ing. In the fall, he went to Freeport, Ill., and worked at his trade. In 1861, he again visited Vernon county, and was married here July 20 to Marion O, daughter of Hans Hanson, who settled near Bloomingdale in 1855. He returned to Freeport with his bride and resumed work at his trade, remaining there until 1863, when he returned to Vernon county, and purchased a farm of Nels Hanson two and onehalf miles from Bloomingdale. He lived there eight years, then traded his farm for a gristmill at Bloomingdale. He carried on this mill until 1878, when he traded it for a farm on sections 25 and 26 of town 12 north, of range 4 west, embraced in the town of Kickapoo. There was a large frame barn on this farm and he has since completed the farm houses, and is now well provided with buildings. His farm now contains 202 acres of land, a portion of which is in the Kickapoo valley. Mr. and Mrs. Olson are the parents of nine children-Annie M., Minnie A., Olouf M., Marcus II., John A., Hans N., Hannah L., Ida A. and Charles Edwin. They are taking good care to educate their children. Their oldest daughter, Annie, is a teacher in the public schools.

Jedediah Demings is a prominent member of the Seventh Day Adventist denomination. He was born in Franklin Co., Vt., Nov. 6, 1826, and at the age of fifteen, suffered the loss of his mother. His father soon after removed to Illinois, and our subject was left to care for himself. He was employed on a farm in Vermont for two years, and then went to Essex Co., N. Y., where he found similar employment at $9 per month. In 1845 he went to Illinois and joined his father in McHenry county, where he remained two years. In 1847 he went to Wisconsin, and spent two years in Winnebago county. He then returned to his father's home in Illinois, going on foot, and walking the long journey of 136 miles in two and one-half days. His time was passed in Illinois and Wisconsin, until 1856, when he went to Minnesota, and

located in Nicolet county, then on the frontier, and inhabited mostly by Indians. He remained there four years, and in 1860 came to Vernon county, and located a homestead on section 2, of town 11 north, of range 3 west, where he now has a pleasant home. Mr. Demings was married Feb. 17, 1856, to Adeline Gibbs, a native of Vermont. Mr. Demings was converted to the faith of the Seventh Day Adventist in Illinois, in 1850, and is the founder of that denomination in Vernon county. Mrs. Demings is also a member.

Charles E. Smith settled on his present farm in 1860. He is a native of the old Bay State, born sixteen miles from Boston, in Lincoln township, Middlesex county, Aug. 15, 1835. His early education was begun in the district school and completed in the Lawrence Academy, at Groton, Mass. When seventeen years of age, he went to Boston, engaging as clerk for an establishment there until 1856, when he started west to seek a home. He located at St. Peter, Nicolet Co., Minn., being one of the early settlers there. He lived there, on government land, until 1860, when he sold out, and as before stated, came to Vernon county. His farm is situated in the Kickapoo valley, on section 34, town 12, range 3. It is in a good state of cultivation, and he has erected a neat frame house thereon. Mr. Smith was married in 1860, to Ruth E. Gibbs, born in Vermont. They have had four children-Charles O., Fred L., Lucy A. and Myrtie M. Mr. Smith has been prominent in town and county affairs, and was assessor for several years.

B. C. Hutchison, one of the pioneers of Vernon county, was born in Pennsylvania, in January, 1818. He lived there until four years of age, when he removed to Ohio, settling in Richland county. He was there married to Matilda Hooks, who was born in Ohio. Thirteen children blessed this union, nine of whom are now living. In 1844 they came to Wisconsin, locating in Grant county. In 1849 he again sought a new home, settling in Franklin town,

Vernon county, where he purchased land, built a log house, living there six years. He then sold out, buying land on section 7, town 11, range 3, Kickapoo town. After residing there eight years, he again sold out and settled on section 9, his present home. Mrs. Hutchison died March 5, 1864.

William Hutchison, third son of B. C. and Matilda (Hooks) Hutchison, was born July 20, 1846, in Grant Co., Wis. His younger days were spent in school, and assisting his father on the farm. In January, 1864, he enlisted in company I, 17th Wisconsin Volunteers, and went south. He was with Sherman in his march to the sea, and participated in the many battles of that memorable campaign. He was discharged July 14, 1865, and returned home. In 1866 he was clerking for B. D. Hale, at Readstown, and later for A. P. Bliss. He was married in 1869 to Helen, daughter of Willard and Mary (Lot ridge) Morley, who was born in New York State. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchison have had five children Mary, Albert, Sylvia, William and Walter. Soon after marriage he settled on a farm on section 36, town 12, range 4. In 1883 he bought property in Viroqua and removed there. He has been prominent in town affairs, and is the present assessor. He is also a mail

contractor.

Lyman C. Drake, postmaster of Sugar Grove office, is a native of New York State. He was born in West Bloomfield town, Ontario county, April 29, 1813. When three years of age his parents moved to Leroy, Genesee county, where he grew to manhood. In 1838 he came to Wisconsin, locating at Plattsville, where he engaged in mining one year, then going to Ellenboro he bought land and engaged in farming. He remained in the vicinity of Ellenboro until 1862, when he traded his farm there for land at Sugar Grove, on section 13, town 11, range 3, Kickapoo town. He has since made this his home. Mr. Drake was married, in 1843, to Janette Russell, born in Connecticut. They have had five children, two

of whom are living-Rutson H. and Frank II. Their first child, George L., born Sept. 3, 1844, enlisted in 1864 in company I, 17th Wisconsin Volunteers, and died in the service at Rome, Ga., in August, 1864. Lester was born Nov. 13, 1847. He enlisted in 1864 in company I, 17th Wisconsin Volunteers. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea, and was killed by a guerilla, about twenty miles from Columbia, S. C., near the close of the war. Lewis was born June 20, 1860, and died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Drake are both members of the Disciple Church. Their son, Rutson, also a member, is superintendent of the Sunday school.

George Latta is a native of Ohio, born in Columbiana county, May 26, 1822. When ten years of age his parents moved to Perry county, where George grew to manhood, and where he was married, in 1844, to Thannel Snider. He bought a farm in Monroe town, remaining there until 1864, when he sold out, coming to Wisconsin, and settling on his present farm on section 26, town 12, range 4, Kickapoo town. It is in a good state of cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Latta have had nine children-Leanna, Edward, Nancy, Francis, Joseph, Matilda, David, Hannah and George. Mrs. Latta died in 1872, aged fifty-two years. His second wife, to whom he was married in 1875, was Harriet Delap.

Josiah Latta settled in Kickapoo town in 1866. He is a native of Ohio, born in Perry county May 22, 1836. His younger days were spent in school and at work on his father's farm. He was married in 1859 to Elizabeth Grier, born in Morgan Co., Ohio, after which he carried on a part of his father's farm in Perry county. He enlisted Jan. 1, 1862, in the 62d Ohio Volunteers, company C, and went south, serving until the expiration of his time and eight days over, being discharged Jan. 8, 1865. Among the many engagements in which he participated were the following: Winchester and the many battles of the Shenandoah valley. After

this campaign the regiment joined McClellan's command at Harrison's Landing. From there they went to Suffolk, Va., being on provost duty. After his discharge Mr. Latta returned to Perry county, remaining until 1866, when he came to Vernon county and purchased land on section 26, town 12, range 4. He has since improved his land, set out an orchard and built a large frame residence, now having one of the best farms and residences in the town. Mr. and Mrs. Latta have nine children-Thomas, Charles, Mary A., Lillie Maud, Nancy Estella, Albert P., Minnie B., Jessie Grace and William Orley.

Mr. Latta's farm now contains 320 acres.

Benjamin Rogers settled in Vernon county in 1866. He was born Feb. 19, 1837, in Perry Co.,

Ohio, being there raised on a farm. He was married in 1859 to Elizabeth Ayers, born in Perry county. He enlisted in September, 1861, in company G, 18th Ohio Volunteers, and went south. He participated in the battles of Stone River and Chickamauga. He was wounded in the latter battle and laid up for three months, when he again joined the regiment, taking part in many other engagements. He was honorably discharged in the fall of 1864, and returned to Perry county. In 1866, as before stated, he came to Vernon county, purchasing eighty acres of land on section 36, town 12, range 4, Kickapoo town. He has since purchased more land, making a farm of 220 acres, improved the same, and built the frame house in which he

-Rilla Belle,

now lives. His six children areBenjamin, Rebecca, Parthenia, Hester Ann and Thomas Newton. The two latter are twins. A daughter, Mary Etta, died at seven years of age. J. J. McCarty, town clerk, was born Jan. 7,

1856, in Missouri, coming to Kickapoo town,

Vernon Co., Wis., in 1867. He received a liberal education in his younger days, and has, for a few years, been engaged as teacher in the public schools, having taught his first term wherf nineteen years of age, in school district No. 4. He was elected to his present office in 1877, being re-elected every year, until he is now serving his seventh term. In 1882 Mr. McCarty erected a building in Readstown, on the east side of the river, where he is engaged in business. He keeps a general stock, and has a good trade.

Lewis Anderson settled on his present farm in 1874. It is located on the ridge on section 1, town 11, range 4, and contains 155 acres. He is a native of Norway, born June 17, 1853. He came to America with his parents in 1864, settling in Clayton, Crawford county, where he received a liberal education in the public schools. He was married in 1874 to Melina Salmonson. Her parents were early settlers of Vernon county. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have three children -Annie, Martha and Emma. He has taken great interest in public affairs, and is a member of the town board, elected in April, 1883.

That part of Vernon county known as the town of Liberty,is situated in congressional township 12, range 3 west, and contains about twenty-four sections of land. It is bounded on the north by the town of Webster, on the east by Richland county, on the south by the town of Kickapoo, and on the west by the town of Viroqua. This town is watered by the Kickapoo river and its branches, which flow in a southerly direction. In the eastern part of the town there is a very heavy growth of timber, while in the western there are more prairie openings. On of the striking features of the town is its nume ous springs which gush out from the sides o the high bluffs and rocky ridges, their water finally terminating in streams having sufficient fall to give fine mill power.

FIRST SETTLEMENT.

Among what may be termed the early settlers of the town of Liberty, are the following: G. W. Wise, Allen Rusk, George P. Martin, Jonas Groves, John R. Joseph, James Gilman, Samuel Graham, Samuel Fish, Stephen A. Fish, James Schoolery, James W. Hunter, John W. Church, Frederick Groves and Stanley Stout. The first settler was James Gilman, who settled on section 5, in 1853, where he lived for many years, and then moved to Viroqua, where he died.

In December, 1852, Allen Rusk, then a resident of Lancaster, Grant county, hauled a load of merchandise to Liberty Pole, for Henry McCaulley, who kept a store at the latter place. After delivering the goods, Mr. Rusk went to Viroqua to visit some of his old acquaintances

who had settled there some time previous. While on this visit, accompanied by some of his friends, he started out to look up a location for his future home. They went east as far as the Kickapoo, then followed the stream down to the mouth of Bishop branch, and the latter stream back to Viroqua. Mr. Rusk did not select any particular piece of land at this time, but concluded that in the near future he would become a resident of the county. He then returned to Lancaster, and in October, 1853, re. moved his family to Viroqua. In the spring of 1854 he pre-empted the southeast quarter of section 16, town 12, range 3 west, of the fourth principal meridian and at once commenced improving the same but did not settle here until April, 1855. Allen Rusk is a brother of Gov. J. M. Rusk, and was born in Perry Co., Ohio, on the 6th day of February, 1825. When he was three years of age, the family removed to Morgan county, where the subject of this sketch received a common school education, helped till the soil, and also worked at plastering. Oct. 23, 1843, he married Mary Newton. She was born in Harrison Co., Va., Nov. 6, 1818. In 1852 he emigrated to Lancaster, Grant Co., Wis., from whence he came to Vernon county, as above stated. Mr. Rusk is a man of considerable natural ability, and no sooner had he settled in the county, than he was looked upon as a leading citizen. It was through his efforts that the territory in which he resides was set off from Viroqua, and organized as the town of Liberty. The name was suggested by Mr. Rusk, and at the first election he was elected chairman of the