Profile of James Haggart
From Fonda, NY to La Prairie, WI
A Veeder Family Descendant
James Haggart, one of the prominent farmers and business men of La Prairie township, Rock County,
was born in the village of Fonda, Montgomery Co., N.Y., Dec. 13, 1843, son of James and Deborah
(Veeder) Haggart, natives of New York, and grandson of James Haggart, who emigrated from Scotland,
his native land, to America, and settled in Montgomery County, N.Y., where he reared a large
family and lived to a good old age. He was a farmer. Abraham Veeder, the maternal grandfather of
our subject, was a native of New York, of Holland-Dutch descent. He was a farmer, and served as a
soldier in the war of 1812. He died in Montgomery County, N.Y., at a ripe old age, leaving a large family.
The father of our subject was a farmer by occupation. He moved from New York State to Wisconsin in
1851, purchasing 213 acres of land in La Prairie township, Rock County, and twenty-seven acres in
the town of Turtle, which he improved. He died in November, 1877, aged seventy-five years. His wife
died Oct. 8, 1882, aged eighty-three years. They were devout members of the Presbyterian Church. Of
their nine children, three sons and six daughters, three survive: Anna, wife of James Wilson, of
Canton, Kans.; Sarah, wife of C. N. Wright, of Shopiere, Rock Co., Wis.; and James, our subject.
James Haggart was seven years old when brought by his parents from New York to Wisconsin. In 1852,
the year following, the family returned to Fonda, where for six years the father kept hotel. They
then repeated the journey to Wisconsin. James was reared a farm boy in La Prairie township,
attending the common schools. He remained on the farm of his father until the latter's death,
then took charge of the home place, which he still owns and operates. In addition to farming he is
also engaged in the creamery and general merchandise business at Shopiere, and is one of the
successful and influential business men of La Prairie township.
Mr. Haggart married, Sept. 30, 1869, Miss Laura Nash, daughter of Samuel Leonard and Ann Elmira
(Kimball) Nash, who came from New York to Rock County, Wis., in 1853, when she was seven years old,
locating in Turtle township, and there engaging in farming. Later they removed to Manchester, Ill.,
where the father died in 1884, having attained the age of almost eighty-four years; his wife survived
until September, 1887, dying at the age of seventy-two. Four children were born to them, of whom
two are now living: Lois, who lives with her sister; and Laura, wife of our subject. To James and
Laura (Nash) Haggart have been born three children: Archie, who died at the age of twenty-one years
and two months; James L., who lives at home; and one who died in infancy.
Mr. Haggart in politics is a Republican. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
He is highly respected for his sterling traits of character, and is a typical representative of those
sturdy and forceful characters to whom the people of Wisconsin are deeply indebted for the high
development of the State during the past half century.
[Note: there were so many Abraham Veeders. The site coordinators would appreciate hearing which Abraham his
grandfather was so that it can be noted on this page.]
Source: "Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette,
Wisconsin, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of
the early settled families." Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co., 1901. Pages 115-16.
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