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 876

EDMUND BAKER, born in the town of Ft. Winnebago, Oct.
27, 1848; son of Charles and Priscilla BAKER, who came
to that town in April 1848; his mother died in 1862;
father now lives on Sec. 2, where he first located;
Edmund S. remained on the farm until he was 20 years
of age; came to Portage; clerked for Mr. BACON in the
hardware business for a year, then entered the law
office of Emmons TAYLOR; remained there about three
years, and was admitted to the bar Dec. 6, 1870; then
engaged in farming until 1874, when he commenced the
practice of law; Justice of the Peace for three years.
Married in town of Ft. Winnebago, Jan. 19, 1874 to
Miss Isabel A., daughter of A. Z. MALTBEY, of that
town; she was born in the village of McLean, Tompkins
Co., N.Y., March 10, 1857; they have three children -
Emmons M., born April 25, 1875; Burchard H., born June
17, 1877, and Ada May, born Feb. 11, 1879; Mr. B. is a
member of the A.F. & A.M.

LEVI W. BARDEN was born in Benton, Yates Co, N.Y.,
Sept. 3, 1820; lived in that town until he was 24
years of age; resided in Gorham, Ontario Co., N.Y.,
six years; was engaged in farming until the spring of
1851; in May of that year, he entered the New York
State and National Law School from which he graduated
Aug. 11, 1852, at Ballston Spa, Saratoga Co., N.Y.;
was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of New
York state, at Rochester, in September 1852; came to
Portage, Wis., Nov. 1952, and entered the law office
of Judge DIXON for four months, then entered into
partnership with John A. JOHNSON, where he remained
until the death of Mr. JOHNSON, in June 1853, after
1861, looked after his private affairs, and was
manager of the Green Bay Transportation Company, in
which position he continued for several years, until
about the time of the dissolution of the company;
first admitted to practice in Wisconsin at Janesville
in November 1852; afterward admitted to practice in
Portage during the first term of court held there
after he came; next admitted to the Supreme Court of
Wisconsin; then to United States Court at Milwaukee;
while a resident of Benton, N.Y., he was Town
Superintendent of Schools two years; after he was 17
years of age, he taught in the public schools of his
native county and in Ontario Co., every winter for
eleven years; was Town superintendent in town of
Gorham two years; Justice of the Peace of same town,
which office he resigned when he went to law school.
He was commissioned Colonel of one of the uniformed
regiments, New York State Militia; Captain also of a
rifle company, in town of Benton; Captain of company
in town of Gorham; afterward commissioned Colonel of
regiment to which this company was attached; and, in
1857, he purchased property where he is now located;
the property was owned by Moses PAUQUETTE and his
mother; part of the house he now occupies was owned
and occupied by the PAUQUETTE family; in 1865, Mr.
BARDEN enlarged and improved the buildings
considerably and moved here to his present house in
1865; platted 100 acres and Jerome B. FARGO platted 40
acres in 1857, known as BARDEN & FARGO's Addition to
the city of Portage; he has since vacated the 100
acres, except a few of the streets which are retained
as they were platted; the 40 acres is still a part of
the city plat; since coming to his present location,
Mr. B. has devoted his attention to farming.  He has
held offices of Justice of the Peace, District
Attorney, Alderman of Second Ward, Supervisor,
Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, member of
Assembly and State Senator.  He was married at Mentor,
Lake Co., Ohio, Nov. 29, 1853, to Jane R. CORNING; she
was born in Mentor, Nov. 14, 1824; they have three
children - William C., Marshall W. and Mary E.

P. J. BARKMAN is a native of Canada West; was born
July 23, 1846; when about 5 years of age he came to
Wisconsin with his parents, Richard and Louisa
BARKMAN; they located at Oshkosh and he lived there
until he was 16 years of age, then came to Portage;
previous to leaving Oshkosh, he had been engaged in
the tinsmith business; after coming to this city, he
worked for I. W. BACON until six years ago when the
first of J. E. WELLS & Co. was formed, of which he is
a member.  He was married in Portage Jan. 9, 1868 to
Mary L. PIXLEY; she died Aug. 8, 1878, leaving two
children - Fred, born Sept. 24, 1869; Harry, June 1,
1874.  Mr. B. is a member of A.O.U.W.

Submitted by Carol