From History of Grant County, Wisconsin, 1881, p. 886 - 887.

ALLEN RALPH BUSHNELL, of Lancaster, of the firm of Bushnell, Clark & Watkins, lawyers, was born on his father's farm on West street, in the town of Hartford, Trumbull Co., Ohio, July 18, 1833. His father, Dr. George W. Bushnell, now over 80 years of age, and possessed of remarkable vigor, still lives on the old farm upon which he settled, then in the dense woods, in 1824; he is a native of Connecticut, as was also his wife, Sally Bates, now deceased, Mr. B's mother. Mr. B.'s early life was that of the usual farmer's boy, going to district school summer and winter term, until big enough to help on the farm, and then working on the farm through the farming season, and going to school winters. When 14 years of age, the Hartford High School was started, and he put in a few terms there. Here the intention of becoming a lawyer was formed. His school education was completed at Oberlin and Hiram Colleges, where he pursued a special course of study to fit himself for that profession, teaching school winters to help pay expenses. In the fall of 1852 he came to Wisconsin, and taught school that winter at Block House Branch, near Platteville. The following spring he went back to Ohio and resumed his studies until the fall of 1854, when he returned to Platteville, and has ever since then made Grant Co. his home. He studied law with Judge Stephen O. Paine, at Platteville, was admitted to the bar of the Fifth Judicial Circuit in the fall of 1857, and on December 1 of the same year, opened an office, and commenced the practice of his profession at Platteville. In the fall of 1860, he was elected District Attorney of Grant Co. On the breaking-out of the rebellion, he resigned that office and enlisted as a private in the "Platteville Guards" Company, which on going into Camp Randall in the summer of 1861, was made Co. C, 7th W. V. I., and elected him its 1st Lieutenant, S. J. Nasmith, an old soldier of the Mexican war, being made Captain. He served with his regiment in the Iron Brigade, mostly in Virginia; was in various battles and skirmishes; was promoted to Captain in 1862, and discharged for disability in 1863. On returning to Platteville, he in the winter of 1863 - 64 resumed his practice of law. On the election of the Hon. J. T. Mills to the position of Circuit Judge, on his invitation, he removed to Lancaster, occupied his law office, closed up Judge Mills' legal business, and has continued the practice of his profession there ever since. In 1867, he took into partnership in law practice, Col. John G. Clark. R. A. Watkins, Esq., was added to this firm Jan. 1, 1880, forming the present firm. Mr. B. was married in 1867, to Miss Laura F. Burr (daughter of Addison Burr, Esq., and his wife Martha Barber, of Lancaster), by whom he had three children, only one of whom, his daughter Mabel, is now living; Laura died in 1873. In 1875, he was married again to Miss Mary F. Sherman (daughter of Cyrus Sherman, deceased, and his wife, Fanny Barber, of Lancaster), his present wife, by whom he has had one son who died in infancy. Mr. B. has paid little attention to politics, but was a member of the Legislature of 1872. On the erection of the "village" into the "City of Lancaster" in 1878, he was elected its first Mayor. His residence is pleasantly situated in the northwest quarter of the city, on Bushnell street, and the northern continuation of Madison street.

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