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From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 809-810
WILLIAM J. DYER, of Lancaster, Grant county, represents one of the earliest of the pioneer families of this county. His father, Abner DYER, was born on Jan. 28, 1817, near Danville, Ky., and moved to Fayetteville, Tenn., at the age of three years, and remained there until he was fourteen years old and then removed to Huntsville, Ala. In this Southern city he remained until he was seventeen, later making a three-year visit in Illinois, and in 1837 locating in Platteville, Wisconsin.
The first work that Mr. Abner DYER was engaged in after coming to this State, was to assist in clearing out brush, and in building the highway that now runs from Platteville to Ellenboro, and at the latter place he remained, assisting in getting out timber for the building of the Ellenboro gristmill, this mill still standing and doing business. On Nov. 24, 1840, he married Rebecca WALKER, who was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, May 12, 1818. After marriage he settled two and one-half miles from southwest of Ellenboro and remained there until the fall of 1846, when he removed to within five miles north of Lancaster, where he lived until 1881. To his marriage were born six daughters and two sons, all natives of Grant county, and all of whom survive, these being: Rebecca J., who was born in Potosi township, Ellenboro township, on Sept. 19, 1843; William J., born in the above township, on Aug. 10, 1846; Sarah A., born in Lancaster township on Oct. 28, 1848; Eliza C., born on Jan. 16, 1851; Emma L., born on Jan. 23, 1853; Bertha H., born on Oct. 10, 1855; and George A., born on March 30, 1859. The death of Abner DYER was on Jan. 26, 1881, the mother of the family surviving until Jan. 17, 1888.
Abner DYER was a typical pioneer, honest and industrious, and a man of strict integrity. His industry and energy made him a large landowner, at one time possessing 500 acres of land, and much of this is still in the family. A remarkable thing about this large family is that all survive, having inherited robust constitutions from their sturdy parents.
William J. DYER, the third of the family in order of age, was born in Ellenboro township, on Aug. 10, 1846, and was reared to the occupation of farming, which he has ever since followed as a resident of Grant county. Mr. DYER enjoys the distinction of being the pioneer horseman of southwestern Wisconsin, having brought to this section Mambrino Swigart, 2:30, the first standard-bred stallion owned in Grant county; he also brought here: Victory, 2:25-3/4; Royalty, 2:25; Brown Frank, 2:35; Ivica, 2:23-1/4; Cedarwood, 2:24-1/2; Lumpwood, 2:14-1/12; and Tossie "D.", 2:13. These stallions have produced untold wealth to farmers of Grant and adjoining counties. Too young to enter the army, at the opening of the Civil war, Mr. DYER enlisted toward its close in company K, 47th Wis. V.I., and served until the close of hostilities.
In 1869 Mr. DYER was married to Miss Sarah E. BORAH, a daughter of James N. BORAH, who migrated from Kentucky to Grant county in 1836 and settled in Lancaster township, where Mrs. DYER was born, on Dec. 23, 1847. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. DYER: William, a leading liveryman in Lancaster, Grant county; Ruby, a successful teacher and a graduate of the Lancaster high school and the State Normal school at Oshkosh, in the class of 1900; and Laura, who died in infancy. For many years Mr. DYER followed farming exclusively, but in 1895 he was elected sheriff of Grant county and in all its history it has never had a more efficient official. Four years of service as deputy sheriff, previously, had prepared him for the duties of the position, and for eight years his name in Grant county was a terror to evil doers, while it was a source of confidence to the upright. Mr. DYER is one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Lancaster, and has been prominent in much of its rapid growth and development.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck