HISTORY OF WOOD COUNTY



   Vine Wales, an early settler in Wood County, now deceased, was born in
White-
hall, Washington County, N. Y., Sept. 11, 1832. He grew to manhood in that
neighborhood, and was there married Feb. 28, 1854, to Amanda Bailey, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Henry Bailey, she having been born in that place April
2, 1835.
The year following their marriage the young couple came west to Prairie du
Chien,
Wis., where they resided for two years. They then moved to Morrison, Ill.,
where they also spent two years. Their next place of residence was Lancaster,
Grant County, Wis. In 1859, when the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway
was building its road through northern Wisconsin, Mr. and Mrs. Wales came
to
Remington, Wood County, where Mr. Wales was employed as section foreman
and also had charge of the company's wood yard. In the meanwhile Mrs. Wales
boarded and cooked for the men, getting up early every morning and working
hard
until late at night to prepare and cook their meals. In those days the Indians
were numerous throughout this region, and would come in great numbers at
the
opening of the blueberry season, remaining until after the cranberry season
was
over in the fall. They would camp in grounds owned by Mr. and Mrs. Wales,
pitching their tents wherever they pleased without asking permission. They
were always great food beggars and Mrs. Wales often gave them vegetables
from
her garden. During those early times household supplies had to be hauled
from
Grand Rapids, a long tedious journey, and the housewives had to see that
enough
was procured to last until the next trip, and be careful not to waste any
of it.
Mrs. Wales had all the qualities of a pioneer's wife and was not afraid of
the Indians.
Once, when one of them insisted on having butter on the piece of bread she
gave
him, and proceeded to rummage in her pantry for it, showing no inclination
to go
when she ordered him out, she took him by the nape of the neck and pushed
him
out of the door. After Mr. Wales had remained in railroad service for about
five
years, he and his wife decided that they would like a change of work. They
therefore bought some land and settled down to farm work and cranberry raising,
in which occupations they continued until they came to Grand Rapids. The
Wisconsin river was a great attraction to the boys of the family, who were
fond of
fishing. One of them, George, was returning home one evening with a nice
catch
when he was followed by what he thought was a black dog, but which proved
to
be a bear and was chased away by the dogs belonging to the farm. This finished
George's fishing trips, as he never went again. Mrs. Wales being a practical
nurse,
was often called on to care for the sick, both whites and Indians. On one
occasion
she had quite an adventure. She was returning from caring for a sick neighbor,
and was carrying a pail of flour to make bread for the sick woman and her
family.
While crossing the railroad bridge she heard the sound of an approaching
train, and,
turning around, saw that it was almost upon her. As she was in the center
of the
bridge there was no chance for escape except by jumping into the river, which
she
promptly did, throwing away her pail of flour. The only injuries she sustained
were a
jar. Her dog, who had accompanied her on the trip, however, was not so fortunate
as, not daring to take the leap, he crouched trembling by the rails, and
his tail
lying across the rail, the train cut it off. Mrs. Wales often threw cabbage
leaves
and other vegetables to the deer, which were very numerous and tame and would
come to the yard for food. Early in the spring of 1901 Mr. and Mrs. Wales
came
to Grand Rapids and bought the entire block situated on Twelfth Street North,
where they raised strawberries for the market. The-land was later sold to
different
parties who have erected residences which they are occupying for their home
pro-
perty. Mr. Wales passed away Aug. 14, 1908, at his home in this city. Mrs.
Wales
has continued her residence here since moving from Babcock. Of the 17 children
bywhomtheirunion was blessed four are still living: Mrs. MaryAlterof SanAntonia,
Texas; Mrs. Ella Fraser of Madison; Maude I., nowv Mrs. George W. Lyons of
this city, and one son, George, also of this city, with whom his mother resides.
A devout Christian woman, Mrs. Wales is a member of the Methodist Church,
the Missionary Society, the East Side Ladies' Aid Society of the M. E. church.
and
also of the Rebekah lodge and the Woman's Relief Corps. She never misses
a
regular Sunday church service unless compelled to do so by illness, though
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