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.
Steenson married Johanna Ericson, daugh¬ ter of Ericson Thompson. They have two children—Albert and Amel.
V. A. Stoddard, a native of the "Badger State," was born in Dodge Co., Wis, in 1854. Soon after his birth his parents removed to Sheldon, in Monroe county, where he remained until 1875, receiving a good common school education. ^ In the latter year, he purchased fifty acres of land on section 6, Whitestown town, and moved on to his farm the same year. Mr. Stoddard w^as elected clerk of Whitestown in 1882, and has been clerk of his school district for six years. He was married in 1874 to Anna E., daughter of Michael and Mary J. Dunn. They have, four children—Charles D., William P., Rettie A. and Bessie A. Mr. Stoddard's father was born in New York, in 1828, and his mother in Maine, in 1833.
Hans Hanson is a native of Norway, and was born in 1328. He emigrated to the United States in 1853, in the month of August. He first settled on Coon Prairie, in Vernon county, where he remained until 1877, when he removed to Whitestown and purchased 140 acres of land from Christian Thompson on section 6, which he still owns. Mr. Hanson was married to Anna Evenson in 1860, by whom he had one child—Caroline, who died in 1866. Mr. Han¬ son was unfortunate in losing his wife in 1865. He again married, in 1866, Mary Larson. They have five children—Anna, Henry, Laura, Clara and Ida, all single and living at home. Neither of Mr. Hanson's parents came to the United Slp,tes.
Ora Winsor, cabinet and wagon-maker, was born in Chenango Co., N. Y., where he re¬ mained until 1827, and then removed to Chau¬ tauqua county, in the same State. He there learned the carpenter trade, and in 1831 went to Canada, and worked at his trade for two years. Returning to New York, he there remained until 1847, when he came west and located in   York town  Green Co.,  Wis.    In 1851, he
removed to Madison, and there lived until 1855. He traveled extensively over the States of Wis¬ consin, Iowa and Colorado, and in 1881 located in the town of Whitestown. He now carries on a cabinet and wagon-shop, and enjoys a good run of custom. Mr. Winsor was married, in 1835, to Polly Ann Brown, who was the mother of four children—Chauncey A., who married Frank Ten Eyck, Lucy M., wife of E. Groer, Jirah R., who married Cordelia A. Bishop, and Jason C, who selected for his wife Anna Piper. Mrs. Winsor died in 1861, and Mr. Winsor was again married, in 1863, to Jane A. Wilcox, who departed this life in 1875.
Arnold Widmer, junior member of the firm of Bennett Sd Widmer, proprietors of Rock¬ ton flouring mills, was born in Switzerland, in 1848. He received a thorough collegiate edu¬ cation in the mother country, and subsequently learned the milling trade. He came to these United States in 1868, and first located in Buffalo Co., Wis. He there worked on a farm for some time, and since then has been constant- ly employed at his trade. In 1874 he came to Rockton, and worked in the grist mill. In January, 1883, he purchased a half interest in the flouring mill, and the business has since been conducted by the firm of Bennett & Wid¬ mer. Mr. Widmer also owns a residence and three village lots in Rockton, and eighty acres of land in the town of Stark. Mr. Widmer was married, iri 1870, to Viola, daughter of David and Jutita Kellicut. They have five children—Franklin A., Bertha, Elmer L., Net- - tie C. and Hattie L.  (twins).
A. Burlingame, a physician by profession and a farmer by occupation, was born in Wy¬ oming Co., N. Y., in 1819. In 1828 he accom¬ panied his parents to Putnam Co., Ind, and in 1836, to Milwaukee, Wis. His mother was the first married white woman in that city. Mr. Burlingame attended the public schools, and in 1847 returned to Putnam Co., Ind, where he studied medicine for four years.    He first local-