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.
In 1884 the most prominent carpenters and builders of Viroqua were: Henry Allen, I. W. Blake Sd Co. and Willis Mabie.
BANKS.
The first bank established in Viroqua, was by August Nifenecker, in 1856, called theMoneike Bank. He occupied the upper story of a build¬ ing which stood where J. H. Tate's store is now located. Mr. Nifenecker remained in business about one year, when he closed out the bank. A few years later, he removed to Bad Ax, now Genoa, where he was kiUed by W. S. Tib¬ bitts. An account of the affair is given else¬ where.
The second bank was the Bank of Viroqua, which was established by W. F. Lindemann and Jeremiah M. Rusk, in December, 1879. It is still owned by the founders, occupying a sub¬ stantial brick building, which was erected by W. F. Lindemann.
HOTELS.
The first hotel in Viroqua was erected by Rufus Dunlap, in 1850. It stood upon the lot now occupied by the Park Hotel. The main building was about 16x24 feet iri size, and a story and a half in height. A wing was bui t on each side, making the building about 24x36 feet in size. It was originally a h^g building, -but was afterward weather-boarded over the logs. It contained six rooms. One r*oom suf¬ ficed for kitchen, dining-room and sitting- room, one for the office, the i-est being bed roams. Rufus Dunlap opened the house as the Dunlap Hotel, and continued to run it for about ^ six years. After this, it was not used as a hotel, and the timbers were finally utilized in the con¬ struction of a barn.
The second hotel erected in Viroqua was the old Buckeye House. It was erected by W. F. Terhune and William A. Bullard in the sum¬ mer and fall of 1852, and stood upon the now vacant lot on the corner just north of Clarke Brothers store. The building was about 24x36 feet in size, and one and a half stories high. The hotel was opened as such by Terhune Sd
Bullard. They were succeeded by Jeremiah M. Rusk, the present governor of Wisconsin, as landlord. The next landlord was George Bush, who ran it for several years, when its use for hotel purposes was discontinued. The build¬ ing was afterwards owned by Dr. James Rusk, and then Carson Graham, whose property it was when destroyed by fire in 1878. Mrs. Gra¬ ham still owns the lot upon which the building stood.
The next hotel in Viroqua was the North Star House, which was erected in 1854 by Henry Nichols. It was 30x40 feet in size and an excellent building for those days. It was opened as a hotel by S. C. Lincoln. Succeed¬ ing him as landlord canie Mr. Perham, J. M. Rusk, L. W. Nichols, Mr. Herrick, F. A. Den- ion, Isaac Pennell, J. A Somerby, Hiram Has¬ kell, J. H. Gordon, L. R. Decker, Nathan Coe, Loyd Coe, Mr. Hewitt and E. W. Hazen. The name of the hotel was changed from North Star to Haskell, and finally Tremont House, which name it still bears.
The present Park Hotel was erected as the Dunlap House in 1858, by Hillier Dunlap and his mother. Its size was 24x36 feet, two stories high. Warren Dunlap opened the building as a hotel and acted as landlord for several years, when he was succeeded by Charles Skippens. Skippens remained landlord until 1865, when Bannister Brothers became proprietors. Hiram Haskell succeeded the Bannisters as landlord. Then came Capt. Connor, who changed the name to the Viroqua House. Orange Lamb was the next landlord, and succeeding him came Capt. Connor again, who is the present landlord, the name of the house having been changed to the Park Hotel.
Henry Connor, son of Henry and Sarah Con¬ nor, was born in West Chester, Chester Co., Penn. His father died the same year of his birth, and after two years his mother married again. Henry lived with his step-tather till he was fourteen years of age,  receiving a  liberal