- JAMES AINSLIE, who is numbered among the pioneer settlers
of Rock County, is a prominent
- farmer of the town of Lima, residing on section 17. He,
as his parents were before him, is native of Scotland, born in
1818, a son of James and Isabel AINSLIE. The family is noted
for longevity, his paternal grandfather, Andrew Ruthford AINSLIE,
having lived to the advanced age of one hundred years. The children
born to James and Isabel AINSLIE were ten in number, seven sons
and three daughters, of whom our subject is the only one living.
Six sons and two daughters grew to manhood and womanhood and
two brothers and one sister became residents of America. Samuel
was a prominent merchant and banker in Castalia, Ohio, and his
family are well-to-do and influential, one of his sons being
President of the Wisconsin Central Railroad. Mr. AINSLIE's mother
died in her native land; his father in Ohio, in 1840. They were
both consistent Christians and members of the Presbyterian Church.
Our subject was educated in Scotland and in his early life was
a farmer, and also engaged in teaming. When a young man, he
resolved to try his fortunes in the New World, and bidding goodbye
to home and friends embarked for America on board a sailing vessel
from Greenock. After a voyage of five weeks across the broad
Atlantic, he landed safely at New York, whence he went to Boston,
where he remained for one year, engaged at day labor. In 1836,
he left the East and became a resident of Erie County, Ohio,
where the succeeding nine years of his life were passed. He
then continued his journey westward until reaching Rock County,
where since 1845, he has made home the greater part of the time.
For a while he engaged in speculating in real estate, when forming
a partnership with John ALEXANDER, he embarked in trade, carrying
a complete line of general merchandise. The connection continued
for three years, when in 1848, he sold his interest and the partnership
was dissolved. Two years later, he purchased 160 acres of land
on section 17, town of Lima, his present home. In 1852, attracted
by the gold discoveries on the pacific slope, he made a trip
to California, where he for some time engaged in mining. After
five years he returned to his home, having in the meantime visited
Texas and New Mexico, and traveled quite extensively over the
southwest. In 1860 he removed upon his farm, where he has since
made his home, and began the cultivation and development of the
land.
- Mr. AINSLIE was united in marriage with Miss Margaret RUTHFORD,
who was born in
- Roxsburyshire, Sept. 22, 1840, a daughter of Richard and
Janet (DOUGLASS) RUTHFORD, to whom were born four children.
The parents died in their native land, and accompanied by her
brother and two sister, Mrs. AINSLIE came to America in 1870.
She was the eldest of the family; her brother and sister, Andrew
and Catharine, are living in Pawnee County, Neb. Her sister
Jane shares her home.
- To Mr. and Mrs. AINSLIE have been born an interesting family
of five children - Janet, Belle,
- Maggie, Christina and a son who died in infancy.
- Mr. AINSLIE has 240 acres of fine land, comprising one of
the best farms in town. It is well
- stocked with a good grade of horses, cattle and hogs and
has many useful and beautiful improvements, while the home with
its entire surroundings indicate thrift and refinement. Its
owner is a practical and progressive farmer, energetic and enterprising,
though beginning life in limited circumstances, working by the
day at any labor by which he could earn an honest dollar, he
has steadily made his way upward, and by habits of industry and
economy has accumulated a comfortable property. He and his wife
are members of the Presbyterian Church. In political sentiment
he is independent, not fettered by any party, but voting for
the man he things will best fill the office. His honorable upright
life during the forty-four years of his residence in Rock County
has won him the respect and confidence of all, and he well deserves
a representation in the history in the community where he has
so long made his home.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 963-964.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|