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 115

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 115

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The first church edifice was erected at what is now Fussville, in 1846.

The first religious services in the town were held at James Brogan's private house by Father Kundig, of Milwaukee, afterward Vicar General. This was early in 1842.

William M. Saunders opened the first store, in 1843, near what is now Lannon Springs.

The first saw-mill, or mill of any kind, in the town, was built by Nottingham & Phippin, on the Fox River, Section 31.

The first murder in the county was on Section 31, in the town of Menomonee, in 1845. David Bonham shot James Keene at the old Nottingham saw-mill.

Who first kept " open house" in Menomonee is not easily stated ; but a comparatively large hotel was built at Menomonee Falls in 1842, and the following appeared in the Mil- waukee Courier :

THE subscriber has opened a public house hearing the above name, at Menomonee Falls, 14 miles from Mil- waukee, on the Fond du Lac road, where he will be happy to accommodate all who may favor him with a call. He has convenient lodging rooms, stabling, and all the other appurtenances that should attend a public house, and hopes to give satisfaction to all who may favor him with a call. W. R. HESK.

MENOMONEE FALLS, January 19, 1843.

In 1872, a town surveyor and permanent stone land-marks were provided for by public taxation.

In 1879, a good town hall was erected on Section 16, near the center of the town. For many years, annual squabbles had taken place over holding town meetings, first at one place and then at another, which had become unpleasant and detrimental. The erection of the present commodious building for town purposes was due mostly to the efforts of Thomas Mccarthy.

The first postoffice was probably at Menomonee Falls, in 1842, and William R. Hesk was the first Postmaster.

753

HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

Snow lay on the ground during the winter of 1842, from November 3 to April the next spring. Wild turkeys were then plenty, but that winter starved them all, and none have been seen there since. Deer were almost as plentiful as sheep are now, droves of thirty and forty being a very common sight.

Wolves were still more numerous, and kept close company with whomsoever was hardy enough to venture on a visit to neighbors.

A large camp of Menomonee, with a few Chippewa, Indians was located on what is called the "Wild Marsh." During the winter of 1842, which was a memorable one in Menomonee, they furnished nearly all the meat the white settlers had. They exchanged venison for various articles.

The marsh that those Indians camped on was then, and is now, known by the name of the "Wild Marsh. " It has more the appearance of a small lake than a marsh, and covers parts of Sections 21, 22, 27 and 28, containing about 500 acres. It has always grown wild cranberries, but only a few knew anything about it until within the last few years.

The Indians first showed the berries to a few of the whites, who were so afraid to have any one find out where they grew that they would not pick them themselves. The land is now owned by different persons, and they have to keep a good watch or the berries will all be picked for them.

The surface of this marsh is as level as a lake; of soft muck about ten feet deep, with a thin sod on top. It is not safe for stock, as there is nothing to hold them up but the sod.

Isaac Howard's stone quarry was opened in 1838; that is, stone was taken from it at that date. The quarry produces a good quantity of stone. The other quarries in the town, from which excellent stone of smooth, even layers, is taken, are Saunders,' Davis' and William Lan- non's. Menomonee limestone is noted for its exceedingly good quality.

Dennis McCarty, who settled in Menomonee in 1842, died in March, 1848, and was buried in Brookfield. When, in October, 1862, his remains were removed to Lannon Springs, the soft wood coffin was found so nearly petrified that it could be handled like a new, strong box.

Arthur A. Redford, an early settler, was noted as being a wonderful story-teller and a quack doctor. Probably the most ridiculous thing he ever did was to hire out as a wet nurse. Of course he " got bounced" from his position in short order.

John Campbell gives Menomonee the honor of containing the largest family of boys of any town in the county or the State. His son, Hugh Campbell, is one of the most noted athletes in America, the strength and skill displayed by him in putting the heavy weight, wrestling and in other of the Scottish games, being truly astonishing. He is called the strongest man in Wisconsin. Mr. Campbell's six sons average 220 pounds each in weight, and are well proportioned.

The first recorded town meeting was held April 5, 1842, at the residence of W. R. Hesk. D. E. Bancroft was chosen Moderator. It was voted to allow such officers as might be chosen $1 per day for time actually spent in the service of the town. The first officers elected were William R. Hesk, Chairman ; Hollingsworth S. Smith and Francis Bancroft, Side Super- visors ; S. M. Garfield, Clerk ; Ira Rowe, Assessor ; D. E. Bancroft, Constable and Collector ; William Ranney, Martin Nangle and William McCarty, Highway Commissioners ; William R. Hesk, William McCarty and William Ranney, School Commissioners.

The present town officers* are as follows : Supervisors, Thomas McCarty, Chairman ; John Welsh, Fred Wegner ; Town Clerk, Peter Reith : Assessor, Bernard Minten ; Treasurer, Franz Berchens; Justices of the Peace, John Walfit, Eugene Campbell ; Constables, Michael Kiefer, Thomas Gill, Jr., Henry Schumacher.

In April, 1842, the town was laid out into six road districts, S. S. Smith being overseer of the First ; F. Bancroft of the Second ; Henry Redford, Third ; Timothy Ryan, Fourth ; Stephen Gray, Fifth, and William Ranney of the Sixth. The men who lived in the town at that time,

* Through the kindness and labors of Thomas NcCarty, the historian was furnishad a completa list of the town officers of Meoonom aa for thirty-eight yaars ; but, as auch a list could not be bad from all other towna, it was deamed advisable to abow no partiality toward Manomo- nee, although necessitating the destruction of two or three day's' labor by Mr. McCarty.

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HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

and were liable for road tax, were as follows : S. S. Smith, W. R. Hesk, L. C. Snyder, John Wren, Mr. Waite, John Brown, F. Bancroft, Mr. Ward, O. T. Reed, Abner Rowe, Daniel Proudfit, Mr. Alban, Henry Redford, T. C. Horn, Patrick Raferty, Timothy Ryan, Alexander Maloy, E. L. Gurtley, Joel Hammond, Mr. Alender, Martin Nangel, William Daugherty, Patrick Daugherty, Martin Stanton, Mr. Cone, Orson Hubbell, Levi Ryckman, William Ranney, William McCarty and Joseph Pickel.

At the same time, April 28, 1842, the School Commissioners divided the town into six districts. District No. 1 had six persons in it; No. 2 had five; No. 3, three; No. 4, ten ; No. 5, five; No. 6, three; total, 32. The total tax given out for collection at this time, including county and Territorial tax, was $153.59.

On May 1, 1843, the first Justices of the Peace-William Ranney and Benjamin Harmon, -were elected.

The Waukesha and Menomonee Falls road was surveyed June 7, 1845. It was laid out in January, 1844, from the Falls to the Lisbon line (now Lannon Springs) a distance of four miles and sixty-three rods.

The first road in the town laid out by the Supervisors, was surveyed by them June 13, 1849. Previous to that time, the Road Commissioners had laid out all roads.

On April 1, 1851, the first money, $75, was appropriated for the long tamarack bridge in the centre of the town.

At the town meeting, held January 30, 1864, $4,200 was raised to defray expenses of securing volunteers for the Rebellion, and other war expenses.

The Menomonee, Granville and Germantown Mutual Insurance Company was organized March 20, 1875. The first Board of Directors chosen were : G. W. Everts, President; John Flanagan, Secretary ; Thomas McCarty, Godfrey Inden, Bernard Minten, William N. Lannon and John C. Schneider. The first policies went into force on the 20th of May, 1875, when the property insured amounted to $50,000. The total amount insured up to date is $1,158,822 ; number of policies issued, 817. The company has since its organization sustained losses to the amount of $3,035, which required two assessments of one mill on the dollar each time. It has cost the members of this company four-tenths of one per centum for five years to keep insured, besides $1.50 for application and policy. The company insures farm buildings and contents, live stock, personal property of all kinds, but does not insure in any village or outside of the three towns. The present Directors are as follows: G. W. Evarts, President, of Gran- ville ; John Flanagan, Secretary, of Menomonee; Peter Reith, Menomonee ; John Kissenger, Germantown ; Bernard Minten, Menomonee; A. Barndt, Granville; John C. Schneider, Granville.

Menomonee Falls-The little village of Menomonee Falls is a thriving business center, and handles a large amount of money and merchandise during the year. The historian is unable to state positively, owing to the numerous conflicting statements, but probably Hollingsworth S. Smith was the first settler in what is now Menomonee Falls, although William R. Hesk was one of the very earliest settlers in this locality.

The first postoffice was established in 1842. W. R. Hesk was the first Postmaster. J. E. Seabold is the present Postmaster, and has been in the office the last nine years.

Considerable business is done at this place, for its size and population. There are two grist-mills, the larger built about twenty-five years ago, by J. B. Nehs, and ever since run by him, with water and steam power. Mr. Nehs was the first man in the milling business in this part of the county. The other, a steam mill, is owned and run by G. P. Kehr ; a steam saw- mill, owned and run by Nehs & Schlafer ; one foundry and agricultural establishment, owned by I. B. Rowell & Co. This shop does an extensive business in plows and their celebrated corn cul- tivators. There are two general stores, one owned by J. E. Seabold & Co., and the other by Peter Keeler ; three blacksmith's shops, two wagon-maker's shops, two millinery shops, two good hotels, two butchers, two undertakers and a number of smaller establishments, carrying different trades, such as shoemakers, tailors, cabinet shops, etc.

755

HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

Lincoln Lodge, No. 183, A., F. & A. M., was organized under dispensation, August 31, 1871, with the following officers : M. L. Youngs, of Milwaukee, G. M. ; S. S. Clark, S. W. ; D. F. Bancroft, J. W .; W. T. Palmer, of Milwaukee, G. Sec. ; J. Gray, S. D. ; A. B. Ostran- der, J. D. ; G. W. Church, Tiler. A charter was granted July 1, 1872, and officers were elected as follows : S. S. Clark, W. M. ; Rev. A. A. Hoskin, S. W. ; F. D. Bancroft, J. W. ; S. K. Wambold, Trcas. ; J. E. Seabold, Sec .; J. Gray, S. D. ; A. B. Ostrander, J. D. ; C. Shuck, Tiler. Following are the charter members : F. C. Baker, G. W. Church, M. S. Griswold, Byron Gray. Thomas Haynes, S. S. Muzzy, I. B. Rowell, G. D. Rowell, J. M. Ritter, George W. Smith, J. H. Waterlin.

The officers installed January 2, 1880, are these : J. E. Lounsbury, W. M. ; W. T. Camp, S. W. ; I. B. Rowell, J. W. ; J. E. Davis Treas. ; J. B. Loomis, Sec. ; A. Lillicrapp, S. D. ; G. Smith, J. D. ; G. W. Church, Steward ; A. Ploss, Steward ; G. Cook, Tiler. The lodge now numbers twenty-nine members in good standing.

The Methodist Episcopal society is very prosperous. In 1868, they built a bandsome church, of the Cream City brick, at a cost of $7,500. The spire is 120 feet high, and adds much to the beauty of the church. When Dr. Reid, editor of the Northwestern Christian Advocate, conducted the dedicatory services, he pronounced it one of the finest country churches he had ever seen.

The German Methodists have a substantial and comfortable church built of stone. Both societies are reported to be in a prosperous condition.

The Methodist Episcopal Sabbath School is in a flourishing condition, containing about 150 members. Teachers, 16; Rev. A. M. Bullock, Pastor ; J. E. Seabold, Superintendent; H. L. Haylett, Assistant Superintendent ; George Hoyt, Secretary and Treasurer; M. Barndt, Librarian.

The first minister of the Evangelical Association, who preached in the neighborhood of Menomonee Falls, was John Lutz, in the year 1840. The Revs. Adam Stroh and Christian Lintner worked here in 1841. They were, in 1842, succeeded by the Revs. F: Wahl and G. A. Blank. Rev. M. Hauert followed them and preached here in 1843 and 1844. In 1844, Frederick Nehs and William Barns, with their families, came from the State of Pennsylvania and settled in the region of what is now called Menomonee Falls. Charles Nehs, a son of Frederich Nehs, with his family, followed the next year, 1845, from Pennsylvania. They all were members of the Evangelical Association. Rev. J. Harlacher, a veteran of the itineracy, at that time located in the adjoining town of Richfield. preached for them in private houses in Menomonee Falls. The following persons were formed by Rev. Andrew Nicolai, who succeeded Rev. M. Hauert, 1845, in the year 1846 into a class : Frederick Nehs, Rebecca Nehs, Sarah A. Nehs, Charles Nehs, Mary Ann Nehs, William Barns and Susan Barns, which number, in the following years, more or less increased. In 1859, meetings were held to consider the propriety of erecting a church. Fred- erick Nehs donated an acre of land for a site. On August 22, 1860, the corner-stone of an edifice was laid by Rev. J. G. Escher, which was dedicated February 24, 1861. The building is 333x44} feet, and valued at $5,000. The parsonage, built in 1855-56, is valued at $1,200. The present Minister is Rev. G. Fritsche. The church has a membership of 125, with the following Trustees: Isaac Leister, Edward L. Nehs and Joshua Keeler. The Sunday school numbers 161 scholars. Names of the officers are : H. Forster, President ; Jacob Schlæferg, Vice-President ; Wesley Nehs, Secretary ; W. Forster, Treasurer ; John Baker and Henry Nehs, Librarians.

Fussville .- The village and vicinity of Fussville were settled about the last of 1837, by Americans and Irish, who owned some of the finest farms in the town. In 1844, the Germans began to purchase these farms, and now not an American or Irishman remains to tell the story of the first settlement of the place.

The first church in the town was built here in 1846. It is a large and prosperous church society. The farmers in the vicinity of Fussville are exceedingly thrifty, and have some of the finest farms in this portion of the county.

756

HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

Lannon Springs .- This place was named in honor of William N. Lannon, on whose farm were some beautiful springs.

The first postoffice at the Springs was opened May 10, 1854, by William N. Lannon. The first school was taught in 1843, and the first church services were held in 1842.

In the spring of 1843, William M. Saunders and William Brown opened the first store. Ashes were legal tender in those days, and any one trading with Saunders could get goods at half-price if he could tell a good story, and pay in ashes at that.

About 1875, Michael Keating built the Lannon Springs Hotel, which is a model country caravansary. He has allowed no games to be played in it since it was opened.

What is now Lannon Springs was settled in 1842 by W. N. Lannon, Dennis McCarty, Erastus S. Comstock, John Golden, Jeffrey Burke, James Brogan, T. Kinsley-all Irish but Mr. Comstock.

In 1848, a Scotchman named George Clark was killed near Henry Redford's while driving a load of lumber. The next year, John McDonnell, while bringing a young lady to the Springs, was killed in the same place. For some years thereafter, the people of the vicinity regarded the place with fear and superstition.

Mrs. James Brogan was the first person to die, and James Brogan the first person to be married at the Springs.

Father Kundig, of Milwaukee, held the first Catholic services at the Springs in 1842, at James Brogan's house. In 1843, the Catholics of this place joined with those of Brookfield, and built a church. In 1847, Rev. James Colton, now of Fond du Lac, took charge of the par- ish, and in 1848, built the stone church at the Springs. In the fall the parsonage was built. James Brogan donated an acre of land for the church and parsonage, and L. Kinsley one acre , for the cemetery, called St. James Cemetery. Mrs. Jeffrey Burke, who died in 1848, was the first person buried in it.

TOWN OF MUKWONAGO.

Historically and otherwise, the town of Mukwonago is an important section of Waukesha County ; and, if it would not make the histories of other towns appear short in comparison, a very elaborate and interesting sketch might be written of this rich and beautiful town.

Mukwonago, by act of the Legislature, approved January 2, 1838, was made to comprise the present towns of Mukwonago, Eagle, Ottawa and Genesee ; but by an act approved March 8, 1839, it was reduced to its present size. The name, as first sanctioned by the Legislature, was Mequanego, and the first election was authorized to be held at Daniel Bigelow's house.

The first settler in this town was Charles N. Cox, who, with his wife and children, lived in his covered wagon on a claim on Section 19. The exact day of their arrival is not known ; but Thomas Sugden and Joseph Smart discovered their "camp" during the first week in June, 1836, and remained one night with them. On the 12th of June, Joseph Smart entered lands and settled on Section 19, adjoining Mr. Cox, and Mr. Sugden settled on Section 26, in this town. They were the next settlers. On the 15th of this month, Sewall Andrews, Henry H. Camp and Mr. Meacham arrived at what is now Mukwonago Village, and settled upon lands which they had blazed, or selected, in 1835. They were the third group of actual settlers, but the first prospectors.

Here will be introduced the report made by the Mukwonago Committee [Martin Fidd] to the Old Settler's Club in 1871, as follows :

" Your committee, appointed to prepare an historical account of the early settlement of the town of Mukwonago, respectfully report :

" Mukwonago, previous to its settlement in 1836, was a large and populous Indian village. It was the chief or capital village of the tribe of Indians known as the Pottawatomies, situated on Mukwonago Creek, not far from its junction with the Fox River, and near the border of an extensive forest. It was evidently a most desirable locality for the residence of a people possess- ing the habits and customs of the North western Indians. The inhabitants were, generally peacea-

Fohn Wagner

WAUKESHA.

759

HISTORY OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

ble and inoffensive, except, perhaps, when they supposed their rights were unjustly invaded. Then it was that the peculiar traits of the Indian character were exhibited. Their wigwams were permanently and substantially built, which clearly indicated a permanent and continuous occupation of the place. Their council-house, a large building built of poles and covered with the bark of large trees, in which the chiefs and principal men of the tribe held their annual conn- cils, was, in 1836, standing on the north bank of Mukwonago Creek, at the south end of the vil- lage. The valley in which the village was located being very productive, they raised corn in great abundance. How long the tribe had made this locality their home cannot now be ascer- tained with any degree of certainty, but, from the best information we have been able to obtain, we conclude that it could not have been a great length of time. The only mention of this vil- lage and its inhabitants, prior to 1835, in any written history we have read, we find in Col. Childs' ' Recollections of Wisconsin Since 1820,' an account of his journey from Southern Illi- nois to Green Bay in 1827, with a drove of cattle. He says : ' We crossed the river at the rapids, and struck the Fox River, which empties into the Illinois at Ottawa, followed up the Fox River to Mukwonago, and there found a great many Pottawatomie Indians. They were rather ugly in appearance, and threatened to kill my cattle.'

" The first white settlers* in the town of Mukwonago were Sewall Andrews and Henry H. Camp. In the year of 1835, they, in company with Major Meacham, who afterward settled in Walworth County, traveled through the southeastern portion of the Territory of Wisconsin and Northern Illinois for the purpose of selecting a place for future settlement. After journeying for several weeks, they finally determined upon the Indian village of Mukwonago, as the most desirable locality for building up a town. In the following spring, and on about the 15th of June, 1836, Messrs. Andrews and Camp again came to Mukwonago for the purpose of remain- ing, and made preparations for erecting a house. Although the title of the Indians to this por- tion of the Territory had been previously extinguished, they had not been removed and still claimed the right of possession, and objected to the erection of any buildings within the limits of their village. They however immediately erected a house about a mile and a half northwest from the village, and near the present residence of John Andrews. This was the first house erected in the town, and a few weeks after its completion, the proprietors had the pleasure of furnishing lodging and entertainment to Gen. Dodge, who was then Governor of the Territory of Wis- consin. Delayed, but not driven from their purpose, they soon after negotiated with the Indians for permission to build a house within the village, and gave them two barrels of flour for the privilege; under this permission they erected a honse, only 10x12 in dimensions, on the south- west corner of Block 8, in the village as it was afterward platted, and this house was the home and lodging place of nearly all the white residents of the village, until the commencement of the following winter. They were then all unmarried.

" A little earlier in the month of June, 1836, Charles N. Cox emigrated from Indiana with his family and settled on Section 19. His wife and adopted daughter were the first white female residents of the town ; and still later in the same month, Thomas Sugden and Joseph Smart came, Smart moving his family with him. They settled on Section 19, and Sugden on Section 26; Sugden remained in the town until 1843. In the following August, George Bolsen came with his fam- ily and settled on Section 18. Whiting Hudson and family came and settled on the northwest quarter of Section 36, October 9, 1836. On or about the 15th of October, 1836, Martin Field and Ira Blood arrived from Chicago ; they came from Vermont early the previous spring, with the inten- tion of settling in Wisconsin ; but on arriving in Chicago, finding employment in the County and City Surveyor's offices, they remained there during the summer. Soon after their arrival at Mukwonago, they were employed by the proprietors to survey and plat the village, a map of which was filed and recorded in the office of Register of Deeds of Milwaukee County, Nov. 1836. 24,

" In selecting a name for the village, the proprietors adopted that given it by the Indians, the signification of which is, 'a place where bears were killed.' Mukwo or Mequo, in their lan- guage being the name of that animal.

* Prospe ctors would have been more accurate.

760

HISTORY . OF WAUKESHA COUNTY.

"Mr. Field remained in and became a resident of the village, and Mr. Blood made a claim in the adjoining town of Vernon, and remained there until his death. In August, 1836, Charles B. Stockman, formerly a resident of St. Lawrence County N. Y., came here and laid a claim to the mill-site adjoining the village, and erected a house on the south bank of Mukwonago Creek, which was, for a short time in the spring of 1837, occupied by Charles Raynous and his family. Late in the fall of 1836, and after the survey of the village had been completed, Mr. Andrews erected a store on Block 7, and Mr. Camp a hotel on Block 8, both of which were constructed of logs, Mr. Meacham, one of the original proprietors of the village, having a one-third interest therein ; but, as he never was a permanent resident of the town, his name has not been before men- tioned. He sold his interest to Mr. Andrews soon after the survey was completed. Those who came in later in the autumn of 1836 were Simon Jones and family, Lyman Hill and family, Charles Raynous, Wilder C. Chafin, John Prescott and Edward Bassett, who, with those heretofore named, were all who became residents of the town during that year. John A. Smart, born December 31, 1836, son of Joseph Smart, was the first white child born in the town. Mariam and Marion Hill were the first white female children born in the town. They were twins and born January 20, 1837, at the house of C. B. Stockman, on the south bank of Mukwonago Creek. They were the children of Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Hill, who came from Vermont a few weeks previous.

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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 115

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