HISTORY OF REEDSBURG AND THE UPPER BARABOO VALLEY

PART IX

Mr. Glen Howland, for twenty years an active business man of Reedsburg, was born to Frank E. and Estella (Stewart) Howland, in Reedsburg, Dec. 16, 1881; Reedsburg has always been his home. His paternal grandfather, Thomas H. Howland, was born in 1832, a native of New York, and died in 1904; his wife, whom he wedded in New York, was Lydia George, a native of Morris, N. Y., born in 1834, and died in 1921. Their son, Frank E. Howland, was born in Deposit, N. Y., Sept. 13, 1857, and came to Wisconsin in 1869, with his parents, settling near Casenovia, where he grew to manhood. He married Estella Stewart of Loganville, and located in Reedsburg, where Mrs. Estella Howland resides. They had two children, Donald and Glen.

Estella Stewart was born June 13, 1862, in Rock Hill, Ohio, daughter of John and Sarah Ann (Dorneck) Stewart. Her father was born at Jersey Shore, Pa., May 30, 1818, and her mother, at Rlsing Sun, Maryland. During the Civil War John Stewart served in the Union Army, for a time as 1st Lieutenant to which rank he was raised July 13, 1864, and held until the close of hostilities. Before the war the family located in Ohio, and in 1867, came to Sauk County, settling in Loganville, where Estella grew to maturity. John Stewart died March 29, 1913; his wife, Aug. 18, 1901.

Our subject grew to manhood in Reedsburg, graduating from the Reedsburg High School, class of 1899, and later attending the LaCrosse Business College, after which he returned to Reedsburg, and was connected with the Howland Lumber Company until 1909, when he became a senior partner in the Oehlers and Howland Furniture Store.

On May 16, 1906, he was united in marriage to Lila May Van Akin, representative of early Dutch Colonial families of New York. Two of her ancestors were Revolutionary soldiers, namely Absolon Case and Wilhelms Van Vredenbergh, through both of whose records she has entered the D. A. R.

Wilhelms Van Vredenbergh, whose wife was Elizabeth Van Larden, was an enlisted soldier in Capt. Barlow's Company, 6th Reg., Dutcher's County Militia, in New York state, during the Revolution. His son, Benjamin Fredenbergh, married Mary Case, daughter of Absolon and Elizabeth (Dunn) Case. Absolon Case was born June 16, 1759, and was a soldier in Capt. Uriah Drake's Company. He enlisted in the UIster Loyal Guard at Morrowborough, Ulster County, N. Y., on July 26, 1776, and was honorably discharged in July, 1779, at the age of twenty years. Benjamin and Mary (Case) Fredenbergh had a daughter, Elizabeth Fredenbergh, who was born in 1798. She married Benjamin Cole Van Akin (1802-1871), and died in 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Cole Van Akin had a son, William B. Van Akin.

William B. Van Akin was born in 1824, and married Mary E. Dunning, and died in 1880. She was born Sept. 15, 1830 at Milford, Pa., daughter of Solomon Dunning (Oct. 29, 1803-Nov. 3, 1882). They had a son, Edward Van Akin, who, born Feb. 4, 1860, at Port Jervis, N. J., married, Oct. 20, 1881, May E. Almer.

May E. Almer, native of Milford, Pa., was born July 6, 1863, her father being Fredrick C. Almer, born May 29, 1827, in Copenhagen, Denmark. Tradition has it that one of his near ancestors, a man of the Danish nobility, upon marrying against the will of his family, was banished from the court. Fredrick Almer came to America, settling at Milford, where he married Deliliah Dunning, also a daughter of Soloman. She was born March 6, 1833, and died May 14, 1911. Fredrick Almer died in Milford, Feb. 22, 1875.

The William Van Akin family settled in Sparta, Wis., 1865, and ten years later, Mrs. Frederick C. Almer, widowed, brought her family also to that place, where Edward Van Akin and Mary E. Almer grew to manhood and womanhood and married. They still reside there.

Lila Van Akin was born to Edward and Mary E. (Almer) Van Akin, in Sparta, where she spent her early life, until her marriage to Glen Howland, and her removal to Reedsburg. To Mr. and Mrs. Glen Howland were born three children: Josephine, born May 29, 1907; Helen, born May 23, 1909; and John, born May 23, 1917.

MR. AND MRS. J. RILEY STONE

Mr. J. Riley Stone, postmaster of Reedsburg, was born in South Dakota, Oct. 17, 1886, the only son of James Asahel Stone and Minnie Louise (Corwith) Stone. His father was born Dec. 1, 1856 in Smithfield, N.Y., son of Captain James Riley and Pamela (Ellinwood) Stone, and came with his mother to Reedsburg, in 1870. Captain Stone recruited Co. F, 157th N.Y. Vol. Inf., and received the commission of Captain Sept. 19, 1862. He served in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, and in the latter received a severe wound and was taken prisoner. He suffered incarceration in Libby Prison where he endured untold hardships, only to be transfered to Macon, Georgia, where he died, Aug. 12, 1864, at the age of forty years. For several years after the death of her husband Mrs. Pamelia Stone resided in Smithfield, but in 1870, she brought her family to Reedsburg, where her death occurred. James Asahel Stone attended the Reedsburg High School, graduating with the class of 1875. Subsequently he attended the Oshgosh Normal School, and was a student in the University of Wisconsin, and later still he studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1889, and has been a prominent attorney since then.

James A. Stone was married April 19, 1884, to Minnie Corwith, daughter of Silas and Anna (Albrecht) Corwith. She was born in the town of Troy, Sauk Co., March 6, 1857, and died in Reedsburg, Sept 27, 1924. Her father died in Reedsburg, June 27, 1894, but her mother, who was born in Coelleda, Germany Jult 29, 1837, is probable the oldest person in Reedsburg. Mr. and Mrs. James A. Stone were the parents of three children, one of whom was J. Riley Stone, our subject.

James Riley Stone grew to manhood in this vicinity, attended the grades, high school, and the University of Wisconsin, graduating with the class of 1907. Since then he has been widely associated in business adventures, and is the owner of considerable land in this vacinity. Always a public spirited citizen, Mr. Stone has been prominent in the community life, and has made many addresses on patriotic occasions.

On Oct. 10, 1916, our subject was united in marriage to Miss Vera Milhaupt, of New Holstein, Wis. She was born March 12, 1899, daughter of William and Eva (Kersten) Milhaupt. Her paternal grandfather, Corporal August Milhaupt, was a soldier in Co. C, 26th W.V.I., and wounded, at Chancellorsville, died at Washington, D.C., Jan 1, 1864. He had resided for some time in Milwaukee, and had enlisted from that place, Oct. 18, 1862. William Milhaupt was born in Milwaukee, July 10, 1858, and after the death of his father, moved with his mother to St. Nazianz, Wis., where he remained until 1872, when the family located at New Holstein. There he apprenticed as a smith and later established a buggy factory and for twenty years was the New Holstein postmaster, being retired when Wilson came into the presidency. He died March 29, 1928. His wife, whom he married May 23, 1886, was Eva Kersten, of Chilton, born May 20, 1856, at Bay Field, and now resides at New Holstein.

Vera Milhaupt, the fourth of her parents' five children, grew to womanhood in New Holstein, graduating from the high school there, and later from the University of Wisconsin, class of 1913. She taught one year in Grantsburg, and two years in Lodi, and since her marriage to Mr. Stone, has resided in Reedsburg, where she is active in the social life of the city, and a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.

Mr. and Mrs. Riley Stone have had six children: James Riley Jr., b. July 6, 1917, d. June 16, 1919; Richard William, b. Dec. 14, 1918; Edward Lyman, b. Nov. 5, 1920; Susan Mary, b. March 31, 1922; Frederich, b. Oct. 5th, 1923; and Mark Henry, Feb 28, 1926.

MR. AND MRS. AUGUST TORSTRUP

Mr. August Torstrup, retired Master-Sargeant of the 53rd U.S. Inf., was born in Moi, Stavenger, Norway, Nov. 8, 1875, his parents being Christ and Gurine (Christianson) Torstrup. The father was a captain in the Norwegian Regular Army, with which he served for a period of forty-five years. The father and mother died when our subject was quite young, and in 1893, at the age of eighteen, he came to America, locating in Makato, Minn., where he resided for seven years, until 1901.

During this time, in June, 1898, he enlisted in the 3rd U.S. Inf., expecting to serve his adopted country in the Spanish American War. He was in training at Fort McPherson, Georgia, was mustered out Dec. 28, 1898, and returned to Makato. On Feb 5, 1901, he again entered the U.S. Regular Army, and began a career that was to continue for over twenty years. His first two years were spent in the Phillipine Islands, where his regiment was sent to suppress the Phillipine Insurrection. Returning to the United States he was stationed at Fort Reno, Oklahoma, until 1905. Then he made another trip to the Phillipine Islands, remaining there eighteen months. Within a few months of his return, in 1907, he was sent a third and last time to the islands, and this trip caused his presence there for six years, until 1913. About one year of this period was spent in China. After returning to America, he was encamped near San Francisco one year, going from there to El Paso, Texas, in 1914 to participate in the Punitive Expedition into Mexico. On leaving El Paso he went to Camp Forest, Georgia, remaining there about a year. He was now in Co. A, 53rd Inf., 6th Division, and ranked as a sargeant. The division was sent from Georgia to Camp Wadsworth, Spartanburg, South Carolina, where preparations were made to fit its men for overseas service. They were next sent to new York, and on July 6th, 1918 set sail, arriving at Liverpool, Eng., July 17. On July 23 he reached Cherbourg, France. Our subject was in the trenches at Elsessor Lane for 35 days and later joined in the Meuse-Argonne drive in which he was engaged Nov. 11 1918, when the Armistice was signed. On July 4, 1919 he was with Pershing's regiment in the Allied Parade in Paris and on the 18th in London. Returning to France he was stationed at Brest until Sept 1, when he sailed for New York, arriving Sept 8. He participated in the Grand Parade in New York and Washington, D.C. after which he came to Camp Grant, reaching that camp in October, 1919. Shortly after he rejoined the 53rd regiment and remained at that point until May 8, 1921, when he was honorably mustered out as Master Sargeant, 53rd U.S. Inf.

Before leaving the service, on Feb. 22, 1921, he was united in marriage to Lois Thompson. They came to Reedsburg, May 10, following, and having since made their home in this city. On May 1, 1925, he was made Chief of Police of this city, which position he held until June 15, 1928.

Mrs. Torstrup (Lois Thompson) was born April 28, 1901, near Valton, Woodland township, Sauk Co., Wis. Her father, Samuel Thompson, was born in the state of Iowa, Jan. 13, 1857, son of John and Celia (Lamb) Thompson. He came with his parents to Sauk county and at an early date, settling first in Ironton, and later at Valton, where he still resides. He was married June 22, 1888, to Anna Shear. This lady was born at Hillsborough, July 18, 1871, her parents being Peter and Margaret (Snell) Tracy Shear. The latter was a Civil War widow, her husband, Mr. Tracy, having been killed in that conflict. Mrs. Margaret (Snell) Tracy continued her residence at Hillsborough, until her marriage to Peter Shear. Her parents were John and Sibyl (Waite) Snell. The former was a son of Jacob and Isabel (Harding) Snell, and the latter a daughter of Oliver and Elisabeth (Johnson) Waite.

To Mr. and Mrs. Torstrup have been born four children, all three of whom are living: Lee, born Nov. 27, 1921, Alicia, born July 10, 1923, and died March 27. 1925; Lynn, born June 4, 1925; and Joy, born Feb 14, 1927.

MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM STOLTE

One of Reedsburg's most active and influential citizens, Mr. William Stolte II, is one of a few businessmen of this city who has spent his entire life in his native town. He was born January 23, 1866, son of William Stolte I, and Dorothea (Meyer) Stolte. The father was born at Hohenbunstorf, Hanover, Germany, March 2, 1833, son of George and Dora (Evers) Stolte. The Stolte family was one of two which existed in the vicinity of Hohenbunstrof as early as the year 1300. George Stolte grew to manhood on the ancestral farm, and upon attaining man's estate, married. William I, came to America in 1860, his parents following him two years later. On December 21, 1862, William I, was married to Dorothea Meyer. She was born Nov. 15, 1839, a native also of Hohenbunstrof, and came to the United States with her parents, George and Dorothea (Reitzmann) Meyer, while quite young. Her father was a native of Himbergen, Hanover, Germany, where his early years were spent. Upon becoming of age he entered the Prussian Army, with which he served for several years. After the triumph of Napoleon he served in the Napoleonic Army, and was with the Corsican Conqueror on his famous Moscow expedition On this campaign he was taken prisoner by the Russian soldiers and kept in captivity for over two years.

Mr. and Mrs. William Stolte I, located in Reedsburg in 1865, and from that date until his death Jan. 18, 1912, he was an outstanding business man of this place. His wife died Oct. 29, 1925. Their photographs appear herewith. More extended notice of the labors of William Stolte I, is made on another page of this volume.

Mr. William Stolte II, grew to manhood in Reedsburg, where for forty years he has been active in mercantile affairs, and his most widely known connection was probably with the Stolte, Dangel and Foss Company, which dealt in general merchandise and had a store in the Harris and Hosler building and subsequently assumed the mangership of the Big Store. Since going out of the store business, he has devoted himself to the Cold Storage business, with which he is most intimately connected.

Mr. and Mrs. Stolte were married April 22, 1895, her maiden name having been Rosette Heyer. She was born March 14, 1869, in Darien, Wis., daughter of John Jacob and Augusta (Tess) Heyer. Her father was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, Aug. 21, 1830, son of Christian Heyer. At the age of twenty-one, in 1851, he came alone to America. Having apprenticed in Germany as a tinner, he went to Philadelphia and practiced his trade. Subsequently he came to Hales Corners, Milwaukee, Wis., where he opened an establishment of his own. There, in Milwaukee, he met and married Augusta Tess, Nov. 28, 1866. This lady was born Aug. 4, 1848, in Mecklenburg, Germany, daughter of Jacob Tess. In 1853 the Tess family came to America, coming aboard a sailing vessel. They cam immediately to Milwaukee County, locating at a place that was afterward named Tess Corners, in their honor. Mr. Jacob Tess took up land upon which the present village of Tess Corners is situated. From Milwaukee County Mr. and Mrs. Heyer removed to Darien, Walworth County, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Mr. John Jacob Heyer died April 9, 1899; his wife, March 14, 1914. They were the parents of five children: Emily (widow of F. Moon); Rosette; Henry, of Darien, Wis.; Nettie, a government nurse of Palo Alto, California; Gussie (Mrs. D. W. Dykeman, of Everett, Washington).

Rosette grew to womanhood in Darien, attending the Darien Public schools and later the Whitewater Normal. Upon completing her education she taught school for a number of years in the county of her nativity; then she was employed in the Reedsburg schools. Since coming to this city, her life has been intimately associated with the social and educational life of the community, where she enjoys fine social connections.

Mr. and Mrs. Stolte have three children, who appear with their father and mother in the accompanying photo: Ruth, at the extreme right of the photo, born July 16, 1896; married Raymond W. Alright, May 14, 1921, and resides in Akron, Ohio; they have two children, Patricia Stolte Alright, born Nov. 14, 1924; and Raymond William Alright, born June 30, 1928. Herbert A. Stolte, born July 21, 1898; married Nov. 16, 1927; Josephine Weaver; they reside at Dallas, Texas. He is manager of the Stolte Wholesale Drug Company of that city. Will A. Stolte, born Sept. 15, 1903. He is associated with his father in business.

Our subjects have always been public-spirited citizens, supporting all movements toward city-betterment. For fifteen years Mr. Stolte has been a member of the City Council, and for many years prominent in the Old Settlers Society, in which he holds an office.

MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM H. HAHN

Mr. William H. Hahn, cashier of the State Bank of this city, was born Sept. 25, 1875, in Reedsburg, Wis., a son of William Hahn, Sr. He grew to manhood in the community attending the Reedsburg Public schools and graduating from the La Crosse Business College; upon completing his education he was employed as bookkeeper in La Crosse and Sheboygan; then, after three years, he returned to Reedsburg, to enter into the firm of the Westside Construction Company, in which he and his father were prominent members, with which he remained connected until entering the State Bank as assistant cashier. From that date he served in that capacity until August 1928, when he became cashier, upon the retirement of Mr. Gill from that institution. Mr. Hahn is one of Reedsburg's most energetic business man, and has a beautiful home on North Pine Street, which he erected in 1925.

On Sept. 25, 1914, he was united in marriage to Doris Palmer Bunker. This lady was born Jan. 11, 1885, on the farm occupied by her parents, Emery W. and Florence A. (Palmer) Bunker, on Narrows Prairie. Her father was born Jan. 13, 1843, in the state of New York. At an early date he came with his parents, George and Betsy (Wheeler) Bunker, to Delavan, Walworth Co., Wis., where they died. George Bunker was born in 1814; married in 1838; and died in 1910. His wife was born in 1814 and died in 1911. George Bunker was a son of Henry Bunker, born in 1794 and died in 1854, and his wife, Clarissa Steward. She was born in 1796, and was a daughter of Silas and Charlotta Steward. Silas Steward, a Revolutionary soldier, was born in 1760; enlisted as a musician in the spring of 1875, and served through the entire struggle, part of the time as a musician and part of the time as a soldier. He was present at the surrender of Burgoyne, and on June 23, 1818, was granted a government pension. He died in 1845.

Emery Watson and Florence (Palmer) Bunker, were married Oct. 20, 1875. Florence Palmer was born in 1853, daughter of William Palmer, assemblyman, from the district at Madison during the Civil war. He was born in Havre de Grace, Maryland, in 1806, son of Richard and Cassandra Palmer. In 1835, he was married at Philadelphia, to Elizabeth Myers, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Brunner) Myers. She was a native of Pennsylvania. In 1854 the Palmer family came to Wisconsin, settling at Loganville, where he built the first frame house in that village. Later he moved to Section 6, town of Westfield, where they afterward resided. An account of his life would be incomplete without a mention of historic Tuckertown, a rural settlement and one time postoffice located a few miles west of Loganville, in the town of Washington. Mr. Palmer was one of the very first settlers in the region. Both he and his wife repose in Tuckertown Cemetery.

For two years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Emery W. Bunker lived on a farm near Delavan, but the death of her father necessitated their coming to Washington to look after the Palmer farm. Here they resided for many years, and it was on this farm that their daughter, Doris Bunker Hahn, was born. Mr. Bunker died some years ago; but his widow resides with her daughter. Mrs. Hahn attended the Wonewoc High School, graduating with the class of 1905; then she attended a Kindergarten College, graduating in 1905. She taught for nine years in Wisconsin city schools, Elroy, Ladysmith and Madison, and was married to Mr. William Hahn in Reedsburg.

Mr. and Mrs. Hahn were the parents of one son, Cyrus William Hahn, who was born Dec. 14, 1916, and answered the final call home, April 28, 1924, after the short life of eight years.

Mr. and Mrs. Hahn are active workers in the Presbyterian Church, members of the Country Club, and she is a member of the D.A.R.

MR. AND MRS. GEORGE MORSE

The name of Mr. and Mrs. George Morse needs no introduction to the people of Reedsburg, nor, may it be added, to the people of Sauk County. For nearly half a century leaders in the social, civic and educational life of the community, and occupying a position of honor and respect in the vicinity in which their lives have been spent, this couple enjoyed everything that prosperity could bring. A widower now, his wife having been taken to her rest a few years ago, Mr. Morse still maintains his spacious home in the city where he spends much of his time.

George Thompson Morse was born in Delaware Co., N.Y., June 17, 1852, and was the only son of Hiram A. Morse and his wife, Mary Mackey. His father, Hiram A. Morse, was born May 18, 1820, in Gilboa, Schoharie Co., N.Y., son of Jacob Morse. Hiram received his education in Albany, and on July 17, 1851, married Mary Mackey. Their first years were spent in Hobart, Delaware, Co., N.Y., from there they moved to Scranton, Penn. While residing in the latter place Hiram A. Morse enlisted in the Northern Army of the Civil War, and lost his life in battle.

Mary Mackey was born to Daniel and Polly (King) Mackey, Nov. 23, 1832, in Gilboa, Schoharie Co., N.Y., which was the ancestral patrimony of the Mackey family. Her paternal great-grandfather, Alexander Mackey, married Thankful Tuthill, and aside from that fact, little is known of him. Their son Solomon Mackey, whose wife was Naomi Jennings, died April 19, 1832, leaving a son, Daniel, who was the father of Mary Mackey Morse. Daniel Mackey died in early life and his daughter Mary grew to womanhood in the East, spending most of her time in New York state, until her removal, with her husband, to Scranton, Penn.

George T. Morse was ten years of age when his father entered the army in which he was killed. When the father enlisted, the mother and son returned to Gilboa, and resided there until 1867. In that year our subject, at the age of fifteen, came to Reedsburg where he has made his home since. In 1869 the mother came to Reedsburg, where she ever after resided. On Sept. 7, 1878 she was married to Mortimer Finch, a prominent harnessmaker of the town. Her death occurred Aug 14, 1901.

Our subject spent three years in the Reedsburg schools, after which he accepted a position in the Reedsburg Bank, which he held until 1875. At that time he became connected with the First National Bank of Lincoln, Nebraska, with which he remained until 1879. On June 4th of that year he was married to Miss Bell Ward, whose acquaintance he had made in Florida in the winter of 1877-78. Mrs. Morse was born March 21, 1852, in Croy, N.Y., daughter of Hiram and Emma (Hammond) Ward. Her father was born June 4, 1822, in Castleton, Vt.; married Emma Hammond, March 26, 1852. She was born Jan. 21, 1830, West Croy, N.Y., daughter of Dr. Hammond. Hiram Ward was closely identified with the early history of Buffalo, N.Y., and was a director of that city's first water system. Later the Ward family removed to Dubuque, Iowa, where they resided at the time of our subject's marriage. Upon retiring Mr. and Mrs. Ward, moved to Washington, D.C., where their deaths occurred, his Nov. 26, 1905; hers, May 28, 1911.

Upon their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Morse took up residence in Reedsburg where he held the position of cashier of the Reedsburg Bank, until 1887. In that year he resigned his position and organized the Citizens Bank, with which he was an officer for thirty-three years, acting, first as cashier and later as president, which position he held until his retirement in 1920. He is still closely connected with the bank. Mrs. Morse died Jan. 23, 1926.

Mr. and Mrs. Morse had two children, Emma Ward Morse, born Oct. 28, 1882, and now of Oak Park, Ill.; and Ward Morse, born Sept. 2, 1885. He married, Oct. 22, 1915, Ernestine Elizabeth Woempner. She died in Minneapolis some time ago.

MR. AND MRS. SANFORD COLLINS

For more than forty-five years continuous residents of the city of Reedsburg, the esteemed couple whose name introduces this sketch needs no introduction to the readers of this volume. Prominent in business and civic affairs, Mr. Collins is a leader in the city, and Mrs. Collins, whose admirable nature and understanding sympathy with human life has endeared her to her townspeople, has long been a figure in W. R. C. Red Cross and Salvation Army enterprises, and has frequently held positions of honor in those orders.

Sanford A. Collins, son of Sanford and Caroline (Simmons) Collins, was born March 18, 1860, in the town of Orleans, Jefferson Co, N.Y. His parents were natives of that place. The mother was born. The mother was born Dec. 7, 1842, daughter of Andrew and Lucinda (Garrity) Simmons. The father as born in April 1837, son of Joseph and Mary (Eddy) Collins, and was descended from James Collins, one of three brothers who came from Kent or Essex Co., England, to Massachusetts in 1669.

Daniel Collins, a son or grandson, was born about 1710, and was living in Stonington, Conn., July 7, 1754, when he married Rebecca, widow of Samuel Stanton, which was his second marriage. A son, William, born in Stonington in 1759, was, with his father, a soldier in the Continental Army. William Collins was married in 1782 to Miss Polly Ross (1759-1836), and died in 1850. Their son John, born in 1783, married in 1806, Clara Rhodes (died in 1869) and died in 1866. He had a son of Joseph (1807-1878). Joseph married Mary Eddy (1807-1889), a daughter of Mrs. Myron Field, by a former marriage.

Sanford and Caroline Collins, were married in 1858, and for the next nine years resided on the Collins farm in Jefferson Co., N.Y. During the Civil war he organized a company of cavalry, which he took to Washington, there presenting the horses to the U.S. Government. In 1867, when our subject was seven years of age he came with his parents to Ironton, Sauk Co., Wis., where the father died, Nov. 24, 1874. Later the mother married Thornton Lee Atkins, and died Sept. 24, 1926.

In 1876 our subject went west, into Minnesota, and thence on a survey of the N.W.R., to the Missouri River. Returning in 1879 to Baraboo, Wisconsin, he took up the profession of monumental engraving, which was to be his life's endeavor. On Christmas day, 1883, he came to Reedsburg, and went into the monument business. See index: Collins' Monument Works.

On March 24, 1881, he was married to Miss Alice Thayer, second daughter of George W. and Mary (Burton) Thayer, pioneers of the town of Fairfield, Sauk Co. This lady was a direct descendant of Richard Thayer, who immigrated from England, in 1636, settling at Braintree, Mass, where he married 1651, to Dorothy Pray. They had a son, Richard Thayer (1655-1729) who married Rebecca Nical. Richard and Rebecca had a son John (1688) who married Dependence French in 1715. John's son, Abijah Thayer (1729-1789), married in 1751, Elizabeth Hunt, and had a son Adonijah (1770), who married in 1796, Elizabeth Hemmingway. Russel Thayer, Mrs. Collins' grandfather, was born to Adonijah and Elizabeth Thayer, April 30, 1802; his wife, nee Elizabeth Stebbins, was born in 1800; they were married Oct. 28, 1824. He died in 1883. George W. Thayer was born July 28, 1833, in Northampton, Mass., where he grew to manhood. He came to Fairfield, this county, with his parents at an early date, and was there united in marriage to Mary E. Burton, Jan. 20, 1859. She was born Jan. 24, 1843, in Lincolnshire, Eng., daughter of Thomas (b. March 14, 1814) and Anna (Green) Burton. The family came to Fairfield in 1849, and there were among the pioneer families of the county. Mrs. George Thayer is still living, at a ripe old age, but her husband has been long at rest.

Mr. and Mrs. Collins were the parents of two children: Theodore, born Dec. 25, 1881; he grew to manhood, but was called to an untimely death, Aug. 27, 1922; Caroline Mary, who married, July 29, 1911, Attorney W. S. Wadleigh, of Galesville, Wis. They have one child, John Collins Wadleigh, born July 22, 1912. Mrs. Wadleigh is a member of the D.A.R.

Mr. and Mrs. Collins have an adopted daughter, Eva M., wife of Cornelius Whittney, of Reedsburg.