- LORENZO RASEY, a leading farmer and stock-raiser of Beloit
Township, living on section 17,
- is a native of New York, born in Utica, Oneida County, Nov.
27, 1835. His parents, Salathiel and Ermina E. (HALE) RASEY were
natives of Rhode Island. The maternal great-grandfather of our
subject, whose name was Brewer, emigrated from Holland to New
York during the colonial days of this country, and claimed the
land in New York City where Trinity Church now stands. The HALE
family, which was of English origin, was also numbered among
the early settlers of Eastern New York, to which they removed
from Rhode Island, making the journey with ox teams. They there
became prominent and influential farmers.
- Mr. RASEY Sr. passed the greater part of his life in the
Empire State, but in 1848 came to
- Wisconsin and purchased eighty acres of land. He then returned
to Clinton County, N.Y., where his death occurred in 1852. His
wife is still living and makes her home with her daughter, Sarah
E., widow of Frank BURCH, of Grandville, Washington Co., N.Y.
She is now seventy-five years of age, having been born July 4,
1813, and for this past five years she has suffered the entire
loss of sight. Mr. and Mrs. RASEY were the parents of ten children,
all of whom are living, with the exception of Charles W., who
died about 1872, at the age of thirty-one years, in Fond du Lac,
Wis. He wedded Mary NEWTON, who is also deceased, leaving two
children at her death; Frederick who makes his home with our
subject, and Carrie, who is living with a cousin, Samuel RASEY.
Edward B., the second child, born Dec. 20, 1833, is engaged in
farming in Marion, Waupaca Co., Wis.; Mary E., widow of F. D.
WRAY, resides in Washington County, N.Y.; Clark O., who, at the
early age of seventeen years, enlisted in the late war in a cavalry
company under Gen. Kilpatrick, was for many years a resident
of Beloit, but is now living in Pasadena, Cal.; Delia E. became
the wife of Albert WILLIAMS, a farmer in West Pauleth, Vt.; Henry
L. is living in Washington. Harland M. makes his home in Hebron,
Washington Co., N.Y.; Samuel S. is also located in Washington.
- In the common schools of his native county, our subject received
his education. Throughout his
- entire life he has followed the occupation of farming. At
the age of thirteen years he began life as a farm hand, giving
his earnings to his mother, and followed that pursuit for several
years. In 1866 he was united in marriage with Emily L. VAIL,
who was born in Rutland County, Vt., and is a daughter of Edwin
and Margaret V. (STAPLES) VAIL. Her parents were natives of Vermont,
but in 1852 removed to Washington County, N.Y., where the union
of Mr. and Mrs. RASEY was celebrated. Her father died upon the
farm in that county in 1858, and her mother departed this life
in 1883. Their family numbered five children, Emily L., who was
born Dec. 13, 1839, being the eldest; Harris E., born June 19,
1841, is a farmer of Middlebury, Vt.; Marcus J. born Oct. 1,
1844, is proprietor of a hotel in Washington County, N.Y.; Ellen
S., born April 6, 1849, is the wife of Solon C. MASON, a grocer
and flour and feed dealer of Washington County, N.Y.; Herbert
I., born May 14, 1854, is a resident of Boston, Mass. The ancestors
of Mrs. RASEY, the VAILS and STAPLES were originally from England,
and were Quakers. The VAIL family was founded in America by three
brothers who came over in the Mayflower, and the STAPLES family,
by ancestors who came at that time or soon after.
- In 1867 Mr. and Mrs. RASEY decided to cast their lot with
the citizens of Rock County, and
- consequently the husband purchased 213 acres of land on section
17, Beloit Township, which was improved, fenced, and on which
a small barn and his present dwelling had been built. His landed
possessions have since been increased to 431 acres, 391 of which
is situated in Beloit Township, the remaining 40 being located
in Newark Township. The many improvements which Mr. RASEY has
made has transformed his land into one of the finest farms in
Rock County. He has an elegant residence, while his barns are
among the largest, and most convenient in Southern Wisconsin.
The dimensions of the main barn are 50x96 feet, with 24 foot
posts, with a 9 foot basement under the entire building. His
main barn will shelter sixty-four head of stock, while in connection
with this he has stabling room for one hundred head. He also
has storage room for two hundred tons of feed. He milks sixty
cows and successfully operates a dairy. Though very quiet and
unassuming, he is recognized as one of the leading farmers of
Rock County, is an honored and esteemed citizen, and has been
identified with the social and educational interests of the community
for many years. Politically he is a Republican. By his own industry
and energy, his possessions have been accumulated, and he is
now a wealthy farmer.
- Mr. and Mrs. RASEY are the parents of one son, Edwin L.,
who was born July 6, 1869, and is
- now attending school in Beloit.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 758-759.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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