Vernon Tichenor, born August 28, 1815 in Amsterdam, New York. Tichenor was admitted to the New York bar in 1838. He moved to Wisconsin Territory from New York and was the first lawyer in Waukesha County. He was involved with the abolitionist movement and the Underground Railroad. During the Civil War he was a draft commissioner. He also held numerous other civic posts including town clerk, justice of the peace, president of Waukesha Village, and court commissioner. Tichenor served in the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1869, was on the Carroll College (now University) Board of Trustees, and involved with railroads. Tichenor married Charlotte Sears in 1838 and they had at least two children including Captain Willis Vernon Tichenor (1839-1901), who served in the 28th Wisconsin Infantry, Company G during the Civil War. After the war Willis finished his legal studies and practiced law with his father Vernon.
