John Short, 1850

stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org on Thu, 15 Feb 2001

Surname: SHORT, RITCHE, MCGINNIS

----Source: History of Clark County, Wisconsin (1918), by Franklyn, Curtiss-Wedge

JOHN SHORT, a successful agriculturist of Washburn Township, was born in Jefferson County, Wis., June 4, 1850, a son of James and Betsey (Ritche) Short. John Short left home at the age of 19 years, and came to Clark County, settling in the woods, where he made a small clearing and built a log shack. After thus residing as a bachelor, for about a year, he married, May 6, 1869, Jennie McGinnis, whose father, Peter McGinnis, a farmer of New York State, had come West, settled first in La Crosse County, Wis., where he and his family lived three years, and then located in Sherwood Township, Clark County, on a homestead. After his marriage John Short located on the parental homestead in Washburn Township, where he began to clear the land. He 'has since steadily advanced in prosperity, is conducting a profitable farm, and is a member of the Shortville creamery. His wife died Aug. 8, 1911. They had five children: William, Inez, Edward, Elizabeth and Arthur.