BIOGRAPHIES: Francis A. WHICHER, Porcupine, Pepin Co., WI

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Submitted by Nance Sampson, Pepin Co. Archives File Manager on 19 November 2004
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**Posted for informational purposes only - submitter is not related to the
subject of this biography and has no further information.

Francis A. Whicher, farmer, P. O. Porcupine, Pepin county, was born
at Mooresville, Ind. May 15, 1825, a son of Francis and Susan
Whicher.  His maternal grandfather, William Gregory, was a
Kentuckian.  His paternal grandfather, William Whicher, was a native
of England, immigrated to Canada, thence to Vermont, and later to
Chautauqua county, N. Y.  He died of cholera at Cincinnati, Ohio, in
1833.  His children were Stephen, Isaac, Jason, Francis Sr., Daniel,
B. Williams, Laura, Ada (Mrs. Stanley), Hester (Mrs. Hughes), Sylvia
(Mrs. Bannister) and Samuel.  Most of the sons were professional men.
Francis Whicher Sr., was born in Vermont, and removed to Morgan
county, Ind., where he married Susan Gregory.  His children were: 
Francis A. (the subject proper of this sketch), Eliza (Mrs. S.
Jamison), Nelson, Harriet (Mrs. Rice), Thomas, Philena (Mrs. Bliven),
Elizabeth (Mrs. W. Creamer), Julina, Allen W., Wm. Decatur, Marion,
Laura A. (Mrs. J. Segar Jr.) and Stephen.  Francis, Sr., was a
machinist and mill-wright by trade.  He died at Columbus City, Iowa,
in 1858.  His widow survived until 1866.

Francis A. began work in a woolen factory when eight years old, and
continued that occupation until he became of age, and the following
year engaged in farming.  He married, November 24, 1850, Sarah Ann,
daughter of Benjamin and Hannah (Linton) Walker.  Six children
blessed their union:  Laura (Mrs. W. York), Mary E., Eliza, Frank,
Lona A. (Mrs. G. Gates) and Amanda (Mrs. E. Hague).  Mr. Whicher
lived at Anderson, Ind., until 1853, when he removed to Columbus
City, Iowa, and thence, in 1856, to Spring Valley, Minn., where he
homesteaded a farm.  Later he sold his claim, and removed to
Menomonie, Wis., and worked in the pineries.  While living there, the
Indian panic of 1862 caused most of his neighbors to desert their
homes, but Mr. Whicher and his family remained in theirs until the
alarm subsided.  The same year he made a claim in Frankfort township,
and in 1871 purchased his present farm and built the house thereon. 
Politically Mr. Whicher is a prohibitionist.  He has served his
townsmen as supervisor, and for many years as justice of the peace. 
He also takes an active interest in educational matters.  As an
upright and exemplary citizen, he commands the respect of all.

-Transcribed from the "Historical & Biographical Album of the
Chippewa Valley Wisconsin, 1891-2," page 842.


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