Biographies from The History of Columbia County,
Wisconsin, 1880 


Contributed by Carol carolann612@charter.net
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm


From The History of Columbia County, Wisconsin, 1880,
publ. by Western Historical Company, Chicago, Page 875

W. H. C. ABELL, dentist; born at Middletown, Genesee
Co., N.Y. (now Wyoming Co.), May 25, 1827.  When about
12 years of age, his parents removed to Ohio; lived
there until he was 20 years of age.  Educated in
dentistry in Middletown, Conn.; commenced study with a
brother in 1852; prior to that time, he was engaged in
civil engineering, being Second Assistant Engineer of
the Western Division of the Erie Canal during its
construction in New York State.  The Doctor was
married at Skaneateles, Onondaga Co., N.Y., in April
1854, to Angelina C. LAWTON; she was born at Catskill,
Greene Co., N.Y.  They have three children - David
Hunter, Fannie Jewett and Henry Russell.  Mr. ABELL is
a member of the A.F. & A.M. Lodge.

MILES T. ALVERSON, real estate and loan agent; was
born in the town of Rodman, Jefferson Co., N.Y., Jan.
26, 1833; son of Almanson and Sylenda ALVERSON, who
moved to Russell, St. Lawrence Co., NY., November
1848, where Miles T. lived until 1854, when he came to
Wisconsin in October of that year, locating on what is
now the town of Arlington, on Sec. 1, with his friend
Ambrose POWERS, remaining with him, more or less,
until 1857, when he went to Southwestern Missouri,
where he taught school a portion of the time, only
remaining there a year, when he returned to Wisconsin
to Lowville, working at the carpenter's trade.
Married, March 23, 1859, to Melissa A. LOW, only
daughter of Hon. Jacob LOW, of Lowville,who died Jan.
24, 1875; her mother, Catherine LOW, is now living;
they were among the early settlers of that place.
Mrs. ALVERSON is probably the oldest settler now
living within the corporate limits of Portage; she was
born in the city of New York, March 28, 1841. They
have two children - Charles Lewis, born Dec. 23, 1860,
and Harry Bartlett, March 27, 1872.  After marriage,
Mr. ALVERSON was engaged in teaching and working at
his trade as carpenter and joiner, but teaching
principally until 1864; one year of this time, he
carried on his father-in-law's farm; in 1864, went to
Milwaukee and took a course in commercial college,
returning to Poynette, where he taught the higher
department of the public school, that being his third
term at this place; he returned to Milwaukee in 1865,
and was employed as a teacher in Bryant & Stratton's
College, where he remained until he came to Portage,
Jan. 1, 1867; was Deputy Treasurer two years, then
elected County Treasurer in the fall of 1868; re-
elected in 1870.  In 1872, in company with Thomas
YULE, purchased abstracts of titles of lands in this
county; was engaged in the abstract business and real
estate, loans, etc., until November 1878, when he sold
out their abstracts, and since then has been in loan
and real estate business; since Aug. 1, 1879, has
conducted business alone; was Town Superintendent of
Schools in 1861, Town Clerk of Lowville in 1862; was
Deputy County Treasurer two years after he went out as
County Treasurer, and Deputy County Register at the
same time.  Mr. A.'s father died Aug. 29, 1879; mother
now lives on the homestead, in Russell, St. Lawrence
Co., N.Y.  Mr. A. was one of the charter members of
the I.O.O.F.; also a member of the A F. & A.M., and
was a member of the School Board two years.

Submitted by Carol