History of Vernon County, Wisconsin, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 75

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Union
Number of Pages: 814

USA > Wisconsin > Vernon County > History of Vernon County, Wisconsin, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 75

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The county having been opened up for settle- ment, new settlers were constantly arriving, and in 1852 the town of Harmony welcomed several of them. Robert Patterson and his family came in and located land on section 21. Mr. Patterson was born in 1802 and died in 1875. His wife still survives him. Their son, E. O. Patterson, was born in 1826 and now re- sides on section 15.

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

John C. Hagerman came from Galena, Ill., in 1852 and was a resident of the town until 1875, when he removed to Iowa.

In 1854 Vermont contributed a settler, Horace Keyes, who was born in 1800, and now owns land on sections 20 and 21 of this town, where he has resided for twenty-nine years.

Two years later Alvin Baker and wife, the former a native of New York and the latter of Pennsylvania, came into the town and set- tled with their family on section 21, where the family still reside. Mr. Baker is now deceased. Their children, men and women grown are John, . Joseph, Marion, Hester and Lydia

Another old settler of Harmony town is S. W. Moore, who has been a resident here since 1858. Ile is a native of Washington Co., Penn .; married Naney MeClurg; was in the Union army from 1863 till 1865, and now owns 360 acres of land.

Among other settlers who came in prior to 1860 were: Philando Bartlet, Chester Morley, Harvey Sheffield, J. L. Smith, Murray Chase, James Scott, Andrew Ellis, Daniel Aiken, Powell Brothers, Richard Sylvemut, Jesse Es- ler, Henry Esler and George Esler; also, James Chauncy, Levi Nobles, Calvin Allen, H. P. Buswell, E. Crandall, John McLees and F. M. Moore.

FIRST THINGS.

The first religious services held in the town- ship were conducted in a dwelling house, in 1856, by the Rev. Mr. Munion.

The first school was taught by Mary Spencer, in 1853, in an old board shanty, erected some years previous by David Calkins.

The first couple married in the town was Hiram Patterson to Abbie Harkness, in 1855.

The first election was held in the Baker school house, in 1856.

The first election for town officers was held in the village of Newton in 1856.

The first school house was erected in 1856 on section 23, and Miss S. L. Allen, sister of Hart- well Allen taught the first school.

The first white child born in the town was Frank, son of David and Mary Calkins, October, 1851.

The first white person who died in the town- was Ilenry, son of Elias Rogers, in 1853.

The first 4th of July celebration in the town was held in 1862, at Newton, in a beautiful maple grove. The orator was Hartwell Allen.

ORGANIC.

Harmony township was organized in 1855. At that period there were but five townships in the county, represented on the board of county . commissioners as follows: Bergen, John M. MeLees; Jefferson, Isaac Spencer; Viroqua, William HI. Good; Bad Ax, Andrew Briggs; Kickapoo, William H. Austin. A petition for a new town was offered to the board by John M. McLees, and after due consideration it was granted, and also an order for an election of town officers. At this election the follow- ing named persons were selected to act in their different official capacities: Chairman, R. S. McMichael; clerk, Harrison Keyes; treasurer, Ilorace Keyes; side board, I. L Smith and Daniel Kelsie; superintendent of schools, Orin Calkins, succeeded in 1858 by Hartwell Allen. RELIGIOUS.

As previously stated, the first religious ser- vices in Harmony town were conducted by Rev. Munion, at a private residence, in 1852. After this initial sermon preaching was had in the different dwellings throughout the town- as occasion would permit, and a Sabbath school was permanently organized in 1863, under the auspices of the Baptist Church, with D. W. Horton as superintendent, assisted by his wife. Since that period it has been con- ducted by D. W. Horton and Jesse Cowen, and this present year has an average attendance of thirty-five scholars, with A. Nobles as superin- tendent.

BAPTIST CHURCH.

In 1869 Rev. S. E. Sweet, of De Soto, came into the township and preached the first Bap- tist sermon. On December 4, of the same year,

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

a few persons met to consider the propriety of organizing a Baptist Church. Delegates from the congregations at De Soto, La Crosse and Sparta were cordially invited to attend the meeting, which was held at the Hockley school house Jan. 29, 1870. Rev. Thomas Slade, of La Crosse, was chosen moderator, and D. C. Jackson, of Sparta, as clerk. The Church was duly organized, and Elder S. E. Sweet was their first pastor. He remained with the congrega- tion until Dee. 3, 1870, when he resigned, and on Christmas day following Elder Green, a returned missionary, delivered a fine sermon, and remained about six weeks. During this time many were added to the Church. On April 21, 1872, Rev. Houghton received a call to the pastorate and remained two years. He then went to Viroqna, where he still resides, but occasionally preaches for his old charge. The congregation is quite small at present, many members having removed to other locali- ties.

There is only one church building in the town at the present time. That is yet un- completed, but is owned jointly by the Metho- dist and United Brethren congregations, both having discontinued their organizations some time since for want of means to bear expenses.

EDUCATIONAL.

There are at present in Harmony town five school buildings, aggregating in value the sum of $6,000, with an average enrollment of 431 scholars.

POSTOFFICES.

The postoffice ealled Enterprise was located on section 11, in 1866, and Hl. M. N. Rayner was appointed postmaster. He filled this posi- tion until 1882, when the office was discontinued for reasons unknown.

The postoffice at Newton was located there in 1853, with Orin Calkins as postmaster. Levi Noble is the present incumbent.

CEMETERIES.

There are two cemeteries in the town-one in the village of Newton, and the other lo- eated on section 22.

MILLS.

The town is supplied with a saw-mill on section 22, and a grist and saw-mill combined, in the village of Newton.

VILLAGE OF NEWTON.

In 1851 Edmond Rogers built a saw-mill on the present site of the village, and in 1856, Orin Calkins erected the first residence. During this same year (1856), Mr. Calkins laid ont and platted a village to be known by the name of Newton. It is located on the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter, and the south- west quarter of the northwest quarter of seetion 23, being abont twelve miles distant from Viro- qua

The first school house in the village was built by Murray Chase, and HIartwell Allen's sister taught the first term of school.

The first physician in the village was Dr. Marshall, who located therein in 1872. The present physicians are: Dr. C. R. Muzzy, who came to Newton in 1882, and Dr. John Dewitt.

The grist mill was erected by Martin Allen, in 1866, and is still standing. It is now operated by L. A. Aiken.

The blacksmith shop is owned by Andrew Newton.

Simon Clauson, a native of Rock Co., Wis., located here in 1869.

PERSONAL.

Under this head will be found pioneer settlers and well-known citizens in all the different avocations of life.

John Guist was born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, in 1838, and moved with his parents, in 1849, to Vernon Co., Wis., near Viroqua. Mr. Guist first homesteaded forty acres of land in Harmony town in 1865 on section 11, where he now resides. 1Ie enlisted in the 18th Wiscon- sin Volunteer Infantry, and remained in the State on garrison duty from 1861 to 1862, and was discharged by reason of his right hand being disabled. Mr. Guist was married in 1861 to Edith J. Sheldon. Their two children died while quite small, and in 1864, Mrs. Guist fol-

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

lowed them "over the river." In 1868 he again married. His second and present wife was Mary A: Burcham, by whom he has had six children-Robert E., Cynthia J., Mary E., Claudie J., Causie M., and an infant son.

William Johnston resides on section 20, where he pre-empted 100 acres in 1850. was born in Cuyuga Co., N. Y., in 1808. In 1817 he accompanied his parents to Ontario, N. Y., where he received his education. In 1830 he was married to Jane Dickworth, and in 1850 they came to Harmony town. In 1862 his wife died, and in 1863 he was married to Betsy Kish. By his first wife he had nine children, two of whom are living --- Martha, wife of Edward Patterson; Lora, wife of Lee Sterling. He had two sons in the army, but neither lived to return home.

Hon. John M. MeLees came to what is now the town of Harmony, in 1852. He was born on the 2d of March, 1829, in Blue Rock town- ship, Muskingum Co., Ohio. His father, Joseph MeLees, a native Irishman, but of Scotch-Irish ancestry, came to America in 1801. Ile was a farmer and located upon a farm in Muskingum Co., Ohio, in: 1817, where he lived until the time of his de .. th in Decem- ber, 1848. Thus he lived and died upon the first land he owned in America. John M's mother was formerly Hannah Morrison, also of Scotch-Irish origin. She died in September, 1863, at Duncan Falls, Ohio. John M. re- mained at home, receiving a limited common school education, until twenty-three years of age, when he came west, landing at Warrens Landing on the Mississippi river, in the town of Bergen, on the 14th of April, 1832. On the 20th of May, of the same year, he located upon the farm which is still his home, in what now constitutes the town of Harmony. Mr. Mc- Lees was married on the 13th of June, 1849, to Sarah J. Herron, a native of Muskingum Co., Ohio, born Aug. 7, 1825. Her parents were Alexander and Elizabeth ( Myers ) Herron ; the

father a native of the Emerald Isle, and the mother of Pennsylvania. They have been blessed with eight children, seven of whom are living-Joseph HI., of the town of Jefferson, Vernon county ; William C., who died Oct. 5, 1870; Neal D., of the town of Jefferson, Vernon county ; James A., now of Brown Co., Neb .; Daniel O., John W., Isaac S. and Abraham L. all of the town of Har- mony. When Mr. MeLees came into what was then Bad Ax county, the primitive was all too plainly apparent. He has passed through the experience of pioneer privation, danger and difficulty, which is incident to the first settle- ment of every country. At that time the entire county comprised the civil town of Bad Ax ; later, Bergen was created, and his home was t rown into its limits ; and in 1855, the town of llarmony was created, and was so named after the postoffice by that name of which Mr. Me- Lees was postmaster, at his suggestion. In 1854 Mr. MeLees held his first office, that of assessor of the town of Bergen. In 1855 he was chairman of the board for that town. He was again assessor in 1858. The same year he was elected justice of the peace, and, being re- elected, served four years. In 1867 he was a member of the town board, and in 1868, became chairman. The same year he was chosen to represent the first district of Vernon county, in the Assembly. In 1878 and 1879 he was chair- man of the town board, and therefore a mem- ber of the county board. He was a member of the committee of the county board for the erection of the new county buildings, serving as such for two years, until the work was all com- pleted. It will thus be seen that Mr. McLees has led an active, prominent life. He is now possessed of a competeney, owning about 800 acres of land, which is well improved and sup- plied with comfortable buildings. Ile devotes his attention to the management of his farm ; raising grain and stock, and also dealing in the latter. Personally, Mr. MeLees is a hale, hearty, jovial man, weighing about 200 pounds

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

or upward; a man of wide observation and information and a genial conversationalist.

Lars Olson is a native of Norway and was born on the Rumegan farm in 1849 and in 185t emigrated with his parents to Dane Co., Wis. In 1852 he came to Harmony town and made a permanent settlement. Mr. Olson was married to Ellen Larson, in 1878, and they are the par- ents of one child-Lina O. Mr. Olson now owns 200 acres of land on section 15, with thir- ty-eight acres under cultivation. Mrs. Olson is also a native of Norway, but has been a resi- dent of Harmony town for thirteen years.

Hartwell Allen was born June 26, 1833, in the town of Richford, Vt. where he received a thorough education. In 1856 he was married to Harriet S. Phillips, of Underhill, Va. In the same year himself and wife came to the town of Harmony and both have been foremost in the rank of education ever since. He is employed with his wife in teaching school and superin- tending schools in the town, in which capac- ity he served six and a half years. He was chairman of the board of supervisors in 1860, also in 1870. Mr. Allen, by honest industry and integrity, has saved sufficient to purchase 240 acres of land in the town of Harmony.

H. Parker Buswell, son of Ebenezer Buswell, and one of the most respected citizens of this town, found a home here in 1856. 1Ie was born in the good old State of New Hampshire, in 1831, and remained among its granite hills until 1856. He received a good education at the common schools and in 1856 came to this county, entering forty aeres of land on section 21. The year following his settlement he was elected superintendent of schools and served for three years. In 1860 he was elected treasurer of the town but resigned the office in 1861, to enlist in the Ist Wisconsin Light artillery He served nine months and was forced to resign on account of ill health. Still wishing to lend his feeble aid in defense of the country, in 1864 he again enlisted, this time in the 1st Wiscon- Heavy Artillery and was honorably discharged

in 1865, at the close of the war. Since coming back to his home he has been constantly in of- fice with the exception of one year. Mr. Bus- well has increased his farm of forty acres to one embracing 130 acres, but he still resides on the old homestead, first entered from the govern- ment. He was united in marriage, in 1858, to to Mary E. Thompson, who bore him five chil- dren-Loren A., Jackson P., Emma J., Mittie A. and Lyman A. Mrs. Buswell departed this life in 1867, and Mr. Buswell married for his second wife Josephine Bemis. She is the mother of five children, three of whom are now living-Lillian B., Olive A. and Gracie M.

John Stevenson, who became a resident of Vernon county in 1856, was born in the Domin- ion of Canada, in 1835. Two years later he was taken by his parents to Muskingum county and in 1842 to Noble Co., Ohio, and there re- sided until 1856, when the family came to Ver- non county and located in Jefferson town. Our subject entered land in Hamburg town, and in 1866 purchased 160 acres of Nelson Ford, in the town of Harmony, adjoining his first en- try, where he has since resided. In September, 1864, Mr. Stevenson enlisted in the 43d regi- ment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, participa- ting in the battle at Johnsonville, Tenn., and was honorably discharged in 1865. He was united in marriage, in 1862, to Rachel A. McLees, a sister of John M. McLees, one of the pioneers of Harmony town. They are the par- ents of six children-Hattie M., James E., Jos- eph W., Effic A., Walter J. and Nellie A. Mr. Stevenson was a member of the General As- sembly of Wisconsin in 1876 from the first as- sembly district of Vernon county.

To most of our readers the name of D). W. Horton is very well known. He located in this county in 1860, and bas been an enter- prising and energetic farmer since that date. His father, Ebenezer Horton, was born in Wal- lingsford, Vt., in 1798, and in 1835 removed his family to Medina Co., Ohio, where the husband and father died, in 1879. Five chil-

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

dren were born to Ebenezer and Mary Horton, all of whom are living. D. W. Horton was but four years of age when his parents removed to Medina Co., Ohio, and he was there reared and educated. In 1860 he came to Harmony town and bought eighty acres of land on section. 10, of William Herron, and has in- creased this farm to 200 acres. In 1864 Mr. Horton enlisted in the Union army, and served with honor until the close of the war. In 1863 Mr. Horton married Mary V. Classon. Mrs. Horton was born in Rock Co., Wis., in 1841, and is a daughter of Clark Classon, who set- tled in Beloit, Wis., May 15, 1836, when the village consisted of one log house. One of his daughters, Emily, was the second white child born in that county. Mr. and Mrs. HIor- ton have three children - Mary, aged eighteen, Nellie, aged fifteen, and Hattie G., aged eight years.

Jesse Cowen was among the settlers who located here in 1861. He is a native of Noble Co., Ohio, and was reared and educated in the grand old "Buckeye State." In 1861 he came to Vernon county and purchased of his mother the southeast quarter of section 4 in Harmony township. In 1863 he came to the conclusion that it was not best for man to be alone, and he accordingly sought and won the hand of Lydia Powell, who was a year younger, but also a native of Noble Co., Ohio. This young couple have been blessed with five chil- dren-Albert H., Amanda J., Edna C., Nancy C. (born Jan. 10, 1875, and died at the age of one year) and R. B. Ilays. Mr. Cowen has been honored with offices of trust in the township for the past fourteen years, a fitting tribute to the confidence and esteem in which he is held by his neighbors.

Andrew Newton, who located in the village of Newton in 1863, was born in Lebanon, Penn., in 1838. He there received a fair edu- cation, and in 1858 removed to Chicago, where he worked at the blacksmith trade for five years. He then came to Jefferson town, I

and from the date of his arrival until 1872, was engaged in farming. In 1872 he removed to Harmony town, and since then has been doing a large and prosperous business, working at his trade. He is the owner of a large shop, a fine residence and several vacant lots in the village. In 1865 he married Elizabeth Huoett, of this town. They are the parents of four children -- Alice B., Eugene, Oscar and Mattie.

Torger Thoreson, who became a resident of Ilarmony town in 1869, was born in that cool and healthy country called Norway, in 1825. Ile came to these United States in 1867 and first located on Coon Prairie, but two years later bought 120 acres of land on section 1, where he has since resided. He has eulti- vated this land and now owns one of the best improved farms in the county, and is considered a most prosperous farmer. He was married in Norway to Randi Olson, who has borne him five children-Christian, Ole, Thomas, Edward and Matia. Mrs. Thoreson died in 1881, and Mr. Thoreson was again united in marriage, in 1842, to Carrie Knudson. They have an infant daughter-Regina.

Engebret P. Hage, a well known farmer of this town came in 1869. He was born in Norway, in 1852, and located in Vernon Co., Wis., when but seventeen years of age. His father, Erland P. Hage, came to the United S ates in 1867. He was born in Norway, in 1826. lle, with his wife and six children, (En- gebret, his oldest boy, being left in Norway for two years) located in this town, on section 1, where he died in 1875. His wife, Marit P. llage, was born in Norway in 1830. She is still living, on forty acres of land selected from the old homestead, and with whom our subject re- sides. E. P. Hage purchased 210 acres of land at the administration sale, after his fathers' death and has improved it considerably. He has a library containing over 150 volumes, and a fine collection of old coins and a number of old relics.

HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

561

August Larkie was born in Germany, in 1852, and came to Vernon county with his parents in 1870. Mr. Larkie was married in 1874 to Mol- lie Snick, and this union has been blessed with two children-Alorena and Mena. Mr. Larkie now own sixty-six acres of land on section 4.

Lorin A. Aiken, proprietor of the grist mill at Newton, the finest mill in Vernon county, was born in New Hampshire, in 1847. In 1851 he accompanied his parents to Dodge Co., Mis .; in 1855, to Waushara county; in 1858, to Dane county; in 1865, to Columbia county; in 1867, to Walworth county; in 1871, to Racine county; in 1876, to Chicago; in 1877, to Milwaukee; and in 1879, to the village of Newton. He purchased

the combined grist and saw mill that was erected in 1868, by Martin Allen, and fitted it up with the latest improved machinery. It is supplied with four run of buhr stones, and three sets of roller mills, and has a daily capacity of 100 bushels of wheat and 150 bushels of feed. The saw mill is operated by water power. Mr. Aiken also owns and farms 110 acres of land, on section 23. In 1864 he enlisted in the Ist Wis- consin Heavy Artillery, and served till the close of the war-a period of ten months. Mr. Aiken was united in marriage, in 1869, to Emma Cave, of Cohimbia Co., Wis. They have six children- Albert, Percey, Lester, Elmer, Eva M., and Garfield.

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.

CHAPTER XL. -

THE TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH.

Hillsborough is in the extreme northeastern corner of Vernon county, and is bounded on the north by Monroe county, on the east by Juneau county, on the south by the town of Greenwood, and on the west by the town of Forest. It comprises township 14, range 1 east, which contains thirty-six full sections besides six parts of sections, the northern line of which varies a quarter of a mile from being a straight east and west line, which was occasioned by the correction made in the original survey. The exact number of acres in the town is 23,583,76. The town was named in honor of several brothers by the name of Hill, one of whom, Vilentia B. Hill, made the first claim, and also the first improvement within the town. The surface of this town is composed of narrow ridges and valleys, both of which form good farming lands. It is well adapted to grass and stock raising, and is especially suited to sheep raising. Pure springs of clear cold water are found throughout the town. These pro- duce streams of sufficient magnitude to afford fine mill privileges. Three branches of the Baraboo river, flow through the town. The south and most important branch is formed of two streams, one of which has its source in the springs and brooks of the western portion of the town. The other stream flows north from the town of Greenwood. These nnite near the center of section 35, flow northeasterly and leave the town from section 25, nniting with the north branch near Union Center, Junean county. This branch of the Baraboo affords a fine water power. The middle branch has its

souree in the springs in the northwest part of the town. This stream affords a fine water power on section 8. This stream flows in a southeasterly course, leaving the town from sec- tion 24, and soon after unites with the south fork. The north stream flows through what is known as the Mutch settlement. It leaves the town from section 12.

The timber of this town is such as is found throughout the county. Excellent white oak is found in great quantities ; black oak, sugar maple and bass-wood being also common throughont these vast forests.

SETTLEMENT.

The first efforts toward the settlement of this town were made by Vilentia B. Hill, who located on the southeast quarter of section 14, in 1850. He also claimed forty acres on the southwest quarter of section 13, forty acres on the northeast quarter of section . 23. llis making claims on different sections is accounted for by the fact of the land not having been surveyed. In May, 1851, he began making im- provements, and in August of the same year, moved his family to the place. Several other families came in about that time, but it is gen. erally conceded that Mr. Hill made the first claim and broke the first land in the town. Mr. Hill was born in the town of Coldchester, Chittenden Co., Vt., in 1810. He married Mary J. Johnson ; removed to Indiana, and from that State to Baraboo, Wis. He followed the business of milling for many years. He operated the first saw mill at Baraboo. After coming to Vernon county, he turned his atten-

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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY

tion to farming ; made some improvements on his farm, but his health failed him and he made but little progress. He died Feb. 26, 1857, leaving his wife and six children, two sons and four daughters. Mrs. Hill was born in New Hampshire, in 1814, but was reared in New York State.

Several claims were made during the year 1851.

Charles Fritchie, a German, settled on section 1, during the summer of that year. Some three years later he sold to William Mutch and left the county. The same year Ambrose B. Cole settled on sections 1 and 12. He died in the Union army, during the Rebellion, The farm he claimed was still owned by members of his family, in 1884.

William and Alonzo Hill, brothers of V. B. Hill, the first to settle in the town, made claims in 1851. They settled with their families on section 24.

Ichabod B., another brother of the Hills, and a single man, came at the same time, but made no claim. He served in the 25th Missouri Vol- unteers during the Rebellion. At the close of the war he went to Kansas, where he died.

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History of Vernon County, Wisconsin, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 75

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Union Number of Pages: 814

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Union
Number of Pages: 814