BIOGRAPHIES:   Joseph PECORE, Dallas Township, Barron Co., WI

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Submitted by:  Vic Gulickson <vic@indy.net>  18 October 2004
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Joseph Pecore, the oldest man in Barron County, and one of its pioneers,
has now passed the century mark along life's way, and is still vigorous and
hearty, enjoying the life of the present day and taking pleasure in the
doings of the several younger generations that he has seen born and grow to
years of maturity. As time has moved along he has seen his youthful friends
all laid away one by one, but the fleeting years have brought him new
friends, and he has found that life has been well worth the living. His
years have been well spent, he has seen adventure on land and water, and he
has played well his part in the human events of the century which has
marked the span of his life. Joseph Pecore was born in St. Lawrence County,
New York, May 6, 1820. Left an orphan at a tender age, he started out for
himself by working among neighbors for his board. He was but twelve years
of age when he became cook's mate on the Great Lakes vessel, the
"Elecounto". Thereafter he spent several years of his youth on Great Lake
boats in various capacities. As a young man he went to upper Canada, where
he spent three decades or more, hewing logs in the winter season, and
planing them in the summer season. Next he visited various states on the
Pacific coast looking for a place to locate, and witnessed the construction
of the railroad from Portland to Sacramento in the year 1870. Then he found
his way to Wisconsin, and squatted on 160 acres of school land in Section
16, west, Dallas Township, where he sent for his family who were then
living in Canada. He cleared ten acres, erected a log cabin and a crude
shed, and raised a small crop. The next year, in 1872, he left his
squatter's claim and took a pre-emption of 160 acres in Section 27, west,
in the same township. He cleared the greater part of the tract, erected a
set of log buildings and there farmed until 1890. Then he bought 160 acres
in Section 26, west, in the same township, on which he lived until 1903,
when he retired. In his long years of farming in Dallas Township, he had
cleared five or six hundred acres, had made improvements on at least three
different tracts, and had been the owner at one time or another of 1120
acres. Not only this, but he had found time for considerable public
service. He and Woodbery Grover were influential in getting the first
postoffice started in Dallas Township. He helped organize the township and
served as its first treasurer. He also helped to organize his school
district and served on the board for many years. In the making of roads he
was also very active, and built many miles of improved highways. When he
retired he moved to the village of Dallas, where he lived until March,
1919, when he went to live with his son, Isaac, in Dallas Township. Mr.
Pecore was married Feb. 13, 1860, to Mary Ward, born in London, England,
July 14. 1841, a most worthy woman who shared his joys and sorrows through
many years, proved an ideal wife and loving and thoughtful mother, and
passed away March 28, 1920, causing her husband his greatest sorrow, and
leaving a vacant place in the hearts of her relatives and friends that can
never be filled. Mr. and Mrs. Pecore were the parents of fourteen children:
John J., born June 11, 1861, died July 7, 1864; Joseph, born June 13, 1863,
died July 16, 1907; Anthony, born Aug. 8, 1864, now resides in the village
of Dallas; Elizabeth, born Sept. 18, 1866, is the wife of Wint Grover of
Washington state; John P. was born Dec. 29, 1867, and died June 1, l904;
Louis A. was born Feb. 20, 1870, and lives on the home farm in Dallas
Township; Isaac, born Oct. 14, 1871, also lives in Dallas Township; David,
born April 3, 1873, died May 2, 1873; David, born Feb. 17, 1874, also lives
in Dallas Township; Priscilla, born April 6, 1875, is the wife of Victor
Huot of Duluth, Minn.; William, born Feb. 26, 1877, is in Washington state;
Francis T., born Nov. 5, 1880, died Feb. 5, 1882; Edward T., born Nov. 5,
1881, now lives in Barron, this county; Robert D., born April 27, 1883,
lives in Ridgeland, Wis. All these children have been given a good start in
life, and of them their father is justly proud. It is interesting to note
that in the summer of 1920, Mr. Pecore took a trip to Duluth alone to visit
his daughter, Mrs. Victor Huot. From there he took a trip to Grand Marie by
motor, a distance of 700 miles, visiting the Iron Range. He also inspected
several plants at Duluth, and found the modern machinery and methods of the
greatest interest. He has an excellent memory of men and events during his
long life and is a most pleasing companion.

--Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co.,
1922, pp.  829-830.

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