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.

              HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
dealers in lumber were: I. W. Blake & Co. and N. McRie.
In 1884 the insurance agents in Viroqua were: John Dawson, H. Trowbridge and Warren Davis.
The first tailor to locate in Viroqua was John Everett, who opened a shop here in 1856 and is still in business. In 1884 the tailors were: John Everett, H. C. Dean and Mr. Meidal.
The first livery stable in Viroqua was started by Edward Coe, in 1858, in a barn which he erected. He continued in business until 1882, when he sold to Hewey Sd McKitrick, who are still in business, using a barn back of the Tre mont Hotel. E. Goodell established his livery business in July, 1870, occupying the same barn that he now uses.
The first blacksmith to locate at Viroqua was Orin Wisel, the first county clerk, who came here from Liberty Pole, in the town of Frank¬ lin, in 1850. He did not erect a shop, but did some blacksmith'work out of doors. He remain¬ ed in the village about one year, when he moved to Readstown. The first regular blacksmith shop in the village was started by L. D. Mars- ten, who came here in 1852 and opened up in a little log building which he erected near the present location of the Buckeye Hotel. Later, Daniel Hinsworth became a partner. They continued in business three or four years, when Mr. Marsten removed to Crawford county. In 1856 S. A. Robinson came from Liberty Pole, in the town of Franklin, and opened a black¬ smith shop in a little building which he put up on the southeast corner of block 3. He ran the shop until the time of his death. David Onstot started the next shop. He was in buisi- ness for several years, when he removed to Kansas. Among other blacksmiths in Viroqua since that time are: Andrew Russell, J. D. Lawrence, J. H. Tate and Samuel Metcalf. In 1884 the business was represented by the fol¬ lowing: E. A. Stark and Pulver Brothers, in connection with wagon making; Benjamin Williams, James Smith and Eugene Gaines.
The first wagon repair shop was started in 1855 by Mr. Gibson, who came from Ohio. The wagon shops of the village, in 1884, were run by E. A. Stark and Pulver Brothers.
The brick making interest is among the most important of Viroqua's industrial enterprises. The first yard here was started in 1855 by Thomas Gillett and Charles Skippens. They laid out the yard in the southwest part of the village, near what has since been called the "brick pond." They remained in the business only a couple of years. Many persons have at different times been interested in this enter¬ prise. In 1884 there was only one brick-yard, which was owned by Moody Sd Son. It is lo¬ cated just east  of the village.
In 1884 there was one marble shop in the village. It was owned and operated by Burt W. Battels.
The first harness shop in the village was started by W. S. Purdy in a little building that had been erected by J. E. Newell, which stood just back of Col. Butt's law office. Judge Purdy continued in the business for several years and was finally succeeded by his son, B. F. Purdy, who is yet in business. They erected the building in which the business is now carried on. In 1884 there were two shops in Viroqua—that of B. F. Purdy and Ferguson Sd Zitzner.
The first barber shop in Viroqua was started in 1862 by Thomas Bryant in the Skippen's Hotel. A little later he went into the service and during his absence Charles Skippens did some barbering. In 1884 there were three bar¬ ber shops in the village.
The first regular dentist to locate here was Dr. Ely, who is still in practice. Dr. Goechen- eur is also one of Viroqua's dentists.
About the first to make dealing in grain a special business was W. F. Lindemann. The principal dealers in this line in 1884 were: Fred. Eckhart and Coates & Co.