_Nathan BENNETT _ _John BENNETT _| | |_Huldah NICHOLS _+ | |--Silas Davis BENNETT | | _Silas DAVIS ____+ |_Marie DAVIS __| |_Eunice GEER ____+
[470]
In September of 1863 Silas applied for a homestead of 126 14/100 acresin Buffalo County, WI. (Application No. 1140, registered at LaCrosse,WI on 4 Sept 1863). On Oct 26, 1868 Peter Bennett and James Flemingswore that they had known Silas for six years and that he was the headof a family with a wife and 9 children residing on the SW 1/4 of theSE 1/4 and lots 3 & 4 of Section 2 in township 23 North of Range No.14 W. They also said he had settled on the land on 4 Sept 1863 and hadbuilt a log house there. It was 1 1/2 stories, 14x18 ft. with ashingle roof, 2 board floors, 2 doors, 2 windows and "is a comfortablehouse to live in." It was stated that this was his exclusive home from25 Dec 1863 and that he had since plowed, fenced, and cultivated about15 acres and made the following improvements:
fenced 40 acres, built a barn and hog pen, and planted a number offruit trees."
[467]
"His early life was spent in and near his early home. In January 1851at Erie, Pa. he was united in marriage to Lucinda Case. He moved withhis bride 2 years later to the state of Illinois remaining in thatstate about 6 years when he moved to Wisconsin living there until thespring of 1880 when he came to Brookings County, Dakota Territorytaking a tree claim where he has made his home ever since. There isone sister living, Mrs. E. Roberts (wife of Thomas J.) of Exira, Iowa,6 brothers all preceding him to the other world. He is the father of18 children, 5 dead, 13 living - Peter of ND, Nathan of Wisconsin,Tunis J. of Volga, SD, Linus of Wisconsin, daughter Maggie ofMinneapolis, John of Minnesota, James F. near Arlington, Mrs. Lula Leeof Kelegere, Mn, Mrs. Clara Getman of Arlington, Eunice of Enterprise,Oregon, William, the youngest at home. He at one time was class leaderand a member of the M.E. church....Funeral services were held Wed p.m.in the Christian Church...."
[469] Arlington Cemetery
[475]
Winsor Township was named for the founder. He obtained the right to bea land locater and the covered wagons all came to his place. Startingabout 1878 and up until 1880 practically every quarter section had ahomesteader. In 1879 there were no landmarks and no trees - nothingbut prairie as far as the eye could see. No stump clearing had to bedone and a man had only to plow and plant. This looked like Paradiseto these people.
Many of the people who settled Winsor were making their second orthird move Westward just like the Bennetts. They came from Illinois,Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. Among the old names are Aaron, Allen,Blodget, Billings, Bennett, Burdett, Clark, Blighton, Smith, Jones,Miller, Murphy, O'Connor, McCabe, Stewart, Phelps, Heath, Tuttle,Williams, Shield, Hass, etc. Many were Civil War Veterans.
Sod dwellings and crude shelters of rough boards were erected. Thefirst years were full of hardship and primitive living. They gatheredbuffalo chips and used twisted hay for fuel; lived for months on cornmeal mush; traded horses for oxen; fought prairie fires, blizzards,drought, and grasshoppers. Many gave up and left. Others would haveleft but had nothing and could not afford to go.
The first religious services were at Titus Allen's barn. Old settlersrecalled winter sleighing and skating parties and square dances.Summer picnics became popular as soon as the first tree claims werebig enough for shade. "One gopher" picnic is recorded at which CharlesMiller's team showed up with 4,970 gophers and Tune Bennett's teamturned over 4,194. A boutiful picnic dinner was served at BaileyHeath's and there were horse racing stunts and games in the afternoonand dancing in the evening."
Winsor Township was organized in 1883 at the Peter McCabe home. L.A.Phelps, Ezra Hall and S.D. Bennett were elected to the board ofsupervisors.
[9409] Registered 1 Mar 1877; Buffalo Co., WI. Witnesses, Jerry Bennett,Nettie Bennett.
[471]
[S404]
Land Patent Report
[473]
[S102]
U.S. Census, Population Schedule. 1850
[474]
[S402]
U.S. Census. Population Schedule. 1860
[476]
[S129]
U.S. Census, Population Schedule. 1880
[477]
[S145]
U.S. Census, Population Schedule. 1900
[9365]
[S19]
Family Group Sheet
[9455]
[S111]
Marriage certificate
__ __| | |__ | |--Sarah FITCH | | __ |__| |__
[10815]
[S567]
Descendants of John Bennett...
_William LEWIS _+ _Philip LEWIS _| | |_Mary HOPKINS __+ | |--Sarah LEWIS | | _Robert ASHLEY _ |_Sarah ASHLEY _| |_Mary EDDY _____
[11066]
[S95]
Families of Old Fairfield
__ __| | |__ | |--Benjamin REEDER | | __ |__| |__
__ _Joshua SABIN _| | |__ | |--Aaron SABIN | | __ |_Desire NILES _| |__
__ __| | |__ | |--Elizabeth SEARS | | __ |__| |__
[5679]
[S501]
Woodcock Genealogy Page
_Josiah WARD __+ _Samuel WARD _| | |_Mary KITCHEL _+ | |--Bethuel WARD | | _______________ |______________| |_______________