From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
publ. 1912, Page 1424-1425
 
HERBERT [sic-HALBERT] E. WYLIE.  By a life consistent in motive and action and 
because of his many commendable personal qualities, Herbert [sic-Halbert] E. 
WYLIE, of Elkhorn, has earned the sincere regard of all who know him.  He came 
from an ancestry that distinguished itself in pioneer times, having in them 
that Anglo-Saxon unrest that drives the race ever westward on its great 
adventure, globe-girdlers and zone-conquerors.  His progenitors were 
courageous, large-muscled, a stolid sort of people, in whom acute imagination 
was coupled with immense initiative and who possessed, withal, loyalty and 
affection as sturdy as their own strength.  When Walworth county was covered 
with almost an interminable forest of primeval pines, tamaracks and hemlocks, 
filled with wild animals, and through which would only Indian trails, the 
WYLIES came here and began carving a home from the far-stretching woods, 
building schools and churches and assisting in the general introduction of the 
customs of civilization in the wilderness, giving vent to that in their blood 
to push on to the edge of things.  They were genuine pioneers, willing to take 
the hardships that they might acquire the soil and the home that was sure to 
rise.
 
Herbert [Halbert] E. WYLIE was born in Lafayette township, this county, on 
February 15, 1868.  He is the only son of George W. WYLIE and wife, a 
prominent early family, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work.
 
Mr. WYLIE grew to manhood on his father's farm and there assisted with the 
general work, and he attended the home schools during his boyhood.  His 
principal life work has been farming and stock raising, which he followed with 
uninterrupted success until 1901, having rented a farm and farmed for himself 
from the time of his marriage in 1893.  After farming on his father's place 
for eight years following his marriage he bought a farm in Delavan township on 
which he spent about three years, then sold it and moved to Spring Prairie 
township where he bought another farm which he operated with his usual success 
a few years, then moved to Elkhorn, where he still resides.  In 1910 he 
purchased his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres a short distance 
northwest of Elkhorn, which he has kept highly improved and under a splendid 
state of cultivation.  He also owns an attractive and cozy home within the 
city limits of Elkhorn.  He has managed well and has been very successful in a 
material way.
 
Mr. WYLIE was married in 1893 to Ella SMITH, daughter of Lafayette and Lucia 
(JENKS) SMITH and the granddaughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (PUFFER) SMITH.  
Daniel SMITH was a lumberman in the early days and he came to Geneva Lake when 
the country was new and bought land in this vicinity.  However, he soon went 
north and started the village of Michicott, Wisconsin, where he put up a store 
and saw-mill.  Some of his children were born in New York state and some in 
Wisconsin.  Lucia JENKS was born in Pennsylvania and came here when a child 
with her parents, Porter and Pamelia (PHELPS) JENKS, the family locating in 
Spring Prairie township in pioneer times, probably entering land from the 
government and established their home there, in which the parents spent the 
rest of their lives, and there Lucia JENKS lived until her marriage to 
Lafayette SMITH.  After their marriage they lived at Albert Lea, Minnesota, 
Also Preston, where he was a grain buyer, and later they lived in Minneapolis, 
Mr. SMITH becoming overseer in the Farnum-Lovejoy mills there, which position 
he held for some time.  In his older days he returned to Michicott and there 
his death occurred in September 1906.  Mrs. SMITH afterwards lived with Mrs. 
WYLIE until 1912 and she still lives in Elkhorn.
 
Mrs. WYLIE was born in Michicott, where she spent her childhood, and she 
attended high school at Albert Lea, Minnesota.  She came to Elkhorn about 1887 
and has lived here ever since.  She is a lady of rare taste.
 
Herbert [Halbert E. WYLIE is a man of diligence and industry, and he displays 
those qualities of manhood that won his father the esteem and admiration of 
such a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
 
Submitted by Carol