Biographical Sketch of
James Franklin Von Alstine
Transcribed by Joan Benner
Source: Memorial and Biographical Record and Illustrated Compendium of Biography of Citizens of Columbia,
Sauk and Adams Counties, Wisconsin, published 1901 by G. A. Ogle & Co., Chicago, 1901, Pages 396 - 397
The dells of the Wisconsin River furnish ideal places for country homes, and among those who have taken advantage of
one of the brightest spots on which to locate is the gentleman whose name heads this review. His farm is one of the
finest in the vicinity, and he has spared no pains to make it such, and the natural surroundings have aided in his
work. The farm is part of what is known as Witch's Gulch, and has almost a mile of river frontage, making it an
ideal spot for tourists and a valuable farm property. His homestead is located in Dell Prairie township, and he has
been a resident of Adams county for a quarter of a century, is well known and enjoys an enviable reputation.
Mr. Von Alstine was born in Erie, Erie county, Pennsylvania, June 16, 1840, and was the son of Joseph and Harriet
(Blake) Von Alstine. His father was born in Scholarie county, New York, and his mother in Onondaga county, New
York. The father was engaged in early life in the salt works in Syracuse, and later followed farming. He came west
in 1853, to Baraboo, Sauk county, Wisconsin, where he remained one year, and then moved to Lyndon, Juneau county.
He removed to Springville township, Adams county, in 1856, and purchased land on which he conducted farming until
his death March 16, 1874. His wife died October 12, of the same year, and both were buried in the Kilbourn cemetery.
Our subject came to Wisconsin with his parents when thirteen years of age and had previously attended school in
Pierpont, Ohio, and when the family located in Sauk county, he attended school in Baraboo. After moving to Juneau
county he worked in the pineries and was thus engaged fifteen winters, and spent twenty-six summers as raftsman on
the Wisconsin, Yellow and Mississippi rivers. He moved to his present home in 1874, and has been a continuous resident
of Dell Prairie township since.
Mr. Von Alstine was married, October 16, 1957, to Eliza O'Connor, daughter of William and Elizabeth O'Connor, of
Pennsylvania. Mrs. Von Alstine's father was born near Niagara Falls, Canada, and left there in 1812, and her mother
was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Her parents came to Oconomowoc, Waukesha county, Wisconsin, in 1844, and the father
was a cooper by trade, but farmed while there. The family moved to Sauk county in 1854, and after one year came to
Springville township, Adams county, and remained until 1859, thence moved to Necedah, Juneau county, and the father
engaged in the lumber and cranberry business. He purchased a farm in Lisbon township, Juneau county, in 1862, on which
he pursued farming until his death in 1875. The mother of Mrs. Von Alstine died in 1873, and both parents rest at
New Lisbon. Mr. and Mrs. Von Alstine are the parents of the following children: William died in 1872; Emmett, farmer
in Dell Prairie township; Helen, now Mrs. Hamilton Tyler, of Dell Prairie; Albert, in Big Springs, Adams county; Warren,
in Dell Prairie township; George, employed in the car service on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad; Edith, residing
at home; Herbert, at home; and Frederick, at home. Mr. Von Alstine is a Republican in political sentiment, but does
not seek public preferment. He is interested in his community's welfare, and supports feasible public measures and
enterprises.Transcribed by Joan Benner
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