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.
followed until 1851, when he started west to seek a home. He located in Illinois, purchasing a farm in Jo Daviess county. In May, 1854, he came to Wisconsin. Taking the cars to War¬ ren, he there procured a team, took the overland route to Vernon county. He stopped but a short time then returned to Illinois, remaining until May, 1855. He then came to Vernon county, entering land on section 3, town 13, range 2, now known as Stark town, then re¬ turned to Illinois for his family. In June, the family started for their new home, George Walsh and family accompanying them. After taking the cars to Warren, 111., they started with ox teams. In many places they had to cut a road. Arriving on his land, he moved into a lumberman's log cabin and lived there three years, then built a hewed log house, to which he has since made a frame addition and in which he now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Bryan have had six children—Caroline, born March 16, 1848, was married to Eli McVey, and died Jan. 1, 1876; Alexander J., now iji Sioux Falls, Dak., engaged in farming; George H., a grain dealer at Viroqua; Albert T., a physician in Eagan, Dak.; Aaron R., an attorney at law, in Sioux City; and Henrietta. Mr. Bryan united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, when a young man, but failing in his efforts to organ¬ ize a class in Stark, he united with the German Evangelical and later with the United Brethren. Thomas De Jean, one of the pioneers of Stark town, was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in 1806, and there grew to manhood. He was a natural mechanic, and when a young man, he went to Pennsylvania and there worked in a saw mill for nine years. He then moved to Ohio, locating in Maumee City, where he was an early settler. While there he took contracts for building warehouses and docks on the canal, and later, engaged in farming. In 1841 he came to Wisconsin, locating at New Berlin, Wauk¬ esha county. After remaining there one year he went to Genesee, same county, bought land and built a saw mill, also running a blacksmith
shop and plow factory. In 1855 he sold out there and came to Vernon county, settling on section 29, town 13, range 2, now known as Stark town. Two years later, he built a saw mill, in 1873 a grist mill, and also engaged in farming. He erected a large frame house and made this his home until his death, which occurred February, 1877. He was very enter¬ prising and took a prominent part in town affairs. He was elected town assessor in 1856, and later, held other offices. Mr. De Jean mar¬ ried Polly Butterfield, also a native of Chau¬ tauqua Co., N. Y. She is still living on the old homestead. There were three children, two of whom are now living—Anson W.,4he eldest, is now living near, and owns an interest in the flouring mill; Alfred H., is also living near, on a farm; Ann C, who became the wife of Wil¬ liam Sanbers, in the year 1861, and resided in this and an adjoining county, until 1879, re¬ moved with her husband and four children, to Roseburg, Oregon, where she died the year fol¬ lowing.
Anson W. De Jean was born in Maumee City, Ohio, Feb. 25, 1838. His younger days were spent in school and assisting his father in the mill and on the farm. He was employed for a while as teacher in the public schools of Vernon county. He was niarried in 1862 to Juliet Potter, born in Collin's Center, Erie Co., N. Y. He then settled on section 29, on land which his father had entered for him in 1855. In 1863 he erected a building on section 29, and engaged in mercantile business, which he has followed ever since. In 1864 he bought an interest in his father's saw-mill, and in 1873 was associated with him in the building of a flour mill, which Anson W. now operates. He has been engaged for some years in farming, and at one time owned 1,100 acres of land in this county. He now owns but 320 acres in Vernon county, and a quarter section in Mur¬ ray Co., Minn. Mr. and Mrs. De Jean had but one child—Charles, who clerks in his father's store.    Mr. De  Jean  has  taken  a prominent