Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1920-03-10
LIFE HISTORY Of
COUNTY PIONEER
COUNTY A HOWLING Will
DERNESS WHEN WARREN
HANNUM LOCATED HERE.
CAME TO JAMESTOWN IN 1886.
CONTINUOUS COUNTY RESI-.
DENT.-6 LIVING CHILDREN.

Warren Hannum was born near the
village Of Bethany, Genesee Co., New
York, October 4, 1928 His parents
were Warren Hannum and Laura
Hamilton Hannum, both natives of
Massachusetts.
When the subject of this sketch
was less than four years of age the
family moved to Sherman, Chautau-
qua county and they lived until his
18th year near the lake of the same
name, and i'll the midst of primeval
forest.
Their mode of life was Of the most
primitive, railroads being then an ex-
pertinent, gas, electricity and even
kerosene lamps undreamed of; even
an article SO common today as match
es not yet thought Of Their heating
plant and cook stove was huge
stone fireplace, their match a flint
and steel or a coal brought from a
neighbours, their light a tallow candle.
When this son was twelve years
of age Warren Hannum Sr decided
to- investigate the new territory just
beginning to be settled in the north
west and in the fall of 1885 he start
ed for Wisconsin horseback. He
reached Galena, ILL.,, without having
found a location which pleased him
and thought of turning around to go
back but decided to come on into
Grant county to pay visit to Mr..
Ruel Morrell, an old friend and
neighbor, who was then located on
his farm at Hurricane Grant county
looked better to him than anything
he had yet seem So, after visiting
Mr.. Morrell, he returned to James
town, bought land, erected a cabin
and returned to New York to get his
family. Arriving late in November
he was greeted with great rejoicing
by the wife and children who had
heard nothing from him since his de-
parture and feared he had been killed
by the Indians. He at once set about
getting his family ready to make the
long journey.
U They started the 9Th day of Janu-
airy, 1886 in two wagons drawn by
horses, and crossed the Maumee
sWamps on the ice. travelling by day
and stopping nights and Sundays at
the cabins of settlers along their
route, and arrived in Wisconsin the
10th day of February.
At that time Galena was regarded
as the coming metropolis of the
northwest East Dubuque or Dun
leith had only one house, a log one,
which remained there for many years
The only means of crossing the river
was on raft poled by Frenchmen
up the river to place where the cur.
rent would take it across. Fairplay
was a thriving mining village and the
village of Paris, now deserted, a pros
porous trading post. Lancaster and
other more nOrtherly towns were
marked by two or three settlers cab
ms in the midst of the forest.
Bear, deer and wolves abounded
and when going home from mill late
at night he was often followed by
wolves The flight of wild pigeons
which darkened the sun were one Of
the wonders of nature which he could
recall.
He resided on the farm near
jamestown until ffty-two years ago
when he moved to Lancaster to the
home near the southern limits of the
city where he lived for more than
forty years. He had married March
3, 1868, Miss Emily E. Cook of Ba
tavia, New York. She died in Sep
TENDER, 1868, leaving him with two
little daughters, Emma (Mrs. Harry
Brooker) and Mae of Kewanee, ILL.,
He was married August 3, 1869, to
Miss Eugenia Patterson who died on
June 81, 1915. To this union six
children were born: Eta, Mrs
Chas. Elliott) of Eagle Grove, Ia,
Charles, who died in infancy, Mercie,
Mrs Chas. Roberts) of Montfort,
Chester and Jessie of Lancaster, War
rem j. of Madison, Wis.
These children were all at his bed
side during his last illness. His
mind, Notwithstanding his great age,
remained clear to the morning of his
death and he went to sleep peaceful
ly.
He leaves also eleven grandchil-
dren: his brothers and sisters all
preceded him in death. Rufus, the
eldest, lived to pass his Goth mile
stone Two sisters, Mrs. Laura Kill
bourne and Mrs Sophia Ki1bourne,
lived to be 80 and 79 respectively, and
two younger sisters, Mrs. Mercy
Dodd and Mrs. Mary Howard of
Mountain Home, Arkansas, lived to
pass their 18th year ***