Untitled From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 162-163

STEPHEN VIVIAN, a well-known and popular citizen of Lancaster, Grant county, first came here in 1858. He was born in Cornwall, England, Oct. 20, 1825, a son of James and Elizabeth VIVIAN, who passed their lives in Cornwall.

The mother died when Stephen was three years old leaving himself and sister Mary, who was a young girl when brought to America by her brother, in 1848. She married, and at her death left a daughter. Mr. VIVIAN is thus the only member of his father's family living, as far as can be ascertained, although his father married a second time and had born to him a son.

Stephen VIVIAN learned blacksmithing in his native country, and in 1848 came to the United States, at once locating at Dodgeville, Iowa Co., Wis., where he engaged in lead mining for one season. He then went to what was known as Franklin, now called Island. In the spring of 1849 he went to the Lake Superior country, and worked at his trade until 1858, when he came to Lancaster township, following farming until 1863. He then returned to the mining district of the North, and for twelve years was employed in the iron mines of Marquette county, Mich. In 1875 he came again to Lancaster township and resumed farming operations, but since 1885 his residence has been in Lancaster city.

Mr. VIVIAN was married, in 1852, to Miss Frances HARVEY, who died in 1885, and in 1887 he married Miss Elizabeth ANGWIN, who was born in England and came to this country with her parents, Richard and Frances (TIPPETT) ANGWIN. They first located in Illinois, later removed to Michigan, and finally returned to Illinois, dying at Galena - both on the same day, Jan. 31, 1892. Mrs. VIVIAN was one of a family of eight children, of whom seven are still living, viz.: Mrs. Jane BOWDEN, Mrs. Martha Annette, Mrs. Salina GOLDTHROP, and Miss Eliza, all of Galena, Ill.; Mrs. Mary OSBORNE, of Michigan; Richard, who lives in Missouri, and Mrs. VIVIAN; the deceased, William, died Dec. 31, 1854, at the age of ten years.

In his political views Mr. VIVIAN is fundamentally a Republican, but at times he votes the Prohibition ticket. It can truthfully be said of Mr. VIVIAN, what can be said of but few men, that he has not tasted liquor for the sixty-five years since he signed the pledge, when a boy ten years old, and it may well be questioned whether he had tasted it prior to that age; and it can be added that he never used tobacco in any form. Mr. and Mrs. VIVIAN have a most pleasant home, which is the abiding place of true domestic felicity. They are consistent members of the Methodist Church, and are well known to and truly respected by every resident of the township and many others outside its limits.



This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck