- JESSE D. ALLER, a successful and prominent farmer of Union
township, residing on section 25,
- was born in Sussex County. N.J., on the 1st day of December,
1811, and is numbered among the pioneers of Rock County of 1841.
His parents, William and Mary ALLER, were also natives of New
Jersey, and the ALLER family were numbered among the representative
citizens of that State. Our subject is one of a family of eight
children, four of whom are now living. Peter,
a prominent farmer, now has charge of the County farm, situated
in Johnstown township; Hannah, the only daughter, is the wife
of William MANNING, of New Jersey; Williams, whose place of residence
is not known, and our subject. Those who have passed away are
Esther, who wedded Thomas WARDELL, of Mitchell county, Iowa;
Sarah A., who became the wife of James MOORE, who is also now
deceased; David, who went to California at the time of the gold
discovery in that State, is supposed to have died on the Pacific
slope; John, who died in Mitchell county, Iowa.
- When our subject was a lad, the family removed from New Jersey
to Pennsylvania, where they
- continuedto reside until 1840, at which time they became
residents of Ripley County, Ind. After spending four years in
that State, Mr. ALLER continued his journey to Wisconsin, and
located near the village of Union in Rock County, where he made
his home until he became a resident of Evansville, where he died
in June, 1874, at the age of eighty-eight years. His excellent
wife departed this life in 1865. Both were members of the Freewill
Baptist Church, and took an active part in advancing the interests
of that body.
- Our subject began his education in his native State, and
completed his studies in the public schools
- of Pennsylvania. He has followed the occupation of farming
through almost his entire life, with the exception of four years,
when, returning to New Jersey, he worked at the carpenter's trade
with an uncle. His experience in that line has proven of much
benefit to him, enabling him to plan and superintend the erection
of his own buildings. He removed with the family to Indiana in
1840, but the following year his brother and himself decided
to cast their lot with the pioneer settlers of Wisconsin, and
suiting the action to the word, came to Rock County in the spring
of that year. The land was then in its primitive condition, deer
and other kinds of wild game were to be found in abundance, and
the settlements were few and far between. The spring after their
arrival, our subject rented a farm and planted a crop, and in
the spring of 1842 he built a little log cabin on section 25,
Union Township, where he made his home for one year. He then
entered 40 acres of land on section 25, situated on the Old Territorial
Road, between Janesville and Madison, and in a short time increased
his landed possessions by the purchase of another 40 acre tract.
There were then but two houses between his home and Janesville,
and, in making a trip to Beloit to mill, he could drive directly
across the prairie, there being no fences or buildings to intercept
the way. Oxen were used in breaking prairie and for hauling the
produce to market, and the farming implements were very crude.
- Before his emigration to Wisconsin, Mr. ALLER was joined
in wedlock on the 13th day of
- October, 1836, with Miss Nancy OWENS, a native of Bedford
County, Pa., and a daughter of John and Mary (GARRISON) OWENS,
who were also born in the Keystone State, where the father's
death occurred. The mother departed this life in Ohio, to which
State she removed with her family. Before the emigration of the
young couple, three children were born to them, two born in Pennsylvania
and one in Indiana, and in the pioneer home of Rock County, the
family circle was increased to ten. Six of the children are now
living; Mary E., widow of James COURTIER, resides with her parents;
William, who enlisted in the ranks of the 47th Wisconsin Infantry
was taken sick while in the service, and died soon after his
return; John, who also served throughout the entire war, was
a member of the 16th Wisconsin Infantry, and was with Sherman
on the celebrated march to the sea. No truer or braver soldier
followed the old flag. He faithfully performed his duty, murmuring
not at the hardships, and when the cause of freedom had conquered
he was honorably discharged. He is now engaged in farming in
Sanborn County, Dakota. Esther is now the wife of Orland SEARLES,
a resident farmer of Moody County, Dakota; Sarah wedded David
JONES, of Evansville, but is now deceased; Joseph O. died at
the age of three years; Marilla has also passed away; David D.
is engaged at clerking at Lomah, in Monroe County, Wis.; Ransom
R. is a farmer in Dickson County, Neb.; Henry P. is a machinist
of Evansville.
- For the long period of fifty-three years Mr. and Mrs. ALLER
have traveled life's journey together,
- sharing the trials and blessings, the sorrows and joys which
checkered the pathway of each. Their long residence in this county
has endeared them to many friends, by whom they are held in highest
regard. In their declining years they can look back over a life
well spent, with no regret for the past or fears for the future.
During his earlier years Mr. ALLER was a supporter of the Whig
party, and in 1840 cast his first presidential vote for Gen.
William Henry Harrison. His view being in accordance with the
principles of the Republican party, he joined its ranks at the
time of its organization, and has remained a faithful adherent
to this day. He cast his last presidential ballot for Benjamin
Harrison, who is now chief magistrate of our nation, and the
honored grandson of the Tippecanoe hero, for whom he proudly
deposited his first vote. He has always been found in the foremost
rank of the temperance movement, earnestly advocating the suppression
of the liquor traffic, both by precept and practice. For forty-four
years he and his wife have been members of the Freewill Baptist
Church, are liberal in the support of that organization, and
are untiring workers in their Master's vineyard. In his business
career Mr. ALLER has been very successful. The little homestead
of forty acres has been increased to a fine farm of 160 acres,
with all the modern improvements, fine buildings, well cultivated
fields and the best grades of all kinds of stock. The little
log cabin was replaced by a commodious two-story residence in
1870, the rude farming implements have given way before the improved
cultivators, threshers and self-binders, and the work of progress
and development has been steadily carried forward until the farm
is one of the finest in the county. When Mr. ALLER first settled
where he now resides, there was no forest, with the exception
of a few straggling burr oaks; the beautiful timber now standing
on a part of his farm was then small switches, suitable only
for riding whips, so that he has not only witnessed the growth
and development of the country, but has also seen the growth
of the beautiful forest in the neighborhood. All the greater
is Mr. ALLER's success, when we know that he started in life
with no capital, possessing only a good constitution, a hopeful
disposition and a strong determination to make his way in the
world. The respect which he received from all is richly merited,
and we are pleased to record the sketch of one who has been so
prominent a factor in the history of Rock County for almost half
a century.
-
- Taken from "Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock
County Wis." (c)1889, p. 256-258.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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