same township, is a veteran of the Civil War and an ex-member of the state legislature. He has attained to success and definite prosperity through his own efforts, having had no financial resources when he started out to fight the battle of life for himself, and he has so ordered his course as to retain the confidence and good will of his fellowmen. Mr. Washburn was born in Lake county, Ill., Oct. 15, 1842, and is a son of Benjamin F. and Elizabeth Ruth Washburn, the former of whom was born in Vermont, Oct. 15, 1814, and the latter of whom was born near Reading, Pa., in 1825. The Washburn genealogy is traced back to stanch Scottish origin, and two brothers of the name came to America in the latter part of the seventeenth century, on settling in Maine and the other in Vermont. Form Lake county, Ill., the father of the subject of this sketch came with his family to Wisconsin in 1844, settling in Fond du Lac. He later returned to Illinois, where he remained until 1857, when he came to Grant county, Wis., where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1862, when he went forth in defense of the Union, having enlisted in Company F, Twentieth Wisconsin volunteer infantry, in which he served until his death,-in 1864, at Forth Smith, Ark.-which resulted from a wound received in an engagement at Prairie Grove, Ark. His wife survived him by a number of years, having been a resident of Richland county at the time of her demise. Of the nine children in the family, five are living. In politics the father was originally a Whig but he identified himself with Republican party at the time of its organization and was a delegate to the national convention which nominated Lincoln for the presidency the first time. His wife was a member of the Christian church at the time of her death, having previously held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. The subject of this review passed his boyhood days on the farm and was educated in the common schools of Illinois and Wisconsin. In 1859 he went to Minnesota, where he clerked in the general store of his uncle, Prosper Robinson, until 1862, when he rejoined his parents, in Grant county, Wis. In 1863 he enlisted in Company I, Seventeenth Wisconsin volunteer infantry, with which he served until the close of the war, having taken part in many important battles, including those of Chattanooga, Pittsburg Landing, Malvern Hill, Savannah, Lookout Mountain and Corinth. He participated in every engagement in which his regiment was involved after he entered the same. He received his honorable discharge after the close of the great internecine conflict and then returned to Grant county, Wis., where he remained until 1869, when he located in Excelsior, Richland county, where he established himself in the general merchandise business, building up a prosperous enterprise and continuing the same until April, 1905, when he sold the business. He has since devoted his attention principally to the operation of his grist and sawmills but he also gives a general supervision to his farm, of 320 acres, in Richwood township. At one time he was the owner of 2,100 acres of land in North Dakota, but sold a portion of the same and gave the remainder to his sons. In his political allegiance, Mr. Washburn was a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Republican party until 1896, when he showed the courage of his convictions by allying himself with the Democratic party, with which he has since been identified. He has served as justice of the peace and in 1875 he was a member of the assembly in the state legislature, where he made an excellent record. He is an appreciative member of the Grand Army of the Republic and has been affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellow since 1872. Aug. 24, 1865, Mr. Washburn was united in marriage to Miss Maria J. Hawkins, who was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Eaglefield) Hawkins, who came to Grant county, Wis., in 1857, the father there passing the remainder of his life and the mother having been a resident of Richland county at the time of her death. Mr. and Mrs. Washburn became the parents of seven children, namely: Lester Allen, Clarence M., Bertha, Charles C., Elsie E., Belva A. Lockwood and Framk B. All of the children are living except Bertha.
    JEREMIAH WHELAN has been a resident of Richland county from his boyhood days and is one of the popular pioneer citizens of the town of Henrietta, where he is a representative farmer and stockgrower. He was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, July 30, 1847, and is a son of Michael and Annie (Malay) Whelan, both of whom were born and reared in that county, where their marriage was solemnized. The father was a farmer in his native county, where he remained until 1849, when he immigrated to America, locating in the city of Boston, Mass., where he remained four years, having been employed in a foundry. His wife died in that city. The subject of this sketch and his sister had been left with relatives in Ireland, and after the death of his mother he came to America with his paternal aunt, Miss Mary Whelan, who was housekeeper for his father until the death of the latter. From Boston, Michael Whelan removed to Wisconsin, locating first in Milwaukee, where he was variously employed. He removed from that city to Whitewater, where he found employment in the plow-factory of Wolfe & Winchester. In the meanwhile, he came to Richland county and secured eighty acres of heavily timbered land in section 22, Henrietta township. He then returned to Whitewater, where he passed the remainder of his life. In 1858 the subject of this sketch came with other members of the family to Richland county and located on the land which his father had purchased. He was a lad of eleven years at the time and he had his full quota of pioneer labors and experiences, assisting in the reclamation of the homestead and proving faithful to the various duties which devolved upon him. His educational advantages were limited, having been confined to a somewhat irregular attendance in the common schools. He was the second in order of birth of the three children who attained to years of maturity. His elder sister, Bridget, is the wife of John Shansey, of Greenwood, Clark county, and the younger sister, Mary Ann, is the wife of Patrick Morrisey, of Chippewa Falls, this state. He has resided on the old homestead without interruption and has developed the same into one of the fine farms of this county, the place being devoted to diversified agriculture and the raising of excellent grades of live stock. In October, 1905 Mr. Whelan also purchased the T. J. Leatherberry farm, of 160 acres, in sections 14 and 15, Henrietta township, and he also operates this in connection with his homestead, which latter now has an area of 131 acres, of which eighty acres are under effective cultivation. In politics he gives his support to the Democratic party, and he has served as an officer of his school district. He and his family are communicants of the Catholic church, holding membership in St. Patrick's church, in the town of Henrietta. Feb. 22, 1877, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Whelan to Miss Bridget Ryan, who was born at Whitewater, this state, being the daughter of Michael and Bridget (Farrell) Ryan, who were born in County Wexford, Ireland. They were early settler of Richland county, Mr. Ryan having purchased a tract of wild land in the town of Henrietta, and both he and his wife having passed the remainder of their lives on this homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Whelan have six children, all of whom were given excellent educational advantages: Annie, who taught one term of school, is now employed in the Boston store, in Richland Center; Delia has taught twelve terms in the district schools and is now at the parental home, as are also Alice, who likewise taught twelve terms of school, and Michael, James and Jeremiah.
    PHILANDER W. WITHEREL, one of the venerable pioneers and honored citizens of the town of Eagle, where he has long followed the agricultural industry, is a native of the state of Vermont, where he was born may 15, 1820, being a son of William P. and Martha (Morey) Witherel, the former of whom was born in New Hampshire and the latter in Dominion of Canada. They were married in the old Green Mountain State, whence they removed to the state of New York. In an early day they came from that state to Richland county, Wis., passing the closing days of their lives in Richland Center. Both were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and in politics the father was a Democrat. He served as a teamster in the War of 1812, transporting supplies for the government between Plattsburg and Fort Covington, N. Y. For this purpose he utilized two ox teams. The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm in the state of New York and there he secured a common-school education. About 1852 he came to the west, passing a short time in Iowa and then coming to Richland county, becoming a pioneer of the township of Dayton, where he secured a tract of wild land. At the time of the Civil War he was in the government service about nine months being assigned to the duty of transferring soldiers from Wisconsin to the south. Mr. Witherel passed twelve years as a farmer in South Dakota and then returned to Richland county, where he has since maintained his home. He became the owner of a well improved farm of 160 acres, but he divided the major portion of his property among his children and for the past three years has lived retired, enjoying the just rewards of former years of earnest toil and endeavor. In politics he renders allegiance to the Democratic party, and while a resident of South Dakota he held various township offices. At one time he owned 240 acres of land in Jackson county, Ia. His original purchase of land in Richland county was a tract of eighty acres, and this he reclaimed from the virgin forest. In 1842 Mr. Witherel was united in marriage to Miss Lucretia Sprague, Who was born in Vermont, and who became the mother of six children, only two on whom now survive her, -Watts and Kate, the latter of whom is the wife of Albert Peck. For his second wife, Mr. Witherel married Louisa Smith, who was born and reared in the state of New York, and of their five children all are living except the eldest, May. The others are Jennie L., Charles, Mary and William.
    DANIEL NORRIS WITHROW, SR., is one of the honored citizens contributed to Richland county by the old Buckeye State and he is entitled to consideration as a pioneer of the county, since he has here maintained his home for nearly half a century. Mr. Withrow was born in Columbiana county, O., Aug. 5, 1827, so that he is rapidly nearing the age of fourscore years, but he is well preserved physically and mentally, his years resting lightly upon his head. He is a son of William and Mary (Norris) Withrow, the former of whom was born in Beaver county, Pa., and the latter in the state of Maryland. In 1815, William Withrow accompanied his parents, David and Isabel Withrow, on their removal to Ohio and the family settled in Columbiana county, where the parents of our subject passed the residue of their lives. The mother of the subject of this sketch was a daughter of Daniel and Fannie Norris, both native of the city of Baltimore, Md., and early settlers of Carroll county, O. William Withrow passed the closing years of his life in the county last mentioned, having been a representative farmer of Fox township, where he died May 12, 1850, at the age of fifty-five years. His wife survived him and died in Augusta township, that county. Daniel N. Withrow, Sr., was reared on the home farm in Ohio and was afforded the advantages of the common schools of the locality and period. He there continued engaged in farming until 1860, when he came to Richland county, Wis., first securing 160 acres in the town of Bloom and later selling this property and removing to Forest township, where he bought his present homestead of ninety acres and where he has since continued to reside, having long ago gained recognition as an energetic and successful farmer and as a man of sincerity and inviolable probity. His political support is given to the Democratic party and he has served nineteen years as justice of the peace, making the office justify its name. His wife is a devout member of the Presbytrian church and he has contributed liberally to the support of religious work. Oct. 17, 1850, Mr. Withrow was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Drake, who was born in Ireland, Nov. 5, 1829, being a daughter of William and Margaret (Johnson) Drake, who immigrated from the Emerald Isle to America and settled in Carroll county, O., where they passed the remainder of their lives, the father dying at the age of fifty-five and the mother at the age of fifty-three years. Of the ten children of Mr. and Mrs. Withrow six are living. Mr. Withrow enlisted for service in the Civil War, becoming drum major of his regimental band in an Ohio command and serving nearly two years. He has held various public offices in the town of Forest and is one of the venerable and honorable citizens of this section of the county.
    DANIEL NORRIS WITHROW, JR., is one of the able and popular exemplars of the great possibilities offered in connection with the agricultural industry in this section of Wisconsin and is still further entitled to consideration in this compilation by reason of the fact that he is a native son of Richland county and a member of one of its well known and honored pioneer families. He was born in the town of Forest, where is situated his present homestead farm, the date of his nativity having been July 13, 1863, and he is a son of Daniel Norris Withrow, Sr., of whom specific mention is made in this work, so that a repetition of the family genealogy in the present connection is not necessary. Mr. Withrow was reared on the home farm and his educational advantages were those of the public schools of Forest township, which were then far inferior to those of the present day. He aided in reclaiming the home farm from the forest and has continuously been identified with agricultural pursuits in his native township. Here he now owns 350 acres of valuable land, the greater portion being under effective cultivation. He is also a breeder of Hereford cattle and Poland-China swine and operates a well equipped sawmill on his farm. He is a progressive business man and loyal citizen and is held in unqualified esteem in his native county. In politics he gives his allegiance to the Democratic party. Mar. 12, 1896, Mr. Withrow was united in marriage to Miss Ella Patten, daughter of Milton Patten, a sketch of whose career is given in this publication, and the became the parents of six children, of whom five are living, namely: Leila Inez, Freda Fay, Veva Miriam, Eva Mildred and Ruby Violet. The third child, Beulah Hester, died in infancy.
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