town board and justice of the peace; he has since held various local offices, and for two terms represented his district in the Assembly. In 1880 he took the census of the town of Liberty, and is at present postmaster at Liberty Thus it can be seen that he possesses the confidence of his fellow men and is highly esteemed, which is far more desirable than riches. In September, 1864, he enlisted in company I, 42d regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served until mustered out of service, participating in all the engagements of his regiment. He is a republican in politics, to which party he has adhered since its organization. The children are-Henry M., Hannah Jane, deceased; Albert J., Jasper B., Jeremiah N. and Romulus A.

H. L. Turner was born in Erie Co., N. Y., on the 9th day of January, 1821. His parents being William and Sally Turner. The family removed to Wyoming county, where the father pursued his trade, that of a millwright. H. L. Turner soon became handy in the use of carpenter tools and concluded to become a first-class mechanic. But he was a poor boy. He thus worked on the farm, and whenever he had a little spare money, he would invest the same in the purchase of a book treating on mechanical works, and oft when his team was resting on the plow he could be seen busily engaged reading and studying. He also desired to travel, and so purchased a book on navigation, which he studied closely and soon became quite well versed in said science. The book is still in Mr. Turners library, and is highly cherished. In 1842 he married Sophia C. Drake, and then followed the trade of millwright. In 1850 he emigrated to Wisconsin, lived a short time at Lake Geneva, then at Lodi, but in 1851, returned to New York. In 1854, he again came to Wisconsin and entered land on the north half of section 24, range 3, town 12, at La Crosse, on the 11th day of April. Mr. Turner was accompanied on the trip by his brother, C. D. Turner and cousin, Jeremiah Turner, who

also entered land. They all went back to New York. But H. L. at once returned and erected a log cabin on section 19, town 12, range 2 west of the fourth principal meridian, where he had also entered land, and in the fall of said year, removed his family, wife and two children from the east. They were also accompanied by his parents, William and Sally Turner, C. D. Turner and family, Salem Rogers, wife and two children, Lyman Jackson, wife and two children, all of whom settled in the vicinity of what is now Viola. In 1856 H. L. Turner erected a saw-mill, and one year later, added a grist-mill, which he operated until 1864, then sold to A. C. Cushman. In 1956 or 1857, Mr. Turner removed across the line into Vernon county, where he now resides. In 1865 he removed to Green Bay, where he was engaged in building steam boats and sailing vessels. He built six steam crafts, one sailing vessel and one yacht. In the fall of 1880, he returned to Vernon county, and now gives his attention to farming. His farm contains 170 acres, and is one of the best in the vicinity. There are about thirty Indian mounds located on the same. These mounds are of all sizes and shapes, resembling birds, animals, reptiles, etc. In politics, Mr Turner was formerly a whig, and since the organization of the republican party has associated with it. He has often been chosen to hold local offices, but he takes but little interest in this direction. The children, Alice S. and George W. are both deceased.

George W. Wise, one of the first settlers, was born in West Virginia, Dec. 11, 1833. His father died in 1842, and in 1849, the mother with her three children-George W., David and Melinda, emigrated to Wisconsin, and on the 12th of August of that year, arrived at Brookville, where they had relations. In 1855 Mr. Wise married Lucretia Jennings, and then settled on section 11, town 12, range 3, where he was still living in 1884. Mr. and Mrs Wise are the parents of twelve children-Mary E.,

treasurer. He is a good talker and for many years has acted as auctioneer. The children are-Adelaide, William, McDowell, Rowena, Minnie, George A., Frank and Julia.

R. H. Buchanan, on the 12th day of October, 1859, arrived at Springville and resided near there until 1862, then settled on section 2, Liberty, where he had entered land in 1855 and he still resides on the same. He was born in Washington Co., Penn., April 22, 1824. In 1828 the family removed to Muskingum county, where R. H. was raised to farm life. Feb. 11, 1847, he married Mary Reed, daughter of Ellis and Margaret Reed, and in 1859 came to Wisconsin. Mrs. Buchanan died Feb. 2, 1882. She had eight children, five now living-Sarah M., David T., Ardo, William H. and James M. In politics he is a democrat and has held the offices of town clerk, assessor and collector.

Cincinnatus Ward was born in Connecticut in 1804. He removed with his parents to New York and there married Loisa A. Wooster. About the close of the civil war they came to Wisconsin. Mrs. Ward died in 1873 and Mr. Ward now resides with his son, Newton D., who is the youngest of the children. He was born in Wyoming Co., N. Y., Nov. 22, 1845, removed with his parents to Erie county, where he resided until 1864, then came to Wisconsin and first stopped at Viola, where his sister, Mrs. C. D. Turner, was living. He clerked in a store for some time and in 1863 enlisted in the 25th Wisconsin, but was rejected on account of his age, he being but seventeen. In January, 1864, he enlisted in the 2d Wisconsin Cavalry and served until the regiment was mustered out of service. He then returned to Viola and in 1869 married Sarah A. Brown, daughter of Abner Brown. He then removed to Du Page Co., Ill., and subsequently to Missouri. In 1873 he returned to Wisconsin and studied and practiced veterinary surgery for five years with John F. White, in Kenosha, since which time he has practiced at Viola. He is a republican and is at present town clerk. He is a member

of the I. O. O. F. and G. A. R. Mr. and Mrs. Ward have one daughter-Julia M.

EARLY EVENTS.

The first birth in the town of Liberty was J. N., a son of Allen and Mary Rusk, born Oct. 28, 1855.

The first death was a child of George P. Martin, who died in 1856, and the remains were buried on their farm on section 9. The same grounds were afterward selected for the town cemetery.

The first marriage in the town was Sanford Hanchett and Ann Harris, who were united in matrimony in 1855 by Allen Rusk, then justice of peace.

Another marriage which occurred about the same date, was that of Johnson Fuller and Sarah Graves. This couple had to present themselves to Robert Wilson, a justice of the peace, whe performed the ceremony under a large oak tree near the Indian mounds around which there hangs so much of mystery.

ORGANIC.

Liberty, the smallest town in Vernon county, was last to be organized. It was formerly a part of Viroqua town; but on account of being so far from the village of Viroqua, the people chose to be set off into a separate organization, which was done in 1858; Allen Rusk presenting a petition, signed by many of the citizens,, to the county board, requesting them to set off sections 1 to 24 inclusive, of township 12, range 3 west, into a civil town and that its name should be Liberty. The name was suggested by Mr. Rusk, presenter of the petition. The board granted the request, and accordingly an election was held April 6, 1858, at the school house on section 9, the former residence of George P. Martin. The following officers were elected: Allen Rusk, chairman, Samuel Graham and George P. Martin, supervisors; Samuel C. Fish, town clerk; John R. Joseph, treasurer; Allen Rusk and Samuel Graham, justices of the peace. Officers of 1883: D. B. Sommars. chairman, Robert Tate and M. Wilkinson,

supervisors; N. D. Ward, clerk; Allen Rusk, assessor; W R. Snead, justice of the peace and F. V. Bryson, constable.

SCHOOLS.

The first school in the town of Liberty was held in a building formerly used by George P. Martin as a residence. It was located on section 9. Emily Clauson was the teacher.

In 1884 the town had four school buildings. At this date a part of the scholars of the town attended the schools located in other towns, which had joint districts with Liberty.

RELIGIOUS.

In an early day the Methodist Episcopal denomination formed a class, which in 1884, belonged to the Liberty Pole circuit.

The United Brethren sect also organized a Church, some time after the war, and continued to keep up regular services till about 1878. These two are the only religious organizations ever perfected within the town.

CEMETERIES.

In 1884 there were two cemeteries within the town of Webster, both being situated on section 9. The oldest of these is the one located near the pioneer residence of George P. Martin. The first burials in this cemetery were two children of Mr. and Mrs. Martin. The second burrying place is on the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 9.

LIBERTY POSTOFFICE.

A postoffice was established at the residence of John R. Joseph, in 1859 or 1860; his wife. acting as postmistress. She was followed by Mrs. M. J. Wolford, who was succeeded by Mrs. M. A. Davis. Then Mrs. Wolford was again appointed, and in time was succeeded by Allen Rusk, who was postmaster in 1884. This office has always been kept at the house of the person receiving the appointment of postmaster, or postmistress, and for this reason, has been styled "the office on wheels," but it has always gone by the name of Liberty, and has served

well the needs of the people who have lived in that vicinity.

MILLS.

The first mill erected in the town of Liberty, was a saw mill, built by H. L. Turner, in 1856, which was located on section 24, and was furnished with power by the waters of the Kickapoo river. In 1857 Mr. Turner added a grist mill, the machinery of which he purchased in Buffalo, N. Y. He operated this mill till 1864, when he sold to A. C. Cushman, who operated the combined saw and flouring mill until 1879, when he built another mill, known as the Viola Mills. This mill was built a few fods down stream from the site of the old one. It is a wooden building, 32x48 feet, and is three stories high. It contains four run of stone. The river furnishes a head of six feet, which gives ample propelling power for the necessary machinery of the mill. This property is valued at $20,000 including the saw mill, which was still in oper

ation in 1884.

Another early saw mill was put in operation tinued a number of years. by William C. Groves, on section 4, which con

THE MOUNDS.

There are a number of Indian mounds, a minute description of which is given elsewhere in this work, within this town. There are to be seen about forty of these peculiar mounds, on section 24. They represent animals of the larger species, birds, reptiles etc., and are surrounded with no little mystery and curiosity.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Personal mention is made of the following named prominent citizens:

Robert and John Tate, two natives of Fort Wayne, Ind., accompanied their parents to this county in 1854. Robert was born Nov. 28, 1839, and was but fifteen years old when he came into the county. The father had entered land on section 18, and in 1862, Robert homesteaded 160 acres on section 23. He has since lived on this land, and has increased it by a purchase of twenty acres. In 1864 he enlisted in company