GRANVILLE BERKSHIRE has passed practically his entire life in Richland county, having been less than one year of age at the time of his parents' removal to this section of the state, in the pioneer days. He is now owner of the old homestead farm which his father secured nearly half a century ago, in the town of Marshall, being one of the representative agriculturists and stock-growers of the township and a citizen who commands unqualified esteem in the community. Mr. Berkshire was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, Jan. 31, 1857, and is a son of Joseph and Eliza (Cecil) Berkshire, the former of whom was born in southeastern Ohio, Feb. 7, 1826, and the latter in Meigs county, that state, Aug. 5, 1823. Joseph Berkshire was a son of Robert Berkshire, who was one of the pioneers of Tuscarawas county, where he was a farmer, and both he and his wife remained residents of the old Buckeye State until their death. They became the parents of five sons and two daughters, Joseph being the youngest and the only member of the family to come to Wisconsin. He was reared and educated in Ohio, where his marriage was solemnized April 30, 1846. He thereafter continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits in Meigs county until 1857, when he came with his family to Richland county, Wisconsin. He settled in section 17, Marshall township where he purchased 160 acres of land, all of which was still covered with the native timber except a clearing of about five acres, where had been constructed a log cabin and stable of the pioneer type. This fine farm estate is now owned by the subject of this sketch. The father reclaimed the greater portion of the land to cultivation and made excellent improvements of a permanent nature, became one of the substantial farmers of the township and passed the residue of his life on this homestead, where he died March 9, 1900, in the fullness of years and honored by all who knew him. His devoted wife was summoned to the life eternal April 4, 1895, both having been zealous and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the father having been a Democrat in his political allegiance. Joseph Berkshire was a valiant soldier in Company I, Forty-sixth Wisconsin volunteer infantry in the Civil War, serving one year. Concerning his children the following data are properly entered at this juncture: Aden L., born Aug. 5, 1847, is a farmer in Juneau county, Asenath L., who was born Dec. 8, 1849, is deceased, having been the wife of Richard Jones, who is a resident of Crawford county; Tedrick, who was born Oct. 1, 1851, died at the age of thirty-seven years; Maria J., who was born July 20, 1853, died young, as did also Mary, who was born March 24, 1856; Granville is the immediate subject of this review; Keziah, born Aug. 13, 1861, is the wife of William Ferguson, of Bloom township; and Elizabeth, born May 21, 1864, is the wife of James Queen, of the town of Marshall. Owing to the exigencies and conditions of time and place, Granville Berkshire received limited educational advantages in his youth, attending the pioneer schools at brief and irregular intervals and in the meanwhile lending an active and arduous co-operation in connection with the reclaiming and cultivation of the home farm. He has lived continuously on the old homestead save for six years passed in Richland Center, where he was engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock. After the death of his honored father he bought the homestead, which now comprises 270 acres of land and which is one of the finely improved places of the township, about 170 acres being under effective cultivation. He has made a specialty in the past of raising high-grade live stock, and this department of his farming enterprise is one to which he still gives much attention, being known as an authority in stock values and in methods of breeding and handling cattle, sheep and swine. In politics he maintains an independent attitude, supporting men and measures rather than being dominated by a spirit of partisanship. Mrs. Berkshire is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Oct. 15, 1887, Mr. Berkshire was united in marriage to Miss Rose Myers, who was born in the town of Bloom, this county, being a daughter of Fletcher and Nancy Myers, the former of whom was born in Indiana and the latter in Ohio. They were pioneers of Richland county and Mr. Myers became one of the representative farmers of Bloom township, where he continued to reside until his death. His widow later married Moses C. Davis, and they still reside in the town of Bloom. Mr. and Mrs. Berkshire have three children, whose names, with respective dates of birth, are as follows: Kenneth, Feb. 4, 1891; Leah, Nov. 23, 1894; and Freda, Nov. 23, 1897.