History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 102

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1298

USA > Wisconsin > Richland County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 102
USA > Wisconsin > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 102

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In 1854 a large number of settlers came in and made location; among them may be men- tioned Nicholas Morgan, who settled on seetion 16, town 9, range 5 west. Ile removed to Yankton, Dakota Territory, about 1870.

Aaron Kook came in at the same time aud settled on section 33, town 9, range 5 west.

Daniel Tichenor, who came in the fall of 1854, settled on section 3, town 9, range 5 west. lle had three sons-Dealton, Alphonzo and Anson. The Tichenor family were well known in the early history of the town. The. father, Daniel Tichenor, was a man much re- spected; he run a brick yard, and also kept an inn for a number of years. His son Dealton, a lawyer, settled on section 18, town 9, range 5 west. Ile went into the Union army in 1862, was taken prisoner and died at Libby prison, Richmond, Va. Alphonzo was a mason by trade; he also preached and practiced medicine. In 1883 he was a practicing physician in Iowa.

Elmer and John Graham were settlers of 1854, and were closely identified with the early history of Lynxville.

Among the number who came in for settle- ment during 1855 were: Robert Garvey, A. C. Russell, Pizarro Cook, John Porter and family, Daniel and James Smethurst, William Oram. Meron Robins, Ingebert Peterson, Van Am- burg, Joseph Robinson, Robert Tweed and David Cummings.

At the general election in 1857, the following voters were residents of what is now the town of Seneca: James Smethurst, dead; Elihn Daggett, in Iowa; Pizarro Cook, still here; Joseph Searle, dead; Samuel Langdon, in Iowa; Daniel L. Smethurst, dead; S. W. Clark, lives in Viroqua now; Wells Briggs, still here; George D. Clark, dead; Myrunn Munn, dead; William Sherman, dead; Peter Stolp, lives in town of Utica; Lemuel Green, dead; J. H. Thomas, dead; Amos Rathburn, dead; Levi P. Marston, dead; A. C. Russell, still here; Alphouzo Tiehenor, in Iowa; Jeremiah Putnam, dead; Daniel Tich- enor, dead; Peter Kinny, removed; John Por-

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

ter, dead; A. C. Knight, in another part of Wisconsin; Joseph Michael, in Kansas; Nicho- las Morgan, in Nebraska; George J. Millet, in Nebraska; North Miller, still here; Charles Lyman, in Iowa; Samuel Robb, in the town of Utica; James A. Robb, in the town of Utica; Dealton Tichenor, died in Libby prison; J. K. Chapman, dead; William MeDonald, in Ne- braska; John Helegass, in Iowa; James Lang- don, removed; William Dean, dead; Lucius Dean, removed. Others who were known to have been in the town at that date (1857), but did not vote, were: George Dean, Peter Young, Robert Garvey and his sons, Elmer Graham, James Deming, William Kettle, who was afterward killed in the Union army; James Rathburn, Thomas S. Shaw, dead; J. D. Rey- nolds, dead; F. R. Pease, removed; Henry Vanderbelt, R. K. Davidson, O. Watson, dead; Daniel True, removed; Michael Caya, here still; William Withee, dead; Michael Snell, here still; William Snell, dead; John Burton, dead; Samuel Andrew, still here; L. MeCum- ber, dead; John Cunningham, removed; James Boyles, dead; John Graham, removed; Reuben Randall, dead; Elihu Randall, still here; Thom- as Diekson, still here; William Dickson, still here; Samuel Armstrong, still here; J. S. Bige- low, still here; William Smethurst, still here; Ransom Clark, in Viroqua; John Price, who afterward removed to Missouri; William Price, who enlisted and was killed at the battle of Chickamauga in 1863; Nathaniel Price, who moved to Kansas City, where he died; David Price who died in Minnesota in 1880; Valen- tine Ertel, a shoemaker, who still (1884) lives in the town; Marcus Nickerson, still here; Lewis and Alfred Hand.

These all came to the town of Seneca prior to the spring of 1857.

ORGANIZATION.

The town of Seneca was organized April 7, 1857. Changes were made in its boundaries from time to time ; its present limits were fixed by the addition of Lynxville in 1868. The first

town meeting of Seneca was held April 7, 1857, at the house of Samnel Langdon. Joseph U. Searle was elected chairman of the town board; Ansel C. Russell and Daniel L. Smethurst, supervisors ; James Smethurst, elerk ; D. Tiche_ nor, George F. Millet, Oliver Langdon and Lemuel Green, justices of the peace ; Elihu Daggett, treasurer ; George D. Clark, constable.

At that time the town of Seneca included that portion of the town of Ilaney which is west of the Kickapoo river. In the spring of 1859, the town of Lynxville was cut off from the west part of the town of Seneca, and at the same time, that part of the present town of laney which was then a part of Seneca, was detached. In the spring of 1868, the town of Lynxville was restored to Seneca, and its present boundary established. The first town election of the town under its present boundary was held in the village of Seneca, April 7, 1868, when the following officers were elected : Wells Briggs, chairman ; James Taylor and Thomas J. Brady, side board ; John Mills, clerk ; John Burton, treasurer; James S. Burton, assessor ; Hugh Dowling and Nicholas Cron, justices of the peace ; H. E. Cron, A. B. Withee and Mar- tin Duffy, constables.

There were 217 votes polled at this election. Officers for 1883 : Robert Morris, chairman ; Thomas Leary, Sanford C. Prince, side board ; A. B. Withee, clerk ; Furgns Mills, treasurer ; James Taylor, assessor ; A. B. Withee, William Watson and A. N. Searle, justices of the peace ; I. L. Wing and A. C. Withee, constables.

RELIGIOUS.

There are two church organizations in this town-the Roman Catholic and the Methodist Episcopal. The first Catholic services held within the limits of the town were held at the house of Robert Garvey, on section 34, town 9, range 5 west, in November, 1855, by the Rev. L. Gaultier, a French priest from Prairie du Chien. A congregation was organ- ized and a mission was established at that date. In the fall of the same year, another congrega-

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IIISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY

tion was formed on Copper creek, where services were held at the house of Thomas Degnan, con- ducted by the priest above mentioned. In 1859 this congregation erected a log house, in which they assembled for services. This building stood on section 31, town 10, range 5 west, on the farm of Lawrence Bird, who donated the land. In 1866 a frame building was erected on the southwest quarter of section 27, town 9, range 5. Catholic services were held at both of these churches till the erection of the church edifice near the village of Seneca, which was in 1-75. At this date the old log church was abandoned, and the congregations united in attending this more central location ; though services are still held occasionally at the "little frame church." The Catholic people have a very pleasant and convenient place of worship. It was materially improved by Father J. J. Burns, who was their priest in 1884 . The first resident pastor of this Church was Rev. Father Christian A. Verweyst, who was succeeded by the Rev. John G. Collins, and he by Rev. J. J. Burns in 1880.

The Church at Seneca is known as St. Pat- rick's Church, and the other as St. Peter's. These two Churches number 120 families.

Rev. J. J. Burns, pastor of St. Patrick's and St. Peter's Churches, in the town of Seneca, was born in Crawford Co., Ohio, Dec. 16, 1853. When but two years of age, his parents removed to Chickasaw Co., Iowa. Ile began his prepa- ration for the Church in February, 1869, at St. Francis Seminary, in Milwaukee county, where he remained ten years, receiving that thorough preparation necessary for his present responsi- ble duties. Father Burns was ordained at La Crosse, Dec. 8, 1879. Previons to receiving his present charge he was pastor at Rising Sun for one and one-half years.

The Methodists were the first protestant de- nomination to hold services within the town of Seneca. There is no record of the first preach- ing, but as this place was included in the Mt. Sterling circuit, the date of their first meeting

would not vary much. The class books of 1864 are the earliest record that can be found. At that time the communicants were quite numer- ous. The following names appear on the class book of 1864: W. H. Thompson, G. H. Har- rington, Helen Thompson, E. Ilarrington, M. Inman, E. Haskins, Thersa Clark, M. Munn, H. HI. Dean, Caroline Brown, N. McCartney, Lucy Campbell, D. Campbell, F. Campbell, R. Campbell, A C. Knight, Jane Knight, Wil- liam Sherman, E. Sherman, T. M. Tichenor, Mary Robb, G. Root, B. Root, M. Root, L. Root, John Copper, D. Duval, E. Dag- gett, Jane Searle, I. Duval, P. Green, M. F. Nickerson, Margarett Nickerson, J. Low and A. Low.

Not long after this class was formed, trouble occurred in the Church, and services for the time being were discontinued, and the class divided; some removing and others attending elsewhere, and others still, united with the Congregational Church which was organized at Seneca about that time, by Elder Valentine of Mt. Sterling. Services are now (1884), held each alternate Sunday, at Seneca, by the Metli- odists and Congregationalists; the minsters from Mt. Sterling conducting the services of each.

The Methodist class in 1883 was quite small in comparison with its original size in 1864 ; the members were as follows: James Smith (leader), Eliza Smith, N. Smith, William Smith, Hannah Cron, William Sherman and Mrs. George Dean.

No protestant denominational church has ever been built in the town; religious services were formerly held at the school house at Seneca, but are now held at the Good Templars' hall, in the village.

SCHOOLS.

The town of Seneca has now (1884) nine full school districts and five joint districts.

District No. I had a building on the south- east quarter of section 23, town 9, range 5 west. Number of pupils of school age, thirty- seven.

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

The school house in district No. 2 was on the northeast quarter ot the southwest quarter of section 20, town 9, range 5 west. This was in fair condition and valued at $275. Number of pupils enrolled, thirty.

District No. 4 was provided with a log build- ing on the northwest quarter of section 18, town 9, range 5 west Number of pupils, forty.

District No. 5 has a house in the village of Seneca. This is one of the best in Crawford county outside of Prairie du Chien. It was built in 1881, at a cost of $1,000. It is well furnished with patent seats ; also has numerons charts, maps, and other modern apparatus. Number of pupils in this district, ninety-seven.

District No. 9 is supplied with a house situ- ated on the northeast quarter of section 23, town 9, range 6 west. This is known as the Lynxville school, and is about the same as the one at Seneca, though not as large. The cost of this building was $900. In 1883 the district con- tained ninety-three pupils.

In district No. 10 the school house is located on the southeast quarter of section 33, town 9, range 6 west. The number of pupils here is sixteen.

District No. 15 has a school building situa- ted on the southwest quarter of section 32, town 10, range 5 west. There are fifty-three scholars in this district.

In district No. 16 the school house is located on the northeast quarter of section 33, town 9, range 5 west. It is valned at $250. Number of pupils in attendance, forty-seven.

In district No. 17 the school house stands on the northwest quarter of section 31, town 9, range 5 west This district has twenty-nine pupils.

Joint district No. 3, a part of the towns of Seneca, Haney and Eastman, has its building in the town of Haney. There are ten pupils from the town of Seneca.

Joint district No. 7, made of parts of Seneca and Haney is provided with a building on the southwest quarter of section 1, town 9, range

5. Number of pupils from Seneca, thirty-four. Valuation of building, $125.

Joint district No. 8, made of a part of Seneca and a part of Freeman, has a school house on the southeast quarter of section 35, town 10, range 6 west. The building is poor, being valued at $25. This district has fifteen pupils from the town of Seneca.

Joint district No. 9 has a good school building on section 29, town 10, range 5 west. It was built in 1883, at a cost of $375. Number of scholars from the town of Sencea, twenty-four. This district is joined to the town of Freeman.

Joint district No. 15, with the town of Utica, is provided with a school house on the north- west quarter of section 3, town 9, range 5 west, which is valued at $350. Number of pupils from the town of Seneca, twenty-two.

GOOD TEMPLARS' LODGE.

A lodge of this order was organized in 1864 or 1865, and continued a number of years in a flourishing condition, but was finally discontin- ned.

In January, 1878, the charter of the present lodge Seneca, was granted. The following comprised the charter membership: M. F. Nick- erson, J. P. Nickerson, George Dean, Maggie Me- Queen, M. D. L. Smith, Gilbert Stewart, Jacob Smith, J. K. Langdon, Emma Langd. n, Joseph Stewart, Eliza Stewart, Ida Me Queen, Emma Randall, Luna Briggs, Anna Smith, Bell Bar- ber, O. Smith, James Smith, William Smeth- urst, Fred Brigg, Annie Withee, Charles Strong, May Marston, Andrew Withee, Linda Clark, J Clark, R. Stewart and Charles Nicker- son.

The following were the first officers: M. F. Nickerson, W. C. T .; Emma Langdon, W. V. T .; M. D. L. Smith, W. C .; J. K. Langdon, W. L .; Anna Randall, W. A .; George Dean, W. T. S .; Ida Me Queen, W. T .;. Fred Briggs, M. M .; Bell Barber, W. D. M .; William Smeth- urst, W. O. G .; Eliza Stewart, W. R. H. S .: Mrs. P. M. Dean, W. L. H. S .; James Smith. P. W. C. T.

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

Officers of 1882-4: William Sherman, W. C. T .; James L. Low, W. C .; Ida Me Queen, W. V .; Irvin C. Peck, C .; Robert Stewart, F. S .; Mrs. Lizzie Bigelow, W. T .; Lovella Smith, I. G .; James Smith, O. G .; Willis Haines, W. M.

This lodge is at present, 1884, in a flourishing condition; its present membership is sixty-five. It has a neat, commodious hall or lodge room, and is free from all debt.

CEMETERIES.

There are, at the present time (1884), six cemeteries within the town of Seneca; all of these, however, are not used now to much ex- tent. The principal burying places now are these: One situated on section 16, town 9, range 5 west; and one on section 13, town 9, range 6 west. The other cemeteries spoken of above, are described as follows: One on sec- tion 27, near the "little frame church," and an- other just across the line on section 28. Also one near Mr. Russell's place on section 18, town 9, range 5 west, and one on section 6, town 9, range 5, near the log church.

MILLS.

A grist mill was built on True creek, near Lynxville, in the fall of 1858, by James Boyles; it was a frame building, and contained one run of stone; this was a small affair, and only used for grinding corn; the old settlers in referring to this ancient mill always speak of the "corn cracker." This mill was run by S. C. Prince, for Mr. Boyles, for a few months, when it was destroyed by fire.

A steam saw-mill was built by George Millet, at Crawford City, about 1858. This only run a short time, and was removed.

A grist mill was erected in 1868, on section 34, town 9, range 6 west, by Robert Wisdom. This mill was built near the head of Pine creek. It is a frame structure, containing two run of buhrs, and is furnished with ample water power. After a few years Mr. Wisdom took a partner, Orin J. Adams. In 1883 this mill was owned

by Thomas J. Wallin. At this date, it was the only mill within the town of Seneca.

FISHING.

Fishing has for many years been an impor- tant enterprise with the people of Lynxville and vicinity. John Vanderbelt and Day broth- ers have been among those most extensively engaged in this industry. The varieties of tish caught, are pickerel, bass and pike, but prinei- pally buffalo.

In December, 1873, one of the most remarka- ble catches of fish on record in the world was made by two brothers named Johnson, fish dealers from Dubuque. The draw of the seine was made in one of the little lakes, or bayous, at a point about two and one-half miles above Lynxville. The seine was drawn under the ice, and not less than 80,000 pounds of fish were taken out. However much like a big fish story this may sound to the reader, it is a well known fact, and is vouched for by a whole com- munity of upright people. A car load of these fish, after the heads had been removed, were shipped to Dubuque, and upon their arrival in that city, the railroad company believing the car to be overloaded (more than 20,000 pounds), had it weighed, when it was found that the actual weight of fish was 42,000 pounds ; and it was thought by good judges that this was was only about one-half of the amount caught at the one draw.

In 1882, at the same lake, 40,000 pounds were taken at one draw, by Day and Vanderbelt. The lake where these remarkable catches were made is known as Dubuque lake, in honor of the men from that city who, in 1873, made that famous draw.

VILLAGE OF SENECA.

In 1851 William Philamalee made a claim of 120 acres of land, of the southwest quarter of section 10, town 9, range 5 west. Ile erected thereon a log house, where he resided with his family till 1854, when he sold his claim to Samuel P. Langdon. In 1857 Mr. Langdon en- gaged Pizarro Cook to survey what is now the

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

village of Seneca ; the survey for such a plat was accordingly made by Mr. Cook, and after- ward by H. H. Hall, who was county surveyor at the time. The plat contains about ten acres, a part of which is on the southwest quarter of section 10, and a part of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of the same section. No additions have been made to the original plat, but the growth of the village has extended beyond its limits as surveyed.

Mr. Langdon gave the name Seneca to the village at the suggestion of Nicholas Morgan, as that was the name of the town in the State of New York where he came from. On the organization of the town, it also took on the same name, being named from the village. Samuel I'. Langdon, who laid out the village plat of Seneca, was a native of Massachusetts, where he was born in 1812. He was married in Boone Co., Ill., to Nancy Emory, a native of Pennsylvania. In April, 1854, he purchased of Mr. Philamalee the land where stands the vil- lage of Seneca.

This was before the day of railroads in west- ern Wisconsin, and Seneca, being on the route between Prairie du Chien and Sparta, was quite an important point. In those days quite a hotel business was done at Seneca. His house was also the resort for land hunters, who re- ceived much information from Mr. Langdon, who was familiar with the character of the country for a radius of many miles. In the spring of 1868 he sold to D. R. Lawrence, and removed to Excelsior, in Richland county. He was engaged in milling till 1872, when he went to Lynxville, where he engaged in the grocery and drug trade. From this point he removed to Buena Vista Co., Iowa, and engaged in the stock raising business.

The store building of E. & T. Garvey being on the southern limit, Mr. Langdon sold the first lot to James and William Smethurst, who erected a store building thereon in 1858. Wil- liam Smethurst also occupied a part of the building as a dwelling for his family ; James

was a single man and boarded with his brother. The buisness established at that time still con- tinues in the same building, and is conducted by members of the Smethurst family.

Alonzo C. Knight erected the second building, which he used as a wagon shop and dwelling house.

Lewis Smith erected the third building, which he used as a dwelling and saloon.

William Philamalee kept travelers in the log house just mentioned, and hence became the first hotel man of the village. Mr. Langdon continued to accommodate the traveling public when he had succeeded Philamalee.

The first wagon maker of the place was A. C. Knight. The first blacksmith was L. P. Marston Campbell & Sons were the first shoe- makers. Daniel Smethurst, brother of William Smethurst, bought out the saloon building of Mr. Smith, and started a second store. He com- menced about 1865, and continued till 1870, when he moved his stock to Postville, Iowa, where he remained in business several years, and then returned to Seneca, and died at the house of his son John. Daniel Smethurst, when he discontinued business at Seneca, sold his building and four lots to E. & T. Garvey who still own the property, which is now (1884) occupied as a residence, by Thomas Garvey. In 1861 E. & T. Garvey crected a new store, on the site of Marston's blacksmith shop, and es- tablished a general merchandizing house, in the fall of that year, which business they are still (1884) engaged in. They have always done an excellent business. Their first build- ing was 22x50 feet, two stories high. In 1875 they sold $40,000 worth of goods In 1872 their sales reached as high as $67,000.

Daniel Smethurst kept the first drug store in the village. He sold out to William and James Smethurst, who connected this with their other business.

The postoffice was established in 1858. The first postmaster was S. P. Langdon who was succeeded by Daniel L. Smethurst; after this

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

came William Smethurst, who was succeeded by A. B. Withee, who served from Jan 1, 1871, to Sept. 1, 1881, a period of nearly eleven years. He was succeeded by Daniel Smethurst.

HOTELS.

Ax has been stated, William Philamalee kept travelers as early as 1851, and his successor also kept sort of an inn and served the public as best he could in those early days, when trav- elers were only too glad to eat such as was placed before them, "asking no questions for conscience sake."

Soon after the laying out of the village, Mr. Langdon put up a tavern on the site of the Kane Hotel, which is still a part of that house. Mr. Langdon run this house a number of years, and finally sold to D. R. Lawrence, who sold to a party who did not occupy the house, but who soon after disposed of the property to Nelson Dunlap, who was succeeded by Lawrence Bird, who added to the building and kept the house for some time, and then sold to Cornelius Kane, who has re-built it, and it is now known as Kane's House.

J. D. Bigelow opened a hotel in 1848, in a house erected by L. P. Marston, which he oper- ated a year or so and sold to K. Haynes, who run it about the same length of time and then soll to Wilson, a non-resident of the town; he rented the hotel to Alden, who kept it for about a year, when it was sold to James S. Burton, who used it as a private residence. In 1874 Mr. Bigelow built another hotel, which he opened July 1, that year, and operated the same till 1883, when he leased it to G. E. Peck.

In December, 1883, the business of the vil- lage was represented as follows: E. & T. Garvey, general merchants; Smethurst & Son, general merchants; Cornelius Kane, hotel; G. E. Peck, Bigelow Hotel; Matthew Brady, wag- on-maker; Barnard Degnon, wagon-maker; Wil- fred Marston, blacksmith.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

The enterprise of the people of both the town and village of Seneca, is well illustrated

by the number and character of their public buildings. These consist of the school house, Good Templars' Hall and Church, and a town hall. The school house was erected in 1881, at a cost of $1,000. It is a frame building, well finished both outside and interior.

Good Templars' Hall and Church was built by the liberality of the people thus connected. The land upon which this building stands was purchased and conveyed by Willis Briggs, in trust, to James Smith, George Dean and Joseph Stewart, trustees of Seneca lodge, No. 473, of Independent Order of Good Templars of the State of Wisconsin. The special condition of the deed was, that a building should be erected thereon, within a specified time, similar to the one that was built; the same to be used for a Good Templars' hall, and also as a church, free to all denominations, without respect to ereed or religious belief. In accordance with this plan the people responded. The date of the in- denture was Jan. 29, 1881; the building was begun the same season, but not fully completed till the fall of 1883. It is a frame building, two stories high, 24x40 feet. It eost about $1,200. The first floor is used for church pur- poses, and the second floor for the Good Tem- plars' hall.

While quite a number of persons were promi- nently identified with this movement, it is certainly dne Mr. Daniel Smethurst to say, that the successful issue of the enterprise is due large- ly to him, who contributed largely in both time and money, and advanced means to carry on the work of construction

The Town Hall was purchased by the town, upon the completion of the new school building. It was removed to its present location and then fitted up for town purposes, and affords a eom- fortable and convenient place for the purpose intended.

VILLAGE OF LYNXVILLE.

Several villages have been, from time to time commenced along the east bank of the Missis- sippi between De Soto and Prairie du Chien,

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History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 102

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company Number of Pages: 1298

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1298