History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 147

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

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Since the removal of Rev. W. R. Manning in 1844, the following clergymen have served as settled or temporary pastors : Revs. Roswell Cheney, Spencer Carr, R. R. Whittier, Cantine Garrison, Jacob Bailey, A. F. Randal, Thomas Bright, E. L. Harris, A. Latham, J. F. Dudley, Levi Parmly, J. C. Jackson, J. H. Estey, C. W. Palmer, J. F. Merriam, F. Kidder, G. W. Daniels (ordained at Spring Prairie), A. Freeman and J. S. Forward, the present pastor.

The following have served as Deacons : John Bacon, Sr., J. O. Puffer, Almon Jewel, Isaac Raymond, Russell Waite and John Bacon, Jr. Among those who have served as clerks may be mentioned Mr. Daniel Salisbury, who was elected six months from the time of the organization of the church, and served twenty-five years.

The Congregationalist Church at Spring Prairie was organized in 1840, at a meeting held in school-house District five then, nine now. There were present, Solomon Dwin- nell (deceased), Rufus Billings, Richard Chenery, Geo. and Moses Arms, David Patten and wife, Josiah B. Gleason and wife, with perhaps others whose names are not remem-

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

bered. The first pastor was Rev. Cyrus Nichols. This church took in settlers in Bur- lington, Spring Prairie Corners, and Gardner's Prairie; as the town increased in popula- tion, and the society proportionally in members, the parent church was divided early in 1844, and the Spring Prairie members held services at that place.

The present church was organized February 8, 1852, by Reids D. Clarg and Samuel E. Miner, in the school-house at Spring Prairie Corners. The following were the con- stituent members: Stillman S. Osgood and wife, David Patten and wife, Calvin H. Wylie and wife, Ephraim Foote, James C. Colwell, Augustus Colwell, Charles Colwell, Charles W. Bell, Mrs. Sarah Vaughn, Mrs. Ann R. Hubbard, Mrs. Frances Mellen, Mrs. Martha Owen, and Miss Sarah E. Owen. The church has had the following pastors : Rev. Christopher C. Cadwell, Rev. J. D. Stevens, Rev. A. Sedgwick, Rev. P. C. Petti- bone, Rev. E. D. Keevil, Rev. S. K. Barteau, and Rev. Charles Morgan.

A union church edifice (Congregational and Methodist) was erected at Spring Prairie Corners in 1860. The main building is 32x50 feet, with a class and conference room in the rear 20x24. Its seating capacity is 300.

Methodist. As early as the spring of 1837, a class was formed at Spring Prairie, by Rev. Samuel Pillsbury, the meetings being held at the log house of Daniel Campbell, once in two weeks. In the summer of 1840 another class was formed by Rev. David Worthington, which met at Puffer's school-house, and included in its membership Mr. and Mrs. John M. Cowhan, Lansing Lewis, and Mrs. Lewis, his mother. Mr. Cowhan was the leader. The Methodists built a church edifice in conjunction with the Congre- gationalists in 1860, which is mentioned in the sketch of the Congregational Church.

The German Methodist Church is in the north part of the town, on the northeast corner of Section 9.

CEMETERIES.

Hickory Grove Cemetery, on the west line of the town, was laid out in 1842 by Maj. Nathaniel Bell. The first burial was that of David Luther Trowbridge, who died February 17, 1844, aged twenty-three years. Up to the present time there have been about 250 interments. The cemetery is beautified with flowers and trees, and contains many handsome monuments. Being on the line which divides the towns of Spring Prairie and LaFayette, it is used by both.

The Billings' Cemetery is on Gardner's Prairie.

PIONEERS OF SPRING PRAIRIE.

MR. PALMER GARDNER, the pioneer settler of Spring Prairie, was born in the town of Hancock, Berkshire County, Mass., Feb. 23d. 1803. His parents, Sylvester Gardner and Sarah Cogswell Gardner, moved to the town of Manlius, Onondaga Co., N. Y. in 1810. Until his seventeenth year young Palmer attended the district schools of the country, and during vacations assisted his father on the farm. He then had the advantage of receiving instruction one year at the academy at Manlius village, and one year at Geneva college. He was educated an Episcopalian, but felt himself bound by no creed, save the universal creed of good will to all the world. At the completion of his school education he became a practical surveyor and engineer, which profession he prac- ticed about ten years, surveying various canals in New York and Canada, and spending one year in Maryland, on the Potomac canal.

In the year 1835, then at the age of thirty-two years-uniting the strength and judgment of manhood with the energy and vigor of youth-he decided to make a tour of exploration and observation through the almost unknown West, and should it prove to be "a land of promise, " to make it his permanent home. Leaving Manlius on the first day of September, 1835, he proceeded to Detroit, and traveled over nearly every organized county in Michigan, but not being satisfied with the result of his observations in that State, leaving on the 20th of October, he continued his course through the north-

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

ern parts of Indiana and Illinois to Chicago, and thence north to Milwaukee and Prairieville (now Waukesha), in Wisconsin. Returning, he revisited Root River (now Racine) and Chicago, and arrived at his home in Manlius, convinced that of all the places he had visited, Wisconsin was the most desirable for a location. In journeying over so large a tract of wild and unsettled country, he had decided what articles were indispensable to a pioneer, and in starting for his future home, no money was wasted in useless luxuries. He left Manlius on the first day of March, 1836, and on arriving at Ohio, hired Irad T. Hunt to work for him one year. He also purchased grain for seed, and provisions to be shipped around the lakes at the opening of navigation. These arti- cles cost him $715.00. At Niles, Michigan, he purchased three yoke of oxen, a wagon, and provisions for immediate use. At Chicago he bought a breaking plow, some farm- ing tools, cooking utensils, a tent, and indispensable materials to be used in finishing a log house. On the 3rd of April he left Chicago, following the U. S. road north, until about three miles west of Pike Creek (now Kenosha) where he was overtaken by a severe rain storm which lasted three days. He managed to protect the contents of his wagon by covering them with his tent, and when the storm abated continued on his way west to Fox River, arriving there (at the present site of Burlington), April 15th. The river was swollen with the spring rains, but slight difficulties are only incentives to invention. Making a raft of cedar poles for his wagon, and attaching to it a rope which he had stored among his "indispensables," he crossed the river in an Indian canoe which he fortunately found, and making the oxen swim, he drew the raft, with its precious cargo, across by the rope. On arriving at this point in his undertaking, Mr. Gardner decided that in the near vicinity was the place to " pitch his tent." or more accurately speaking, to build his log house. Accordingly he commenced taking observations of the surrounding country, and before the day closed had selected the site on which he afterwards lived so many busy years, on the beautiful prairie which bears his name. He found a town line stake recently set by the surveyors, and with his own chain and com- pass run a line from the Southeast corner of the town to find the section line, and made his claim accordingly. In abouttwo weeks the land was divided into sections by the U. S. surveyors, and Mr. Gardner's lines proving to be correct, he found himself possessed of a very valuable claim, He purchased at the land sale 480 acres on Sections 25 and 26.

On the morning of the 17th of April, 1836, the first house in Spring Prairie was commenced.

The privations and inconveniences of pioneer life do not end by any means when a shelter is secured, even though it be as comfortable as that of Mr. Gardner. It would be considered no slight hardship to persons accustomed to the every-day comforts and luxuries of modern Western life-to those who feel that the wheels of business are com- pletely blocked, if a snow storm disarranges the telegraph wires for twenty-four hours, or to the farmer with his magnificent appliances of steam machinery, that seem almost alive with intelligence-to submit to the provoking delays, and annoyances, that attend such a life, even under the most favorable circumstances.

When Palmer Gardner built his log-house on the Wisconsin prairie, he knew of no settler nearer than twenty miles-he was utterly alone save the laborer he had hired to assist him, and he was thirty miles from any post-office or any source of supply what- ever. His house was well built and well answered its purpose, and in the early days when tired and hungry travelers had only the hospitality of the pioneer settlers to depend upon, many a one had reason to bless the bachelor proprietor of the first house in Spring Prairie.

Of the inconveniences and more serious hardships which he experienced, during the early years of his residence in Spring Prairie only a few will be mentioned,-the former were incessant, and the latter he bore with cheerful philosophy. One very provoking and yet almost ludicrous incident was that of having to travel miles to procure matches.

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

Another rather more serious annoyance, and very provoking delay, occurred in the mid: t of his plowing in June. His plow needed sharpening, and the nearest place to have the work done was Pike Creek (now Kenosha). He accordingly started on Monday morn- ing with his team of horses, which he had purchased, had his plow made nice and sharp, and returned Wednesday evening. Thursday morning the breaking team was started, but before it had gone once around, the plow hit a stone, and the work of three days was undone-the plow was broken. Mr. Gardner, with his usual cheerfulness, remarked that " the horses were already hitched to the wagon," and loading the plow onto it he immediately started again for Kenosha-had it repaired, and returned Saturday night- a week with a wagon and two horses to get a plow in working order. His experience with the plow convinced him of the necessity of having a grind-stone of his own, and soon after being in Milwaukee, he resolved to procure one. The only grind-stone to be found in the metropolis of Wisconsin was at " Breed's Grocery." No one could tell who owned it. Mr. Gardner determined, at all events, to have that grind-stone. Unfor- tunately, he had left his pony to graze when about half way to Milwaukee, and walked the remaining distance. There was no way, therefore, but to carry the grind-stone till he could reach his pony and divide the load. Leaving three dollars with Mr. Breed as pay- ment, and promising to pay more if the owner appeared and demanded it, our resolute pioneer took his grind-stone-bought a piece of cotton cloth and made a sack to put it in, threw it over his shoulder and sturdily walked homeward. When he reached his pony he mounted, and fastening the sack around his neck, let the load rest on the saddle, and in this way made his way to Spring Prairie. The record does not state whether the owner of the grind-stone ever made his appearance in Milwaukee.

Mr. Gardner has held various town offices -Town Clerk, Road Commissioner, etc., and was elected a member of the Assembly of January 4, 1847. He married on February 14, 1844, at Manlius, Miss Margaret S. Williams, daughter of Samuel Williams of that place. They had one child, a lovely and accomplished daughter, on whose education no effort or expense had been spared. In the glow of her youth, soon after her graduation at the Rockford Female Seminary, she was prostrated with sickness and died in 1865, at the age of twenty years. A few years later Mrs. Gardner's health failed, and she, too, after a long illness, died May 19, 1871. Wishing to be free from the cares of farm life, and in consideration of the declining health of his wife, Mr. Gardner, during her illness, built a dwelling house at Burlington, Racine Co., but at its completion she was unable to be moved. After her death, Mr. Gardner removed to the new home, and has since married Mrs. Leontine E. Dezatelle. He still resides at Burlington, but owns the farm, and rides out to it nearly every pleasant day, although now seventy-eight years of age.

DANIEL SALISBURY, now the oldest living settler in Walworth County, was born in the Town of Homer (now Cortlandville ), Cortland County, N. Y., on the twenty-fifth of January, 1814. During his boyhood, Damel attended the district school in the neigh- borhood, and in his vacations assisted his father, who was a farmer. He afterwards had the advantage of attending a select school in Cortland Village for a term, and the Aca- demy in the village of Homer about six months. How well he improved these privi- leges, may be inferred from the fact that while a mere youth-only in his eighteenth year-he commenced teaching. How well he succeeded in his new career may be in- ferred from the fact that he continued to teach for six winters in his native State, and afterwards taught the first winter school in Spring Prairie for two seasons.

In April, 1836, young Salisbury decided to seek out for himself a new home in the West. Michigan,-at that time almost the boundary of the known West,-was his ob- jective point. He started in company with two other young men, who purchased land in Michigan, about forty miles from Detroit. Not liking the place where his companions located, Mr. Salisbury returned to Detroit, and taking a fresh start, visited Laporte, Ind. He spent several days at, and south of this place, but judging from the ill health of the inhabitants that the locality was an unhealthy one, again turned his face toward the

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North, and visited Michigan City and Chicago-the latter place being described by a writer of the day as "a low muddy town of cheap, wooden houses." From Chicago, young Salisbury started, alone and on foot, on his journey of exploration and observa- tion. He had no compass ;- nothing but his steady head, his brave heart, and strong arm, the trail of the Indian, and the " lights of Heaven," to guide or help him through the unbroken wilderness. After traveling about three days in a northwesterly direction, Mr. Salisbury was misdirected, and found himself in one of the forests of northern Illi- nois, where there was no mark to show that it had ever known the presence of a white man before. After wandering about for two days, with only one meal-the last of his food-and lying two nights on the ground, he found that in order to live, he must soon find help and sustenance. It being a clear day, he believed, with the aid of the sun and his watch, he might keep his course due east, until he struck the Chicago & Milwaukee U. S. Road,-the only one in the country. When he reached the Fox River, to his dis- appointment he found it too deep to ford; but following the course of the river, after several futile attempts, he finally succeeded in fording it, when another serious trouble was experienced ;- clouds had gathered, and he could no longer see the sun, or take any

certain direction. Believing that the river ran south, he took a course at right angles with it, and plodded on through the rain, as best he might, all the afternoon, until nearly evening. At that time he came to an Indian camp of four or five wigwams. He had not sufficient confidence in their friendliness to ask for food, but got one of their number to paddle him in a canoe over a deep stream, which lay before him, and pursned his way, feeling that he would be ouly too thankful if they would leave him unmo- Jested. He now had a trail to follow, and soon after dark coming to a small lake, with a comparatively dry margin of sand between it and the grass, he laid there all night. In the morning he found his boots so hard, wet, and stiff from the soaking of the day before, that it was with difficulty he could walk. After a time he succeeded in drawing them off, and walked until noon in his stockings, when he arrived at the house of Mr. Gage, and remained there a day and a half. One can imagine what a luxury the coarse food and shelter of the pioneer settler must have seemed, after such a long and toil- some journey. Mr. Salisbury's difficulties were now comparatively over. After leaving Mr. Gage's he pursued an easterly direction to the Milwaukee Road, followed that road to Pike Creek (now Kenosha), and the next day followed Mr. Palmer Gardner's wagon track west to Fox River. When he came to the river he hallooed a few times, and a "dusky maiden " appeared, paddling " her light canoe down the rapid river." Our Western pioneer was speedily set across, and on the twenty-fifth day of May, 1836, ar- rived at Mr. Gardner's hospitable home. He immediately set his claim on Section 29, and at the land sale purchased 320 acres.

Some incidents of the suffering and hardship which Mr. Salisbury personally ex- perienced during the first hard winter, are given, and they present a truthful picture of the ordinary life of a pioneer settler.

About the first of December, 1836, he started with an ox-team from Delavan, to go to Driskill's Grove, Ill., for provisions. The weather was so severely cold, that to keep still, was to freeze, and Mr. Salisbury traveled all day, and untill 11 o'clock in the night without seeing a person or a house. At about that hour he found in his path a large pool of ice, about ten rods wide, and so slippery that the cantious oxen would not venture upon it. After spending a long time that cold September night in vain attempts to find some available spot where he could cross, he finally was obliged to leave his oxen, take the trail, and go two or three miles to the Piscasaw River, which he found frozen on either side, but a space in the middle partially open. He had no alternative-he must get across-so, letting the ice bear where itwould, and break where it must, he gained the opposite shore, and without daring to stop to pour the water from his boots, and with his clothes frozen stiff, hurried on until he reached a house about one and a half miles from the river, on Squaw Prairie, near the present site of Belvidere. He arrived just as

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

daylight was dawning in the East. Waiting only to warm himself, and get breakfast, he took a wagon and yoke of oxen which had been shod, went back and drew his team across the ice and the river, and reached Driskill's Grove on the third day.

He bought five hogs and waited for them to be butchered the next day, went four miles to buy his flour and meal, and started for home. His misfortunes on his return were almost equal to his former ones. After two days' tedious traveling he broke through the ice in a slough ten miles from any house, and, worst of all, broke his axle-tree in his attempt to extricate the team. The nearest house was Mr. Van Slyck's, at the head of Geneva Lake. He accordingly went there and stayed until morning, and then taking a wagon, went back and changed his load, and returned to Phoenix's, being gone nine days to get a small load of provisions.

During the same winter, twenty-fourth of December, Mr. Salisbury again started with an ox-team for lumber for Mr. Phoenix. The lumber was to be procured at the nearest saw-mill which was at the rapids of Root River. The next morning (Christmas) rose clear and still, but intensely cold. The snow was several inches deep, there was no track, the oxen were slow, and it was seventeen miles to the nearest house. When he arrived there his feet were so badly frozen that he was not able to wear his boots again for two months, and he never entirely recovered from the effects of the exposure.

Mr. Salisbury has been twice married ; on April 1. 1841, to Miss Harriet Wheeler, who died August 16th, 1843, and on June 1, 1848, to Miss Lucinda Bryant, of Wyoming Co., N. Y., who died May 14th, 1878. He has had six children, four of whom are living. The oldest, Wayland, died the 15th of December, 1866, aged eighteen years. Hattie, wife of Frank J. Palmer, died July 9th, 1880. The second son, Rollin, a graduate of Beloit College, is at present in the employ of the State Geologist. One daughter is keeping house for her father, and the others are engaged in teaching. Mr. Salisbury has held various town offices in Spring Prairie : Chairman of Supervisors, Town Clerk and Justice of the Peace. He was a delegate from Walworth County to the first political convention ever held in Milwaukee County. The convention was held at Rochester, in 1836, for the purpose of nominating Territorial officers (two councilmen and three repre- sentatives.

In 1879, having reached an age where ease and rest was more congenial than active labor, he left his farm in Spring Prairie and removed to the village of Elkhorn, where he now resides-a man beloved and respected all over the county which he entered so early, and where he has lived for so many years a pure, upright, and conscientious Christian life.

DR. A. A. HEMENWAY .- This early settler and pioneer, the first physician, ho- tel keeper, and postmaster of Spring Prairie, first opened his eyes upon this busy world about the year 1800, and somewhere near Erie, Penn. His father being accidentally killed during his infancy, he was early left to care for himself, and to depend upon his own resources. Upon entering manhood he studied medicine, and commenced his prac- tice as a physician in the town of La Porte, Ind. Although he never pursued his studies sufficiently to receive a diploma, his cool head, quiet nerves and good judgment went far towards assuring success in the sick-room. Dr. Hemenway left La Porte in 1836, and arrived in Spring Prairie in the early days of June. He secured a valuable claim on Section 30, and in the spring of 1837 erected at "the corners, " a large, two-story log tavern, one of the most commodious built during the early days, and one which was to serve for many years, numerous and very different purposes. Its oaken walls were to listen to the voice of prayer, and to the "merry tap of dancing feet ;" to the games of children, and to the discussion of grave questions of political interest; to the impa- tient demands of the tired and hungry traveler, and to the stories of " old times in the old home," told by the lonesome, homesick settler ; to the welcome voice which brought tidings from the ontside world, and to the sometimes sad story of suffering and want within the limits of the little colony settled on the Wisconsin prairie.

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In 1845, when the old " log tavern" had served its purpose, and the wants of the people had outgrown its dimensions, Dr. Hemenway erected a large brick hotel. with ample accommodations of all kinds for the wants of travelers. He was appointed the first postmaster of Spring Prairie (the office then called Franklin), in 1838, and retained the situation until 1845. After remaining in the hotel nearly twenty years, he sold out and removed to Iowa, and thence to Oregon, where he now resides.

Dr. Hemenway was what in these latter days is termed a Free-Thinker ; having no faith in the value of religious forms or church associations, if, indeed, his belief did not go farther and deeper. That he had no desire to prevent others from practicing these forms, or enjoying those associations is evinced by the fact of his opening his house for ths first public religious assembly held in the town, and if on that hot July day, with the winds of the prairie murmuring outside, and the soothing voice of the preacher within, " sleep did overcome his eyes, and slumber his eyelids," even the most conscien- tions will not have to stretch the mantle of charity very wide in order to cover his failing.

HON. SAMUEL PRATT .- Samuel Pratt was born in the town of Enfield, Hamp- shire Co., Mass., October 6. 1807. When he was seven years of age, his parents removed to Geanga County, Ohio, at which place he lived until 1829. At that date he moved to White Pigeon, Michigan-at that time a wild and unsettled region-no saw or gristmill being nearer than 100 miles, and no newspaper published within 180 miles. Once a week the mail was carried from Detroit to Chicago on horseback, and that link seemed the only one that connected the settlers at White Pigeon with the world outside, save the passing travelers, on their way still farther towards the settling sun. Mr. Pratt came to Spring Prairie in the fall of 1837, and purchased a claim, which he subsequently improved, but did not move his family until 1845. He set himself to the task of im- proving and cultivating his farm with the same energy and fidelity which he afterwards displayed in important offices of trust and responsibility, faithfulness,-fidelity, seeming to be the key-note of his character. In 1849. he was elected a member of the Assembly. and re-elected in 1855 and 1863. In 1869 he was elected to the Senate, and re-elected in 1871.

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History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 147

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