Caledonia History &  Biographical Sketches of Caledonia Residents

-As transcribed from pages 1051 - 1052

TOWN OF CALEDONIA.

This town, although one of the smallest in size in the county, is rich and fertile. It is noted for the enterprise, and intelligence of the farmers who compose its population. The post office of Scotia is on Section 7; but the nearness of Trempealeau makes that the market town. The name indicates the Scottish origin of the originators. They came from the Bonnie Land.

BAGLEY, Phineas R. BEARDSLEY, Bostwick BELTZ, Frederick CHAPPELL, Darius D., Capt. McGILORAY, Gilbert O. OLDS, Lorin W.

PICKERING, Charles RHODES, Joshua RAMSDEN, Jonathan SUTTIE, William J. WING, Rev. David

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

PHINEAS R. BAGLEY, farmer, town of Caledonia, P. O. Trempealeau, is a native of New York State, having been born there, Dec. 27. 1816; he came West in 1856, settling in the town of Caledonia, and have owned eleven different farms, finally settling down on his present one in 1879. He was married in 1836, in Pennsylvania, to Phebe Williams, and they have had six children, only one of whom is living-Julia E., now Mrs. E. Ladd. Two of his sons were soldiers in the late war - Alvah, who enlisted in the 36th Wis., Vol. Infty., Co. I; died in the Salisbury prison, and James, being in the same company and regiment, died in the Andersonville prison.

-Transcribed from the "History of Northern Wisconsin, 1881," page 1051

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BOSTWICK BEARDSLEY, farmer, Sec, 29, P. O. Trempealeau, was born in New York, July 11, 1813; came to Wisconsin in 1835, and took up a farm from the Government in the town of Mount Pleasant, Racine Co., which he improved and lived on until 1854; he then came to Trempealeau Co., and settled on the farm where he now lives, which he bought from the Government; he owns 380 acres. There are a number of Indian mounds on the place; he has been Town Supervisor of Caledonia, a number of terms, also Justice of the Peace for four years. Was married Dec. 7, 1841, in Racine Co., to Miss Mary Fowler, who is a native of Pennsylvania. They have seven children living - Oscar E., Lirra A., Elam, Hulvah, Otto, Rebaca M. and May. They have lost two sons, who were killed while serving in the late war.

-Transcribed from the "History of Northern Wisconsin, 1881," page 1051

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FREDERICK BELTZ, farmer, Sec. 13, P. O. Trempealeau, was born in Germany, Oct. 9, 1827; left his native country in 1850, and came to America, stopping in the city of Buffalo, N. Y., where he worked on a farm near there, for seven years. Was there married to Wilhelmina Schanborn, who was also a native of Germany; in 1857, moved to Ohio, where he was engaged in the dairy business for nine years, afterward, coming to Trempealeau Co., where he bought the farm on which he now lives; he has twice lost all his buildings by fire, since he came here; also buggy, wagon, and his farm machinery. Mr. Beltz has been School Director in his township, for two years, and has a family of seven children - Amelia, Frederick A., Will, John, Peter, Clara and Morris.

-Transcribed from the "History of Northern Wisconsin, 1881," page 1051

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CAPT. DARIUS D. CHAPPELL, farmer, Sec. 8, P. O. Scotia, was born in Warren Co., Pennsylvania, Dec. 8, 1833; came to Wisconsin in the year 1854; he first worked at his trade (carpentering) in Walworth Co., for a time; then went to Trempealeau Co.; returning to the former place in the spring of 1857, where he was married to Miss Caroline Fowler, daughter of Benj. Fowler, who settled in Racine Co. in 1836. After his marriage, the subject of this sketch returned to Trempealeau Co., in the fall of 1860, settling on a farm, and making his home there ever since; he enlisted in August, 1862, being mustered in as Lieutenant of Co. C, 30th Wis. Vol. Inft.; was promoted to Captain in April, 1865. After serving until the close of the war, he returned to his home, and has since been engaged at improving his farm; he is a member of the Galesville Grange, and also of the Decora Farmers' Alliance, at the same place.

-Transcribed from the "History of Northern Wisconsin, 1881," pages 1051 - 1052

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GILBERT O. McGILORAY, farmer and ferryman, P. O. Trempealeau; was born in the Village of Trempealeau, Nov. 10, 1853, being the youngest son of Alex and Catherine McGiloray, who came to Trempealeau in 1852. In 1854 his father started a ferry across the Black River, which ferry has ever since been known by his name, and is situated twelve miles from the mouth of the river. The subject of this sketch is said to be the first white male child born in Trempealeau County. He now runs the ferry which his father established, and also runs the same farm, an historical place situated on the road, over which all the early settlers used to haul their grain to La Crosse. Mr. McGiloray is now Justice of the Peace. He was married Feb. 28, 1877, to Miss O. L. Camp, of Trempealeau County, by whom he has two children - Georgia and Collin H.

-Transcribed from the "History of Northern Wisconsin, 1881," page 1052

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LORIN W. OLDS, farmer, Sec. 8, P. O. Trempealeau; was born in New York, March 7, 1838. In 1854 he came to Wisconsin and settled on the farm on which he now lives; was out in the big snow storm of 1856 and 1857. He enlisted in the fall of 1861, in Co. D, 8th Mo. Vol. Infantry, serving for nine months, and was then discharged on account of disabilities. He returned to his farm and was married in 1865 to Miss Nancy D. Compton, who was born in Pennsylvania. They are members of the M. E. Church at Galesville. Mr. Olds is also a member of the Burr Oak Grange, No. 280.

-Transcribed from the "History of Northern Wisconsin, 1881," page 1052

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CHARLES PICKERING, farmer, Sec. 9, P. O. Trempealeau; was born in England, Dec. 17, 1830; came to Wisconsin with his parents in the spring of 1847, where they first located in Columbia County, his father buying a farm with an English Colony. Here they lived for two years, and then sold out, going from there to Fort Winnebago. In November, 1851, the subject of this sketch came to Trempealeau County, remaining until 1853; thence going to Dodge County, where he was married in 1855 to Miss Lucy Bright, who is also a native of England; returned to Trempealeau County the same year, buying a farm in the town of Caledonia, and became possessed of his present farm in 1857, which consists of ninety acres under cultivation, and some timber land. Mr. Pickering is Chairman of the Town Board of Caledonia and also Assessor; has been Justice of the Peace for two years. His family consists of four children, Ann E., George W., Phebe J. and Mary; the oldest daughter who is married, being now Mrs. C. A. Bugbee, of Trempealeau.

-Transcribed from the "History of Northern Wisconsin, 1881," page 1052

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JOSHUA RHODES, farmer, Sec. 12, P. O. Scotia; was born in Yorkshire, England; came to America with his parents in 1842, and settled in Kenosha Co., Wis., where his father bought land from the Government. In 1850, the subject of this sketch went to Marquette County, where he took up a farm for himself on a land warrant which his father had given him. There he remained until 1853, when he removed to Trempealeau County and bought the farm on which he still lives. He built a small log hut 10x12, and lived a pioneer's life, in company with Wm. Hanson, for one year, then one year by himself, and in 1857 was married to Miss Susan E. Stephens. Mr. Rhodes believes in the old motto, "as you begin so will you live," as before starting to get married he laid the fire already to kindle, thinking he would start right by having his wife light it when they came home. But while they were getting married, some of the neighbors took out the dry kindling and filled the stove with ice and wet shavings. On their arrival, as Mrs. Rhodes could not light the fire, he was obliged to do it himself, and they never found out who played the joke on them until twenty years afterward, when they were one evening taking tea with some of their neighbors, who told them of it. Mrs. Rhodes taught the first school in the town of Caledonia in District No. 2. Mr. Rhodes has been Chairman of the Town Board for ten years and Treasurer for four years. Is at present writing President of the Trempealeau County Agricultural Society, having held that position four years, and is also Treasurer of the Decora Farmers' Alliance at Galesville, having been Master of the Grange ever since its organization.

-Transcribed from the "History of Northern Wisconsin, 1881," page 1052

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JONATHAN RAMSDEN, farmer, Sec. 12, P. O. Scotia, was born in Yorkshire, England, April 18, 1822; came to America in 1842, landing at Racine, May 25; there his parents died in the year 1847. The subject of this sketch was married to Elizabeth Dixon, who was born in England; and remained in Racine County farming until 1854, at which time he moved to Trempealeau County, having entered land there from the Government, in October, 1853; he has been a member of the town board of Caledonia, and in 1856, was Town Clerk; at that time took the census in his town, which consisted of what is now Trempealeau, Dodge and Caledonia, there being only a population of 600. Mr. Ramsden has often stood in his front door and shot prairie chickens. One day, while in the garden working, he saw a chicken running along near him, as he had nothing else to kill it with, he picked up a cucumber and threw it, killing the bird.

-Transcribed from the "History of Northern Wisconsin, 1881," page 1052

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WILLIAM J. SUTTIE, farmer: Sec. 9, P. O. Trempealeau; was born in Scotland, Nov. 11, 1834; came with his parents to the United States when eighteen months old, living with them in New York until 1841, when they moved to Michigan; here the subject of this sketch remained until 1856, when he came to Trempealeau County, and after staying here a short time, went back to Michigan, where he was married in 1859, to Eliza J. Weston, who was born in Michigan, and was a daughter of Jesse and Hester Weston, of that State; after his marriage, he came to Trempealeau County, where he settled on a farm near his present one. His wife died May 22, 1873, leaving four children -Charles A., Elliva, Willard and Willis, the latter being twins. Mr. Suttie has been Town Supervisor of Caledonia and Justice of the Peace.

-Transcribed from the "History of Northern Wisconsin, 1881," page 1052

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REV. DAVID WING, farmer; Sec. 28, P. O. Trempealeau; was born at Cape Cod, Mass., June 21, 1810; he was first ordained as Deacon in the M. E. Church at Rochester, N. Y., by Bishop Heading, and there labored in the cause of Christianity until 1845, when he came to Illinois, being there ordained as Elder at Chicago, by Bishop Waugh, in the year 1846, and first came to Wisconsin as a missionary under Father Bruns, in 1854, being located at Trempealeau but traveling in Minnesota; he has been a laborer in the cause of Christ for over fifty years, being as firm in his belief now as he was at first. In 1873, the subject of this sketch retired from active service in the church, and settled on his farm as a permanent home. Mr. Wing was married to his first wife, Jane Lobdell, in Madison Co., N. Y. in the year 1832. She had five children all of whom are now dead, and she also died in 1853. He was married the second time to Lorinda Richardson of Winnebago Co., Ill., who also had five children, all of whom are living.

-Transcribed from the "History of Northern Wisconsin, 1881," page 1052