Untitled Surnames: Patch, Sellers, Benton, Foster, Humphrey, Bailey, Anger, Abram, Roach, Fox, Biedermann

From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 207-208

DELFORD B. BRUNSON, of Fennimore, is a representative of one of the well-known pioneer families of Grant county. He is a son of Ira W. BRUNSON, whose name was identified with the history of the county from the time of his entrance until his death, Nov. 15, 1884, at the age of eighty years.

Ira W. BRUNSON was born at Sing Sing, N.Y., May 3, 1805. His father, Asa W. BRUNSON, a stone mason, lost his life in the Hudson river by drowning, the accident occurring while he was operating a ferry across the river. The widow removed with her family to Danbury, Conn., and there Ira W., at the age of fifteen, became an apprentice to the trade of hat making with John FOOT, living with him until he was nineteen. His mother died in 1824, and the young man left home and worked at his trade in various places, bringing up at Utica, N.Y., where he attended school for six months. In 1827 Mr. BRUNSON became a resident of Columbus, Ohio, where he worked at his trade for several years. In 1835 he gave up hat making, and in the spring of the following year, accompanied by his brother Alfred and Henry PATCH, left the Columbus, and floated down the Ohio river and up the Mississippi on a keel-boat to Prairie du Chien. Here Mr. BRUNSON spent some time, going back to Ohio late in the year to close up his business, and move to Wisconsin. He left Columbus on his way to the West in 1836. The journey was a wild and perilous one, and was attended by many difficulties. At Fort Wayne the snow was fifteen inches deep, and at South Bend the ground was bare. At Michigan City it was once more deep snow, and at Chicago bare ground. He crossed the Rock river at Rockford, on the ice. From Freeport to Mineral Point the way was very difficult. As night fell he asked for lodging at a farmhouse, and was directed to a mill three miles away. He found an abandoned sawmill,and no house was to be seen anywhere. He spent that night in the woods, and turning his horse loose to browse on the grass that reached above the snow he made a path between two trees, and spent hours in walking up and down. Becoming drowsy, he sat down and rested his head on his saddle. He took a chew of tobacco, which he swallowed. This roused him so that he resumed his weary march, and at last the sun rose. With his compass he found his bearings, and about eleven o'clock he found the mill and the house to which he had been directed the night before, but had missed in the gathering shadows. He was taken in and cared for by the hospitable lady of the house. Fed and refreshed, he resumed his journey, and reached Mineral Point at last, thoroughly worn out, but glad and thankful that his long journey was completed.

Mr. BRUNSON went into the mercantile business at Cassville, in company with Mr. SELLERS, in 1836, but shortly after removed to Lancaster, where he opened the first store in the city. In 1837 he was elected collector of taxes for Grant county, serving until 1840, when he took a farm in the town of Mt. Hope, Grant county, residing there until his death. He was three times married, first time, in 1829 to Margaret BENTON, of Bladen, Ohio, daughter of Samuel and Aurelia BENTON. She died in 1833. In 1840 he was married in Crawford county, Wis., to Miss Henrietta FOSTER, a daughter of Henry and Julia FOSTER. In 1847 he was married to Miss Almina BENTON, a sister of his first wife, who died in October, 1896. Two children were born to the first marriage: Mary Young, widow of William HUMPHREY, of Patch Grove; and Alfred, a resident of Sibley, Iowa. To the second marriage were born Benjamin F., of Kenton, Ohio; Emily M., widow of William BAILEY, of Bloomington, Grant county; and Ida E., who became the wife of Eugene ANGER, and died in October, 1896. By the third marriage were born Aurelia F., wife of Andrew ABRAM, of the town of Mt. Hope, Grant county; Delford B., of Fennimore; Almina, a teacher in Milwaukee; and Jennie, wife of Frank ROACH, of Fennimore. The father was a man of more than average ability, and had decided views on the issues of the day. He improved a naturally bright mind by reading and observation, and was one of the best informed men in his community, was well versed in the law, and had a fine memory. He was honored by many local offices, though he never sought public position, and was once a candidate for the State Senate. His party, however, was so far in the minority that he could not pull through. He was a genial and courteous gentleman, and had a generous disposition. Mr. BRUNSON was a Methodist and fraternally a prominent Mason. He was devoted to the order, and was accustomed to attending its session up to a very advanced age.

Delford B. BRUNSON, of Fennimore is the youngest son of his parents, and their only son now living in Grant county. He was born on the Mt. Hope homestead Nov. 15, 1858, and there remained for thirty years. In 1888 he located in the village of Mt. Hope, and for five years was engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock. In 1894 he moved to Fennimore, where he is still engaged in the same business. Mr. BRUNSON has been twice married, Miss Effie FOX becoming his first wife. She was a daughter of Isaac B. FOX, of Mt. Hope, and died Aug. 14, 1895. His present wife was Miss Lisetta BIEDERMANN. Two children were the fruit of the first marriage, Jennie and Clair. There is a daughter, Frances, by his second marriage. Mr. BRUNSON is one of the leading business men of Fennimore. He is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and was elected to the Legislature in November, 1900.



This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck