Alpheus Galland

About 1877 - 1899

Records indicate that there is a plot in York Center Cemetery owned by a Tom Galland.  This plot may be the grave site of Alpheus Galland.  The March 23, 1899 issue of the Republican and Press indicates that an Alpheus Galland died at Grand Rapids, Michigan of typhoid fever and was being shipped out here (Wilcox, Wisconsin) for interment.  Similarly, correspondence from Wilcox in the March 30, 1899 issue notes that the funeral of Alpheus Galland took place “last Thursday” at the M.E. Church.

Although not totally confirmed, Alpheus (name likely from the Alphaeus in the Bible's New Testament) Galland was probably the son of Thomas H. and Martha S. (nee Bolton) Galland.  The 1880 Federal Census for the village of Nelsonville, Amherst Township, Portage County, Wisconsin lists a Thomas Galland (age 30), a wagon maker, living with his wife, Martha (age 21), a daughter Mary (age 6) and a son, Alpheus (age 3).   Martha Bolton Galland was a daughter of Joseph (a minister) and Mary Bolton and as such, was also a sister to the early York Township settler, Samuel Bolton.

Sometime after 1880, the Gallands must have come to Clark County.  The 1900 Federal Census for Sherman Township, Clark County, Wisconsin lists a Thomas Galland (age 49) living with his wife, Martha (age 39) and eight children: Clara (age 19), Drusilla (age 17), Phebe (age 15), Ethel (age 13), Bede (age 9), Prudence (age 6), Mae (age 3) and Faith (age 1).  The census also indicates that Martha was the mother of ten children which could imply that Mary and Alpheus were the older two siblings that were not listed.  In addition, the census says that of those ten children, only nine were still living.  Alpheus' death in 1899 would substantiate that.