----Sources: 1891 Clark Jackson Counties Biographical History, Federal Census, Family Records and Military Records.

HIRAM W. VARNEY, of section 20, Warner Township, Clark County, was born in Somerset County, Maine, June 23, 1836, the son of Levi and Harriet (Steward) Varney. The former died when Hiram was six years old, and the latter died on the old homestead in 1875. They were the parents of eight children, five of whom are now living: Harriet, Levi, Hannah, Elbridge and Hiram. One son, the next to older than our subject, Charles, went to California in 1849, thence to Australia the next year, and it was reported that he then started to Callao, South America, but as he was never heard from it is supposed that he was murdered for his money. The other two were Warren and Joseph the former died about 1846, and the latter in 1882 in Maine.

Hiram W., our subject, was reared on a farm and received his education in the common schools of his native county. In 1854 he went, via Panama, to California, where he engaged in mining mostly until 1859, and in that year returned to his native county. He was a soldier in the late war, in Company A, Nineteenth Maine Volunteer Infantry, serving nearly three years. He was in the first battle of Fredericksburg was then detailed to the Ambulance Corps, and was afterward attached to the headquarters of the Rhode Island Heavy Artillery Brigade, driving the headquarters team with the hospital stores for the field. He accidentally shot the finger off his right hand while in service which was afterward amputated. He was also injured in the right foot by an ambulance wagon passing over it, and now draws a pension for each injury.

After the war Mr. Varney came to LaCrosse, Wisconsin, in August, 1865, and remained until 1868, when he removed to Mitchell County, Iowa, and was there engaged in farming two years, and also manufactured milk-safes and fanning-mills one year. In 1871 he returned to La Crosse, and in the spring of 1873 came to this county, settling on his present farm of eighty acres, forty-five of which is cleared. It was then a dense woods, and wild animals and Indians abounded, but the latter never annoyed Mr. Varney.

He was married July 13, 1861, to Cynthia E. Withee, who was born in Somerset County, Maine, on the same farm on which her father was born. Her parents were Zachariah and Polly (Longley) Withee, both natives of Maine and now deceased. They had seven children, three of whom are now living: Hiram, Levi and Cynthia. One son, Niran, deceased, late of Longwood, owned large tracts of pine land in this county, which is now owned by the heirs. Mr. and Mrs. Varney have had nine children, seven of who still survive, namely: Charlie A. L., Alba F., Edith E., Louise A., Ralph L., Mabel F., and Maud B. Charlie A. L. was married November 27, 1890, to Nettie Van Airsdale, of Waupaca County, Wisconsin, and is now living in Throrp, this county. Mr. Varney was the first Assessor of Warner Township and has also been a member of the School Board several years. He is a member of the G. A. R. and Masonic fraternities. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the latter is also president of the Women's Relief Corp, of Greenwood. In his political views Mr. Varney is a Republican.

***Hiram Warren Varney is also featured in the book, "Civil War Soldiers in the heart of Clark Co., Wisconsin."

ADDED NOTE: Hiram Varney married Cynthia Withee. That family came from Somerset County, Maine to Wisconsin in the 1800s. I have additional information on some of the descendants of the Withee family, for whom Withee, Wisconsin was named. This includeds Zachariah Withee and his wife Polly Longley. Cynthia Withee was a sister to Hiram, Niram, and Levi Withee, other early Clark County families. Please contact me if you have additional information on these people. Information from: AHodnett@aol.com

1900 U. S. Federal Census – Warner, Clark County, Wisconsin
Name	Relation	Sex	Race	Age	Marital Status	Birth Place	Father Birth Place	Mother Birth Place	Occupation
Varney, H. W.	head	m	w	63	m	Maine	New Hampshire	New Hampshire	farmer
Varney, Cynthia	wife	f	w	57	m	Maine	Maine	Maine
Varney, Edith	daughter	f	w	28	s	Wisconsin	Maine	Maine	musician
Varney, Ralph	son	m	w	23	s	Wisconsin	Maine	Maine	teaches school
Varney, Maud	daughter	f	w	16	s	Wisconsin	Maine	Maine

1836 - 1902

Muster Rolls [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Medical Discharge [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Pension [1] [2] [3] [4]

HIRAM W. VARNEY was born June 23, 1836. He enlisted with Co. "A" in the 19th Regiment of the Wisconsin Infantry on July 13, 1862, serving as a Private and was discharged June 3, 1865. He died October 26, 1902 and is buried in the Greenwood, Wisconsin City Cemetery. His son, Charles Varney of Greenwood, Wisconsin was listed as his next of kin on his grave registration.

Hiram Warren VARNEY 1836 - 1902

Hiram was born 23 June 1836 in Skowhegan, Somerset, ME, the son of Levi and Harriet (Stewart) Varney.

In August of 1902 they moved off their farm and were living in Harry Hogue's house while building a cozy home of their own across the street. They were just a few weeks away from settling in their own new home, where plastering was underway, when their plans changed abruptly. That Saturday morning, 25 Oct 1902, Hiram had an attack of chronic diarrhea, an affliction he suffered with many times following his days in the army. The next morning he built the fire and did the chores. About 9 o'clock, however, he felt chilled and sat by the fire to warm himself. Finally determining he had an attack of grip coming on, he decided to walk up to Dr. Schofield's office. Cynthia talked him into letting her go instead and returned with some medicine that she gave to him at 10:45. A half-hour later she administered a second dose. After resting on the lounge, Hiram had a fainting spell and asked that the doctor be called, but before he was summoned, he showed signs of the fast approaching crisis. Within minutes, without any apparent suffering, death had claimed its own. His body was laid to rest in the Greenwood, WI City Cemetery. The G.A.R. attended the funeral in a body. The pall bearers were: John Booth, Charles Cummings, John W. Stanton, William Oelig, Paschal Wallis and John Tatro. Cynthia passed away 25 Oct 1915 and was buried at Hiram’s side. The family worshiped at the Grace M. E. Church. The Varneys were the parents of: Charles Abraham Lincoln (25 Apr 1865, Skowhegan, ME, m. Nettie May VanAirsdalde), Perley Forrest (19 Jun 1867* d. 4 Aug 1868, LaCrosse), Alba Forrest (2 Dec 1869* m. Belle C. VanAirsdale), Edith Ellora (27 Jan 1872*, was a music teacher at Medford, d. Denver, Co. 5 Apr. 1950, buried in Greenwood), Louisa “Lulu” Alice (6 Apr 1875* m. Henry Warner), Ralph Lester (30 Jan 1877** m. Henrietta Gertrude Bartlett), Mabelle Florence (6 Jan 1882** m. Ronald M. Lamont), and Maud Beatrice (21 Nov 1884** m. Chester D. Huffmire). *Born in LaCrosse, WI, **Born in Greenwood, WI

Civil War Soldiers in the Heart of Clark Co., Wisconsin

Contributors

Paul Forster, Al Hodnett, Janet Schwarze Ken Wood.