BIOGRAPHIES:  William Sylvenes YORK, Arkansaw, 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.

William Sylvenes York, farmer, P. O Arkansaw, Pepin county, was born
at Scio, N. Y., January 15, 1845, a son of Miami and Lydia M. York. 
He received but little schooling, and at eleven years of age he began
cutting logs.  He worked at farming and lumbering until February 29,
1864, when he enlisted in Company A, Eighty-fifth New York
volunteers.  Soon after his enlistment he was sent to a hospital with
the measles, and while he was there his regiment was captured at
Plymouth, N. C., and sent to Andersonville prison.  Upon his recovery
he was placed on guard duty at Roanoke Island, N. C.  Later he was
sent to New Berne, N. C., and thence on a raid to Goldboro.  At the
battle fo Kinston he was in the skirmish line and met the enemy at
close quarters.  A bullet struck his knapsack, thereby saving his
arm.  He was discharged June 27, 1865, and the same year came to Dead
Lake Prairie, and the following year preempted his present farm. 
February 16, 1870, he married Clara A. Gray, who has borne him the
following children:  Welcome S., Willie A., Archie R., Arthur H.,
Frnak A., and Miami Orison.  The eldest son is a natural musician. 
December 13, 1879, their house burned down in the night with nearly
all its contents, and the family barely escaped with their lives. 
Mr. York also works at carpentering, and has helped to build nearly
every house in the neighborhood.  In politics he is a republican, a
member of the Methodist church, and the G. A. R. and I. O. G. T.
societies.

-Transcribed from the "Historical & Biographical Album of the
Chippewa Valley Wisconsin, 1891-2," page 749.


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