USA > Wisconsin > Grant County > History of Grant County Wisconsin, including its civil, political, geological, mineralogical archaeological and military history > Part 67
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ORGANIZATION, POPULATION AND OFFICERS.
The town was organized in 1849 and then included the present towns of Wingville, Clifton, Castle Rock, and Muscoda. In 1856 it was reduced to its present dimensions, thirty-six square miles, being Town 6, Range 1. Since then its population has been : in 1860, 670; in 1864, 674; in 1870, 1,031; in 1875, 1,017; in 1880, 1178; in 1885, 1,313; in 1899; 1,380; in 1894, 1,531.
The town offiers have been as follows:
1849-Supervisors, William Clifton, William Kinney, Louis A. Samuel; clerk, A. Griswold; treasurer, A. D. Mills; assessor, James Hudson; supt. of schools, James F. Brown; justices, Jacob D. Merritt; Jesse H. Matthews, William Kinney, James Moore; constables, James Hudson, John Swager, L. J. D. Parrish.
1850-Supervisors, William McGonigal, Jesse Chapman, Benjamin Bull; clerk, J. B. Adney ; treasurer, David Thompson; assessor, and supt. of schools, James F. Brown; justices, John Davis, James Moore, Benjamin Bull; constables, J. B. Adney, L. J. D. Parrish, Nel- son Millard.
1851-Supervisors, David Thompson, George Schnee, Jacob Ben- ner; clerk, Thomas N. Kelly ; treasurer, Henry Schnee; assessor, A. D. Mills; supt. of schools, Thomas Thomas; justices, David Thompson, A. Griswold, A. F. Schnee; constables. Thomas N. Kelly, James Tin- dall, L. J. D. Parrish.
1852-Supervisors, Thomas Laird, George Schnee, John Thomp- son; clerk, and assessor, A. F. Schnee; treasurer, D. S. Benner; supt. of schools, Thomas Thomas; justices, Thomas Laird, James Gaston ; constable, Thomas W. Lewis.
1853-Supervisors, William S. Chapman, John Thompson, A. D. Mills; clerk, assessor, and supt of schools, same as in 1852; treas
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Theodore Warner; justices, Isaac Lewis, A. F. Schnee; constable, T. W. Lewis.
1854-Supervisors, A. D. Mills, Moses W. Darnell, Stephen Knowl- ton; clerk, A. F. Schnee; treasurer. John Thompson; assessor and supt. of schools, Thomas Thomas; justices, Thomas Laird, William S. Chapman, D. R. Sylvester ; constable, James Hudson.
1855-Supervisors, A. D. Mills, James Huston, Charles Duncan ; clerk, J. S. Comfort; treasurer, John Locey ; assessor, J. G.Allen ; supt. of schools, Wm. R. Gaston ; justices, D. R. Sylvester, Charles Duncan; constable, John Locey.
1856-Supervisors, A. D. Mills, Wm. R. Gaston, Richard Straw; clerk, T. J. Greene; treasurer, John Locey ; assessor, Edward Taylor, supt. of schools, Thomas Laird; justices, Thomas Laird, James Gas- ton ; constable, John Locey.
1857-Supervisors, Richard Straw, Wm. R. Gaston, A. D. Mills; clerk, T. J. Greene; treasurer, L. Samuels ; assessor, A. F. Schnee; supt: of schools, L. F. Dewitt; justices, L. Samuels, S. Clyde, S. Scott; con- stables, Thomas Tucker, D. M. Green.
1858-Supervisors, Albert Foster, W. R. Gaston, A. D. Mills ; clerk, T. J. Greene; treasurer, John Thompson; assessor, L. M. Samuels; supt. of schools, Peter DeWitt.
1859-Supervisors, G. J. Biddick, Thomas Lincoln, Ajalon Wright ; clerk and treasurer, same as in 1858; assessor, Thomas Lincoln; supt. of schools, W. O. Thomas; justices, Thomas Thomas, W. R. Gaston; constables, John Locey, Almeron S. Newell, John C. Bowden.
1860-Supervisors, A. F. Schnee, W. F. Hartsook, A. D. Mills ; clerk, T. J. Greene; treasurer, John Thompson: assessor, Wm. R. Gaston ; supt. of schools, Eli C. Jones; justices, John G. Allen, A. D. Mills, T. J. Greene; constables, A. S. Newell, J. C. Bowden, David Kitch.
1861-Supervisors, Thomas Laird, Godfrey Hess, Michael Steele; clerk, James B. Laird; treasurer, Edward Bell; assessor, William H. Hartsook ; supt. of schools, Eli C. Jones ; justices, Josiah Thompson, John McKelvey ; constables, David M. Greene, William Pick.
1862-Supervisors, John Dunn, Godfrey Hess, John McKelvey; clerk, James B. Laird; treasurer, Edward Bell; assessor, Jas. Chand- ler ; justices, T. J. Green, Wm. D. Randall, A. D. Mills ; constables, Wm. Pick, Elijah McDonnell.
1863-Supervisors, John Dunn, G. Hess, Michael Steele; clerk, James B. Laird; treasurer, James Chandler; assessor, Thomas Laird;
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justices, A. D. Mills, Thomas Laird; constables, Wm. B. Edgington, D. R. Mills.
1864-Supervisors, Godfrey Hess, Thomas Laird, Wm. R. Gaston ; clerk, James B. Laird; treasurer, Edward Bell; assessor, Edward Tay- lor; justices, T. J. Greene, Thomas Thomas, Richard Nixon ; constables, Thompson Tucker, William Ballard, Alex Miller.
1865-Supervisors, Thomas Laird, Robert Chandler, A. D. Mills ; clerk, James B. Laird; treasurer, Wm. R. Gaston; assessor, Thomas Laird; justices, A. D. Mills, Thomas Thomas; constables, John Bow- den, C. F. Taylor, Orlando Thomas.
1866-Supervisors, clerk, treasurer, and assessor, same as in 1865; justices, Thomas Laird, James B. Laird ; constables, Joshua Watson, Daniel Wilkinson.
1867-Supervisors, Michael Steel, A. D. Mills, W. B. Notton ; clerk, James B. Laird ; treasurer, James Chandler; assessor, Edward Taylor ; justices, A. D. Mills, Thomas Thomas; constables, John C. Bowden, William Pick, Robert Moran.
1868-Supervisors, L. W. Manning, Ajalon Wright, David Kitch ; clerk, James B. Laird; treasurer, J. S. Chandler; assessor, Thomas Laird; constables. J. T. Kendrick, J. S. Galloway.
1869-Supervisors, Thomas Laird, Robert Chandler, Thomas Gainforth; clerk, treasurer, and assessor, same as in 1868; justices, none qualified; constables, John Kendrick, John C. Bowden.
1870-Supervisors same as in 1869; clerk, I. G. De Witt; treasurer, James S. Chandler ; assessor, Thomas Laird; justices, Thomas Laird, Charles Muender, A. D. Mills, Henry Eastman; constables, Robert Moran, John C. Bowden.
1871-Supervisors, treasurer, and assessor same as in 1869; clerk, J. T. Taylor; justices, Edward Taylor, S. S. Brooks, J. N. Keith; con- stables, Robert Moran, John Galloway, Louis Samuels.
1872-Supervisors, Thomas Laird, Joseph Chandler, A. D. Mills; clerk, treasurer, assessor, and constables same as in 1871; justices, Thomas Laird, Thomas Thomas, A. D. Mills.
1873-Supervisors, Thomas Laird, A. D. Mills, David Kitch; clerk, treasurer, assessor, and constables same as in 1871; justices, J. N. Keith, A. D. Mills, J. S. Tuttle.
1874-Supervisors, Thos. Laird, Joseph Chandler, A. D. Mills; clerk, J. A. Thomas; treasurer, J. S. Chandler; assessor, Thos. Laird;
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justices, Thos. Laird, A. D. Mills; Charles Muender; constables, Eugene Moore, J. S. Galloway, J. E. McDonald.
1875-Supervisors, Thomas Laird, David Kitch, J. P. Chandler; clerk, treasurer, assessor, and constables, same as, in 1874; justices, J. N. Kitch, Moses Reese, J. C. Bowden.
1876-Supervisors, clerk, treasurer, and assessor, same is in 1874; justices, Thomas Laird, Peter DeWitt; constables, J. T. Kendrick, Samuel Bowden, J. E. McDonald.
1877-Supervisors, Thomas Laird, David Kitch, Thomas Gain- forth; clerk, treasurer, and assessor, same as in 1874; justices, J. T. Taylor, Moses Reese; constables, J. T. Kendrick, J. E. McDonald, John S. Galloway.
1878-Supervisors, W. H. Middleton, David Kitch, Thomas Gainforth ; clerk, J. A. Thomas; treasurer, J. S. Chandler ; assessor, J. P. Chandler ; justices, Thomas Thomas, Jr., John Dunn ; constables, J. T. Kendrick, J. E. McDonald, John S. Galloway.
1879-Supervisors, Elisha Carrington, Thomas Thomas, Jr., C. G. Van Buren; clerk, treasurer, and assessor, same as in 1878; justices, F. M. Eastman J. T. Taylor, F. M. Morrison ; constables, M. M. Kitch, J. T. Kendrick, A. O. Mills.
1880-Supervisors, C. G. VanBuren, David Kitch, J. R. Monteith ; clerk, John Thomas; treasurer, Elisha Carrington; assessor, J. P. Chandler ; justice, W. G. Willoughby, C. C. Coates.
1881-Supervisors, clerk, and assessor, same as in 1880; treasurer, G. Hess; justices, J. T. Taylor; constables, John Kendrick, Frank Parrish. A. O. Mills.
1882-Supervisors, W. E. Bell, David Kitch, J. R. Monteith ; clerk, John A. Thomas; treasurer, Elisha Carrington ; assessor, J. P. Chan- dler ; justices, C. C. Coates, W. H. Middleton; constables, A. O. Mills, J. T. Kendrick, Edward Frankland.
1883-Supervisors, J. B. Johnson, David Kitch, James Monteith ; clerk, John A. Thomas; treasurer, George B. Smith; assessor, J. P. Chandler; justices, J. T. Taylor, P. T. Stevens, M. Thomas, Jr., A. Matthews; constables, A. O. Mills, William Pettis, Frank Parrish.
1884-Supervisors, J. B. Johnson, Eric Gilbertson, John Kadlitz; clerk, treasurer, and assessor, same as in 1883; justices, J. S. Gallo- way, A. Krueger; constables, Frank Parrish, Thomas Kelly, W. W. Pettis.
1885-Supervisors, David Eastman, John Kendrick, Eric Gilbert-
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son; clerk, assessor, and constables, same as in 1884; treasurer, Geo. S. Bell; justices, J. T. Taylor, George Hillery.
1886-Supervisors, David Eastman, George P. Smith, Eric Gilbert- son; clerk, J. A. Thomas; treasurer, George S. Bell; assessor, J. P. Chandler; justices, Morton Eastman, Thomas Thomas; constables, Frank Parrish, A. O. Mills, J. W. Robinson.
1887-Supervisors, C. G. VanBuren, Eric Gilbertson, John Kadlitz; clerk, S. H. Taylor; treasurer, George S. Bell; assessor, J. P. Chandler ; justices, J. B. Hitchcock, J. S. Galloway; constables, Mark Thomas, A. O. Mills, Frank Parrish.
1888-Supervisors, J. B. Johnson, Orlando Thomas, A. G Thomas ; clerk, Morton Eastman; treasurer, George S. Bell; assessor, J. T. Bid- dick ; justices, James T. Taylor, E. Goldthorp; constables, A. O. Mills, Albert Munns. F. E. Parrish.
1889-Supervisors, C. G. VanBuren. Orlando Thomas, A. G Town- send; clerk, Morton Eastman; treasurer, J. P. Chandler; assessor, Charles H. Green; justices, P. T. Stevens J. S. Calloway, Robert Hil- lary ; constables, Frank E. Parrish, A. O. Mills, A. Murray.
1890-Supervisors, J. B. Johnson, A. G. Townsend, J. R. Monteith ; clerk, A. H Fieldhouse; treasurer, George S. Bell; assessor, J. T. Bid- dick; justices, Mark Thomas, David Eastman; constables, Frank E. Parrish, A. O. Mills, Albert Murray.
1891-Supervisors, Thos. J. Davis, W. G. Costley, George Heller; clerk, treasurer, assessor, and constables, same as in 1890; justices, P. T. Stevens, J. T. Taylor, A. R. Palmer.
1892-Supervisors, clerk, and treasurer, same as in 1891; asses- sor, J. P. Chandler; justices, J. A. Thomas, L. A. Olson, Frank Bell; constables, Frank Parrish, A. O. Mills, Emory Newell.
1893-Supervisors, C. G. VanBuren, George Heller, Henry Muen- der; clerk, A. R. Palmer; treasurer, George S. Bell; assessor, J. T. Bid- dick ; justices, O. A. Eastman, F. M. Bell, J. J. Knelling. George Hil- lary ; constables, F. E. Parish, Samuel Eastman, John Hudek.
1894-Supervisors, David Eastman, James Monteith, William Divall; clerk, J. A. Thomas; treasurer, F. T Blake; assessor, J. P. Chandler; J. Knelling. P. T. Stevens, Ora Dixon; constables, A. O. Mills, George Galloway, Emory Newell.
1895-Supervisors, clerk, and assessor, same as in 1894; treasurer, George S. Bell ; justices, Emory Newell, Joel F. Eastman ; constables, E. L. Carrington, A. O. Mills, J. W. House.
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.
justices, Thos. Laird, A. D. Mills; Charles Muender; constables, Eugene Moore, J. S. Galloway, J. E. McDonald.
1875-Supervisors, Thomas Laird, David Kitch, J. P. Chandler ; clerk, treasurer, assessor, and constables, same as, in 1874; justices, J. N. Kitch, Moses Reese, J. C. Bowden.
1876-Supervisors, clerk, treasurer, and assessor, same is in 1874; justices, Thomas Laird, Peter DeWitt; constables, J. T. Kendrick, Samuel Bowden, J. E. McDonald.
1877-Supervisors, Thomas Laird, David Kitch, Thomas Gain- forth ; clerk, treasurer, and assessor, same as in 1874; justices, J. T. Taylor, Moses Reese; constables, J. T. Kendrick, J. E. McDonald, John S. Galloway.
1878-Supervisors, W. H. Middleton, David Kitch, Thomas Gainforth ; clerk, J. A. Thomas; treasurer, J. S. Chandler; assessor, J. P. Chandler ; justices, Thomas Thomas, Jr., John Dunn ; constables, J. T. Kendrick, J. E. McDonald, John S. Galloway.
1879-Supervisors, Elisha Carrington, Thomas Thomas, Jr., C. G. Van Buren; clerk, treasurer, and assessor, same as in 1878; justices, F. M. Eastman J. T. Taylor, F. M. Morrison ; constables, M. M. Kitch, J. T. Kendrick, A. O. Mills.
1880-Supervisors, C. G. VanBuren, David Kitch, J. R. Monteith ; clerk, John Thomas; treasurer, Elisha Carrington; assessor, J. P. Chandler ; justice, W. G. Willoughby, C. C. Coates.
1881-Supervisors, clerk, and assessor, same as in 1880; treasurer, G. Hess; justices, J. T. Taylor; constables, John Kendrick, Frank Parrish, A. O. Mills.
1882-Supervisors, W. E. Bell, David Kitch, J. R. Monteith ; clerk, John A. Thomas; treasurer, Elisha Carrington ; assessor, J. P. Chan- dler ; justices, C. C. Coates, W. H. Middleton; constables, A. O. Mills, J. T. Kendrick, Edward Frankland.
1883-Supervisors, J. B. Johnson, David Kitch, James Monteith; clerk, John A. Thomas; treasurer, George B. Smith; assessor, J. P. Chandler; justices, J. T. Taylor, P. T. Stevens, M. Thomas, Jr., A. Matthews; constables, A. O. Mills, William Pettis, Frank Parrish.
1884-Supervisors, J. B. Johnson, Eric Gilbertson, John Kadlitz; clerk, treasurer, and assessor, same as in 1883; justices, J. S. Gallo- way, A. Krueger; constables, Frank Parrish, Thomas Kelly, W. W. Pettis.
1885-Supervisors, David Eastman, John Kendrick, Eric Gilbert-
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son; clerk, assessor, and constables, same as in 1884; treasurer, Geo. S. Bell; justices, J. T. Taylor, George Hillery.
1886-Supervisors, David Eastman, George P. Smith, Eric Gilbert- son; clerk, J. A. Thomas; treasurer, George S. Bell; assessor, J. P. Chandler; justices, Morton Eastman, Thomas Thomas; constables, Frank Parrish, A. O. Mills, J. W. Robinson.
1887-Supervisors, C. G. VanBuren, Eric Gilbertson, John Kadlitz ; clerk, S. H. Taylor; treasurer, George S. Bell; assessor, J. P. Chandler ; justices, J. B. Hitchcock, J. S. Galloway; constables, Mark Thomas, A. O. Mills, Frank Parrish.
1888-Supervisors, J. B. Johnson, Orlando Thomas, A. G Thomas; clerk, Morton Eastman; treasurer, George S. Bell; assessor, J. T. Bid- dick ; justices, James T. Taylor, E. Goldthorp; constables, A. O. Mills, Albert Munns. F. E. Parrish.
1889-Supervisors, C. G. VanBuren. Orlando Thomas, A. G Town- send; clerk, Morton Eastman; treasurer, J. P. Chandler; assessor, Charles H. Green; justices, P. T. Stevens J. S. Calloway, Robert Hil- lary ; constables, Frank E. Parrish, A. O. Mills, A. Murray.
1890-Supervisors. J. B. Johnson, A. G. Townsend, J. R. Monteith ; clerk, A. H Fieldhouse; treasurer, George S. Bell; assessor, J. T. Bid- dick; justices, Mark Thomas, David Eastman; constables, Frank E. Parrish, A. O. Mills, Albert Murray.
1891-Supervisors, Thos. J. Davis, W. G. Costley, George Heller ; clerk, treasurer, assessor, and constables, same as in 1890; justices, P. T. Stevens, J. T. Taylor, A. R. Palmer.
1892-Supervisors, clerk, and treasurer, same as in 1891; asses- sor, J. P. Chandler; justices, J. A. Thomas, L. A. Olson, Frank Bell; constables, Frank Parrish, A. O. Mills, Emory Newell.
1893-Supervisors, C. G. VanBuren, George Heller, Henry Muen- der; clerk, A. R. Palmer ; treasurer, George S. Bell; assessor, J. T. Bid- dick ; justices, O. A. Eastman, F. M. Bell, J. J. Knelling. George Hil- lary ; constables, F. E. Parish, Samuel Eastman, John Hudek.
1894-Supervisors, David Eastman, James Monteith, William Divall; clerk, J. A. Thomas; treasurer, F. T Blake; assessor, J. P. Chandler; J. Knelling. P. T. Stevens, Ora Dixon; constables, A. O. Mills, George Galloway, Emory Newell.
1895-Supervisors, clerk, and assessor, same as in 1894; treasurer, George S. Bell ; justices, Emory Newell, Joel F. Eastman ; constables, E. L. Carrington, A. O. Mills, J. W. House.
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.
1896-Supervisors, David Eastman, William Divall, C. T. Rodolf; clerk, Alfred Fieldhouse; treasurer, George S. Bell; assessor, J. P. Chandler ; justices, P. T. Stevens, J. T. Taylor; constables, John House, John Quick, Charles Bowden.
1897-Supervisors, David Eastman, C. Rodolf, C. Guthrie; clerk, treasurer, and assessor, same as in 1896; justices, J. F. Eastman, Em- ory Newell; constables, Oscar Mills, John House, John Quick.
1898-Supervisors, David Eastman, C. Guthrie, A. T. Townsend; clerk, Thomas Chandler; treasurer, Wm. Divall; assessor, T. Webster; justices, Ora A. Dixon, Louis Althouse; constables, John House, R. Cruse, Thomas O'Flaherty.
1899-Supervisors, J. P. Chandler, A. G. Townsend, George Muen- den; clerk, Thomas Chandler; treasurer, Wm. Divall; assessor, C. W. Webster.
1900-Supervisors, J. P. Chandler, Carl Guthrie, George Muender ; clerk, A. P. David; treasurer, Wm. Divall; assessor, Henry Gulickson; justices, Louis Althouse, J. L. Gardner; constables, Fred Townsend, Walter Addison.
VILLAGE OFFICERS.
The village was incorporated in 1893 and has had the following officers:
1893-President, P. T. Stevens; trustees, A. Matthews, G. P. Smith, H. J. Gould, W. H. VanDusen, John Brechler, H. W. Snyder; clerk, A. F. David, treasurer,. J. Fossbinder; police justice, J. J. Knell- ing; marshal, A. O. Mills ; constable, J. S. Galloway.
1894-President, P. T. Stevens; trustees, John Brechler, H. J. Gould, G. P. Smith, W. H. VanDusen, H. Muender, A. Matthews; clerk, A. T. David; treasurer; John Fossbinder; marshal, A. O. Mills.
1895-President, O. A. Eastman; trustees, O. P. David, Elisha Carrington, H. Muender, David Kitch, G. H. Gibson, A. Matthews; clerk. A. F. David; treasurer, John Allen ; marshal, J. M. Quick ; police justice, Joel Eastman.
1896-President, P. T. Stevens; trustees, David Kitch. H. Muen- der, O. P. David, H. J. Gould, John Allen, Orlando Thomas: clerk, F. W. Stevens; treasurer, John Fossbinder; marshal, J. M. Quick.
1897-President, J. B. Johnson; trustees, F. E. Parrish, George S. Bell, David Kitch, Fred Fieldhouse, Henry Snyder, H. J. Gould ; clerk, John J. Blaine; treasurer, John Fossbinder; marshal, Joseph Doran; justices, J. T. Taylor, J. S. Galloway.
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1898-President, Aug. Matthews; trustees, Henry Muender, Robert Chandler, John Allen, James Allen. George S. Bell, Henry Snyder; clerk, A. H. Fieldhouse; treasurer, J. H. Fossbinder.
1899-President, Henry Snyder; trustees, Henry Muender, George Heller, James Allen, Edward Matthews, George S. Bell, J. T. Biddick ; clerk, A. H. Fieldhouse; treasurer, John H. Fossbinder ; marshal, A. O. Mills; police justice, J. M. Quick.
1900-President, Henry Snyder; trustees, James Allen, George Hel- ler, George S. Bell, Edward Matthews, J. T. Biddick, Fred Fieldhouse; clerk, J. S. David; treasurer, John H. Fossbinder ; marshal, A. O. Mills; police justice, J. M. Quick.
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CHAPTER XVIII.
SMELSER.
Big Patch-Georgetown-Cuba City-Elmo Station-St. Rose Station -Smelser, Organization and Officers.
BIG PATCH.
The first settlements in the present town of Smelser were at the Big Patch mines. These were discovered in June, 1828, on Section 10. Town 2, Range 1. Very large stories are told of the enormous pieces of mineral found here. It is said that four men raised 45,000 pounds in one day. The names of the miners who dug here in the twenties have passed into oblivion. It is said that William Bowmer came in 1828. The discoverers of the Big Patch mine were Fitz and Jarrow. John Harms (who afterward settled for life on a farm in Section 2) came in 1835 and his brother Diedrich in 1836. George E. Cabanis was here for a short time in 1838, and went away, returning to settle on a farm on Section 10 in 1845. William Spencer settled near the village in 1837, and John Spink settled on Section 11 in 1841. Stephen Dinsdale came in 1840, Dr. J. C. Campbell, John Clayton and others came in 1840. William Kay opened a store and built a mill and a furnace in 1841. In 1843 John Walker, T. M. Robinson, and Thomas Booth settled near the village. David Wilkinson (one of the few remaining pioneers) came in 1844. John Wilkinson and William Fort- ney came in 1845. This year occurred the first death in the neighbor- hood, that of Thomas Brooks. Joshua Yeadon started a blacksmith shop about 1845. Jonas Rawson (who had came in 1846) and Charles Butler, put up a tavern and liquor house on the Platteville and Dubuque road in 1849. In 1856 a town-site was platted and recorded by Garrett V. Denniston on the northwest corner of Section 10. It was called Kaysville. The village is still so called, but is bet- ter known by the name of the post-office, Big Patch. The great bod- ies of mineral were soon worked out and now only one mine is worked in the vicinity of the village.
There has been no growth for many years. The village consists of
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about fifteen dwellings, one store, kept by the old pioneer D. Wilkin- son, a creamery run by a Platteville man named Craig, two churches, and a blacksmith shop.
Schools .- The first school in the neighborhood was taught in a log house a quarter of a mile below the store, in 1846, by Joseph Thomp- son. The next year school was taught by George R. Frank in a house near the mill-pond, afterward used as a blacksmith shop. The next school was taught by George R. Frank in a building erected by the Sons of Temperance on the Cabanis farm. Frank was followed by H. B. Harvey and Linus Bascom. In 1860 the old Methodist church was bought and removed to Section 2, a mile and a quarter east of the village. School was taught there several years; then a new house was built in the village.
Fost-office .- This was established in 1858 with David Wilkinson as postmaster, and he has held the office continually to the present time.
The Methodist Episcopal Church .- The society was organized in 1856, and consisted of John Wilkinson, George Thomas, Major M. M. Griffith, Mrs. Hannah Buxton, and the wives of George E. Cabanis, John Wilkinson and Major Griffith. The first services were held in the school-house on the Cabanis farm, which building was afterward moved out on the Platteville road. In 1874 a frame church 18X36 was built in the village at a cost of $1,200. Among the pastors have been : Revs. John Trimby, William Summersides, John Bean, Stephen Pike, E. S. Bunce, John Trezedor, William Cook, James Sims, William Howard, William Sheppard, J. Jefferson, T. J. Lewis, T. W. North.
Primitive Methodist Church .- This society was organized in 1845 with a large membership, some of whom afterward joined the M. E. Church. Services were held in the residence of William Kay, the lead- ing member, until 1850, when a small frame house was built, which served until 1874, when it was sold to George Fox and was used as a blacksmith shop. In its place a fine frame building 30X40 was erected at a cost of $1,600. The following ministers have had charge : Revs. Hobson, Joseph Hewitt, James Alderson, Lansonby, George Wells, William Tompkins, T. A. Cliff, J. Dawson, Henry Lees, Christopher Hendra, Thomas Dooley, John Harrington, J. Arnold, and Wm. Andriss.
Big Patch Mill .- This was built in 1846 by William Kay. In 1856 the mill was bought by David Wilkinson, who put in a second run of stones and in 1868 he put in steam power.
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HISTORY OF GRANT COUNTY.
GEORGETOWN.
This village is situated on the corner where Sections 21, 22, 27, and 28 join. In 1833 Jonas M. Smelser (for whom the town was named) settled on Section 22, Lysander Gilmore on Section 34, and Hamilton Gilmore on Section 33. J. W. Kaump came in 1834, and Charles Gillham, Thomas Render and Hugh Patterson in 1835. D. B. Patterson came in 1836, Thomas Booth in 1840, William and Joseph Brandon, William G. Wood, T. J. Neal, and Jonas Jones in 1843, Thomas Robbins in 1845, Hugh Calhoun in 1846, Nadab Eastman and Ceylon Otwell in 1847, and J. V. Donohoo in 1849. George Wine- man settled on Section 27 in 1845 and in 1848 he put up a large log house on the site of his subsequent dwelling and opened a store. In 1849 a post-office was established at this store with Mr. Wineman as postmaster. He was followed in office by Captain Robert Nash (who held the office a long time), R. A. Wilson, J. H. Cabanis, William Dent, and James Jeffrey, the present incumbent, who came in in 1897.
In 1849 Jared Todd established the first blacksmith shop. The village grew very slowly. In 1860 the Nash House was built by George Wineman and at first occupied by Peter Walker as a store. In 1858 a store was established in a new building by Pearl and Speer Spencer, who soon sold out to William Peters. The building was afterward used by Brandon & Jeffrey as a warehouse. About 1861 Isaac Dod- son established a blacksmith and wagon shop on North Main Street, and Andrew Gregg put up a story-and-a-half building afterward occu- pied by J. H. Cabanis with a store. At the beginning of the war the population of the village was about fifty. The village plat was sur- veyed May 19, 1870, by Joseph Allen. It contained four blocks, one in each of the four sections previously mentioned.
The village now contains two stores, one hotel, one blacksmith shop, two churches, and fifteen or twenty dwellings. It has a cream- ery owned by a company, of which Fred Heil is president and James P. Jones secretary and treasurer.
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