History of Vernon County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens.

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
wife is a native of Sweden.   They have three childrei^.
CEMETERIES.
In 1884 there were three burying grounds within the town of Christiana. The one first located and used was on section 33. This was finally removed to the village of Westby. One known as the Methodist cemetery is situated on section 26, and one used especially by the Re¬ formed Lutherans, is situated on section 28.
VILLAGE OF WESTBY.
The forty acres upon which this village was laid out was purchased of the State by the Lutheran Church, with the intention of build¬ ing a church thereon. A portion of the land was used by this sect as a cemetery for a num¬ ber of years. The Church, however, decided to build on Coon prairie, and they then ex changed the property with Nels Hanson, for that of their present location on Coon prairie. Subsequently Mr. Hanson sold the land to Jens Johnson who in turn disposed of the property to Ole Syverson, and before the village was laid out, the property passed into the hands of a son of the latter—Anton Syverson. The plat was surveyed by the railroad company in August, 1879, and a little later the survey was confirmed by the county surveyor, with a slight change. The village is the outgrowth of the railroad, which reached this point at about the same time the plat was being surveyed. The place derived its name from O. T. Westby, who was then running a small store at this point.
The first act toward business development in the place was the erection of a store by Hans Nelson, soon after the village was platted; this was still used as a store by Mr. Nelson and his son, in 1884. The postoffice was also in this building at that date.
The first regular train of cars reached this point Aug. 13,1879. The station was opened for the transaction of business the day follow¬ ing. Andrew Johnson was appointed agent, which place he was still filling in 1884. The same season the warehouse of W. E. Coats &
Co., was erected. Andrew Johnson purchased the first load of grain shipped from the village. John Michelet erected a second grain ware¬ house, the same fall.
The first lumber dealer was Peter E. Peterson, who later engaged in trade with O. T. Westby. Cargill <fcKing, of Sparta, were the first stock dealers of the place ; John Humphrey was their buyer. John Steig had a blacksmith shop at this point when the railroad was built through and continued in the business for some time thereafter. The first hotel was built in the autumn of 1879, by Berut Gilbertson, who con¬ tinued to operate it for about three years. It was owned by E. C. Bergh in 1884.
The business directory of the village in July, 1883, was as follows : Hanson & Son, general merchants; C. H. Ballsrud, E. C. Bergh and Thoreson <fcCo., lumber dealers; John Michelet and W. E. Coats & Co., grain dealers; E. C. Bergh, hotel; Jens Skugstad, harness maker ; M. J. Lindahl, tin shop; Miss Ballsrud and Josephine Michelet, milliners ; Theodore Thorson and Anton Syverson, furniture dealers; B. Hanson and A. Peterson shoemakers; Charles Thorson, foundry and machine shop.
CASE  OF MURDER.
A brutal case of murder of one of the citi¬ zens of the town of Christiana occurred on New Years night, 1864. Robert Lange resided on section 33, where he kept a store. Jack Clear was a soldier in the Union army, whose father lived in the town of Viroqua. At the time of the murder Clear was at home on a furlough, which had about expired. He and Lange were well acquainted and personal friends.
Lange, having business at La Crosse, an ar¬ rangement was made with Clear, by which the latter was to ride to La Crosse with Lange, on his way to join his regiment. Lange was not again seen alive by any of his friends. At about midnight, his team, with the wagon, ap¬ peared in front of the City Hotel, where Lange was accustomed to call.