BIOGRAPHIES: Willard O. DIBBLES, Barron Township, Barron County, WI ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Vic Gulickson 20 January 2002 ==================================================================== Willard 0. Dibbles has experienced pioneer life in three states, Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin, and his early adventures in Barron County, if amply told, would form a most interesting chapter in any history of early life in the old Northwest. He was born at Lake Bono, Vermont, July 29, 1849, son of Orrin and Lucy (Alden) Dibbles, natives respectively of Connecticut and Vermont, and married in the latter state. The children in the family were: David, who was killed in the Civil War; Dwight, who died in infancy; Daniel, Laura L., Willard 0. and Wallace. Willard 0. lost his mother when he was nine years of age, and a year later started to shift for himself by living and working here and there among the neighbors. At nineteen he came to Illinois, and secured employment with Rathbone Grout, whom he had met in Vermont, and who had promised him work at $18 a month and board. Two years later he went to Missouri. There he married Emily Grout, daughter of his former employer. In 1876 they returned to Illinois. It was from there in 1882, that they set out with their children for Wisconsin. They were almost penniless, but they managed to secure a pair of horses and a wagon, and loading their meager belongings, they made the long way overland to the home of a cousin, Enos Oldin, who lived in Barron Township, Barron County. Then they found a temporary place to live until they could look about. As an added misfortune, one of their horses died soon after their arrival. Mr. Dibbles found a desirable forty in Clinton Township, a part of his present farm, that was open to preemption, but he lacked the means, so he set to work as a day laborer to repair his broken fortunes. In his first employment he received 75 cents a day, and had to walk three miles to his employment in the morning and back that distance at night. Next he secured work on the state road. For this he received $1.50 a day, but had to walk four miles each morning and back at night. By early winter he had enough to preempt the forty acres. On this he erected a log cabin with logs which he got out himself. Neighbors were few and far between, but with what help he could get, the logs were rolled up in two days, and the family moved in on March first. The roof was not on, nor the logs chinked, but the cabin was home, and the family residence in the wilderness was established. The winter was a hard one, and the years that immediately followed not much easier. But hope beat high in the breast of the family and gradually a fine farm was developed. The land was cleared, increasing crops were planted, equipment was purchased from time to time, and with the passage of the years, 80 more acres were added, 40 in Clinton Township and 40 in Barron Township. The log cabin proved inadequate, and a board extension, 12 by 16 feet, was made. In this enlarged home the family lived until 1904, when a good two-story, nine-room, brick house was built on the Barron Township portion of the farm. In 1912, a large frame barn was erected. Other buildings have been added from time to time as necessity has required and means permitted, until the place, which is located four miles northwest of Barron City, is now as good as can be found in the vicinity. Mr. Dibbles is a hale, hearty, active man, a fine example of those sturdy pioneers who conquered the wilderness and helped make the county what it is today. Mrs. Dibbles, who was the faithful helpmate of her husband in all his undertakings, was born in New York state, Dec. 22, 1848, and died on the farm, Sept. 26, 1908. She was a devout member of the First Baptist Church at Barron. She and her husband were the parents of eight children. Two born in Missouri died in childhood. William Henry and Mary Elvira were born in Illinois. Laura Lucy was born in Illinois and died there. Charles Rathbone, Emma Melvina and Franklin Willard were born in Wisconsin. William Henry was born Sept. 14, 1876, and is assisting his father in operating the home farm. Mary Elvira was born Nov. 8, 1878, and is the wife of Horace Hall, of Barron City. Laura Lucy was born July 27, 1881, and died July 5, 1882. Charles Rathbone was born April 26, 1883, married Adeline Freestone, and is now a farmer in Barron Township. Emma Melvina was born Nov. 25, 1886, and is the wife of Albert Gilette, of Ogema, Price County, Wis. Franklin Willard was born July 17, 1890, and was married June 15, 1920, to Hilda Ormson, of Barron Township. He works on the home farm and he and his wife keep house for his father and brother. He was inducted into the World War service, July 23, 1918, and trained at Camp Grant, Ill., with Co. L, 343rd Inf., 86th Division. He was equipped for overseas service at Camp Mills, L. I., and sailed Sept. 14, 1918. He reached Southhampton, England, on the 21st and was confined in a hospital at Peyton, England, until Oct. 6. Then he was sent to Winchester, England, and crossed the English Channel, Oct. 13, to La Havre, France, being sent from there to Camp La Maisse, France, and from there to the front. Oct. 21, he was again sent to the hospital. Upon his release he was designated as a casual with the Third Division. Jan. 8, 1919, he was placed in Co. 1, 30th Inf., Third Division. He served in the Army of Occupation and was stationed at Kehrig and Mayen, Germany until Aug. 7, 1919. He sailed for America, Aug. 13, reached Camp Merritt, N. J., Aug. 23, was discharged six days later at Camp Grant and returned home. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pg. 139-140.