“The History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin”, published: Chicago:  Western 
Historical Company.   1879.


W. D. HOARD, Editor of Jefferson County Union, Fort Atkinson; born in 
Stockbridge, Madison Co., N.Y., Oct. 10, 1836; son of Rev. William B. and Sarah C. 
(White) Hoard; cam to Oak Grove, Dodge Co., Wis., October, 1857, there engaged 
in vocal and instrumental music teaching.  Married, Feb. 2, 1860, Miss Agnes E. 
Bragg, daughter of William and A. E. (Edgerton) Bragg, of Lake Mills; has three 
children – Halbert L., Ralph A., Frank W.  Enlisted May 1861, in 4th W.V.I.; served 
till July 1862, then went to New York, and Oct. 1, 1864, re-enlisted in Co. A, 1st 
New York Light Artillery and remained in the service till the close of the war, 
participating (with his regiment) in the following battles; New Orleans, Grand Gulf, 
Baton Rouge; in 1865, returned to Wisconsin and located at Columbus, Wis., 
engaging in business til 1868, then moved to Iowa; one year after, returned to 
Wisconsin, and located at Lake Mills.  In 1870, he started the newspaper, Jefferson 
County Union; same year was appointed Deputy U. S. Marshal, and took the census 
of the town of Waterloo, Aztalan and Milford; in 1872, was elected Sergeant-at-
Arms to the Wisconsin Senate; in 1871, commenced taking a deep interest in the 
dairy business; in 1872, was largely instrumental in organizing the Wisconsin 
Dairymen’s Association, and was Secretary of that body for three years; in 1878, was 
elected President of the Northwestern Dairyman’s Association; in 1873, removed his 
paper from Lake Mills to Fort Atkinson, entering in partnership with Charles 
Fullerton, who retired from the firm after six months, leaving Mr. Hoard sole 
proprietor; he was elected Justice of the Peace in Lake Mills, in 1871, which office 
he held till 1873; elected President of the village of Fort Atkinson, and to the County 
Board of Supervisors, in 1877, serving one year; member of Masons, I.O.O.F. and 
United Workmen; Vice President of Wisconsin Editorial Association.




Submitted by:  Linda Pingel  (LPingel@worldnet.att.net)