Bio: McVean, Peter & Albina - Early Spencer Area Farm (1869)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: McVean, Gould

Source: Spencer Centennial Book (1874 – 1974)

Peter McVean, whose parents emigrated from Scotland to New York, moved with his parents to Hartford, Wisconsin, where he met and married Albina Gould. He was a lawyer and she a teacher. In 1869 they, with their five children, came to the Town of Loyal (Clark Co.) and homesteaded 160 acres of wood located west and north of Spencer. Enduring all of the usual hardship, toil and sacrifice of a pioneer farmer, the McVeans converted their woods into a farm, where they reared their seven children. Mr. McVean found time to be of service to his community. He helped erect a schoolhouse for the five families in the area, became a member of the first school board, and was the first teacher (1875-76), with a total enrollment of 11 (including four McVeans).

He was a member of the town board of Loyal, when a portion of it was made into the Town of Sherman in 1872. He helped four the first town board of the Town of Sherman and served on it for many years. He remained on his homestead until his death in 1895, followed by that of his wife one week later. The farm was then taken over by the eldest son, Edmund, who lived there until his death in 1922. His son, Frank, now owns and operates the farm.