History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 118

Author: Western Historical Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 998

USA > Wisconsin > Walworth County > History of Walworth County, Wisconsin > Part 118

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1873-Supervisors, W. R. Herron, Chairman, George Winters, George Sikes ; William P. Allen, Clerk ; II. B. Hlowell, Treasurer ; A. L. Mason, Assessor ; William P. Allen, S. W. Voorhees, Justices of the Peace ; P. MI. Ottman, W. H. Babcock, B. M. Cary, Constables.

1874-Supervisors, W. R. Herron, Chairman, George Winters, George Sikes ; William P. Allen, Clerk ; H. B. Howell, Treasurer ; A. L. Mason. Assessor ; W. L. Stocking, John Diekson, William Hutchins, Justices of the Peace ; P. M. Ottman, W. H. Babcock, W. L. Adams, Constables.

1875-Supervisors, J. A. Treat, Chairman, George Sikes, J. H. Topping ; William P. Allen, Clerk ; C. R. Treat; Treasurer ; A. L. Mason, Assessor ; William P. Allen. Justin Wright, A. C. Le- baron, Justices of the Peace ; Henry Truax, William Hamlin, W. II. Babcock, Constables.

1876-Supervisors, J. A. Treat, Chairman, George Sikes, Jared Topping ; William P. Allen, Clerk ; A. L. Mason, Treasurer ; O. C. Moon, A. Woodard, Jr., A. Matteson, Justices of the Peace ; Henry Truax, Henry Babcock, Elmer Mattesen, Constables.

1877-Supervisors, J. A. Treat, Chairman, George Sikes, J. Il. Topping ; William P. Allen, Clerk ; C. F. Arnold, Treasurer ; A. L. Mason, Assessor ; William P. Allen, A. Woodard, Jr., How- land Fish, Adam Peters, Justices of the Peace ; James Welch, William Markle, Alden Field, Con- stables.

1878-Supervisors, J. A. Treat, Chairman, George Sikes, George Winters ; William P. Allen, Clerk ; C. F. Arnold, Treasurer ; A. L. Mason, Assessor ; Howland Fish, A. P. Wilkins, A. L. Ma- son, Justices of the Peace ; W. H. Babcock, Henry Truax, Elmer Matteson, Constables.

1879-Supervisors, J. A. Treat, Chairman. G. Mereness, J. Daniels ; William P. Allen, Clerk ; W. E. Mereness, Treasurer ; J. W. Brownson, Assessor ; William P. Allen, A. Woodard, Jr., A Schellenger, A. Matteson, Justices of the Peace ; J. W. Welch, W. H. Babcock, Elmer Matteson, Constables.

1880-Supervisors, W. R. Herron, Chairman, Jerry Daniels, Morris Isaacs ; L. P. Ballard, Clerk ; William S. Ilamlin, Treasurer ; S. G. Bardwell, Assessor; A. Schellenger, C. F. Arnold, Justices of the Peace ; John Stockbridge, George Markle, W. H. Babcock, Constables.

1881-Supervisors, W. R. Herron, Chairman, Jerry Daniels, Morris Isaacs ; L. P. Ballard, Clerk ; William S. Ilamlin, Treasurer ; H. G. Bardwell, Assessor ; A Woodard, Jr., William P. Allen, A. L. Mason, Justices of the Peace ; Peter Gosso, D. McDonald, H. Miller, Frank Moon, Constables.

VILLAGE OF SHARON.

The village of Sharon is located on Section 33 of the town of Sharon, on the Wisconsin Division of the Chicago & North-Western Railroad, which enters the town on Section 34, and, running in a northwesterly direction, passes out on Section 30. The first settlers of the village were William Van Ostrand and a Mr. Southard, who located in 1842.

Previous to the coming of the railroad. there were no other dwellings in the vicinity than those of the first settlers. For some time, the location of the depot and grounds was uncertain -whether it should be a mile east of where it now is, on the State line, or about the same dis- tance west. This uncertainty, however, was dispelled in 1855, when it received its present

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

location. About this time, Robert Campbell, of Oshkosh, having purchased the land on which the village is now located, laid out forty acres into village lots. The first lots were purchased by H. H. Bidwell. The railroad was built through in 1856, and since then the village has had rather a rapid and permanent growth.

H. H. Bidwell was the first station agent.

The first store was built and opened by George Millmine. in 1856. Sam Sanderson kept

the first saloon. The first blacksmith was John Gochey. He is now living in Darien.

The first hotel was built by Seymour Rice, in 1857.

This building was a small two-story frame, and is now standing and used as a dwelling house. Mr. Rice previously kept a " stopping-place " in a log house built by William Van Os- trand.

A Mr. Wilson was the first to blister. bleed and dose with calomel, while F. P. Arnold at- tended to all legal matters to the entire satisfaction of the one side and the utter disgust of the other in every suit at law.

Leslie Low was the first white child born in the village, in 1858.

A male child of Dr. Wilson's died of the small pox in 1857, and was the first death.

Sharon's business is at present represented by four stores, carrying a stock of clothing, dry goods, hats and caps, boots and shoes, etc .; one grocery store, three drug stores, two hardware stores, one variety store, two shoe stores. three restaurants, two hotels, one flouring-mill, one cheese factory, seven physicians, five ministers, and a number of mechanics and mechanics' shops.

A schoolhouse was built near the site of the present one in the village of Sharon in about 1848. This was replaced by the present schoolhouse a few years afterward, which has from time to time been remodeled and added to. It is situated in the northern part of the village, and is a two-story frame building, representing a valuation of about $3,000.

Through the efforts of Rev. J. G. Schaeffer, then pastor of the Lutheran Church, a normal institute was formed in October, 1866. A building was erected through the enterprise of pub- lie-spirited citizens, and the Sharon Academy. as it was then called, commenced its first session in December, 1867, with ninety-six students, under the principalship of Mr. Schaeffer and Prof. E. S. Chadwick, of Beloit. The next year, a regular training school was organized. In June of that year, Mr. Schaeffer resigned on account of ill health and the pressure of multitudinous duties, to the sincere and publicly expressed regret of all those interested in the growth and permanency of the Sharon Academy. To push the enterprise, he also established and edited the Mirror, which made its first appearance June 5, 1865. The school greatly flourished under his management, and continued actively in the field of education until 1878, when it was closed. The building is a two story frame structure. situated in the southern part of the village, on a commanding eminence. In 1880, a free high school was organized, its Principal being James Ellis.

POST OFFICE.

In 1858, a petition was presented to the Post Office Department at Washington for the es- tablishment of a post office at this point, which petition was acted upon favorably and the office opened, with John Hodgdon as Postmaster. It was then kept in the corner building, formerly owned by Seth Doolittle, and now the property of William Veley, who is about to erect a business block in its place. The receipts at this time amounted to from $25 to $30 per quarter. Mr. Hodgdon remained in possession of the office until 1861, when W. R. Herron was commissioned. Mr. Herron removed the office to the corner building, then occupied by himself as a dry goods store, and now occupied by Lyman Brothers. Under his administration, the quarterly receipts were increased to about $70. In 1868, the present Postmaster, William P. Allen, was ap- pointed. Mr. Allen has kept the office in various places until, 1873, it was removed to its pres- ent location, in the building owned and occupied by S. P. Ballard. Under Mr. Allen's admin- istration, the quarterly receipts have been increased to about $160.

THE PRESS.

The first paper published in Sharon was the Mirror, edited by Rev. J. G. Schaeffer, Pastor of the Lutheran Church and Principal of the Sharon Academy. Its first number was issued

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

June 5, 1868. In December, 1869, C. C. Hanford took charge of the Mirror, and continued to aet as editor and proprietor until January 13, 1871. S. B. Ballard then assumed charge, and continued its publication until September 15 of that year, when the paper was suspended. December 1, 1871, George F. Brigham established the Gazette, and remained in its control until September 12, 1873. During that month, J. C. Keeney, now proprietor of the Weyauwega Chronicle, established the Sharon Inquirer. In September, 1876, Clarence Conable purchased the establishment, and remained its proprietor until August 8, 1876, when he removed to Dela- van. His presses and much of his office material were purchased by James H. Phelps and George Ziegans. Starting out with a fresh subscription list of 200 names, they founded the Sharon Reporter, as a five-column quarto, the first number appearing August 29, 1878. There has been no change in form or proprietorship since, but there is a marked difference in the sub- scription list, which now numbers 725 names. The office, neat, convenient and airy, is located in Daniel's Block. In addition to the patronage which the paper has earned by its faithful at- tention to local and county matters. the job work turned out, of every variety, is a source of pros- perity. Connected with the establishment is also a store for the sale of music and musical in- struments. The Reporter is independent in politics, but sensibly contines itself almost entirely to home industries and home interests.

SOCIETIES.

Sharon Lodge, No. 116, A., F. & A. M .- This Masonie body was instituted in 1879, and their charter is dated June 15, 1879. The charter was issued by the Grand Lodge, in session at Milwaukee, with George R. Milmine, W. M .; R. Wilson, S. W .; E. Thompson, J. W. The charter was signed by Luther Martin Tracy, Grand Master; L. M. Strong, Grand Senior War- den; and Algernon Sidney Wood, Grand Junior Warden. The present officers are: W. R. Herron, W. M .: A. Schellenger, S. W .; John Goelzer, J. W .; W. S. Hamlin, Secretary; Joseph M. Yates, Treasurer: G. W. Scott, S. D .; A. D. Truax, J. D .; David MeDonald, Tiler. They have fitted up a hall at an expense of about $500, and their meetings are held on the first and third Saturdays of each month. The present number of members is fifty-four.

Brown Lodge. No. 354, I. O. G. T., was instituted May 16, 1881, by a Mrs. Brown, of Mil- waukee. The charter members were: Mrs. E. E. Yates, Mrs. R. Wesell. James Ellis, Mrs. S. L. Ellis. Mont Goff. Marius Hanford, Mrs. E. Hutchins, Miss B. Hutchins, Miss Louise Keyes, Charles Milmine, Andy Nicholson, Dana Sizer, Ida Searles, Herbert Woods, Charles Woods, Fred Woods, Miss Effie Warren, Mrs. Bertha Yates, Misses Cora and Hattie Yates, Willie Yates and Owen Bird. The first officers were: James Ellis, W. C. T .; Mrs. Bertha Yates, W. V. T. ; Mrs. E. Hutchins, W. C .: Marius Hanford, W. S .: Dana Sizer, W. F. S .: Miss Louise Keyes, W. T .: Miss Blanche Hutchins. W. M .: Miss Ida Searles, I. G. ; Andy Nicholson, O. G. The present officers are: : James Phelps, W. C. T .: Miss Cora Turner, W. V. T .: Miss Cora Yates, W. C .: Jason Sizer, W. S .; Dana Sizer, W. F. S .; Miss Emma Bird, W. T .: Owen Bird. W. M .: Amelia Bird, I. G .: Jessie Scheelenger, O. G .: James Ellis, P. W. C. T. The order has at present a membership of forty-two. Meetings are held in the lecture room of the Congrega- tional Church every Monday evening.

CHURCHES.

The Lutheran Church was built on Section 34, in 1853. It was built at a cost of $2,000. After the village of Sharon sprang up, it was moved there, and was dedicated to the worship of God June 7, 1860, a Rev. Mr. Dox, of New York, delivering the dedicatory sermon.

The Methodist Church society was organized at South Grove in 1843, with about twelve members. They first held prayer meetings in the private dwellings, and subsequently obtained the services of a circuit preacher. After the village of Sharon had obtained a start, the place of meeting was then removed, and in 1856 a church edifice was erected, at a cost of $2,000. It is a wooden structure, and is in size 46x56. Its present membership is eighty-five.

The Congregational Church society was formed June 10, 1868, by a council from the Con- gregational Church at Beloit. It had at its organization nineteen members. Their church edifice was erected the same year. It is of frame, and in size 40x60, constructed at a cost of $4.000. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Dr. Whiting, of Janesville, in November of

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

that year. Its first pastor was Rev. J. G. Schaeffer. It has at present no resident minister, the pulpit being supplied by Prof. O. U. Whitford. Its present membership is sixty-five.

The Protestant Episcopal Church .- Work began in St. Mary's Mission. of this church, by a few lay members, as early as the year 1866. under the leadership of George F. Brigham, one of their members. Services were held for about eight years in the railway station. On the 11th day of June, 1876, Mr. Brigham was made Deacon, and, in the winter and spring of 1879-80, a chapel was built. Its size is 18x32, with a wing Sx16, and cost $600. The mission was formally organized by Bishop Wells, April 17, 18SO, with thirteen communicants. The mission has at present a total membership of forty persons, with Mr. Brigham as pastor.

The Free Methodist Church society was organized in 1874, with seven or eight members. In 1876, they erected a house of worship, which is of frame, and in size 36x44, at a cost of $1, 200. Its present membership is twelve.

HOTELS.

Central House .-- This hotel was built in 1864, by Mr. Vedder, and was called the Vedder House. Its first landlord was a Mr. Colgrove. The hotel has changed hands several times, and in 1877 was purchased by its present owner and proprietor, William Veley, and its name changed to the Central House. It is in size 40x50, and three stories high, and represents a valnation of about $8,000. Mr. Veley has made numerous repairs on the house since he purchased it; it is now an elegant and imposing structure. On the first floor is the office, billiard room, dining room, kitchen, etc .; on the second floor is the parlor, sitting room and sleeping rooms. In the third story is a hall 30x40 feet, and a number of sleeping rooms. The house is situated in the main business block near the depot.

Yates' Block and Hotel .- This large brick structure was commenced in 1874 and finished in 1876. It is in size 23x132, with an ell on south side 20x25. It cost $15,000. The building fronts Plain street on the north and Baldwin street on the east. On the first floor is the drug store of Snowden & Ladd, the hotel office, etc., and bank. The part of the building occupied as a store is two stories high. the remainder of the building being three stories in height. In the second story, over the store, is Yates' Hall, 23x65, and in the hotel part is a parlor, sitting room and sleeping rooms. In the third story are sleeping rooms. In the basement is the kitchen, dining room and billiard room. The building is finished with all the modern improvements, is located in the main business block. and is an ornament to the village. The present proprietor of the hotel is H. M. Fitzgerald.

BANK OF SHARON.

In 1874. J. M. Yates and Howland Fish established a private bank in Sharon, with a cap- ital stock of $10,000. J. M. Yates was President, and Howland Fish, Cashier. A short time ago, Mr. Fish withdrew, and George C. Mansfield became a partner, and is now Cashier, with Mr. Yates still President. They transact a general banking business, and sell exchanges on Chicago, New York, and all principal cities of Europe. The bank is in Yates' Block, on Plain street.

CHEESE FACTORY.

In 1870, a factory was built in Sharon by Robert Pearson and H. H. Bent. In the spring of 1874, William Pearson purchased the interest of Mr. Bent, and the factory is now owned and operated by Pearson Brothers. The factory is of frame, in size 30x60, with a south wing 27x30. The main part is two stories high, with the wing but one story. It represents a total valuation of $5,000. When the factory was first started, it consumed the milk of about three hundred cows. This number has since been increased, and at present the milk of 1,500 cows is used. The Pearson Brothers superintend the manufacture of the cheese themselves, making about forty- seven cheeses per day, or about three thousand pounds. This cheese is sold mostly at the fac- tory to Eastern merchants. Seven hands are employed. The largest amount of milk received at the factory in any one day was 30,160 pounds. About the 1st of September, they commence making butter, and continue it until the Ist of May, making. on an average, 150 pounds per day. On account of this, through the winter they manufacture " skimmed milk cheese," and " full cream cheese " through the summer. This is the largest factory in the State.

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

STEAM FLOURING-MILL.

This mill was built by the citizens of Sharon in 1875, and the machinery was put in by James Ashley as soon as completed. The mill is 30x40, two stories high, with an engine room 15x24, a corn-shelling room 12x14, and a coal shed 10x24. The mill has four run of stone, and the motive power is a thirty-five horse-power engine. Two run of stone are for flour, and the other two for feed and middlings. In 1877 or 1878, Mary A. Slocum purchased a half in- terest in the-mill, and in 1879 Mr. Ashley sold the remaining interest to John Ladd. It is now owned by these parties, and operated by William Fisk. The mill has a capacity of twenty bar- rels of flour per day, and represents an investment of $5,000.

THE VILLAGE OF ALLEN'S GROVE. 4

The village of Allen's Grove is situated on Section 31 of Darien, and Section 6 of Sharon. It is on the South- Western Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway. That part of the village in Sharon was laid out by Pliny Allen in 1852, and that in Darien by Sidney Allen in 1856. The village is unincorporated. It was first settled in 1845, by a colony of sixty- five persons from New York, the proprietors of this colony being Pliny, Sidney, Asa Keyes, Harvey and Philipp Allen, Jr .- five brothers.

The following account is given by Sidney Allen, the sole survivor of this colony and a resi- dent of the village: "In 1843, I was residing in the city of Rochester, N. Y. In June of that year, my wife and myself left home, ostensibly for Buffalo, but came directly to Chicago. My wife took the stage there for Belvidere and Rockford, where we had friends, and I went to Mil- waukee, and from there to Rockford across the country. After a week's visit there, I returned to Chicago, and then home. During that trip. I became possessed of the " Western fever " so badly that I never recovered, and the next spring I purchased and shipped to Chicago a two- seated light wagon, together with a harness, spade, ax, rifle, pocket compass, and a good-sized provision chest, which was fitted under the back seat of the wagon and served to hold the other articles. On the Ist day of July, 1844, my brother Pliny, who resided in Brooklyn, N. Y., and myself. started West. At Ypsilanti. Mich., we were joined by my oldest brother. Asa Keyes Allen, and his son, Dr. J. C. Allen. We continued our journey toward Chicago, and the cars dropped us at Marshall, the then terminus of the railroad. From there we took the stage, and on the 4th day of July, at noon, arrived in Chicago, and stopped at the American, a temperance house. Before eating dinner, I purchased the fine bay team that drew us to the hotel in the

omnibus. Immediately after dinner, I had the horses hitched to the wagon which I had shipped, while the others. in the meantime, filled the " chest " with such eatables as they desired. We then " started West," but had not proceeded more than perhaps a mile before we were convinced that to go farther would be dangerous, as the prairie was covered with water and there was no sign of a road. We returned to the hotel, and there luckily found a man who kept a tavern on our route, twelve miles distant. He had just arrived at the hotel. and was intending to remain overnight, but we gave him $2 and agreed to stop with him overnight besides if he would guide us through safely. He therefore went ahead, and we followed, and, later on, arrived safely at his abode. The axletrees of our wagon were under water most of the distance. On the next day, we drove to Racine, and on the next to Milwaukee. Before leaving home, we had decided to drive between Racine and the Rock River. At Milwaukee, we procured maps showing

all the vacant lands, and on the following day drove as far as Geneva. We started early the next morning, driving to Summerville, one and a half miles west of here, where we took dinner, and then to Rockford, where we spent the Sabbath among our friends. From Rockford we went to Belvidere. where my brother. Asa K., and the Doctor, left us. Pliny and myself then went to where Allen's Grove now is. where we remained ten days, and purchased some over a thousand acres of land. We then went to Kenosha, where we sold our team and took the boat around the lakes to Buffalo, and then overland to Rochester. On the Ist of May, 1845. my brothers, Pliny. Harvey, Philipp, Jr., and myself, loaded two canal-boats with furniture, doors, windows, nails, hardware, paints, etc., etc., enough for each of us a house. and with our families, a sister-Mrs. Scofield-and our father, then eighty-eight years of age, started for Kenosha. At Buffalo, we took passage on a steamboat, and arrived at Kenosha on the 14th of May. On the 15th, we all,

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

sixty-five in number, went to Darien. There we rented two houses for father, sister and others to live in. My family and some of the others went to Belvidere, while others still went to Roekford. On the 16th, my brothers and myself. together with the four carpenters we had in the company with us, came here to what afterward became Allen's Grove, and, on the same day, put up a small shanty of two rooms. We then built a cottage for the hired men. and by the 1st of September each had a house up and inclosed, but no plastering was done that winter. We then, with our families, took our permanent abode in Allen's Grove. When the first house was inelosed, being brother Philipp's, the Congregational Church society was organized there on the 10th of August. Thereafter, during pleasant weather, a new wagon was drawn into the grove, and served as a pulpit, being occupied by Rev. S. H. Thompson.

" In 1847, a schoolhouse, 25x40, was built. This was used as a church also until 1852, when the society built a ehureh.

" On the 29th of June, 1845, a Sabbath sehool was organized, and on the 4th of July, 1846, we had a Sabbath school celebration, when 777 scholars and teachers were present. In July, 1845, our honored father died, and was buried in the cemetery where now my four brothers and their wives are buried. This was the first death in the village. The first marriage ceremony was performed at my house. in 1846, the contracting parties being Preston W. Smith and Miss Frances Scofield. The first child born was Preston H. Allen, in 1846, now of Rochester, N. Y. In that year, my brother, Asa Keyes Allen, his son, Dr. Joseph C. Allen, and his son-in-law, Ezra P. Teale, eame with their families from Michigan. The Doctor and Ezra Teale erected a store building that year and opened a $6,000 stock of goods, they being our first merehants, under the firm name of Teale & Allen."

The first blacksmith in the village was Jacob Harp.

The first lawyer was A. Woodard.

The first physician was J. C. Allen,

The first carpenters were Harvey Allen and a Mr. Young, now and for many years a me- chanic in Deaf and Dumb Asylum at Delavin.

The first shoemaker was a Mr. Geer.

The first resident minister was Rev. Calvin Waterbury.

The first school was taught in 1846, over the store building built in that year. The teach- er was Miss Mary Wallingford. The schoolhouse was built in 1847. The present school- house was built in 1856, as an academy. It was afterward occupied for a number of years by Rev. M. Montgomery as such. The main building is 20x40, with an ell 20x22, each two stories high. It is situated in the western part of the village. in a beautiful grove of five aeres. A male and female teacher are employed both summer and winter.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH,

The society of this church was organized August 10, 1845, at the house of Pliny Allen, with but few members. The church building was built in 1852. It is in size 35x55, and cost about $2,000. At present, they have no resident minister.

THE METHODIST CHURCH.

The Methodist Church society was organized November 26, 1858, with twenty-six members. They soon afterward built a church, in size 36x56, at a cost of $1,800.

THE POST OFFICE.

The post office was established in 1846, and Philipp Allen, Jr., was appointed as Post- master. The office was held at his house for some time. He has been succeeded by Aaron Budlong, John Dixon. E. P. Teale, Mrs. Eliza Wilkins, and the present Postmaster, Edward Hall.

CHEESE FACTORY.

The cheese factory was built by Simon Noyes in 1865. Since 1871, it has been run by T. P. Davis. It consumes the milk of about 730 eows, or 11,000 pounds of milk daily. One hun- dred and twenty thousand pounds of cheese are made yearly, which is mostly sold at the factory to Eastern merchants. The factory represents an investment of $1,500.

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History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 118

Author: Western Historical Co Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 998

Author: Western Historical Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 998