William C. Stelting, one of the sons mentioned, was born in Prussia, in 1828, and accompanied his father through to this town. Mr. Stelling entered for himself eighty-nine acres of land on sections 14 and 23, and by industry and economy has been enabled to increase his possessions to 209 acres. He is one of the prominent citizens of the town, and when it was first set off, served one year as town clerk Since that period he has officiated as chairman of the town board fifteen years, and treasurer three years. In 1860 he married Sarah A., daughter of John and Permelia Markle. They have nine children-Permelia E., Lizetta E., Otto J., Witto A., Samary M., Alfretta and Loretta ( twins, aged nine years), Waldo and Essie.

Frederick Stelting was born in Prussia, in 1834, and accompanied his parents to America when quite small. In Hendricks Co., Ind., he learned the cooper trade, and worked at it unti his removal to this town, in 1855. In connec tion with a brother, he located 200 acres of land on section 14, where he has since lived He has been energetic and frugal, and has ip creased his farm to 311 acres, most of which is well improved. He served as one of the town supervisors for one year, and in 1863 married Miranda Markle, who was born in 1844. Seven children have been given them, but only two survive-Herman T. and Austin G. The deceased are C. A., Bird C., Oscar D., Alice and Elsie.

John Revels was but a boy of ten years when his father came into the town of Forest, in 1855. He was a native Hoosier, and born in Orange Co., Ind., in 1845. He grew up to manhood in the town of Forest, and has always made this his home. He has been engaged in agricultural pursuits through life, and now owns forty acres of land on section 6. In 1863 he enlisted in the 3d Wisconsin Cavalry, and was discharged in 1865, on account of his

burnt powder. Mr. Revels was married, in 1865, to Tempa C. McCord, of Vernon Co., Mo. They are the parents of six childrenMary J., Eddie M., John W., Court, Ettie and Herman. Mr. Revels is a member of the Richland United Christian Conference, and is trying to vindicate God's Holy word.

C. M. Carr, one of the most prominent attorneys at law, and business men and farmers of this part of Vernon county, was born in Thompkins Co., N. Y., in 1817. When eleven years of age, his parents removed to Cuyuga county, in the same State, where our subject grew to be a man, and was engaged in farming and milling. In 1855 he removed to Waukesha Co., Wis., and for two years was engaged in the saw-mill business. He then entered 120 acres of land in the town of Hillsborough, in this county, and employed his time at farming. He made his home there for twenty-four years, increasing his land to 140 acres and practicing the profession of law. In 1866, he was appointed by the governor, to the position of supervisor for the eastern district of the county, when the entire county board consisted of but three members, and held the office of justice of the peace for two terms. In 1881 he disposed of his farm, and purchased eighty acres of land on section 23, in Forest town, where he has since resided. For the past twenty-five years, Mr. Carr has enjoyed an extensive practice in the justice courts, and is a man highly esteemed by all. He was married, in the winter of 1845, to Emily Pierce. They have five children-Isaac F., Harry B., Casion M., Lucia M. and Nelson R.

Richard J. Harris, who has been a citizen of the town of Forest for twenty-one years, was born in Rock Co, Ill., in 1848. In 1853 he was taken by his parents to Stoughton, Wis., and there remained for two years. They then removed to the village of Munford, in Grant county, and there engaged in keeping hotel for two years. Their next move was to Richland Center, Richland county, and three years later (in 1860) to the town of Forest. The elder

Mr. Harris bought 160 acres of land on section 16. He now resides on section 14. He owns 480 acres of land, and is one of the most thriving and prosperous farmers in the town. On Jan. 1, 1872, he married Harriet Trail, and the fruits of this union have been the birth of five children. Three are living-William H., Nettie J. and George T. Cora, the oldest, died in 1874, and Franklin J. in 1881.

J. J. Marshall, a native of the Buckeye State, settled here in 1865. He was born in Jefferson Co., Ohio, in 1842, and in 1856 accompanied his parents to the town of Union in this county. In 1865 Mr. Marshall purchased a farm of eighty acres on section 31, and immediately moved thereon. He has increased his farm to

220 acres, and is considered one of the representative men of this town. During his residence here he has been honored with the office of town supervisor three years, and town clerk five years, was assistant postmaster in the State Senate, in 1883. He was united in marriage, in 1863, to Mary S. Poorman. They have nine children-John L., Elihu F., Mary E., Flora E., Moses B., Sidney J., Nettie, Esther A. and Jessie F.

John Lathrop, one the prospering farmers of the town of Forest, was born in Cambridge, Vt., in 1838. He there resided until 1863, when he went to Franklin Co., Vt., where he engaged in farming for five years. In 1868 he came to the town of Forest, and purchased eighty acres of land on section 22, which farm he has increased to 200 acres. Mr. Lathrop was married in 1861 to Delia Leach, by whom he had two children-Charlie and Nellie. He was so unfortunate as to lose his wife in 1878. He was again married in 1880 to Louisa Woods, and they have one child-Adelia. His daughter Nellie is now the wife of Lawrence Gregory. Mr. Lathrop has been one of the constables of Forest town for five years.

John Shaw was born in 1829, in New Hampshire, where he remained until 1841, when he removed to Milwaukee, Wis., and shortly after

to Waukesha county, where he lived twentyseven years, and then removed to the town of Forest, where he engaged in farming. Mr. Shaw now owns a pretty little farm of forty acres on section 32, where he resides. He was married in 1856 to Helen Hay, by whom he had one child. Mrs. Shaw died in 1857. Mr. Shaw again married in 1859 Henrietta Beebe, and they have six children-Helen, Henry, Charles, William, Inez and Milan. Helen is now the wife of Eli Sherman. Mr. Shaw was a member of the 7th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry; enlisted in 1864, and was honorably discharged in 1865.

Elijah Bass was born in North Carolina in 1836, and his parents removed to Ohio the same year. He lived in the Buckeye State until 1870, when he came to the town of Forest and purchased thirty-two acres of land on section 28, where

he now resides. Mr. Bass has increased his farm to 152 acres. Mr. Bass was married in 1861 to Elizabeth O'Neal, born in 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Bass are the parents of twelve children— Ransom, aged twenty-one, Matilda, aged twenty, William, aged nineteen, Zachariah, aged seventeen, Mansfield, aged fifteen, Caroline, aged eleven, Ardelia, aged nine, Victoria, aged seven, Martha, aged four, Jewell, aged three, and Simon, aged one and half years. Matilda is now the wife of Warren Newell.

J. C. Rodgers was born in 1855, and is a native of Rock Co., Wis., where he remained until 1860, when his parents then removed to the town of Greenwood in this county. In 1870. Mr. Rodgers came to the town of Forest, and purchased 160 acres of land on section 6, where he now lives. Mr. Rodgers was married, in 1875, to Phebe Gaudy, who became the mother of one child- Myrtle. Mrs. Rodgers died in 1878, and he subsequently married Mrs. Jane Pointer. Mrs. Rodgers had one daughter by her former husband—Elizabeth. Mr. Rodger's father, A. W., was born in 1829, in New York. His mother, Sarah, was

born in 1837, in New York, and is now. living with her husband at North Hudson, Wis.

Napoleon B. Lathrop, a brother of John Lathrop, was born in Cambridge, Vt., in 1841, where he resided thirty years, and having learned the trade of carpenter and joiner he went to Canada in 1871, to work at his trade. He remained there two years, and in 1873 removed to the town of Forest, where he remained but a short time, and then went to Clayton Co., Iowa, and worked at his trade for three years, and at the end of that time he returned to Forest town, where he has since lived. When he first came he purchased eighty acres of land on section 22, which he now owns. Mr. Lathrop was married in 1880 to Jane Smith. They have two children-Harvey and Eliza. In 1861 Mr Lathrop enlisted in the 2d regiment, Vermont Volunteer Infantry, and at the battle of Savage Station was wounded in the left shoulder; and at the battle of Fisher's Hill he was wounded in the right side of the face; and

at the battle of Cold Harbor was shot out of a tree with wounds in the back and right hip. At this time he was acting as a sharp shooter, having been detailed in 1863 as one of the Vermont sharp shooters.

Jesse Delaney was born in Vernon Co., Ind., in 1860. He is a son of Robert and Sarah Delaney. The latter died in 1877, and the former in the town of Forest, in 1880. Mr. Delaney grew to manhood in his native county, and in 1877, while a young man, decided to come west and build up his home among the people of the Badger State. He came to Forest town in 1877, and owns forty acres of land on section 8, where he now resides. In 1882 he was united in marriage to Emma, daughter of William M. and Mary A. Carson. Mr. and Mrs. Delaney have

cow, in this State, and lived there fifteen years. In 1877 he came to Vernon county and purchased eighty acres of land on section 33, where he now resides. In 1864 Mr. Kile and son George enlisted in the 37th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and were discharged in 1865. Mr. Kile was married in 1840 to Huldah Van Norman, who was born in 1821. They have four children-George, who married Laura Burdick; Mary, wife of Wallace Spears; John, who married Julia Salisbury, and Guila, who married Catharine Salisbury.

John H. Wells was born in New York, in 1839, and lived there until he was eighteen years of age. He then came west to Dane Co., Wis., and there engaged in farming until 1862. In the latter year he enlisted in the 23d regiment, ably discharged in 1865. He participated in Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was honorthe following named skirmishes and battles: Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Port Gibson, Champion Hill, Black River Bridge, siege of Vicksburg, siege of Jackson, Miss., Spanish Fort and Grand Caton. At the latter he was taken prisoner on Nov. 3, 1863, and was confined until Dec. 25, 1863. At the close of the war Mr. Wells returned to Dane county, and there remained until 1877, when he removed to the town of Forest, and purchased eighty acres of land on section 1, where he now lives. He was married in 1860 to Maria Thompson, who was born in 1839. They have one daughterHattie, aged ten years. Mrs. Wells is the daughter of James and Lydia Thompson.

In

one son-Gideon.

James Kile was born in 1820, and received a common school education. In 1845 he re

October, 1879, he settled on section 8, in Forest township, where he has since been engaged

The town of Franklin is situated in the southern part of Vernon county, and comprises parts of congressional townships 11 and 12, ranges 4 and 5. It has an area of fifty-two sections or about 33,280 acres. It is bounded by the towns of Jefferson and Viroqua on the north, Viroqua and Kickapoo on the east, Crawford county on the south, and the towns of Sterling and Jefferson on the west.

The only streams within the borders of this town are a few small creeks, among which are, Tainters, a branch of the Kickapoo river, and a branch of the lower Bad Ax river. The general surface of the country is very rough and hilly. Among the objects of natural curiosity in this town is "Monumental Rock," which is described in another chapter.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

To John McCullough is ascribed the honor of having made the first actual settlement in the town of Franklin. He came in 1844 and afterward entered land and did some breaking. The next spring he brought his family on. His claim was on section 25 of township 12, range 5 west. In 1852 he, with a number of others, went to California, remained a year in the gold region, and wrote to his brother that he was about to return, but he was never afterward heard of, and it is supposed he perished on the plains.

In 1845 George P. Taylor located on section 30 of township 12, range 4. He remained till 1882, at which date he sold to J. C. Adkins. Henry Siefert, a bachelor, came in 1845 and settled on section 18, where he built a log

house. His mother soon came and kept house for him a number of years, when they removed to Iowa.

Another settler of 1845 was Samuel Rice and his brother Hiram. The former brought his family with him. His wife died a year or two

after their arrival and he married again, but left his family and moved to Mackinaw, Mich. Abram Stiles settled at Brookville on section 15, in 1846 or 1847.

Dr. Swain and Rev. James A. Cook also came the same season.

Edward Davis, who was among the pioneers of the town, settled on section 35, township 12, range 5. He was a resident of the county in 1884, but not living on the same land on which he first settled.

Andrew Briggs, a man of considerable ability, and who was afterward a member of the State Assembly, settled in the town at an early time. He removed to Readstown, where he died.

Michael Hinkst settled on the north half of the southwest quarter of section 31, township 12, range 4, Aug. 6, 1847, where he was still living in 1884.

Another early settler was Anson Tainter, whose settlement dates back to 1848. He was born in Virginia, Aug. 19, 1823. His father was Stephen Tainter, a native of Massachusetts. A. G. Tainter married Rachel J. Tobler. Mr. Tainter is one of the well known and well to do farmers of this town; his residence is on section 11. He owns over 400 acres of land in Vernon county, and 160 acres in Crawford county. Mr. and Mrs. Tainter have been

blessed with twelve children, ten of whom were living in 1884.

Among other settlers in the town was Ransom Lamb, who removed from Virginia, his native State, to Illinois, and from there to Franklin township in 1850, where he remained till his death, in 1871.

Besides those mentioned as being among the first settlers were: George Pike, L. D. Smith, John Britt, Andrew Henry, James Lawrence, William Utley, E. Inman, Ira Wixcox, Isaiah Adams and Daniel Read, who built the Readstown mill. All of these came prior to 1853.

C. C. Fortney, an early settler, was the son of Christian O. Fortney, who was born in Norway, and came to America in 1856, settling in the town of Franklin, on section 10, township 11, range 4, where he remained till his death, Jan. 11, 1869. He left a wife and two children. C. C. is the only one now living. He was born in Norway in 1846. He married Margaret Jones, daughter of Elling Johnson, an early settler of the town of Liberty. Mr. and Mrs. Fortney have five children-Christine, Christopher, Gustave, Carrie and Eliza.

ORGANIC.

The town of Franklin was the last territory in the county to which the name "Bad Ax" was applied. It was changed from Bad Ax to "Loch Haven," by the board of supervisors, April 8, 1857. The following year, 1858, it was given the name of Franklin.

No record having been preserved, nothing certain can be determined upon as to who the first officers were. Those of 1883 were: Chris Ellefson (chairman), Arne Larson, William Clawater, supervisors; Knute Peterson, treasurer; W. W. Johnson, assessor; Forest F. W. Alexander, clerk; O. S. Henry and Sidney Higgins, justices of the peace.

Forest F. W. Alexander is the present town clerk of the town of Franklin. He resides on section 18, town 12, range 4 west. He has fifty acres of land, which he purchased of Harriet Dulap. He was born in Broome Co., N. Y., and

came to Wisconsin with his father, who settled at Muscoda, Grant county. The family came to Vernon county in 1869 and settled at Liberty Pole. The father is now deceased. Forest has been generally engaged in clerking. He married Mary Crume, whose father was an early settler of the town of Viroqua. They have three children-Florence M., Grace and Rue E.

SCHOOLS.

The first school house in this town was made of logs, and located near New Brookville on section 17, town 12, range 4. In it was taught the first school in the town of Franklin; Lorenzo Pierce was the first teacher.

In 1883 the town was divided into ten school districts, commencing to number at "three." The first school building in district No. 3, which was built at an early day, served until 1877, when a new frame structure was built. From the date of the erection of this building. the interest in school matters has increased.

District No. 4 embraces the territory around the village of Brookville. A new building su perceded the old pioneer house, in 1878, which has accommodation for about fifty pupils.

In district No. 5 the school house is situated

in a beautiful grove, and is finely furnished with the most improved style of seats etc. The scholars are mostly Norwegian, who in winter time, furnish a large attendance and manifest

much interest.

District No. 6 embraces what is known as Liberty Pole. Here a commodious school building has been erected, which is well supplied with the best of seats and apparatus, including maps and charts. This school is always well attended and successfully conducted.

District No. 7 is chiefly made up of Germans and Norwegians. The school district is provided with a good building, enclosed by a substantial fence, and being near a fine grove is a very attractive place.

District No. 8, at that date, had an inferior building, in an out of the way place. However