From Memorial and Genealogical Record of Dodge and Jefferson Counties, Wisconsin, publ. 
1894 - Page 154-157
 
ORVILL H. ATWELL.  He whose name heads this sketch is numbered among the old settlers of 
Dodge County, and during the years that he has resided here he has been actively engaged in 
tilling the soil and now owns and operates a farm of 146 acres.  He is a product of Chenango 
County, N.Y., where his eyes first opened on the light of day June 14, 1830, his father, Benjamin, 
and his grandfather, Joseph ATWELL, having been born in the Nutmeg State, the former's birth 
occurring in Hebron.  The family is of English descent.  Joseph ATWELL was one of the pioneers 
of Chenango County, N.Y., and there reared his family.  His son Benjamin grew to manhood 
there, and was there united in marriage with Miss Ruby SAGE, a native of New York.  He was a 
blacksmith by trade, and followed this calling during the early portion of his life.  During the latter 
part of his life he came West and made his home with his son in this county until his death, which 
occurred in 1893, at the age of about eighty-seven years.  His wife passed away in 1887, and 
both lie buried in Forest Mound Cemetery.  Orvill H. ATWELL was their only son, and until he 
attained manhood resided in Chenango County, N.Y., where he worked at the blacksmith's trade 
under his father, at the same time acquiring a good practical education in the common schools 
and a select school.  There he was united in marriage July 24, 1851 to Miss Julia BORDEN, a 
native of Schoharie County, N.Y., and daughter of Henry BORDEN, and after their marriage they 
removed to a farm where their resided until their removal to the West, in 1865.  They arrived in 
Wisconsin in March.  Very shortly after this Mr. ATWELL purchased ninety-two acres of the farm 
on which he is now living, on which some slight improvements had been made, and here he 
engaged in farming and several years later bought sixty acres more.  He has made some 
valuable improvements on the place, has remodeled the residence, has built a fine large barn and 
his other buildings and fences are substantial.  He commenced life for himself with little or no 
property, but through persevering industry and the exercise of good judgment, he has acquired a 
considerable amount of worldly goods.  He was called upon to mourn the death of his wife in 
1884, after which he took for his second wife Mrs. Ada CLAGGETT (nee MATHERS), a daughter 
of Enos MATHERS, a pioneer of Wisconsin.  Mrs. ATWELL was born in Waupaca County, Wis., 
and by her first husband has two sons, Arthur and William, both of whom are attending the home 
school.  Politically, Mr. ATWELL has always been a Democrat, as was his father before him, but, 
aside from some township offices, has never held official position.  He is a member of Waupun 
Lodge of the A.F.& A.M., and his wife belongs to the Congregational Church of that place.  Mr. 
ATWELL is a shrewd man of business, and although he has always looked out for his own 
interests he has always been fair and just in his dealings with others, which fact is shown by the 
respect which is accorded him.
 
Submitted by Carol