Vivian, Francis
Death
1884-03-14
(aged 83 years)
Town of Dodgeville ?, Wisconsin
Cause of Death
inflammation of the lungs
Birth
1801
Cambourne, England
Gravestone
Location
SW.35.1
Obituary
Death of "Uncle Frank" Vivian
Last Friday, at his farm residence near Dodgeville, Mr. Francis Vivian's spirit was harvested by the angel of death, at the ripe old age of 83. His taking off was caused by inflammation of the lungs, from which he had suffered several days in a hopeless condition. He was one of the first and most constant settlers in Iowa county, coming here in 1832, and, with the exception of but a few months, has been here ever since. His good qualities were many and hid in oblivion what trifling errors he might have possessed. Considerate, kind-hearted and generous from youth to age - qualities that insured him respect all through life, and will glisten in the halls of memory long after his death.
Following is a sketch of his career in life from the time he left his place of nativity up to his demise, as taken mainly from the recently compiled history of Iowa county:
Francis Vivian, the veteran ex-county treasurer of Iowa county, was born Feb. 19, 1801, in Camborn, Cornwall, England: his early life was spent in the tin and copper mines of Cornwall. The year 1832 found him in Mineral Point, and the day after his arrival here he enlisted in Capt. John Moore's company to war against Black Hawk, and remained at the garrison in this place until the red chief was overthrown. Mr. V. then mined lead a year on the Van Matre survey; spent a few months in Dubuque, and then locating in Mineral Point, resided here for twenty-five years. For a few years he kept store; was then for a few years a partner of Jenkings & Musgrove, in the smelting business; he was next employed by a Buffalo, N.Y., firm as agent in buying mineral. He was one of the first men to be elected President of the village of Mineral Point. In '56 he was elected county treasurer, which position he held for sixteen years, probably a greater length of time than any man in the northwest in the same office. In 1865 he settled in Dodgeville, and from there removed to his farm in '74; 80 acres of this farm he secured from the government in early day. He married in 1827, Dinah Kendall, of Cornwall; she died in '59, leaving three children - Mrs. Jas. Toay and Mrs. Cyrus Lanyon, of this city, and William F., a farmer. In '60 he married again, to Miss Jane Hollow; they had five children, all but one survive him. "Uncle Frank", as he was best known, was a good type of the men who hewed down the barriers, that settlement and civilization might follow them into the State and county.
The remains on being brought to this city on Sunday for interment by the side of his first wife, were rested in the P.M. church, toward which he liberally contributed in its infancy, and a short, appropriate funeral service held, Rev. P. Allen officiating. The attendance was exceptionally large in view of the bad roads and inclement weather.
This is the fourth death in this family close to within a year. In Feb., 1883, his daughter Ida, was summoned to the beyond, then only a few weeks ago his second wife, followed by that of our esteemed Citizen, Jas. Toay, son-in-law of "Uncle Frank". Surely affliction falls with terrible force in places; and, although sympathy soothes and heals sorrow in only a small degree, it has been plainly visible on every hand.
Mineral Point Tribune, March 20, 1884