History of Reedsburg and the Upper Baraboo Valley, by Merton Edwin Krug, Publ. February 1929 by the author. Printed by Democrat Printing Company, Madison, Wis., Page 333-334

Among the settlers of this year were James L. BENSON and his wife. Mr. BENSON was son of Almeron and Lucinda (STANTON) BENSON, as was the wife of Henry WHEELER, a native of New York, the husband of Louisa MARTIN, daughter of Herman and Sarah MARTIN. They located upon a farm and were for many years prominent farmers of the town.

David BRYDEN was another settler this year, 1855. He was born in Scotland, in 1831, and was the son of David and Jenet (LEES) BRYDEN, his people having been people of wealth and position. In 1854, leaving all his relatives behind, he came to America, and after spending one year in Waukesha County, came to Section 28, where he began improving a tract of virgin timber. In 1859 he was married to Miss Julia SWALLOW, daughter of Lucien SWALLOW, pioneer of 1849 in Reedsburg. They were the parents of four children: David, who married Eulella BLAKESLEY, daughter of Ephraim BLAKESLEY, and is now several years deceased; Annie, who married Arvin SANDS and resides in Iowa; Jessie, who married Chester MILLER and died in Chicago two years ago (1926); and Edna, wife of Charles H. STONE, Reedsburg.

The family of Ephraim SMITH came also in 1855. Mr. SMITH was a native of Rutland, Vermont, son of Oliver and Deborah (THOMAS) SMITH, and was born in 1826. In 1835 his parents removed to Ohio, settling in Delaware County, where he grew to manhood. In 1845 he married Betsy WHEELER, daughter of Lyman and Mahala WHEELER. In 1855 the family came directly to this town and located on land in Section 24. To Mr. and Mrs. SMITH were born nine children: Albert U., who married Mary JOHNSON, and resided on a farm in the town of Washington for many years; John L., who married Ellen SELDON; Melissa, who married H. St. JOHN, and lived in Woodland; Jeremiah, Mahala, wife of S. Z. HUDSON; Joseph E.; Clarinda; Emmet and Malinda.

William A. KESTER brought his family to the town this year also. His wife was Sarah R. WASHBURN, and the family came hither from Ohio, where they had resided for many years. One of their children was Charles M. KESTER, aged resident of Reedsburg, who had lived for more than seventy years in the Upper Baraboo Valley, for many years in this town where he was a prominent farmer of his day. Charles KESTER married the widow of Amos FORD, Civil War hero, and had two children: X, who married Allen REESE and now, widowed, resides with her father; and Charles Earle. Mrs. KESTER died in middle life and Charles M. KESTER later married Electa, the widow of Henry WHEELER, who is now also deceased.

Submitted by Carol