History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 139

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 139

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Walter Davis brought an evaporator into town for the manufacture of sorghum in 1865 ; at first it was not a success ; but now, with the new varieties of cane, a good article of sirup can be made. The apparatus is at present owned by Christopher Obrecht.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

In 1851, Otto Kerl started a brewery on his place, which was run until the beginning of the late rebellion. The absence of that brewery was supplied by another, built in 1863, in the southeast part of the town, on Section 34, which is being operated still.

There is at present a flouring-mill in the southwest corner of the town, on Section 31, built by Conrad Shelle as successor to a steam flouring-mill built by him on his farm several years ago, and which now stands disused for milling purposes.

Mr. John Cropper started a mill at Half-Way Prairie Creek in 1863, which he afterward moved to Mazomanie.

There has been a limekiln in town for several years, which was opened by Peter Rouls. At different times, there have been shoe-shops and tailor-shops in the town.

The Berry Mutual Fire Insurance Company .- On the 29th day of January, 1876, a meeting of the citizens of Berry and Roxbury was held at Schneyer's Hall, and the company organized and the following directors and officers were elected. Directors, Otto Kerl, John Brosmer, F. Schumann, Edwin Dimend, J. C. Fisher and Carl Fehland. Fred Schumann, President ; Otto Kerl, Secretary ; John Brosemer, Treasurer, and John Ford and John Brose- mer, Assessors. Up to this time, 234 policies have been issued, with liabilities amounting to $319,609. Losses thus far have been $84.84 ; this has been paid, and all other expenses out of the survey and policy fees, which is $2 for each person, and there is yet on hand $68.41.

Churches and Cemeteries .- There are at present, two churches in the town, the Catholic and Lutheran, and three cemeteries, the English, Catholic and Lutheran, The English ceme- tery, an acre of land on the northwest corner of Section 8, is owned by an association of English and Americans, and has been in use over twenty years ; the other cemeteries are connected with the churches.

The German Lutheran Church, on Section 17, was built in 1860, at a cost of $600, Gus- tave Herring giving the land for the cemetery, and making the principle contribution toward paying for the building ; there are about forty families in connection, Charles Schenck being the Pastor.

The Catholic Church of the Town of Berry .- The Catholic congregation was organized in 1853, and in that year a log church was built. Before that time, the people were sometimes visited by the Rev. Father Zuorna. On the 29th of October, 1854, Rev. L. Conrad was sent out by the M. R. Bishop as the first Presiding Pastor. The congregation then had twenty five families. Together with the erection of the church, a Catholic German school was founded, which is now in a flourishing condition. The priests of the congregation have been Rev. L. Conrad, who served until 1858; then Rev. Teif until 1859; then Rev. M. Gernhauer served until February, 1862, he built the first part of the stone schoolhouse and the large stone parish house ; after him, Rev. W. Bernard officiated until July, 1863 ; then Rev. A. Foekler was priest until December, 1863 ; then Rev. T. J. Voissem served from June, 1864, until April, 1869. He built the second part of the schoolhouse and commenced the new stone church build- ing ; after him, Rev. H. Jernsen served from May, 1869, until July, 1877. He finished the church edifice ; then came the Rev. J. Friend, who remained from November, 1873, until January, 1878, after him, Rev. S. Tuork served from February, 1878, till February, 1879 ; then in May, 1879, the present priest, Rev. J. W. Blum, came. The congregation numbers now about one hundred and twenty families. The church building is 154x54 feet in area, and is Gothic in style. The tower will be completed in the spring of 1881.

TOWN OF BLOOMING GROVE.

When this township first came under town government, it was a portion of the town of Madi- son. This was in 1846. It remained a part of the last-mentioned town until the spring of 1850, when it became a separate town, and was named Blooming Grove. This town was the only one in the county which, when constituted a separate town, and named, contained less ter- ritory than one township. It first lacked all of that part of Township 7 north, of Range 10 east, lying north of Lake Monona. The part thus wanting was a portion of the town and city

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

of Madison until March 30, 1861, when Section 5, the east half of the southeast quarter of Sec- tion 6, all of fractional Section 7 lying east of the city of Madison, and the north west fractional quarter of Section 8, were attached to and made a part of the town of Blooming Grove. It thus assumed its present size and shape, which is quite irregular, owing to the fact that a considerable portion of the town is covered by Lake Monona, which belongs to the city of Madison.

On the 2d day of April, 1852, the first town meeting was held at the house of R. W. Lan- sing, when the town was organized, and the following officers elected: N. J. Tompkins, Chair- man ; W. J. Reece and J. L. Lewis, Supervisors; Dr. H. A. Tiffany, Clerk ; B. W. Caswell, Treasurer ; J. Lansing, Assessor ; Rev. J. G. Miller, Superintendent of Schools. Mr. Miller resigned soon after, and R. W. Lansing was appointed in his place.

The surface of this town is somewhat hilly and marshy in the south part, while in the northern portion it is principally gently undulating and arable prairie land. The soil through- out, especially in the north part, is fertile, being, for the most part, a rich clay loam and marl.

A part of the town is covered by water. Lake Monona takes considerable off from the west side, and in the south part Lake Waubesa covers a portion of four sections. These lakes, with the Yahara, which unites them, and the Nine Springs Creek in the southwest part, and one other small stream that crosses Section 5, together with the springs in town, constitute the water supply.

There are but few natural curiosities in the town to attract the eye, but the general scenery is sufficiently charming to engross the attention of the most fastidious, while the lakes furnish excellent sport for ambitious Nimrods and disciples of Walton. In an early day, there was but little timber in this town in common with localities adjacent, and what there was was used with the utmost prudence. Some of the farmers sowed locust seed to raise timber, but nature soon supplied the want, and now there is enough and to spare of white, black and red oak and other kinds.

The people generally follow agricultural pursuits, and that they succeed well is attested by their fine farms and comfortable-looking houses and barns. There is a large amount of excellent stock raised in the town, and one farm, owned by C. R. Clark, is devoted entirely to raising thoroughbreds. Foreigners constitute a majority of the people, they are largely Germans and Norwegians. The population in 1870 was 1,010; it is now 929. The town has a good brick hall built in 1870, located on Section 17.

The first white settler was Abraham Wood, who came into this town certainly as early as the first part of the year 1837, for, during the spring of that year, he was employed to superin- tend the building of the first house inhabited in the city of Madison, and which was erected for Eben Peck, and first occupied by him. Wood had for his wife a daughter of the famous Winnebago chief, DeKaury, on the northeast fractional quarter of Section 19, which contains fifty- two acres. This land, which juts into Lake Monona, has been variously known as Old Indian Garden, Wood's Point, Strawberry Point, Straw Point, and a portion of it is now called Winne- quah. The first name was derived from the fact that Indians cultivated the land in this vicinity before the advent of the whites, the evidences of which have not yet entirely disappeared.

Francis Barnes christened the point Winnequah, and several years ago erected a dancing-hall here, and fitted up grounds for picnic parties.

Mr. Wood remained there until the summer of 1839, when he, with Wallace Rowan, then living at Poynette, went to Sauk County and built the first saw-mill at Baraboo.

Wood was a natural borderer, being a large, powerful man, of a fierce, turbulent and adven- turous nature, and well suited to pioneer life and experiences. He was peaceable enough when sober, but when tipsy he went prowling around the country in a lawless way, helping himself to anything he desired, and taking vengeance on those whom he did not like. One night, he entered a cabin belonging to a family by the name of Webster, and carried off a keg of beer. He was discovered in the act by Mrs. Webster, who grabbed him in the back by his shirt, he being coatless, and demanded that he should relinquish the beer. This he showed no disposition of doing, and, her grip being a firm one, he dragged her a considerable distance, bawling out the

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

while at the top of his voice, " Keep fast hold, madam, and I'll take you straight to h-1!" His taking of a Mississippi River steamboat at an early day is quite amusing, and shows the fearlessness of the man's nature. He and three others, who styled themselves the " Baraboo Rushers," took passage on a steamboat for St. Louis. On the way, one of the boatmen took ill with the cholera, which was raging at the time. The idea of cholera on board caused much consternation, and it was decided to leave the sick man on shore. But none of the crew would venture near him, so great was their fear of the disease. Then up spoke Abe : "Give us a blanket, and we, the Baraboo Rushers, will take him ashore. We ain't afered of man or devil, much less a gripe in the stomach." A blanket was furnished, and at the next landing the four men took the victim off, carrying him straight to the hotel. "We want a bed for a sick man," said Abe to the landlord. "Beds all full," was the reply. "Show me one, I'll empty it d-d quick," retorted Abe. But the landlord was not disposed to do so. Meanwhile, the captain, considering that the "Baraboo Rushers" were exposed to the infection, concluded that then was his time to get rid of them ; and without a touch of the bell put the boat. out from the landing and continued the journey. The " Rushers," seeing the state of affairs, dropped the sick man on the hotel porch, and started after the boat. They were all good swimmers, and in a very short time they "overhauled her." To say they were angry does not half express what their feelings were. As soon as he touched the deck, Abe began to swear, and such swearing even those boatmen had never heard. He cursed all the crew from the highest to lowest, up and down and every other way. At last, the captain threatened to put him ashore. This was the signal for a row. The " Rushers" were armed after the manner of backwoodsmen, with tomahawks, knives and revolvers. Flourishing these, they sprang forward for a battle. The suddenness of the attack and the daring of the men, so surprised the captain and crew that they surrendered without a struggle. When he had them completely at his mercy, Abe flourished his tomahawk over the captain's head and cried : " We don't want your d-d old rickety boat, but we intend to teach you that the Baraboo Rushers are not to be trifled with. This craft never lands again until we say so, nor starts till we get ready. If that don't suit you, we will run her to h-1 in spite of you." The captain was very willing to agree to the terms, and for the remainder of the trip the " Rushers " had things their own way.

Some years later he was killed, not far from Baraboo, by being pitched back ward in a wagon, and thus having his neck broken.

The next comer in the town was W. A. Wheeler, who located on Section 5 in the spring of 1841, bringing his family with him. During the summer of that year, Mr. Wheeler, in con- junction with Simeon Mills, erected a dam across a small stream that flows into Lake Monona, and built a saw-mill, which was abandoned many years ago. Scarcely anything now remains to mark the spot.

Soon after Mr. Wheeler came, the Taylor brothers made a claim not far from the mill, where one of them lived for several years. The first breaking in town was done here. About this time, Elisha Wheeler also settled in the town.

In 1844, Philo Dunning, who had assisted in building the old mill, became purchaser of the property, and a resident of the town, with his family. Previous to this time, however, a large family of Nelsons came in.

From 1844 to 1850, a good many settled here, of whom we are enabled to mention E. Gro- ver, S. Catlin, O. and B. W. Caswell, S. Eastman, E. Smith, J. and R. W. Lansing, M. J. Reece, John Adams, G. Zink, C. Ulmer, N. J. Thomkins, Mr. Robbins, J. G. Wolf, George Nichols, R. and D. Gallagher, Rev. J. G. Miller, J. W. Barrett, Dr. Tiffany and J. S. Lewis.

Dr. Tiffany settled in the town about 1848, and was one of the first physicians in the county.

The Rev. J. G. Miller came into the State as a missionary for the German Evangelical Association as early as 1845. The town received its name from him, the title being suggested as appropriate at a time when the groves of oak were interspersed with waving grass and bloom- ing flowers.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

The first birth in the town was a child of W. A. Wheeler, born in 1842.

The first marriage occurred in 1850, when Albert Barker and Alida J. Lansing were mar- ried, the Rev. J. G. Kanouse performing the ceremony.

A post office was established in the town before 1850, with R. W. Lansing as Postmaster. After having been continued for several years, it was suspended, and there is now no post office in the town.

The Cottage Grove Fire Insurance Company, which includes Blocming Grove and other towns, was organized. March 24, 1875, with thirty-five incorporators. The first officers elected were William T. Uphoff, President; Daniel Bechtel, Secretary ; J. S. Daily, Treasurer ; M. E. Emerson, Henry Peters, G. Timmerman, James Bell and J. S. Gallagher, Directors. The company began business with a capital of $100,000, which has since increased to more than three times that amount. The losses thus far have been light, and the company is in a flourish- ing condition.

A German Evangelical Association was organized in 1853, the Rev. J. H. Ragatz officiat- ing as the first Pastor. The congregation has a church and cemetery in the southeast part of the town. The Rev. J. C. Brindle is the present Pastor.

There is a Commonwealth Cemetery on Mr. Dean's farm.

Tonyawatha Spring Hotel .- This delightful summer idling-place was opened to the public in 1879. It was erected by Dr. William Jacobs, as an adjunct to the Park Hotel of Madison. It is situated opposite to Madison, commanding a splendid view of the city, and is surrounded by a beautiful forest. The hotel is furnished with bathing facilities, and the general appointments are first-class throughout. During the summer, a steamboat goes back and forth to Madison, hourly each day. Besides, there is a telephone connection with the city. Near the building a large spring called Tonyawatha (healing waters), gushes forth to gladden the sight and heal the infirm.

There is a Grange in the town, the Blooming Grove, No. 250. It was organized in 1874. Weekly meetings are held at the town hall. There was a Good Templars' Society here a few years ago, but it has been discontinued.

TOWN OF PERRY.

The territory now constituting the town of Perry was first brought under town govern- ment as a part of the town of Madison. Afterward, when Montrose was set off into a separate town, it formed one of its three townships. Finally, by an act of the State Legislature, approved March 21, 1849, Township 5 north, of Range 6 east, was set off from the town of Montrose, and called Perry. It was, by the same act, attached to the town of Primrose for all town purposes. Perry was organized under its own town government in 1854, and the first town meeting was held on the 4th day of April of that year, at the house of A. Sanderson, when the following officers were elected : B. F. Denson, Chairman; A. Sanderson and O. Dahlby, Supervisors ; O. B. Dahle, Town Clerk ; H. J. Dahle, Treasurer, and O. O. Bakken, Assessor.

For several years past, L. M. Anderson has been Chairman, and Ole Grimwedt Clerk.

The town was named Perry in honor of Commodore Perry.

The surface of the town is largely rolling prairie, broken at different points by bluffs and stony ridges. The best portion for agricultural purposes is in the northeast part, which is princi- pally undulating prairie." The southern part, on the other hand, being made up more of bluffs and low-lying bottoms, is better adapted to stock-raising. In the northeast corner is a cave, which is the most remarkable physical feature. It served as a place of refuge for drafted men during the late war. There are large amounts of limestone in the bluffs, that can be easily obtained for building purposes or for making lime. The ridge alone which passed the old territorial, is one of the conspicuous features in the northeast corner of the town.

The soil is very fertile, being composed principally of alluvial deposits in the bottoms, and clay and marl on the high lands, and the only thing that detracts in any way from its excel- lence, is the washing and gullying of the bluffs and ridges, caused by the rainfalls.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

The town in its native state was covered with brush and grubs, there being scarcely enough timber at the first to supply the wants of the pioneers, but now there is an abundance of young timber, the growth of the last thirty-five years. It consists principally of white, black and red oak, including other kinds indigenous to this part of the country.

The town is splendidly watered, especially in the southern and central parts, where several small streams rise and flow in a southwesterly direction and eventually unite, forming the East Branch of the Pecatonica, and also supplying very good mill privileges, which remain unimproved. In the northwest part there is also a small stream which flows into the Pecatonica.

The population is now composed of Norwegians, with the exception of a few Germans who reside on Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 10 and 11. They are in a thriving condition, having good houses, barns and well-cultivated fields, and being supplied with good educational and religious privi- leges. The political sentiment is strongly Republican. The population in 1870 was 1,051. It is now 924.

The first permanent white settler of whom there is any account, was John Brown, a native of Indiana, who came into the town in 1846, and located in the south part on Section 34. He was followed, in 1847, by B. K. Berry, who settled on Section 31, and Mr. Van Dyke, who made a claim on Section 34.

Early in the season of 1848, B. F. Denson, of North Carolina; John Sears and Shute Rudy, of Kentucky ; S. C. Campbell, of Virginia, and John Anton and Hobart Keller, the first Germans, came into the town. The first named located on Section 34, the second on Section 33, the fourth on Section 31, and the remainder on Sections 3 and 10. In August of 1848, Ole O. Bakken, the first Norwegian, emigrated hither, and settled on Section. 4, buying the claim of a non-resident. During the fall of that year, the following persons came : H. O. Milsteen (located on Section 19), Lars Langemyr, (Section 17), Mr. Kasper (Section 4), John Eastman, from Ohio, who settled in the south part of the town, and Lars Halvors and T. Thompson, who settled on Section 17, and Hans Johnson, on Section 4.

In 1849, Torger Hastwedt located on Section 17; H. J. Dahle, on Section 20; Benjamin Lyon, of Virginia, on Section 31; Juul Havrud, with eight children, on Section 18; Reiar Mugstne, on Section 10; Ole Gangsei, on Section 6; A. Levang, on Section 10, and Jacob Oarhuns, on Section 9. From 1849, the town settled up very rapidly, and within a very few years the Government lands were all taken. Ole O. Bakken is now the veteran pioneer of the town, being the only one left of the very early comers.

N. W. Denson, son of B. F. Denson, was the first white person born in the town, his birth dating back to March 19, 1848.

The first wedding occurred May 1, 1852, when the Rev. G. F. Diedrichson united O. J. Dahlby and Gunhild Rise.

The first marriage, as chronicled by the church records, was that of John Guttormson and Marie Ameson, who were wedded July 20, 1856.

The first school district was organized March 9, 1850. The officers elected were: B. K. Berry, Director ; J. B. Brown, Clerk ; and B. F. Denson, Treasurer. Mr. Berry could not read, but, nevertheless, he was eventually elected Justice of the Peace. The schoolhouse, 18x 18 feet, built of logs, was soon after erected, and during the summer a three-months' school was taught by Sarah E. Wildeman at $5.50 per month. The next separate school was commenced in the summer of 1852, by Ligoi Dustrud, who taught six or eight urchins their ab's in the old Norwegian Lutheran Church. There are now five schoolhouses in the town, and three full and eight joint districts.

The first post office was established in 1850, on the old Territorial road, Section 31, and called Turkey Grove, S. C. Campbell being appointed Postmaster. Four or five years later, this office was moved to Moscow, Iowa Co. After the removal of that post office, some of the settlers took turns regularly in bringing the mail from Blue Mounds, it being distributed from the store of O. B. Dahle.

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HISTORY OF DANE COUNTY.

In 1857, Perry Post Office was established, with A. Sanderson as Postmaster, who held the office until 1871, when the present incumbent, O. B. Dahle was appointed Postmaster, the office now being in his store. In 1872, Forward Post Office was established, it being kept on Section 23, by C. Evanson, who keeps a store there, and is the only Postmaster this office has had.

The retail store of O. B. Dahle, which was opened by him in 1853, was the first store in town, and is situated on the southwest corner of Section 8. At this point there is quite a little hamlet, which is known in common parlance as Dahleville. There are two blacksmith-shops, a wagon-shop, a shoe-shop and a physician and surgeon established here, and in close proximity is situated the large, new Lutheran Church and a commodious frame schoolhouse.

The first house of worship in the town was the old Norwegian Church, erected in 1851, on Section 8. It was twenty feet square, built of logs, and here, in the winter of 1852, the first religious service was held by the Rev. A. C. Preus.

In 1860, the Evangelical Lutheran Synod built a stone church, and since that time the Hauges Synod has occupied the pioneer church.

On the 23d of May, 1878, a tornado swept over the town of Perry, doing a great deal of damage, and among other things ruined the stone church. As soon thereafter as practicable, the present fine structure was erected. It is 46x643 feet in area, and is surmounted by a steeple 132 feet in height. The church is also provided with a bell and organ. The more prominent Pas- tors have been A. C. Preus, G. F. Diedrichson, H. O. Stub, H. A. Preus P. M. Brodahl (who was the first regularly appointed Pastor, in 1856), and, after him, A. Jacobson and Adolph Bredesen, the present Pastor.

The first meeting of the German Catholic Church society was founded in 1859 by Rev. S. Conrad.

The first meeting of the Catholic denomination was held in 1855, at the house of John Keller, the Rev. L. Conrad saying mass. Occasional services were held after this, until 1859, when the Rev. Father Hyder came to administer at the death of Caroline Keller, the sister of Lawrence Post. Soon after this, the small but tasteful St. Salvador Church was erected, the Keller and Gobel families leading in the work. The congregation now numbers twenty families.

TOWN OF BURKE.

The town of Burke lies in the northern part of the county. It is watered in the north- west part by Token Creek, which enters the town on Section 3, and empties into the Yahara River on Section 7, and is diversifed with oak openings, prairie and marsh land, divided some- what as follows : The west half is generally marsh land, with a few oak groves; the northeast part is generally prairie ; the central portion the same ; the remainder about equally divided with prairie, openings and marsh.

The Watertown line of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad passes through the town, and also the Madison & Portage line of the same road ..

The surface is about equally divided between prairie and timber. There are two rail- roads which pass through the town-the Milwaukee & St. Paul (Watertown line), which enters on Section 33, and runs northeast into Sun Prairie on Section 13; the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad (Madison & Portage line), which enters the town on Section 31, and runs north through the western part of the town, leaving the town on Section 5.

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History of Dane County, Wisconsin, Part 139

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