John Fowler settled in Henrietta in 1861. He was born in Hancock Co., W.Va., July 25, 1812, where his younger days were spent upon a farm. In 1854 he visited Michigan for the purpose of finding a desirable place to locate. After remaining there a short time, he returned home without purchasing land. In the fall of 1855, taking his family, he started with two teams for Wisconsin. They carried their own provisions and camped on the way. After four weeks' travel they reached Sauk City, where they spent the winter. In the spring of 1856, he went to Sauk Prairie and engaged in farming, remaining there until February, 1861, when he came to Henrietta, and settled on land on section 7, the south half of the northeast quarter, which he had purchased in 1857. He has cleared quite a piece of this land, and built a good frame house and barn. In June, 1856, he bought the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 18, driving the first wagon from Debello, Vernon county, to Yuba, that was ever driven down the valley, and now makes this his home. He, in company with his son John W, is engaged in farming and stock raising, making a specialty of Merino sheep, of which they have a large flock of full bloods. He was joined in marriage Sept. 3, 1835, to Sarah Allison, who was born in Hancock Co., W.Va., June 15, 1816. They have seven children --- Richard J, Allison, James B, Mary, Burgess, Sarah S and John W. He settled at the time of his marriage on a farm lying on sections 8 and 18, that he had bought in company with his brother in 1870. In 1880 he bought his brother's farm, the William Joslyn place, on section 7, the north half of the southeast quarter, and now makes this his home. Mr. and Mrs. [John W.] Fowler are the parents of two children --- David P and Bertha A.

From History of Crawford and Richland Counties, Wisconsin - Chapter 25 Town of Henrietta