Eli Wylie

Eli Wylie, a Scotsman, was born May 21, 1818 near Lake Champlain in Orange County, Burlington, Vermont.

At the age of 26, on June 22, 1844 he married Huldah Lyon Clapp at Brookfield, New York. Huldah was born near Platsberg, In Essex County, New York.

About 1860 they migrated to and settled at Port Andrew, Wisconsin then moved further west to Rochester, Minnesota where they remained until 1879.

Their son Edgar had driven a team and wagon across what is now North Dakota through Fort Ransom to Bismarck in 1877 and had taken a steamboat to Miles City, Montana, returning that fall by train. He had met Donald D. McFadgen, the sheriff of Barnes County and had been sold on the opportunities awaiting them in Barnes County.

Acting on the recommendation of Edgar, the family traveled by covered wagon and oxen and two horses, two ponies, a pair of steers and several milk cows the long journey to what was then known as Worthington. Eli homesteaded in Getchell Prairie on the river bottom, paying cash for the land on January 31, 1882.

Eli was known as a quiet, good-natured man, who was always courteous to people and who never swore. His life on the homestead was short as he passed away June 4, 1888. To this union with Huldah Clapp were born nine children:

  1. Ira,

  2. Edgar,

  3. Chester,

  4. Martha,

  5. Willis,

  6. Almond J.,

  7. Ella,

  8. Scott and

  9. Miletus.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 277