History of Green County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 116

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1168

USA > Wisconsin > Green County > History of Green County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 116

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).

835

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

John J. Pfisterer, dealer in diamonds and jewelry, at Brodhead, established his business here in 1866, succeeding A. G. Wetstein. Mr. Pfisterer was born in Wurtemburg, Ger- many, in 1841. He learned the trade of watch- maker in his native country, and came to the United States in 1861. He worked at Ann Ar- bor, Mich., three years, then went to Chicago, where he resided two years. Mr. Pfisterer is an excellent workman, and has established an extensive and lucrative trade. He is also a successful business man. He owns the store building which he occupies, also a pleasant home in the village, and a good farm in the town of Spring Grove. His wife was also a native of Wurtemburg. They have one daughter- Clarie.

Ernest Hahn is the merchant tailor of Brod- head. He engaged in business here in 1868. Mr. Hahn was born in the northern part of Ger- many, in 1832. He learned his trade in his native land, and came to the United States in 1856. He worked at his trade in Cleveland, Ohio, for a time; in 1857, came to Madison, Wis. In the spring of 1859, he went to Prairie du Chien, and soon after came to Morroe, Green county, and in a short time went to St. Louis and remained one year. He then returned to this county and located at Monroe, where he re- mained working at his trade, with his father-in- law, until he came to Brodhead. His wife was Mary Spahr, daughter of Peter Spahr, of Mon- roe. Mr. and Mrs. Hahn have four children. The eldest, a daughter, was born in St. Louis. Two sons were born in Monroe and one in Brodhead. Mr. Hahn is an excellent workman and does a prosperous business.

Charles W. Lucas, artist and photographer, at Brodhead, located here in April, 1869. IIe is a native of Maine, and was born in Piscata- quis county of that State in 1841. He engaged in the business of photography in 1866, and in 1868 came to Wisconsin. He was in company with other parties till the spring of 1871, since which time he has carried on business alone.

Mr. Lucas has had much experience in photo- graphy, is an excellent artist, and possesses facilities for doing first-class work. Mrs. Lucas' maiden name was Bashie Springstead. She has lived in Brodhead and vicinity since she was a child, and is a daughter of David Springstead, who came to Green county in March, 1855, and died subsequently. Mrs. Springstead and six daughters are still living. Two of the latter, besides Mrs. Lucas, reside in this county, Mrs. Sarah Straw and Mrs. Dolly Gardner. Two reside in Illinois, Mrs. Georgia Stiles and Rella, unmarried, and one, Mrs. Esther Johns, lives in Nebraska. There were also two sons in the family, William, who went to California in 1859 where he died in 1861, and Jeremiah, who served in the War of the Rebellion, first in the 3d Wisconsin Infantry, company C, and after- wards in company B, of the 46th regiment. He removed to Minnesota after the war, where he died in 1875.

Charles F. Thompson, a well known citizen of Green county, is a native of Susquehanna Co., Penn., born in 1828. He came to this county with his father, who settled in the town of Sylvester, at quite an early day, and was one of the prominent farmers and dairymen of that town. Charles F. Thompson was married to Kate C. Chandler, daughter of Josephus Chand- ler, who settled in Dane county, where he died in 1859. Mr. Chandler emigrated to Wisconsin from the State of Maine. Mrs. Thompson was one of the early teachers in the town of Sylves- ter, engaging in that occupation in 1851. He was one of the prominent business men of Syl- vester, and resided for considerable time in the village of Monticello, engaged in farming and other occupations. He was a member of the legislature of Wisconsin while a resident of Monticello. In 1863 he removed to Milwaukee and engaged in a commission business. From Milwaukee he went to Green Bay and engaged in lumbering. He came to Brodhead in 1870. At the present time (1884) he has charge of the

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

toll road from Deadwood to Lead City. This road he helped to construct. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are the parents of two children- Thomas W., who resides near Deadwood on a ranch, and Carrie S., wife of George M. Pierce.

William Smith is a son of Archibald Smith, who was born in Scotland, and came to Wiscon- sin from Livingston Co., N. Y., and settled on a farm of government land in the town of Spring Valley, on the town line, adjoining the town of Decatur, where he still lives. Archibald Smith has seven children. William was born at the homestead in 1849. He has been a resident of Brodhead since 1881. He is employed as a clerk in the Grange store, in which he owns stock. He also owns stock in the Brodhead Creamery. His wife was Clara, daughter of E. G. Melendy. She was born in the town of Cottage Grove, near Madison. They have two children-Marilla and Alice D.

W. R. Skinner is the present station agent of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company at Brodhead. The first to hold that position was J. L. McNair; the second, Charles Peck, who was succeeded by W. S. Alexander, who was followed by S. Hills, who in turn was succeeded by Warren Hl. Barnes, who was agent for fifteen years, until his decease, in August, 1881, when Mr. Skinner, subject of this sketch, took the position thus made vacant. Mr. Skinner was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., in 1854, and came to Wisconsin with his father,

Robert Skinner, in 1866. The latter settled with his family at Monroe, but in 1868 the fam- ily removed to LeRoy, Bremer Co., Iowa. W. R. Skinner came to Brodhead in 1873, and en- gaged as clerk for Mr. Barnes, the former agent, also in learning telegraphy, at this office. IIe afterwards went to Atchison, Kansas, where for four years he was cashier of the Rock Island Railroad office at that place. He returned to Brodhead to assist Mr. Barnes, who was his brother-in-law, in the illness of the latter. Mr. Barnes was a man who had had an extensive ex- perience in railroad business previous to coming to Brodhead, and was a faithful and efficient officer. Mr. Skinner was married to May Woodle, a daughter of Allen Woodle, one of the earliest settlers of Green county. He is a capable officer, and a courteous and popular gentleman.

Frank J. Bucklin, proprietor of livery stable at Brodhead, succeeded G. B. Wooster in 1882. He is a native of Iowa, and was born in Jack- son county in 1852. He removed to Illinois with his parents, where he attended school for ten years, then went to Pennsylvania, and was engaged in the oil regions eight years. He was married in Pennsylvania to Eliza Bruner, a na- tive of that State. They have four children- Rodney, Nettie, Frank and Maggie. Mr. Buck- lin's stables are furnished with excellent teams, and he has become deservedly popular as an ac- commodating and reliable gentleman.

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

837

CHAPTER XXXIV.

TOWN OF EXETER.

Congressional township 4 north, range 8 east, of the fourth principal meridian, comprises the civil town, Exeter. It is bounded on the north by Dane county; on the east by the town of Brooklyn; on the south by the town of Mount Pleasant, and on the west by New Glarus. Sugar river crosses the surface of this town, coming from Dane county by way of section 2, and leaving through section 25. On section 14, where the village of Dayton is located, this stream affords the only water power in the town. Three small spring branches enter the river as it passes through this town. The largest comes from Dane county by way of sec- tion 1, flows south and makes junction with the river on section 24. Two branches, heading on sections 5 and 16, unite on section 10, and reach the river from the west on section 2. A small spring branch flows from near the old village of Exeter, to the main stream on section 25. A branch of little Sugar river crosses the south- western portion of the town. These water courses make the surface of the country rolling, but no very abrupt bluffs are found. The soil of this town varies. East of the river the soil has a much more apparent tendency toward sandiness than the west, and the soil improves as you retreat from the stream. In the north- western portion of the town there is a good prairie soil, and to the south and southwest the surface is quite rough, having a heavy clay soil, and being quite well timbered. In the valleys the soil consists of a rich black loam. In the southeastern portion of the town there is con- siderable rolling prairie, which generally has a rich, deep soil, underlaid with clay.

Altogether Exeter is one of the best agricul- tural towns in the northern part of Green county. There is plenty of timber for use, water in abundance, and considerable natural meadow land, making it a fine stock district, and the people are improving their natural advantages.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The lead mines at Exeter, called in early days "New Diggings," and later Sugar river mir.es and Exeter mines, caused this town to be the first settled of any in Green county. In a rude way the Indians had mined lead here years be- fore white men had been in this country. 'Tis said "a man named Burke, in crossing the coun- try, lost himself and found the Indian dig- gings." When this occurred, no one knows. But two miners and traders named D. McNutt and Mr. Boner, came here early in 1827, bring ing goods for the Indians, and soon became possessed of the lead ore in the hands of the Indians by trade in whiskey and trinkets These built a cabin for occupancy. Whether they intended to remain or not, cannot be ascer- tained. But at all events their residence here was brought to a tragic termination; for a little over a year later McNutt killed Boner in a drunken quarrel. Van Sickles, their Indian in- terpreter, was the only white man there, except themselves. MeNutt kept up his drunk, but sobered enough to reach Blue Mounds, where he was arrested. The next day miners buried Boner. Upon McNutt's trial at Prairie du Chien, he was acquitted, the jury believing that while he might have killed Boner, the fact that Van Sickles, who was noted as a champion

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

liar, swore positively to the killing, was suffi- cient to raise a reasonable doubt, and in ac- cordance with their oaths they found a verdict of "not guilty." MeNutt left the country.

The first man to make a permanent settlement in this town-and this was the first settlement in Green county-was William Deviese. He was of French-Scotch descent, born in Poca- hontas Co., Va., March 16, 1793. In 1826 he left his native State, and the following spring of 1827, found him in St. Louis. In March, 1827, he came to Wiota, Lafayette Co., Wis. Ter. In August, 1828, a short time after the McNutt-Boner tragedy, Mr. Deviese, who had prospected here prior to that time, took up his residence at "Exeter Diggings," and thus be- came the first settler in Green county. At first Mr. Deviese was a trader in a small way. Ile was a stirring man, and soon got in shape to give employment to others. In the fall of the same year, William Wallace and wife, and Josiah R. Blackmore came to the mines in the employ of Mr. Deviese. In the spring of 1829, he built a smelting furnace, and in the fall went to Peoria and brought home a drove of hogs. In 1830, he broke sixteen acres of land and put in some turnips, and "sod crop." During this year-1830-lead which he had been selling at Galena for $80 per ton, dropped to a low figure and the mines, which had been worked vigor- ously, were nearly abandoned. Mr. Deviese still continued the smelting furnace, buying ore and selling some goods. Blackmore had left, and afterward he and Wallace turned up again as settlers in the town of Clarno.

John Dougherty, in 1831, opened a small trad- ing cabin. Deviese kept up his smelting works, employing three or four hands, until the outbreak of the Black Hawk War, in 1832, the first news of which that reached the mining settlement was of the engagement at Stillman's Run. All hastened to Galena. Mr. Deviese joined a company under William S. Hamilton, at Wiota, and did valuable service as a scout. messenger and sol-

dier. No service for which he was not ready and willing ; no work too hard or too continuous. He eventually received for his services $1 per day for himself and horse. September 1 of the same year found him again at Exeter rebuild- ing, for the Indians, or rather malicions whites, as Mr. Deviese believes, had destroyed every- thing destructable. He found his oxen and cut hay for the winter, selling his smelting furnace to Mr. Dougherty the following year. Ile con- ducted business in a prosperous way until, in 1836, he had become wealthy for those days. The financial convulsions of the commercial world in 1836-7 could not spare the humble lead mining settlement, and ruin overtook Mr. Deviese, financially wrecking him and his for- tunes. He passed under a dark cloud and gave himself up to indulgence in drink. For the years following he says : "There is nothing of my life worth telling." Major Deviese is a man who is universally respected, and by many of the old pioneers, beloved for his many and manly qualities. When he had it to spend and give, he did it royally ; a man of good educa- tion ; high-minded ; loved the right even when traveling wrong. Ile is now in his ninety-first year, clear in intellect and memory, though bed- ridden since September, 1879, occasioned by a fall, permanently injuring his spine. He now lives with Hollis Crocker, just over the line in Dane county. He has for many years followed total abstinence, so far as liquor is concerned, but an inveterate smoker, and many a Sabbatlı morning the family are aroused by his crying out : "Oh ! how I wish I could smoke." In his helpless condition some one must wait upon him, and his wants are immediately attended to. Major Deviese, as he is commonly called, joined the Methodist Church many years ago. In his death, which must occur 'ere long, he will be mourned and remembered as few among the old pioneers have been. He has no relatives living in the west, or, perhaps anywhere else. lle has never been married ; as he says : "When I ought to have married, I left the ac-

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY:

tive world behind me." Hollis Crocker gave Major Deviese a home over thirty-one years ago. For nearly a third of a century has his untiring care of and for him been a subject of wonder to all who do not know his good heart. No re- ward or hope of reward has ever been his ; and God's richest blessing can be but a feeble recognition of this man's love of humanity, as shown in his care of fellow being-unfortunate. No son could do more, or do it more willingly. Hollis Crocker is a pioneer in every sense, hav- ing settled here in 1842, and undergone all the hardship, privation and disadvantages attend- ant upon the building up of a new country. Ilis wife was born at Gratiot's Grove, Wis. Ter., in 1829. She was a granddaughter of a Swiss

colonist, who came to the Red River colony, (Lord Selkirk's settlement) in 1821. Her mother made the trip by way of Hudson Bay, from the mouth of the Rhine, and in 1823, down the Red river, Lake Travis and St. Peter's river to Fort Snelling in a canoe, and from thence to La- fayette county, this State.

Pierce Bradley came to the mines in an early day, and erected one of the first cabins where Exeter village was afterward built. He was engaged at mining.

James Slater came to the mines in 1828, and remained a short time.

James Hawthorne came at about the same time as Major Deviese, and for a time the two were in partnership. Mr. Hawthorne left the mines in 1833.

Edward D. Beochard, a Frenchman, was min- ing at Exeter in 1828, and remained until 1833, except a period during the Black Hawk War. He went from here to Lafayette county.

BUSINESS GROWTH IN EXETER.

In 1835 Kemp & Collins bought out Mr. Dougherty's interests at this place, and also the same year, bought 600 acres of land sonth of the mines, including that which Major Deviese had broken. Mr. Dougherty, later, moved to Otter Creek, Lafayette county, and died there. Kemp came from England: and Collins-who

was of Scotch descent-from Ireland. They re- mained in Exeter only a few years, when Joseph Kemp returned to England. Later, he came back and died at Wiota. William Collins suc- ceeded to the real estate and left about the same time as Kemp. He came back and sold the land; then went to California.

In 1841 Exeter had become quite an impor- tant place in the new Territory, and apparently had a prosperous future before it.

The first hotel was a log affair, erected by Brainard Blodgett, in 1840. The same year, Ezra Durgin erected a small log tavern. Both sold whisky. Blodgett left, a short time later, and went to the Wisconsin pineries where he was drowned. He was succeeded in business by Alvah B. Humphrey. The latter, and his wife, lived here until 1854, when they went to Mon- roe, where they died. Ezra Durgin went to Cal- ifornia.

Thomas Somers came in 1840, and when the first postoffice, "Exeter," was established, in 1841, he was made postmaster. Mr. Somers died at Exeter in 1851. In 1846 the first frame house was built by Mr. Somers. He sold to Charles George, who opened a hotel. Thomas Somers followed Kemp & Collins in trade. Then in succession came "Wild Yankee" Litch- field and John Burke, Freeman Safford, Eph- raim Bowen, Hayward & Lindslay. It is not known where Litchfield went; John Burke went to Iowa; Hayward to California and is now wealthy; Lindslay went to Sheboygan and en- gaged in lumber business.

The last hotel kept was by James Hayden, who closed it ont in 1856.

In 1834 Tom Welch and wife came to Exeter. Mrs Welch is remembered by the old pioneers for her general recklessness, and disposition to run the machine without regard to what others might call respectability. They farmed some, and kept "boarders, whisky, etc." Welch died there. The widow married a man named Flah- erty and started for Oregon, and the husband died on the way. It is said the woman, later,

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

married her fifth husband in Oregon. Tis said "she was able to get outside of from three to five drinks of whisky every morning before breakfast."

Michael Welch, a single man, came in 1834, and followed mining.

John Armstrong came to the town in 1840, and settled on section 5. He sold out in 1844, but lived bere until 1850. He was a reckless fellow and fond of drink and wild life, but had many good qualities. It is said of him, that he ordered dinner in Galena, for a party of miners in his employ, and upon being told he would have to wait until the other guests were served, be rode his horse into the dining room, and on the tables, scattering things right and left. He paid $300 for the sport. From here he went to the Wisconsin pineries, and died about 1860.

Joseph Dunbar came in 1836, and followed farming and mining. For the last thirty years or more, he has lived on his fine farm on sec- tions 22 and 23.

Capt. Leonard Ross resided a short time in the village of Exeter, in 1840, and the same year settled on section 8. Capt. Ross was a valuable acquisition to the new settlement, and bought 900 acres of land in that part of the town. He was an energetic and public spirited man.

The building of the Dayton mill and the al- most entire failure of the lead mines, cansed a general decline at Exeter, until in 1884 it num- bered loss than half a dozen houses.

The name of the mines was taken from the Exeter mines in England, being bestowed by English miners. The town took the name from the mines.

The postoffice at Exeter village was discon- tinued in 1871. Robert Witter was the last postmaster.

FIRST EVENTS.

The first birth in the Exeter mining settle- ment was that of Louisa, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Wallace, born Ang. 7, 1830. She afterward married Charles Thomas.

The first marriages were of John Campbell to Elizabeth Durgin in 1843. At about the same time Dr. Stearns married Charlotte Durgin.

John Campbell was the first blacksmith in Exeter. He came here in 1842. Some years later he went to the Wisconsin pineries.

The first religious services were held in 1829. A miner, who was also a preacher, was always ready, willing and able to instruct his fellow workers in spiritual matters, and in those early years the voice of prayer would occasionally be heard among the hardy miners at Exeter.

The first death of a white man in this town was that of the miner Bouer, who was killed by McNutt, in 1828.

The following January, 1829, James Fanning died in the cabin of Major Deviese. He was buried by the side of Boner, on land recently owned by N. Wilcox.

A man named Castleman, from Milwaukee, was the first doctor. It it said he did not have much skill, but was merely able to practice medicine. Dr. Stearns, who succeeded him, was a man of considerable education, genius and skill. Dr. Parsons came later and after a few years went to Milwaukee.

TOWN ORGANIZATION.

The town of Exeter was organized in 1849. The first election was held at the house of L. D. Barnes, April 3, 1819, and resulted in the election of the following officers: Supervisors, John Porter, chairman; Robert Witter and James Hair; treasurer, John Gilman; assessor, William Oliver; clerk, A. K. Stearns; school commissioner, Alonzo Haywood; justices of the peace, John Porter, Robert Witter, Frederick Strieff and James Hair; constables, James T. Porter, Walter C. Ressler and James D. Forbes. There were thirty-nine votes cast. The clerks of the election were Charles K. Adams and A. K. Stearns; the judges were Lorenzo Barnes, John Porter and William Fletcher.

The officers elected April 1, 1884, were: Supervisors, James Lewis, chairman, John Fer- guson and Leonard Ross; clerk, John Clark;

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

treasurer, Lucius Jordan; and assessor, James Ruff.

EDUCATIONAL.

The first school in the town of Exeter was taught in a log house in the Exeter mining set- tlement in 1840. The teacher was Mr John- son. Schools have been taught regularly since that time.

In 1884 there were four full and eight joint districts in the town. Their condition is shown by the following:

District No. 1 (old village of Exeter) has a good school house, nearly new, valued with fur- niture at $665; has forty-eight pupils.

District No. 2 (village of Dayton); house in good condition, valued with furniture at $1,000; thirty-four pupils.

District No. 5 has an old house on section 17, valued at $450; forty-one pupils.

District No. 7, school house on section 23, valued at $300; there are twenty-eight pupils here.

District No. 2 (joint) embraces territory in the towns of Exeter, Montrose and Oregon, with a school house in Montrose. There are fourteen pupils belonging to this district in Exeter.

Joint district No. 3 embraces territory in Exeter and Brooklyn, the school house being located in the latter town. Seven pupils reside in this town.

Joint district No. 4 embraces territ wy in Exeter and Montrose; school house in the lat- ter town. Sixteen pupils reside in Exeter.

Joint district No. 4 embraces territory in Exeter, New Glarus and Primrose. The school house is in New Glarus; four pupils reside in Exeter.

Joint district No. 4 embraces territory in Exeter and New Glarus. The school house is located on section 29, and is valued at $270. Fifty-six pupils reside in Exeter.

Joint district No. 6 embraces territory in Exeter and Brooklyn. The school house, which

is located in East Dayton, is new, having cost $1,600. Thirty-four pupils reside in this town.

Joint district No. 8 embraces territory in Exeter and Brooklyn, the school house being located in the latter town. There are six pupils in this town.

Joint district No. 8 embraces territory in Exeter and Mount Pleasant; school house in Mount Pleasant. Three pupils live in this town. VILLAGE OF DAYTON.

The first settlers on the present site of Day- ton were the members of the Lewis family. Mahlan Lewis came in 1844. Mr. Leland came the same year and they formed the firm of Le- land & Lewis. Mahlan Lewis went to Califor- nia in 1850, and died in the mines there four years later. Leland also left.

Mahlan Lewis' mother, a widow, came in in 1845. She had a family of two girls and three sons besides Mahlan. Melvin went to Minnesota in abont 1860 and still lives there. Stephen lives in the town of Brooklyn. Joseph died about 1860. Eunice, the eldest girl, mar- ried Ansil Filts, and died in this town two or three years later. Abigail, the other girl, mar- ried a Mr. Cook and they went to Minnesota, where they still live. The old lady lived upon the old homestead until 1870, then went to the town of Union, Rock county, and lived with a sister until the time of her death, which oc- curred shortly afterward, when she was nearly ninety years of age. The Lewis family were the first permanent settlers of Dayton. They lived in the house now occupied by Mrs. Joseph Green.

A. D. Kirkpatrick came in 1852 from Ohio and brought his family. IIe had formerly lived in the town of Brooklyn. After selling out to Joseph Green he returned to his farm in Brook- lyn. Mr. Kirkpatrick gave the name of Dayton to the village, from Dayton, Ohio.

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History of Green County, Wisconsin. Together with sketches of its towns and villages, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 116

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company Number of Pages: 1168

Author: Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1168