JAMES CARRISON, a well-known and greatly respected member of Rutland’s farming community, is a native of England. He is a pioneer of Dane county and his life is typical of that of the fine old settlers of Wisconsin, and of whom so many started with only their willing hands as capital and have made the state what it is and incidentally gained for themselves a prosperous livelihood and many warm friends.Mr. Carrison’s parents, John and Elizabeth (Carter) Carrison, were born in Cambridgeshire, England, and spent their childhood, youth and early married life in their native village. In 1854, they embarked for America and came west as far as Rutland, bringing with them their young family.

Mr. Carrison obtained one hundred and forty acres of wild land, which he immediately set to work to improve and it became their permanent home where they spent the reminder of their lives.

Their family were brought up in the Baptist church and of their five children, four are living. The oldest son is James, the subject of this sketch. George is a retired farmer, who makes his home in Oregon, Wis., Mary is dead. William resides in Osage, Iowa. Sarah, the youngest, makes Orleans, Neb. her home.

James was born in Ramsby, Cambridgeshire, England, November 5, 1832, came to America with his parents when he was twenty-two years old but had little opportunity to go to school as it was necessary for him to work on the farm. Until 1864 he lived with is parents and worked very hard helping to clear and improve their farm. He then bought his farm in section 14, Rutland Township, and set to work upon that farm which had been very little improved.

In 1859, he married and he and his wife worked together to make a comfortable home of their new property. In this they have been very successful and in 1886, they retired from active work to enjoy the fruits of their many years of industry. Mrs. Carrison was Miss Mary Ann Tibbit, daughter of Edward and Ann (Roth) Tibbit of Norfolk, Eng., and is one of a family of ten sons and daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Tibbit came to America in 1854 and settled on a farm in Rutland. Mrs. Tibbit lives in Stoughton and has been a widow since 1889. Mary Ann is the oldest daughter; Jane resides in Mitchell county, Iowa; George in Mason City, Iowa; Becky in Northwood, Iowa; Fredrick is a farmer in the town of Dunn, Dane county; Sarah, Edward, Ruth and an infant child died; Susan lives in Rutland. Mrs. and Mrs. Carrison have had three children. Charlotte married Peter O. Thompson, a farmer of Deerfield, Dane County, Wis. Twelve children make up their family circle: Henry, Ann, William, Emma, James, Herman, George, Clark, Chester, Raymond, Martha and Peter, Jr. Martha Carrison, the second child, is the wife of Seth Stockton, a farmer of Dunkirk and has two children, Irene, and Leslie. Annie died in infancy.

R. Carrison is a Republican in his political sympathies, has been school treasurer and held other local offices. He is a member of the Baptist church, which his family also attend. His children have been educated in the Rutland and Stoughton schools, in which he has taken an interest since the early days.

While Mr. and Mrs. Carrison suffered many of the hardships of a young and wild country, they have likewise reaped its rewards.

1906 History of Dane County, Wisconsin, p. 153-154.