Biography extracted from History of Sauk County, Wisconsin Chicago: Western Historical Company, published 1880.

Reedsburg:

Abram West, carpenter, Reedsburg; born June 10, 1805, in Grafton, Rensselaer Co., N.Y.; he came to spring Prairie, Walworth Co., Wis. in 1845, reaching that place on the 1st of October, after a journey of nearly one thousand miles from Verona, Oneida, Co., N.Y.; Mr. West and his family made this journey by horses and wagon, in just one month's time. Reaching Spring Prairie, he bought a farm, which he worked for six years. In November of 1851, he came to Reedsburg, bought farm near that place, but soon sold it and agreed with Mr. Reed to repair and run his mills in the town of Reedsburg. Mr. West is, by trade, a carpenter, and built several houses which he afterward sold; he built the Congregational Church of Reedsburg. Mr. West was married Sept. 5, 1826, to Miss Susan Lewis, who was born June 3, 1805. The two children of this marriage were Lucina, who was born Feb. 29, 1828, and Sydney, who was born Oct. 5, 1831. This son, Sydney, engaged work as Government Carpenter and went to Arkansas; returning home from that State, he died when within forty-seven miles of the city of Chicago. The date of his death was Oct. 14, 1864. In 1852, Mr. West was elected Justice of the Peace, and with the exception of about two years, held the office continuously for twenty-four years. In the fall of 1856, was elected to the State Legislature. During the year of 1875 and 1876, Mr. West was Police Justice of Reedsburg. In politics, he is a Republican; he voted for John Quincy Adams; has voted for every President since that time. Before the formation of the Republican party, Mr. W. voted with the old Whig party. Mr. West's father, Benjamin, was born in Connecticut, June 15, 1783.

Return to Sauk County Biographies