Caroline Doris Bishop was born in 1857 in Maine to James and Amy (Buckley) Bishop. The first white women to settle in Sawyer County were Caroline and her mother, Amy (Buckley) Bishop. In 1871 Caroline married Wilson Shannon Ackley in Minneapolis and came up the old Chippewa road and joined the Bishops in 1873 in a covered wagon and built a log cabin on what was later called the Larson place east of Bishop’s bridge cutting out the road part of the way for their covered wagon since there were no roads up the Chippewa at this time and travel had been by Batteau or canoe.

Their son Roland B. Ackley born May 3, 1877 on the Chippewa was the first all white child born in what is now Sawyer County. The mother of these two families are the first white women to live in the county.

The ostrich plumes in the jaunty hat she was wearing were recently donated to the Historical Society by the family.

Caroline died in 1929 in Chippewa Falls, Chippewa Co., WI.
She received a military pension on July 10, 1882 in Wisconsin based on husbands service in Civil War.

Chippewa Herald, November 1, 1929:

Mrs. Caroline D. Ackley, 72, died suddenly at the home of her son, Duncan R. Ackley, 721 N. High street., at 12:45 o’clock this morning. Her death followed a paralytic stroke which visited her shortly before she passed away. Prior to that she was apparently in good health relatives stated today.

Mrs. Ackley was born in New Brunswick, Canada, and was married to Wilson S. Ackley, who died here 23 years ago. Shortly after their marriage 60 years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Ackley came to Chippewa Falls and this city was their home until their death.

Because her husband was a Civil war veteran, Mrs. Ackley took an active part in the work of the Women’s Relief Corps, a patriotic organization.

Surviving relatives are two daughters, Mrs. May Cameron of this city, and Mrs. Irve Connell, Marysville, California; five sons, Waite Ackley of Winter, Wis., Roland, Wilson and Duncan of Chippewa Falls and Roy S. of Wausau. A brother, Andrew Bishop, resides in Idaho.

Arrangements for holding the funeral were not completed today pending a reply to a message sent to Mrs. Connell in California.