BIOGRAPHIES:  Arthur O. QUILLING, Red Cedar Township, Dunn County, WI

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Arthur O. Quilling, county clerk of Dunn County, was born in the town of Red 
Cedar, Dunn County, Feb. 19, 1881, son of Otto and Augusta (Miller) Quilling.  
The father, Otto Quilling, was also a native of Dunn County, having been born 
in the town of Spring Brook.  He remained at home until 18 years of age, at 
which time his father deeded to him an 80-acre tract in the town of Red Cedar.  
Moving an old log cabin onto his land , he took up his residence there and 
began to make improvements.  After a year he married and he and his wife 
resided on that farm until about 1890, when they moved to Menomonie and for 
two years thereafter were residents of the city.  At the end of that time Otto 
Quilling sold his farm and bought what is now known as the Crescent Hill farm 
in the town of Red Cedar, where he subsequently made his home until his death 
on Aug. 19, 1896.  He had built up a good farm which his wife and sons operated 
thereafter until Mrs. Quilling's death, Oct. 27, 1922.  It is now being 
conducted by the youngest son, Raymond R.  Arthur O. Quilling attended the 
public schools until reaching the age of nine years.  He then had the misfortune 
to step on a nail, which caused blood poisoning from the effects of which he has 
been a cripple ever since.  He spent three years in bed and then had to spend 
three more in a wheel chair before he was able to walk again, and he has never 
fully recovered his full powers of locomotion as he has ever since been obligated 
to use a crutch.  As he was unable after his accident to attend school, he studied 
at home, and also helped his mother in her household duties, washing dishes, 
sewing, mending, and doing similar work usually performed by the girls in a 
family.  When he had recovered sufficiently to get about a little, he studied 
drawing and decorative painting but the painting caused lead poisoning and he had 
to give it up.  He then took up clerical work, and in 1920 was elected to his 
present office as county clerk, the duties of which he began Jan. 1, 1921.  In 
November, 1923, he was elected to his second term, poling the largest vote of 
any county officer on the ticket, and in November, 1924, was again reelected with 
the same result.  He has proved himself thoroughly efficient and is highly 
esteemed among a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.  He makes his home 
with his brother Raymond on the old home farm, driving to and from his office 
daily when the roads permit.  His fraternal society affiliations are with the 
Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the D. O. K. K.

--From the "History of Dunn County Wisconsin, 1925"