WI BIO - Dane Co - SARGENT, Coryden
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 474-475

Coryden SARGENT is a retired farmer of Dane County, WI, now residing in 
Brooklyn, Green County, WI, and is numbered among the pioneers of 1845. He 
was born in Cheterfield, Cheshire County, NH, a son of Edwin and Sarah 
(STODDARD) SARGENT, also natives of Chesterfield. Erastus SARGENT, 
grandfather of our subject, was a great grandson of Digory SARGENT, who 
resided in Sudbury, Middlesex County, MA, in 1685.

Edwin SARGENT, father of our subject was born 16 Dec 1793, was reared a 
farmer, married young and was poor. Farming did not seem to repay him for 
the labor expended, and he endeavored to supplement his income by working on 
shoe lasts [forms on which to make shoes], and he industriously kept on until 
his death in 1871 in NH, all his life except a few years he spent in VT. Of 
his family of nine children, Coyden SARGENT was the third. He was reared on 
a farm and attended the village academy as his father's means and the time at 
his disposal would allow, but there were many mouths to feed and he was 
obliged to early put his shoulder to the family wheel. At the age of 21 he 
earned enough money to provide [p 475] himself with one term of schooling at 
Newberry [Newbury, Orange County], VT.

Very lightly equipped as to finances, in 1843 Coryden SARGENT started west to 
find his fortune, going out into the world alone. The State of IL was to be 
his Mecca, so with high hopes he entered the old stage which conveyed him 
from Brattleboro [Windham County], VT, to Troy [Albany or Rensselaer 
County?], NY, and thence by railroad and canal to Buffalo, Erie County, NY, 
on the lakes to Cleveland, OH, by stage to Beaver [Pike County, OH?] on the 
Ohio River, and then by steamboat to Galena [Jo Daviess County], IL. Here he 
traveled around looking for something to do and ere long engaged at a school 
near Freeport, Stephenson County, IL, at $13 per month with board. After 
filling this contract he went to Evansville [Rock County], WI, where was 
located a NH friend and there engaged to teach a term of school for five 
months at $14, later going to Wyota [Wiota in Iowa County, Territory of 
Wisconsin, then in Lafayette County when that county was created in 1846; WI 
a state on 29 May 1848], where his fortunes improved $2 a month, as here he 
engaged for 10 months at $16 per month. Here he entered 40 acres of land and 
soon after located on section 34, built a shanty and lived alone, keeping 
busy clearing his land. In 1846 Coryden SARGENT returned to VT and as he had 
proved that he could make a comfortable home in the great west, he married 
Miss Lucy W. HUTCHINSON, a native of St. Johnsbury [Caledonia County], VT, 
born 22 Sep 1846, a daughter of William and Azuba (PAGE) HUTCHINSON. After 
marriage the young couple came to WI and settled in the shanty. At length he 
became the owner of 220 acres of land; although when he came to WI he had but 
a few cents.

Looking over the broad acres of the farm of our subject, one who understands 
pioneer life can well understand the unremitting labor that has brought this 
place into its present perfection. A short time was spent in teaching, but 
the most of it on the farm. He is a Prohibitionist in his political belief, 
formerly a Republican, and has held the office of town superintendent of 
schools. In his religious belief he is liberal. Coryden and Lucy W. 
(HUTCHINSON) SARGENT have had four children: William Edwin, a lawyer of Los 
Angeles [Los Angeles County], CA; Emma J., died in infancy; Grace A., the 
wife of Daniel WACKMAN, of Brooklyn, Green County, WI; and Charles H., at 
home. 

Submitted by Cathy Kubly