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.
Dane Co., Wis. His uncle died soon after. In 1853 they came to Vernon county, settling on section 30, town 12, range 5, in territory now included in Sterling town. Here Christian grew to manhood, receiving his education in the dis¬ trict school. In 1864 he w^ent by way of the Isthmus to California, remaining there six years. He then returned to Sterling, purchas¬ ing a quarter section of land on section 23, town 12, range 6, and there engaged in farm¬ ing. In 1878 Mr. Olson was elected county register and removed to Viroqua, where he re¬ mained until 1883, when he engaged in trade at Grand Forks, Sterling town. In 1869 he was married to Julia Swinson. Mr. and Mrs. Olson have had four children—Oscar, Anton, Nellie and Clara.
French B. White was born in Beaver Co., Penn., Jan. 26, 1832, and when quite small was taken by his parents to Athens Co., Ohio, where he grew to manhood. He then learned the blacksmith's trade with a brother-in-law, J. M. Hill, and worked with him one year. In 1853 he came to Vernon Co., Wis , and lived about a year at DeSoto and Viroqua. He then returned to Ohio, and opened a shop in Athens county in 1857. He was married Dec. 16, 1857, to Sarah A Hill, born in Pennsylvania, Jan. 18, 1836. In 1863 Mr. White enlisted in the 1st Ohio Heavy Artillery, and served mostly in Kentucky and Tennessee. He was honorably discharged in August, 1865, at Knoxville, Tenn., and returned to Pennsylvania. Soon after his return he came to Retreat, Wis., and purchased a dwelling and blacksmith shop of O. C. Jones. He continued to work at his trade about three years, then his wife died April 19, leaving three children — Martin A., Clifton S. and Thomas W. He worked at his trade one year more, then rented his father's farm for three years, and finally, in 1873, bought a farm on section 15, of town 11 north, of range 6 west. He married Ruth M. Bates, Jan. 5, 1873, born in New York, July 10, 1850.   They have one child—Purley C.
Robert Johnson, one of the early settlers of Vernon county, was born in Lincolnshire, Eng¬ land, Aug. 5, 1818. He attended school until fourteen years of age, and then engaged in farming. He w^as married in 1845 to Elizabeth Moires, a native of Cambridgeshire, England. In 1850 they emigrated to America, locating at Fort Atkinson, where Mr. Johnson engaged in farming. In 1854 he came to Vernon Co., Wis., settling first on section 33, town 12, range 5. He improved this land and resided here until 1878, when he moved to his present farm, situated on section 4, town 11, range 6. Mrs. Johnson died in 1879, aged fifty-eight years.
Albert, son of Robert and Elizabeth (Moires) Johnson, was born Oct. 10, 1847, in Lincoln¬ shire, England. When three years of age his parents emigrated to the United States. He made his home with them until 1865, when he enlisted in company B, 50th Wisconsin Volun teers, and went to the western frontier. He was honorably discharged in June, 1866, and re¬ turned to Sterling town, where he engaged in farming, also dealing in grain. He was mar¬ ried in 1873 to Rachel Weevil. Three children blessed this union—Louisa May, Lizzie E. and Florence R. Mrs. Johnson died May 19, 1878. He married in October, 1880, Rosie J. Abrams. They have had two children, one of whom is living—Robert R. In 1878 Mr. John¬ son purchased the farm first settled by his father, and now makes that his home.
Andrew T. Thompson was born in Norway, in December, 1828, being there reared on a farm. In 1852 he emigrated to theUnited j^tates. He resided in Dane Co., Wis., one year. In 1853 he started with an ox team for Vernon county, taking provisions and cooking utensils with him, and camping out on the way. He entered land on sections 17 and 18, town 11, range 5, Sterling town. He erected a log cabin on the farm, in which he lived until 1881, v^hen he built his present frame residence. He was married in 1858 to Susan Jerman. They have eight childreq—'Thomas, Anna Sophia, Lem,