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were usual to the times and reached his destination, which
was the Madison that was to be. Governor Dodge had
been appointed Governor and he had made the village of
BeL mont the place for the first session of the legislature.
The great question to be decided was the location of the
Capital of the new Territory. James D. Doty had early
in the day explored the country about the four lake dis-
trict and had early decided the center of that as the ideal
location. He accordingly influenced speculators to buy
in that locality and although there were sixteen other lo-
cations as competitors, Doty's tact, energy and know-
ledge won out and Madison was declared for by vote after
a four week's session. "Thus ended" says a local his-
torian, "one of the most exciting struggles ever exper-
ienced in the Territory of Wisconsin". And to think that
my father stood around with his hands in his pockets and
saw it all. While James Doty is said to be the founder
of Madison, he also gave it a name honoring the fourth
president. My father returned to his home in eastern
New York in the fall and remained there until he was
again attacked by the western fever and considering him-
self old enough to get married, hastened to the banks of
that rapidly flowing and tempestuous stream, the Erie
Canal, picked up his nineteen year old bride and brought
her with him via stage, lake steamer, then stage again,
from Milwaukee, landing in Madison on the 4th day of
September, 1844. Then with little anxiety and the
greatest assurance they assumed the title of "pioneers"
and the responsibility . of taking care of themselves. The
first step towards it being the purchase of land pursuant
to their business of farming. They eventually became
among the best known residents of the city of Madison
and surrounding country. The subject of this sketch will
now take her proper place at the head of the column.
    Harriet Field was. born in Durhamville, N. Y., May
27, 1824. Her mother,;4ncyW Newcomb, descended from
a line of Baptist ministers. She married John Field, who
dying quite young left her with three sons and two
daughters. My mother was the eldest. She married Wm.
Vroman and came to Wisconsin in 1844. She was of a
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