From the book History of Walworth County Wisconsin, by Albert Clayton Beckwith, publ. 1912 - Pages 511 - 512
 
SOLOMON ASHLEY DWINNEL (Solomon4, 3, Henry2, Jonathan1), son of Solomon DWINNEL 
and Mary ASHLEY, was born at Lee, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, August 9, 
1812 (eldest of eight children); was educated at Phillips Academy; came in 
1836, by way of Indiana, to Lafayette, where he bought land in sections 11, 14, 
18, 20, 23, 24 for himself and brothers, their father at Millbury advancing 
money needful.  He passed the hard winter of 1836-7 in a new cabin and in the 
spring set about the work of founding a county on a basis no narrower than that 
of evangelical religion, anti-slavery, total abstinence, and public 
instruction.  He preached, plowed, lectured, organized, served as justice of 
the peace, and as station master on the "underground railway."  These things 
and more he did until duty or inclination sent him, in 1850, to Reedsburg, 
where he founded a Congregational church and became its pastor, after his 
ordination in 1853.  He urged, among other things, suppression (by statutory 
enactment) of profanity and Sunday-breaking.  He married, at or near Keene, New 
Hampshire, April 24, 1837, Lydia Herrick GOVE, daughter of John GOVE and Lydia 
HERRICK.  He died at Reedsburg, June 15, 1879.  His wife was born in New 
Hampshire, January 18, 1811; died at Amiret, Minnesota, October 16, 1892.  
Their children are: Frances (Mrs. J. Perry ELLIOTT, of Indianapolis); Osgood 
Herrick; Harriet (Mrs. Samuel John SMOCK); Eugene Ashley (married Mary BEERY); 
Mary (Mrs. William H. FINCH), Herbert Augustus (married Fanny LONGLEY).  Mr. 
DWINNELL seems to have been unable to finish his reminiscences of Walworth 
county and two of its towns, and after his death his manuscripts were sent to 
the State Historical Society.  Since so little else of the kind has been 
preserved, these papers are of much value to such as care to study the 
beginnings of new communities.

Submitted By:  Carol
(carolann612@charter.net)