The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources; an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages etc, Part 112

Author: Western Historical Co., pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1050

USA > Wisconsin > Waukesha County > The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources; an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages etc > Part 112

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A saw-mill was built on Bark River, Section 19, by Albert Alden, in 1844. N. P. Hawks soon after built a flouring-mill here, and became half-owner in the whole property, with Mr. Alden. Shortly after this, Mr. Alden sold his interest to Mr. Hawks, then, directly after, everything burned, with no insurance. Mr. Hawks rebuilt, erecting a commodious frame structure. Eventually the property was purchased by Rossman & Wheelock, afterward Rossman & Kern, they selling to Mr. Notbohm, the present owner. The dam has a nine foot-head.

Dr. Castleman was the first practicing physician in town.

Delafield Village .- This place was first called Hayopolis, then Nehmabin, then, in 1843, Delafield, after a Mr. Delafield, who came here from New York to start a mulberry grove. In an early day, this place was the chief point on the road between Watertown and Prairieville.

The land here was bought from the Government by Messrs. Pearmain and Heath, and Mr. Pearmain built the second house here. The first frame house was built by Mr. Heath. In 1842, Mr. Heath began the work of building a dam and erecting a mill. He soon after sold an interest to Mr. Delafield, and a man by the name of P. Potter, Register of the Land Office, Milwaukee, in 1843, also became interested about this time. After Mr. Delafield died, Mrs. Delafield held the property. In 1846, Andrew Proudfit bought it, and Heath and Potter left. He refitted the mill, dug a new race, raised the dam, and added a steam engine, then run the mill night and day, doing an immense business. Proudfit, about this time, erected the building now occupied by John Kilmer for a store and post-office. He subsequently erected several build- ings, but eventually failed and lost everything. He was one of the most enterprising citizens Delafield ever had. Mr. H. Buck now owns the mill.

In 1843, the post-office was established here, and N. P. Hawks was appointed Postmaster. At that time the people from Merton had to come here for their mail.

In 1847, N. P. Hawks built a commodious hotel. Mr. Hawks was the great joker and story teller of the country.

In 1843, Jacob Luther came in and opened a blacksmith shop, after Selick, and lived here the remainder of his life. He died in 1879, and the old shop is closed.

In the fall of 1844, Simon Dolivar was killed, just north of the village, by a sleigh over- turning and letting a saw-log fall on him.

In 1850, N. P. Hawks put up a frame building for a town hall, about where stood the first hotel, or Pearmain House. This building Mr. Jacques afterward purchased, and rebuilt as it now is. It is at present used by Mr. Kuntz for a store. The hotel kept here now is the one kept by Silas Barber in the palmy staging days of yore. At that time there were three hotels here. While Barber was here, a man named Hull put in his appearance one day with a span of horses to sell, making oath that they were his ; Barber was about to buy, when word came that Hull was a perjurer, that the horses belonged at Kenosha. Hull was at once arrested and brought before Justice Jacques, who has been a resident here since 1844. Hull had no money or coun- sel, so Mr. Jacques said to N. P. Hawks, who was present, " You will please act as counsel for this man, Mr. Hawks !" " Very well," said Hawks, " but if I act I shall clear him." "With that I have nothing to do," said Justice Jcaques. Just at this time the owner came on, and of course Hull was thought to be a goner. The trial was to come off in the evening, but, while all parties were standing in front of the Justice's office, in the dusk, what should the worthy Hawks do but slyly raise an empty dry-goods box, when no one was looking, and slip Hull under it. The Deputy Sheriff. Houston, had been rather indifferent about watching Hull, and when called

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could not find him. "How is this, Mr. Houston ?" said the Justice. Said Houston ; "I don't find him." "No, nor you won't ; for it is written, in the Second Book of Hawks, that when a per- son gets forty rods the start, from my pump, in the night, he is what you might call clear." He escaped.

When the project of getting a plank road built through here was being discussed, in 1848 and 1849, N. P. Hawks wanted it built at one place, and Dr. Castleman at another, each prom- ising to give a handsome sum to have it as he wished. Between the two stools, the road fell to the ground. William M. Jacques, a public-spirited man, went so far as to build quite a stretch of grade in addition to his subscription, but it availed nothing. At about this time, Daniel Kel- logg conceived the idea that it would be a good thing to build a steam mill in the eastern part of the town, and also a piece of gravel road to reach it. He undertook the latter first, and com- pleted one of the finest pieces of road in the State, but bankrupted himself by doing it.

There are two churches in Delafield. The Episcopal Church was built at a very early day, by J. Ralston Cox, of Philadelphia, and donated to the parish of Saint John Chrysostom, Dela- field. Dr. Adams, of Nashotah, is the present rector. It is a commodious structure and very handsomely finished in hard woods.

The Presbyterian Church was organized November 16, 1866, with the following members: D. D. Robertson, Catharine Robertson, Robert Miekel, Marion Miekel, Elizabeth Anderson, Mary Lowrie, Elizabeth Jaques, Anna M. Jaques, Mary Davis, James C. Robertson and Mrs. Ella Robertson. During the summer of 1868, the church was built. It was dedicated January 28, 1869. There are now fifty members. The pastors have been P. D. Young, J. H. Potter, and J. Martin, the present minister.

Delafield has an I. O. O. F. Lodge, which is is one of the oldest in the county. N. C. Hawks, son of N. P. Hawks, published a small newspaper here at one time.

Hartland .- Stephen Warren was the first settler at this place and remains here yet. The first improvements of any value were constructing the dam and erecting the saw and grist mills, which were going as early as 1842, under the management of Christ Hershey. The grist-mill is now used for a cider mill; the saw-mill was torn down several years ago. It stood west of the grist-mill. The first store was opened by William Hobkirk in 1844. The next store was opened in 1846 by McVean and William P. Clark. McVean died or left in a short time after and Chauncy Simonds bought and ran the business.

The first mail route through Hartland was established in 1846. The first Postmaster was William P. Clark, who was soon succeeded by Chauncy Simonds, and the first quarterly re- turns were $5.46.

The Congregational Church was built in 1855-57, but the society was organized as early as 1842. A meeting was held, it is said, in a barn on the farm of Mr. Cheney, now owned by Mr. Wakeman, where the society was organized by the Rev. Baker, to be called the First Congregational Church of Warren. The members were, J. C. Molster, Sarah Molster, Nancy Hopkins, William Cheney, S. Warren, D. K. Warren, N. Nicholson, Sybrant Hale, J. Ferguson, Euphemia Ferguson and Lucy Wells. O. S. Smith is the present pastor. Since the first school taught here by Mrs. Warren, in a small room, the number of pupils has increased, until now a fine school building is used, with two departments. About eighteen years ago, the Rev. Bennett, a student of Nashotah, preached in the cider-mill, and succeeded in getting. enough by subscription to buy a lot. After about six years, there was enough money raised, by church socials and sundry subscriptions, with $100 presented by Bishop Kemper, to begin a church. The church cost $1,100; the furniture was obtained from an old church in Chicago. Services are now held at irregular intervals.

The first Lutheran Church movement of Hartland was started in 1870, by Mr. J. C. Krause and Mr. Ole Hansen, each pledging together that they would donate $50 apiece toward a church. Accordingly, meetings were called at two different times, first at the house of Jacob Blitch, second at the house of Ole Hansen, where, a large number being present, it was decided to build a church. As a result, they had a snug little church ready for dedication on the second Sunday of

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

1871, and P. M. Hatelstadt preached the sermon in English. The church is free, the minister being supported by subscription. Preaching is in English. There are now about 100 members.

The first depot of the La Crosse Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad built at this point, is now used for a stable. The depot which succeeded it was built in 1867 and stood here until the morning of the 25th of May, 1879, when it was struck by lightning and burned to the ground.

A large amount of grain is shipped from this point annually, Mr. Johnson, who has a warehouse, having shipped as high as 100,000 bushels per annum.

The charter of Bark River Lodge, No. 122, A., F. & A. M., was granted to William Goodman, Master ; George E. Bergwell, Senior Warden, and Henry Shears, Junior Warden, by the Grand Lodge, June 13, 1860. There are now thirty-seven members on the roll. The lodge room over the store of Mr. Staps, is carpeted and neatly furnished and decorated.

Hartland Temple of Honor, No. 93, was organized December 28, 1876, and was finally instituted on the 15th of January, 1877, with fifteen members. The officers were : W. C. T., William S. O'Brien; W. V. T., H. E. Salsich ; P. W. C. T., J. T. Bickford; W. C., Charles A. Fassett; A. R., George Crozier; F. R., W. Wilson; W. T., William LeRoy; W. U., Charles Kerr; D. U., O. Finch. There have been 110 initiated. There are now 36 members in good standing, with a good hall.

There is a large flouring-mill here now ; also several stores and mechanics' shops.

Nashotah Station, once called Pine Lake, is in this town. There have been a hotel and store near here for several years.

TOWN OF EAGLE.

Township 5, Range 17 East, was first organized into a precinct separate from and independent of adjoining towns, in accordance with act of the Council and House of Representa- tives of the Territory of Wisconsin, January 12, 1841. Up to 1839, Eagle was a part of Muk- wonago ; then a part of Genesee up to the passage of the above act. The first town meeting was held at the house of Andrew Scofield, in Eagleville. However, it is impossible to be strictly accurate in the earliest details, owing to the fact that the first town records are lost, so far as ascertainable.

The town received its name in a rather singular manner, as follows : In the year 1836, while Thomas Sugden, John Coats and a Mr. Garton were prospecting, they came to a beau- tiful prairie about one and a half by two and a half miles in area. Here, hovering and curv- ing over a large mound, near the present residence of Ebenezer Thomas, was a monster bald- headed eagle. From this incident and time, the prairie and town were called Eagle.

The country, in its natural state, was diversified by springs, brooks, marshes, prairie and burr oak openings. The arable soil is slightly variable in composition, being, for the most part, a rich loam and gravel, and is quite productive. A chain of bluffs passes through the northwest part, but the greater part of the land is tillable. Here, as elsewhere in the county, the inhabitants suffered the deprivations incident to pioneer life, which have become the subjects for many an evening tale.

The first claim is said to have been made by A. R. Hinkley on Eagle Prairie, where he now lives, the 20th of September, 1836, and here he erected a shanty, the following winter, which yet remains, " a relic of by-gone days."

Here he brought his family in 1838, and in a space 12x16 feet, put up two beds, a pine table, a rotating-top stove, four chairs or stools, a large box for bedding, five barrels of flour and one of pork. This single experience but illustrates the trials and inconveniences to which all were subject.

In 1836, Eb Thomas and wife came and erected a house on their claim and occu- pied it. They were actually the first permanent settlers. The year following, Mr. Thomas started a blacksmith- shop, the first in the town.

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

Mrs. Bovee, mother of Matthias Bovee, one of the distinguished dead, is said to have been the first person who died in the town of Eagle, though John Hurst and Ebenezer Thomas lost infants at about the same time. Charles Sherman, who now resides at Whitewater, was the first child born in the town, and his people, who have long since moved away, were among the very first settlers.

In 1837, Jerry Parsons built a hotel at the point called Jericho, on the road to Madison and the " Far West." This was the first regular hotel. Jericho took its name from the first syllables of Parsons' given name and the Bible name, but it cannot be said to have been a more than usually saintly place. Jericho had also at one time two stores, one kept by H. Skidmore, and the other by a Mr. Spooner-with shops accordingly.

The fall and winter of 1836, found Daniel Bigelow, one of the pioneer millers of the State, building a little saw-mill in the wilderness, at the place called Eagleville. This was the first mill in the town. Here, for many years, the pioneers hanled their logs and got their lumber sawed. This mill has been gone these many years. The following year, Dr. Bigelow, who appears to have been a very enterprising person, went to work alone, to erect a grist-mill, which was soon completed and doing work, crushing grain for the early settlers. The doctor being unable to get buhrs, hunted around until he found a couple of granite stones suitable for his purpose, dressed and fitted them, and for years these were the only stones used in the inill. Thus does necessity pave the way to invention. This was the first grist-mill in the county, and stood where now stands its successor, the mill of A. Scofield, with its fine machinery and complete general appointments, and which was built about 1844. The first store in the town was started by Mr. Scofield, in 1844, at Eagleville. By this time, this place and the town "had become of sufficient importance to require a post-office, which was established here, Mr. Sco- field being Postmaster. Previous to this time, the people were compelled to go to Mukwonago to get their mail. Eagleville, at this time, had stores, shops, etc., and until the coming of the railroad in 1851, was the town metropolis.

The first frame dwelling honse erected in town was built by T. W. Pitman, at Eagle Center, in 1845, the timbers being sawed at Bigelow's mill, and the lumber for finishing being hauled from Racine. The building is a substantial structure, and in a goodstate of preservation to-day.

The first religious service is said to have been held at Dr. Bigelow's, when an itinerant Presbyterian preached to a small audience.

The first school is said to have been taught by Miss Gertrude Goodrich, in a small building near Jericho, in 1840.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was the first church that held regular services and had a Sunday school. The nuclens of the present church first held services at the house of Mr. Cross, and Rev. Mr. Halsey is said to have been the preacher. Afterward, services were held at different times, here and there, in the settlers' houses, until the erection of the schoolhouse of District No. 1, in 1841, after which time the Methodists held their services in this schoolhouse and others, until the establishment of the church at Eagle Center. It is told of one of the early ministers, a Mr. Moultrop, from Canada, a very able preacher, that he made application to Messrs. Long and Cross for a picket fence around his yard, and carpet for his floor. They were very indignant at the demand, and replied: "We have no carpets nor picket fences, and if you preach for us you can't have any either." He didn't have any-at least, not in Eagle.

John James and Miss Francis, George Robinson and Ann Archer, were the first couples married here, and Henry Hinkley, the first Justice appointed by the Territorial Governor, per- formed the ceremonies.

It is said of Miss Cross, who married Jonathan Parsons, in an early day, that after her marriage she used to sweep the floor of her log house, and dust her pine table, wooden chairs, and mud-chinked walls ; with cap and gloves on, to the infinite amusement of her less fastidious neighbors.

Cheese manufacturing was begun in the town in 1875, in a building constructed for the purpose of making burial cases, but which was never put to its intended use, on account of the

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

company that built it having come to an unseasonable end. The factory, as it now is, has a capacity for handling 10,000 pounds of milk per day. In connection with the factory, there is a fifteen-horse-power engine which runs a log-sawing apparatus, and a planing and feed mill.

The "in-fair," held at Andrew Scofield's, in Eagleville, in honor of the marriage of his adopted son, will be well remembered by the oldest inhabitants. On that occasion, in the autumn of 1841, nearly all of the inhabitants within a radius of six miles were invited and were present, and were entertained with all the jolly old-time hospitality. Rachael Scofield and Andrew, her husband (a Quaker), did nothing by halves; and, Rachael being a most excellent cook, it may be easily believed that there was fun and feasting without stint. Here the young couple sat in a corner bolt upright, with their backs against the logs, and maintained the dignity of the occa- sion, and received the compliments and respects of their many friends who came to see them off on the journey of life. Nowadays, the bride is not often found cooking and serving her own marriage refreshments.

William Harrison kept the first store in Eagle, in 1842, at the place called Palestine. Here a hotel was also kept a few years later, and perhaps a blacksmith-shop, etc. There is nothing left now to show for that condition.

A Mr. Long, said to have been the longest man in Eagle, in an early day came very near to starvation at one time, and was obliged, in order to avoid this result, to live on such roots and fruits as could be found in the forests.

There are a few slight errors, apparently, in the following report made in 1871 to the Old Settlers' Club, but they are by far too insignificant to impair its value :

The Town of Eagle was first settled during the fall of the year 1836. The persona settling were William Sher- man, Jonathan Parsons, Henry A. Hinkley, Ahira. R. Hinkley, Harrison Ward, Daniel Bigelow, Andrew Schofield, Richard B. Whitehouse and James Bigelow. In 1837, Ebenezer Thomas, James T. Walklin, John Long. Thomas Orchard, - Taylor, William Ellis, Baxter P. Melendy, Daniel F. Melendy, Herman Enos, David Benedict, Samoa Parsons, Ferrand Bigelow, Isaac Severance, Daniel Ewers, Emory Harris, Richard Sharpe, David Barnard, Seneca Harria, Jerome C. Sawyer and Samuel Orchard. In 1838, James Bias, John Hurst, John Carlin, Ebenezer F. Weld, Leveritt Sherman, Francis Draper and Jonathan Betts. In 1839, William De Wolf, William C. Garton and David Crerar. In 1840, James Cation, Widow- Barnard, Obed Barnard, Joshna Roberta, Henry Pett and Richard Sleep In 184I, William K. Cash, Daniel Jennings, Jerome Hopkins, Sherman R. Hopkins and William Robinson. In 1842, John C. Snover, Rev. Newell Dustin, Clement Dustin, Henry Wall, Henry James, Hugh Murphy, Isaac Bottomly, Thomas Trow, -Miller, Cyrenus Baldwin, Charles Raynous, John Hinton, Joseph Hage, William J. Hage, Richard Hage, John Hancock, Oramel Hinkley, Matthew Bartlett, Gregory Abbott, Joseph M. Stillwell and George Atwood. In 1843, Col. F. A. Sprague, George Underhill, Matthias J. Bovee, Philip V. Bovee, Ransom Kestead, Robert Rose, Benedict A. Bovee, James Dillon. Ward Atwater and Alsadalos Newcomb. In 1844, W. W. Tredway, - Geer,- Lnck, David Toop, Peter D. Gifford, David Lampman, Dr. Thomas Emerson, Robert Clark, Daniel B. Reels, Noah Yonng, Daniel D. Carpenter, George E. Logan, Daniel T. Sabin, Henry Snyder, Eher Ewers, Thomas Taylor, Thomas Sngden, Lester Gifford, Thomas W. Pitman, John Crowley, Robert Andiss, -Arnold, Linas Morgan, Charles M. Cole and Henry Palmer.

The first white child born within the town was Charles Sherman, son of William Sherman. The second born was Jacob Thomas, aon of Ebenezer Thomas. L. D. Hinkley, son of Ahira R. Hinkley, was the third person horn within the town.

First marriage, Jonathan Parsons and Miss Jane Cross. First death, a child of John Hurst. First breaking of the soil was done by Kirkendall and Pendall, 1826 ; first manufacturing establishment was a saw-mill and grist-mill built in 1836, Daniel Bigelow proprietor ; second, a fanning mill factory hy Newell & Clement Dustin, 1842; first schoolhonse, a log structure built by William Sherman, on Sec. No. 24, 1841 ; first school was taught by Miss Emily Goodrich, 1842; first blacksmith, Charles Raynous, 1842 ; first shoemaker, Seneca Harris, 1844; first tailor, Robert Clark, 1844 ; first tavern, kept by Isaac Severance, 1844 ; first wagon-maker, Henry James, 1843. * * Respectfully submitted,

J. C. SNOVER, A. R. HINKLEY, J. T. WALKLIN.

Eagle Center .- The village of Eagle Center is located in the center of Section 22, a little southeast of the geographical center of the town, from which it derives its name.

The location, in point of general detail, is not the best. The soil is sand and gravel, and the surface of the ground in the northwest part is uneven.

The village dates its infancy from 1851, when the southern branch of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad was laid through the county. At that time, William J. Kline, who had but recently

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

purchased eighty acres of land here, gave to the railroad company three acres for a depot and general use, and laid out a plat of town lots. At about the same time, Mr. Sprague, who owned eighty acres of land east of Mr. Kline's and adjoining the same, and T. W. Pitman, who came in 1844, and who owned the land south of and adjoining Messrs. Kline and Sprague's, also laid out plats of town lots. These lots are now, after a lapse of twenty-nine years, nearly all taken, and in use either as residences or business places.

In point of commercial importance Eagle is claimed to take rank as third in the county at the present time, although it is not so old by many years as Eagleville, once the metropolis of the town. The village has grown steadily, though slowly, from the first, to its present pro- portions. It has now two dry-goods houses (Coombs Bros. and J. A. Lins), two hardware stores (W. McWilliams and C. Lins & Schmidt), two clothing and tailor establishments (J. A. Lins, and Mr. E. Bossingham), Lins' butcher-shop, E. Bovee, grocer, one harness-shop, mil- liners and saloons.

There is a very good elevator and warehouse located here, which does a very large grain- buying and cleaning business. It is fitted up with the latest and best machinery, and has a cleaning and storage capacity of 15,000 bushels. It is an old, unused warehouse refitted, which, in all probability, would otherwise have added but little to the prosperity of the town. The pro- prietors are Harvey Clemons and J. O. Hall.

The postoffice was located here after the coming of the railroad.

The first store was opened by Charles Bronson, in the building now used for a postoffice, directly in front of which, in the road, is the center-stake of the section on which the village stands.

The present and only hotel ever built here, is a plain structure, which was erected in 1853, by Mr. Kline, near the site of the first house in the village.

The schoolhouse of District No. 9 is located in this village. The district was first organized December 9, 1846, on petition of M. J. Bovee, F. O. Sprague, R. Kestead, T. W. Pit- man, H. C. Thayer, H. Skelton, E. Skelton, William R. Bovee, R. Sprague and F. A. Sprague, Jr. P. V. Bovee was chosen First Moderator, H. C. Thayer, Clerk, and F. A. Sprague, Thomas W. Pitman and H. Skelton, Trustees. The first schoolhouse here was 24x30 feet, twelve feet high, with a balloon frame, and was erected at an expense not exceeding $800. It was completed and ready for use in the winter of 1850 and 1851.

The present building, which was erected on a site purchased from Mr. Pitman in the year 1859, is a fine two-story frame building. It has a main schoolroom, library and recitation rooms on the ground floor, and large primary department, with recitation-room and closets on the second floor, together with entries and hall.

In the year 1860, John Hage, an old settler and thorough-going Methodist, purchased the old schoolhouse for a little over $80, and converted it into a church. This was the first Meth- odist Episcopal Church in town, and here himself and others preached nine or ten years, until there was some dissatisfaction expressed by the people, when Mr. Hage offered the building for sale at auction. It was purchased by the congregation, who then elected Trustees and decided to erect a new church.

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The History of Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Containing an account of its settlement, growth, development and resources; an extensive and minute sketch of its cities, towns and villages etc, Part 112

Author: Western Historical Co., pub Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company Number of Pages: 1050

Author: Western Historical Co., pub
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Company
Number of Pages: 1050