BIOGRAPHIES: Bostwick BEARDSLEY, Caledonia Township, Trempealeau Co., WI

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:  
Nance Sampson, Trempealeau Co. WIGenWeb Coordinator,  18 May 2001      
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Bostwick Beardsley, a pioneer settler of Caledonia Township, now passed 
away, was born in Delaware County, N. Y., July 11, 1813.  On Dec. 7, 1841, 
he married Mary Fowler, who was born in East, Pa., Oct. 8, 1820, their 
marriage taking place in Racine County, Wis., Dec. 7, 1841.  In 1853 they 
moved to Burlington, Racine County, Wis., and in 1854 came to Trempealeau 
County, reaching here June 13.  Locating in section 29, Caledonia Township 
(then Montoville) Mr. Beardsley purchased 300 acres of government land, 
consisting of prairie and "burr oak openings," and two years later he 
increased his holdings by buying 200 acres termed by the government "swamp 
land," making 500 acres, all in Caledonia Township.  This land, of course, 
was wild and without improvements, and the first residence of the family 
here was a one-room log cabin, which he built and in which they lived until 
the fall of 1854, when he erected a frame house of one story, with three 
rooms.  During their brief log cabin days the members of the family, except 
the father and mother, slept in a covered wagon drawn up near the shanty.  
They had at this time six children, who were born in Racine County:  Henry D. 
and Benjamin D., both of whom died in hospital while serving as soldiers in 
the Civil War; Oscar E.; Narcissa, who is deceased; Lyra Alice, also 
deceased; Elam, who is a resident of Caledonia Township.  Their subsequent 
children, who were all born in Caledonia Township, were:  Huldah, who is 
the wife of J. O. Wing (he died in 1915 and she now resides in the State of 
Washington); Otto, who resides on the old homestead; Rebecca May, and Mary, 
who are deceased.

--Transcribed from the "History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin, 1917," 
pages 350-351