Washington County Wisconsin Genealogy

Family Section

Biograpies and Stories of People - Surnames starting with Letter A

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PRENTISS ABBOTT

Source: History of Vernon County, Wisconsin: together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens; 1884.  pg. 542

Prentiss Abbott is a son of Aaron A. and Abesta (Moulton) Abbott, was born in Tunbridge town, Windsor Co., Vt., in 1822.  When four years of age, his parents moved to Boston, Mass., where his father engaged in the boot and shoe business. After remaining there one year, they moved to Canada, settling in the province of Quebec. At the end of six years they removed to Port Hope, province of Ontario. Here it was that Prentiss began his career as a hunter. Game was plenty, and he spent a greater part of his time in hunting and trapping, and made considerable money thereby. In 1838 his parents moved to Milwaukee, Wis., where they lived one year, when his father bought some timber land from the government, situated five miles from Milwaukee, and Prentiss helped him to clear it. Game being abundant, Prentiss spent much time hunting deer, bear, elk and panthers, finding a ready sale for them in Milwaukee. When he was twenty-one years of age he, in company with his brother, erected a large frame house on the farm and opened a hotel, called the Kinnekinick House. One year later he sold out and went to Waukesha county, where he purchased a farm, erected a large house, part log and part frame, and engaged in farming and keeping hotel. Two years later he removed to Washington county, and in 1854 he again changed his residence, coming to Vernon county, and entering 640 acres of land in town 13, range 1 east, now known as Greenwood. He built a log house on the southeast quarter of section 10, and commenced clearing a farm. In 1861 he went to Hillsborough, bought town property, and opened a hotel. He remained in this business until 1875, when he again returned to Greenwood and settled on the northeast quarter of section 10, where he had previously built a frame house. He has been twice-married. His first wife was Jane Fenton, by whom be had three children— Charles, Prentiss C. and Laura. He was married May 16, 1883, to Elizabeth Brill, a native of Wurtemburg, Germany.