Justin W. Ranney
Justin Worthy Ranney (January 4, 1821September 13, 1898) was an American farmer, Republican politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was a member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing La Crosse and Vernon counties during the 1867 and 1868 sessions. His name was often abbreviated as , and his first name was sometimes incorrectly listed as "Joel". Biography Justin W. Ranney was born January 4, 1821, in Augusta, New York. He was raised and educated in New York. His mother died in 1835, and his father subsequently remarried. At age 18, Ranney went to work, teaching school for several winters while learning the carpenter's trade in the summers. He ultimately established his own mill and operated it for several years. In 1854, he sold his interests in New York and moved west to the new state of Wisconsin. He came directly to , and settled on a farm in what is now the town of Hamilton, just outside the village of West Salem, Wisconsin. This farm would be his primary residence for the rest of his life, and his farm would be recognized as one of the most successful in the region. Ranney was active throughout his life in agricultural interests, but rarely