1891 Clark Jackson Counties Biographical History:

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.

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
 

Hiram Warren & Cynthia (Withee) Varney

Cynthia E. (Withee) Varney

Census Records

HIRAM W. VARNEY, Civil War Soldier