BIOGRAPHIES:  Woodbury S. GROVER, Dallas Township, Barron Co., WI

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Transcribed by Kate Wilson. 
Edited and submitted by  Vic Gulickson <vic@indy.net>  3 January 2004
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Woodbury S. Grover, a pioneer of Dallas Township, was born in Boothbay,
Maine, Dec. 3, 1830, the son of Freeman and Sophia Grover. He was reared
and educated in his native town, grew to manhood there and married. In 1858
he brought his wife and daughter to Wisconsin and settled at Menomonie, in
Dunn County, where he secured employment with Knapp, Stout & Co. In 1861 he
pre-empted 80 acres in that county, put up a house and barn and developed a
farm. Seven years later, in 1868, he came to Barron County and took a
homestead of 160 acres in Section 32, Dallas Township. This was then wild
land. There were almost no settlers, and such as there were were living in
isolated cabins in little clearings in the woods. There were no roads
except the "tote" roads of the lumber companies. There was still
considerable doubt whether the lumber and stumps could ever be profitably
cleared up and the county opened for successful farming. But Mr. Grover
came of staunch stock, he had courage and determination, and he had faith
in the future. So he set to work with a will to establish his home and his
farm. He also encouraged others to take land and helped them get up their
cabins and their land cleared. As time passed he got nearly all his own
original homestead cleared up, and replaced the original log structures
with a fine set of buildings, making as good a farm as was to be found in
the neighborhood. He also bought and sold land as he found opportunity, and
at one time owned 400 acres. Coming of New England forebears and being a
man of superior intelligence, it is natural that he should early have taken
a prominent part in public affairs. In the county seat contests he worked
hard for Barron, and exerted considerable influence toward the erection of
the first courthouse in that place. In 1874-75 he served most efficiently
as county clerk. He was the second man to hold that position, his
predecessor, 0. Brayton, being the first. In 1877 he represented his fellow
citizens of the lower house of the State Assembly. Living as he did in a
part of the state not yet developed, he knew the needs of the pioneers
struggling to develop homes in the woods, and he was an active worker in
behalf of every measure which he believed to be for their best interests.
For twelve years he was chairman of Dallas Township, and as such sat on the
county board for that period. He also led in the fight against the
railroads, which were charging from $6.50 up per acre for land, and this
contest resulted in the railroads lowering the price of their land to $2.50
per acre, and was one of the greatest boons ever experienced by the county,
having the effect of attracting many new settlers. The fight started over
the taxes, the county bringing suit with the above mentioned result. In
town affairs Mr. Grover was a careful manager, favoring good roads, but
believing in conservative taxation. As a member of the county board he
served on several important committees, and his judgment on county affairs
was highly respected. In this way he became widely known. He is regarded as
one of the county’s useful citizens, he has done much toward its growth and
progress, and his story is interwoven in the warp and woof of the county’s
progress. Through all the years of his public service he continued to farm
successfully on his original homestead. In 1902, however, he retired, and
has since made his home at Ridgeland, still continuing to look after his
numerous affairs. Mr. Grover was married Feb. 25, 1856 to Angeline Potter,
who was born at Brunswick, Me., on June 18, 1838, and died March 20, 1918.
Mr. and Mrs. Grover had thirteen children. Floribella was born Jan. 31,
1857, and is the wife of Dewilton F. Blyton. Wilbur W. was born Aug. 30,
1858, and died March 3, 1873. Woodbury F. was born Sept. 1, 1860, and now
lives at Ridgeland. S. Douglas was born Feb. 9, 1862 and lives at Cameron.
Warren P. is postmaster and prominent citizen at Ridgeland. He was born
Sept. 30, 1863. Benjamin A. was born April 17, 1865, and is now in Burbank,
Wash. J. Winter was born Dec. 10, 1867 and is at Medical Lake, Wash. Lucy
was born Nov. 6, 1869, and is the wife of Isaac Pecore. Fred W. was born
Aug. 27, 1871, and lives at Weenatche, Wash. Wilbur A. was born March 30,
1874, and is a chiropractor at Baldwin, Wis. Milton was born May 4, 1876
and lives at Rice Lake. Clarence was born Dec. 23, 1878, and died Dec. 24,
1879. Leon C. was born Feb. 24, 1880, and farms in Dunn County, this state.

--Transcribed from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper,
Jr., & Co., 1922, pp. 877-878.

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