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 84
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625
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
supervisors; N. D. Ward, clerk; Allen Rusk, assessor; W R. Snead, justice of the peace and F. V. Bryson, constable.
SCHOOLS.
The first school in the town of Liberty was held in a building formerly used by George P. Martin as a residence. It was located on see- tion 9. Emily Clauson was the teacher.
In 1884 the town had four school buildings. At this date a part of the scholars of the town attended the schools located in other towns, which had joint districts with Liberty.
RELIGIOUS.
In an early day the Methodist Episcopal de- nomination formed a elass, which in 1884, be- longed to the Liberty Pole circuit.
The United Brethren sect also organized a Church, some time after the war, and continued to keep up regular services till about 1878.
These two are the only religions organiza- tions ever perfected within the town.
CEMETERIES.
In 1884 there were two cemeteries within the town of Webster, both being situated on section 9. The oldest of these is the one located near the pioneer residence of George P. Martin. The first burials in this cemetery were two chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Martin. The second bur- rying place is on the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 9.
LIBERTY POSTOFFICE.
A postoffice was established at the residence of John R. Joseph, in 1859 or 1860; his wife acting as postmistress. She was followed by Mrs. M. J. Wolford, who was succeeded by Mrs. M. A. Davis. Then Mrs. Wolford was again appointed, and in time was succeeded by Allen Rusk, who was postmaster in 1884. This office has always been kept at the house of the per- son receiving the appointment of postmaster, or postmistress, and for this reason, has been styled "the office on wheels," but it has always gone by the name of Liberty, and has served
well the needs of the people who have lived in that vicinity.
MILLS.
The first mill erected in the town of Liberty, was a saw mill, built by H. L. Turner, in 1856, which was located on seetion 24, and was fur- nished with power by the waters of the Kieka- poo river. In 1857 Mr. Turner added a grist mill, the machinery of which he purchased in Buffalo, N. Y. He operated this mill till 1864, when he sold to A. C. Cushman, who operated the combined saw and flouring mill until 1879, when he built another mill, known as the Viola Mills. This mill was built a few fods down stream from the site of the old one. It is a wooden building, 32x48 feet, and is three stories high. It contains four run of stone. The river furnishes a head of six feet, which gives ample propelling power for the necessary machinery of the mill. This property is valued at $20,000 including the saw mill, which was still in oper- ation in 1884.
Another early saw mill was put in operation by William C. Groves, on section 4, which con- tinued a number of years.
THE MOUNDS.
There are a number of Indian mounds, a mi- nute description of which is given elsewhere in this work, within this town. There are to be seen about forty of these peculiar mounds, on section 24. They represent animals of the larger species, birds, reptiles etc., and are sur- rounded with no little mystery and curiosity.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Personal mention is made of the following named prominent citizens:
Robert and John Tate, two natives of Fort Wayne, Ind , accompanied their parents to this county in 1854. Robert was born Nov. 28, 1839, and was but fifteen years old when he came into the county. The father had entered land on section 18, and in 1862, Robert homesteaded 160 aeres on section 23. He has since lived on this land, and has increased it by a purchase of twenty aeres. In 1864 he enlisted in company
626
IIISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
I, 42d regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served until he was honorably discharged, in 1865. Mr. Tate has served his fellow eiti- zens as town treasurer and constable, also as treasurer of his school district. Mr. Tate mar- ried Prnda Downey, of Vernon county, and of their six children, four are living-Margaret, wife of Harmon D. Jennings; Mary, wife of Joseph S. Bond; Estella and Charles. John Tate was born at Fort Wayne, Ind., in 1851, and was therefore only three years of age when his parents came to Vernon county. He owns forty acres of land on section 22. Mr. Tate was united in marriage, in 1870, to Esther Amanda Philpot. They have six children- William S., James W., Laura A., David O., Owen B. and Ida M.
John H. Vumback, a native of Wolfenshan- sen, Germany, was born in 1827, and emigrated to the United States in 1850. He first settled in Cook Co., Ill., where he remained five years. In 1855 removed to Crawford Co., Wis., and one year later, (1856), came to Vernon county and settled 120 acres of land, on section 22, town 12 north, of range 3 west. Mr. Vumback was married, in 1853, to Elizabeth Amos, who was born in Byron, Germany, in 1829. They have seven children-Henry, who married Jeanette Cass; Conrad, who married Rosa Goer; John, Mary, wife of Edward Spitzer; Sophia, wife of Joseph Maple; Minnie and Philip.
Lemuel S. Rabbitt, a native of the "old Do- minion," settled in Liberty town, in 1864. lle was born in Hancock Co., Va., in 1827, and in 1854 was married at Carrollton, Carroll Co., Ohio, to Elizabeth E. Blazer. In 1855 he re- moved his family to Richland Co., Wis., where he resided nine years. Mr. Rabbitt then came to Liberty town, and purchased of John Bryan 160 acres of well improved land on sections 23 and 24. Mr. Rabbitt has been chairman of the town board of supervisors for the past two years. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rabbitt, six of whom are living-Sanford, Anna, Lemuel E., John, George and Jasper. Sanford
was married to Lucinda MeCarty, April 6, 1882. They have one son-Roy. Mrs. Lucinda Rab- bitt, wife of Sanford, is a native of Morgan Co., Ohio. Sanford was born in Jefferson Co., Ohio. Mrs. Elizabeth Rabbitt, wife of L. S. Rabbitt, was born in Jefferson Co., Ohio, Feb. 29, 1829, (leap year).
Robert Storer was born in 1831 in Mus- kingum Co., Ohio. He there received a com- mon school education, and when he was sixteen years of age he went to Perry Co., Ohio, where he remained till the year 1865, and then came to Vernon Co., Wis. He settled near Viroqna, and remained there two years, and then he came to the town of Liberty and pur- chased a farm of 160 acres on section 5, which he now owns. Mr. Storer was united in mar- riage to Mary Orrison, in 1857. They are the parents of eight children-Jolin F., Celia A., William, George, Charles, Austin, Emma and Wilbert. The following named children are married: John F., to Catherine Wilson, and Celia to David Buchanan.
Joseph S. Bond, farmer, although quite young, is nevertheless one of the pioneers of the town of Liberty. He is a native of Pennsylvania, and was bnt two years old when his parents removed to Richland Co., Wis. In 1869 they located in Liberty town, the father purchasing 120 acres of land on sections 12 and 23. Joseph S. now owns this land with an additional forty acres purchased subsequently. He was married in 1882 to Mary, daughter of Robert and Pruda (Downey) Tate. Mrs. Bond was born in Ver- non county in 1865. Mr. Bond's father, Rich- ard H. Bond, is a native of England, where he was born in 1820. He emigrated to the United States in 1844, and made his first permanent settlement in Richland Co., Wis. In 1852 he removed to Vernon county, and now owns eighty acres of land on section 24, in this town. He was married in Pennsylvania, in 1843, to Susannah Sutton. They had two children- Mary and Joseph.
627
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
H. A. Curry. who resides on section 21, was born in Morgan Co., Ohio, in 1845. His father, William Curry, was born in Virginia in 1808, and settled in Ohio about 1831, and there died in 1878. His wife still survives, and resides with her son William, in Ohio, at the advanced age of seventy-one years. In 1870 Mr. Curry removed to Vernon Co., Wis., and purchased 360 acres of land in the town of Liberty, of M. Longstroth. He has reduced the size of his farm to 190 acres. Ile was elected a justice of the peace in 1878, and served one term. Mr. Curry wes married in Clinton Co., Ohio, in 1868, to Elizabeth Starbuck. They have three children-Edgar, Charles and Guy. Mrs. Cur- ry's father, Jonathan Starbuck, was born in Clinton Co., Ohio, in 1825, and died in Virginia at the age of thirty-two years. Her mother was born in 1827 and died in Ohio at the age of forty-seven years.
Mons. S. Wilkinson was born in 1848 in Nor- way, and emigrated to America in 1858. He first settled in Crawford Co., Wis., and in 1874 he came to the town of Liberty. He married
Anna Lee, who was also born in Norway, in 1848. She came to the United States in 1868. They have had born to them two children- Wilbert C. and Bertha J. Mr. Wilkinson does not own any real estate in the county at present, having just sold his farm, which con- sisted of eighty acres on section 18, where he still resides. Mr. Wilkinson contemplates pur- chasing another farm on the same section.
Elizabeth Wigdahl was born in Norway in 1818, and came to the United States in 1864. She settled in the town of Christiana, where she lived nntil 1878, when she removed to the town of Liberty, and bonght of John Erikson 160 acres of land on section 19, where she now resides. Mrs. Wigdahl was married in Norway, in 1844, to Peter Wigdahl, who died in Vernon county on the 27th day of July, 1880. Mrs. Wigdahl has five living children-Mary, Betsey, Emma, Anna and Sarah. Hans is deceased. Mary is the wife of Hans Vomburg; Betsey married Nels Swigan; Sarah joined fortunes with Robert Robertson, and Anna is now a widow with three children.
628
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
CHAPTER XLIV.
THE TOWN OF STARK.
Stark is bounded on the north by the town of Whitestown, on the east by Union, on the south by Richland county, and on the west by the town of Webster. Its territory comprises township 13, range 2 west. The Kickapoo river flows through the town, entering its domain on section 3, and leaves from section 31, into the town of Webster. This stream furnishes a good water power on section 20, which is well utilized. The Kickapoo has several small tribu- taries taking their rise in different parts of the town. Among these are Jug creek and Weister creek. The former comes in from the town of Union and unites on section 3; the latter enters from Whitestown and makes a confluence with the main stream on section 9. Bear creek also flows from Union town and empties into the river proper on section 29, where another fine water power is obtainable. Otter creek, another little creek, flows from the town of Webster and joins the river on section 29. These streams are spring brooks, of the purest water and are perfectly clear ; many of them contain fish. While the topography of this town, in common with that of the entire county is quite broken and hilly, vet it is as good a farming section as Vernon county affords.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The earliest settlement in the town of Stark was made in 1853, by the following : Chauncy W. Lawton, who came from Kickapoo Center and settled on section 20.
John H. Anderson, a native of Scotland, came in the spring of the year and entered
land on section 20, which included the water power.
Among the few that came in during 1854, was P. Orrison, who entered land on section 20, for His father, and on section 17 for himself. lle remained on his land about ten years and moved into the town of Webster, where he purchased a mill. In 1884 he resided at Viro- qua.
Jesse Orrison, father of P. Orrison, came. in 1854, from Perry Co., Ohio, and located on sec- tion 20, where he remained till the time of his death in 1862 ; his wife died in 1880.
Emery Lockie, a native of Virginia, settled in the town, on the northeast quarter of section 36, in 1854, where he resided until 1857, and removed to Missouri, where he was afterward killed by his son, who led a band of Confed- erate guerillas.
In 1855, Henry Smith, of Ohio, settled on section 19.
Eli McVey settled in the town in 1854, on land near Rockton.
John B. Lease came in from Greene county, in 1855, and located on the northwest quarter of section 36, where he lived till 1877, when he sold out and moved to Turner Co., D. T.
Peter Smith, of New Jersey, came in 1855, from near Viroqua, and settled on section 9, where he remained till his death in June, 1880.
Benjamin Bahr and Adam Bryan, also set- tled in 1855, the former on section ", and the latter on section 3, where they improved their lands and remained till 1875, when they sold and in 1884, were living in Laporte, Iowa.
629
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
Thomas De Jean came from New York to Waukesha county, but soon removed to section 29, Stark town. He arrived some time during the spring or summer of 1855 ; having entered land, however, in 1853. He erected a saw-mill and a little later built a grist-mill. lle died in 1877 ; his wife still lives on the homestead.
George Walts was another settler of 1855 ; he settled on section 2, where he cleared up a farm. Ile remained there until 1861, when he sold and went to Michigan. In 1884 he was living at Laporte, Iowa, where he was engaged in the mercantile business.
Elliot Benson, a native of Massachusetts, came from Greene Co., Wis., in 1855, and set- tled on section 35, where he remained until 1879, when he sold and moved west.
David Simons, of Ohio, settled on the north- west quarter of section 26, in 1855. He re- mained five or six years and moved to Ne- braska, and in 1884, was living in Oregon.
E. Dalton, of Maryland, came in 1855 and settled on section 5, where he still resided in 1884.
Among the settlers of 1856 were: Joseph R. Bean, E. Potter, Joseph Parker and John Barge. Joseph R. Bean came from Virginia, to Jo Daviess Co., Ill., and in 1856, came to the southeast quarter of section 24, Stark town. Afterward he moved to Union town, where he died in 1868.
E. Potter removed from Vermont to Grant Co., Wis., and from there to this county, in 1856. He located on section 24, where he was still living in 1884.
Joseph Parker was a native of Kentucky, who came from Illinois and settled on section 35, where he still resided in 1884.
John Barge, a German, came in the summer of 1856, and settled on section 12.
George and William White, who were natives of England, settled on the northeast quarter of section 26, where they made some improvements. In the fall of 1857 they went to the Black river region. George was a Mor-
man preacher, and said to have been a very able man.
Samuel W. Gray, a native of New York State, came from Grant Co., Wis., in the fall of 1857, and settled on the northeast quarter of section 26, where he was still living in 1884.
EARLY EVENTS
One of the earliest marriages in the town was Henry Malier and Mary Bahr, in the winter of 1855-6. They were married at Viro- qua ; and their home was on section 2, where he died a number of years ago. His widow married again and lives at Laporte, Iowa.
Oscar, son of E. and Lydia ( Smith ) Dalton, was one of the first children, if not the first born in the town. His birth occurred June 20, 1855.
ORGANIC.
The town of Stark was set off from the town of Union in November, 1858, and the first election for town officers held at the house of Morrison Wilson,in April, 1859. No records are preserved of the first few town meetings, hence the first officers are here, necessarily omitted. The fol- lowing were the officers of 1883: Troy Evans, chairman of the board of supervisors; I. D. Nixon, assessor; James. Cathers, treasurer; W. 1. Norris, clerk.
SCHOOLS.
In 1884 the town of Stark contained seven school houses which were located in districts known as Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, joint district Nos. 8, and 10.
In district No. I the first school was upon the subscription plan and was taught in 1860, by Mrs. Jesse Orrison, in her son's house. In 1861 a log school building was erected on the line of sections 16 and 17. Laura Evans was the first teacher employed in this building. This build- ing was burned in 1864, and school was then held in a house which belonged to Payton Orri- son. In 1866 a frame building was erected on the southeast quarter of section 17. Lizzie Stimble was the first to teach in this new build- ing.
630
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
Distriet No. 2 was provided with a school house in 1857, which was located on the south- east quarter of section 5. This was a log build- ing. Mary Clausen was the first teacher. A new house was built in 1874, on the southwest quarter of section 5, in which Belle Robinson taught the first term of school.
The first school house in district No. 3 was built in 1857; this was a log house located on the northwest quarter of section 30. Matilda Shell taught the first term of school. After ward a frame house was built, which stood on the northwest quarter of the southeast quar- ter of section 29. Mrs. Ingram taught the first school in this building.
District No. 4, more commonly known as "Jug Creek School," had its first term of school in a log house built by a few of the neighbors, on the southwest quarter of seetion 2. The first school was held in the winter of 1857-8. This house served a few years, when a hewed log house was erected on the old site, in which Anson W. DeJean taught the first school. In 1876 a frame house was built and furnished after the more modern style. This building was located on the northwest quarter of sec- tion 11. Thomas Smith taught first in this building.
The first school house in district No. 5 was erected in 1859; it was a log building located on the southwest quarter of section 24. Corne- lins Weeden was the first teacher in this house. In 1866 another log building took the place of the one of pioneer days; this was situated on the southeast quarter of section 23.
Joint district No. 8 had its first school build- ing erected in 1858-a log house located on the northwest quarter of section 35. Harriet E. Cox was the first teacher. In 1881 a frame house was erected near the site of the old one. Jacob Potts was the first teacher in the new building.
District No. 10 was organized in 1871. A stone building was purchased of A. W. Sprague. Alice Seeley, afterward wife of Ed. Nixon,
taught the first school. In 1874 another build- ing was provided, which was located on the north bank of the river, near the center of see- tion 20. Kate West was the first teacher.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
Religons services were held in the log school house on section 2 as soon as it was completed, by the Evangelical Association. A class was formed with about twenty members, among whom were: George Walsh and wife, John Barger and wife, Adam Bryan wife and two daughters, Joseph Fulmer and wife and Francis Lawton and wife. Adam Bryan was chosen the first class leader. Rev. Sater was among the first ministers. He was killed in the Indian massaere in Minnesota in 1862. This society met at the log school house until within a few years, but now meet at Rockton.
In 1867 the first Methodist Episcopal meet- ings were held in the school house on section 17. Rev. C. N. Cunningham was the first preacher. Ile organized a class in the winter of 1867-68 with about eighteen members, among whom were: Samnel Smith and wife, Dempster Seeley and wife, Irving Nixon and wife, William H. Bacon wife and daughter, Lizzie Stimble, Adelia Farnham, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Bar- ton, John Dyer, Emma Dyer, Cynthia Moore and Mary M. Miller. Irving C. Nixon was cho- sen class leader. This class continued to wor- ship in the school honse till 1871, when a church building was erected on the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 20. This goes by the name of Star Chapel. A sab- bath school was formed in connection with this class in 1868. I. C. Nixon was the first super- intendent. The school in 1884 had an average attendance of about thirty-five scholars.
Another Methodist Episcopal class was formed in 1875 by Rev. Bradley at the new school house on Jug ereck. John Barge and wife, Adam Bryan and wife; Mrs. G. W. Wiseman and John Barge were among the members of this class, and Mr. Barge was chosen class leader.
631
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
The United Brethren formed a class in the hewed log school house on section 2, just prior to the Rebellion. Rev. Himes was the first preacher The class numbered about twenty- five. In 1884 Rev. Alderman was pastor for this denomination.
There was Baptist services conducted at the house of John B. Lease, in 1857, by John Cran- dall, a Baptist clergyman, who organized a soci- ety of this denomination, which was known as Bethel Church. They built a church in 1877 on section 28, in which Rev. Sliter was the first to preach. In 1884 the society held no regular serviees on account of numerous removals.
CEMETERIES.
'This town has two cemeteries within its bor- ders, both on the same section. One on the northwest quarter of section 20 and the other on the southeast quarter of section 20.
THE VILLAGE OF STAR.
Star is the proper name for this village ; however, outside of a radius of ten miles it is known as "Seeleyburg," after Dempster Seeley. R. S. Moore, county surveyor of Vernon county, platted this village in 1867, for C. W. Lawton. It is on the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 20.
C. W. Lawton built the first house in the place, in 1859, on the north side of the river ; but in 1861, he moved it across the river to where the village now stands. Mr. Lawton also built the first store in 1863.
Joseph McHenry put in. a small stock of goods, which he continued to traffic in until 1870.
A. W. Sprague, from Rhode Island, erected a building and opened up a store, which he operated for six months, then returned to Rhode Island. His store was sold for a school house. In 1874 Joseph Cowan and Il. H. Wyatt formed a partnership and rented the Sprague building, which Dempster Seeley bought of the school district. This store was burned out and Mr. Seeley erected another building on the same spot and Mr. Wyatt
run a general store there for four months, when this building was burned and Mr. Wyatt moved to Viroqua. Mr. Seeley again rebuilt and Il. C. Millard opened up a stock of goods and continued two years, being succeeded by Obadiah Driskal, who lost his stoek by fire in 1883.
Dempster Seeley erected a saw mill on the east branch of the Kickapoo river in 1863. This was a frame building, 25x50 feet, and employed a circular saw. In 1870 he added a shingle and planing mill, and in 1879 the whole was destroyed by fire. He again put up a building, 50x90 feet, in which is operated a shingle mill, planing mill, turning lathe and rotary saw mill.
Thomas DeJean built a saw mill on the east bank of the East Kickapoo river, in 1857. A log and brush dam was thrown across the stream, which gave him a fall of seven feet. In 1863 he sold a half interest to his son, Anson W. In 1865 they put in a rotary saw, and in 1873 quit the lumber business and built a small grist mill, furnished with three run of stone. After Thomas DeJean's death the mill was operated by his son, Anson W.
A postoffice was established in 1859 and Thomas DeJean made postmaster. He kept the office at his house on section 29. In 1861 C. W. Lawton became postmaster and moved the office to his house on section 20. Ile was still holding the office in 1884, having had charge of it continuously, except one year when Anson DeJean held it. Robert Parker is now deputy and keeps the office at his store.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
There is no class of citizens so richly deserv- ing of praise, respect and esteem as the pioneer settlers ; and too often even this is denied them. It is the aim of the historian of this chapter to give a few lines to the honored pio- neers and their descendants, due them on ac- count of being instrumental in "clearing up" and developing this new and beautiful soil.
632
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
Chauncey W. Lawton came to Vernon county in 1854, and entered land on section 1, town 11, range 3 west, Kickapoo town. He built a log cabin and cleared about twelve acres of land. In 1858 he traded that for a place in town 13, range 3. He then came to Stark town and rented a farm on section 29, for one year. He then traded his farm in Kickapoo town for one on section 20, Stark town, and built a house on the north bank of the river, which he moved, in 1860, to the south bank. In 1865 he built the large frame house in which he now lives. In 1867 he platted the village of Star Mr. Lawton was born June 27, 1825, in Great Valley, Cattaraugns Co., N. Y., where he grew to manhood, receiv- ing a liberal education in the district and high school. When nineteen years of age, he entered the office of Angel & Fox with whom he studied law two years. In 1846 he came to Wisconsin, locating in Waukesha, where he remained one year, then returned to New York State, remain- ing until 1854, at which time he came to Ver- non county, as before stated. Ile continued his study of law in this county, and, in 1859, was admitted to the bar at Viroqua. Mr. Lawton has been twice married. Ilis first wife, to whom he was married Sept. 2, 185', was Mirian F. Dyer. Three children blessed this union- Clarence, Alice and Ulysses. Mrs. Lawton died March 21, 1871. He again married, Ang. 3, 1872, Jemima Dowell, a native of Scotland. They have three children-Caroline, William and Alexander. Mr. Lawton was appointed postmaster of the Star office, in 1861, and holds the office at the present time. He has been prominent in county and town affairs. Ile has served as county commissioner, and for several years has held the office of justice of the peace. Mr. Lawton was a soldier in the Union army during the late war, and was with Sherman dur- ing that memorable march to the sea.
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