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appointed agent for William Hempstead's mineral lands; he held this position ten years, nine months and nineteen days; he received and paid for all the mineral produced, averaging from 100,000 to 250,000 a week; he then came to Gratiot's Grove, and engaged in farming; was burned out and returned to Shullsburg; he then bought the Gates farm, consisting of 80 acres, where he now resides; he also owns 200 acres in White Oak Springs. He married Matilda Coyn in 1851; she was born in Ireland; they had ten children, nine of whom are living-three sons and six daughters.

SAMUEL RICKERT, retired, Shullsburg; born March 18, 1818, in Lancaster Co., Penn.; in 1823, he came with his parents to Wayne Co., Ohio; in 1829, he came to St. Joseph Co., Mich. ; in 1839, he came to Dubuque, in 1840, to Dixon, Ill., and, thence to Louisiana; in the spring of 1841, he came to La Fayette Co., commenced mining and has followed this since; in 1846, he, with Mr. Simmons, made a discovery which produced about 2,000,000 pounds; in 1850, he commenced mining on the land known as the Stephens Diggin's; continued this several years, producing about 10,000,000; in 1859, he commenced mining on his own land, known as the Rickert Diggings, taking out about 2,000,000; in 1865, he commenced operations on the McNulty, Brewster & Co. property, which he continued till March, 1880; he owns 25 acres of land, with his residence in town; also about 560 acres of land which he has rented; his residence is built of rock, and cost about $7,000. He married Miss Ellen Stephens, in 1850; she was born in Canada; they have two children-Fronie and Belle.

ABNER ROCK, farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. Shullsburg; born Feb. 8, 1830, in Logan Co., Ohio; when a boy, he came with his parents to Illinois; in 1840, they removed to La Fayette Co., where he has since lived; he owns 110 acres of land; he has been a member of the Town Board and School Director. Married Miss Fannie Field in 1854; she was born in New Diggings; they have three children—Anna, Charles and Eliza.

ROBERT SAMSON, farmer, Sec. 35; P. O. Shullsburg; born July 24, 1824, in Lincolnshire, England; in 1852, he came to New York, and in 1855, he came to Grant Co., Wis.; in 1863, he removed to his present farm, consisting of 160 acres of land; he is School Treasurer. He married Ann Marshall in 1847; she was born in Lincolnshire, England; they have seven children-Emma, Robert, Ann Eliza, Mary A., Rebecca, Sarah J. and Marshall.

HON. P. B. SIMPSON, attorney at law, Shullsburg; born Oct. 13, 1820, in Ashtabula Co., Ohio; at about the age of 21, he commenced reading law with Beecher & Cook, at Sandusky, Ohio; was admitted to the bar in 1843, at the Cincinnati Law College; in 1844, he came to Peru, Ind.; there commenced the practice of law; July 4, 1847, he came to Shullsburg, where he has since resided. Has been Chairman of the town of Shullsburg, Superintendent of the village, and Clerk of the Board of CountySupervisors, District Attorney for this county, represented this county in the Legislature during the winter of 1853; he has also been State Senator; was elected in the fall of 1856, and re-elected in 1868; served two terms; he was a candidate for Congress in 1863, was defeated by Amasa Cobb, by a small majority. He married Mary A. Beard in 1843; she was born in 1823 in Maryland; they have one son, Jefferson B., who graduated in 1879, at the Wisconsin State University, and now studying law with his father.

WILLIAM SIMPSON, boots and shoes, Shullsburg; born Dec. 19, 1829, in Leicestershire, England; in the fall of 1850, he came to New York; May 12, 1851, he came to Shullsburg; he learned this trade with Thomas Conway, and has followed it since. He has been a member of the Village Board; he is Superintendent of the Primitive Methodist Sunday School, has held this position the past sixteen years; he has also been a local preacher in this church the past ten years. Married Nannie Bottomley in 1855; she was born in England; at the age of 3 years she came with her parents to America; they have ten children-Sarah J., William C., George, David, Agnes A., Thomas, Edith, Clara, Mabel and Frank.

BENSON SPENSLEY, smelting works, Shullsburg; born April 5, 1835, in Yorkshire, England; when a boy he came to Dubuque, Iowa; in about 1855, he removed to Galena, Ill., there engaged in the smelting business, and so continued till February, 1875, when he came to Shullsburg and rented the Estey Furnace, which he has since managed. Married, Ann Harker, September, 1857; she was born in Yorkshire, England; they have six children-Rose Ann, Robert B., Alice E., George M., Sarah E. and Hannah I.

HENRY STEPHENS, retired, Shullsburg; born May 12, 1807, in Cornwall, England; in 1832, he came to Canada; in 1836, to Mineral Point, Wis. ; in 1840, he came to Shullsburg; he learned the carpenter's trade in England, worked at it there about five years, and four years in Canada; since coming here he has always engaged in mining; he owns 14 acres in town, with his residence, which cost about

$6,000; also business property in town, and farming lands. He has been a member of the Village Board about six years. Married Miss Blanch Leah in 1832; she was born in Cornwall, England, in 1803, died in 1871; had four children, two living-Ellen, now Mrs. Rickert, and Mary H., now Mrs. Hoover. MICHAEL TIERNEY, groceries and hardware, Shullsburg; born Nov. 15, 1827, in Ireland; July 4, 1846, he came to New York, thence to Baltimore, Md.; worked on repairs of the Baltimore & Ohio R. R.; August, 1850, he went to Copper Harbor, worked in the mines there till 1852, when he removed to Portage Lake, remained about two months, then returned to Copper Harbor; he then went to Isle Royal; in 1854, he came to Shullsburg, where he has since lived; he bought 80 acres of land, and commenced farming; this land he afterward sold; he now owns 228 acres, also his store, dwelling, and other property he has accumulated since coming to Shullsburg. Married Bridget Fleming, May, 1850; she was born in Ireland in 1830; they have three children-Michael, Ellen and Edward.

ADD A. TOWNSEND, general insurance agent, Shullsburg; born Aug. 20, 1838, in Shullsburg; his father came to Gratiot's Grove, La Fayette Co., May 12, 1827, and is one of the earliest settlers in the county; he worked with his father at mining and farming, till about 1871, when he engaged in farming implements; this he continued till 1877; he has been engaged in the insurance business since 1863. Enlisted in 1861, Co. I. 3d W. V. I.; was discharged on account of sickness April 23, 1863; participated in the battle of Winchester, Va., and others. Has been Village Marshal six years, Deputy Sheriff four years, and Sheriff two years; has also been Deputy United States Marshal. Married Marian E. Frewhela, Jan. 1, 1865; she was born in Scales Mound, Ill.; they have three children-Adda, Charles C. and Irena.

ELIJAH C. TOWNSEND, farmer, Sec. 9; P. O. Shullsburg; he was born July 14, 1818, in Steuben Co., N. Y.; in 1830, he came to Fayette Co., Ind.; May, 1833, he came to Shullsburg; he engaged in mining; continued at it for many years, and was engaged by Mr. Corwith, of Galena, to manage his mining interests here; he represented this county in the Legislature during 1860, and has held about all the town offices; he then went South and engaged in the live-stock trade, which business he now follows, as well as farming; during 1879, he traveled about 25,000 miles in shipping; he owns about 500 acres of land, well improved; he has a rock house, built in 1855, cost about $5,000; he attended the first school ever taught in Galena in the winter of 1833-34, taught by John Woods and wife. Married Fannie Wells in 1845, she was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y.; they have seven children, two sons and five daughters.

MRS. E. TRESTRAIL, Postmistress, Shullsburg; she was born Aug. 24, 1825, in Cornwall, England, daughter of William Barker. She was married to Robert Trestrail, Dec. 29, 1849; he was born in 1816, in Cornwall, England; he learned the boot and shoe trade in England, and, in 1851, came to Shullsburg and continued this business till his death, which occurred April 29, 1873; he was a member of the Village and School Boards; he was appointed Postmaster in 1869; Mrs. T. was appointed in 1873 to this position; she has three children--Robert M., Mary S. and William H.

A. J. VANDAGRIFT, proprietor of Shullsburg House; born Oct. 10, 1817, in Virginia; when a child he came to Springfield with his parents; here he learned the tailoring trade; in about 1833, he came to Athens, Ill., and there started a tailoring-shop; he continued this till 1846, when he came to La Fayette Co., Wis.; he then commenced in the live-stock business, and has followed this more or less ever since; he shipped the first car-load of stock between Freeport and Dubuque on the I. C. R. R. Married Armenta A. Barnett in 1812; she was born in Sangamon Co., Ill., in 1825, died in 1861; have four children-William T., Anna B., Thomas J. and John S. Second marriage to Mrs. Brockway, July, 1870; she was born in Vermont; she has two children by a former marriage.

EDWARD WEATHERBY, retired, Shullsburg; he was born June 20, 1810, in North Shields, Northumberland, England; there he followed mining till 1846, when he came to Dodge Co., Wis. ; the same year he removed to Shullsburg, where he has since resided; he at once commenced prospecting and mining, which he has followed since; he is now retired; he owns over 300 acres of land, also property in Shullsburg. He married Miss Mary A. Cole in 1836; she was born December, 1810, in England; they have one son-George E., who is Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, etc.; also engaged in mining; he was born Dec. 15, 1837, in Durham, England; at the age of 19, he went to Appleton, Wis., and attended the Lawrence University three years; he then returned to Shullsburg and opened a drug store; continued this about eleven years; he has been President of the Village Board; he has also represented the village on the County Board; is now one of the Presidential electors on the Republican ticket. Married Miss Ellen Priestley in 1859; she was born in Mineral Point, Wis.; they have four children-Nellie F., Lizzie W., Ned and Josie.

JOHN K. WILLIAMS, deceased, Shullsburg. The subject of this sketch was a native of McKean Co., Penn.; was born Aug. 22, 1822; after completing a regular course of studies, he commencee studying law at Meadville, Penn., where he was admitted to the bar; he at once commenced the practicg of his profession, which he continued till his death, which occurred April 4, 1880; he came to Shullsbur. in 1846, and since then has always been prominently identified with this county; he was a member of the Wisconsin Legislature in 1850; elected Chief Clerk of the Senate in 1852-53, and was Clerk of the Circuit Court of this county in 1855, and Regent of the University of Wisconsin in 1876; he was a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows' Orders; he owned and managed large tracts of farming lands. He married Mrs. Allen in 1848; she was born in Haverhill, N. H.; have two children-Clara L. and John P. She has one child by a former marriage-Amariah F.

GEORGE WORTLEY, merchant tailor, Shullsburg; born May 30, 1805, near Grantham, Lincolnshire, England; at about the age of 12, he went to Woolsthorp, near Belvoir Castle, there commenced to learn the tailoring trade; here he worked five years; he then went to Grantham, there worked at the trade eleven years; he also worked in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire; in 1850, he came to Shullsburg and commenced his present business, which he has followed since, except about two years farming; he owns his shop and residence in town; he has been Town Treasurer and Village Assessor. He married Catharine Wilkinson in 1826; she was born in Woolsthorp, England, March, 1805; died in 1838; had ten children, four living-Ann, George, Ellinor and Eliza. Second marriage to Mrs. Mary Linager in 1843; she was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1815; they have three childrenDavid M., who has been for the past two years a correspondent of the Galena Industrial-Rebecca H. and Mary J.

M. SHAW WRIGHT, farmer, Sec. 33; P. O. Darlington; born Jan. 10, 1829, in Carroll Co., Md.; he worked in a woolen factory till about 1852, when he came to Knox Co., Ohio; here he worked at carpentering and bridge building about two years; in 1854, he came to Madison, Wis., followed the carpenter's trade; in 1855, he removed to Sauk Co., built a mill, which he afterward sold, with 160 acres of land; in 1857, he came to La Fayette Co., where he has since lived and engaged in farming; he now owns 280 acres of land; his buildings are as good if not the best in this county; he built his residence in 1875; cost about $3,000; his barn cost about $1,000, and has other valuable improvements. Married Miss Louisa M. Russell in 1859; she was born in Bradford Co., Penn.; they have two children-Oscar and Emma.

TOWN OF NEW DIGGINGS.

JOSEPH AYER, farmer, Sec. 36; P. O. Etna; born June 11, 1814, in Durham, England; in 1842, he came to La Fayette Co.; he worked at the carpenter's trade here a number of years, having learned this trade in England; he first bought 80 acres of land, and now owns 260 acres inproved; he has been Secretary of the School Board and Town Supervisor. Married Isabella Eales in 1838; she was born in 1816, in Durham. England; had seven children; five living; three sons and two daughters.

J. F. BIRKBECK, firm of Birkbeck & Son; P. O. Etna; he was born in February, 1825, in Yorkshire, England; in 1850, he came to Grant Co., Wis., thence to Iowa; he then went to California in 1865, he came to New Diggings; they commenced their present business in 1878; his son Turner is Deputy Postmaster, and manages this business. Mrs. Birkbeck is also a native of England; was born in 1831; they have three children-Turner, John W. and Anna.

ISAAC BIRD, farmer, Sec. 36; P. O. New Diggings; born Sept. 8, 1825, in Cumberland, England; in about 1854, he came to this township; followed mining and farming. Married Mrs. Thompson in 1868; she was born in England; she owns 372 acres of land; they have four children-George A., Laura, Fred and Lewis; she had six children by a former marriage.

JOSEPH R. BIRD, farmer, Sec. 35; P. O. Etna; born Aug. 22, 1832, in Canada; in about 1855, he came to New Diggings; he owns 20 acres of land. Married Miss Mary Robinson, in 1860; she

was born in Cumberland, England; they have seven children, three sons and four daughters.

ROBERT H. CHAMPION, deceased; was born Feb. 25, 1792, in Addison Co. Vt.; in 1827, he came to La Fayette Co., and soon after returned to St. Louis, where he remained till about 1833, when he came to New Diggings, where he lived till his death, which occurred September, 1874; in coming

here he at once commenced mining, which he had always followed; he made a discovery of the richest deposits ever known in this locality; from this he acquired a large fortune. He married Miss Elizabeth Cobb, in 1825; she was born June 10, 1807, in North Carolina; when a child she came to Madison, Ala., with her parents; she owns over 400 acres of land; had six children, five living-Charles B., Mary E., Eliza C., Emeline and Julia A.; Ellen R. died in 1872, aged 36 years.

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C. B. CHAMPION, mining, New Diggings; born July 1, 1829, in St. Louis, Mo.; in about 1833, he came with his parents to New Diggings; he followed mining till 1865, when he removed to Darlington and opened a general store; continued this business about ten years, when he closed out his stock and returned to New Diggings, and resumed mining. He married Miss Ellen Townsend, in 1865; she was born in Shullsburg; they have two children-Julia A. and Cora B.

FRANCIS CRAIG, mining and farming, Sec. 25; P. O. New Diggings; born Nov. 17, 1821, in Durham, England; in 1850 he came to New Diggings, and at once commenced mining, which he has followed since; he, with some others, organized a company in 1870, known as the Craig Mining Company, which is now being operated; his mining interests have been more extensive than any other in this locality; he run a level about three-quarters of a mile, at an average cost of $10 per foot; he owns about 200 acres of land, and his grounds about his residence are nicely laid out; he has been Chairman of the Town Board, and has held about all the township offices. Married Jane Coulthard, in 1849; she was born in 1819, in Durham, England; died in 1857; have three children-Joseph, Mary A. and Frank; second marriage to Jane Coulthard, in 1858; she was born in Durham England, in 1839; died in 1858; third marriage, to Margaret Wilson Sept. 13, 1859; have four children-Margaret J., Ruthetta, Ida B. and Cuthbert W.

JOHN CURWEN, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. New Diggings; born May 1, 1826, in Lancashire, England; in 1852, he came to New Diggings; he owns 194 acres of land; he has been Township Supervisor and Chairman of the Town Board. Married Ann Woodhouse, in 1849; she was born in England, in 1831; they had eleven children, eight living-three sons and five daughters.

AMMI DODGE, farmer, Sec. 36; P. O. Etna; born June 5, 1809, in Hillsboro, N. H.; when a child he came with his parents to Derby, Vt.; in 1832, he came to New Diggings; he owns about 550 acres of land; he was the first Chairman of the Town Board, and has held about all the township offices; he was Sheriff one term. Married Ann E. Dering, in 1849; she was born in Pennsylvania, in 1830; they

have six children-five sons and one daughter.

WARREN JOHNSON, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Benton; born July 12, 1804, in Butternut Co., N. Y.; in 1806, he came with his parents to Ohio; May 24, 1828, came to Galena; in the fall he came to his present locality, where he has since lived; he served as a home guard in the Black Hawk war; he borrowed from his brother enough money to enter 170 acres of land; he now owns 260 acres; has been Assessor, Clerk and Treasurer of the Town Board. Married Alzina Bean, in 1831; she was born in 1814, in Missouri; they had twelve children, ten living-three sons and seven daughters. His son in-law, W. W. Murphy, was born Oct. 2, 1844; his father came to La Fayette Co. in 1827; died Oct. 12, 1860, aged 78 years; he owns 96 acres of land, entered by his father; he has been County Commissioner and Chairman of the Town Board; he built the Crescent Mill in 1867-68; cost, about $10,000; this he disposed of in 1873-74. Married Elizabeth Johnson, in 1863; she was born in this township; have six children— Elmer, Cora, Blanche, James, Allie and William.

ABRAHAM LOONEY, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Etna; born Sept. 16, 1800, in Sullivan Co., East Tenn.; in 1817, he came with his parents to Randolph Co., Ill.; in the fall of 1827, he came to his present locality; he is one of the first settlers in the county; he first followed mining, then he engaged in smelting, which he followed a number of years; he has owned over one thousand acres of land, and now owns about 500 acres. Married Huldah Bean, Dec. 29, 1833; she was born in 1815, in East Tennessee; died in 1847; has eight children, four living-Melville, Henry, James and Abraham; second marriage to Mrs. Gear, in 1856; she was born in 1795; she died Feb. 22, 1880; she had four children by a former marriage-William, Oscar, Sophronia and Angelica.

SOLOMON OLIVER, farmer, Sec. 25; P. O. New Diggings; born Oct. 4, 1806, in Anderson Co., Tenn.; in 1818, he removed with his parents to Alabama; in 1824, he came to Randolph Co., Ill.; in 1827, he came to his present locality; he owns 480 acres of land, part he entered; he has followed mining, smelting, and is now engaged in farming; in 1841, he built a smelting furnace, employed about. ten hands to run it; he carried this on about four years; he has always been liberal to the poor and needy, and on one occasion, about thirty years ago, a neighbor's family borrowed $10; they soon afterward went away, and nothing more had been heard of them, when a few months since he came back and returned the

$10, which was entirely forgotten by Mr. Oliver. He has been Chairman of the Town Board; has also been a member of the Territorial Legislature. He married Sarah Gillis, in 1833; she was born in Wilmington, Del., in 1811; died Dec. 25, 1844; have two children-Charles S. and Edmund G.; second marriage to Sarah Titus, in 1847; she was born in Clinton Co., Ohio, in 1814; they had six children, five living-Sarah G., Ann M., May F., Stephen D. and Rufus A. Mr. Oliver served in the Winnebago and Black Hawk wars; he was detailed by Col. Strode to carry express matter from Galena to different localities in this Territory; his son, Stephen D., was born March 13, 1856. He married Miss Josephine Townsend, October, 1879; she was born in Shullsburg Township; they have one child, Fannie E.

THOMAS PEACOCK, farmer, Sec. 26; P. O. New Diggings; born Sept. 10, 1818, in Yorkshire, England; in 1840, he came to New Diggings; he bought 20 acres of land, which he afterward sold; he then bought 140 acres, and now owns a well-improved farm, consisting of 380 acres ; he is a member of the Town Board. Married Mary Hutchinson in 1839; she was born, in 1820, in Eagland; they have ten children-Ann, Mary J., Margaret, Joseph, John F., George, Sarah, Robert W., Henry and Emma.

ROBERT S. PEASLEY, farmer, Sec. 12; P. O. Etna; born February, 1820, in Merrimack Co., N. H.; when about 8 years old, he came with his parents to Erie Co., N. Y.; in about 1834, he came to Michigan; in 1840, he came to Chicago; in the fall of 1841, he came to La Fayette Co. and engaged in mining; he has been engaged in merchandising, from 1853 to 1862, in Shullsburg, Iowa City, Iowa; Grand Rapids, Wis.; Marshalltown, Iowa, and Etna, Wis.; he owns about 400 acres of land; he had but $1.75 when he first came to this county. Married Burzina Merritt in 1847; she was born in Vermont, in 1814; she died March, 1880.

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WILLIAM PEDLEY, farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Etna; born April 22, 1818, in Yorkshire England; in 1848, he came to town of New Diggings; he owns over 300 acres of land; has been fifteen years Treasurer of the School Board. Married Mrs. Harker; she was born in Durham, England; he has four children by a former marriage, three sons and one daughter.

JOHN REDFEARN, farmer, See. 26; P. O. New Diggings; born Nov. 17, 1819, in Durham, England; in 1835, he came to Schuylkill Co., Penn.; in 1838, he came to Galena; in 1839, he came to New Diggings and commenced mining; he is now engaged in farming, and owns 237 acres of land, which he has well improved; when he first came to this town he bought but 10 acres, and, by strict attention to business, has acquired a very fine property; has been Clerk of the School Board about nine years. Married Alice Fawcett in 1849; she was born, in 1826, in Yorkshire, England; they have six children-George W., Elizabeth A., Hannah J., Elnora A., Mary Etta and Susanna Isabel.

THOMAS ROBINSON, farmer, Sec. 35; P. O. Etna; born July 10, 1811, in Cumberland, England; Aug. 12, 1844, he came to La Fayette Co.; he worked at the blacksmith's trade in New Diggings about nine years; he has since been engaged in mining and farming; he owns 516 acres of land; he has been Justice of the Peace, Town Supervisor and has held about all the township offices. Married Ann Lee in 1833; she was born, in 1804, in England; they have four children-Ruth, Isaac, Mary and

Mathew.

JOHN RUDD, farmer, Sec. 1; P. O. Etna; born March 27, 1839, in Westmoreland, Eng.; when about 2 years old, he came with his parents to America; in about 1845, they came to La Fayette Co.; he owns about 111 acres of land; followed mining till about 1856; since then he has been farming; his father died March 14, 1858, aged 43 years; has been Justice of the Peace; for the past six years District School Clerk; has been Chairman of the Town Board; is Chairman of the Republican Central Committee. He enlisted in 1862 in Co. C, 33d W. V. I.; was discharged in July, 1863, on account of physical disability.

JOSEPH SEDGWICK, farmer, Sec. 27; P. O. New Diggings; born March 11, 1815, in Durham, Eng.; in 1837, came to Pennsylvania; in 1838, to Missouri; in 1839, to Shullsburg; in 1841, he came to New Diggings, where he has since lived; he first made a claim of ten acres, and kept adding as his means would allow, and now owns 280 acres well improved. He has been School Director and a member of the Town Board. Married Hannah Peacock in 1847; she was born in England in 1825; died in 1874; have eight children-Thomas, John W., George S., Joseph A., Sarah J., Elizabeth A., Hannah E. and Ruth E.

JOHN SPENSLEY, farmer, Sec. 27; P, O. New Diggings; born April 22, 1853, in this township; his father came here from England in about 1849; died in April, 1874, aged 66 years; he owns 240 acres land. Married Elizabeth Travis in March, 1876; she was born in Illinois; they have three children-John W., George and Simon,

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