- ELON A. DOUGLAS, farmer, Secs. 3 and 11; P.O. Hanover; born
April 27, 1822, in Oneida
- Co., N.Y.; when three weeks old, his parents went to Pontiac,
Oakland Co., Mich., where his father, David DOUGLAS, bought a
farm and managed it, at the same time working at his trade of
blacksmithing. In the spring of 1841, came to Wisconsin and settled
in Plymouth Township, entered 880 acres of land, built the first
log house in the township, built the barn which is still standing
and cleared the land; he (David DOUGLAS) died in Brodhead, Green
Co., Wis., in June, 1874. E. A. DOUGLASS worked for his father
till of age; settled on forty acres of land in 1843 and entered
it in 1845; in December, 1846, started for California, going
to New York by stage from Janesville via Buffalo and took ship
for California; was detained nine days in Panama, waiting for
conveyance, but the passengers finally chartered a vessel and
landed in California in about sixty days after starting; went
to mining, but had to lay up with sickness for six months; then
worked in a store. In December, 1849, returned to Plymouth; from
1863 to 1871, bought grain, poultry, etc., at Hanover and shipped
to New York, Chicago and other markets. He now owns eighty acres
of land, forty acres in the southeast quarter of the southeast
quarter of Section 3, and forty acres in the northwest quarter
of the northeast quarter of Section 11; he raises stock and all
kinds of grain, except wheat. Married Miss Martha BEECH, of Center
Township, Dec. 25, 1846, and has three children - Mary M., Hopson
O. and William O. He was Constable and Collector for 1843; Collector
from 1872 to 1876; is Pathmaster for 1879. Member of Footville
Lodge, No. 137, Masons.
-
- Taken from "The History of Rock County, Wis."
(c)1879, p. 873.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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