WI BIO - Dane Co - McFARLAND, Joseph
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 438-439

Joseph McFARLAND, a farmer of Dane County, WI, was born in Scotland in 1842, 
a son of Andrew McFARLAND, who was born in 1801. Andrew McFARLAND's father, 
Robert McFARLAND, was a farmer by occupation, reared a family of nine 
children, and died in Scotland at a ripe old age. Andrew McFARLAND was 
reared to farm life; received a good common school [p 439] education; was 
married in Scotland to Margaret SHEARER, and while in that country he was 
engaged in hauling merchandise, and also had a stage coach line from Glasgow 
to Chapel Hill. They buried one daughter, Margaret, at the age of about four 
years, a bright and lovely little creature, and the only daughter ever born 
to them. This was a severe blow, from which the father never recovered. In 
the spring of 1851 they came by an American sail ship, "Liberty," with 
Captain PEABODY, to American, landing in NY City after a voyage of from 16 
May to 04 July 1851. After landing they came by canal and lakes to 
Milwaukee, WI, and then by team to Columbia County, a distance of 140 miles, 
over new roads and through woods and marshes. They were obliged to unload 
their household goods several times during the journey. Mr. McFARLAND 
settled on 160 acres of Indian land, then unsurveyed, but marked out by 
trees. He erected a rough log house, roofed with marsh hay and sod, no 
floor, a fireplace, and as stick and mud chimney built on the outside of the 
house. Three years later the saw mills came, and they laid a floor in their 
dwelling. After the survey was made they sold their land for $600, and 
bought 120 acres, where they erected a small board shanty, and began farming 
with an ox team. The father died on this farm in 1863, at the age of 
sixty-two years, and the mother died two ears later.

Joseph McFARLAND, the subject, of this sketch, received but little education, 
and remained at home until his parent's death. He then purchased 40 acres of 
land near Lodi, Columbia County, Wisconsin, to which he has since added until 
he now owns 112 acres of fine land. Joseph McFARLAND was married at Lodi, 
Columbia County, Wisconsin, 22 March 1874, to Ellen WILSON, a daughter of 
John and Marian (NEALSON) WILSON, natives of Scotland. They came to America 
in 1850, arriving in Dane County, Wisconsin, 04 June 1850, and Mrs. McFARLAND 
was born 04 July 1850. Her grandfather WILSON was a farmer by occupation, 
and her grandfather NEALSON, a shepherd. She was the sixth of nine children, 
six daughters and three sons. The father was accidentally killed by a team 
in 1864, at the age of fifty-seven years, and the mother died in Nov 1885, 
aged sixty-nine years. Joseph and Ellen (WILSON) McFARLAND have buried two 
children: Anna May, who died 23 January 1890, aged fourteen years; and Roy, 
accidentally killed 06 August 1892, aged nine years. He was a bright boy, 
and his death was a severe blow to his parents. They have one son and a 
daughter living, Mary Jane, aged fourteen years, and Roy, aged seven years.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly