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
917-918

M. DE WITT OLDER, son of Amos and Ann OLDER, was born
at Farmersville, Cattaraugus Co., N.Y., Dec. 20, 1831;
came to Walworth Co., Wis., in 1838, his parents being
the third family in the town of Darien; moved to Boone
Co., Ill, in 1852; two years afterward removed to
Marquette Co., Wis., then went to Minnesota, where he
aided in the organization of Martin County and towns;
left Minnesota on account of the Indian massacre in
1862; returning to Marquette Co., enlisted in Co. H.,
5th W.V.I., Aug. 23, 1864, and was mustered out June
20, 1865, when he again returned to Marquette Co.; in
1869 Mr. O. moved to Lincoln, Adams Co., Wis., where
he remained until coming to Portage, March 3, 1880.
He was married at Nevada, Martin Co., Minn., April 26,
1859, to Elizabeth A., daughter of James B. and Jane
A. CLARK, born in Ontario, Canada, June 19, 1839.
They have six children - Clark, born Oct. 29, 1860;
James Amos, July 26, 1862; Edna, June 25, 1866;
Nellie, April 24, 1869; Bert, July 18, 1875, and
Cliffe, Nov. 17, 1876.  Mr. O. is a member of the
lodge of A.F. & A.M.

Page 918

MRS. MARY A. OWENS, nee PARISH, wife of John T. OWENS;
she was born July 12, 1828, in the city of
Peterborough, England; he is a native of Wales; she
sailed from Liverpool in the good ship Milan, on the
14th of May, 1848, and reached New York on the 13th of
June 1848, which was the shortest passage of sailing
vessel recorded up to that date; she lived twelve
years in Utica, N.Y.  She was married in 1850; in the
spring of 1860 they came West, and bought land in
Caledonia Township, where they lived till 1873; since
which date she has resided in Portage.  Had four
children; three are dead; the other, Anna, is married
to a son of Thomas WALKER, of Caledonia, and now lives
in Bremer Co., Iowa.  She keeps a stock of fancy
notions and also does stamping.  She is a member of
the Presbyterian Church, and is a reliable and useful
member of society.

ABRAHAM PADLEY is a native of England; was born at
Staley Bridge, Lancashire, Oct. 27, 1828; came to
America with his mother in the fall of 1840; lived at
New York Mills until he came to Wisconsin, February
1857; acquired his musical education at Utica, N.Y.
When first coming to this state, he settled at Lodi,
in this county, where he resided one year; then moving
to the town of Dekorra, where he remained six years,
in the hotel business and owner of the ferry; moving
from Dekorra to Poynette, he engaged in the mercantile
business, where he lived for seven years; was
Postmaster for about five years during his residence
in this place, and then, coming to Portage in the fall
of 1871, he engaged in the music business, dealer in
pianos, organs, and all kinds of musical instruments,
and teaching vocal and instrumental music. Mr. PADLEY
was married in Whitestown, Oneida Co., N.Y., August
1849, to Miss Mary A. WALKER, a native of Rome, N.Y.
They have two children - Viola J. (now Mrs. J. H.
ROGERS, of this city) and Julia E.  Is a member of the
Presbyterian Church; also belongs to the I.O.O.F.
Society.

WILLIAM T. PARRY, son of William and Catharine PARRY;
was born in Bangor, North Wales, May 17, 1837; came to
America in 1849; to Wisconsin in September of the same
year, locating at Manchester, Green Lake Co.; lived
there until 1858, and engaged in farming; in 1859,
came to Portage; clerked for about six years with A.
D. FORBES; in 1865, the firm of PARRY, BEBB & MUIR was
formed; they were together about four years, when the
firm became PARRY & MUIR, and has continued to present
time.  Married Margaret WILLIAMS June 30, 1857, at
Randolph, this county; she died June 30, 1866, leaving
two children - Mary A. (now Mrs. Thomas MOSS, of
Hudson, Wis.) and William.  Present wife's maiden name
was Annie R. ROBERTS; were married Aug. 27, 1867, at
Westminster Church, Utica, N.Y.; Mrs. P. was born near
Bala, North Wales; they have four children - Lemuel
R., Floy, Richard, and Pierce.  Mr. PARRY is an Elder
of the First Presbyterian Church, and has been
Superintendent of Sabbath school for the last eleven
years.  William PARRY, father of William T. died in
Cambria; mother is still living; she resides at
Randolph in this county.

JAMES PATERSON, was born in Dumfries, Scotland, Sept.
27, 1827; came to America in 1851; spent one year at
Athens, Penn., two years in Steuben Co., N.Y., and the
balance of the time, until coming to Columbia Co. in
1857, at Franklinville, Cattaraugus Co., N.Y.  In the
fall of 1860, Mr. P. entered the store he is now
connected with; spent the summer of 1870 in Scotland. 
He was married at Portage, June 5, 1868, to Agnes
REID, born in Hamilton, Scotland.  Both are members of
the Presbyterian Church.  They have one son - James,
born in April 1869.  Mr. P. is a member of the Curling
Club.

Submitted by Carol