WI BIO - Dane Co - HURD, Philetus
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol I, pp 138-139

Philetus HURD, of Blooming Grove Township, Dane County, WI, was born at Ira, 
Cayuga County, NY, 05 May 1822, a son of Samuel HURD, who was born at Fort 
Ann, Washington County, NY, and the grandson of Nathaniel HURD, a native it 
is thought, of England, and an early settler of Fort Ann. Nathaniel HURD, a 
very early settler, removed to Cayuga County, being a pioneer there, making 
the journey with ox teams. He let a tract of timber land in the town of Ira 
and gave each of his children a farm. The old gentleman continued his 
residence in Cayuga until his death. His wife, whose maiden name was 
Elizabeth (CUTTER) HURD, likewise a native of England, died on the old home 
farm in Ira, Cayuga County, NY.

Samuel HURD was but a lad when his parents removed to Cayuga. His location 
was upon a farm given him by his father, living for a long time chiefly upon 
the products of the farm, as it was many years before any railroads or canals 
reached old Cayuga, and markets were too remote to make any effort to keep 
oneself supplied with any of the luxuries now obtainable anywhere. The 
industrious mother [wife of Samuel HURD] carded, wove, and made into garments 
the homespun clothing worn by the children. Elizabeth WARD was the maiden 
name of this good woman, daughter of Israel WEST, and the mother of six 
children. She survived her husband [Samuel HURD] many years, finally dying 
at the home of her daughter. Samuel, the father, died in the town of Ira, 
Cayuga County, NY, in 1832.

Philetus HURD, our subject, was the third son and fourth child of Samuel and 
Elizabeth (WARD) HURD, the others being in the order of their naming: 
Nathan, Silas, Drusilla, Simon, and Sarah. Reared and educated in his native 
county, at the age of twenty-two he [Philetus HURD] removed to the Territory 
of Wisconsin, going by way of the Welland canal and the lakes [p 139] to 
Milwaukee, WI, and thence by team to Rock County. When he reached the 
Territory, a large portion of its area was owned by the Government, and in 
the great forests deer and other wild game roamed undisturbed at their 
pleasure. He [Philetus HURD] bought 80 acres of Government land in the town 
of Fulton [Rock County, WI] at $1.25 an acre, and then purchased 40 acres 
adjoining, for which he paid $300. Being single, he did not settle upon his 
property, but hired out for two years and then went back East, where he 
remained for an equal period.

Upon his return, Philetus HURD went to Dane County, WI, and bought 120 acres 
on sections 34 and 35 in Blooming Grove Township, for the sum of $150; after 
improving which, he purchased adjacent land until he had a fine farm of 320 
acres, 240 of which he still owns. Mr. HURD lived upon the property until 
1883, when he built the home he now occupies on section 16, where he lives 
retired from active labors. Besides the holdings named, he owns land in Sauk 
County, WI, and also in KS.

In 1849 Philetus HURD was married to Clarissa Malvina SAWYER, by whom he has 
had two daughters, Isadore and Eloise, the latter remaining at home. Isadore 
is the wife of Lawrence EIGHMY. Clarissa Malvina (SAWYER) HURD was born in 
Reading, Windsor County, VT, 29 Aug 1825, a daughter of Thomas SAWYER, a 
native of the same place. Her grandfather, Cornelius SAYWER, born in MA, was 
one of the earliest settlers of Reading, VT. Buying a tract of timber land 
there, he [Cornelius SAWYER] cut down the trees and built up a valuable farm, 
upon which he lived and where he finally died. This ancestor was a soldier 
in the War of the Revolution.

Thomas SAWYER, father of Mrs. HURD, learned the trade of shoemaking, but did 
not follow that vocation, preferring the life of a farmer. In 1847 he sold 
his property and emigrated to the Territory of Wisconsin [the State of WI was 
created in 1848], accompanied by his five children, proceeding by team to 
Whitehall [Washington County, NY], thence by [Lake] Champlain and Erie Canal 
to Buffalo [NY], then to Dane County, partly by stage and partly by public 
conveyance. His son had previously entered for him a tract of Government 
land located in what is now Blooming Grove Township [Dane County, WI], on 
section 5 and 6, upon which the father at once built a log cabin, the first 
house of the family in WI. In this humble home he [Thomas SAWYER] died one 
year later [1848].

The maiden name of the mother of Mrs. HURD was Clarissa BIGELOW, born in 
Reading, Windsor County, VT, the daughter of Joseph BIGELOW and the mother of 
six children: James D., Jerome O., Clarissa M., Cornelia L., Marcus H., and 
Helen J. This estimable lady [Clarissa (BIGELOW) SAWYER] died at Reading 
[Windsor County, VT] in 1835.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly