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.
Clark in 1847,  by  whom   he  has three chil¬ dren—William, Jennie and Edward.
James Stevenson was born in Ireland, in 1840, and came to America in 1857, and to the town of Genoa in 1863, where twenty years later he was still living on a farm of 200 acres on section 12. He was married in 1862 to Isabel Hamil¬ ton, of Vernon county.
Elijah Powell, who was born in 1820, in Mercer Co., Ohio, came to this town in 1865, and purchased 160 acres of land on section 4, town 13, range 7. He was married in 1842 to Mary Rayner, who died in 1843. In 1814 Mr. Powell married Martha McKee, who died in 1854, and in 1862 he again married a Miss Shelby. Mr. Powell has been the father of seven children.
W. H. Knower, one of the most intelligent farmers in Vernon county, was born in 1830, in R>ckfield, Mass. At ten years of age he moved with his parents to the city of New York, where he received a thorough education, and came west in 1850 to better his health. He taught school in Milwaukee in the winter of 1850-51, and in 1855 came to Ve rnoncoiinty and taught school until 1865, when he settled on his farm in the town of Genoa, on sections 1, 2 and 11, of township 12, range 7 west, where he owns 240 acres in one tract. He was married in 1852 to Mary Elliott, of Bangor,Maine, by wlioiii he has had four children—George, Charles, Susie and Franklin.
FIRST   EVENTS.
The first couple married in the town of Genoa, was David Hastings and Miss Kelsie, in 1856.
The first birth of a white child was J. W., son of Samuel and Martha Kelsie, in 1854.
The first school was taught in 1855 in a log house, afterward used for a hotel.
The first religious services were held at the residence of Samuel Kelsie, by Rev. Delap, in 1856.
The first school house was built, in 1860, on sec¬ tion 28, where the village of Genoa now stands.
The first school was taught by Sarah A. Bacus, in 1856.
The first death in the town was David Hast¬ ings, in 1856.
ORGANIC.
The first election of what is known as the tow^n of Genoa, was held April 7, 1860, at the village school house of Genoa. The first officers were : E. Page, chairman, Peter Shum- w^ay and Willis Masker, supervisors; William Burlock, clerk ; John Greeman, treasurer; Willis Masker, assessor. Officers of 1883 : William Riley, chairman, William Hall and August Vegline, supervisors; Mathew Monti, clerk; Barnard Gadola, treasurer; John Car¬ penter, assessor.
SCHOOLS.
The first school in the town of Genoa was taught by Sarab A Bacus, in 1855, on sec¬ tion 28.
In 1884 the town contained six school build¬ ings, valued at $2,200. The town at this date had a school population of 3^7.
RELIGIOUS.
The only religious societies in Genoa, in 1884, was that of the Roman Catholic, who organized at an early day. This Church is made up largely of Italians. Other denomina¬ tions have held meetings from time to time at school houses.
POSTOFFICES.
Genoa postoffice was established in 1854, on section 29, on the site of the village of Genoa. The first postmaster was Jacob Kelsie, who was after a time succeeded by James McGrath, Mathew Monti, Wm. Burlock and J. B. Bozola, who was postmaster in 1884.
Romance postoffice was established in 1854, on section 6. The first postmaster was John Tewait. He was succeeded by William Fox, who still held the office in 1884.
THE   VILLAGE OF GENOA.
This village was laid out and platted by Joseph   Monti, on section 28^ in the  year 1854,