“The History of Dodge County, Wisconsin”, published: Chicago:  
Western Historical Company.   1880.

Township:  Shields  

JOHN WALLS,  proprietor of Riverdale Farm, Secs. 31 and 31;  P.O. 
Hubbleton; born in the city of York, England, Dec. 21, 1820; his early 
life was spent in the enjoyment of the privileges accorded to inhabitants 
of his native city; when about __ years of age, he was apprenticed to a 
chandler, but soon gave it up, entering a grocery and provision store in 
Rockdale, and was for many years after engaged in mercantile pursuits 
in Rockdale, Burnley and Darlington; he also traveled two years for a 
tobacco house in North Shields; while still a young man, Mr. Walls 
joined the Odd Fellows and was for years an active and influential 
member; in 1849, he was so badly afflicted by cataract of the eyes as to 
cause almost total blindness, and was happily relieved from this fate by 
an operation performed by the celebrated Dr. Niel, in Liverpool, the 
same year; imbued at an early age with a love for Republican 
institutions, Mr. Walls resolved to try his fortunes in free America; on 
the 23d of September, 1850, he landed at New York City, accompanied 
by his mother, brothers and neighbors; he came at once to Portland, 
buying 120 acres of land and remaining until July 4, 1851, when he 
returned to Nyack, N.Y., where he married, July 24, 1851, Miss Mary 
Jameson Fairbourne; Mrs. Walls was born and educated in Pontefract, 
Yorkshire, and came to America with her mother in the same ship with 
her future husband, she residing a short time in Haverstraw, N.Y., going 
from there to Nyack.  The young couple at once "went West" and settled 
on the Portland Farm, where they built a frame house, which burned to 
the ground July 15, 1852, with most of their household goods; nothing 
daunted by this rebuff of Dame Fortune, they began, and before the next 
Christmas, had completed a large frame house, where they kept the well-
known Franklin House about three years, to the comfort of travelers over 
the then new plank road; in 1856, they sold the hotel and bought a farm 
on Sec. 25 in Portland; here they lived and prospered until 1861, when 
they bought and settled on Riverdale Farm, it then being almost a state 
of nature and as it was left by the aborigines; this is, perhaps, the most 
natural stock farm in Dodge Co., containing 680 acres in one body, fifty-
six of which are in Milford, Jefferson Co.; in 1864, Mr. Walls built the 
main part of his farmhouse, and, having added to it at various times, now 
has one of the most elegant and spacious residences in his county, built 
in the Gothic style and containing sixteen rooms; he has in connection a 
creamery 20 x 30 feet, built at a cost with fixtures of $2,000; the entire 
house is 66 x 30 feet; in the creamery large quantities of superior butter 
are made on the most approved plan, the milk being furnished by his 
herd of about seventy grade Alderney, Galloway and Durham cows; the 
butter is sold in the Chicago, New York and Liverpool markets; Mr. 
Walls is also well known as a breeder of fine horses and sheep; besides 
his homestead he owns forty acres of timber on Sec. 24, Portland, and 
320 acres in Polk Co., Wis.  An outspoken Republican in politics.  He 
has always taken a warm interest in school matters, and was a generous 
supporter of the Union cause in war times; Mr. W. was the founder of 
the Anti-Milldam League, an association of Dodge and Jefferson Co. 
farmers in favor of removing the Milford dam; he was the man who 
furnished the money with which to operate for months, and was also 
Secretary; through his agency, the State Board of Health visited the 
Crawfish Valley in September, 1878, the Board making a non-commital 
"report" to the Governor in April, 1879; Mr. Walls has been in 
correspondence with Senator McFetridge and in consultation with the 
leading men of the State and has doubtless done more for the interests of 
the league than any other member of it, but, owing to personal 
jealousies, his connection with it was dissolved.  Riverside Farm has a 
frontage of one and a half miles on the Crawfish, which is here so 
crooked that it bounds two sides of the farm - it extends to Hubbleton 
Village on the south, the depot site having been purchased of Judge Levi 
Hubbell, the former owner of Riverdale, who sold the splendid farm to 
Mr. Walls, to whom is due the credit of making it what it is.  The farm is 
bounded on the south by the old Watertown and Portland plank-road, 
and on the west by the Lowell and Hubbleton road.  On this last-named 
road, three-fourths of a mile north of Hubbleton, are the residence and 
farm buildings.  Mr. and Mrs. Walls are in full accord with the Episcopal 
faith.  Mr. Walls is well and favorably known throughout his county and 
State as a public-spirited and successful farmer and a man of sterling 
worth; the hospitality of himself and his estimable lady is freely 
extended to all worthy of it, as may be proved by scores of warm friends.


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