History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 145

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 145

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" The spring of 1838 was very early, at least the Vermonters thought so, who had been accustomed to late springs. By the first of April there was abundant grass in the openings, and plenty of cowslips which were of great use to the family. Some early vegetables were planted which grew finely, and among them were some early pumpkins. The first one that showed any sign of blushing was utilized by Mrs. Hoyt by preparing them for pies. But here a serious difficulty arose ; the larder, always quite bare, did not furnish a drop of grease of any kind to grease the tins. In this emergency she went to Reuben Clark's and asked his wife for some. Maria, always generous, made diligent

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

search, and found a bacon rind, cut so thin that in drying it had rolled up. This she unrolled and divided, so the family had some New England pumpkin pies.

"In the winter of 1838 and '39, some thought we might have a small school at Honey Creek. After looking around a short time found a young man by the name of Spencer Pitman, who agreed to teach the school for his board. When all the boys and girls of suitable age were collected for three miles around they numbered eight, so it was con- cluded to go on with the school. Selah Whitman donated the use of a small room in his house and boarded the teacher. The school prospered well for eight days, then the teacher's appetite failed and the school closed. The next winter on counting up the scholars within a circle of four miles, seventeen scholars were found, a school district organized, a school house was stolen, a qualified teacher hired, by the name of Coudry, who had a good appetite, and he taught a good school for three months."

In the summer of 1839 Mr. A. A. Hoyt, then a lad of about fifteen years, worked for John Hopkins driving his team to break. Before Mr. Hoyt was seventeen years old he had earned enough to enter forty acres of land, which he did in the year 1840, which laid the foundation for his fine home, which he now enjoys together with his amiable wife. The farm now contains four hundred and fourteen acres, under a fine state of cul- tivation, with a fine set of buildings for the comfort of himself and family. The prop- erty is named " Sunnyside Farm " and it is an appropriate appellation.

In the fall of 1836 Rufus Billings removed from Oneida county, N. Y. to Spring Prairie, and with his family settled on Section 23. Here for thirty-one years he carried on a farm, and removed to Burlington, Racine County, in 1867.

In September, 1836, Daniel Campbell and his family, consisting of a wife and five children, came from New York and settled upon Section 28. In 1838 they moved to Lyons, upon Section 4. Mr. Campbell died in 1879. His son, Wm. J. is now clerk of that town.

During the fall and winter of 1836-7, the Spring Prairie settlement increased and flourished amazingly ; and in the early summer of 1837, it numbered over seventy souls, men, women and children. Biographical sketches of the earlier settlers of 1836 will be given at the close of this article, and especial mention of all who settled during that year, in the General County History.

THE INDIANS.

At the time of the first white settlement in Spring Prairie, the Indians had all left for lands farther west, save one small company of Pottawottomies averaging about thirty, occasionally increased by a brief visit from a few Menomonees. Their encamp- ment was on the bank of a little stream on Section 27, called from the circumstance "Indian Run." The place where the rude wigwams then stood, and where the squaws kept the few acres of corn and beans " well hoed " and "very clean from weeds," as one who visited the spot, writes, is now the farm of A. T. Allen, about forty rods north of the Spring Prairie and Burlington road. One quite pathetic incident occurred during their last visit to the beautiful prairie. One of their number sickened, and all through the long summer days continued to decline. Consumption does not spare even the poor Indian. He was tenderly and anxiously cared for by the rest-every fair day riding out in the warm sunshine, even after he became so weak that he could not mount his pony without the aid of some strong arm. The pure air and sunshine were powerless in his case, as in that of many a "tender white blossom," and the leaves of autumn covered the grave of the last red man buried on the Prairie, that once had been the free hunting and dwelling place of his race. His grave was carefully marked by the Indians with a low fence of poles according to their enstom, and so left among a "new and strange people." Besides this encampment a small number visited the maple woods of Sugar Creek for a brief period during " sugar-making" time. They were a little west of the west line of the township of Spring Prairie. They remained only a few weeks during

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

the early spring of 1836, and in November of the same year were conveyed to their new lands west of the Mississippi. This was their last visit, save an occasional winter expe- dition of a few days or weeks for hunting purposes. They were on friendly terms with the settlers during their brief stay, and perhaps considered the few pieces of property which they appropriated without leave, as only an equivalent for the trouble of "moving."

SETTLERS OF 1837.

The settlers of this year, so far as record can be obtained are as follows ;

Roderick Merrick and family, from Michigan, came March 16. Purchased Horace Coleman's claim on Sections 29 and 30. Mrs. Merrick living.

Isaiah Dike and family, from Michigan. Came in March. All living.

John E. Hopkins, from Vermont. Mr. Hopkins first located on Section 26, but soon sold and re-located on Section 1, where he lived until his death in 1866. He married Miss Ann Hoyt. One son, J. C. Hopkins, is living on the old place.

James McNay. Located on Section 12, and lived there until he sold in 1856.

Samuel C. Vaughn and family, Michigan. Came in March, and located on Section 20. Died Nov. 26, 1868. Otis, his son, still lives on the old farm, and the widowed mother, 84 years of age, resides with him.

William D. Crain and family, N. Y., came in March. Located on Section 28. Mr.

Crain not living.

William H. Dunning, N. Y., came in March, and located on Section 34. Sold, the following year, and re-located on Section 24.

Jabesh T. Clement and family, N. Y. Came in February. Carpenter, joiner and millwright. Now living in California.

Perrin Smith, Vermont, purchased the claim of Isaac Chase, on Sections 33 and 28. Lived in Spring Prairie over thirty years. The last heard of him he lived in Tennessee.

Ansel Salisbury, Cortland Co., N. Y. Came in May. Purchased William H. Dun- ning's claim on Section 34. He was married to Miss Olive Dame in 1842, and in 1846 sold his farm and removed to Whitewater, where he now resides.

Chester Baker and family. Mr. Baker and his wife are both dead.

John Bell, Michigan. Nurseryman.

George Bell, Michigan. Located on Section 23 and remained there about thirty- nine years-until his death.

A. H. Bunnell. Lived in Spring Prairie one year, removed, and afterwards bought property and lived there two years. He now lives in the town of La Fayette.

Mr. Benjamin Hoyt came during the year.

William B. Wade located on Section 12, and lived there about five years.

Edwin and Purlee Baker came with their father, Chester Baker, in 1837. In 1841 purchased a farm on Section 5. Edwin moved to Oshkosh, and Purlee sold the farm in 1868 and joined his brother. Both now reside in Oshkosh.

Francis Baker located on Section 10, where he now resides.

SETTLERS OF 1838.

Of the settlers of 1838 there is the following record :

Richard Chenery from Massachusetts. Located on Section 26. In 1839, Mr. Chenery built the first good frame house in the town, at a cost of $1,000. He went east and was married soon after his arrival at Spring Prairie, returned and lived in the town about seven years. He has since lived in California.

John Martin, formerly a Judge in Connecticut, located on section 24. He owned the water power at Vienna, on Sugar Creek, and built a saw-mill at that place, which was put in operation in 1846. His principal occupation was farming. His wife died in 1842, and he in 1873 or '74.

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

Corbin Clark, from Ohio. Married after his arrival and settled on section 8, living there until his death, about ten years after.

Harry Ambler. Located on seetion 4. Lived there about ten years. Now lives in East Troy.

Louis Smither from Germany. Located on seetion 4. Was quite a prominent man among his countrymen, and was several times one of the town Supervisors. He died in 1880.

Thomas Miller from Michigan. Lived in Spring Prairie about thirty years.

Abel Neff from New York. Located on seetion 25, sold and bought on seetion 34, and again sold in 1849 and removed to Oshkosh. He is still living.

Josiah B. Gleason from Massachusetts. Settled on seetion 34 and soon after mar- ried Miss Sarah Bacon. He died in 1848. His son Jacob now lives on the old place.

Jeremiah Walker and family. Located on section 17, and lived there eleven years. Josiah P. Langmaid and family from Boston. Located on seetion 12, lived there twelve years, and moved into the town of Rochester, where he died in 1871.

Erastus O. Vaughn and family from Vermont. Located on seetion 10. Lived there until Mr. Vaughn's death in 1880.

Josiah O. Puffer from Massachusetts. Located on seetion 27. He was a shoemaker. Still a resident of the town.

De Dwight Whitmore and wife from Massachusetts. Located on section 27, and lived there about seven years, when he returned to Massachusetts. A earpenter.

Samuel T. Jenks and family, New York. Located on section 31, and with his wife still lives on the old place.

George H. Palmer came here from Litchfield, Conn., in July, 1838, and settled on Section 12. Had a wife and three children-two sons and a daughter. The oldest son, George Augustus, and his mother, yet live on the old homestead, and Edwin and his sister live in Michigan.

Mr. George H. Palmer, in the fall of 1838, eut his knee with a draw shave or draw- ing knife, and soon afterward strained it so that it made it much worse and he was con- fined to the house a long time, was laid up from work until the next Spring, and was always lame after it.

Mr. Palmer possessed great perseverance and energy of character. After residing here nineteen years he moved back to Connectieut, and lived there eleven years, returned here in 1868 and died October 3, 1872, aged sixty-eight years. When he first eame here his family stopped in Rochester, Racine County, while he built a log house on his claim.

Daniel Whitmore, Racine County. First bought on seetion 19, and afterwards on seetion 17. Soon after the land sale, he married Miss Nobles, and he and his family still live on the farm.

Israel Williams and family, from New York, John M. Cowles, from New York, Mr. Kent and wife, and Mr. Booth, were among the settlers of 1838.

John Bacon and family from Pennsylvania. Came March 14, 1838. (See biography.)

1839 .- Hon. James Baker, from Buffalo, N. Y. He purchased a farm on Seetion 5, remained one year, returned to Buffalo and was married, eame again to Spring Prairie, lived on his farm until 1859, when he removed to Milwaukee, where he died a few years ago.

Alexander Porter (Scoteh). Purchased on Seetion 5, and lived there until his death -about six years ago.

George W. Arms and wife, from Massachusetts. Purchased on Seetion 26. Was one of the County Commissioners under the territorial law. Moses Arms, his brother, with his wife eame at the same time and had a joint interest in the farm. The family lived there until 1846.

Selah Whitman and family. Located at Honey Creek in the northwestern part of

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

the town, and remained there until Mr. Whitman's death, seven or eight years after- wards.

1839 .- Capt. Kimball Easterbrook. (Sea captain.) Purchased on Section 22, and lived there about six years.

Thomas Hill and family. Purchased on Section 31, and lived there a number of years.

Samuel Neff and family. Purchased on Section 35, sold and moved away in 1846.

John Mathers. Purchased on Section 5. Was married soon after his arrival. Sold in 1854, and removed to La Crosse.

Silas Salisbury, Courtland, N. Y. Located on Section 34, with his family of seven sons and four daughters. His wife died March 3rd, 1845, aged 59 years. He re-married -remained in Spring Prairie about ten years, and moved into the town of Walworth, where he died.

Marcus K. Britton, Michigan. Purchased on Section 15. Returned to Michigan- remained there two years-was married, and came back to his farm on Spring Prairie, where he still lives.

Samuel Britton. Purchased on Section 11. Married Miss Eliza Hoyt, and has lived on his farm until the present time.

George Hatter. Located on Section 4. Served as a soldier under Napoleon the First,-went with him to Moscow,-and was one of the few survivors of the terrible march. He died about ten years ago.

Dr. Daniel Allen, Erie Co. N. Y. Located on Section 6, and lived there until his death, which occurred in 1850, at the age of 78 years.

1840 .- Rev. Orra Martin and family, Connecticut. Purchased a farm on Section 23. Mr. Martin has preached on Sundays, and attended to his farm during the week. His wife, and two sons have died, and he is feeble physically, but still retains his memory and his mental faculties in good measure. He is now 92 years of age.

James Mathers and family. Located on Section 3. Remained about four years. Louis Kearns and family. Located on Section 18, and lived there until the death of Mr. Kearns-about 24 years ago.

John Densmore and family. Located on Section 18, and resided there until Mr. Densmore died, on May 13th, 1869, at the age of eighty-nine years and eight months.

Jonathan Leach and family, N. Y. Located on Section 31, and remained twenty-six

years. In addition to farming, Mr. Leach dealt in stock, and was a licensed auctioneer. Zebulon Bugbee and family. Lived at Spring Prairie about six years.

1841 .- Charles Bowman. Located on Section 6, and still resides there.

Benjamin L. Reed and wife. Located on Section 22. Lived there five years.

Franklin J. Patton and family. Located on Section 22, and remained about four years.

Lansing D. Lewis. Purchased on Section 15, and lived there about seven years.

Judge Wm. Berry, from Cortland Co., N. Y. Came in 1842, and purchased a farm, in company with his son Mellen on Section 12. He was born in Salem, Mass., of Puritan ancestry, received a common school education, and on arriving at manhood, became a manufacturer and farmer. The latter occupation he still pursued after settling in Wis- consin. He was married April 3, 1798, to Nancy Mellen, of Pelham, Mass., and died at his residence in Spring Prairie in 1848. Of his family only a daughter remains. His son, Mellen, died in 1859.

Judge Berry was elected to the First Constitutional Convention, from Walworth County.

The " Memorial Record of the Fathers of Wisconsin," says of him, "Having been detained from some cause, he did not take his seat in the Convention until ten days after its session began, for which reason his name is not recorded upon any of the standing committees ; but his votes upon all propositions and articles submitted, evince intelligent

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

inquiry, and a thoroughly honest purpose to follow his convictions of duty and right. He was in every sense a good man and a public-spirited citizen of sound, practical knowl- edge and excellent sense. Judge Berry was sixty-five at this time-the oldest man in the convention."

Of the early settlers of Spring Prairie, the following are still living in the town and county. In the town : Austin L. Merrick, Mrs. Reuben Clark, Mrs. Roderick Merrick, Mr. George Gillispie, Mr. Isaiah Dike and wife, Mrs. Samuel C. Vaughn, Mrs. William D. Crain, Mr. John Bell and wife, Mrs. George Bell, Mr. Francis Baker, Mr. A. A. Hoyt, Mrs. John E. Hopkins, Mr. Samuel Britton, and wife, Mr. Josiah O. Puffer, Mr. Samuel P. Jenks and wife, Mrs. Josiah B. Gleason (now Mrs. Wilcox), Mr. Charles Martin, Rev. Orra Martin, Mr. Charles Bowman, Mr. Marcus R. Britton and wife. In the county : Mr. Daniel Salisbury and Mr. Ansel Salisbury,

Following are the names of those deceased, with the dates of their death so far as

known : Mrs. Daniel Salisbury. Died Aug. 16th, 1843, aged twenty-eight. Mrs. Silas Salisbury. Died March 3, 1845, aged fifty-nine. Mrs. Austin L. Merrick. Died May 5, 1855. Mrs. J. O. Puffer. Died Feb. 11, 1862, aged forty-one. Dea. John Bacon, jr. died Dec. 17, 1865, aged eighty. Dea. Jolin Bacon, jr., died Jan. 31, 1866, aged forty- five. Mrs. Samuel C. Vaughn, died Nov. 26, 1868, aged sixty-six. Mr. John Dens- more, died May 13, 1869, aged eighty-nine. Mr. Roderick Merrick, died May 8, 1870, aged seventy-five. Mr. Kilborn S. Owen, died May 22, 1872, aged sixty-seven. Mr. Silas Salisbury, Mrs. John Bacon, sen., Mrs. John Densmore, Mrs. Kilborn S. Owen, Mr. Reuben Clark, Mr. William D. Crain, Mr. George Bell, Mr. John E. Hopkins, Mr. Josiah B. Gleason, Mr. Lemuel R. Smith, Col. Perez Merrick, Mrs. Perez Merrick, Capt. Charles Dyer, Mrs. Charles Dyer, Mr. George H. Palmer, Mr. J. P. Langmaid, Mr. Benjamin Hoyt, sen., Mr. Benjamin Hoyt, jr., Mr. John Martin, Mrs. John Martin, Mr. Alexander Porter, Mr. David Pratt, Hon. Samuel Pratt, Mrs. Samuel Pratt, Mr. Horace Coleman, Mrs. A. A. Hemenway, Mr. Robert Campbell, Mrs. Robert Campbell, Mr. Daniel Campbell, Mrs. Daniel Campbell, Mr. David Patten, Mrs. David Patten, Mr. Benjamin C. Perce, Rev. Benjamin Perce, Mrs. Benjamin Perce, Mrs. Sylvester G. Smith, Mrs. Sylvester G. Smith, Mr. Chester Baker, Mrs. Chester Baker, Mr. Corbin Clark, Mr. Harry Ambler, Mr. Louis Smither, Mr. Thomas Miller, Mrs. Thomas Miller, Mrs. Abel Neff, Mr. Erastus O. Vaughn, Hon. James Baker, Mrs. George W. Arms, Mrs. Moses Arms, Mr. Selah Whitman, Mr. George Hatter, Dr. Daniel Allen, Mrs. Rev. Orra Martin, Mrs. Franklin J. Patten, Louis Kearns. Z. Bugbee.

EARLY TIMES AND EVENTS.

The first breaking was done by Palmer Gardner, on section twenty-five. He com- menced on the 2d day of May, 1836, and plowed eighteen acres, which was all sowed to wheat, barley and oats, or planted to corn or potatoes in May and June, 1836. Messrs. David Pratt and Solomon Harvey each plowed on section thirty in June of the same year, and raised potatoes and buckwheat.

The first marriage ceremony was that of Oliver Van Valin, living in the town of Spring Prairie, to Miss Jane Resigue, of an adjoining county, July 16, 1837. The mar- riage ceremony was performed at the home of the bride. The first marriage ceremony in the town was performed at the house of Oliver Van Valin, Sept. 3, 1837. Reuben Clark and Maria Van Valin were married by Benjamin C. Perce, J. P.

The second was the marriage of William J. Bently and Jane Campbell, Nov. 1837, at the residence of Robert Campbell, father of the bride, by Perez Merrick, J. P.

The first birth was that of Sarah M. Smith, daughter of Sylvester G. Smith, on Sept. 14, 1837.

The first male child born in Spring Prairie was Henry Van Valin, son of Oliver and Jane Van Valin, on June 1, 1838. Henry was wounded, and died in the army, during the war of the rebellion.

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

The second birth in the town was that of Mahala Harvey, daughter of Solomon Harvey, in Nov. 1837. She was the late Mrs. Henry Banker, who died recently at Lyons.

The first death was that of Mary E. Smith, daughter of Sylvester G. Smith. She died July 3, 1837, aged ten months and two days. The funeral services were conduct- ed by S. A. Dwinnell.

The first church was the Baptist, organized in the Fall of 1837, and composed of members from several of the adjoining towns. It was called "The Baptist Church of Rochester."

Rev. William R. Manning was the first settled pastor in Spring Prairie.

The first regularly established prayer meeting was held May, 1837, at the cabin of D. Campbell, in Spring Prairie, on the spot where Deacon Bacon and his son John have since lived. Some of those who attended walked from Burlington, and others from the northwest part of Spring Prairie-an extreme of ten miles, and made an assembly of about a dozen.

The first sermon preached in the town was at the house of A. A. Hemenway, July 10, 1836. The meeting was appointed by S. F. Phoenix, and fourteen persons were present. Mr. Phoenix preached from Gal., 6:7-"Be not mocked : for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." A prayer was offered by Mr. Daniel Salisbury, and the meeting was closed by singing the old familiar hymn : "When I can read my title clear," &c. Another meeting was held the next Sunday, July 17, at the same place. At the opening of the service there were present, besides the family, Daniel Salisbury, Palmer Gardner, and David Pratt and daughter. Before the service closed, seven more of the neighbors came in, making the number present fifteen. These mectings are gen- erally admitted to be the first of the kind held in the county.

The first framed house in the town, and probably the first in the county, was built by Benjamin C. Perce, in the east part of the town, near White river, in 1836. It was shingled in December, and Mr. Perce, with his father (Rev. Benjamin Perce), his mother and sister, moved into it the same month. The shingles and clapboards for this house were riven from oak logs, and were all shaved with a common draw shave. Clapboards about four feet long.

The first drove of swine driven into Spring Prairie, and probably the first into the county, was in July of 1837, when Ephraim Perkins, of Burlington, Racine County, drove 200 from Illinois into Sugar Creek woods, and left them there to grow fat for the coming winter.

The first nursery was established by John Bell, who removed from Ypsilanti, Mich- igan, for the purpose. He leased ten acres of land of Palmer Gardner in 1837, and immediately commenced transporting his trees from Ypsilanti to Detroit, and thence to Milwaukee by water. He commenced with 400 trees, and increased his business until 1858, when his nursery numbered 250,000 trees. At that time he gave up his nursery in consequence of the injury his trees received from insects, and bought an adjoining farm, where he still lives. When he started his project there was no nursery in Wis- consin, and none nearer than Ypsilanti.

The first post-office established in the town, and also in the county, was at Spring Prairie Corners, in 1838. The office was then called " Franklin." Dr. A. A. Hemen- way was the. first postmaster, and was succeeded in 1845 by E. D. Smith.

The second office was established at Vienna (then called Martinsburg) in 1845, with Samuel A. Martin as postmaster. During the year Mr. W. P. Storms opened a hotel at the place, and was soon after appointed postmaster, and the name of the office and locality changed to Vienna.

The first school was taught by Miss Juliette Merrick in the Summer of 1837. The schools of the Summers of 1837-8 were both taught by the same lady in Dr. A. A. Hem- enway's log house at the " Corners."

HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

The first framed school-house was built in 1839, just east of Spring Prairie Corners, where the cheese factory now stands.

The second was built in 1840, in the southwest corner of Section 26, on the road leading from Spring Prairie to Burlington. It was called " District No. 5," and the first winter school in town was taught there by Mr. Daniel Salisbury, during the Winter of 1840 and 41. The school numbered thirty scholars.

Mr. A. H. Witherel made the first wagons for the Spring Prairie settlers; locating there in 1840, and remaining seven years.

Mr. Josiah O. Puffer was the first shoemaker,-starting his bench in 1839 at his house on Section 27, and building his shop at Spring Prairie Corners in 1847.

The first blacksmith shop, with the upper part finished for a dwelling, was built in 1840, by Mr. Henry Elliot. It was at the "Corners." Mr. Elliot run the shop only a few months, when he removed from the country, and the property passed into the hands of Mr. Hamnet, who was succeeded in Sept., 1843, by Nathaniel H. Carswell. Mr. Cars- well moved into the building, and after running the shop a year, was in turn succeeded by Mr. Harrison Armstrong, who, after two years, formed a co-partnership with Mr. Israel Williams, for the manufacture of steel plows, which was carried on successfully for two years ;- the business in the short space of eight years passing through more than the usual number of business changes.

The first store was opened in the bar-room of Dr. Hemenway's log tavern, during the Summer of 1837. Mr. Crawford was the store-keeper. Mr. Israel Williams also commenced keeping' woolen cloths for sale during the same year, which, in the absence of regular stores, was a great convenience to the settlers. 1844 saw the first building erected to serve the special purpose of a store. It was built by Samuel Pratt and Eras- mus D. Smith, and a good stock of goods put in by those gentlemen, under the firm name of "Pratt & Smith."

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History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 145

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