Third Generation

25. Ephraim G. ROOT was born on 29 October 1834 in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, NY.^{3,49,50,54,55,70,71,99,164,165} (In the 1880 Census, his given name was listed as "Ephran." Jay Root's research lists his middle initial as "O.")

(Jay Root's research on Puzzilla.org and a page in the Root Family Bible list his birth date as 29 Oct 1833; his gravestone marker lists it as 29 Oct 1834.) He appeared in the census in 1840 in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, NY.⁵⁷ He appeared in the census in 1850 in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, NY.^58,158 (He cannot be located in the 1860 Census. He may have been in the Pike's Peak area of Colorado.) Ephraim appeared in the census in 1855 in Otto Township, Cattaraugus County, NY.⁵⁹ He was living with his parents and his occupation was "Farmer." After 1861 he was a farmer in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁶⁶ in Pleasant Valley.

"An early settler, the Ephriam Roots, from New York, purchased the E1/2 of SW1/2 of Sec 1 from Mr. Bell, who had acquired the original grant from President Buchanan in 1856. Mr. Root lived in a tent until he was able to get permanent buildings built.

His wife was the former Ann Parker. This couple adopted two children, William Root and Ella Root (Mrs. Ira Hatch). She was a sister of Harry Saulisbury. This farm was purchased by Otis Purdy in 1912 and sold to Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Purdy in 1952." He appeared in the census in 1870 in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.¹³⁶ His household consisted of Ephraim; his wife, Anna; and 5-year-old William, an adopted son. His occupation was "Farmer." Ephraim appeared in the census in 1880 in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁶⁴ He appeared in the census in 1900 in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.^54,167 His household consisted of himself and his wife, Ann, and his occupation was "Farmer."

A picture of his home is contained in the 1976 Pictorial History of Monroe County. His home was located in Pleasant Valley, which was described as being located "up over the divide to the east of Purdy Valley" in "another fertile valley in Greenfield Township. All waters on the east side of this divide flow into the Wisconsin River and the waters west of the divide flow into the La Crosse River."

Tomah Journal articles dated 13 October 1905 and 17 November 1905 mention his trip to California. He appeared in the census in 1910 in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁶⁸ His occupation was "Farmer, General Farm." Ephraim died on 12 January 1912 at the age of 77 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^99,169,170 Article in the History of Monroe County: "Ephraim G. Root, who, after a residence in Monroe County of fifty-five years, died on January 12, 1912, was born in the state of New York in 1834. He came to Wisconsin, locating in Monroe county in 1857, and was among the earliest settlers; he has lived here almost continuously since that time.

During the gold excitement in 1859, he was one of a party from this vicinity to make the trip to Pike's Peak, and subsequently returning to Monroe County, he was married to Miss Ann Parker, daughter of John and Judith (Hicks) Parker, and immediately settled on the farm in Pleasant Valley, Greenfield township, where they resided until his death.

He is survived by his wife and two adopted children, William H. Root and Mrs. Ella Hatch, all of whom reside at Tomah; and one sister who lives in Iowa; and two brothers in California. When Mr. Root came to Greenfield township, the country was a wild state, with few settlers, and the privations and hardships experienced were many; but, like most of the hardy pioneers, he overcame all obstacles and prospered in the end.

When he first located on his farm, he lived in a tent until his buildings could be erected; he cleared eighty acres, where he spent the rest of his life engaged in farming. He stood high in the esteem of his neighbors, was energetic and progressive, a kind neighbor and a good citizen, interested in the affairs of his community, and was a man of genuine worth." He was buried in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^99,171 in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

Ephraim G. ROOT and Anna "Ann" PARKER were married about 1861.^{1,54,166,168,172} (The 1900 Census record indicates that they had been married for 39 years.) (The 1910 Census indicates that they had no children of their own.)

On January 12, 1971, when she was in her nineties, Jennie Jennings wrote the following letter to Marita Root (the letter accompanied pictures of Jason B. and Ephraim Root):

"It would take too many pages to tell you about Uncle Ephraim and Uncle Jason. I would love to do so, but musn't. My eyes are too tired. There was always excitement when Uncle Jason dropped in on us as a surprise, as he often used to do. And it was a great day for us children when a sleigh load of us cousins with some of our parents made the ten-mile drive to the pioneer home of Uncle Ephraim and Aunt Ann, northwest of Tomah. There was always a wonderful chicken dinner, though there were no telephones and they were taken by surprise. Aunt Ann was as jolly as she looks.". Anna "Ann" PARKER, daughter of John PARKER and Judith HICKS, was born on 5 January 1841 in Soham, Cambridgeshire, England.^{54,99,136,164} (Her given name is listed as "Anna" in the 1870, 1880 and 1910 Census data.) She emigrated in 1851 from England, United Kingdom.⁵⁴ She appeared in the census in 1860 in Wilton Township, Monroe County, WI.¹²² She was living with her parents. Ann appeared in the census in 1880 in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁶⁴ She appeared in the census in 1900 in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.⁵⁴ She lived at her home in La Grange Township, Monroe County, WI in November 1905.¹⁷³ Ann appeared in the census in 1910 in Greenfield Township, Monroe County, WI.¹⁶⁸ She died on 7 January 1916 at the age of 75 in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.⁹⁹ She was buried in Tomah, Tomah Township, Monroe County, WI.^99,171 in the Oak Grove Cemetery.

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Ephraim G. ROOT and Anna "Ann" PARKER had the following children: