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 89

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 89

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1. The emigration shall be executed in com- mon, and directed to one of the States in the northwestern portion of the United States. The idea is to found a community similar to that of the canton of Glarus. The States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri shall be first ex- plored in seeking for a suitable locality for the colony.

2. In the course of 1844, two agents shall be sent to visit those States for the purpose of se- lecting a tract of land large enough for the ex- periment, and to arrange the necessary steps to execute the plan in view. These agents shall have the necessary instructions for their work, and be fully empowered to carry the design into execution.

3. Every family willing to emigrate shall re- ceive twenty acres of land ; the money to pay for the land shall be advanced by the associa- tion. All the expenses of the voyage or emi- gration must be provided for by the emigrants themselves.

4. The expenses of the agents the association agrees to pay.

5. The several communities are invited to ratify these resolutions, and thereby become members in fact of the association.

These resolutions were ratified by the several communities, and by the government of the canton, who also donated a large part of the expenses of the agents, say about $600. A committee was appointed who drew up the regulations for the rule of the association, which were accepted and ratified; and in the persons of Messrs Nicholas Duerst and Fridolin Streiff, were found and selected the agents for the important trust. They departed for their

far-away field of responsible labor the 8th day of March, 1845; and, after a stormy and disa- greeable voyage, landed on the shores of the New World, where they were directed to con- sult a commercial house in New York, and an old countryman, Mr. Blumer,in Allentown, Penn., who would assist them with counsel and every needful help. Mr. Blumer secured Joshua Fry, a man able to speak English, to accompany the agents to the far west, and to aid them in carrying out their instructions, which were as follows:

1. The agents will journey from Switzer- land, via Havre, to New York.

2. They will find an amount of money (about $2,500) deposited with a house in New York, sufficient to buy a certain quantity of land for the emigrants, according to the respective shares to which they will be entitled.

3. This money they will not draw before they have selected and bought the land, or are ready to buy; and shall be guided in this matter by the counsel or advice of Mr. Blumer, of Allentown.

4. As soon as they arrive in New York, the agents will proceed to the said Mr. Blumer, and ask him either to accompany them, or aid them with his knowledge of the relative advantages of the conntry in the northwest.

5. In regard to the purchase of the lands, the agents will consider the climate and the nature of the soil, which ought to be as near as possible similar to those in the old country, and suitable for the production of grain and cattle.

6. The agents are not positively bound to purchase government land; but they shall, if possible, try to secure enough that each colonist may have twenty acres, for the amount of money, $1.25 per acre, which is the price of government land.

7. The agents shall try to buy all the land in one tract, well situated in regard to com- munications with the rest of the State, by means of roads, etc.

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

8. After the purchase, the land shall be divided in timber, bottom and field land, so as to make as just a partition as possible.

9. The agents will take charge of the emi- grants from St. Louis, where they will wait for them; and when they arrive on the land, the lots shall be equitably distributed to each family.

10. The agents will also have the oversight of the families on their first arrival in the colony; but the emigrants must defray their own expenses.

11. In all important matters, the agents must consult, besides Mr. Blumer, the heads of the commercial house in New York, from which they draw the money.

12. It will be necessary to provide for the breaking up of some land to raise produce for man and beast, for which the agents shall make provisions.

13. The purchase of the land shall be made in the name of the "Emigration Society of the Canton of Glarus." Mr. Duerst will have a plat made of the lands, divided into lots, and numbered, with the names of the owners. The head of every family will draw his lot of twenty aeres, and be the exclusive owner. The price thereof, as well as advances made afterwards, must be repaid within ten years, without inter- est. Mr. Streiff will keep a copy of said plat, and all the papers; also keep an accurate record of the names of all owners, their increase or decrease, etc.

14. The agents will do their utmost to pro- vide, as soon as possible, for the establishment of a Church and school, and for the relief of the poor of the colony.

15. When the agents think that they have executed these instructions according to the best of their ability, Mr. Duerst will promptly return to his father-land.

16. Mr. Streiff will remain with the colonists, and report to the association concerning every- thing of interest from time to time; he will also keep accounts of all expenses, etc.

17. Mr. Duerst shall receive for his service $1 per day till his return, with all ex- penses. Mr. Streiff shall have his personal expenses paid from his departure from home until Mr. Duerst returns to Switzerland; after which he shall receive such remuneration for his services as the executive committee of the association shall consider just and proper.

When the people arrived on the land, in August, 1845, wholly destitute of money, and unable to live through the approaching winter without help, the agents drew on the associa- tion, which honored the draft, to the amount of $1,000, which was used to make advances to the families in provisions, cattle, tools, seed, etc. This money had to be refunded, with the price of the lots, within ten years from the founda- tion of the colony. In 1855, all these debts were fully paid and cancelled, and deeds issued by the association to each owner. Messrs. Fridolin Streiff and Fridolin Egger were at that time the agents representing the association, with full authority to settle with every colonist. The last papers were issued, if I am not mis- taken, in 1856; and from that time the so-called colony was perfectly independent of the parent association, although there existed, and yet exists, only the kindest remembrances and re- lations.

In the fall of 1846, a successor to Mr. Duerst, and assistant to Mr. Streiff, was sent from the old country by the association, in the person of J. J. Tschuddy, who arrived at New Glarus, in October, when he at once proceeded to collect some statistics in relation to the financial and agricultural progress of the colony up to that time. On a visit made to every cabin, he found that, although some families were suffering from sickness, and had yet only poor accommodations, still, in general, there was a steady improve- ment, a hopeful out-look for the future, and reasonable contentment with the new home and the progress thus far made. The winter of 1846-47 was a hard one. From Jannary till the spring of 1847, men and beasts suf-

HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

643

fered much from exposure in the rough, unfin- ished huts and stables, and with scarcity of fodder for the cattle. Still, spring found all well, and ready to go to work with a will, and with new courage, to break land, plant and im- prove according to their best ability. They were, however, often hindered and retarded for want of teams, tools, and other necessaries, which were provided, as far as possible, by ad- vances from the association.

As information was sent by the parent asso- ciation that more emigrants would be sent in the spring of 1847, the agents bought, by in- structions given them, another tract of land in the adjoining town of Washington, on the south, which was also divided into twenty acre lots, and distributed among the new comers in that year. But this second colony never kept to- gether so exclusively as did the men of New Glarus, who named the whole township after their old country home, together with the vil- lage therein. The settlers of New Glarus founded their own Church-the Reformed Church-according to the rights and usages of the Old Country; and had their German school from the beginning, as well as an English one.

In 1853, the first celebration of the 4th of July was held by a few of the colonists, associating with it the vivid remembrance of a day of festi- val kept in their father-land-very similar to the American holiday; and, from that time, In- dependance day has been celebrated every year more or less in the village by all the people, old and young. A number of the primitive set- tlers have gone to their everlasting rest; but those remaining may be seen on these festive occasions, taking part in the celebration of the 4th of July, which serves to remind them of their native land, and of the battle-day which

delivered their ancestors from the tyranny of their oppressors on the 9th of April, 1388, when 800 men of Glarus defeated several thousand Austrians.

I now append the statistics of the colony as I took them on my arrival in the autumn of 1846: Land broken for tillage, 109 acres, which I think was well done under the circumstances, oxen and plows being owned in common, and had necessarily to be 'nsed in rotation, making it often rather difficult to keep the work all going on in peace and harmony. Up to Nov. 20, 1846, there were two births and seven deaths in the settlement. On the 19th of November, in that year, Mr. Streiff brought the first sheep to New Glarus. Lot No. 13 was selected as the village plat, and had thirteen cabins at the time. There were then twenty cabins in the whole colony. Poultry was largely kept, but no enumeration of the number was taken. Garden produce of various kinds was planted on all lots cultivated, and gave very rich returns.

There were at that time in the colony of New Glarus 129 persons, men, women and children; and the number of twenty acre lots taken, and partly improved, twenty-nine. One settler had two horses, while another was the owner of a bull; four yoke of working oxen were held in common by the whole settlement; eighteen cows were held separately, fifteen heifers, twenty-five calves and 199 hogs. Their first harvest, that of 1846, yielded the settlers 700 bushels of corn, and enough potatoes for the use of the colony. All things considered, this was a good showing for the first year's operations, and all seemed satisfied with the results, trusting in the good providence of God that still better days were yet in store for them. Nor were their hopes disappointed.

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXVII.

TOWN OF ADAMS.

The town of Adams embraces congressional township 3 north, range 6 east. It is bounded on the north by the town of York, on the east by Washington, on the south by Jordan, and on the west by Lafayette county. The surface of the town is rather broken, and a good share of it is covered with timber, yet many valuable and well cultivated farms are found here. There are 22,752 acres of farming land in the town, the assessed value of which is $6.01, and total assessed value, $136,849, The total as- sessed value of all real and personal property is $217,902. In 1875 the population of the town was 913; in 1880, 930. The stock in the town is estimated as follows: 765 milch cows valued at $17,406; 485 horses, assessed value $45.97 total $22,297; 2,295 head of cattle, assessed value, $14.22, total, $32,655; 8 mules, assessed value $47.50, total, $380; 1,272 sheep, assessed value $1.77, total $2,256; 1,713 swine, assessed value $3.88, total, $6,663. The principal farm products grown in the town of Adams in 1882 were as follows: 3,598 bushels wheat, 68,750 bushels corn, 54,130 bushels oats, 320 bushels barley, 1,954 bushels rye, 4,312 bushels pota- toes, 1,360 bushels apples, 40 bushels clover seed, 1,540 tons hay, 42,685 pounds butter, 128,- 000 pounds cheese. The principal farm pro- duets growing in the town at the time of mak- ing the assessment in 1883 were as follows; 348 acres wheat, 2,621 acres corn, 2,050 acres oats, 14 acres barley, 155 acres rye, 872 acres potatoes, 653 acres apple orchard, 3,260 acres growing grasses, 5,124 acres growing timber and 2,137 bearing apple trees.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

James Biggs, of Ohio, made the first settle- ment within the limits now comprising the town of Adams. He came here before the Black Hawk War, intrusted by the government with the work of surveying and subdividing range 6. He finished this work in 1834. While prosecuting his work he discovered on section 8, in this town, a rank growth of what is termed "lead-weed," or more properly "lead- plant," called masonic in an early day, whose roots are said to extend forty feet below the surface. Gen. Biggs knew that both scientists and Indians regarded a line of this weed on the surface as an indication of a fissure that might contain lead, and at odd moments he began to dig there. In 1835 he settled here, but for sev- eral years his family spent much of the time at "Hamilton Diggings."

William Brazel, a native of Illinois, came here in 1837, and made a claim on sections 32 and 33 ; erecting a log house on the latter sec- tion. Three years later he moved into what is now the town of Jordan, and entered land on section 4. He erected a log cabin and lived there until 1849, when he sold out and removed to section 32, in the town of Adams, where he had previously entered land. Here he lived until the time of his death, which ocenrred in 1851. His family still occupy the homestead.

In June, 1837, Jonas Shook arrived in Wiota, where he settled. In 1838, he removed to the town of Adams, this county, locating on section 24, where he purchased forty acres of land on the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter.

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

He built a double log cabin, afterwards putting in a substantial stone basement. . He lived in the town of Adams until 1881, when he re- moved to Monroe. Shook's Prairie received its name from this pioneer settler.

Richard Gabriel, a native of Ohio, came to this county in 1838, and entered land on section 13, this town. He lived here a few years, when he removed to the town of York, where he still resides.

William L., James H. and David D. Bailey, sons of Robert Bailey, came here in 1840, and entered land on section 23. William improved a farm and lived here until 1874, when he sold out and removed to Bremer Co., Iowa, where he still lives. James H. lived here several years, then sold out and removed to Monroe, where he died in 1882. David lived on his farm until the time of his death, which was caused from a cancer in his face.

Matthew Cunningham, a Virginian, came in 1842 and settled on the northwest quarter of section 24. He improved a farm and lived there for several years when he sold out and removed to Iowa county, where he died.

Michael Crotty, one of the pioneers of the town of Adams, was born in county Sligo, Ire- land, in 1819. He was there reared to man- hood, and was united in marriage with Mary Sweetinan, who was also born in county Sligo. In 1842, Mr. Crotty emigrated to America, and took a claim on section 28, township 3, range 7 east, now known as the town of Adams, in this county. Not having the means to enter the land, he engaged with Jonas Shook, and fol- lowed mining during the winter. In the spring he went to Wiota and engaged in mining there. He was there joined by his wife and two chil- dren. They lived in Wiota two years, during which time he had entered his land, and had some improvements on it. In 1845, he removed to the Badger Digging on section 11, and en- gaged in mining there. Hle employed a man to improve his farm, and he also erected a log cabin. He continued to follow mining until

1846, then removed to his farm, and devoted his time thereafter to farming, and is now one of the substantial moneyed men of the town. He owns 640 acres of land, and is extensively engaged in stock raising. He also owns valua- ble mill property in Argyle. His wife died in 1857, leaving four children-John, Patrick Nancy and Joseph. He was married the second time to Marcella Gavigan. They have five children-Michael, Sarah, Francis, George and Joseph.

In 1843 Cutler Wilkins came from near the State line and settled on the northeast quarter of section 31. He remained a few years, then sold to Richard Scott, and moved away.

Davis Roub came in 1844 and claimed the southeast quarter of section 33. He remained there seven or eight years, and then removed to Dane county, where he still lives.

Samuel Kelly, a native of Kentucky, came here from Ohio in 1844 and lived for two years in the town of Clarno. In 1846 he settled on section 34, in the town of Adams, where he im- proved a farm and remained until the time of his death, in 1870.

Martin Mullin, one of the pioneers of the town of Adams, was born in county Sligo, Ire- land, in the year 1800. . When twenty years old he left his native land and came to America. He spent four years in the States of New York and New Jersey, then returned to Ireland and was married to Jane Wallace, also a native of county Sligo. Four months later he came to America, accompanied by his bride. They first settled in New Jersey, where they lived two years, then removed to the State of New York, and lived there three years. They then immi- grated to Illinois and settled near Joliet, where he was engaged upon a canal. Four years later they removed to Stephenson county, in the same State, and there bought and improved land near Davistown. They remained there until the spring of 1844, when he came to Green county and made a claim on section 19, town- ship 8, range 6. During the summer he erected

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

a log cabin and cut some hay upon his claim. He then returned to Illinois and harvested his crops. Ife traded his land there for stock. In the fall of the year he removed with his family to this county. The following spring he broke a small tract of land and put in a crop of corn. He also raised a crop in Stephenson county up- on land which he had rented. Ile afterwards devoted his time to farming upon his own land, clearing and fencing over 100 acres. He built a frame house and barn, and made this his home until the time of his death, which occurred in March, 1872. His widow still resides at the homestead. They were the parents of six chil- dren-James, Frank, Mary A., Robert, Charles and John. Mary A. died at the age of two years and four months.

Frank Mullin, chairman of the town board of Adams, was born in the State of New York, Feb. 18, 1837, and was seven years old when he came to Green county with his parents. He re- ceived his educa ion in the schools of Stephen- son Co., Ill., and those of the town of Adams. He was married Feb. 28, 1867, to Mary Barry, a native of Green county. He had previously traded for a farm of 200 acres on sections 7 and 8, of the town of Adams. Upon the place was a log cabin in which they began housekeeping. Four years later he built the frame house they now ocenpy. They have six children-Joseph, Frank, Martin, Elizabeth JJ., Edward and Wil- liam. Mr. MuHin has been a member of the town board several terms, and is serving his second term as chairman.

Another old settler of the town of Adams was William Morrison, who came from Ohio at an early day and located on section 35.

R. M. Jackson, a native of Pennsylvania, came from Illinois in 1845 and entered land on section 12. He improved part of the land and lived here until 1861, when he sold out and re- moved to Monroe, where he kept the Junction Hotel (which he erected) for a short time, and then went to Missouri.

Reuben Holcomb came at about the same time. He was a native of the State of New York, but came here from Iowa Co., Wis. In the fall of 1845 he purchased the northeast quarter of section 13, but did not settle here until 1850. He still lives on that section.

David Covey, a native of Cayuga Co., N. Y., came to Green county in 1845 and settled on the Rust Branch, in the town of Jordan, where he purchased 200 acres of land. He was a shoe- maker by trade, and spent a good deal of time working at his trade, aside from improving his farm In the fall of 1847 he sold out and moved to what is now the town of Adams, purchasing 200 acres of land on section 19. He put up a log house near Dougherty's Branch, and lived there six years, then removed to Argyle, where he worked at his trade and bought the Cottage Inn, and ran hotel. In 1861 he sold the hotel building and erected a larger one, naming it the American House, and ran this hotel until the time of his death, in April, 1874. His widow still lives in the village, and his son, David S., now manages the hotel.

George Devoe, one of the pioneers of the town of Adams, was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., March 14, 1806. He was married to Elizabeth Kinney, a native of the same county. In 1815 they emigrated to Michigan, going by land, to Buffalo, thence by the lakes. They lived in Jackson county, where they rented land until 1845, then with one ox team, the family started west to seek a home, taking with them their household goods and camping out by the way. They came to the Territory of Wisconsin and made a claim near the present site of the vil- lage of Wayne He built a log cabin and lived there until July of that year, then sold out and came to Green county, making a claim on section 6 of what is now the town of Adams. IIe had three yoke of oxen and engaged in teaming lead from Mineral Point to Mil- waukee, a distance of 125 miles. He built a log house and made some improvement on his land that fall, and the following year raised a

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HISTORY OF GREEN COUNTY.

crop of spring wheat and some corn. At that time he had seven sons, some of them grown, and the boys were engaged in mining, teaming and farming. Game was plenty, and the boys being expert deer hunters, kept the family well supplied with meat. In 1861 Mr. Devoe re- moved to Argyle, where he bought a house and lot and spent the remainder of his days. He died July 8, 1862. His widow now lives with her son, William A., in the town of Cadiz. There were twelve children born to them, six of whom are now living-Orson B., George S., Loron B., William A., Phebe A. and Mary A.

George S. Devoe now. owns and ocenpies the old homestead. He was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., April 4, 1833, and was but four years old when his parents moved to Michigan, and twelve years old when they settled in this county, where he gre'w to manhood. He as- sisted his father in clearing a farm, in mining, teaming, etc., and shared with his brothers the pleasures of hunting and fishing. He was married, Dec. 6, 1855, to Oretta M. Oviatt, who was born in the State of Ohio, June 9, 1839. He bought forty acres of land on section 7. He built a house on his father's land and lived there one year, then moved to Lafayette county and rented land three years, then re- turned to the town of Adams and setttled on the old homestead. They have six children living-William S., Richard L., Lawrence G., Charley W., Clarence O. and Millie A.

Renben Holcomb, one of the early settlers of the town of Adams, was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., May 16, 1816. When he was one year old his parents moved to Niagara county and settled in the town of Hartland, where, six years later, his father died. After this-he lived in different places in the State of New York, until he was twenty-five years old. He then went to Michigan and located in La Pere county, living there and in Oakland county until 1844. In that year he came to the Territory of Wiscon- sin, and settled in that part of Iowa county now known as Lafayette county, remaining there

until the spring of 1845, when he came to Green county and spent two months. He then went to Michigan and remained through the summer. In the fall of that year he returned to Iowa county and entered land in the town of Fayette. The next four years he spent in Iowa and Green counties, working as carpenter and joiner. In 1849 he bought eighty acres of land of Rich- ard Gabriel, on section 13, of the town of Adams, and soon after entered adjoining land. He was married in 1855, to Sarah E. Wilder- man, who was born in St. Clair Co., Ill. They settled upon his land on section 13, going to house-keeping in a small log house that was standing upon the place. In 1866 he built a good frame house which they now occupy. Ile now owns 300 acres of land, and is engaged in grain and stock raising, also keeps a dairy. Mr. and Mrs. Holcomb have had five children- James A., Ernest, Florence M., Reuben and Jennie L. In 1853 Mr. Holcomb's mother came to Green county, and died here in the fall of that year. Their daughter, Florence M., died at the age of seventeen months.

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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 89

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