----Source: LIBERTY MATTE FAHRENBACH

----Source: WEEKLY CLARION (Dorchester, Clark Co., WI) 01/07/1927

Liberty, Peter (22 JUN 1842 - 30 Dec 1926)

Peter Liberty, whose death occurred last week Thursday, was buried from the Sacred Heart Catholic Church at Stetsonville, of which he was a member, with military honors, the funeral being under the charge of the Medford branch of the American Legion, and interment was made in the Medford Catholic Cemetery, which in the early days, he had surveyed and platted.

Mr. Liberty was born in St. Ceisare, Canada, on June 22nd, 1842 and was 84 years, 6 months and 8 days of age at time of death.

In 1858 he came to Massachusetts where he worked at the painter's trade and shortly after the Civil War broke, or in April of 1861, he enlisted in Company E of the 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery and participated in the second battle at Bull Run, Spotsylvania, North End, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Richmond and the seven days' Battle in the Wilderness.

In the battle at Petersburg he was taken prisoner, June 12, 1864, and during his six months confinement he was held in three of the most notorious of the Confederate prisons - Libby, Blue Island and Andersonville. On Dec. 12th of that year, he was included in an exchange of prisoners, but after 60 days furlough went back into service and took active parts in the battles of Boyden, Plank Road, Vaughn Road, White Oaks, High Forks and Hatcher's Run. The battle at Hatcher's Run on Feb. 5th to 7th; The Boyd and Blank Roads battles on March 11th, and the White Oaks battle on the 31st of March. On April 2nd he was wounded in the battle of Petersburg and taken to the Harwood Hospital in Washington, D. C., from which he received his discharge and was mustered out of the service on July 17th, 1865.

After a time spent in Massachusetts he went back to Canada where in 1867 he was united in marriage to Miss Cleophee LeRoy, who died in 188(0?). Seven children were born of this union, one son, Charley, dying at the age of five years. In 1882 he was united in marriage to Miss Elodie Matte, but no children were born of this union.

Mr. Liberty moved from Canada to Fond du Lac, Wis., in 1867 and in June of 1874 came to Dorchester, Clark County, Country and took up a homestead three miles north of the village, which has ever since been his home.

At the first election held in Taylor County, in the spring of 1875, he was elected to the office of assessor, which office he held for several years. Later he was elected chairman of his town and also served as chairman of the county board for two years. Besides these offices he has served many years as a member of the local school board, and during President Arthur's term of office served the people of Stetsonville as postmaster.

Politically he was a staunch Republican, twice being sent as a delegate to the state Republican conventions. He was always in his glory when he could start a political argument with neighboring Canadian French Democrats.

He is survived by his wife, five sons, Henry of Holway, Joseph of Shato, Mont., Peter of Everett, Wash., Ulysses of Medford, and Louis of Minneapolis, Minn., and one daughter, Mrs. Mary Fahrenbach of Medford. There are 27 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

All of the children were present at the funeral with the exception of Peter and Louis. Peter recently underwent a serious operation at Everett, Wash., and Louis did not receive word of his father's death in time to come.

Mr. Liberty was a hard worker, a kind husband and father, and was held in high esteem by all who knew him.