WI BIO - Dane Co - PYBURN, Cornelia, Mrs. [nee THOMAS]
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 598-599

Mrs. Cornelia PYBURN, the widow of Thomas PYBURN, a thorough-going farmer, of 
Sun Prairie [Dane County], Wisconsin, is living on section 24. Mr. PYBURN 
died 22 February 1890. His father had been a native of Ireland. The father 
and mother of Mrs. PYBURN were born in New York State. For about fifteen 
years Mr. PYBURN followed a seafaring life and was captain of a vessel on the 
Atlantic Ocean. The father and mother came to Wisconsin about fifty years 
ago, from New York and located in Ozaukee County. They came via Erie canal 
and the lakes to Milwaukee and from there with ox teams to the place of 
settlement, requiring about four days to make the last part of the trip. He 
was the first farmer that had a horse team. At that time the country was 
heavily timbered, of which he secured eighty acres, unimproved. There he 
built a log house and commenced to make a home and cleared off fifteen acres, 
cutting and burning up the logs as timber which then [p 599] had no value. 
The country soon became settled and at this time the wilderness was turned 
into a prosperous community. Captain THOMAS continued in the original house 
and then sold the place and moved to Saginaw County, Michigan, where he 
bought an improved farm and died about five years after and the family still 
occupy the place.

Mr. [Thomas] PYBURN's father came here from Ireland after the death of his 
first wife, settled on a farm near Milwaukee, from there moved to Ozaukee 
County [WI], thence to Calumet County [WI] and lived there on the interest of 
his money until his death.

Captain and Mrs. THOMAS were the parents of four children: Theodora, 
Henrietta, Cornelia and Mathew J., and three of these are yet living.

Mr. [Thomas] PYBURN was born in Ireland and came to this country with his 
father when four years old. He remained with him until twenty-two, attended 
the district school and passed his youth on the farm. [Mr. and] Mrs. 
[Thomas] PYBURN were married 24 December 1863 in Ozaukee County [WI] and 
remained at her father's home for one year, then Mr. PYBURN enlisted in 
Company G, First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery for two years of the war, but only 
had nine months of service. He returned and settled on his farm in Ozaukee 
County [WI], where they continued about twenty years. They then sold out and 
removed to Racine [Racine County], Wisconsin, where they bought twenty acres 
of land and a house and lot in town and there they lived for nearly three 
years, then sold and moved to Dane County [WI] to the present location of 
Mrs. PYBURN. Here they bought seventy-eight acres, upon which was a nice 
house, also fences and improvements. Mr. [Thomas] PYBURN improved the place 
further, but died in 1890, and now rests in the Pierceville cemetery. This 
union was blessed with seven children, all of whom are living: Frank, 
married, works at blacksmithing at Columbus [Columbia County, WI]; Thomas 
lives on the homestead; John works a farm near, as also does William; Anne 
married John HARLAND, in Dane County [WI]; James and Eddy are at home. All 
of the children endeavor to keep together near home and always take dinner 
with their mother on Sunday. The entire family seem very much attached to 
each other. She has managed the farm very successfully, is a capable, 
intelligent lady, and one who is most highly respected in the neighborhood. 
Her theory is that children should be taught to work and know something of 
the duties of life. She has been a kind and indulgent parent and has reared 
her children to be useful members of society and this is a pleasant family, 
where the children delight in honoring their mother.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly