W.S. Ackley and Caroline Doris Bishop (Ackley)
Wilson Shannon Ackley (W.S.) the Son-in-law of James Bishop, who was one of the earliest Settlers of what is now Sawyer county, was born in Antioch, Monroe county, Ohio, Nov. 17, 1842. He served for a time in the late civil war. Came out of the army in 1865 and moved to Minnesota the following year.
Drove stage from Clear Water to Forest City for two years and then moved to Minneapolis. Was married there in 1871 to Caroline Bishop.
In 1873 he moved to Wisconsin and located on the S. E. Sec. 23-39-6 (now the Louis Larson place) and lived there until the spring of 1887 when he moved to Chippewa Falls where he now resides.
Some ot the difficulties of getting into this part of the ih country at that time is clearly illustrated by Mr. Ackley’s experience. He brought his wife and oldest chiid from Minneapolis to the Chippewa river in a covered wagon-opening up his own road ashe went.
Forded the Chippewa during a snow storm. His horses and the four wheels of his wagon readily crossed but Mr. Ackley was left in the middle of the stream and successfully prevented the rest of the outfit from floating down the river until some woodsmen who were at work near by came to his rescue.
Mrs. Ackley and her mother, Mrs. James Bishop, were the first two white women to settle on the Chippewa river within the territory now included in Sawyer county.
Mr. Ackley claims the honor of employing the first teacher for this part of the county. In 1882 he went to Chippewa Falls and engaged Mary Ann Wall to teach for three months.
The school was held in the residence of James Bishop N. E. 1/4 Sec. 23-39-6 and the town of Flambeau, Chippewa county, paid the teacher.
After the town of Hayward was organized Ada M. Gillette was employed to teach this school. The first three terms by Miss Gillette were taught in the Ackley residence.
About this time the school house was erected on lot 5, Sec. 23-39-6. When Miss Gillette made her second trip from Hayward to teach this school the road had not been opened from the Manwaring place to the Ackley residence and Mr. Ackley took Miss Gillette down the river in a dug out.
When Mr. Ackley came to this county the road up to the Chippewa from Chippewa Falls was open only to Beasy, or Big Bend.
Mr. Ackley is the father of seven children— James W., Roland B., Wilson E., Lulu Mae, Ada Maud, Roy Shanon and Duncan Ray. His daughter, Lulu Mae, married Angus Cameron and lives at Chippewa Falls.
Mr. Ackley was treasurer of school district No. 3 while the town of Hayward was under the district system. He served on the board of school directors for two years being élected to. that position from sub-district No. 3 in ’85 and ’86, and during the first year he was vice president of the board.
Other Historical Places
Wilson Shannon Ackley Obituary
Wilson Shannon Ackley was born in 1843 in Ohio, and died in 1906 and is buried in Chippewa Falls, Chippewa Co, WI. He was a Civil War Vet and served in the 36th Reg. CO. “E”, Ohio Volunteers with his brother Wesley Ackley.
He was 19 years old when he enlisted in the service. He was discharged from the Military in February 1864. He received a military pension on July 10, 1882 in Wisconsin.
His Veterans schedule in 1890 in LaFayette, Chippewa Co, WI.
Caroline Doris Bishop Ackley Obituary
Caroline Doris Bishop was born in 1857 in Maine to James and Amy (Buckley) Bishop. The first white women to settle in Sawyer County were Caroline and her mother, Amy (Buckley) Bishop.
In 1871 Caroline married Wilson Shannon Ackley in Minneapolis and came up the old Chippewa road and joined the Bishops in 1873 in a covered wagon and built a log cabin on what was later called the Larson place east of Bishop’s bridge cutting out the road part of the way for their covered wagon since there were no roads up the Chippewa at this time and travel had been by Batteau or canoe.
Their son Roland B. Ackley born May 3, 1877 on the Chippewa was the first all white child born in what is now Sawyer County. The mother of these two families are the first white women to live in the county.
Chippewa Herald, November 1, 1929:
Mrs. Caroline D. Ackley, 72, died suddenly at the home of her son, Duncan R. Ackley, 721 N. High street, at 12:45 o’clock this morning. Her death followed a paralytic stroke which visited her shortly before she passed away. Prior to that she was apparently in good health relatives stated today.
Mrs. Ackley was born in New Brunswick, Canada, and was married to Wilson S. Ackley, who died here 23 years ago. Shortly after their marriage 60 years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Ackley came to Chippewa Falls and this city was their home until their death.
Because her husband was a Civil war veteran, Mrs. Ackley took an active part in the work of the Women’s Relief Corps, a patriotic organization.
Surviving relatives are two daughters, Mrs. May Cameron of this city, and Mrs. Irve Connell, Marysville, California; five sons, Waite Ackley of Winter, Wis., Roland, Wilson and Duncan of Chippewa Falls and Roy S. of Wausau. A brother, Andrew Bishop, resides in Idaho.
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