Untitled From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 745-746

GEORGE CULLEN. When we meet early settlers of the great northwestern country we are pretty sure to find them most worthy specimens of a worthy type - plain, sensible, honest men, who have never begged favor, or asked odds in the game of life, and whose strongest wish has seemed to be to stand square with their fellows. A representative of one of these honest tillers of the soil who assisted in making Grant county, Wis., the prosperous locality it now is, is George CULLEN, the subject of this sketch. He was born in Chester county, Penn., Nov. 25, 1841, son of Joseph and Hannah (WATERS) CULLEN, of the Keystone State, the father born in Dublin, Ireland in 1806.

After marriage Joseph CULLEN carried on farming in Chester county, Penn., until 1843, when he came to Wisconsin, and engaged in work in the lead mines at Hazel Green, until, in 1849, he purchased a tract of wild land from the government, in Smelser township, Grant county, and settled upon it. Our subject now resides upon this place, which was literally reclaimed from the wilderness, and in this work Mr. CULLEN was ably assisted by his son. The clearing up of a tract of wild land requires strength, and persistent and steady labor for a long time. Upon this farm Mr. CULLEN passed the remainder of his life, dying in 1891, his wife passing away in 1866. Both were devout members of the Catholic Church, he being one of the founders of the church in Benton. In his early life he was a Jacksonian Democrat, but at the outbreak of the Civil war opposing slavery, he became a stanch Republican. In all his beliefs and prejudices he was a strong man; fully convinced of right, he was never afraid to follow his convictions. Three children were born to this worthy couple: George, our subject; Anna, born in Chester county, Penn., who married Fred HIEL, and now lives in Smelser with a family of six children; and Hannah May, born in Chester county, Penn., in 1843, who became the wife of Henry WILEY, of Hamilton county, Iowa, where she died Aug. 1, 1897, leaving six children.

Our subject was reared on the farm and educated in Grant county, remaining at home, and taking charge of the farm at his parents' death. He knew all the deprivations of pioneer life when a lad. In 1870 he was married to Miss Mary E. QUICK, of Grant county, a daughter of Joseph and Isabel (CLARK) QUICK. Joseph QUICK was born in Virginia in 1821, his wife in Tennessee in 1825, and after their marriage, which took place in Kentucky, they located in Big Patch, Wis., remaining there until 1851, when they removed to the farm adjoining that of our subject. There Mr. QUICK died in August, 1877, and his wife in 1875. Mrs. CULLEN was educated in Grant county, where she grew to be an estimable young woman.

Mr. CULLEN lived on the old homestead, in the old house, until 1893, when he erected the fine modern dwelling which reflects great credit to his taste, and makes a delightful home for his family. Much of his attention has been given to fine stock, and in every way he has been successful, and deems this part of the great State of Wisconsin the garden spot. To him and his wife a large family has been born: Lavinda, born in Smelser in 1871, married Wesley JOHN, and has two children, Retta and Mary. Joseph H., born in 1872, married Miss Mildred JOHNS, resides on a farm in Wisconsin, and has two children, Ethel and Delvin. John E., born in December, 1873, married Miss Sarah CLAYTON, and resides on a farm. George E., born in 1876, resides on the farm. Nettie E., born in 1879, married William JOHNS, who is a hotel-keeper in Georgetown. Hubert O. was born in March 1884. Leland, born in 1885, died in infancy. Howard A. was born July 3, 1887; Melvin H., in 1889; and Roscoe E., in 1892. The younger sons all attend the home school.

Politically Mr. CULLEN has always been identified with the Republican party, and he has served as a member of the town board of Smelser for many years. Mrs. CULLEN is a consistent member of the M. E. Church. Mr. CULLEN is associated with the I.O.O.F., and George and Joseph CULLEN are members of the Order of Woodmen. The family possesses the esteem of all the residents of Smelser township. In it are connected a number of prominent old pioneer families, and it is a representative one, without a record of which no history of Grant county would be complete.

(Transcriber's note - Perhaps Wesley JOHN be Wesley JOHNS, with the S - possibly related to Mildred JOHNS and William JOHNS in the article.




This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck