Bio: Horton, Victor H. (History - 1875)
 

Contact: Janet Schwarze
Email: janet@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
 

Surnames: HORTON BRAMEN BRAMAN

----Source: 1918 History of Clark County, Wisconsin

                       Victor H. Horton & Family

VICTOR H. HORTON, one of the leading citizens of Levis Township, is a good example of what can be accomplished by pluck and perseverance in spite of initial discouragements. The architect of his own fortunes, aided by a clever and devoted wife, he has risen from a condition of poverty to one of comfortable prosperity, surmounting many difficulties. He was born in Steuben County, N. Y., March 1, 1875, son of Charles M. Horton, elsewhere mentioned in this volume, and accompanied his parents to Clark County in 1882. His education Was acquired in the district and public schools, including the Neillsville high school and when not engaged in his studies, he was generally making himself useful on the farm, though his boyhood days were not destitute of amusement and innocent recreation. When older and stronger he became connected with the lumber industry, working as logger and driver during the appropriate seasons, in the summer continuing to work on farms.

In 1896, having attained his majority, he began an independent career as a farmer, having obtained some wild timber land in Section 20, Levin Township. On that tract he built a small frame house, 16 by 24 feet, in which, having married in that year, he began domestic life. There he and his wife lived for thirteen years, working hard, but gradually making progress, until a severe misfortune overtook them, a fire destroying all their possessions-house, barns, sheep and hogs. As there was no insurance, they suffered a total loss. There was but one thing to do, however, and Mr. and Mrs. Horton, without wasting much time in lamentations, set to work with undaunted courage and renewed energy to retrieve their fortunes. For one year they rented a place, and then, in the following year they came to their present location, where Mr. Hotron erected a fine eleven-room residence, two stories in height, with a 16 by 24 foot cehar. He also put up new barns and outbuildings. The farm consists of two tracts of eighty acres each, one being located in Section 20 and the other in Section 30, the land, when they took it, being a tamarack swamp. By hiring a large ditching machine at a cost of over $600, they ditched the land so that it is today well drained and fertile, producing abundant crops. They have worked together to the same end, and now have one of the best farms of 160 acres to be found in the community. Mr. Horton is also a stockholder in the Farmers Co-operative Elevator at Neillsville.

He and his wife were married May 27, 1896, her name before marriage being Addie Bramen. She was born in Clayton Township, Crawford County, Wis., July 31, 1877, daughter of Amos and Nancy Bramen (Braman ). Being given a good education, she became a school teacher, following that occupation with credit for two years in her native township. The domestic circle of Mr. and Mrs. Horton has been enlarged by the birth of two children: Vivian N., born July 15, 1897, and Clyde K., born Nov. 3, 1901, both of whom are residing at home.

Clyde K. and Vivian N. (Hagie) Horton

Mr. Horton formerly served eight years as road commissioner of his district, and for the past nine years has been assessor of Levis Township, an office in which he has manifested his fairness and good judgment. He belongs to the camp of Woodmen of the World at Neillsville, and to the Odd Fellows' Lodge of that city. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church, and occupy a high social standing.