Bio: Joseph A. Dearth, 1872

Transcribed by Janet

Surnames: DEARTH, DEVOE, WESTLAKE, WOOD

----Source: History of Clark County, Wisconsin (1918), by Franklyn, Curtiss-Wedge, pg. 202.

JOSEPH A. DEARTH, who is operating a good dairy farm of 120 acres in section 29, Hoard Township, known as Clover Farm, has been a resident of Clark County since 1903. He was born in Morgan County, Ohio, May 11, 1872, son of Louis and Clara (Devoe) Dearth. The father still resides on his farm in Ohio, being a well-to-do and representative citizen of his locality and active in public affairs. His wife died in 1906, at the age of 58 years. They had nine children, all of whom are deceased, except Joseph A. Joseph A. Dearth, when he became independent, went to DeKalb County, Ill., where he worked out for others.

In 1903 he came to Clark County, being then married, and bought his present farm from the Owen Lang Company, it being then, however, merely a tract of wild land, without improvements . His first work was to build a small house and barn and since then he has made good progress with his other improvements, having now fifty acres of plow land. His crops are hay, rye, millet, barley and corn. He keeps graded Holstein cattle, of which he now milks thirty, using milking machines. All the milk from his farm is sold in Owen, Mr. Dearth having a retail route, which he has sold. In 1906 Mr. Dearth erected a barn that is said to be the largest in Hoard Township. It consists of a main building, 36 by 98 feet, with a lean-to, 24 by 60 feet, the cow stable, 60 by 60. The barn is furnished with a concrete floor and iron stalls and has twenty-four windows. There is running water and sanitary conveniences, it being thoroughly modern in every respect. The horse stable is 24 by 36 feet, with concrete floor and stalls and an iron railway above. The hay loft has a capacity of eighty-five Tons, and there is a concrete silo on the farm of 100 tons capacity. Mr. Dearth expects soon to build a new, modern residence.

On Nov. 5, 1902, Mr. Dearth was united in marriage, in DeKalk County, Ill., to Lottie Westlake, a daughter of Benjamin and Rhoda (Wood) Westlake, then of that county, but now residing on a farm in Hoard Township, adjoining that of Mr. Dearth. The latter and wife are the parents of five children: Ray, born Aug. 18, 1907; Russell, born Aug. 3, 1912; Myrtle, born Sept. 4, 1914; Franklin, born Nov. 13, 1915, and Elmer, born May 20, 1917.