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 117

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 117

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).

Dr. Lysaght, with his two sons, William and Thomas, came from Ireland in 1844 and pur- chased a large tract of land. The doctor re- mained about two years, then left his sons to

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

improve his gift to them. Thomas went to California in 1850. He died in Kansas before 1860. William lived in this town until 1882, when he sold out and removed to the city of Monroe, where he still lives, having acquired a goodly share of this "world's goods."

The water power at Dayton village was first improved by Leland & Lewis, in 1845. They built a dam across the river and erected a saw mill. It is said by old settlers to have been a good mill, and successfully operated. It being the only mill within a long distance, excepting a mill that had been erected at Attica the pre- ceding year, this was a great convenience to the new settlement. In 1852 the property was sold to A. D. Kirkpatrick, who was assisted by Leonard Ross and others with means to build a flouring mill. This was equipped with two run of buhrs and was operated in connection with the saw mill by Mr. Kirkpatrick until April, 1854. At this time the property was purchased by Joseph Green, who enlarged the grist mill by adding a wing to the east end in 1854, and in 1855 he entirely rebuilt the saw mill. In 1866 Mr. Green rented the property to his son, Thomas Green, who, in 1881, after his father's death, purchased the property. He has added new machinery to the grist mill, and moved the saw mill building away, converting it into a barn.

The village of Dayton was platted in August, 1853, by P. P. Havens, the plat being situated on the northeast quarter of section 14. In the spring of 1854 M. T. White made an addition, laying into lots and blocks land on the south- west quarter of section 12.

P. P. Havens settled here in 1847, and opened the first blacksmith shop in this section of country. He was one of the best of mechanics, and his breaking plows were considered to be the best obtainable. He made plows and did general work in his line, supplying a large ev- tent of country. Mr. Havens did not seem to be desirous of making money from the sale of lots, for, it seems, to indnce people to locate

here, he was generally ready to give a deed of a lot if improvements were to follow.

M. T. White settled here as early as 1849, coming from Milwaukee county. He bought the southwest quarter of section 12, and still lives upon it. He has three sons living in the town-Frank, Mortimer and Benjamin.

About ten families reside in this part of the village, which is separated from the balance by Sugar river. In school affairs the two sides are distinct from each other, and this side has a fine school building. There is also on this side Wackman & Ruttz's blacksmith shop and Charles Wackman's wagon shop.

The first hotel in the village was opened July 1, 1853, by Rhinehart & Gracy. That day was a memorable one in Dayton's history. It is said by several who were present that the num- ber of men who went home sober that night could be counted on the fingers of one hand. This hotel in the spring of 1855 was sold to Julius Stone, who, not long afterward, sold to A. D. Hymer. Different parties have rented the house, among whom are E. W. Smith, Mr. Williams and William Hayden. In 1880 Mr. Hymer sold the property to Mathias Hosely, now of Monroe, who ran the house until 1883, when he rented it to Charles Sheple, the pres- ent occupant.

The first store in Dayton was opened in 1852 by a man named Mclaughlin. During the same year he was closed ont by his creditors, and returned to Ohio. ' The building he used is now occupied as a residence by Thomas Green, although many changes have been made.

In the fall of 1853 a store was opened by Leonard & Church, who kept a small stock of general merchandise. In 1855 Mr. Church bought his partner's share and continued the business for a few. years, when he closed out and sold the building to Mr. Gattiker, who opened a hardware and tin store.

In the spring of 1854 George Duncan opened a store in a building which he had erected for the purpose. The same year he took a man

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

named Harvey into partnership. Harvey had no capital, but a great amount of assurance. 'Tis said of him that he "was all things to all men." At least he seemed to know how to carry funds. When it became necessary for one of the firm to visit Chicago with $1,500 to pay indebtedness and replenish stock, he was the one to go, and he never returned. The firm immediately went out of business, and later Duncan went to California.

James Norris opened a store in the same building in 1855, and two years later sold to Jacob J. Tschudy (now of Monroe). Mr. Tschudy, owing to the financial panic of 1857-8, followed the fashion of the times, necessarily, and failed too. In 1858 Mosher & Humphrey opened a stock of goods here, and remained one season, when they returned to Monroe. In 1859 George Campbell, of Albany, occupied the same building and sold goods for one year. The building then remained vacant for a time, until, in 1861, Joseph Green put in a stock of dry goods and groceries. After the war his son, William Green, was associated with him.

In 1859 James Norris erected the store build- ing now occupied by Thomas Luchsinger, and put in a stock of goods. Mr. Norris ran the business until 1866, when he sold to C. W. Leonard, formerly of the firm of Leonard & Church, and E. W. Smith. A year or two later Joseph Green bought them out, and afterwards sold to his son, William Green, who removed the stock to Albany in the spring of 1882. In November, 1882, Thomas Luchsinger bought the building, put in a good stock of general merchandise, and is still in business.

In the early days of Dayton's history, Thomas Gracy opened a small stock of groceries and dry goods. He sold to Day & Ross, who added drugs to the stock. Mr. Day sold his interest to Richmond & Ross, and later Mr. Ross bought out his partner. A few years later he sold to Witter & Tronesdale. Mr. Witter sold his in- terest after a time to his partner, and in 1883 it was purchased by J. P. Cunningham. Mr.

Cunningham has added to the building and stock. He now keeps dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, drugs, paints, oils, etc.

The Dayton Mercantile Association was or- ganized in the spring of 1884, for the purpose of conducting a general mercantile business. The association bought the stock of Thomas Luchsinger, rented his store building, and opened for trade in May. The stockholders number about 100. The paid up capital amounts to $5,000. The directors and officers of the association are: Directors, W. S. Heal, presi- dent; Ansel Fitts, James Root, Philip Wack- man, William Gill, I. F. Wallahan; Forester Havens, treasurer; Thomas Green, secretary.

John Pace commenced wagon building and re- pairing, on the east side, in 1854. He was suc- ceeded by Doolittle and Still, who ran the busi- ness several years and sold to John Taylor. Then the business passed into the hands of Mr. Doolittle again, and later to Theodore Wack- man, who was afterwards associated with Charles Wackman. The latter bought out The- odore, and now (1884) runs the business.

In 1859 Alfred Gattiker opened a tin shop and kept some shelf hardware in a room over the saw mill, and later in the building now oc- cupied by the harness shop. Mr. Gattiker left here in 1864, and was succeeded by a Mr. 'Taylor, who ran a shop about one year. In 1869 William Dick, who had learned his trade with Gattiker, who had been in the army and absent some years, opened a tin shop and shelf- hardware store. He is still in business.

In 1853 Nick Gruidenwise opened a black- smith shop in East Dayton. Later he was in partnership with D. M. Spencer, who succeeded to the business. He was followed by D. and J. P. Wackman. J. P. Wackman bought out his partner, Daniel, and was with his brother Joseph in the business for some time. Joseph sold to S. L. Rutty and he to T. M. Scott, and from the latter gentleman Wallace Rutty pur- chased the interest. In 1844 the firm was Wack- man & Rntty.

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

Thomas M. Scott, formerly of the firm of Wackman & Scott, opened a blacksmith shop in the village in 1881, which he still continues.

In 1859 William Taylor opened a harness shop, closing out about four years later. J. R. Richards opened a shop soon afterward, being here temporarily. He sold out to E. O. Faulks, who is still in business. Abont 1866, William Kirkpatrick opened a shop and worked about two years. E. Witters did some business in this line here in 1872.

S. L. Forges keeps a small refreshment stand, candies and fruits, and is the shoemaker and cobbler of the village. Mr. Forges came from Ohio to this State in 1855, and has lived in Dayton fourteen years.

The first physician of Dayton was Dr. J. B. Ormsby, who located here in 1854, coming from Bradford, Vt., with a family of a wife and one child. Dr. Ormsby is well remembered by the old settlers as a skillful, kind hearted, intelli- gent physician, always ready to serve all, pay or no pay. Many an old pioneer has cause to re- member him gratefully. He left here in )867, and now lives at Milan, Ill. He buried hi ; wife here, in 1865. Dayton has, since the departure of Dr. Ormsby, been transiently the resident of many physicians among whom are remembered Dr. Cobbin, Dr. George Fox, Dr. Bloomer, Dr. Roone, Dr. Edgar, Dr. G. N. Troesdale, Dr. Confor, and in 1883, Dr. W. C. Roberts, son of Dr. Roberts, of 'Albany, located here and is the resident physician. The doctor has won the con- fidence of his patrons, and is building for him- self a lucrative and honorable practice.

A postoffice was established at Dayton, in September, 1854. W. W. Shepard, a young lawyer, resident of Dayton, visited the east, and went to Washington, for the purpose of secur- ing a postoffice for Dayton. He succeeded. Mr. Shepard evidently was impressed with the magnitude of what he saw there, or wished to impress others, for he says, "the Capitol is forty rods and the President's house is nothing shorter." The first postmaster in Dayton was

George Duncan. He was succeeded by James Norris, and he by C. D. W. Leonard, William Green, Volney Ross and G. N. Troesdale; and he by the present incumbent, J. P. Cunningham.

Jeremiah P. Cunningham, postmaster and merchant at Dayton, is a son of James and Mary Cunningham, and was born in Exeter, March 17, 1853. When eighteen years old he went to Chicago, where he was employed by the Trans- fer Omnibus Company five and a half years. He was then engaged as conductor on the west division street railroad, one year, then eighteen months in the Northwestern Railroad office, af- ter which he ran a milk wagon about six months. In the fall of 1879, he returned to Green county and for two years rented the farm of James Martin, of Albany. In the spring of 1882 he rented the farm owned by J. P. Wackman, in Exeter, and worked it one year. In 1883 he bought the business of G. W. Trousdale, in Dayton, where he is now engaged in general merchandising. IIe has enlarged the store and increased the stock. He was married in Brod- head, May 29, 1876, to Margaret O'Donnell, daughter of John and Mary O'Donnell, of Monticello. One child-Mary, was born to them July 2, 1878. Mrs. Cunningham died May 13,1883. Mr. Cunningham is a young man of good business capacity and habits. Ilis child, Mary, lives with her grandfather, O'Donnell, at Monticello, Wis. His father, James Cunningham, was born in Waterford county, Ireland, in 1819. In 1844 he came to Montreal, Canada, and lived in Kings- ton a short time. He then went to Vermont and worked on a railroad, and afterwards went to Kentucky, where he worked one year and re- turned to Vermont. He remained in that State and Massachusetts till about 1848, when he came to Green county and bought 200 acres on section 1, of Exeter. He was married in Dane county, to Mary Kerwin. Four children were born to them-Jeremiah P., William, Catha- rine, wife of John Dooley, and Rose Ann, liv- ing in Milwaukee. His wife died and he was again married to Catharine Joyce, of Monticello.

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

By this union there were three children-Mar- garet, John and James. James Cunningham died in 1882. William Cunningham now owns and occupies the homestead.

The Methodist church was erected in 1868. It is 30x50 feet in size, with a belfry, but no bell, and cost $2,200. Elder Russell was the first pastor. In 1884 the pastor was Elder Haight.

In 1868, a Presbyterian church was built at a cost of $2,400. It is 30x50 feet in size, and also has a belfry, but no bell. Elder Newell was the first pastor, and through his instrumentality the church was built. The present pastor is Elder Pierce.

The Catholic church was built in 1869. It is 30x48 feet in size, and cost $2,000. Rev. James Stehle is the present pastor in charge. There are 120 families communicants in this parish.

CEMETERIES.

Dayton has three cemeteries. The one on the west side, close by the village plat, was located in 1852. William Norton was the first one buried there; he was the father of John M. Nor- ton. He died in April, 1853. Another ceme- tery adjoins White's addition to Dayton, on the east side; it was established in 1854. The Catholic cemetery is located on section 10, abont one mile from the village. The other cemetery in this town is near the old village of Exeter. It was located in 1850, near the center of the north side of section 35. A stranger named Shields had been buried on the grounds before the location was made.

MASONIC LODGE.

Dec. 6, 1873, under a dispensation of the grand lodge of A. F. & A. M., of the State of Wisconsin, a lodge was established at Dayton, with the following officers: E. C. Morre, W. M .; Joseph Witter, S. W .; P. II Multer, J. W .; R. Ray, Treas .; Perry Doolittle, Sec'y. June 9, 1875, a charter was granted by the grand lodge, and the name and number giveu was, Dayton Lodge, No. 198. The first officers elected were: L. D. Dalrymple, W. M .; Joseph

Witter, S. W .; P. H. Multer, J. W .; G. L. Rutly, Treas .; C. Peterson, Sec'y. The masters sneceeding Mr. Dalrymple have been: William Green, G. N. Troesdale, and the present master, A. S. Lewis. The present officers are: James Lewis, S. W .; G. Langhead, J. W .; L. Ross, Treas .; J. H. Langhead, Sec'y. The lodge has a membership of forty-seven. The lodge room is well furnished and their treasury is in good condition.

CHEESE FACTORIES.

Dayton formerly had two cheese factories, but neither have been operated for some years. But a Mr. Davis, from Chicago, converted the one on the east side, in 1883, into a creamery, and ran the business through most of the sea- son, then failed. He left the farmers who had sold him eream behind about six or seven weeks in his payments.

A cheese factory in the Ross neighborhood was put in operation in May, (1884) by a stock company consisting of the following stock holders: Jeremiah Staley, William H. Ross, Leonard Ross, Abram Kundert, Henry Sehnei- der and James Wilson. Leonard Ross, mana- ger and treasurer. The building is located on section 16, main building 20x50 feet, and con- tains a work room 20x24 feet. They expect to use 1,500 barrels of milk per day this season.

REMINISCENCES. [By Hollis Crocker.]

In this connection are presented several let- ters containing reminiscences of early days by Hollis Crocker. As little change as possible has been made, in order to preserve the style of the writer, and they will prove to the pioneers to be one of the most interesting chapters in Dayton's history. In his first letter, under the date of April 10, 1884, Mr. Crocker says: "At your request I will try and write a few of my early recollections of Green county, for, al- though a resident of Dane county, I had more to do with Green county in an early day than with Dane. I came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1842, with my father and family, and for the

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

first two years we had to cross the entire county every time we went to mill, either to Winslow, on the Pecatonica, or Curtis's mill, on the Richland creek. I well remember the first thing I saw on landing in old Exeter, on the 21st day of September, 1842. Three men were assisting a fourth man to the polls. It was Ter- ritorial election day. There was a man under each arm and another pushing in the rear, whilst froth and curses were pouring ont of his mouth. Young as I was, (I was only fourteen) the thought struck me that possibly his vote might not be a very intelligent one. The very early settlers of Green county will remember old John Armstrong, sometimes called Devil John. I saw him in Exeter the first day we came there. He directed us to his house in the north part of the town, near where Mr. Lysaght used to live. As he had a good deal of whisky down, he felt very rich, and generously pro- posed to keep us a day, week or month, as the case might be, free of charge. We staid at his house all night. Mrs. Armstrong and children retired to the corn crib, surrendering us the use of the house; in fact, the early pioneers, with but few exceptions, were a whole-souled and generous class of people. Uncle John Arm- strong had lived in the vicinity of Galena as a miner, a number of years before he came to Green county. He was quite wealthy at one time. When he was digging mineral at Galena, I remember hearing one of his adventures at that place. He had a good many hands at work for him, and the thought struck him to give them a first class meal at the hotel. The land- lord wished him to wait a while, as he had some of the elite or upper ten at table that day. Uncle John swore that himself and hands were as good as his upper crust, and mounting his horse, he rode him into the dining room, made him leap with his fore-feet on the table, crush- ing it down, breaking the dishes and smashing things generally; then cooly asking what were the damages, he paid them and went his way rejoicing. I suppose the damages were the

snug little sum of $300. Uncle John used to spree it some times for a week at a stretch, and there was one peculiarity about him, he would never stagger, and I believe he was more active when drunk, than when sober. I think he came to Exeter some time about 1840. He sold his claim and improvements to William Lysaght's father in 1844, and with Joe Hendrick, (his wife's son-in-law) went into northern Wisconsin. They were both pioneers and required a great deal of elbow room.

"Leonard Ross, commonly called Capt. Ross, came to Exeter about the same time and settled one mile south of Armstrong. He was quite a prominent man in an early day. He died in 1856. His widow still lives on the old place and still looks hale and hearty. Long may she be spared to us.

"I remember another character who lived at Exeter when we came. I think his name was Joseph Wall, but he was better known by the name of Dad Joe. He was a Kentuckian by birth, and was as proud of it as any of the F. F. V., of old Virginia. He had a great aver- sion to eastern people; he designated them all as damned Yankees. Late in the autumn of 1842, my two brothers, Russell and William, started for Oneco, below Monroe seven or eight miles, for lumber,getting a late start, they were benighted at the Kemp & Collins place, where Uncle John Porter then lived. As no one in that day thought of turning a traveler away, he kindly took them in. Shortly after their ar- rival Dad Joe came in, somewhat elevated ; by some means he found out they were York State people. He insisted on Uncle John turn- ing them two d-d Yankees out. He said the straw pile was good enough for Yankees to sleep in. Failing to get Mr. Porter to turn them out, he declared he would not stay in the same house with them, and started for the vil- lage of Exeter. Mr. Porter going out about half an hour afterwards, found Dad Joe fast asleep, about ten or twelve rods from the house.

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

The cool air of a November night had the effect of cooling his wrath somewhat, and he stopped quietly in the house the rest of the night.

"It would not do to pass over the history of Exeter, without mentioning Tom Welch and his wife, well known as Mother Welch. They came to Exeter some time about the year 1835. They farmed some and kept tavern some. The old lady would would go with an ox team to Milwaukee or Galena; she was well known at both places. When the store keepers saw her coming they would say: 'There comes Mother Welch, we must put up our goods about double so we can stand it to be beat down.' They used to keep their whisky hid from each other, and when a mutual friend happened to come there, unless he looked out sharp between the two treating him he would be made drunk. Michael Welch, brother to Thomas, left Exeter some time about 1848 or 1849. A year or two ago I heard a man say he had seen him in Cali- fornia. He was keeping 'bach.'

"In 1845 a Swiss settlement was started at New Glarus. Soon after coming there, Christo- pher Martin, of Monroe, was passing through the place and called up the crowd and treated. He noticed the people gathered in a little group and looked at him from time to time, talking amongst themselves;pretty soon he treated again, their curiosity was so aroused that one of the group constituting himself spokes man for the rest, walked up to Mr. Martin and asked him: 'Bees you von politic man?' 'No, 'says Mr. Martin. At this the man seemed astonished and exclaimed: 'Vell vat for you treat us then ?' showing by this that politicians had already been tampering with them. The Swiss were very shrew in business matters, especially in buying cows. Shortly after they came to New Glarus, one of them came over to Mr. Ross' to buy a cow. Mr. Streiff came along as interpreter. They seemed to fix their attention on a rather inferior cow, examining her very attentively. They asked her price, and after looking at her

some time, Mr. Streiff turned around and point- ing to his best cow asked him in a careless man- ner what her price was. Mr. Ross named a sum a good deal less than he would have been will- ing to take for her had he supposed they actually wanted to buy her. 'Vell,' says Mr. Streiff,'dis man vill take this cow' pointing to the good one. Mr. Ross would not go back on his word and let them have his best cow, but de- clared they would never catch him napping again. Whilst I am speaking of Leonard Ross, I will mention what I should have written before. Not only does his widow live at the old place, but his three sons-Milton, William and Leonard, live near there. There was a fourth son, Otis, but he was killed before Peters- burg. Ile belonged to the 37th regiment. Milton, the eldest,and William,served three years in the Sth regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, company H, and had the good fortune to get home alive, though Milton lost an eye in his country's service. I should be much to blame if I failed to mention 'old Ball,' a favorite horse of the captain's. Mr. Ross and old Ball were one and inseparable, as much as was Judge Irvin and his horse, Pedro. Ball was a large bay horse eighteen hands high, and well proportioned. He had a white stripe in his face, which gave him his name. He was very high spirited and a horse of uncommon intelligence. Every old settler in Green county will remember him. Although a heavy horse, he was a speedy trav- eler. Mr. Ross at one time was in Monroe on business; and receiving news of his wife's ill- ness, he rode him home (twenty miles) in two hours, without injuring him in the least.

"I cannot refrain from relating one anecdote of Charlie George, an old settler in Exeter. At one time a Mormon preacher was holding forth at the Ross school house, and in his discourse he urged upon the people the necessity of watch- fulness; and bringing over the word 'watch' very often, old Charlie took him at his word, and getting up, started for the door, remarking

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audibly ' yes, yes, I'll watch, an I'll go right home and lock my horse stable'.

"The first time I passed through Monroe, then called New Mexico, as near as I can recollect, there were but three or four houses, and now it is one of the prettiest inland towns in the country; surrounded on all sides by as good a farming country as the sun shines on. I was never personally acquainted with many of the residents of Monroe, but a good many I knew by reputation. I remember seeing old Peter Rutledge. As near as I can remember he was about four feet, eight, nine or ten inches in height, and I should judge his weight was about 190 pounds, so you see that as far as avoirdu- pois was concerned, he was a man. Ile was a juryman on the celebrated Vineyard trial. I think a Mr. Field and Moses M. Strong were lawyers for the defendant. I think it was Mr. Field who made the plea, and whilst he was coming out strong on the pathetic dodge, de- picting the melancholy task of the messenger who should carry the sorrowful news of a ver- dict of guilty to his distracted wife, Peter was observed to be agitated. He said afterwards he was fearful that he would be the one chosen to carry the harrowing intelligence to the vic- tim's wife. I suppose he was just such a jury- man as the most of criminal lawyers delight in.

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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 117

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