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 350-352

Of the settlers of 1851 John TORDOFF was one of the most prominent. He was a native of Yorkshire, England, born in 1830, and was the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (PRIESTLY) TORDOFF. In 1848, at the age of eighteen, he came to America, locating in Columbia County, Wisconsin, where he resided until coming to LaValle, in 1851. The following year he married Emma THORNTON, daughter of Rueben THORNTON of Ironton; they were the parents of six children: Edmund, who married Amanda KARSTETTER, and resided in LaValle; Samuel, married Emma ROYER; Emily, died in early life; Squire, John, and Paul. In 1864 Mrs. TORDOFF died and Mr. TORDOFF later went to England and married Fannie TETLOW. They had a number of children: Annie, Ledger, Harry, Tom. After John TORDOFF had been in LaValle some time, he was joined by his brother, Edmund TORDOFF who became a permanent citizen of the town. Edmund TORDOFF returned to England and in 1858 brought his wife to LaValle. Her maiden name was Harriet PICKLES; and their children were: Jane Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Emeline L., who married Charles PEARSON and resides in LaValle, Hattie Olive, and Charles Colfax.

Another settler of 1851 was William Rabuck. He was a native of Germany, son of John and Dorathy (LANGE) RABUCK, and came to the United States in 1847, stopping in Milwaukee until 1851, when he came to this town, and the following year married the daughter of Sebastian KARSTETTER. They always resided in the town and have a number of local representatives. Their children were: Joseph H., who married Cornelia GARDNER; Mary M., who married J. H. KARSTETTER; William S., who married Azilla PEARSON; John W.; Albert A.; Edward N.; Jane S.; Charles E.; Frank; Levi H.; George A.; and Arthur R.

The family of Elisha POTTER came in 1853 and were among the early settlers. His son, A. D. POTTER, spent many years on the farm in this town. His wife, whose maiden name was Miranda BARNEY, was a daughter of S. P. and Lydia (HARRINGTON) BARNEY.

Among the settlers of 1854 were G. W. DICKENS and David BEERY. George W. DICKENS was a native of Cayuga Co., N.Y., born in 1823, son of Phillip and Lucy (RATHBONE) DICKENS. He grew to manhood in his native place, and was married there in 1846 to Mary MELLON, a native of Woolwich, England. In 1848 George DICKENS brought his family to Wisconsin, and located at East Troy, Walworth County, Wis., where he resided until coming to LaValle. Mr. and Mrs. DICKENS were the parents of a large family of children: Sarah M., who married William H. FIELD, and resided many years at LaValle; Roena; John M., who married Mary A. GEAR, and spent many years in this town; Lucy J., who married E. LEIGH; George; Lydia, who became the wife of V. COURTIER, Ironton; Idellah M., who married James COURTIER, also of Ironton; Elsworth E.; Maston; and Mary. Mr. DICKENS was a member of Co. B, 12, W.V.I.,during the Civil War. David BEERY located on a farm.. His wife was formerly Sarah SHISLER. Their son, Lyman, for many years senior partner of the firm of BEERY & YAGER, Millers, LaValle Village, married Adelia ANDREWS, daughter of Russell and Caroline (NOBLE) ANDREWS.

Settlers in 1855 were: S. P. BARNEY, Wellington S. HUBBELL, W. W. RATHBUN, John WHITE.

S. P. BARNEY, son of Royal and Rachel BARNEY, was a native of Jefferson Co., N.Y., but at the age of four years removed with his parents to Lorain Co., Ohio His wife was Lydia HARRINGTON, daughter of Joshua and Ruth HARRINGTON. They came to Fort Atkinson, Jefferson Co., Wis., in 1850 and, after a residence there of five years came to a farm in this town. After a year and a half they located in the village of LaValle, and their connections there are mentioned in the early history of that village. The children of S. P. and Lydia BARNEY were: B. S., married Annie E. POTTER; Miranda, previously mentioned; and Emery, who married Mary Allen (his widow later married George W. BIBLE).

William S. HUBBELL, for many years a farmer of the town, was born in Otsego Co., NY., son of Zalman and Cinda (BEARDSLEY) HUBBELL. He resided in the Empire State until 1850 when he came to Wisconsin, and after a one year's stop at Beaver Dam, in the spring of 1851, located land on the village site of Ironton, which he sold in 1854 to Jonas TOWER. Previously, however, he went to Ohio, where he married Mary PATRICK, daughter of Alanson and Dorina PATRICK. Upon coming to Sauk County that fall, he purchased land in LaValle township, and the following spring, 1855, established his family thereon. The site of his farm was at an early date the scene of an Indian maplesugar camp. The children of Mr. and Mrs. HUBBELL were: Eugene W., Ella G., Henry A., Florence M., Charles E., and Myrtie E.

W. W. RATHBUN, pioneer of 1855, was a native of Steuben Co., N.Y., born in 1824, son of Thomas and Nancy (VROMAN) RATHBUN. In 1844 he came to Madison, Wis., and remained there until coming to LaValle. He married in Reedsburg in 1858, Miss Julia PERRY, daughter of Israel and Calista (MOSIER) PERRY. This lady was a relative of Commodore PERRY.

The family of John WHITE, settlers this year, 1585, also were settlers in Reedsburg in 1854, and came to their LaValle farm from that place. Mr. WHITE was a native of Devonshire, England, born in 1812, son of Charles and Mary (WHITE) WHITE. He grew to manhood in his natal country and was married there in 1830 to Jane COTTERELL. In 1849 the family came to this country, settling at Waukesha, Wis., where they resided until coming to Reedsburg. Mr. and Mrs. WHITE had a large family: Charles, drowned in the Baraboo River in 1857; Mary E., who married Charles GIBBONS; William A., who married Almira LAKE; John H., who married Emily POND, daughter of Andrew POND; Sarah, who married L. GARDNER; Elizabeth, who married William CANON; Anna; Robert J., married to Ann J. SLATER.

Submitted by Carol