- ALPHEUS HAROLD WOODLE, whose venerable figure has for years
been a familiar sight in
- Monroe, is one of the oldest settlers of Green county, and
he has a personal knowledge of early scenes and events that covers
more than sixty years in this county. He has seen the transformation
of a wilderness, and has rendered no trifling contribution to
the making of the great commonwealth where once prevailed the
wilderness and the unbroken forest. In his advanced age he commands
the respect of a host of friends, and many there are who will
sadly learn some day of the breaking of the golden thread that
keeps such men as he alive to recall the courage and loyalty
of a vanished generation.
- Mr. WOODLE was born in Fayette county, Penn., Oct. 10, 1823,
a son of Joseph and Hannah
- (BATTON) WOODLE, both natives of that State. They had six
children, only two of whom are now living: Alpheus H.; and Sarah,
wife of Stephen MACKEY, of Monroe. The father was a farmer, and
came to Wisconsin in 1836, selecting a farm in Sylvester township,
Green county, and the next year he brought his family to it,
and opened a new home in the West. In 1856 Mr. WOODLE sold this
farm, and went to Fillmore county, Minn., where he remained but
a few years. He was then established in Clayton county, Iowa,
and later in Jasper county, Mo., where he died when over seventy
years of age. His wife died in 1855, at the age of sixty-five
years. He was a man of prominence in those early days, and served
as sheriff of Green county under the territorial laws. His father,
Thomas WOODLE, was a native of Delaware, and a life-long farmer,
and came West with his son in 1836 and entered land. He lived
to be about seventy years of age, and was the father of five
sons and four daughters. Thomas BATTON, the father of Hannah
BATTON, lived in Fayette county, Penn., and died there at an
advanced age. He was a farmer, and had a small family.
- Alpheus H. WOODLE was thirteen years old when he came with
his parents into Green county,
- and here he has continuously resided since 1837. He grew
to manhood in Sylvester township, and lived there until the fall
of 1899, when he moved into the city of Monroe - a brief summary
of so long and useful a life, a life of singular modesty and
of genuine worth. When a boy Mr. WOODLE attended the district
school, and lived with his parents until he reached man's estate.
When he became of age, or a little before, he made a claim of
160 acres, which he partly improved. He then sold that, and bought
his father's farm, which consists of 126 acres. This he made
his home, and still owns, although he has now settled in the
city to enjoy whatever comfort there may be in the life of the
town, as contrasted with the pleasures that belong to the country.
- On Nov. 7, 1844, occurred the marriage of Alpheus H. WOODLE
and Miss Hannah FINCHER,
- a union that has proved singularly fortunate, and which has
been blessed by the birth of six sons and six daughters, Mahala
Jane, Susanna Eslie, Sarah Delilah, Mary Elmira, Joseph William,
Joel Allen, John Alpheus, Thomas Emsley, Hannah Cornelia, Ellsworth
Sherman Grant, Harvey Lyon and Theo May. Susanna Eslie married
William COLDREN, and lives in Spring Grove township, Green county;
they have two children living, Frederick and Chauncey. Sarah
Delilah married Seth AUSTIN, of Monroe, and has two children,
Rolland and Alice. Mary Elmira died when nine years old. Joseph
William married Matilda CROW, who bore him three children, Grace,
Levern and Lucy Fay, and is now dead; he married for his second
wife Rose REEN. Joel Allen died when four years old. John Alpheus
married Miss Elizabeth CATO, and lives in Page county, Iowa;
they have five children, Alice, Gay, Vesta, Effie and Chauncey.
Thomas Emsley married Lelah STEVENSON, and lives in Monroe. Hannah
Cornelia died when two years old. Ellsworth Sherman Grant lives
on the old homestead, with his wife, who was Etta HILL; they
have one child, Cassius. Harvey Lyon married Carrie Bowen NOLD,
and is the father of three children, Reginald Emsley, Mildred
Lola and Dorothy Catharine. Theo May died when seven years old.
- Politically Mr. WOODLE is a pronounced Republican. He cast
his first vote for Buchanan, but
- when the division of the parties became more defined on the
question of slavery he ranged himself with the Republicans, and
votes that ticket today. He was road supervisor one term, and
pathmaster several terms. Mrs. WOODLE's father was a native of
England, where his father worked in the Queen's Ward, and her
mother was born in South Carolina. Mr. FINCHER was the father
of four sons and seven daughters, and three of his children are
now living, John, of Colfax, Wash.; Hannah, wife of Mr. WOODLE;
and Emsley, of Penawawa, Washington.
- Mr. WOODLE and his noble wife have lived together fifty-six
years, and she has faithfully and
- bravely done her part in the great work of life. A large
family has grown to manhood and womanhood under her motherly
care, and now they rise up and call her blessed. She has been
a member of the Christian church since childhood.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin,"
(c)1901 Union Publishing; pp. 478-479.
-
- Courtesy of Carol.
|