History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 137

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1304

USA > Wisconsin > Dane County > History of Dane County, Wisconsin > Part 137

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).

The " Sugar Bush," a large grove on the farm of J. I. Williams, is often used for holding picnics and camp-meetings. There are also a number of large Indian mounds bordering on Kegonsa.

There is one small lake on Section 26.

The town is also watered in the northwest by Big Door Creek, and Catfish Creek in the southwestern part.

The Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad enters the town on Section 32, running northerly, and passes out on Section 7.

The population of the town in 1870 was 1,065. The population now is 1,283. The town is settled largely by Norwegians.

TOWN OF SPRINGDALE.

The territory constituting the town of Springdale includes Township 6 north, of Range 7 east, of the United States survey.

The first settler in the town was John Harlow, who came here in 1844, and built the first house in the town. In 1845, other settlers came in, among whom were Wyatt. Perkins, Thomas Bently, Perry Munger, Michael Jacket and others. They were followed in 1846, by Thore T. Spaanem, N. H. Dryden, Hawley Childs, Thomas B. Miles, Morgan L. Curtis, John S. Berge, Martin Nash and Henry Boland.

The first town meeting was held at the house of Morgan L. Curtis, in 1848.

The first election for town officers was held the second Tuesday of April of that year, when twenty-one votes were cast, and as many officers elected. Martin Nash was elected Chairman; Thomas Bently and Wyatt Perkins, Supervisors ; Robert N. Ashmore, Town Clerk; Morgan L. Curtis, Treasurer; Perry Munger and Thomas Miles, Assessors ; Axium Malone, Collector ; Martin Nash and Morgan L. Curtis, Justices ; Thomas Bently, N. H. Dryden and Robert N. Ashmore, Commissioners of Highways; Hawley Childs, Thomas B. Miles and Wyatt Perkins, School Commissioners ; Perry Munger and Thomas B. Miles, Assessors ; Michael Jacket and Hawley Childs, Fence Viewers; Axium Malone and John I. Berge, Constables ; William A. Dryden, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

Of the twenty-one officers then elected, there are but two of them yet residents of the town -N. H. Dryden and Michael Jacket.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

There are in the town several mounds which are supposed to contain the remains of an ancient people who inhabited this country before the Indian races. The three mounds which excite the most interest are situated on Section 15. These mounds are nearly forty feet in diameter, cir- cular, and used to rise six feet above the surface of the adjacent land, but by repeated cultivation, this height has been greatly decreased. In 1870, one of these mounds was opened and par- tially explored by Charles H. Lewis. He found a well-preserved human skeleton, together with stone implements, knives and pipes.

It was judged from the last skeleton taken from the mounds, that the inhabitants of that age must have been nearly 6 feet 10 inches in height.

There are but two churches in the town; one the Norwegian Lutheran, is situated in the northwestern part of the town on Section 8. A. Bradisen is the present Pastor.

The Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, was organized July 26, 1869, with about sixty members. Rev. G. S. Martin was the first Pastor; John T. Shumway, Church Clerk; Trust- ees then appointed were Edmund Spears, John Lansworth, Evan Jones, Stephen Foye, S. Ireland, C. J. Lewis and G. H. Orr. I. G. Brader, Sr., was elected Deacon, which office he has held to the present time. Rev. G. S. Martin was succeeded by Rev. L. Smith, who is the present Pastor. He lives at Verona, and preaches here once in every two weeks. The present church building was erected in 1870, at an expense of $3,500. Before the new church edifice was built, services were held in the schoolhouse. The present Trustees are I. G. Brader, Nor- man Randall, D. H. Eastman and C. J. Lewis. This church is a branch of the Baptist Church of Verona.

The town is well watered by the Sugar River in the northern part, the west branch of the Sugar River in the southern part, also by two tributaries of the former in the southern portion. About two-thirds of the town are oak openings, and one-third prairie, some portions are uneven, rising into bluffs and ridges. The land is productive and well adapted to stock-raising and dairy purposes. The town is inhabited by a thrifty class of farmers, mostly of German and Norwegian origin.

The first post office in the town of Springdale was established in 1850.

The population of the town in 1870, was 1,138; it is now 1,007.

Good Templars .- Perseverance Lodge, No. 487, was organized February 6, 1879, at the residence of A. G. Colman. The first officers elected were Mrs. Nellie E. Toliff, Lodge Deputy ; Miss H. Palmer, Chaplain ; A. D. Colman, Worthy Chief; Mrs. A. D. Colman, Treasurer; John Randall, Secretary ; Zella Ison, G. ; Miss Jessie Black, Marshall. The present mem- bership is thirty, with the following officers : I. W. Patterson, Worthy Chief; A. D. Colman, Secretary ; E. C. Pierce, Lodge Deputy: The average membership is forty, and meet every Saturday evening.

There are but two villages in Springdale-one is Clantorf, situated on Section 11. There are but three or four families here; Patrick Carr was the first Postmaster ; keeps a general store, and is the present Postmaster. John Lindelien is the blacksmith. The schoolhouse was built here in 1868.

Mount, Vernon-A snug little village, situated down among the hills, nineteen miles southwest of Madison. This village, of about 100 inhabitants, is pleasantly located on the middle branch of the Sugar River. The greater portion of the town lies on the east side of the river; on the west side, high rocks and picturesque hills add to the beauty of the scenery. George Britts laid out the first plat of the town, and Dr. Byam laid out the addition. Phil- ander Byam was the proprietor of the plat surveyed by J. T. Berger, recorded October 9, 1852. The plat is located in Section 34, town of Springdale; just a corner of the plat, the southwest, is in the town of Primrose.

In 1849, George Britts built the first and only saw-mill in the town. This soon ran down. C. Semford Shumway next bought eighty acres from George Britts, and built a log house. C. H. Lewis came in 1850. Hall C. Chandler started the first general store, built a frame oak building, which is still standing, and used as a dwelling-house. John Jones, Sr., kept the first hotel.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

In 1860, there were in the village two blacksmith shops, and two general stores, a school- house, which was built in 1852. At this time, there were but twelve families in the village. A hotel was built by C. C. Allen, to which an upright and addition has been added, new barns have been built, making it a convenient and comfortable stopping-place for travelers. Mr. Allen died in March, 1880. His wife now has charge of the hotel, and is its proprietor.

At present, there is one general store, kept by O. B. Dahle & Son, two shoe-shops, three blacksmith-shops. The post office is kept by O. B. Dahle. The grist-mill was built by Phi- lander Byam, in 1852, which is now run by John Jones, Sr.

Among others doing business here are P. E. Call, saddler; Orne Cobblewig, saloon ; Charles Shumway, butcher, and C. H. Lewis, carpenter. Several new buildings have been built here within the last year. Mr. A. C. Brader at present is putting up a large two-story frame building.

TOWN OF YORK.

The territory now included within the town of York is Township 9 north, of Range 12 east-the extreme northeast township in the county. The original town created by the act approved February 2, 1846, of which the town of York is now a part, was Sun Prairie.

By an act approved March 11, 1848, three of the four townships which went to make up the territory of the town of Sun Prairie were erected into separate towns, one of which was called York.

The first town election was held the first Tuesday in April, at the schoolhouse near Walter Brown's, when the following officers, among others, were elected :

B. B. Freeman, Chairman ; David Emery and Walter Brown, Supervisors ; Otis B. Lapham, Clerk and Treasurer ; Walter Brown, William P. Randall and Walker Johnson, Assessors.

The first settlement made in the town, was in the spring of 1843, by John Petty, William Stewart, William Ward, John Brown, William Mortrom and David E. Emery. In 1844, John Hasey, D. A. Hasey, Walter Brown, Silas W. Herring, Orrin Rogers, John Petty, Lyman Parker and John Parker made a settlement. Among other early settlers were, O. C. Johnson, E. S. Johnson, Julius Campbell, Jason Bolton, Smith Johnson, Franklin Carter, William An- was with Dunning & Payne, three months, Wright & Payne, two and one-half years; then the firm of drews, William Cleland, Moses Wood, Daniel Wood, Garret Porter, J. H. Porter, Otis B. Lap- ham, William Douglas, Alpha Wood, William Thompson.

The first entry of land was made by John Hasey, in the fall of 1844. His entry comprised the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 11, a tract of 40 acres.

Religious services were first held in the town, at the house of Franklin Carter, Rev. P. Allen, a Methodist Episcopal minister, officiating. A watch-meeting was held at the house of Garret Porter, December 31, 1845, Revs. Allen and Jones being present. These men, about this time, organized a class, being the first religious organization in the town. Services were held at the schoolhouse on Section 34, until the completion of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in Marshall, when the class was disbanded, the majority of its members uniting with the Mar- shall church. A class was afterward formed near the central part of the town, meeting at the schoolhouse on Section 22.

The Baptists organized a congregation on Section 22, under the ministration of Rev. A. E. Green, in 1847. Elder Green was its first pastor, being succeeded in turn, by Elders Rowley, Swain, Morton, McIntyre, Kone and Ketchbole. The congregation now meet for worship at the schoolhouse, on Section 29, and have a membership of fifteen.

In the fall of 1878, Rev. Emery Z. Thwing commenced to hold services at the Good Temp- lars' hall, on Section 34, and in February, 1879, organized a class of Free Methodists, composed of twenty-five members. The society afterward purchased the hall of the Templars and fitted it up specially for religious services, and now worship therein.

On the 12th day of November, 1864, a lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars was organized at the schoolhouse district No. 3, consisting of twenty-five charter members.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

E. A. Cone was the first Worthy Chief Templar, with Loretta Porter, W. V. T. ; J. H. Porter, W. S. : Philander Porter, L. D. Meetings continued to be held in the schoolhouse for some three years, when the lodge erected a substantial frame building for their special use, where for ten years, meetings were regularly held. In 1877, the charter of the lodge was surrendered, and in 1879, their building was disposed of to the Free Methodists.

In 1853, a postoffice was established in the town, to which was given the name of York Center. William Douglas was the first Postmaster. Until the completion of the Watertown line, of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, the mail was received at this office twice a week, it being on the line of the stage and mail route from Columbus to Janesville. After the completion of the road the mail was received at Deansville.

At York Center, a store was established, in 1848, by Otis B. Lapham, who continued it until 1850, when he disposed of the stock to William Douglas, who in turn sold to William Brown, in 1853, since which time, W. B. Dodge, W. S. Amos, William Douglas and Richard Arian supplied the neighborhood with general merchandise. This store, together with a black- smith-shop and postoffice, comprised the village of York Center.

R. Eaton, in the spring of 1845, taught a term of school in a log house erected for that purpose, on Section 34, being the first school in the town.

In the fall of 1874, S. W. King organized York Grange, No. 44, Patrons of Husbandry. This grange has had a very prosperous existence, numbering at one time, 140 members. They own their hall, which is located at York Center. H. J. Douglas was the first Master of the grange, and George Weeks, Secretary.

A cheese-factory was established at York Center, in 1873, by Richard Arians, and con- tinued in successful operation until 1876, when it was burned down. The building was immedi- ately re-erected, and soon after its completion sold to the Patrons of Husbandry, who converted it to other purposes.

There are five cemeteries in the town ; one on the southwest corner of Section 35; one on the northwest corner of Section 27; one on the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of Section 4 ; one on the northwest corner of Section 6, and one on Section 11. This last is the most important one in the town, and is known as the East York Cemetery. An association was formed, in 1850, and re-organized April 4, 1873, on which occasion Cyrus Montgomery, George W. Stiles, Justice Andrews, E. S. Johnson, Elijah Federly, Thomas J. Johnson and C. E. Weeks were elected Trustees. A Mr. Price was the first buried here.

The town in 1868, erected at York Center, a large and convenient town-house, at a cost of $1,200.

The first child born in the town was Abigail Thompson, in 1844. The first marriage was that of Philo Ranney and Miss Sally Thompson, in the fall of 1845.

The land in this town is oak openings, with occasionally marsh, there being no prairie within its borders. It is watered in the southwest part by Waterloo Creek, which is the only stream in the town. The land is good quality; and produces good crops. There are numerous springs, which supply the ordinary wants of the inhabitants. While there are no villages in the town, its inhabitants are yet convenient to good markets, and the many well-tilled farms, fine dwelling-houses and barns prove that here live a thrifty and contented people.

The population of the town in 1870 was 1,069. It is now 983.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

CHAPTER XX.

TOWNS AND VILLAGES-(CONTINUED).

INTRODUCTORY-TOWN OF DEERFIELD-TOWN OF PRIMROSE-TOWN OF ROXBURY-TOWN OF VIENNA-TOWN OF WESTPORT-TOWN OF BERRY-TOWN OF BLOOMING GROVE-TOWN OF PERRY-TOWN OF BURKE-TOWN OF VERMONT-TOWN OF MAZOMANIE-VILLAGE OF MAZO- MANIE.

INTRODUCTORY.

During the years 1849, 1850, 1851, 1852, 1855 and 1858, eleven towns were formed in the county, as follows : 1841, Deerfield, Primrose, Roxbury, Vienna and Westport ; 1850, Berry and Blooming Grove; 1851, Perry ; 1852, Burke; 1855, Vermont; 1858, Mazomanie; making the whole number in Dane County 35. This number corresponds exactly with the number of townships, but it is not the fact that each town has just a township of land for its territory. The following are exceptions : Sun Prairie, Dunkirk, Blooming Grove, Westport, Madison, Middle- ton, Roxbury, Mazomanie and Black Earth. From Sun Prairie is to be taken the village of the same name; from Dunkirk, Stoughton ; from Blooming Grove, a portion of the city of Madi- son ; from Westport, so much as is covered by Lake Mendota, which belongs to the city of Mad- ison ; from Madison, all that part of the city of Madison lying in Township 7 north, of Range 9 east; from Middleton, so much of Lake Mendota as covers Township 7 north, of Range 8 east; from Roxbury, the extreme northwest corner of Township 9 north, of Range 7 east ; from Mazomanie, the northwest portion of Township 9 north, of Range 6 east, although it has half a township added on the south ; and from Black Earth, the north half of Township 8 north, of Range 6 east.

TOWN OF DEERFIELD.

When, in 1847, the town of Cottage Grove was created, it also included the territory now constituting the town of Deerfield. However, by an act of the State Legislature, approved March 17, 1849, Township 7 north, of Range 12 east, which was then the east half of Cottage Grove, was made a separate town, and named Deerfield.

The first town meeting was held on the first Tuesday in April, at the house of D. R. Ager, when thirty-five votes were cast and the following officers elected : Allan E. Adsit, Chairman ; Emery Sampson and George R. Fryer, Supervisors; H. L. Foster, Town Clerk ; Benjamin Potter, Treasurer, and Martin W. Adsit, Assessor.

The first house put up in this town was on Section 18, on the road from Madison to Milwaukee, by Philip Kearney, in 1839; but the first actual settlement was not made until the spring of 1840, when Nels Siverson, a Norwegian, built a cabin on Section 35 and resided therein. In 1842, his brother, Ole Siverson, settled on Section 33. Lars Davidson settled on Section 28 the same year. In June, 1842, Colben Olson and Stork Olson came to the town, and settled on Section 30. About the same time they were followed by David Hyer and B. Ingraham.

Deerfield Post Office was established in 1843, Mr. Hyer being the first Postmaster. He was succeeded by Benjamin Baldwin, and he in turn by Henry Bennett, who is the present Post- master.

Among other early settlers of the town, were Ulric Thompson, Lars Torgerson, Charles Martin, Allen E. Adsit, C. Johnson, Ole Kauntson and B. Ingraham.

During the early settlement of this town deer were very plenty, so it was suggested that the town should be called Deerfield.

There are five schoolhouses in the town, and three churches; denominations are one Evangelical Lutheran, a Roman Catholic Church, and a Lutheran Church. There are two post

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY

offices in the town-one at Deerfield, situated on Section 9 ; and one at Nora, situated on Section 29. The town is watered by Koshkonong Creek, which enters the town on Section 19, and flows east, emptying in Krogh's mill-pond. Mud Creek enters the town on Section 34, flows north and empties into Krogh's mill-pond. Krogh's mill-pond lies in the east part of the town, and occupies part of Sections 22, 23, 24, 13 and 14, and a corner of 15. Goose Lake is situated in the northwestern part of the town, on Sections 1 and 2. Mud Lake is also on Section 2, the northwest quarter.

The southeastern part of the town is prairie and openings ; the northwestern part is also. openings. The northeastern part of the town is heavily timbered, with some marsh land.

A saw-mill was built on Section 20, by Messrs. Thompson & Knudson, but was never run. The market towns after this town are Stoughton, McFarland, Fort Atkinson, Jefferson. The population of the town in 1870, was 1,040. The population now is 975.

TOWN OF PRIMROSE.

By an act of the State Legislature of March 21, 1849, Township 5 north, of Range 7 east, was set off from the town of Montrose, to which it had been attached for town purposes, and erected into a separate town named Primrose.

The first town meeting was held in the town of Primrose, April 3, 1849. The following officers, among others, were elected : David Thomas, Chairman ; Jacob B. Nofsinger and Free- man Fisher, Supervisors ; Robert Harrington, Clerk.

The town was named by Mrs. R. Speers, in 1848, at a meeting held at the schoolhouse. She had heard her father sing an old song commencing --

" On Primrose hill there lived a lass,"

and suggested the name Primrose. Much talk was occasioned because the town was named by a woman.

The Baptists and Methodists both held services in private houses until the schoolhouse was built. The first school was taught by Miss Martha De Corso. Of the old settlers, among the Americans, Mrs. David Thomas is the only one left.

The present town hall is situated on the northeast quarter of Section 15. It was built by Josephus Chandler, to be used as a schoolhouse, and was used several years as such. The dis- trict then bought it, giving $400, and converted it into a town hall, for which purpose it has been used up to the present time.

There are two churches in the town of Primrose. One, the " Primrose Norse Evangelical Lutheran Congregation," which is connected with the Norse Evangelical Lutheran Church of North America, erected an edifice on Section 21, at an expense of $500. The first Pastor was Rev. Elling Eielson. He was followed by Rev. Arne Boyum; then Rev. Ole Torgeson took charge of the church, followed by Rev. P. Solberg.

The Norse Lutheran Church was organized in this town by the Rev. A. C. Preus. This organization joined the so-called Norse Synod. The congregation erected a church on Section 29, in 1866. This was destroyed by fire in 1872, and rebuilt in 1874. Rev. A. C. Preus was followed by Rev. P. H. Rasmusson. He was succeeded by. Rev. John F. Jeld, who is the present Pastor. There are thirty-five families in this congregation.

There is a third Norse Lutheran Church, which was organized by Rev. C. L. Clausen, in 1869. They held services for a time in a schoolhouse on Section 32, but afterward built a church eighty rods south of the church on Section 29, at an expense of $800.

Primrose Post Office .- This is situated near the center of the town, on the northeast quar- ter of Section 21. The post office was established here in 1869. Jacob G. Hanna was ap- pointed the first Postmaster. Mr. Hanna died in 1877, and his wife has since had charge of the post office.

A stone schoolhouse is situated here, which was built in 1869. O. E. Lewis was the first teacher of this school ; its present teacher is M. H. Atwood. It has an attendance of about fifty scholars.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

Jacob Hanna settled at this point and built a log house here in 1862.

The first settler was Robert Speers and family, locating on Section 19 in 1844. His house was well patronized by the teamsters from the lead mines, and may be called the first hotel. Primrose Post Office was established at his house in 1846. The pioneers of the town were Hall C. Chandler and family, Robert Herrington, Frederick and William Underhill, John Jones, Joseph Phillips and son Daniel, George Schofield, Billings Lewis, George Patchen, William and Edmund Speers, W. W. and E. S. Hale, Robert White, Charles and Wilmot Marston, Chris- tian Hendrickson (the first Norwegian, in 1846), Jacob and Samuel Noffsinger, Jacob Beckner, Martin Ashmore, Deacon David Thomas, wife and eight children (1847), Joel Britz, Rev. William Dudley, Joel Smith, George Britts, R. B. Chandler, Moses Chandler and others ; also, the La Follettes, Josiah, William, Warren, Elhanan, Robert and Harvey. Of these pioneers, the Hale, Hendrickson and Thomas families are now residents. The Hale brothers are Tennessee- ans by birth, and all sons of William Hale, who settled at Wiota in 1828, and was killed during the Black Hawk war, near Buffalo Grove, Ill. W. W. Hale and E. S. Hale settled in Primrose in December, 1845, and are now its oldest residents. Mrs. Deacon Thomas and her sons, Eliphalet and Ashley C., are now residing here. Deacon Thomas was born in Strafford, Vt., in 1800, and died in Primrose in 1871.

The first death was that of Mrs. Joseph Phillips, and the next Mrs. George Patchen.

The first birth was a son to Robert Speers, who died in infancy. The next birth was George, son of Billings Lewis.

The first wedding was that of Frederick Underhill to Elizabeth, daughter of George Scho- field, in the fall of 1845. William Underhill and Mary Schofield were married on Christmas Day, 1845.

The "Devil's Chimney," Section 11, is a noticeable feature of the Primrose landscape; a sandstone mound or hillock is crowned by two huge masses of the same stone, the "chimney " proper rising to a height of 45 feet; and is twenty-five feet across the top. Joel Britz made the first ascent in 1850; B. Oleson in 1862; J. A. Oliver in 1873; J. A. Oliver, Henry Fulton and A. Warden in 1877. These were assisted by either ropes or poles, but in 1879, Frank Pierce climbed the face of the rock, a seemingly impossible feat.

The Union Primrose Cheese Company was formed by seven men, in 1877, John Tasher, President, and Ole O. Barton, Secretary. A flouring-mill was built on Section 8, by Ed M. Britz and Charles Smith, in 1858, and has remained at a standstill since 1879.

An old resident, in speaking of the early times, says the first settlers used to draw their wheat to Milwaukee with ox teams, and sell it at 40 cents per bushel. It took them from seven to nine days to make the trip ; very frequently they had to unload several times on the way. The wheat was sold at Ludington's old warehouse, in Milwaukee, when the farmers returned to their homes with provisions. In 1850, a market was established at Moscow, where they then sold their wheat at the advanced price of 50 cents per bushel.

There are three burying-grounds in the town. The first land was entered by Robert Oliver, on Section 14. There is but one post office in the town ; that is at Primrose. The first school- house built in the town was on Section 17, in 1847; Gunnuld Jackson was the first teacher. No one has ever had license to sell intoxicating drink in the town of Primrose. Christian Hen- drickson, from Lier, Norway, was the first Norwegian settler in the town; he came here in 1846, and was followed by Salve Jorgenson, Niels Evenson and Niels N. Skogen, in 1848. In 1849, Peter Haslerud and Gunnuf Tollefson settled in the town. Gunnuf Tollefson was the first member of the Legislature.

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History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 137

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 1304

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899; Western Historical Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1304