politics he is a republican, aud is a member of married March 5, 1835, to Miss E. V. Honaker, the Lutheran Church. Alonzo F. May, son of Col. Reuben May, was born in Clay Co., Ky., March 12, 1853. He came with his family to Vernon Co., Wis., and assisted his father on the farm. May 28, 1883, he was married to Eva Eckhardt, daughter of Jacob Eckhardt. He has since resided on section 36, Jefferson town, where he has a neat home. William J. May, a son of Col. Reuben May, was born in Kentucky, Jan. 15, 1842. He came with the family to Wisconsin in 1863, and has since been a resident of Vernon county, with the exception of one year, when he followed farming in Monroe county, this State. He has always tilled the soil, excepting two years, when he had charge of the grist mill at Newton. In the fall of 1882 he settled on section 36, Jefferson town, and now owns sixty acres of land. On Dec. 13, 1866, he married Rachel M. Hayes, daughter of John Hayes. They are the parents of one son-James F. Politically Mr. May is a greenbacker. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. H. Amunson is a native of Norway, born June 20, 1846. He resided in his native country until 1864, at which time he emigrated to the United States, and has since been a resident of Vernon county. In 1866 he began clerking for Philip Bouffleur, with whom he continued until Sept. 1, 1883, when he purchased a half interest in the business, the firm name being H. Amunson & Co. In the fall of 1868 he was married to Leanna Latta. They have had five children, two of whom are living Philip and Carrie. Mr. Amunson is a stirring business man and is very successful. He is republican in politics. In religious views a Methodist Episcopal. Col. Reuben May is a native of Pike Co., Ky., born June 23, 1815. His parents were natives of Virginia. They had twelve children, ten of whom are still living. Reuben spent his early life on his father's farm. He was also a native of Kentucky. In 1849 he removed to Clay county, being engaged in making and shipping salt, also working a farm of 400 acres. In 1861, when State after State was seceding from the Union, Mr. May was found loyal to his country, and on the 27th of September, enlisted in the United States service, and was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the 8th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry. In May, 1863, he was appointed colonel of the 7th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, and served as such with credit to himself and country until Oct. 5, 1864, when the regiment was mustered out of service. Mr. May participated in many hard fought battles, and a number of skirmishes. He commanded the 8th Kentucky in the battles of Perryville, Laurel Hill, Stone River, Murfreesboro; and the 7th Kentucky in the siege of Vicksburg, battle of Jackson, Miss., Comut River, La., Semmes Port, Yellow Bayou, etc. He was wounded at Murfreesboro, and disabled for four months. At the close of the war Mr. May came to Wisconsin, locating in Jefferson town, Vernon county, where his family had previously located in 1863. He has given his principal attention to farming. In politics Col. May was first a democrat, but in 1860 voted for John Bell for the Presidency. And in 1864 he cast his ballot for Abraham Lincoln. In 1870 and 1872 he represented his district in the General As sembly. In 1875 he was a candidate for State senator, and it was only after a contested election that his opponent, J. Henry Tate, was declared elected by a majority of six votes. When the National greenback party sprang into existence, Col. May became one of its advocates, and in 1879 was their candidate for governor. His wife died Jan. 28, 1881, leaving ten chil dren-Louisa J., Mary D., William J., Thomas H., Zuingliens S., Robert D., Alonzo F., Albert B., Richard A., (deceased), and Hugh L. Feb. 28, 1883, he married Mrs. Phebe A. Aiken, nee Dolliver. Col. May is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the I. O. O. F., the G. A. R. and the State Grange. He is a member of the Metho- formed citizen and has many friends. He is a dist Episcopal Church. Michael Rentz was born June 25, 1846, in Norway. He learned the tanning business, which he followed in his native country, until 1868, at which time he emigrated to the United States. He first stopped in Decorah, Iowa, but soon removed to Chicago. Here he worked at his trade until 1870, when he came to Vernon county, settling at Esofea, where he erected a tannery, and soon after went in partnership with his brother, Christian, which they still continue. They also own 140 acres of land. In 1870 Michael Rentz married Agnethe Olson. They have five children-Mathilde, Agnes, Henry Norman, Olga and Amalie. Mr. Rentz is an independent greenbacker in politics He has held the position of postmaster, at Esofea, has also been a member of the town board, and for the present holds the office of town treasurer. democrat in politics. His religious connections are with the Methodist Episcopal Church. L. N. Shaw was born in Quincy, Mass., Aug 25, 1827. Being the son of Capt. John W. Shaw, he became imbued with the life of a sailor when a small boy, and thus at the age of fifteen years, took to the sea, and followed a sailor's life until nearly forty years of age, when he was obliged to give up a sea-faring life on account of ill health. During these years Mr. Shaw had visited nearly all of the navigable globe, sailing on the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, experiencing the various changes incident to a sailor's life, and was shipwrecked three times, and during these years had been instrumental in saving twelve lives from shipwreck. Mr. Shaw had passed through all the grades of a sailor, from the forecastle to the quarter deck, and at the age of twenty-one, became master of a vessel, sailing on the coast and inland waters of W. H. Jackson, blacksmith at Springville, California, for eight years. In 1863 Capt. Shaw Vernon county, became a resident of the county with impaired health, left California for his in 1872, being engaged for two years in farm- native State, where, in the city of Boston, he ing, since which time, he has been proprietor of embarked in the general provision business. In a general blacksmith and repair shop, also man- 1877 he came to Wisconsin, succeeding L. G. P. ufacturing a few wagons. Mr. Jackson was born Adams as proprietor of the Springville House, Aug. 25, 1846, in Grant Co., Wis. His parents, of which he is still landlord, having also added James A., and Emily (Stiles) Jackson, are still to his hotel, a grocery business, which he is residents of Grant county. Mr. Jack-on's early conducting in connection with the house. Capt. life was spent at work in the mines, but when Shaw has been twice married. His first wife sixteen years of age, he commenced to work at was Betsy C. Phillips, to whom he was married his trade, which he continued to do until com- in 1853. She died in 1870, leaving three chiling to Vernon county, Sept. 22, 1870. He was dren-Catherine W., Emma L., and Walter L. married to Sarah Jackson, daughter of A. Jack-In 1872 he married Mrs. Emily A. Newcomb, nee son, of Viroqua. They have an adopted son- Adams. She had two children by her former Samuel Lee Wilson. Mr. Jackson is a well in- marriage, one now living-Albert C. CHAPTER XLII. THE TOWN OF KICKAPOO. a native of Tioga Co., N. Y., but had lived several years in St. Joseph Co., Mich. He came to Vernon county in 1846 or 1847, settled near Liberty Pole, in the town of Franklin, and opened up a farm. On his arrival in Kickapoo he built a saw mill on Read's creek, as it is now called. He was a bachelor, and well advanced in years at the time of his settlement here. He was an enterprising man, as will be seen by Kickapoo is among the southern tier of towns of Vernon county, and comprises a portion four congressional townships-townships 11 and 12, range 3 west, and towrships 11 and 12, range 4 west of the fourth principal meridian. The surface is very much broken having within its boundary a number of large hills. At an early day there was a large amount of heavy timber of which there is still standing a large quantity, consisting of white oak, rock maple, bass-reference to the village history. He was a jovial wood and other varieties. Thousands of railroad ties have been annually obtained from the timber in this town. The large game, such as deer, elk and bear, existed in great numbers during the first decade of the settlement of the country, but they are now unknown. Small game yet abounds. The Kickapoo river runs through the town. Its two branches-the east and west forks-make confluence on section 4. The river is fed by many small streams which enter into and help swells the volume of water. The smaller streams are made up from the many clear and sparkling springs that exist in various parts of the county. The soil is generally rich and productive where tillable, and is well suited to indigenous as well as native grass, which makes the town an excellent one for stock. Those that have, in the past, engaged in stock raising, have been uniformly successful. Some maple sugar, of an excellent quality, is annually made by the enterprising citizens. Bees thrive here, and many of the farmers have been quite successful in the past few years, in bee culture. EARLY SETTLEMENT. The first settler in the town of Kickapoo was Daniel Read, who came here in 1849. He was man, good hearted, ard much esteemed by all. He died here in 1862. At the time of his death he made his home with Gilbert Herrick. Orrin Wisel came with Mr. Read, or about the same time. He was a blacksmith by trade, and opened the first shop in the town. The first farm in this town was opened by Philip Schneider, who located here in 1849. He was a native of Bavaria and had lived near Viroqua the previous two years. He settled in the Kickapoo valley on section 5, town 11, range 3 west, and still resides on the old homestead. Archibald and Daniel Day, natives of Kentucky, came in 1851. The former settled on the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 9, town 11, range 3 west. He died there in 1876. His daughter, now the wife of Thomas Gosling, occupies the homestead. Daniel entered land on sections 17 and 18, of the same town and range. He sold in 1855, to Seth Edson, who now occupies the place. Dan iel died about 1857. Henry B. Hopkins, a native of Connecticut, came here from Grant Co., Wis., in 1853, and entered land on section 14, town 11, range 3 section 36. He is now dead and his widow west, where he still lives. lives in Richland county. Abel C. Cushman, from Vermont, came here in 1853, and erected a saw mill on the east fork of the Kickapoo. He was a pioneer in Jefferson Co., Wis., having lived there for several years prior to his removal to this county. The mill is now operated by his son James. David Barril, a native of Scotland, came during the winter of 1953-4, and entered land on section 35, town 12, range 3 west, where he still lives. . R. F. Carey was from the Nutmeg State. He came to Vernon county, in 1854, and entered a portion of section 10, town 11, range 3 west. He settled on this land the following year, and there made his home until 1883, when he sold out and left the town. Samuel Baldwin was a settler of 1854. He was from New York. On his arrival in Vernon county, he made choice of land on section 2, town 11, range 3 west, where he located and lived some years and then removed to Richland county. In 1883 he went to Kansas. Daniel Hill, a native of Illinois, by profession a physician, came in 1853, and located on the northeast quarter of section 26. He was afterwards convicted of horse stealing, served a term in the penitentiary, and then returned to the town, but finally removed to Kansas. The Keystone State furnished a settler in 1853 in the person of Peter Neeley, He settled on section 1, town 11, range 3, lived there eight or nine years, then returned to Pennsylvania, where he died a few years later. His widow now lives in Washington territory. Francis Lawton, a native of New York, also came in 1853, from Jefferson Co., Wis., and, in com, any with A.C.Cushman, built a saw-mill. In 1858 he sold out and went to Rockton, where he built a grist mill. He now lives in Washington territory. John Grubbs was another of the pioneers of 1853. He located on the northeast quarter of Abraham Benn, from England, came in 1856 and located on section 1. He enlisted in the Union army during the war and died in the service. Some of the family yet reside in the town. John Harrison and Henry Glasburn, originally from Illinois, came from Viroqua in 1849. The year following they built a saw-mill on the west fork of the Kickapoo. About the time of the war they sold out and left the town. William Austin settled in Readstown in 1853. He was something of a pettifogger and quite a musician. Two of his daughters were good musicians and occasionally gave public concerts. Mr. Austin left the county durng war times and now resides in California. George Miller came in 1853, lived in Readstown a few years, then left his family and returned to Illinois, from whence he came. Gilbert Herrick, a native of New York State, came from Viroqua in 1853. He was a carpenter by trade and worked at the business together with farming. He made his home in Readstown until his death, which occurred in 1879. His widow survived him but a few months. Three daughters are yet living, two of whom reside in Iowa, the other still living at Reads town. In 1854 Daniel B. Hale came to Readstown. He is a nephew of Mr. Read and is yet a resident of the village. James McSharry, a native of Ireland, came from Galena, Ill., in 1853. He entered land on section 36, town 12, range 4, where he located and remained three years, then went to section 7, town 11, range 3, where he lived until 1882 when he removed to Rising Sun, where he died on Easter Sunday, 1883. His widow and two daughters now reside in Rising Sun. Robert Wilson, a native of Pennsylvanią, came in 1852 from Richland county and entered land on sections 35 and 36, town 12, range 3 west. He built a house on section 35 and still resides there. Lorenzo Hill was from New York. He came in 1853 and located on section 25, town 12, range 3. He was a single man at the time, but soon afterwards married a daughter of Robert Wilson. His wife died in 1857 and he subsequently sold out and left the county. He is now a resident of Washington territory. Albert Bliss, a native of Vermont, came to Readstown in 1854 from Grant Co., Wis., where he had lived several years. He opened a store that fall, and the next year embarked in the hotel business. He was a resident of the town until 1883, when he removed to Viroqua. William Powell located on section 12, town 11, range 3, in 1854. He was a minister of the Christian or Disciple Church, but engaged in teaching the greater part of his residence in the county. He remained here ten or twelve years, but now resides in Viroqua. Charles Allen, a native of Virginia, came from Ohio in 1854 and settled on section 3, where he remained until his death in 1874. His widow subsequently married H, B. Hopkins. James Medlicut, a native of England, came in 1854 and settled on section 1, town 11, range 4 west. He lived there about twelve years, when he moved to Iowa, where he has since died. Two of his sons now live in Iowa. William Geddes settled in the Kickapoo valley in 1855, buying land on section 33, town 12, range 3 west, where he still lives. He is a native of Ohio. James Fox, a native of Pennsylvania, came in 1854, first locating on section 4, town 11, range 4, where he lived two years, then moved to section 8, town 11, range 3 west. He died there in August, 1883. He was a wagon maker by trade, and worked at his trade the greater part of the time, while a resident of the He was an active and influential member of the Christian Church. town. Rodman Baker was among the settlers of 1855, He was a native of New York, but came here from Green Lake Co., Wis., locating on section 14. In 1858 he removed to Marion Co., Mo., and died there in 1879. His widow still lives there. His daughter, the widow of A. P. Bliss, lives at Readstown. James Foreman, a native of Pennsylvania, came in 1855. He bought village lots in Kickapoo and built a log house. He died there in 1857. His widow now lives with her daughter, who is the wife of Ransom Kellogg. His son, James, a successful farmer, lives on section 2, town 11, range 3 west. O. C. Fortney is a native of Norway. He came here from Madison Co., Wis., in 1855, and first located on section 13, town 11, range 4 west. He lived there about one year, then moved to section 11, of the same town. In 1882 he moved to section 2, where he died in 1883. His widow yet resides on the latter homestead. James Maiben, by birt, was a Scotchman. He came here from Grant Co., Wis., in 1854, bought land on section 8, town 11, range 3. He died Jan. 8, 1857. His family still reside. here. in 1856. He enlisted in the army and died in Francis Dupee came from Grant Co., Wis., the service. His son Henry also died in the service. The family now occupy the old homestead. Henry Cumrine located on section 10, town 11, range 3 west, in 1855. He was a native of Maryland, but came here from Ohio. He built a two story hewed log house on his arrival, which he still makes his home. George Spurrier was from Jefferson Co., Ohio. He came here in 1855, and entered eighty acres of land on section 14, town 11, range 3, where he still resides. John Crook, a native of England, was a settler of 1857. He located on section 26, town 12, range 4. In 1870 he moved to the town of Franklin, where he now lives. His son William now lives on the old homestead. |