USA > Wisconsin > Grant County > History of Grant County Wisconsin, including its civil, political, geological, mineralogical archaeological and military history > Part 59
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The fire started about midnight in the saloon of Joseph Gobel and quickly spread cast and west. To the west it burned the whole length of the row, but to the east it was stopped by Sam Kitto's hardware store, a stone building with an iron roof. The buildings burned were
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Whitcomb's photograph gallery and dwelling, the Grant, Woodhouse, and Wm. Brown store buildings, occupied as stores, the Woodhouse saloon building, and the old Bidwell, Greer, and Hale buildings, occu- pied as saloons, the Maker & Chambers "twin" block, Enke's and Weld's harness shops, Thomas Smith's shoe shop, the Finn building, and in fact, the whole row. The heaviest losers were Holford & Rob- erts, general merchandise, loss $4,500; next Ludden & Co., general merchandise, $3,000. The total loss was estimated at $44,000.
TOWN ORGANIZATION AND OFFICERS.
The town was organized in the fall of 1859. It is irregular in shape, consisting of parts of Town 5, Ranges 5 and 6, and a row of sections in Town 4, Ranges 5 and 6, about forty-one square miles. Most of the surface is excellent prairie land. . Its population has been : in 1860, 996; in 1870, 1,245; 1875, 1,299; 1880, 1,229; 1885, 1,173; 1890, 1,174; 1895, 1,187. The population of the village in 1895 was 552. It has had the following :
TOWN OFFICERS.
1860-Supervisors, B. F. Hilton, Wm. Whillans, Horace Lord ; clerk, Roswell C. Brooks; treasurer, J. L. Benham; assessor, A. C. Stiles ; supt. of schools, Cyrus Sargent; justices, Samuel Tracy, R. A. Lumpkin, Wm. Holford, Isaac C. Lander; constables, Sargent Bresee, Jeff. Handy, Albert Francis; J. W. Brackett.
1861-Supervisors, J. T. Murphy, Horace Lord, Wm. Whillans; clerk, R. C. Brooks; treasurer, J. W. Brackett; assessor, George Haz. ard; supt. of schools. C. C. Tobie; justices, Wm. Holford, S. A. Taylor, I. C. Lander; constables, S. Bresee, James Wellware, Geo. Wellware.
1862-Supervisors, J. T. Murphy, Geo. W. Harger, Geo. W. Fen- nell ; clerk, S. A. Campbell; treasurer, Al. Francis; assessor, Henry Lord; justices, Wm. Whillans, A. C. Stiles, Geo. H. Chambers; con- stables. S. Bresee, Jas. Burton, Geo. Batie.
1863-Supervisors, Wm. Whillans, G. W. Fennell, I. C. Lander ; clerk, S. A. Campbell; treasurer, A. Francis; assessor, Samuel Tracy ; justices, Geo. H. Chambers, Geo. Engle; constables, Thos. Osborne, Geo. Batie, Jeff. Handy.
1864-Supervisors, J. T. Murphy, H. Lord, Mat. Woods; clerk, G. H. Chambers; treasurer, Geo. Engle; assessor, A. C. Stiles; justices, Geo. Engle, G. H. Chambers; constables, Thos. Osborne, Wm. John- ston, J. Handy.
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.
1865-Supervisors, clerk, treasurer, and constables same as in 1864; justices, Geo. Engler, G. H. Chambers.
1866-Supervisors, G. W. Harger, A. Francis, W. B. Slocum ; clerk, Levi Brown; treasurer, Jas. Woodhouse; assessor, A. C. Stiles; jus- tices, G. H. Chambers, L. R. Bingham, A. C. Stiles; constables, Thos. Osborne, Alfred Green, Jas. Burton.
1867-Supervisors, J. T. Murphy, H. Lord, A. Francis; clerk, treasurer, and assessor, same as in 1866; justices, G. H. Chambers, D. E. Wilson, Geo. W. Fennell; constables, Thos. Osborn, J. Handy, Geo. W. Lee.
1868-Supervisors, Henry Lord, G. W. Fennell, A. Francis; clerk, Jesse Brooks; treasurer, James Woodhouse; assessor, Geo. W. Har- ger; justices, Horace Lord, J. C. Orr; constables, Thos. Osborne, Jas. Burton, Ed. Briggs.
1869-Supervisors, same as in 1868; clerk, A. S. Osborne; treas- urer, D. F. Brown; assessor, J. W. Brackett; justices, Jesse Brooks, James Kenyon ; constables, John Batie, D. R. Allen, J. Stone.
1870-Supervisors, C. H. Chambers, Wm. Harvey, Jas. Kenyon; clerk, A. C. Morse; treasurer, Geo. W. Nevins; assessor, Geo. Hazard; justices, G. H. Chambers, J. T. Murphy; constables, Banner Elledge, James Burton.
1871-Supervisors, Henry Lord, Chas. R. Thomas, Jas. Kenyon; clerk, A. C. Morse; treasurer, D. F. Brown; assessor, Geo. Hazard; justices, Jesse Brooks, James Kenyon, Geo. W. Fennell; constables, B. Elledge, Geo. Lumpkin, Ed. Merrill, A. M. Cilley.
1872-Supervisors, Henry Lord, George Greer, Geo. W. Fennell; clerk, treasurer, and assessor, same as in 1871; justices, J. W. Brack- ett, Homer Beardsley, J. T. Murphy ; constables, Lyman Sawyer, Wm. Bennetts, Wm. Peck.
1873-Supervisors, D. F. Brown, Ad. Handy, Jas. Kenyon; clerk. C. M. Morse; treasurer, F. L. Greer ; assessor, J. W. Brackett ; justices,. Jesse Brooks, J. T. Murphy ; constables, Lyman Sawyer, Thomas Os- borne, Marshall Scott, Wm. Peck.
1874-Supervisors and treasurer same as 1873; clerk, C. N. Hol- ford; assessor, A. C. Morse ; justices, E. S. Tubbs, L. D. Holford; con- stables, J. R. Carroll, John Dodge, Wm. Peck, Chas. Stone.
1875-Supervisors, Geo. W. Fennell, Wm. Howard, James Kenyon; clerk, Jesse Brooks; treasurer, Alex. Johnston; assessor, J. C. Orr ; jus-
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tices, Wm. Batie, J. W. Graves; constables, W. V. Bennetts, J. R. Car- rol, Wm. Peck, C. J. Woodward.
1876-Supervisors, Wm. B. Clark, James Kenyon, Jacob Schreiner ; clerk, Jesse Brooks; treasurer, Levison Woodhouse; assessor, A. S. Osborne; justice, C. J. Woodward, Jesse Brooks, Ethel S. Tubbs, Jas. Kenyon; constables, Lyman S. Sawyer, John R. Carrol, Frank Murphy.
1877-Supervisors, W. B. Clark, Wm. Whillans, C. W. Wheeler; clerk, Jesse Brooks; treasurer, Levison Woodhouse; assessor, Henry Lord; justices, F. Vanderhoff, A. C. Tubbs; constables, J. R. Carroll, F. Handy, E. P. Finn.
1878-Supervisors, W. B. Clark, Jas. Kenyon, Henry Lord; clerk, Jesse Brooks ; treasurer, L. Woodhouse; assessor, J. W. Brackett, jus- tices, Jesse Brooks, C. J. Woodward, John Beeley ; constables, L. S. Sawyer, J. R. Carrol, F. Handy.
1879-Supervisors, clerk and treasurer same as in 1878; assessor, Geo. A. Hazard; justices, F. Vanderhoff, Geo. W. Fennell; constables, O. F. Hill, J. P. Carroll, L. Sawyer.
1880-Supervisors, clerk and treasurer same as in 1878; assessor, A. M. Cilley ; justices, C. J. Woodward, Jesse Brooks, E. D. Orr, Chas. Stone; constables, J. R. Carroll, L. Sawyer, Wm Lee.
1881-Supervisors, Geo. W. Fennell, Henry Lord, Jas. Kenyon ; clerk, Jesse Brooks; treasurer, W. E. Brown, assessor, J. P. Jenkins ; justices, C. W. Stone, Geo. Millen ; constables, L. Sawyer, J. R. Car- roll, Dan. Traner.
1882-Supervisors, Samuel Woodhouse, James Kenyon, Henry Lord; clerk, Jesse Brooks; treasurer, Walter E. Brown; assessor, J. P. Jenkins ; justices, Jesse Brooks, Wm. Ball; constables, Lyman Sawyer, J. R. Carroll, Ben Denson.
1883-Supervisors, D. F. Brown, Caleb Kenyon, Henry Lord; clerk, Jesse Brooks; treasurer, Geo. W. Nevins; assessor, J. P. Jenkins ; justices, C. J. Woodward, C. W. Stone, J. P. Jenkins ; constables, J. R. Carroll, L. S. Sawyer, Benj. Denson.
1884-Supervisors, Patrick Bartley, Wm. Harvey, Henry Lord; clerk, treasurer, and assessor same as in 1883; justices, J. P. Jenkins, Jesse Brooks ; constables, W. E. Garthwaite, H. M. Hamilton, C. W. Stone.
1885-Supervisors, Patrick Bartley, Wm. Pohle, Caleb Kenyon; clerk, treasurer, and assessor same as in 1883; justices, C. J. Wood-
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ward, C. W. Stone; constables, Lyman S. Sawyer, W. E. Garthwaite, C. W. Stone.
1886-Supervisors, P. Bartley, Wm. Pohle, Wm. Harvey ; clerk, Jesse Brooks; treasurer, G. W. Nevins; assessor, George A. Hazard; justices, Jesse Brooks, J. P. Jenkins; constables, George Lyman, Elijah Trollope, W. E. Garthwaite.
1887-Supervisors, clerk, treasurer, and assessor same as in 1886; justices, C. J. Woodward, Henry Lord ; constables, W. E. Garthwaite, Thomas Lord, Joseph Jacco.
1888-Supervisors, D. F. Brown, Jacob Schreiner, Wm. Harvey ; clerk, treasurer, and assessor same as in 1887; justices, F. Lewis, Henry Roberts, Jesse Brooks, J. P. Jenkins ; constables, Charles Pierce, Ephraim Cornish, W. E. Garthwaite.
1889-Supervisors, D. F. Brown, Jacob Schreiner, E. T. Patterson ; clerk, Jesse Brooks; treasurer, C. B. Woodhouse; assessor, J. P. Jen- kins; justices, C. W. Stone, E. S. Tubbs; constables, Ed. Garthwaite, Chas. Pierce.
1890-Supervisors, clerk, treasurer, and assessor, same as in 1889; justices, Jesse Brooks, J. P. Jenkins, Fred Stevens; constables, W. E. Garthwaite, J. M. Edwards, E. B. Cornish.
1891-Supervisors, D. F. Brown, Jacob Schreiner, John Harris; clerk, Jesse Brooks; treasurer, G. W. Nevins; assessor, J. P. Jenkins; justices, J. M. Donnelly, A. G. Shrake; constables, C. W. Stone, H. W. Pitts, A. E. Lewis.
1892-Supervisors, Jacob Schreiner, John Harris, C. W. Stone; clerk, M. F. Woodhouse; treasurer, G. W. Nevins; assessor, J. P. Jen- kins ; justices, J. P. Jenkins, Jesse Brooks, John Johnson, Lincoln Abra- ham ; constables. Jos. Jacco, J. M. Donnelly, George Lynas.
1893-Supervisors, Jacob Schreiner, Wm. Pohle, Henry Lord; clerk, treasurer, and assessor, same as in 1892; justices, Matthew Baldwin, F. Phillips; constables, H. Cliff, Tucer Hammond, William Patterson.
1894-Supervisors, C. W. Stone, Henry Roberts, John Gates; clerk, M. F. Woodhouse; treasurer, G. W. Nevins; assessor, Oscar Knapp; justices, Jesse Brooks, J. P. Jenkins, J. E. Connell, Samuel Ketner; constables, Chas. Garthwaite, Gus Pohle, Peter McKevitt.
1895-Supervisors, clerk, treasurer, and assessor, same as in 1894; justices, L. D. Holford, Otis Weld, Lincoln Abraham; constables, Thos. Lord, E. B. Cornish, H. M. Hickok.
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1896-Supervisors, D. F. Brown, Tucer Hammond, John Harris; clerk, treasurer, and assessor, same as in 1894; justices, C. W. Stone, George Millen ; constables, Samuel Ketner, H. Cliff, John Lord.
1897-Supervisors, clerk, treasurer, and assesor same as in 1896; justices, C. W. Stone, Wm. Patterson, Wm. Hadley, Andrew Roberts; constables, P. McKevitt, James Sutton, H. Hickok.
1898-Supervisors, A. J. Frazer, Henry Lord, John Harris; clerk, R. C. Fennel; treasurer. D. Morrisey ; assessor, Oscar Knapp; justices, Henry Roberts, C. W. Stone, H. L. Harvey, Oscar Knapp; constables, Wm. Schreiner, Gus Pohle, Hiram Cliff. Justice Bardeen.
1899-Supervisors, Henry Roberts, John Harris, Albert Schreiner ; clerk, R. C. Fennell; treasurer, Andrew Foster; assessor, S. A. Stone; justices, C. E. Pierce, Gus Pohle Fred Mason; constables, August Kolt, Wm. Thornton, George Harris.
1900-Supervisors, Henry Roberts, Albert Schreiner, John Harris; clerk, A. N. Crabtree; treasurer, Foster; assessor, Samuel Stone; jus- tice, Jesse Brooks; constable, George V. Hickok.
VILLAGE OFFICERS.
The village was incorporated in 1880 The records were destroyed by fire and the names of the officers for some years are not obtainable.
1880-President, Wm. Batie; trustees, U. F. Briggs, Geo. Mount, D. F. Brown, Linn, Hoskins, Frank L. Greer; clerk, Geo. B. Sprague; treasurer, Herman Enke; marshal, Lyman Sawyer; police justice, C. J. Woodward.
1881-President, Wm. Batie; trustees, D. F. Brown, Linn Hoskins, G. H. Chambers, Jesse Brooks, Geo. W. Nevins, George Hazard ; clerk, G. Sprague; treasurer, Herman Enke; marshal, J. R. Carroll; police justice, Simon Woodhouse.
1882-President, D. F. Brown; trustees, Leroy Cobb, N. E. Wat- riss, H. E. Taylor, Jesse Brooks, F. L. Greer, J. D. Clayton ; clerk, Jesse Brooks; treasurer, Herman Enke; marshal. J. R. Carroll ; police jus- tice, Simon Woodhouse.
1883-President, Samuel Woodhouse; trustees, Linn Hoskins, C. M. Morse, J. D. Clayton, James Ballantine, John Cairns, H. E. Taylor; clerk, Jesse Brooks ; treasurer, Herman Enke; marshal, J. R. C/ rroll; police justice, John P. Jenkins.
1884-President, S. A. Hatch ; trustees, J. D. Clayton, C. B. d- house, George B. Sprague, Thomas H. Chambers, William H. B 'n,
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Frank Witcomb; clerk, Ned Jacco; treasurer, Herman Enke; marshal, W. E. Garthwaite.
1885-President, Charles W. Wheeler; trustees, George B. Sprague, Lyman Sawyer. J. M. Lewis, William V. Bennetts, Frank L. Greer, Ira Fox; clerk, H. E. Taylor; trearurer, Herman Enke; marshal, W. E. Garthwaite police justice, John P. Jenkins.
1886-President, J. M. Lewis; trustees, Ned Jacco, Samuel Kitto, David Ballantine, William Bennetts, Joseph D. Clayton, Aaron S. Os- born; clerk, H. E. Taylor; treasurer, Herman Enke; marshal, Albert Budworth.
1887-President, P. Bartley; trustees, David Ballantine, Samuel Kitto, B. Chambers, John Schulte, Mark Hadley, E. Spencer; clerk, M. F. Woodhouse; treasurer, L. D. Holford; marshal, Albert Bud- worth.
1889-President, John Bonham; trustees, James Stark, H. E. Tay- lor, Falc Woodhouse, R. N. Hoskins, Herman Enke, Minor Hickok; clerk, M. F. Woodhouse; treasurer, Alfred J. Frazier; marshal, Scott Seymour; police justice, L. D. Holford.
1890-President, John Bonham; trustees, Herman Enke, Robt. N. Hoskins, Fale Woodhouse, H. E. Taylor, James Stark, Miner Hickok; clerk, M. F. Woodhouse; treasurer, J. M. Donnelly; marshal, W. E. Garthwaite; police justice, John P. Jenkins.
1892-President, T. H. Chambers; trustees, Wm. Mauger, Joseph Donnelly, Ira Fox, David Taylor, Frank Witcomb; clerk, M. F. Wood- house; treasurer, H. E. Taylor; marshal, Joseph Jacco; police justice, L. D. Holford.
1893-President, D. F. Brown; trustees. George C. Marlow, J. R. Gordon, Grant Ballantine, E. B. Cornish, A. C. Tubbs, A. N. Crabtree; clerk, Samuel Kitto; treasurer, H. E. Taylor; marshal, H. E. Pitts; police justice, L. D. Holford.
1894-President, M. F. Woodhouse; trustees, W. O. Smith, H. E. Pitts, Thomas Pendleton, David Taylor. Miner Hickok, A. J. Frazier; clerk, A. N. Crabtree; treasurer, H. E. Taylor; marshal, William Per- rin; police justice, John P. Jenkins.
1895-President, M. F. Woodhouse; trustees, Samuel Kitto, W.O. Smith, Miner Hickok, Alfred J. Frazier, R. N. Hoskins, David Taylor; clerk, A. N. Crabtree; treasurer, H. E. Taylor; marshal, Ephraim B. Cornish ; police justice, John Bohnam.
1896-President, A. J. Frazier ; trustees, Herman Enke, F. W Phil-
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lips, W. O. Smith, John L. Brady, Abram Patch, David Taylor; clerk, Ernest Brooks; treasurer, H. E. Taylor; marshal, A. N. Crabtree; jus- tice, Jesse Brooks.
1897-President, A. J. Frazier; trustees, David Taylor, Abram Patch, Herman Enke, J. L. Brady, Griffin Hickok, F. W. Phillips; clerk, Ed Greer; treasurer, H. E. Taylor; marshal, Fred Geiger; police jus- tice, James Sutton.
1898-President, A. J. Frazier : trustees, L. D. Holford, W. H. Gla- sier, Fred Fischer, Alfred Kinney, Lincoln Abraham, Herman Voss; clerk, E. C. Greer; treasurer, .H E. Taylor; constable, Harley Hickok ; justice, Jesse Brooks.
1899-President, A. H. Patch; trustees, John Pennock, R. N. Hos- kins, Herman Voss, Ernest Brooks, Samuel Kitto, Harley M. Hickok; clerk, E. C. Greer; treasurer, Fred Fischer; police justice, L. D. Hol- ford; constable, George Hickok.
1900-President, Charles W. Stone: trustees, Samuel Kitto, O. J. Day, H. E. Pitts, W. O. Smith, David Taylor. James Peacock, clerk and police justice, A. J. Frazier; treasurer, H. C. Enke; marshal, Fred Geiger.
NEWSPAPERS.
The first newspaper printed in the place was the West Grant Ad- vocate, started June 18, 1873, by C. N. Holford. It was at first a four- column quarto, printed a page at a time on a novelty press. In June, 1874, Rev. J. J. Clifton, a Methodist minister, was taken into partnership and the paper enlarged to a seven- column folio. The Washington press on which the Democrat at Lancas- ter had been printed was purchased. The paper was quite successful, but in the fall of 1874 Mr. Clifton was transferred to another field and sold his interest to P. Bartley. Mr. Bart- ley desired a wider field for the paper, and also to make it an organ for the Democratic party in Grant County, and in October, 1874, the
C. K. HOLFORD.
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paper was removed to Lancaster and its publication continued as the Grant County Advocate.
The Bloomington Record .- This paper was started July 15, 1880, by Charles J. Glazier. In October, 1881, he sold the paper to C. N. Holford and removed to Breckinridge, Minnesota. The Record was printed on the same press and type with which Mr. Holford had years before printed the Argus in Lancaster. On December 15, 1882, C. N. Holford sold the paper to L. C. McKenney, who published it until September 18, 1888, when he sold it to Cook Brothers. The changes of publishers were afterward frequent : Ernest Brooks and U. L. Hol- ford, in 1889, C. W. Cook in the same year, then Ernest Brooks, then C. H. Curtis & Co., all in 1890; then Steele & Brooks and Frank Wagner in 1891. In 1895 Ernest Brooks took charge again and still publishes the paper.
The Record has been generally Republican, but has devoted most of its space to local affairs, being a bright and excellent local paper.
SCHOOLS.
The first school taught within the present limits of the township was in the Bunker Hill settlement about 1845. The first school-house was a log building, which was afterward replaced by a frame painted red, and that building and its successor have always been known as "the Red School-house." The first teacher was David Augerlist.
The first school-house used by the people of the village of Tafton was a small frame about three-fourths of a mile southeast of the vil- lage. This was moved into the village, on the site of the present stone school-house, and for fourteen years served as a.school-house for the growing village, and now serves as a kitchen for Max Kolb's resi- dence. Among the ante-bellum teachers in this old building were Miss Laura L. Wilson, now living in Washington, D. C., and Joseph W. Brackett, Jr. In 1870 a commodious two-story stone building was erected and a graded school under the superintendence of P. Bartley was established. This building soon proved insufficient for the grow- ing needs of the village and in 1884 a handsome brick building was erected on what was the public square, but which had become the property of James Ballantine and was bought by the district as a school lot. A high school was organized. The school is now under charge of Prof. C. E. Washburn, principal, and a corps of assistants.
Tafton Collegiate Seminary .- In January, 1851, Prof. M. T. Allen opened the Blake's Prairie Institute in Tafton. In the spring of 1858
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Professor David Parsons and Mrs. Parsons came from Bellefontaine, Ohio, where the Professor had acquired a high reputation as an edu- cator, and the Tafton Collegiate Seminary was organized. The first term was taught in the building next to the mill, and the next term in William Cole's building. That summer a commodious two-story frame building was erected on the north side of the public square, and dedicated October 25, 1858. It was soon afterward occupied by the school. Professor Parsons was a most zealous and successful educa- tor, and he also knew the value of printer's ink. Besides advertise- ments in the newspapers, the merits of the academy were shown forth in a periodical edited by Professor Parsons entitled The Offering. The curriculum of the school was ambitious and far-reaching, and the corps of teachers was in numbers and abilityequal to all the demands. From July, 1859, to July, 1862, there were 249 students on the cata- logue of the Seminary, most of them attendants for the whole time. In 1861 unfortunate differences arose between the principal and many of his influential supporters, and by 1862 there was a great falling off in the attendance. In 1862 Prof. Parsons was elected county super- intendent of schools and from January 1, 1863, the Seminary was in charge of Mrs. Parsons, a very able teacher, but not the equal of her husband in zeal and knack. At the close of the winter term of 1864 Mrs. Parsons retired and the school was in charge of Capt. W. W. Likens for a time. In the fall of 1865 the academy was reopened with W. H. Holford and T. J. Brooks as associate principais. These were succeeded in the fall of 1866 by Prof. Charles.Newcomb and Mrs. E. J. M. Newcomb who carried on the school for two years, when it was abandoned and the building stood vacant until it was transformed into the Congregational church. Prof. Parsons after leaving Grant County was superintendent of the city schools of Dubuque, Iowa, and Freeport, Illinois, and then went into the insurance business at Detroit, Michigan, where he died a few years ago.
CHURCHES.
The Baptist Church .- This society originated in Beetown, and its early history may be found in the history of that town. In 1857 a series of meetings were held in Tafton and the church removed to that place. Elder E. M. Lewis preached until 1858, when he withdrew from the denomination. In April, 1859, Fred G. Thearle, a licentiate of the Darlington Church, became pastor, and remained until 1864. After him came Revs. E. B. Law, W. T. Hill, G. F. Strong from April,
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1872, to his death in September of that year; J. C. Webb, G. D. Stevens, and J. A. Abbott. In 1884 Rev. J. G. Johnson came and preached five months, when he was informed in a letter from Edward S. Perrin, a member of the church, that if he did not leave Perrin would "run him through with the sword of the spirit of the Lord." Mr. Johnson left and the people, who were curious to know how the operation would be done and what for, never learned any more about it. Mr. Perrin was expelled from the church.
In 1860 work was begun on achurch building. Subscriptions had been made by the citizens generally, many of whom were not Baptists, for the sake of having a church in the village. But the work lan- guished and the frame stood uncovered for a year or so. The church was not completed until 1863. It still serves the Baptist congrega- tion as a place of worship.
The Congregational Church .- This church was organized April 10. 1847, at the house of Hugh Garside near Patch Grove, by Revs. J. D. Stevens and O. Littlefield. The latter was the first minister, preach-
PAP BLUNT'S BARN.
ing also at Beetown. He remained until February, 1849. Rev. C. W. Monroe became the pastor December 25, 1849, and left in 1850. Rev. S. W. Eaton, of Lancaster, preached to the society occasionally until
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October, 1851, when Ira Tracy became the pastor, preaching at Patch Grove and the Red School-house, and afterward at some other points. The first services of the society were held in "Pap" Blunt's barn in the town of Patch Grove. In 1855 the erection of a church building was begun a mile and a half southwest of the new village of Tafton. Mr. Tracy continued as pastor until April, 1956, when he was succeeded by Rev. A. M. Dixon, of Platteville. Some time after- ward Mr. Tracy went to Minnesot and died there in 1875. Mr. Dixon remained until 1875. He was succeeded by Revs. George M.
THE PRAIRIE CHURCH
Smith, William A. Lyman, Julian Dixon (son of A. M. Dixon), A. E. Tracy, and C. T. Melvin. In June, 1866, Rev. A. A. Young came as pastor and remained five years, aided by Rev. W. H. Marble. When organized the church was called the First Presbyterian, which name was soon changed to Blake's Prairie Congregational Church of Taf- ton. In June, 1872, Rev. David Wirt came and was pastor one year. This year the old academy building in Bloomington was bought and transformed into a neat and commodious church building, at a cost of $1,160, and dedicated August 24, 1873. Of the debt of $600, $512
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was subscribed at the time of the dedication The old church on the hill was moved into the McIvor settlement in the town of Glen Haven.
THE VILLAGE CHURCH.
The subsequent pastors were Revs. Smith Norton, R. L. Cheney, Mor- timer Smith, J. B. Adkins, G. W. Brownjohn, G. W. Jackman, and F. W. Schoenfeld. A parsonage was built in 1879.
The Methodist Episcopal Church .- The first Methodist class was organized in the fall of 1857 with Henry K. Wells and his wife,. Jere- miah Gee and his wife, L. S. Osborne and his wife, Luke Parsons, Wil- liam T. Crowley, Miss Annette Wilson, and Miss Minnie Gordon as members. Mr. Wells was class-leader. The first meetings were held in the school-house, in the Baptist church, and in Brown's Hall, until 1871, when the present frame church building was erected. Until 1877 the church was in the Patch Grove circuit and preaching was by ministers resident there, whose names will be found in the history of that town. In 1876 Mr. Robert Hoskins, a returned Indian mission- ary was resident preacher. He returned to India in 1877, and Rev. James Ward became resident minister. After him there have been the following ministers: J. C. Lawson, J. A. Willey, Charles Harris, D. J. Whiting, W. O. Nuzum, F. E. Lewis, J. W. Mills, A. C. Halsey, Richard Pengilly, A. A. Loomis, and Alfred Verran, the present incumbent.
St. Mary's Catholic Church .- This is a new church, built in 1899, and a new parish, established the same year. The church is a hand-
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BLOOMINGTON.
some brick edifice of which the Catholics of the parish are justly proud. It is 40×70 and cost $7,000. Connected with the church is a parsonage which cost $1,400, while the lots cost $450. The parish is in charge of Rev. Father Michael Honert.
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