History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 127

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 127


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157


LEVI SAWYER, farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. Walworth; born in Massachusetts in 1832; he removed with his parents to Pennsylvania in 1849, thence to the State of New York, near the city of Elmyra ; he went to Waukesha Co., Wis., in 1850; thence to Racine Co., and to the town of Richmond, Walworth Co., in 1853. He was married to Thankful L. Viles, daughter of Alfred and Thankful (Norton) Viles, who removed from the State of Maine to Richmond, Walworth Co., in 1850, and afterward to the town of Walworth. Her mother died in 1868. Her father died at Mr. Sawyer's Ang. 6, 1881, at the advanced age of 83 years. The parents of Mr. Sawyer had nine children five sons and four danghters, all of whom grew to maturity, two sons and three daughters are still living. Mrs. Sawyer was born in Maine in 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer have six children-Benjamin W., born in Walworth Co. in 1854 -Frances E., George H., Orrin R., Zebulon B. and Thankful N. Mr. Sawyer removed to Rice Co., Minn., where he remained three years, when he returned to Walworth Co.


DAVID R. SERGEANT, farmer, Sec. 35; P. O. Big Foot, McHenry Co., Ill. Mr. Sergeant was born in Orange Co., N. Y., in 1808, where he was brought up. He came West in October, 1843, and


CC


806


IIISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.


settled in the town of Chemung, MeHenry Co., Ill .; he purchased the farm where he now lives in Feb- ruary, 1853, where he has since lived. His wife was Miss Mary Ann Tooker, born in the State of New York. They were married in 1831. Mr. and Mrs. Sergeant have eight children, five sons and three daughters. Mr. Sergeant has 50 acres of land ; his farm was first settled by a Mr. Fuller.


EPHRAIM B. SWINNEY, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Walworth. He was born in Cumberland Co., N. J., in 1818. His parents were Joseph and Elizabeth Swinney. He was married in New Jersey to Mary A. Ayers, daughter of Jonathan Ayers, who removed from New Jersey to Marshall Co., Ill., but died in New Jersey in 1872. Mr. Swinney went to Illinois June, 1852. In September of that year he eame to Walworth ; his father and brother-in-law (Mr. Ayers) came to the town of Walworth in the spring of the same year, they having all left New Jersey at the same time ; they all settled on Sec. 20; his father died at Douglass Corners in February, 1865. Mr. Swinney purebased his farm of Mr. A. Brown ; his farm contains 80 acres ; he also owns 80 aeres elsewhere. Mr. and Mrs. Swinney have three children-Elizabeth E., now Mrs. E. A. Walters ; Edwin and Joseph ; their oldest son, now in California, served for a time in the army, and during the rebellion as a member of the 40th W. V. I.


S. H. VAN SCHAICK, farmer, Sec. S; P. O. Walworth ; he was born in the town of Glen, Mont- gomery Co., N. Y .. in 1816. His father, John S., was born in New Jersey, but removed to the State of New York when quite young with his parents ; Mr. Van S. went to Illinois in 1842; he came to Wal- worth Co. in the summer of that year, and bought the farm which he now owns, of Thomas Featherstone. He has 200 acres of land ; his wife was Miss Maria Ottman, born in Schoharie Co., N. Y., in 1824; they have three children - John E., William H., and Clara. He is a man who is highly respected in the community in which he lives, for his sterling qualities as a man, and for his kindly and generous disposition as a friend and neighbor. He is a prominent member and a Deacon of the Walworth Baptist Church.


W. E. VAN SCHAICK, farmer, Secs. 4 and 5 ; P. O. Delavan ; born in Montgomery Co., N. Y., in 1822 ; he first eame to Walworth Co. in 1844, but did not make a permanent settlement in Walworth Co. till some years later ; he went to California via the Isthmus in 1852; was absent six years; he settled on his present farm in the spring of 1863, which he purebased of Mr. Cyrus Church and of his brother, Henry Van S .; his wife was Miss Harriet Winnie, born in the town of Root, Montgomery Co., N. Y .; they have two daughters-Emma and May ; his farm contains 170 aeres ; he has a pleasant home, and for his residence has one of the most beautiful locations in the town of Walworth, being three miles from Lake Geneva, and one mile from Delavan Lake; Mr. and Mrs. Van S. are genial, hospitable people, and at their present home, the stranger as well as acquaintance and friend will be sure to feel the influence of the kindly part of human nature.


W. A. WELSHER, Superintendent of the farm and fisheries of Fairbanks and Leiter, at the head of Geneva Lake; P. O. Walworth. His father, Harrison Welsher, was for many years in the employ of Seth Green, of the State of New York, where he had a large experience in fish culture, and was afterward Superintendent of the State Fisheries of Wisconsin, which position he resigned July 18, 1881. He derived much of bis knowledge in propagating fish from his father ; he was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., in 1858, and came to Madison, Wis., with his parents in 1876 ; he was appointed to bis present position in 1879. His wife was Maggie J. Morgan.


REV. O. U. WHITFORD, pastor of the Seventh Day Baptist Church, Walworth ; he was born in the town of Plainfield, Otsego Co., N. Y., May 12, 1837. His father was Clark W., a native of Otsego Co .; he came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1858, and became a student of Milton Academy, Rock Co., where he graduated in the summer of 1861 ; he entered the junior class of Alfred University in the State of New York in the fall of that year, graduating in the classical course July, 1863; he was married in Allegany Co., N. Y., to Miss Euphemia Allen, of the town of Wirt. For six years following his gradua- tion, he was Principal of the Shiloh Academy, Cumberland Co., N. J. From 1869 to the fall of 1870, he labored as a missionary in Western New York and Northern Pennsylvania. In September, 1870, he entered the middle elass of Union Theological Seminary of New York City, where he graduated in 1872. He settled as pastor of the Seventh Day Baptist Church at Farina, Ill .; in July of that year. About five years thereafter, be resigned and accepted the pastorate of the church over which he is now settled, coming to Walworth in April, 1877. They have two children-Allen C., born December, 1870, and Mary J., born November, 1873.


ROYAL J. WILLIAMS, farmer, See. 1 ; P. O. Geneva ; he is numbered among the very earliest settlers of the town of Walworth. He was born in Franklin Co., Mass., May 1, 1818; his parents were Israel and Lavina (Joy) Williams. Mr. Williams lived in Massachusetts till his 19th year, or till August,


807


HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.


1836, when he came to Walworth Co. with his younger brother Austin, while two other brothers, Moses D. and Israel, had arrived here in July of that year. Moses, on his arrival, made a claim for Royal J., comprising the north fractional half of Sec. 13; as soon as Royal came he took possession of his claim. Moses' wife (Lucida S.), taught the first school in the town of Walworth during the winter of 1838 and 1839. Probably no living settler of the town of Walworth had made a elaim at that time. At this time no set- tlement had been made on the prairies in the town of Walworth, but a few claims had been made on the lake shore. Mr. Williams made his home for a time with his brother Moses, whose claim was aeross the line in the town of Linn ; his other brother also made claims. Royal Williams is the earliest settlert of the town of Walworth now living, and when he came to Walworth there was but one white man (James Van Slyke) living in the town ; Indians were living there at this time .* His father came in July, 1837, and brought the remainder of the family, including the children's grandmother, Hannah L. Joy, who died in 1839. The father died in 1846, mother in 1852, and all died at the old homestead where Royal now lives. He purchased the claims of his sons when the land eame into market in 1840. Royal J. now owns the farm where his father settled and died in 1846. His brothers, Moses and Austin, died of typhoid fever in 1844. He has three brothers living-Israel (resides in Minneapolis), Francis (a minister of the Congregational Church in Connecticut), and Festus A. (who resides in the town of Geneva ). Mr. Williams was married to Lucretia S. Warren, born in Franklin Co., Mass. They have three children-George B., Edward F. and Harley; lost one daughter, Ellen. His farm contains 200 acres ; he has held several town offices ; he was Assessor first in 1860, and has held that office several times since ; was appointed by the Government to enroll the town in 1862 ; he has been engaged as Sur- veyor since 1842 more or less, and Notary Public for fifteen years. He went to Virginia in 1865 and leased a plantation, where he remained two years ; he has also passed a number of years since he became a resident of Walworth, in New England.


LEWIS N. WOOD, M. D. (deceased), was born in Cumberland Co., N. Y., Jan. 12, 1799, eleven months before Washington died ; he was educated at Burlington, N. Y .; was married Oct. 21, 1821, to Naomi Davis, and soon after removed to Brookfield, Madison Co., N. Y .; he removed to Waterville, Onei- da Co., N. Y., in 1832, where he became Principal of the academy in that place, a position which he held until he removed to Chicago, which place he reached the 28th of May, 1837; he first visited Big Foot Prairie, in Walworth Co., Wis., in the fall of 1837, and located a claim on its eastern border ; he moved with his family to Big Foot in February, 1839; he had eight children, all of whom reached maturity and were married-Robert J. is now living at Baraboo, Wis .; David L. died on Big Foot in 1852; Joseph W. lives at Baraboo ; Naomi D., who is now Mrs. Crawford, lives at Baraboo; Clarissa M., who married Cal- vin B. Lake, M. D., died in Delavan, in 1853; Alvinus B. is now living at Ann Arbor, Mich .; Alvina B., who married William Hooker, died at Baraboo, in 1858; Edith E., who married Rev. H. C. Fuller, died on Big Foot in 1874. The mother of these children now lives with her daughter, Mrs. Crawford, of Baraboo; she is 82 years of age, is in reasonably good health, and in full possession of her faculties. Dr. Wood graduated in medicine at Geneva, N. Y., in 1837; he was a diligent student all his life-ac- curate in his scholarships -- a friend to reformers, and a hater of shams; he was deeply interested in science in many of its branches; he made a large collection illustrating the mineralogy and geology of Cen- tral New York, and then again of the Western States. These studies attached him to the soil and he left a lucrative practice in Chicago to take possession of his farm on Big Foot; here again he was com- pelled into an extensive practice, the exposures of which, in his tedious rides through the thinly set- tled country, undermined his health and he was compelled to quit his medical practice in 1843; he organized the common schools of the town of Walworth under the Territorial law, and was for many years their Superintendent, by common consent ; he represented his District in the Wisconsin Assem- bly, in 1852; he delivered the third annual address before the State Historical Society in that year. He removed to Baraboo in 1856, where he died in 1868; he was for many years a member of the Baptist Church, and died in the full assurance of the Christian faith.


B. F. WRIGHT, carpenter, Sec 16; P. O. Walworth; son of David and Phebe Gardiner Wright. He was born in Albany Co., N. Y .; he came to Walworth Co. in 1855, and located at Delavan, and en- gaged in farming and as a carpenter ; he went to Madison, Wis., in the fall of 1856, where he lived until the spring of 1859, when he came to the town of Walworth. He enlisted in the 28th W. V. I., and served three years ; he participated in a number of important battles, including battles of Helena, Spanish Fort, Mobile, etc. He was married to Maria A. Huntley, born in Cattarangus Co., N. Y. They have two children-Cora M. and John D.


* In a letter written to us, Royal's brother says: " The Indians told him that it was Old Big Foot,' that was buried up in the tree at the ' Head of the Lake,' and father told me after climbing up and examining the corpse,' ' that the teeth were those of an old man. His two quiws are buriel oo the farm where Royal now lives, as the ' Indian Gardens' were here; this was their home and they were buried on a srising piece of ground overlooking their homes and gardens, and he at the ' Head of the lake,' overlooking his fishing ground.


808


HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.


TOWN OF LYONS.


ORGANIZATION AND TOPOGRAPY.


Lyons, formerly called Hudson, was organized under its present name by act of Legislature January 23, 1844. From the organization of Walworth County in 1838, to that date, this township.had been known in the Governmental survey as Town 2, Range 18 east, and comprised the northeast quarter of the town of Geneva. As now organized, Lyons contains thirty-six square miles, minus five acres in a square form, in the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of Section 31, which belongs to the village of Geneva.


Lyons is more broken and varied in its surface than the other towns of the county, a range of hills running through the center from northeast to southwest, which, in some places, break into bold and precipitous bluffs. Originally, about one-half the surface consisted of oak open- ings, and over a thousand acres was timbered with oak of different varieties. The soil is mostly of a clay texture, with sand and gravel in the hilly portions. Rocks seldom pierce the surface of the country, though there is a good limestone ledge on Section 16.


The principal stream is White River, the outlet of Geneva Lake, which, entering the town opposite Section 30, pursues a tortuous course through Sections 29, 20, 16, 15, 10, 11 and 2, and passes into Spring Prairie from Section 1, running in a general northeasterly direction from the southwest to the northeast corner of the town. White River has several tributaries. Ore Creek waters the northwest portion of the town, and empties into White River on Section 10, a little south of Lyons Village, and a creek forming the outlet of Ryan's Lake runs through nearly the entire eastern tier of sections, and joins White River on Section 1.


Ryan's Lake is on Sections 34 and 35, in the extreme southern portion, and small lakes or ponds are formed on Sections 22, 28 and 14. Bass and pickerel abound. Upon Section 30 are Sheridan Springs, which possess decided medicinal properties.


OFFICIAL.


The first meeting of the town board was held at the residence of Dr. John Stacy, on the first Tuesday in April, 1844. With the rise of the general level of prosperity, this first official gathering place has fallen to the lot of swine; in vulgar parlance, it has become a hog pen, and where embryo statesmen, perhaps, first saw the light, it is known for a certainty that more than one pink porker first ignorantly grunted his satisfaction with the ways of this world. Fol- lowing is the town roster from 1844 to 1881 inclusive :


1844-Supervisors, R. Rockwell, Chairman, Jesse Hand, Luther Farmin ; Clerk, Lewis Ferris; Treasurer, E. Humphrey.


1845-Supervisors, Lewis Brown, Chariman, L. Kinney, Levi Cole; Clerk, Amos Kin- ney; Treasurer, Isaac Lyon.


1846-Supervisors, Z. B. Burk, Chairman, E. Humphrey, Joseph Burto; Clerk, S. C. Burdock ; Treasurer, Isaac Lyon.


1847-Supervisors, T. W. Hill, Chairman, John Stacy, E. Humphrey ; Clerk, Z. Hough- ton ; Treasurer, Therm Humphrey.


1848-Supervisors, R. Rockwell, Chairman, H. B. Lock, L. S. Weeks; Clerk, 7. Hough- ton ; Treasurer, T. Humphrey.


1849-Supervisors, T. W. Hill, Chairman, Z. B. Burk, Daniel Pierce ; Clerk, William P. Lyon; Treasurer, George C. Smith.


1850-Supervisors, Z. B. Burk, Chairman, C. W. King, H. B. Reed; Clerk, L. Bullen ; Treasurer, Lewis Ferris.


809


HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.


1851-Supervisors, C. L. Gillett, Chairman, Z. B. Burk, H. B. Reed; Clerk, L. Bullen ; Treasurer, Lewis Ferris.


1852-Supervisors, H. B. Reed, Chairman, Z. B. Burk, C. L. Gillett; Clerk, L. D. Funda ; Treasurer, Lewis Ferris.


1853-Supervisors, H. B. Reed, Chairman, E. B. Fowlston, L. S. Vantine; Clerk, L. D. Funda; Treasurer, William Forbes.


1854-Supervisors, R. Rockwell, Chairman, William Forbes, H. B. Hand; Clerk, A. C. Goodrich ; Treasurer, Isaac Lyon.


1855-Supervisors, Z. B. Burk, Chairman, Russell Wait, S. E. Johnson ; Clerk, T. B. Bullen ; Treasurer, G. T. Griffin.


1856-Supervisors, T. W. Hill, Chairman, Russell Wait, P. L. Purdy; Clerk, Z. B. Burk ; Treasurer, Isaae Lyon.


1857-Supervisors, E. Dayton, Chairman, Russell Wait, R. P. Humphrey ; Clerk, Z. B. Burke; Treasurer, E. K. Pieket.


1858-Supervisors, H. B. Reed, Chairman, S. E. Johnson, P. L. Purdy ; Clerk, Z. B. Burk ; Treasurer, Sumner Chapin.


1859-Supervisors, H. B. Reed, Chairman, P. L. Purdy, S. E. Johnson; Clerk ; Z. B.


Burk ; Treasurer, Sumner Chapin.


1860-Supervisors, II. B. Reed, Chairman, P. L. Purdy, S. E. Johnson; Clerk, Z. B. Burk; Treasurer, R. R. Fellows.


1861-Supervisors, H. B. Reed, Chairman, Patrick Powers, Philip Prasch; Clerk, Z. B. Burk ; Treasurer, R. R. Fellows.


1862-Supervisors, E. B. Farnum, Chairman, S. E. Johnson, E. B. Fowlston ; Clerk, Z. B. Burk ; Treasurer. R. R. Fellows.


1863-Supervisors, E. B. Fowlston, Chairman, S. E. Johnson, Russell Wait ; Clerk, Z. B. Burk ; Treasurer, R. R. Fellows.


1864 -Supervisors, Enos Kinney, Chairman, W. A. Towsley, E. B. Fowlston ; Clerk, Z. B. Burk ; Treasurer, R. R. Fellows.


1865-Supervisors, Enos Kinney, Chairman, W. A. Towsley, E. B. Fowlston ; Clerk, Z. B. Burk ; Treasurer, R. R. Fellows.


1866-Supervisors, Enos Kinney, Chairman, C. P. Taylor, John Prasch ; Clerk, Z. B. Burk ; Treasurer, R. R. Fellows.


1867-Supervisors, R. B. Winsor, Chairman, C. P. Taylor, A. J. Host; Clerk, Z. B. Burk ; Treasurer, R. R. Fellows.


1868-Supervisors, C. P. Taylor, Chairman, W. J. Campbell, A. Emerling ; Clerk, Z. B. Burk ; Treasurer, J. E. Host.


1869-Supervisors, C. P. Taylor, Chairman, W. J. Campbell, A. Emerling ; Clerk, Z. B.


Burk ; Treasurer, J. E. Host.


1870-Supervisors, C. P. Taylor, Chairman, W. J. Campbell, A. Emerling; Clerk, Z. B. Burk ; Treasurer, J. E. Host.


1871-Supervisors, C. P. Taylor, Chairman, W. J. Campbell, A. Emerling; Clerk, Z. B. Burk ; Treasurer, H. B. Reed.


1872-Supervisors, John Brown, Chairman, E. B. Farnum, C. F. Amborn ; Clerk, Z B .. Burk ; Treasurer, C. Healy.


1873-Supervisors, E. B. Farnum, Chairman, Abner Farnham, E. Morehouse ; Clerk, Z. B. Burk ; Treasurer, J. T. Pendleton.


1874-Supervisors, E. B. Farnum, Chairman, Christian Prasch, M. W. Kenney ; Clerk, Z. B. Burk ; Treasurer, A. D. Goodwin.


1875-Supervisors, C. P. Taylor, Chairman, J. B. Smith, A. Emerling ; Clerk, Z. B. Burk ; Treasurer, George S. Holmes.


1876-Supervisors, William Meadows, Chairman, George V. Weeks, Joseph Quigley ; Clerk, Z. B. Burk ; Treasurer. John Hieks.


810


HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.


1877-Supervisors, William Meadows, Chairman, David Olp, Joseph Quigley ; Clerk, Z. B. Burk ; Treasurer, John Hicks.


1878-Supervisors, William Meadows, Chairman, David Olp, Joseph Quigley ; Clerk, Z. B Burk ; Treasurer, John Hicks.


1879-Supervisors, M. W. Kenney, Chairman, Christian Prasch, Richard Powers; Clerk, W. J. Campbell ; Treasurer, John Hieks.


1880-Supervisors, M. W. Kenney, Chairman, Valentine Brown, Christian Prasch ; Clerk, W. J. Campbell; Treasurer, John Hieks.


1881-Supervisors, M. W. Kenney, Chairman, Valentine Brown, Christian Prasch ; Clerk, W. J. Campbell ; Treasurer, J. S. Host.


WATER-POWERS.


The first settler of the town of Lyons was Allen Perkins, a veteran of 1836, whose early experi- ence at Delavan and Spring Prairie during the first year of his sojourn in this vicinity is narrated in the history of those sections. He left the latter town in 1837, having sold his land to Ellis Burtolf, and coming to Lyons settled upon Sections 15 and 10. Mr. Perkins purchased two quarter sections, his great ambition being to get possession of a water-power. The Lyon brothers-Thomas and Fletcher-came from New York soon after, took up land in the south- west quarter of Seetion 10, and in the northeast quarter of Section 11. They at onee con- meneed to improve the water-power upon the former seetion. The mudsills were laid in 1838, and there, for want of money, the enterprise rested for a time. During the next year, Fletcher Lyon's father-in-law died, and left his wife a little money. The two returned to New York, and, coming back in 1840, the brothers went to work again, built the dam, and erected a saw- mill. By a long dam, used as a part of the highway, and consolidated by such use, and a raee- way of half a mile, they obtained a fall of twenty feet. Mr. Perkins endeavored to get a foothold in the privilege, but was unsuccessful. The saw-mill passed into disuse, and in 1846 William F. Lyon and M. O. Pulver erected a grist-mill upon the site of the present Lyons' Flour Mills. Twelve years later came the famous freshet, whose destructive effects upon the mill property at Lyons are thus spoken of by James Simmons, of Geneva :


" In June, 1858, occurred another great freshet. The lake was filled to its utmost capacity by heavy rains, and the waves, aroused and pushed forward by a strong southwest wind, threatened to break all barriers. To relieve it somewhat, and save the race and mill, a shallow channel was cut through the bank, in the immediate neighborhood of the fish pond recently constructed by C. L. Wilson. The small stream speedily grew larger, until it became an un- controllable torrent, cutting a wile and deep channel through the bank, and sweeping away roads, bridges, and mill dams in its onward course. The dam at Duck Lake also gave way at its western end, and its waters joined and swelled the current rushing from the lake toward Lyons. This latter calamity was attended by a loss of life. a man attempting to cross above the gap in a small boat, with the mail for Elkhorn, being thrown out and drowned. The effects of this flood were not confined to White River, the stream issuing from our lake alone, but were felt far down the Fox. The mill-dam at Lyons, then owned by Thomas B. Bullen, like all above and below it, succumbed ; but its owner was not satisfied to charge his loss to the waters only. Believing that our mill owners had been negligent instead of provident in keeping so large a supply of the fluid on hand, he, in May, 1861, commeneed a suit against R. W. Warren, laying the whole fault to his charge, and claiming $6.200 damages. In the following winter, the testimeny in the case was taken before James Simmons, as referee, occupying eighteen or twenty days and evenings. The mass of sworn evidence collected on that occasion shows how little reliance can be placed upon the human memory. One material point to be determined was whether the break here occurred previous to that at Lyons, and numerous eye witnesses of the facts flatly contradicted each other as to the day of the week on which those events happened."


The suit above spoken of never came to trial. The subsequent history of the water-power will be traced in the sketch of the Lyons Mill.


811


HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.


To take up the beginning of the thread of narrative, Mr. Perkins removed to Baraboo with his family. His mill enterprises were there also unsuccessful. He is now living with his daughter-in-law in Spring Prairie, at an advanced age.


There are two other good water-powers in the town of Lyons-that on Section 16 having a fall of twenty-one feet and being naturally more valuable than the one at Lyonsdale-or the " The Dale," as it is called in distinction to Lyons Station. It is situated, however, upon school land, which did not come into the market until late. In the subdivision of that section for sale under the authority of the State, this water-power was all included in one forty-acre lot, but the right of flowage upon other parts of the section was reserved and sold with that lot. It is now the property of the Ilands.


The Spring Valley power is upon a small stream supplied principally by springs. In 1858, C. Stevens built a grist-mill upon it, it having been occupied by carding works for some time previous. Mr. Stevens' mill and one subsequently erected were burned, and the power is at present unused.


EARLY SETTLEMENT.


During the same year that the Lyons brothers emigrated from New York, B. B. Davis, formerly Register of Deeds, also settled in the town of Lyons upon Section 17. He had married Miss Adaline Barker, of Sugar Creek. Three years afterward occurred the unfortunate accident, near Madison, which partially disabled the young man for life. Mr. Davis afterward removed to Elkhorn, being elected Register of Deeds in 1842. There he remained for many years engaged in mercantile pursuits until the time of his death.


John Jardin and James Canan came during this year, but never became closely identified with the town's interests. Daniel Campbell, one of the early settlers of Spring Prairie, located on Section 4. His son, William J. Campbell, is now Clerk of the town, and has served several terms as Supervisor.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.