History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 155

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 155

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).

It is stated that an enterprising firm in Racine, once loaned a more enterprising resident of the town who wished to raise money wherewith to go to California, a con- siderable sum, and took as security " an eighty" on Section 7. No railroad stock was ever more thoroughly watered than that piece of land. It still lies unfenced and uncul- tivated, a part of the bed of Geneva Lake. Whether the tract was ever redeemed by the shrewd mortgagor, tradition does not mention.

The town is drained by the west branch of the Nippersink Creek, which flows through Sections 28, 29, 32, 33 and 34 in a southeasterly direction, and by the northwest branch of the same stream, which flows south and northeast through Sections 22, 27, 26, 23, 24 and 13. Thus the western, southern, and eastern portions of the town are finely drained, while the central and northern parts are abundantly watered by various small streams which flow into Lake Geneva.

The town was not thoroughly settled till later than other parts of the county, there being no village nucleus of population, except at Geneva, which being round the lake was not conveniently accessible. Further, much of the land was more heavily wooded, requiring more labor in clearing, and consequently not giving so speedy a return for the pioneers' first labors, as on the prairies and in the thin openings. Here and there, on favorable spots, the sturdy pioneers put in an early appearance, but Spring Prairie, Big Foot Prairie, and all along Sugar Creek, the government lands were well taken up by settlers before the woods of Linn were settled.

EARLY SETTLERS.

The first actual settlement was made in the town by John Powers, who built a cabin on Section 1, in the Fall of 1836, into which he moved in the Spring of 1837. His place was afterward known as the " Manning farm." Mr. Powers was a native of Maine.

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

He settled afterward in New York State and then in Illinois, at Napierville. He came through from New York to Illinois with one of the first pair of horses brought into the far West. From Napierville to Walworth County the journey was made with an ox- team, Mr. Powers' wife and family accompanying him. He also purchased the Merriam property. Mr. Powers was, for many years, a member of the town board of supervisors, and generally popular and respected. In 1861, he removed to Geneva, and died May 20, 1866, sixty-four years of age. His widow is living in Iowa; also two of his sons. One son is in Minnesota, and one, Steven, resides in the village of Geneva. One daughter died in California-two daughters are living.

In June of this year (1837), Allen McBride, the Williams family, Samuel Ryland and Benjamin Ball, and his son Benjamin M., all became residents of the town. Mr. McBride came from Ohio with his wife and four children, arriving at his destination on Section 31, June 4, 1837. In July, he had erected a log hut, and then had to start back to Milwaukee for provisions. August 2, Mr. and Mrs. McBride welcomed an addition to their family in the person of their daughter-the first female child born in town. She is now the wife of J. E. Stoker.

In February, 1845, Rev. P. W. Lake conducted the first regular religious services at the funeral of their little girl, Clarinda, who died when but twenty-two months old. This was the first funeral in the town of Linn. Mr. McBride still lives with his wife on the same section on which he settled over forty-five years ago. The old log house, probably the oldest building in town, is standing, somewhat " shaky in the underpinnings," but good for five years more of existence. When it shall have completed its golden anniversary, then the owner thinks it will have outlived its usefulness. Mr. McBride has been honored with several local offices, one of the earliest being that of the overseer of roads. His district was the west half of the town, and when he came to assume the " duties " of his position, he discovered that they were not of an extremely arduous nature-there wasn't a single road in his territory.

Irael Williams, Sr., came later in the year 1837, and settled with his family on Section 18, south of the bay which bears his name. Irael Williams, Jr., with his wife came in at about the same time. Royal J. Williams, then a lad, also located upon the same section. The latter is still living in Walworth. Irael Williams, Jr., the last heard from, was living in Minnesota. In 1844, he moved to Bloom Prairie, and in 1850, Major Ira Buell and family, from New York, purchased a large portion of his land-the north- west quarter of Section 26. Mr. Williams moved to Belvidere, Ill., run a paper mill in Beloit, during the war was in the commissary department, afterward run a cotton plan- tation with Gen Thomas' son-had, in fact quite a career-before he brought up in the state of Minnesota.

In 1838, Irael Williams, Sr., bought a claim on the west side of the bay, in the town of Walworth, on Section 36, living there until the time of his death, which occurred in 1849. His son, Royal J., still lives on the old place. In June, 1837, Henry, son of Irael Williams, Jr., was recorded as the first birth in the Town of Linn. He died in early manhood in Belvidere, Ill.

Benjamin Ball came from Illinois at the same time as Allen McBride. He did not settle upon Section 34, however, until the Fall of that year.

Messrs. Powers, Ball and McBride broke land and raised the first crops at about the same time.

Samuel Ryland came from Ohio, with his family, during the Summer of 1837. He settled on Section 31, near Mr. McBride's ; built a log house and lived a pioneer's life with his neighbors.

Among the prominent settlers of the next two years-1838 and 1839-may be men- tioned William Lanfear, Mr. Pond, James Duncan, David Prime, Perry Baker, Wm. Hubbard, Wm. K. May, John C. Ford, Jas. Nelson, J. E. Howe and Dr. McNish. The

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

latter bought Mr. Pond's farm, and was the first physician in the town. He afterward went to Geneva.

GENERAL EARLY HISTORY.

The life and growth of the town has been uneventful, as that of a peaceful, agricul- tural community must ever be. An early chronicler says : " We had but little claim trouble or excitement, compared with that of other towns. Benjamin Ball and Dr. Tiffany had a difficulty."

As no particulars were given, it was probably not serious. The same writer than goes on to relate what is termed "one of the most tragic affairs in Linn's history." It illustrates the general quiet that has prevaded, that nothing more exciting has occurred in its history. The recital is as follows :

" On Section 31 of this town, was a valuable grove of heavy timber, in which was found nearly all the varieties of timber, such as: oak, ash, elm, black walnut, butter- nut, hickory, bass-wood, etc. It was first claimed by a Mr. Kinsman, but Nathan and Darius Disbrow and James Van Slyke, coveted the timber, and drove Kinsman off. The Disbrows subsequently took possession and denied Van Slyke's claim to any portion of it. Some time after the " Disbrows moved over the State line to hold some prairie claims they had made there. Van Slyke, taking advantage of their absence, sold his right and title to Collins Wadhams, who was running some breaking plows on Big-Foot Prairie, at that time. In the Fall of 1837, Wadhams came on with his hands and teams and took possession of the claim, against the ineffectual remonstrances of the Disbrows. Finally they called out the settlers, a number of whom came from Geneva Village with most of the settlers of Linn. After hearing the evidence, pro and con, they refused to eject Wadhams. In the Winter of 1837-38, Wadhams had a large amount of rails split upon the claim. In the Fall of 1838, he went East for money to buy the land, at the coming " Land Sales." The Disbrows during his absence, commenced drawing off his rails. On his return he watched the grove, and as he said, caught the Disbrows in the act of stealing his rails, whereupon he fell upon the marauders and thoroughly pounded one of the brothers, not one of the claimants. A suit before 'Squire Williams for assault and battery, was the result. C. M. Baker was for the plaintiff Disbrow, and John Bullen for the defence. . It cost Wadhams ten dollars. Wadhams claimed that they drew off six thousand of his rails. He however, held the land, not from any title bought of Van Slyke, but by pre-emption, under an Act of Congress, granting pre-emption to settlers on Government land, which act was passed while Wadhams was located on the claim. Thus ended one of the most tragic affairs in Linn's history."

Another serious cause of dispute and bad feeling between Benjamin Ball and Dr. Tiffany. centered in the death of the former's grand-daughter. The small-pox broke out in 1840 or 1841, and a girl who afterwards worked in Benjamin Ball's family was certified by Dr. Tiffany as having no trace of the malady. She had the disease, however, went to work with the Balls at Napierville, and gave the small-pox to the grand-daughter. She died, and Mr. Ball never forgave the doctor for being the means of her death.

The first road laid out through the town was that which run from Geneva to Wood- stock, Ill., in 1840. The next one was from Geneva to Big Foot Prairie.

The first lawyer, and the only one the town ever possessed, was one Foote, who came from Chenango County, N. Y., and finding his legal talents unappreciated in Linn moved to Geneva about 1846. It was while there that he appeared in that prodigious vehicle, the front wheels of which were taken from an old cart, and the hind ones were grind-stones ; it was here that the cry was raised " clear the road for ' old Chenang ' "- and that is about all remembered of Linn's first and last practicing lawyer. It is more than half suspected that the above was none other than Erastus Foote, many years ago, judge of the Criminal court in Milwaukee.

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

A REMINISCENSE.

Mrs. Sidney Buell, in a paper read before the old settlers of Walworth County, at the reunion of 1881, thus depicts early times in Linn, and the region roundabout :

"The early history of the settlement of even the most favored portions of our county, is in detail a record of toil and hardship, of privation, of inconvenience, of vol- untary self-sacrifice ; and reminescenses of the experience of pioneers, little incidents of those early days, however unimportant in themselves, are of interest to us, because, per- haps, they portray so clearly and truly the real condition of the early settler, his desperate struggles to advance, and the obstacles which he had to overcome.

"Somewhat of this experience and a few of these 'tales of olden times,' I was requested to present to-day. Therefore, with a few hastily prepared notes of gleanings from a day among the pioneers, I have endeavored to respond.

" My first call was upon Esq. Giddings, who was an Illinois volunteer and served from the commencement to the close of the Black Hawk war, when he went back to Illinois, where he became acquainted with Big Foot upon the occasion of a visit paid to one of the braves of his locality, who told him about Lake Geneva, at the head of which were his headquarters. Told him about the surrounding country-that it was a good country, and invited him to come and examine for himself-because 'Indian must go away, white man coming.'

" He accordingly went up to the Indian village, and from the point which is now known as ' Porter's Landing,' was paddled across to the settlement in a walnut ' dug- out,' accompanied by the Indian chieftain and his squaw, which event occurred in the year 1836.

" A description of that clumsy bark forever destroyed the little fiction (suggested, no doubt, by some fanciful writer), a picture of which had long lingered in my imagina- tion, of the light canoe of the Indian gliding over the clear beautiful waters, guided by the hands of the young brave as he wooed his darkeyed enchantress. It might have existed in remote ages, but I strongly suspect that romances of that kind up to this period exhibited a reversible order of things, not in the wooing, but in the rowing, that in fact, instead of fancy, that it was the dusky maiden who vigorously plied the paddle, while her listless, indolent lover made love to her.

" But to go back to my hero. After looking about somewhat, he made his selection of a claim south of Lake Geneva, about a mile south of the State line, where, in 1842, he erected a frame dwelling, which must have been a palace in comparison with the quaint, primitive log-cabin of those days. It is still a comfortable looking home.

" Interviewed another pioneer who established a claim in the same neighborhood in 1836. Soon after rolled up his little cabin, which was about 22x16, with a sort of platform staked in one side, sometimes two or three, according to the exigencies of the situation, one above another, in the form of berths in a cabin, from which they doubt- less got their idea, with straw and a Mackinac blanket made a ' handy affair,' so I was informed. So I inferred. Like the chest of drawers in Goldsmith's deserted village, it

"'Contrived a double debt to pay,

A bed by night, a chest of drawers by day.'

And this was the average settler's cabin.

" He then commenced work in earnest. Soon two or three others, all young men, came and located their claims near, and slept and ate breakfast and supper in his cabin. This man prided himself somewhat upon his skill in cooking ; told me that he learned to cook game, which was quite abundant, and soon learned to make good light bread of corn meal. Others whom I questioned on the subject were not so well satisfied, but laughed heartily over their unsuccessful attempts at getting up palatable meals, with the very limited resources they had at hand. I was told by one that he subsisted for a long time upon pancakes, mixed with water, upon which was spread potatoes, finely mashed and

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

seasoned with salt, a more wholesome substitute for butter than the oleomargarine of these degenerate days.

" There was but one white woman for miles around. This dear, kind lady conceived the beautiful idea of inviting the lonely occupants of all the cabins within reach to assemble at her house on Sabbath afternoons and sing psalms, and it is said that she always regaled them with nutcakes before they departed from her house. Those delicious doughnuts, I know, were peculiarly grateful to their bachelor palates, and surely those sweet songs of hope and faith must have been like manna to their lonely hearts and hungry souls. The good old tune of Hebron was always sung, and was her favorite, so she named the town and thus it has ever been called.

" Not so with the majority of the early settlers of that vicinity. They, recognizing the fact that it is not good for man to be alone, as soon as a start was made brought wives to these incipient homes, and woman had her full share in the privations and sacrifices of the pioneer. If she had aught of feminine vanity, she had little with which to gratify its spirit. The ordinary dress of some of them was made of common factory cloth, dyed by their own hands with the bark of the oak. This state of things, however, did not long continue. The condition of the settlers began steadily, although slowly, to improve -slowly, the whys and wherefores of which may be summed up thusly: One of these men made a journey to Chicago with a huge load of produce, drawn by two yoke of oxen, the first offerings of his land to the market. Result-one hat, a pair of overalls, and a pair of boots. It is said that at one time a yard of factory cloth could not be purchased for a bushel of wheat.

"Nor were these all the hindrances to progress. They were legion. I enumerate but one. Their teams, turned out at night, would often wander away for miles, and a hunt through the long wet grass of the early morning would have to be instituted before the real labor of the day could commence; and yet men and women told me that they felt being shut out from the whole outside world, shut out from tidings of their old homes, with no fresh papers or journals to read, for it will be remembered that a long journey to Chicago had to be made before a mail could be received. This to them was the most bitter trial of all ; and yet these men and women were so firm in their convic- tion as to the possibilities of their future, so appreciative of the beauty of the native scenery, that they were willing to struggle on and patiently wait the better time, the fruition of all their toil. Fresh from the hand of nature, it must have been a picture of enchanting loveliness, these undulating prairies, gorgeous with their wreath of wild flowers ; the charming oak groves, as clean as well-kept gardens, the lovely valleys and picturesque lakes.

" No wonder that these men and women felt that they had been directed to a second Garden of Eden ; and those of them who live to-day to realize the progress of civilization during these few last years, to look abroad over the happy homes of plenty, to know that our schools and seminaries of learning are not inferior to those of the older States, must feel their hearts thrill with exalted pride that their feet led the way to such a favored spot-that their hands aimed the first blow to bring about such thrift and prosperity.

" For my own part, I confess to a feeling of tender reverence for these men and women who so bravely and heroically, through toil and sacrifice and firm endurance paved the way for those who now share in the possession of so much good, and say God bless you, every one! And may He who led you hither and upheld you by His own loving hand through the burden and heat of the day, guide you now that the evening shadows are closing around you, be lovingly near you through the night of death, and take you to dwell forever more in that better country where there is no sorrow, no irk- some toil, and all is perfectness in peace."

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

FIRST MEETINGS.

At the first annual meeting held at the house of James Nelson, on the second of April 1844, the following persons were elected town officers :

Supervisors-Chairman, Ira Turner, Seymour Hatch, Samuel Ryland ; Clerk-Irael Williams, Jr .; Treasurer-Benjamin Ball ; Justices of the Peace-Ira Turner, Solomon Burdick ; Assessor-Seymour Hatch ; Constables-Calvin Traver, Caleb Preston ; Com- missioners of Highways-Benjamin Ball, David Prime, Wm. B. Traver; Commissioners of Schools-Calvin Grover, Nathan S. Bassett, L. Ingham ; Collector-Caleb Preston ; Fence Viewers-Benjamin Ball, Hiram Downer, Samuel Ryland ; Sealer of Weights and Measures-Marshall F. Winters.

By-laws for the town of Linn for 1844: No rams to run at large from July 1 to December 1, fine for above offence, $10; no boars over three months old to run at large, fine, $2 per week, and forfeit the boar ; school tax half of one per cent .; wages of town- ship officers to be 75 cents per day ; whole expense of assessor, $6; commissioner of highways, $20; commissioner of schools, $8; supervisors, $10; clerk, $12; $10 for a contingent fund ; $8 to pay arrearages in the town of Geneva, expenses for laying roads, rail fence four and a half feet high.

At a meeting held in the town before its organization, three names were suggested. 'Squire Ball argued for Franklin, A. McBride wanted Lake, and M. McBride pushed the claims of Liberty. The voting showed that Franklin was the favorite. When the bill was sent to Madison, it was discovered that there was another Franklin in the State, and consequently the territory became stamped as " Linn."

ROSTER OF TOWN OFFICERS.

Following is the roster of town officers from 1845 to 1881, inclusive :

1845: Supervisors-John W. Boyd, chairman, Daniel I. Cornue, Samuel Ryland, D. I. Cornue ; Treasurer-Clerk-Irael Williams, Jr.

1846 : Supervisors-John W. Boyd, chairman, Samuel Ryland, John Powers ; Clerk-Daniel I. Cornne ; Treasurer-Daniel I. Cornue.

1847: Supervisors-Irael Williams, chairman, John Powers, John W. Groesbeck ; Clerk-Henry Bailey ; Treasurer-Daniel I. Cornue.

1848 : Supervisors-John P. Snell, chairman. Samuel Ryland, Solomon C. Burdick; Clerk-Henry Bailey ; Treasurer-Daniel I. Cornue.

1849: Supervisors-S. C. Burdick, chairman, Ira Turner, S. T. Powell ; Clerk- John McKibbin ; Treasurer-Daniel I. Cornue.

1850: Supervisors-John P. Snell, chairman, Jacob I. Cornue, John Powers; Clerk-J. Mckibbin ; Treasurer-D. I. Cornue. 1851 : Supervisors-John P. Snell, chairman, John Powers, Jacob I. Cornue ; Clerk-Abraham Kaye ; Treasurer-James A. Benedict. 1852: Supervisors-Wm. H. Lewis, chairman, Jolin Powers, Jacob I. Cornue ; Clerk-John McKibbin ; Treasurer-Daniel Downs.

1853 : Supervisors-A. T. Wheeler, chairman, Warren Holmes, S. T. Powell ; Clerk-O. K. Hale; Treasurer-Daniel Downs.

1854: Supervisors -- Geo. Allen, chairman, Ira Buel, S. C. Burdick; Clerk-A. A. Thompson ; Treasurer-Nathaniel Grout.

1855 : Supervisors-Geo. Allen, chairman, Jesse Wright, Benj. F. Groesbeck ; Clerk-John McKibbin ; Treasurer-A. Merriam. 1856: Supervisors-Allen McBride, chairman, B. F. Groesbeck, James Emery ; Clerk-John McKibbin ; Treasurer-A. Merriam. 1857 : Supervisors-S. C. Burdick, chairman, B. F. Groesbeck, James Emery ; Clerk-John McKibbin ; Treasurer-Amzy Merriam.

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

1858 : Supervisors-B. F. Groesbeck, chairman, J. S. Cornue, Charles Cornue , Clerk-A. H. Button ; Treasurer-D. Cornue.

1859: Supervisors-B. F. Groesbeck, chairman, James Emery, Wm. H. Lewis ; Clerk-A. H. Button ; Treasurer-Perry Wilson.

1860 : Supervisors-James Emery, chairman, H. T. Palmer, Amzy Merriam ; Clerk-A. H. Button ; Treasurer-L. W. Fuller.

1861 : Supervisors-B. F. Groesbeck, chairman, H. T. Palmer, Amzy Merriam ; Clerk-A. H. Button ; Treasurer-Ira Turner.

1862: Supervisors-J. A. Benedict, chairman, Perry Wilson, G. C. Gardner; Clerk-A. H. Button ; Treasurer-Arthur Kaye.

1863 .: Supervisors-George Allen, chairman, John Wilson, Thomas Cady ; Clerk- A. H. Button ; Treasurer-S. C. Burdick.

1864 : Supervisors-George Allen, chairman, Thomas Cady, G. W .. Barr; Clerk- A. H. Button ; Treasurer-S. J. Nichols.

1865 : Supervisors-George Allen, chairman ; G. W. Barr, S. J. Nichols ; Clerk- A. H. Button ; Treasurer, L. W. Fuller.

1866 : Supervisors-George Allen, chairman ; Amzy Merriam, C. E. Buell ; Clerk -A. H. Button ; Treasurer, Noah Merriam.

1867 : Supervisors-George Allen, chairman ; Amzy Merriam, C. E. Buell ; Clerk -A. H. Button ; Treasurer, N. R. Colbert. 1868 : Supervisors-John McKibbin, chairman ; G. W. Barr, Addin Kaye ; Clerk -A. H. Button ; Treasurer, Jonathan Powell.

1869 : Supervisors-John Mckibben, chairman; G. W. Barr, Amzy Merriam ; Clerk-A. H. Button ; Treasurer, Jonathan Powell.

1870: Supervisors-G. W. Barr, chairman ; Amzy Merriam, John Wilson ; Clerk- A. H. Button : Treasurer, R. G. Webster.

1871: Supervisors-James Emery, chairman ; John Wilson, Thomas Ledger ; Clerk -A. H. Button ; Treasurer-James Smith.

1872 : Supervisors-James Emery, chairman ; G. W. Barr, Addin Kaye ; Clerk- A. H. Button ; Treasurer-G. S. Conklin.

1873 : Supervisors-J. W. Boyd, chairman ; B. M. Boll, S. B. Wynn ; Clerk-A. H. Button ; Treasurer-Alfred Haywood.

1874 : Supervisors-J. W. Boyd. chairman ; S. B. Wynn, T. B. Merriam ; Clerk- A. H. Button ; Treasurer, D. S. Allen.

1875: Supervisors-Amzy Merriam, chairman ; Thomas Ledger, Joseph Reek ; Clerk-A. H. Button ; Treasurer-Wm. Kaye.

1876 : Supervisors-Amzy Merriam, chairman ; Thomas Ledger, Ed. Cullen ; Clerk -A. H. Button ; Treasurer-D. S. Allen. 1877 : Supervisors-D. S. Allen, chairman ; John Judson, W. H. Crandall ; Clerk -A. H. Button ; Treasurer-Peter Gavin.

1878 : Supervisors-D. S. Allen, chairman ; John Judson, Wm. Kaye ; Clerk-A. H. Button ; Treasurer-

1879 : Supervisors-D. S. Allen, chairman ; Wm. Kaye, John Judson ; Clerk-A. H. Button ; Treasurer-George Rowbotham.

1880 : Supervisors-D. S. Allen, chairman ; John Judson, Wm. J. Kaye ; Clerk- A. H. Button ; Treasurer, Artemus Alexander. 1881 : Supervisors-D. S. Allen, chairman ; John Judson, Wm. J. Kaye ; Clerk- A. H. Button ; Treasurer-John Gavin.

WAR RECORD.

During the Great Rebellion, Linn stood nobly in the ranks with the other towns in the county. It is impracticable to give a separate account of the war services of the town. Full records of the soldiers appear in the war history of the county at large.

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HISTORY OF WALWORTH COUNTY.

Linn furnished, and has credit on the war records of the State for fifty-five soldiers- one over her quota. The number of residents who did personal services can not be ascer- tained, as many enlisted in other towns and outside the county. The amount raised for bounties and other war purposes was $10,454.01, according to the books of the town clerk. During 1864, $5,300 was raised. Whatever may be said of Linn, history must say that, in proportion to her population, she " came down " as handsomely as any town in the county.

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History of Walworth County, Wisconsin, Part 155

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