408  HISTORY OF WOOD COUNTY



Ebbe. His father was a native of Denmark and came to the United States in
1858, settling in Dane County, near Watertown; his mother's family, coming
from
Norway about the same time, settled in the same locality, and the twofwere
united
in marriage shortly after their arrival. After residing in Dane County for
three
years they were persuaded by Chris Ebbe, John H. Ebbe's brother, who was
then
living in the town of Lincoln, to come to that locality, and thither they
made the
long, tedious journey with an ox team and covered wagon over Indian trails
through the wilderness. When they arrived they found only four white settlers
and
their families: these were S. L. Nason, John Rausch, Nick Rausch, and Chris
Ebbe.
Here John Ebbe purchased 160 acres from the Necedah Lumber Company for
$100, and erected the log house in which Henry Ebbe was born. This land now
ranks with the best producing farm land in the county. In those early days,
however, hardihood was indeed required of the settler, and Mr. Ebbe's father
was
forced to travel on foot over Indian trails to Necedah to procure clothing
for
the family, spending three to four days in making the 120 mile trip. Henry
Ebbe
attended the district schools and began industrial life as his father's assistant
on
the home farm. At the age of 13 he began working in the woods in the winters.
In 1901, his father having passed away, he bought the home farm, which he
op-
erated until 1914, when, his health poor, he found the strain too great,
and- rented
the farm out. He still owns a 40-acre tract of this farm, having sold 90
acres of it
in 1920. Mr. Ebbe entered politics in 1900, when he was elected clerk of
Lincoln
Township. He served in this office nine years, during which time he was also
school treasurer for a number of years. He proved his capacity and reliability
in
these positions, and his fellow townsmen were more than willing that he should
continue to serve them in public office. Accordingly in 1910 he was elected
chair-
man of the township board and served as such for four successive terms. After
this he was treasurer of the board for two years. In 1913 Mr. Ebbe was stricken
with a severe attack of typhoid fever, which confined him to his bed for
seven
months, and left him with a stiffened hip joint which has permanently lamed
him
slightly and which forced him to use crutches for three years, during which
time
he was unable to do any work. In 1916 he ran for register of deeds on the
Repub-
lican ticket, John Hoffman being his Democratic opponent. The race was so
close,
giving Mr. Ebbe a majority of 15, that the Democrats demanded a recount,
and
this resulted in the declaration that the election was a tie. The question
as to
who should take the office was finally decided by Mr. Ebbe and Mr. Hoffman
flip-
ping a coin. Mr. Ebbe won the toss, and so gained the office. Mr. Ebbe is
now,
as then, a staunch Republican; in religion he is a believer in the doctrines
of the
Congregational Church. During the late war he did patriotic and effective
work
on the Liberty Loan drives. On May 3, 1899, he was united in marriage, at
Lynn,
Clark County, to Miss Emma Jenson, daughter of Peter and Bertha Jenson. Mrs.
Ebbe's parents were natives of Germany, who came to the United States in
1875,
and after living for a while in Southern Wisconsin, settled in Clark County,
where
they now reside. Mr. and Mrs. Ebbe are the parents of two children, Ethelynd-
L., born Nov. 21, 1903, now attending the Normal Training School in Wisconsin
Rapids, and Leoline W., born April 11, 911, who is attending the graded school.
Mr. Ebbe's mother is still living at this writing, and lives with her son
at 210 Drake
Street, where he owns a good residence. Mr. Ebbe has a wide popularity through-
out Wood County; he is a highly capable man, and Wood County is fortunate
in
having him in public office.
   Frank Garrison, for many years known throughout Wood County as one of
its
most active and forceful business men, was born in Greenwood, McHenry County,
Ill., Nov. 18, 1852, son of Orestes and Viola (Sheldon) Garrison. The parents
were natives of New York State, the father born Aug. 8, 1813, and the mother,
March 24, 1821. They came west to Centralia, Wis., in 1854, and here Orestes
Garrison became interested in the lumber business, which was already the
leading
industry throughout this region. He became the owner of several hundred acres
of timber, operated a large sawmill, and rafted many fleets of lumber down
the
Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers as far south as New Orleans. His successful



408