From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
Publ. 1912 - Page 822-823
 
ARCHIBALD COLBURN.  We are always glad to revert to the lives of the old 
pioneers, for it seems that they had elements about them that are not found in 
the lives of men in the present generation; they seem to have been more 
courageous, more patriotic and more honest - it is at last indisputable that 
they were more hospitable.  The stranger was always welcome and a guest need 
have no money with which to defray expenses of a night's lodging at the cabin 
of the early settler, and if he needed assistance in any way, he could always 
obtain it readily.  There was evidently more brotherly love between men - a 
broader altruism.  The change from such conditions to those of the present day 
is a regrettable one.
 
Mr. COLBURN, father of Lucius COLBURN, of this county, was the head of the 
family in this county.  They came here from Livingston county, New York, in 
1846, and lived first two miles east of Walworth for one year, then moved 
about a mile nearer the village the following spring, then traded for eighty 
acres a little over a mile south of Walworth and there he lived until his 
death.  The death of Archibald COLBURN occurred in 1880, while he was 
attending the Republican national convention that nominated Garfield, his 
widow surviving until November 14, 1895.  She had been known in her maidenhood 
as Charity BLAIR and was born in Chenango county, New York, the daughter of 
John BLAIR and wife.
 
Archibald COLUBRN was born at Pittstown, New York.  When the COLBURN family 
settled south of Walworth they found an open prairie country, with few 
neighbors.  Their home was one of the very few frame houses, except temporary 
structures.  Prairie wolves were often seen.  No roads had been regularly laid 
out, the highways being only tracks across the wild prairie land.  All barns 
were built of timber hewn from the woods, there being no sawed lumber.  Later 
in life Archibald COLBURN purchased twenty acres of timber.  He worked hard 
and established a good home and had an excellent farm, and he became one of 
the influential men of his day in this vicinity.  All of his children but the 
third and the youngest were born at Nunda, New York.  The third was born here.
 
The subject and wife were both worthy members of the Baptist church.
 
Lucius COLBURN was born in Livingston county, New York, August 4, 1831, and 
there he spent his boyhood and in 1862 was united in marriage with Letitia 
HERITAGE, who was born at Shiloh, Cumberland county, New Jersey, and about 
1848 she came to Walworth county, Wisconsin, with her parents, Zacheus and 
Isabel (AYERS) HERITAGE.  Lucius COLBURN took up farming early in life, which 
he continued in Walworth township, this county, on his excellent farm three 
and one-half miles southwest of Walworth.  In 1905 he sold out and bought land 
in South Dakota.  He has lived in the village of Walworth since 1905.  He has 
three children: Herbert, who married Fannie PANKHURST, has two sons and a 
daughter, Arba, Ivan and Claude.  Mr. PANKHURST is farming near Alexander, 
South Dakota. Florence COLBURN, son of the subject, lives at home and follows 
painting.  Iva married Frank E. LAWSON, cashier of the Walworth State Bank, a 
sketch of whom appears herein.
 
On January 1, 1912, Lucius COLBURN and wife celebrated their golden wedding 
anniversary and their children were all at home, the occasion being one long 
to be remembered by the family.  Although now past eighty years of age, Mr. 
COLBURN has never been sued nor sued any one nor ever been a witness in any 
case.  He has always led an honest, industrious life, quiet and law-abiding.
 
Submitted by Carol