THE MARION ADVERTISER

March 25, 1900

 

Old Settlers.

 

            In a former article you were pleased to publish which related to the early settlers of our county, I inadvertently failed to mention Mr. M. A Stinchfield.  Mr. Stinchfield settled on the claim in the northwest part of Lind in 1850.  He now resides in the town of Waupaca, a highly respected and honored citizen. The writer has been personally acquainted with Mr. Stinchfield for 48 years, and glad to do him justice by now making mention of him.  It may not be generally known that one of Waupaca’s earliest settlers is also one of our state’s early settlers.  Mr. G. W. Taggart made his first settlement in the southeast part of the then part of Michigan, afterwards territory, now state of Wisconsin.  He cast a ballot at the firs territorial election in 1836, voted each year for the twelve years under territorial government, and has voted every year at some election since the territory became a state.  He though nearly sightless with tottering steps just recently walked to the polls and cast his ballot at a special village election.  We have then in our county one who has for 65 years failed not to exercise his privileges as an elector, a privilege, yes a duty, which he says behooves every citizen to perform. It may be some few other counties of our state have got such an honored and faithful citizen who can claim to have voted in Wisconsin for 65 years.  Such citizens are few indeed, and it nay possibly be the case that Mr. Taggart is the only surviving elector who cast a ballot at the first territorial election.  At the first election in our county held in the spring of 1851, Mr. Taggart and Mr. James Smiley are the only surviving voters.  

                                                                                                A. V. B.