charge of his duties as Indian superintendent, he uniformly respected alike the opinions and labors of Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal and Catholic missionaries. The welfare, spiritually and temporarily, of the red man, appeared to be his controlling desire, from his engagement in the service of the Indian department to the time of his death. He frequently complained of what he considered the injustice done the Indians by the British government; and the neglect of them by the Church of his fathers; to him causes of great anxiety. He was universally respected by the Indians under his supervision, and received from them many tokens of their affectionate regard. He was in every sense a good man. His death occurred at Port Hope, on the northern shore of Lake Ontario, Feb. 16, 1875, in the ninety-sixth year of his age, leaving two daughters and a son; the latter, Rev. G. A. Anderson, of Penetanguishine, Ontario. CHAPTER XXX. THE TOWN OF BERGEN. They were followed the same year by Christian Allison, also a native of Norway, who located on section 13, and lived there till his death, in 1868. This territory is located in the western part | Andrew Emberson, settled on section 33, where of Vernon county, and is bounded on the north he now lives. by the county of La Crosse; on the east by the towns of Hamburg and Harmony; on the south by the town of Genoa, and on the west by the Mississippi river. The town comprises forty-five full congressional sections of land, and nine parts of sections, containing altogether about 30,000 acres. The Mississippi river washes the western line of the town, and along its entire length, and inland for two or three miles. Innumerabl sloughs and water courses are seen, all finding an outlet in the mighty "Father of waters." These sloughs are called Coon, Mormon, Middle, etc., and some are navigable, as Warner's Landing is located on one of the larger ones, just north of Bergen postoffice. The Coon river enters the town on the northeast quarter of section 25, and takes a westerly course through sections 26, 27, 28 and 33, emptying into Coon slough on section 32. The northeastern and southeastern portions of the town are not as well supplied with water courses as the central and western parts, but furnishes to the settlers an abundant supply of good spring water. EARLY SETTLEMENTS. In 1852 two natives of Norway, coming to this western country, met by chance, and both concluded to locate in what is now the town of Bergen. Halver Jorgenson selected his future home on the south side of Coon river, on section 26, and has since resided there. The other, In 1853 there were three new-comers in the town, all natives of Norway. Peter Olson settled on section 14, where he died in 1873; William Nelson located on section 26 and died some years ago; John Peterson made his home on section 22, where he still resides. A year later (1854), S. C. Stetson and family, natives of Otsego Co., N. Y., located on section 11, town 13, range 7 west-in the southern portion of the town, where Mr. Stetson was engaged in farming until 1880, the date of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Stetson were the parents of one child-Huldah-who is now postmistress at the Rest postoffice. Great Britain also furnished a settler in 1855. Samuel Sims, who resides on section 10, was born in Derbyshire, England, in 1821. In 1847, when he had arrived at the age of manhood, he came to the United States and first settled in New York. In 1851 he went to New Jersey; and in 1853 he went to Pennsylvania, and in 1855 came to the town of Harmony, entering eighty acres of land on section 6. In 1863 Mr. Sims enlisted in the United States navy, and was assigned to duty on the gunboat Shamrock, where he served until his discharge in 1864. He was married in 1848 to Mary Egal. Three children were given them-Elizabeth, wife of Samuel McKown, John W., who mar ried Miss Estella Henry, and Theodore. Mrs. Sims departed this life May 7, 1883, since which time Mr. Sims has made his home with his son, John W. Joel F. Outcelt settled in the town in 1855, on sections 22 and 23, town 13, range 7. In 1868 he moved to the town of Harmony. Engrebret Engh made a settlement in the same year. Engrebret Engh, who located here in 1855, was born in Norway in 1817. He came to the United States in 1853, and first settled in the eastern part of this State, In 1855 he came to Vernon county with his family and purchased from the government a farm of forty acres, which he has since increased to 120 acres, located on sections 26 and 27. He devotes the greater part of his time to his farm, and takes especial pride in the raising of good grain. In 1848 he married Martha Hanson, and four children have been born to them-Isaac, who married Thea Rorerud, and is a clerk in the postoffice at La Crosse; Hagbarth, who is a minister by profession. He graduated from Luther College, at Decorah, Iowa, in 1878; from the University of Christiana, in Norway in 1882, and from Luther Seminary, Madison, Wis., in 1883. In 1884 he will take charge of the Lutheran church, at Portland, Oregon. John M. married Lena Rindal, and at present is treasurer of the town of Bergen. Emma is the fourth and youngest child. Austria followed in the footsteps of Norway, and in 1856 gave to Vernon county a sturdy pioneer. Frank Parsch, one of the most prosperous farmers in the town of Bergen, was born in Austria, in 1831. In 1856 he came to America, and the same year followed the tide of emigration to Wisconsin. He came into Vernon county and bought a farm of eighty acres on section 11, which he has since increased to 100 acres. Mr. Parsch is an intelligent and enterprising citizen, and for eight continuous years was selected by his neighbors and friends to serve them in the capacity of town treasurer. He was married in 1861 to Frances Heikel. Six children have been sent to bless this union Amelia, wife of Peter Graw; Charles, Gustave, Henry, Anna and John. Among the settlers of 1856 was A. Davis, who came from Columbia county and located on section 14, town 13, range 7, where he was still living in 1883. In 1880 and 1861 several new comers made their appearance, and the following named settlers have made energetic farmers and highly respected citizens: Joseph Lisso, who resides on section 14, was born in 1846, in Germany, and when ten years of age his parents came to the United States, and first settled at Cleveland, Ohio, where they remained but two years. In 1858 they removed to LaCrosse, Wis., where they remained two years, and then came to Vernon county and settled on section 14, of Bergen town, where the father entered 120 acres of land. The father died a few years later, and the farm was given to Joseph, which he has increased to 200 acres. Mr. Lisso was married, in 1869, to Elizabeth Dengeline, by whom he has four children-Elizabeth, Mary, Anna and Emma. Mr. Lisso's mother and step-father, Mr. and Mrs. Dettove, are now residing with him. Mr. Lisso is one of the wide awake, enterprising and accommodating farmers of Bergen town. John Zink, a prominent German farmer, of the town of Bergen, was born in Germany in 1843. He received a very fair education, and in 1861 emigrated to the United States, and to this town in the same year. He entered forty acres of land on section 33, but left his farm in 1864 to join the 7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He served till the close of the Rebellion, when he received an honorable discharge. He returned home and has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. His farm has been increased to 160 acres and he has lately erected thereon a commodious and substantial dwelling house, at a cost of about $1,500. Mr. Zink was united in marriage, in 1863, to Mary Kissell, of Vernon county. Nine children were born to them-John, Joe, Sarah, Mary, George, Rhoda, Frank, Charles and Anna. Mrs. Zink departed this life in 1882. Reinhold Bay, who resides on section 23, was born in Prussia, in 1838. In 1861, when but twenty-three years of age, he came to America, and the westward tide bore him to the State of Wisconsin. He founded a new home in the town of Bergen, where he purchased 117 acres of land. This has been increased to 177 acres, and Mr. Bay is known as one of the leading farmers of this town. In 1872 he was elected to the office of school clerk, and at present is clerk of Bergen town. In 1864 he married Huldah Will, and the result of this union has been the birth of ten children--Emil, August, Reinhold, Matilda, Emma, Theodore, Gustave, Ida, Bertha, and Albert. FIRST THINGS. The first settlers were Halver Jorgenson and Andrew Emberson, who located in 1852. The first school was taught on section 12, by Polly Sprague. The first marriage was Peter Olson to Mar tha Olson, in 1854, Rev. Sylbrant performing the ceremony. The first person that died was Ellen, daughter of Christian and Caroline Olson. The first school house was built on section 12, in 1859. The first religious services were held at Britt's landing in 1857, by Revs. Smith and Nuzum. The first postoffice was at Bergen; lished in 1856. ORGANIC. estabestab In 1853 the board of county commissioners granted permission to organize a new town, to be known as the town of Bergen, nine miles long, from north to south, and six miles wide. at its widest part, from east to west. The first election was held at the residence of John Warner, and the following officers were chosen conduct the affairs of the new town for the ensuing year: Chairman, Orin Calkins; assistants, Philander Bartlett and Ransom Burnett; clerk, J. P. Harkness; superintendent of schools, John Raywalt; assessor, Lafayette Everson. The present officers of the town are as follows: Chairman of the board of supervisors, Wesley Pulver; assistants, Mathias Bryn and John Engh; assessor, Torger Olson. Peter Grow; clerk, Reinold Bay; treasurer, POSTOFFICES. There are located in the town of Bergen, three postoffices. Bergen postoffice was located, in 1856, on section 4 and John Warner was the first postmaster. He was succeeded by the present postmaster, John Cummings. The second office established was on section 21, and called Stoddard. Mr. Bochee was the first postmaster, and subsequently Peter Wandenskie, the present incumbent. Rest postoffice was first .opened in 1873, on section 11, and S. E. Stetson was made postmaster. At his death his daughter Huldah was appointed to fill the vacancy. The settlers of the town of Bergen are a steady, industrious and unassuming class of citizens, consequently the history of the town is as yet of a rather limited character. It will increase, both in volume and interest in the years to come. RELIGIOUS. In 1883 there were two religious societies within the town of Bergen-the Methodist Episcopal and German Lutheran. The former was organized by a class of twelve members, in 1860, and have always held their services at the Dudley school house, on section 25. The German Lutheran Church was organized in 1867 by Rev. Barts, who was succeeded by Rev. Rhine, and the latter by Rev. Ording, the present pastor. Some twenty members constituted the organizing congregation, and since then the membership has been increased to thirty-five. EDUCATIONAL. There are six school houses in the town of Bergen, with an aggregate valuation of $1,325. About 356 children attend these schools. CEMETERIES. The oldest burying ground in the town is the German church, on section 16. There are also one in the southwest part of the town, near the several small private cemeteries throughout the the town. CHAPTER XXXI. THE TOWN OF CHRISTIANA. This town takes its name from the capital of Norway, its first settler being of that nationality. It is situated on the north line of Vernon county, and comprises congressional township 14, range 4. It is bounded on the north by LaCrosse county, on the east by the town of Clinton, on the south by the town of Viroqua, and on the west by the town of Coon. The population of this town is largely Norwegian, and in 1883 it contained some of the choicest farms within the county. There is perhaps more tillable land in Christiana than almost any other in the northern tier of towns in the county. EARLY SETTLEMENT. The first settlement in this town was made in September, 1848, by Hans Olson Libakken, who with his family located on the southwest quarter of section 35. About the same time or a little later, an American named Carrier settled on sections 22 and 27, where he took up State lands. He lived there but a short time, but did a small amount of breaking and then sold out to a Norwegian and moved from the town. In 1849 and 1850 a large number of settlers located in this town. Ole Syverson came in 1849, and the following spring settled on the northeast quarter of section 35. Soon after he sold out to John Michelet and purchased other land on section 34, where he lived for a time, and then bought the forty acres where the village of Westby is now situated, and remained there till his death. Lars Christopherson was another settler of 1849; he located on section 35, which land he afterwards exchanged for 160 acres on section 34. He had been a soldier of the Mexican War; he was living in 1883 at Bloomingdale, Vernon county. Evan Peterson came the same year and settled on section 36, where some years afterwards he died. Ole Thorstenson also settled in 1849 on section 30. He was born in Norway in 1785, and died a few years after coming to this town. His wife was born in March, 1788; died Aug. 27, 1863. Their son, Henry O. Gulord, in 1883, was living on the land claimed by his father. Hans K. Larson came in 1849 and claimed land on sections 22, 23, 26 and 27; his tract was made up of forty acres from each section. His final purchase, however, was confined to eighty acres, forty on section 22 and forty on section 26. In 1883 he was comfortably surrounded at his home on section 22. John Michelet settled on section 35 in June, 1850. Another early settler was Hans K. Ramsrud, who located on section 28. John Olson Bergum settled on section 33 in the spring of 1850, and was a resident of the same place in 1883. Lars H. Galstad came the same year, locating on section 34. Among other settlers of 1850 were Iver P. Hegge, who settled on section 29 with his father, Peter Olson and Ingebreth Homsted, who located on section 11. He was a prominent and well-known citizen, respected |