HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY: Briggs Sutherland. It is pleasing to find represented in this history so many of those sterling and industrious citizens who have been identified with the development of the agricultural resources of the county, and among the number is the subject of this sketch, who has been a resident and farmer of the county for more than half a century. He was born in the state of New York, March 25, 1832, and is a son of George and Samanth (Eaton) Sutherland. His paternal grandfather was a native of England and his Paternal grandmother was born in Holland. The maternal grandparents were Stephen and Rachel (Briggs) Eaton. Briggs Sutherland was reared and educated in the state of New York, whence he came to Vernon county, Wi., with his parents, in 1855. They arrived in September of that year and settled on a tract of forty acres of wild land in town of Kickapoo. Several times thereafter the father and son established themselves on farms near Viroqua, the county seat, but each time the beautiful Kickapoo valley called them back to the town in which they first located. Here the subject of this sketch made his last settlement in 1872, as did also his father. The latter, who was a staunch Republican from the time of the organization of the party, died in 1886 and his wife had passed away in 1866. In his youth Briggs Sutherland learned the blacksmith's trade and also that of carpenter, but his vocation in life has been that of farming, through connection with which he has gained a position of independence and definite prosperity. He now owns 100 acres of well improved land in Kickapoo and is one of the valued and popular citizens of this part of the county. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party and he has served as town supervisor, being chairman of the board one year, and also as a member of the school board for his district. He also rendered effective service as town treasurer and has always been liberal and public-spirited. He is affiliated with the lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Soldiers Grove. On March 26, 1858, Mr. Sutherland was united in marriage to Miss Malvina Olds, who was born in Lafayette county, Wi. a daughter of Kinsley Olds, and of this union have been born seven children: Ella is the wife of Miles Sprurier; Etta is the wife of Daniel Austin; Emma is deceased; Eunice is the wife of Charles Davis; Otis married Miss Eva Clark; Harriet M. is the wife of M. White; and Curtis married Mary Bolton