James L. Catherwood homesteaded in Barron from 1873 to 1882.  Shortly thereafter, the family broke up, and scattered away from Barron County.

The following information is from a direct, living relative of Eliza and Franklin Kellar:

On September 12, 1875, James L. Catherwood filed an application claim for homestead. He had been living on 160 acres – Section 36, Township 32, South of Range No. 12 West of 4th P Meridian in Dallas, Barron County, Wisconsin since 1873. He built his first house here in June 1873; second house was built in 1875. His third house was built in June or July of 1876: a log house 14 x 20 with a 12 x 16 addition; two log stables: on 14 x 18, the other 12 x 14; a log granny 12 x 16; a corn crib 6 x 8; and a 33’ deep well. James L. had 150 acres under fence, and 30 acres under cultivation. The value was about $500.00 in Jun 1882 when he received his final Homestead Affidavit on June 14, 1882. Children of James L. Catherwood and his first wife, Mary Ann Taylor Catherwood include:

• Ann Catherwood (b. 1/5/1855).  There is no record of Ann.  She is listed as living with them on the 1880 census, but so was Eliza, and Eliza really was not. I do not believe that Ann was living there either in 1880.
• Charles Catherwood (2/23/1859).  In December of 1882, James L. and Mary Ann transferred 40 acres of land to Charles.
• James J. Catherwood (note middle initial) (9/17/1861-9/17/1943 m. Nellie Peterson) also received 80 acres of land in December 1882 from his father.  James J. Catherwood moved from Barron and is listed as buying land on April 12, 1889 in Cartwright, Chippewa County, which later was called New Auburn.
• Mary Allen Catherwood (4/20/1863-12/12/1929), married Charles McKie on Jan 25, 1880 in Sand Creek, Dunn County, a town her sister, Eliza, was living.
• Eliza Catherwood (6/19/1865-3/21/1930), married Franklin Genoa Kellar (2/1/1853-7/2/1946) in Dallas on October 24, 1879. She was 14 years old. Some of their many children include:

• George Arthur (b.10/1885)
• Myrtle (3/18/1901-9/26/1989 m. Christian Handeland)
• Helen Eleanor (b.4/1890 m. Barrett)

           

In 1882 on the homestead papers, it states James L., his first wife (Mary Ann Taylor Catherwood), and one child are living on the property. The family broke up sometime between 1883-1885 with divorce.

As mentioned above, in December of 1882, James L. and his first wife transferred land to their sons.   The other 40 remained in father James L's possession.  An 1888 Plat book showed James L., Charles, Mary Ann, and James J. Catherwood all owning 40 acres of land each. This is incorrect because on November 15, 1885, Mary Ann Taylor Catherwood sold to her son James J., her 40 acres of land. James L. and Mary Ann were divorced around this time. I am unable to find a divorce record. (Mary Ann Taylor Catherwood was eventually buried in Chippewa Falls behind the County Hospital.)

James L. Catherwood then married Elizabeth Lee Fowler in Dallas, Wisconsin on November 22, 1886. She was the sister of the farmer who lived on the next farm.