USA > Wisconsin > Jefferson County > Lake Mills > A reminiscent history of the village and town of Lake Mills, Jefferson County : embraced in a period of ten years, from 1837 to 1847, and while Wisconsin was a territory > Part 4
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pose of protecting each other in their rights to the claims they made upon government land, which was not then in the market. These organizations were strong, in fact, they were composed of the entire body of settlers, and no person dared with impun- ity attempt to interfere with the rights of the settlers so far as their claims to their land was concerned. Still there was such an operation known as "jumping a claim" in cases where there had been an abandonment, and where it became apparent the land had not been selected and claimed in good faith. But these difficulties were generally met in an amicable manner. If any one had been bold enough to assert a claim to another's land, not sustained by the rules of the elnb, he would have been driven out of the settlement. Thereupon under the rules and practices of this organization, a man could claim what land he thought he wanted, providing he was the first man upon it, built his shanty, and declared his intentions as to the number of forties and quarter sections that he wanted for his own pur- poses. Without the powerful influence of these organizations, and the concentration of public sentiment caused by them. there would doubtless have been a good deal of trouble and dif- ficulty growing out of the question involved. The first land in Lake Mills and vicinity was offered for sale at the government land office in Milwaukee in the winter of '39, and all those de- siring to purchase or make good the title to their claim had to be on hand with the money to perfect their titles. At that time my father made purchase of the land about Lake Mills. nearly a section in all. There was very little trouble at the land office; no interfering with what might be called vested rights. Every man asserted his claim and was permitted to bid off the land, and obtain the title to the same.
Aztalan or "The Ancient City" as it was sometimes called. claimed a little seniority over Lake Mills: that the latter should be subordinated to the former. and, therefore, a good deal of rivalry existed between the two places after they had fairly started on the road to prosperity and growth. There were two roads from Aztalan to the head of the lake, one by Lake Mills, and the other by Royal Tyler's, on the east, leaving out this place. It is a fact that Aztalan people exercised all their in- fluence with travelers to induce them to go by the Tyler road. "It is so much better," they said, "and so much nearer." To
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meet this objection my father ent out the road four rods wide from Lake Mills clear to Ostrander Prairie, and built bridges and improved it generally, doing it all at his own expense. James Payne was the postmaster of Atzalan, and for several years in succession my father made efforts to secure the estab- lishment of a postoffice at Lake Mills, but was not successful. Finally he made one grand effort. He went out to Madison and secured the endorsement upon his petition of nearly all the of- ficials of the territory, including the legislature. Thus he fi- nally accomplished the object desired, and a postoffice was es- tablished at Lake Mills, October 9th, 1844, and my father ap- pointed postmaster. His assistant postmaster was E. W. Keyes.
Bitter feeling existed for some time between the two places and the two postoffices. My father religiously believed that the mail matter for Lake Mills was detained or destroyed at the Aztalan postoffice, and for a long time the mail for Lake Mills was diverted at Milwaukee, and came in via Madison.
At one of our Fourth of July celebrations the liberty pole, which had been raised for independence day, was bored through with an auger the night before, and felled to the ground. Of course, this act of vandalism was laid at the doors of our neigh- bors of "The Ancient City."
To come back for a moment to the old saw mill with its saw propelled by an old-fashioned flutter wheel. During its time it accomplished a great work, and sawed a large amount of most excellent Imber. Logs were drawn to the mill from a distance around of, at least, ten miles. Rock river woods supplied a large quantity of the best material, such as black walnut, but- ternut, ash, cherry, poplar, bass wood and oak, and not a little tamarack from nearer by. Logs were drawn in from that point of land between the Crawfish and Rock river, near Jefferson. A good deal of the lumber that went into the construction of the old territorial capitol was sawed by this mill. For a long time after the mill went into operation, the logs drawn there by its patrons were sawed into lumber for one half the logs pro- duced. When matters had become a little more promising. my father adopted a more liberal rule, and sawed the logs for one third of the boards. As soon as the logs were converted into lumber and the same had become seasoned, then it was that
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the settlers commenced building barns, outhouses, dwellings for themselves, and frequently additions to their log houses. One cold winter night, soon after the mill had been completed and was in operation, the family were awakened by the roaring of water. My father and his mill hands were aroused, and went forth to discover what the trouble was. It was found that the dam under the grist mill flume had become under- mined, and that the water was rushing through with great ve- locity, carrying the timber and gravel the length of the grist mill race, and filling the foundation of the grist mill full of gravel and other debris. It was at once apparent that no ef- fort would stop the rush of the water, and, therefore, the men proceeded to the outlet of the lake, and hastily constructed a dam across its mouth, which, of course, accomplished the de- sired object, and when the water had run out of the pond, the damage could be ascertained and repaired. This was a great discouragement to my father, and it took some time and consid- erable expense to repair the damage caused; still he went for- ward with that courage which always characterized all of his movements, and in a few weeks the saw mill was in running order again.
. The first postoffice established in the county was that of Jef- ferson on April 1st, 1837, and N. F. Ilver was appointed post- master. Although the office was called Jefferson, it was located and its business transacted at Aztalan. On July 31st, 1839, the name of the office was changed to Aztalan, and James Payne appointed postmaster. At the same time a new office was created at JJefferson taking that name, and Enoch G. Darling appointed postmaster. An office was established at Watertown August 15th, 1837, and William M. Dennis ap- pointed postmaster. At Fort Atkinson on July 5th, 1839, and Dwight Foster appointed postmaster. At Lake Mills October 9th, 1844, and Joseph Keyes appointed postmaster. As will be seen these six offices were the first established in Jefferson county, as the records of the postoffice department at Washing- ton will show. At that time postoffices did not increase as rapidly as they have since then.
The first office of Jefferson was opened for business before there was any regular mail service to supply it, and any one responsible, making the trip to Milwaukee had the opportunity.
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of carrying the mail in his coat pockets or tied up in a bundle, and the mail only came semi-occasionally.
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When the question arose, as it did very early in the history of this settlement, as to what the name of the town should be, there was a good deal of interest manifested, and quite a diver- sity of opinion. My father decided that the place should be called Lake Mills-something that was local and something that was characteristic of the place, "For," said he, "there is the lake and here are the mills therefore, let us call the place Lake Mills." The first settlers favored this name, but there was a crop of Young America that came in later that opposed it, and they insisted that the place should be called New Boston or Boston. At one time it looked as if possibly that name might prevail, but Mr. Armine Pickett and others of the first settlers took the matter in hand and the result was that the boys and young men were backed off the course, and finally the name of Lake Mills was adopted without opposition. All finally concluded it was the best thing to do.
There had only been one town organization for the four town- ships, Aztalan, Milford, Lake Mills and Waterloo, but the time had arrived when there should be a separation, and to that ef- fect a law was passed by the territorial legislature in words as follows:
An act to divide the town of Aztalan and establish the town of Lake Mills. Be it enacted by the council and the house of representatives of the territory of Wisconsin.
Section I. That all of that part of the town of Aztalan. com- prised in townships number seven and eight in range number thirteen in the county of Jefferson, be, and the same is hereby set off into a separate town by the name of Lake Mills, which town shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges which other towns by law are entitled to. The first election in said town shall be holden at the house of Morgan L. Bartlett, on the second Tuesday of April next.
Section H. This act shall take effect from and after its pas- sage. Approved. February 22nd, 1845.
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The election was held on the second Tuesday of April follow- ing, as provided by said act. There were two tickets in the field, and a good deal of interest was manifested in the result. The one called the Union ticket, without regard to party, was
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triumphant by a good majority, Over one hundred votes were cast.
There being no printing press the tickets had to be written, and I remember well my time during the entire day was occu- pied in writing Union tickets. I became very much interested in the election, and when the result was ascertained I started from the Bartlett house on a run towards the mills, shouting at the top of my voice, "The Union ticket is elected to a man." This was my first experience in an election, and although not a voter by several years, perhaps the taste I then got of it laid the foundation for a long association with politics in after time.
The following town officers were elected: for supervisors, Joseph Keyes, chairman, Miles Millard and John Twining; for school commissioners, Donald Stewart, H. W. Barnes, A. E. Hayes; road commissioners, Kelly Atwood, Daniel Wood, Elisha Crosby; for assessor, Moses Bartlett; for town clerk, Walter B. Sloan; for treasurer, Edward Abbe; for constable, Josiah Drew; for collector and constable, M. L. Bartlett; for justices of the peace, James HI. Ostrander, Armine Pickett, E. R. Colton.
It was voted to raise sixty dollars for school purposes; that the town officers be paid seventy-five cents per day for services, when engaged in the performance of their duties; that the clerk be paid the annual salary of twelve dollars; that one hundred dollars be raised for the expenses of the town for the ensuing year. James Williams, Abram Vanderpool and 1. P. Water- bury were duly elected path-masters. Afterwards, on division of the property jointly owned by the two townships, consisting of books and records and a map of the town, it was agreed that Aztalan should take the books and records, and Lake Mills the map.
On May 8th. 1847. the two townships of Lake Mills and Waterloo were separated, and the latter town organized a gov. ernment of its own. A division of the property and offerts was made. Lake Mills keeping the books, records and map of the town, and a cow bought for the use of the poor, and paying to Waterloo the sum of $7.94 in full settlement of all accounts. Thus all relations between the two townships were closed. and each passed on its career independent and alone, with its terri- tory of six miles square, and its organization of town officers.
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I regret somewhat the records do not show in some particu. lar and interesting manner how the cow kept for the benefit of the poor was made useful to that unfortunate class of peo- ple. It is not probable that the animal was milked by the town officers and the milk divided, or that butter was made and served up in small parcels. It may be, however, that the cow was farmed out; that one poor person or family may have kept her for a day or more, and then passed her along to another. There must be some mystification about this cow business, as I do not remember that there were any poor existing at that time in Lake Mills or vicinity, and I do not think there were any to be found. Still the record on the subject stands out in bold relief that a cow was bought for the use of the poor; but I will not pursue the inquiry further. I hope the cow was a good one and gave satisfaction.
The plat of Lake Mills village was surveyed in the summer of 1842, and the village thereby, as the saying is, was laid out, and lots were offered for sale. The plat was filed in the office of the register of deeds, August 18th, of that year.
There were no dwellings constructed in the village, except the one occupied by my father's family, until after the saw mill was completed, as there could not be procured lumber for building purposes before that period, and the first house built was by William Wardwell, and occupied by his family.
The people of Lake Mills, being more energetic and enterpris- ing than their neighbors, and being constantly on the alert for some object that would advance its growth and prosperity and attract the settlers to the place, early came to the conclusion that the organization of a brass band would play a very promi- nent part to this end. The project was started and earnestly advocated. Without delay a band was organized and by sub -. seription enough money raised to buy the instruments, which occurred in 1844-45. Public interest upon the subject was very much excited, and the people could hardly wait for the coming of the instruments, which had been duly ordered from the east. One afternoon when I was at work near our house with my father. in casting my eye towards the mills, I saw the tall form of Miles Millard moving toward us with astonishing rapidity. It was apparent there was something up. and something more than ordinary was impelling his locomotion. When within
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hearing distance he shouted at the top of is voice, "Captain, the horns have come, and the circus is coming." It was true that a team from Milwaukee had brought the band instruments, and that he had learned from a messenger that the circus-the first one that visited the territory-was to pitch its tent and give an exhibition upon our village green. These were great events. There had been much rivalry between Jefferson, Aztalan and Lake Mills as to which should secure the circus and Lake Mills was the winner, and we enjoyed the circus at our very doors. It was a great sight to see "Yankee Robinson," the strong man, bend the iron bar by striking it upon his arm, and to receive the heavy blows of an iron hammer upon an anvil poised upon his breast, but then I am not going to tell you about all the performances although I could do so, the most of them at least.
The following named parties were members of the band on its first organization: J. F. Johnston, leader; Elijah Faville, Thos. Burdick, Peter Lang, Simon S. Keyes. Abel Keyes, Oliver A. Keyes, Peter Millard, Edward Abbe, Lyman Fargo, Hoyt and William Wilt. The band was a great success and al- ways in good demand. It was the first organization of the kind in the central part of the territory, and maintained its ex- istence until '49, when the California gold fever dispersed its members.
The family of John Atwood was one of the first that settled here-a large family of sons and daughters. Of the sons there were Kelly, Isaac. Elihu L., who was a member of the first con- stitutional convention, and Gordon; the daughters, Mary Ann. who became the wife of M. L. Bartlett. Nancy, now Mrs. Daniel Wood, and another who became Mrs. J. Gaus. The Atwood boys became prominent and influential citizens. I remember one cold winter night. when the dogs were barking. there sounded from the oak openings a loud halloo. My father dressed himself, and going to the door answered it. Very soon a man appeared to arouse the household. He said that old Unele John Atwood was lost : it was feared that he might have been frozen to death. and he must be found and cared for. He was the oldest man in the neighborhood. He had gone out in the daytime and wandered too far, and could not retrace his steps. A general search was instituted, and after a while he was found and returned to his log cabin home. He had the
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discretion on finding a haystack, a mile or more away, to stick to it until he heard the calls of those in search. I know it created quite an excitement at the time for fear he was lost and frozen to death.
Another family was that of Miles Millard, consisting of three sons, Peter, James and George, and one daughter, Sarah, now Mrs. Fred Seaver. The Millards came here in '43, and sue- ceeded my father in the ownership of the mills, the village site and adjacent land. Mr. Millard, though not one of the first set- tlers, was one of the best.
The Plumb family came here early, and consisted of Joab Plumb, the father, Charles, Theron, Thomas D. and John. brothers, and three daughters, Caroline, Nancy and Mary. It was a very highly esteemed family. Theron came in '37; the others a little later.
The Favilles were a numerous family, and commenced com- ing in '44, consisting of John Faville, father, and sons, Elijah. Dr. John, Alpheus, Stephen and William, and two daughters. Mrs. Eldridge Gary and Mrs. Cole. They were all persons of great worth, and occupied prominent positions in the early society, and although not residents of the village, they were al- ways closely identified with it. Elijah Faville, a bachelor when he settled in Lake Mills, married soon after and became the happy father of twin boys, and in this event he added much to the pride of the family name, and to the fame of Lake Mills as being the birth place of JJohn and Henry Faville-two eloquent and distinguished divines, whose names today are familiar in Wisconsin as household words, and who have been successful in the ministry in a pre-eminent degree.
The family of Armine Pickett came here in October. 1840, and consisted of three children, two sons and one daughter. James G., and the daughter. Olive, but the name of the other boy I do not remember. With them came the families of Aldrich, Wil- liams and Everson, and their coming was quite an event to the carly settlers. As the grand cavalcade passed by the Phillips' place and along the road towards the mills and our log house. it presented quite a formidable appearance. There were a num- ber of covered wagons, double teams, single wagons, mostly drawn by oxen, and the number of men, women and children made an encouraging outlook for increase in population. In
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the procession, sandwiched in between the wagons, could be seen hogs, sheep and cattle. Mr. Pickett drove in a flock of sheep and some fine Berkshire hogs and a number of cows. This arrival was of great interest to the people of the village. Mr. Pickett had previously purchased his land northwest of the lake, upon which he settled and made extensive improvements, but becoming uneasy he finally sold out his farm and moved to Winnebago county in the year '46. This sturdy old pioneer de- serves more than a passing notice. He presented a striking appearance, and was modeled after the form of Daniel Webster. Every one had the utmost confidence in him. His word was law and his opinions were respected by every one. Being a man of good ability and undoubted honestyshe naturally be- came one of the most influential of the early settlers, and he filled many town offices, always with credit to himself. He represented a portion of Winnebago county in the legislature in 1869. There was general regret on his leaving for another location.
While speaking in words of praise of Armine Pickett, the merits of his wife should not be forgotten. A fitting tribute should be paid to her for her energy and industry in that early period. And she is entitled to the credit of inangurating the first co-operative cheese manufactory in the territory and in the whole country in 1841. The inspiration of this work was wholly her own, and she carried it out most successfully, aided by her husband and son. James G. Full mention of this enter- prise has within the last year been made in the leading papers of the country. More should be known of this woman, the wife of one of our earliest pioneers, and the dairymen of today should revere her memory, but of such material were made the wives of the early settlers.
The son, James G., now residing upon the old homestead at Pickett Station, is a chip of the old block. He was my earliest playmate and schoolfellow. Together we hunted and halloved through the woods skirting yonder lake; we caught fish from its clear and shining depths; wo bathed in its limpid waters, and when not engaged in labor or in sports, we were in school together trying to improve to the best advantage the meager opportunities afforded to obtain an education. The daughter. Olive, is now Mrs. Harmon Wood of this village.
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There was another family that came a little later, still they are entitled to be classed among the early settlers. I mean the Fargo boys who came in '45. There was Lyman, the eller. Enoch, Lorenzo and Robert, the younger, familiarly known at that early day and since then, at least so far as I am con- cerned, as "Bob." They were all hustlers, although Bob was most too young at that time to hustle, except among the girls. Lyman and Enoch with D. R. Shailer opened a general store. and continued business for a number of years. These boys when they first came here by their good clothes and fine ap- pearance created quite a sensation. They came later from the paths of civilization than most of the settlers, therefore, as the saying is, "They were up and dressed on all occasions." They were all splendid business men, and their coming was of great advantage to the village as they were among the foremost in any enterprise that would redound to its advantage.
These half dozen prominent families are now very much seat- tered and gone; some to other homes, but most of them to that "bourne from which no traveler returns." But very few, if any, representatives of these families I have mentioned, are re- maining here at this time. Of the Fargos there is Lorenzo and Robert and numerous descendants, and some of the Favilles.
Of course it could hardly be expected that I should remember the names of all the old settlers, but the most of them, I think, I can. Among these are to be found the names of John At- wood, Kelly Atwood, E. L. Atwood, Gordon Atwood, Isaac At. wood. Royal Tyler, Armine Pickett, James G. Pickett, Benj. Salts, Ed. Salts, Alanson Farmer, Geo. Farmer, Sam. Hosley, Volney Foster, James Frost, S. C. Rice, John Starkweather. Esehyllus Masters, Ed. Baldwin, H. IT. Sedgwick, (seven of the Jast named above worked for my father in the mills), Andrew Waterbury, Horace Cooper. Lucins Cooper, Miles Millard, Peter Millard. James Millard, Riley Millard, George Payne, J. L. By- ington, Philander Everson, William Wardwell, Isaac Ward- well, E. J. Williams. W. D. Bragg, John H. Edgerton, Jake Ganze. John Chambers, Theron Plumb, Thos. D. Plumb, Charles Plumb, John Plumb. F. A. Seaver. Homer Cook, Dr. E. M. Jos. lin, George W. Bishop, George Hebbard. William Hebbard, Geo. P. Hebbard, Ineius Hebbard, II. C. Codwise, Edw. Abbe, Henry Abbe, John Fleury, Col. T. J. Carmichael, Enoch Harvey, El-
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dridge Cary, Daniel Wood, Walter B. Sloan, Harmon Wood, Mark Kilbourne, D. H. Nash, D. Stewart, Hiram Briggs, Silas Briggs, Enoch Fargo, Lyman Fargo, Lorenzo Fargo, Robert Fargo. Of the Faville family there was John, the father, Eli- jah, Dr. John, Jr., AAlpheus, Stephen, William, Mrs. Cary and Mrs. Cole, daughters; E. R. Colton, James Williams, H. W. Bronson, D. Duff, Dea. Cutler, Truman Hoyt, Thos. Dancy, M. L. Bartlett.
In those early days every log house was a tavern, or, in other words, no one was turned away who wished a meal of victuals or a chance to stay over night. Our log house, being on the line of travel between Madison and Milwaukee, a stop for din- ner or over night was the practice, and we were obliged to en- tertain a good many people during the year. 4
As I look back to that period, I can see passing in review many of the prominent people of the territory. They had been guests of the Keyes' log tavern, and, having been such, they had impressed themselves indelibly upon my memory. In this connection I could give the names of a large proportion of the first settlers who became identified with the early history of the territory and state; but I will only mention a few, as fol- lows: James Duane Doty and Henry Dodge, delegates in con- gress, and governors of the territory; Morgan L. Martin and John HI. Tweedy, delegates in congress; A. J. Irwin, territorial judge; William A. Prentiss, George HI. Walker, I. P. Walker, J. E. Arnold, II. N. Wells, Daniel Wells, Jr., Don .A. J. Upham, Hans Crocker, Alexander Mitchell, Charles H. Larkin, A. D. Smith, Andrew E. Elmore. S. Park Coon, Edward G. Ryan, and Solomon Juneau, of Milwaukee, Lucius I. Barber, William M. Dennis, Patrick Rogan, and many others of Jefferson county. C. C. and C. L. Sholes, John H. Roundtree, Adam E. Ray, Moses M. Strong, from other parts of the territory. Simeon Mills Darwin Clark. Philo Dunning. Ebenezer Brigham, George P. Deleplaine, Elisha Burdick, Alexander L. Collins, Lafayette Kellogg. John P. Sheldon, John Catlin, Seth M. Vanbergen, of Madison.
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