USA > Wisconsin > Jefferson County > The history of Jefferson county, Wisconsin, containing biographical sketches > Part 78
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When we arrived at Mr. Crowder's, we had bnt $20. Our shanty had neither floor nor windows ; so we were obliged to stay at the tavern till our bill amounted to $3; then we had $17 to live upon the rest of the year. By the last of May, we were eating our last bushel of flour. My husband had cleared a small piece of land, and he
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
could not leave it to go out to work to get something to eat, for he must plant it or go without another year. One uight, my brother came to our house on his way to Genesce. I could not sleep that night for thinking of onr miser- able situation. In the morning, I remembered, when we moved in, we passed a house about two miles beyond Waterville where I saw eighteen hogs' plucks hanging up. It occurred to me that, if they had so many hogs, they must have something else. So I told my husband that I was going to run away. He asked me where I was going, but l tokł him I could not tell him where; I was going to seek my fortune. 1 filled my satchel with a few articles of my own maunfacture, and started with my brother toward Genesee. We were all day going fourteen quiles. The musquitoes were so thick that we could not breathe withont inhaling them, unless we had something over our faces. We got out at Mr. Davenport's (for that was where I saw the hogs' plucks) just about sundown. They gave us some supper, and my brother went on. 1 told Mrs. Davenport I would like to stay all night with them, but she said she did not see how she could keep me. I told her I would sleep any place, if she would only let me stay, anssl she finally consented to do so. She made a bed on the floor for one of her little girls, and I was assigned a place with her sister, who, during the night, probably taking me for an intruder, turned her heel battery upon me with such ferocity that I was compelled to retreat as far as the limits of the bed would permit, and there lay motionless for fear of another attack. In the morning, I began to press my suit, having laid my case before them the night before. I told them that we had just moved into the woods : that our money was all gone; our provisions were nearly exhausted, and we had no means of procuring any more ; that I had come out there in search of something to do that I might earn some tlour. Wrs. Davenport said she had no work for me to do, but told me of several in the neighborhood who hired their sewing done. Then I exhibited the articles I had in my satchel-knit caps, knit edging, and some white painted standcloths. When she saw the edging, she said that was just the thing she wanted, for she had just bought a damask linen table-cloth, and wanted that to trim it with. I sokl her fourteen yards of the lace and one of the standcloths, for $3.50. Wasn't I rich then ! I felt wealthier than ever before. I was fourteen miles from home, and expected to go all the way on foot ; but l felt so much lighter that it was a pleasure to walk. I traveled about six miles that day, and called at every house I came to in search of work, but none could I find. Night overtook me at the house of a family named Cobb, and there I remained until the following afternoon, when Mr. Cobb took me in his wagon to the house of Mr. Churchill, where I stayed all night. In the morning, 1 explained my business, and told of my success at Mrs. Davenport's. Mr. Churchill said he was going to Jefferson in a few days, and would get me some wheat, have it ground and bring the flour to ns. I told him I had a new pair of boots I brought from York State with me, that were too small, and that I would let him have them for his wife to pay him for his trouble. That was just the thing he wanted ; so, when I got ready to go, be sent his brother with a team to take me home. You may be sure there was joy in the camp when I got back and reported what I had done. In a day or two, Mr. Churchill came along, going to Jefferson, and took my money (which amounted to $4, as I bad 4 shillings a man gave me for mending his coat). We had one bushel of wheat that we intended to sow, but the season was so far advanced we thought best not to waste it in that way. With the $4 we got eight bushels of beautiful winter wheat ground and fetched to our door (and the one we had made nine bushels), all paid for, and Mr. Churchill allowed us 3 shillings in cash to boot on the boots. This lasted till almost harvest, and Mr. Churchill gave us an order for a barrel of flour at Jefferson, and that held ont till corn was ripe, and then we had johnny-cake of our own * * * * raising. * *
The following spring, I painted a table-cloth for Mrs. Davenport, for which she paid me SI, and on my way home I met a man [Mr. Sawyer, of the Sawyer House, Jefferson] who had some hams to sell, and with my dollar I bought a small one, which lastel us till summer, for I did not dare to cook a piece of it unless a traveler came along and wanted to buy a meal. When the ham gave out, we had 40 cents, all in cash, and my husband took it and went to Melinda's Prairie, and bought five pounds of pork.
The first cow we had cost us $11. The man from whom we bought her owed us $5, and I sold my shawl and a fine large pair of tailor's shears to finish paying for her. The first pig we had cost us $1. It was about the size of a cat, and my husband carried it in a bag from Golden Lake, a distance of eight miles.
In September, 1845, our second son, ten years old, took a very severe cold and almost choked to death before we could reach a doctor with him. The nearest physician lived at Golden Lake, and when we got there with our dying child he was away. Returning the next day, he said he could do nothing for him, and at 9 o'clock the little sufferer passed away. My heart, still bleeding from my former bereavement, was now torn open afresh. I thought the past was nothing compared with this ; for it seemed my affections had been doubly entwined about our two boys atter the others had been snatched from us. An awful task now lay before us : we must return to our friends with our dead boy. The doctor's daughter and her husband returned with us and remained till after the funeral. Two or three weeks later, my husband was taken with the agne, and was not able to do a day's work for three months. The only son who had been spared to me and myself had to harvest the corn and draw in the potatoes and turnips and pre- pare our winter's wood. On the 29th of November, 1846, a little Badger boy, weighing eleven pounds, came to our fireside.
Before I close this narrative, I will give you a little sketch of the commencement of religious meetings in these woods. When we moved in, there was a man and his wife here who were professors of religion. My brother Davis, my husband and myself completed the little band of five. We began our prayer-meetings soon after we arrived, and have kept them up pretty much ever since. The first sermon that was ever preached in this place [the town of Sul- livan ] was by Brother Allen, a Methodist colporteur, at our honse. The first regular preacher we had was Hiram Frinck, and the first quarterly meeting was held in my brother's saw-mill.
Your friend and well-wisher, BETSY M. SEARS.
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
TOWN OF FARMINGTON.
There is no positive knowledge of an earlier settlement in what is now the town of Farm- ington, than that made by Timothy Johnson in 1838, two years after he had located at Watertown. Charles Dunning settled at an carly day in the castern portion of Farmington, and is said by some to have built the first log house in the town. Johnson and Charles Goodhue made a joint claim where the pretentious village of Johnson's Creek now stands, and built a cabin on ground over which the track of the North-Western Railway now runs, and nearly opposite the present residence of G. C. Mansfield. A dam and saw-mill were also built by Messrs. Johnson and Goodhue. This mill property afterward came into the possession, at various times, of the follow- ing individuals : Samuel Ward, a Mr. Thomas, Ansel Bullis, Mr. Currier and Benjamin Douglass, the latter of whom rebuilt it. When Mr. and Mrs. Douglass came to Johnson's Creek in 1842, there were but two houses in the place, one being occupied by Samuel Ward, and the other by his nephew William. The nearest post office was Aztalan. Provisions were to be obtained at no nearer point than Janesville and Milwaukee. Mrs. D. remembers being obliged to send to the latter place for 25 cents' worth of thread.
Johnson's Creek was known as Belleville as late as 1873, but always bore its present name as a post office. It was called Belleville in honor of Charles Bell, who owned a considerable portion of the land whereon the village stands. It is situated on the town line between the towns of Aztalan and Farmington, and was formerly on the old Military or Territorial Road.
In 1861, there were at Johnson's Creek two stores (A. J. Snell's general merchandise and William Dodge's grocery) and two first-class stave-mills. One of these mills was the property of G. C. Mansfield, and stood on the site now occupied by his store ; the other was built and operated by John Rose, and was twice destroyed by fire. The stave manufacturing business was abandoned simultaneously by both in 1864. There was also a brick hotel, kept by Charles Bell, known as the Vermont House. A dozen other small habitations completed the village of Johnson's Creek. After the railroad was finished to this point in 1859, the place grew rapidly. There are now two large stores, two churches, three saloons, two blacksmith-shops, two shoe-shops, two wagon-shops, one agricultural implement dealer, one cheese-factory, one commission ware- house, with one run of stone for grinding feed, two hotels, one lumber-yard, one district school and one drug store.
The first religious services were held in 1841, by Rev. Mr. Allen, a Methodist divine, who walked from place to place through the woods and preached in the different log houses on his way. The Rev. Mr. Lathrop was the first circuit preacher. He was followed by Elders Willard and Pease. The " little red schoolhouse," until it was burned down, afforded a place for religious worship in later years, the Methodist and United Brethren alternating on Sabbath mornings and evenings. The Methodist minister was the Rev. Mr. Farnum, while the Rev. Mr. Hamilton, who, it will be remembered, was a great exhorter, furnished spiritual sustenance for the United Brethren. Mr. Hamilton was of a jockeyish disposition, and, after a brief period of preaching, he resumed his original profession, that of trading horses, in which he is said to have been an expert. In 1866, the two denominations commenced the construction of a joint or union church, but before it was completed the discovery was made that they could not worship beneath the same roof, and the Methodists accordingly withdrew from the compact and built a church edifice of their own. The spring of 1875 witnessed a suspension of Christian effort on the part of the United Breth- ren, and, in 1848, their church property was purchased by the German Methodists.
The school district was first laid out in 1849. School was taught by Harriet Esselstein in the log residence of Alvin Wood, about a mile west of the creek. The place enjoys at the present time unsurpassed educational facilities, whose history is not unlike that pertaining to public schools everywhere.
528
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
The first Postmaster at Johnson's Creek was Dr. Burgett. Charles Bell, Albert Bennett. Gerry Van Vlet and G. C. Mansfield have been the Doctor's successors. Mr. Mansfield, the present Postmaster, was appointed in 1865. July 1, 1878, it was made a fourth-rate money- order office, the first order being issued by John Siebert, in favor Charles L. Currier, for $8. Three orders were issued that day, one of them being Mr. Mansfield's subscription to the national campaign fund. The postage revenue to the Government amounts to about $50 per quarter.
The North-Western Railway reached Johnson's Creek in the fall of 1859. Among those who have held the office of agent may be mentioned Charles Bell, Charles Melio, G. C. Mansfield, Leander Gosselin, F. E. Bingham, James Clemmow and S. F. Antes. A branch office of the American Express Company was established at the creek in 1867, with G. C. Mansfield as agent. Ile has held the position to the present time. A telegraph office was established in 1878.
Johnson's Creek lays elaim to being second in importance as a stock-shipping point on the line of the North-Western road. G. C. Mansfield commenced the purchase of cattle, logs, sheep, grain, etc., twelve years ago, and the business has increased beyond the mnost sanguine expectations of those interested.
The Spring Brook Cheese Factory, also the property of Mr. Mansfield, is one of the features of the Creek. It was established in the spring of 1877. The annual consumption of milk amounts to over five hundred and fifty thousand pounds, and, in 1878, fifty-five thousand two hundred and fifty-seven pounds of cheese were manufactured. Shipments are made to Liverpool and New York.
The first marriage of which there. is any record was that of Richard Rose to Elizabeth Pike. The ceremony was performed by Hiram Wheeler, Justice of the Peace, at the house of Mr. Wait. It is believed that Albert Rose was the first white child born in the town of Sulli- van. The first death was that of a stranger, who departed this life at the house of Mr. Rose. The next was that of old man Alger, whose son, it will be remembered, was murdered by May- berry, near Janesville, 1856. The first physician was Dr. Burgett. The Doctor also sold the first dry goods at the Creek. Nelson Reed sold the first sugar and liquor.
In 1869, the Johnson's Creek Cemetery Association was incorporated, with G. C. Mans- field as President ; John D. Bullock, Secretary ; and H. C. MeMillan, Treasurer. The officers are the same at the present time.
Farmington Post Office, located in Section 13, consists of a grocery store, saw-mill, wagon- shop and cheese-factory.
The town of Sullivan is rich in agricultural wealth and industrious citizens, the majority of whom are Germans.
Helenville Post Office is situated in Sections 2 and 3, town of Jefferson. John Walther, Chr. Horn, " Old Man" Haag and Bernhard Keller were the principal early settlers in the vicinity of Helenville. The landed property in and about Helenville belongs to John Keller, Carl Bullwinkle, John George Stenge and George M. Haag. The first church was built of logs, and stood on the site of the present Lutheran Church. Rev. George Reinsch is the pres- ent Pastor. In 1850, a parochial school was organized in conjunction with the Church society, and it has grown to be a prosperous institution. Six years ago, a district school, under the public-school system, was established. There are three stores in Helenville, namely : Mrs. Weber's, established by Chr. Lory thirty years ago; Carl Bullwinkle's, established about the same time by his father ; and John L. Keller's, the leading institution of the kind in the ham- let, established in 1873. John Moser and J. P. Schoeffel each carry on a blacksmith-shop.
Helenville became a post office in 1845, the first Postmaster being O. Bullwinkle. He died in 1873, and John L. Keller was appointed to the office. The people of Helenville confi- dently believe that their village will soon become a railway station ; and, doubtless, it will, if recent railway surveys mean anything.
529
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
PALMYRA.
Forty years ago, the echoes of Cyrus Horton's ax broke the stillness of Nature's surround- ings in Section 22, Town 5 north, Range 16 east, and the tempestuous din of progress has ever since continued to ring out upon the life-ladened atmosphere of the Scupernong Valley. Mr. Horton's claim comprised the farm now occupied by Mr. Sherman. Dr. Causdale was the next settler in the vicinity, and he was followed, early in 1842, by that enterprising, but unfortunate genius, Abram Brink, whose accidental death, in 1848, cast a gloom over every household within the then sparsely settled backwoods region. Mr. Brinks was a resident of Cold Spring, where he settled in 1838, and built a saw-mill on Whitewater Creek. He had heard of the advantageous prospects for a valuable water-site on the Scupernong, and he was there to see for himself. He lost no time in subjugating the stream to the uses of a mill-power, and was busily engaged upon the foundations of a structure for the manufacture of lumber, when a flattering offer for his title to a promising property, by David J. and Samuel R. Powers, induced him to sell and return to Cold Spring. The Messrs. Powers finished the mill, and on Christmas Day, 1842, sawed their first lumber in these parts. The first frame building was erected by Mr. Horton, and, during the spring and summer of 1843, a wonderful impetus was given to the young settlement by the increase of population and the establishment of a store by Levi Powers and a tavern by William Mulks. In 1844, D. & S. Powers converted their saw-mill into a flouring-mil!, to the great satisfaction of all those who had had a surfeit of lumber but little flour. The subsequent proprietorship of this mill was as follows : Higgins & Washburn, Hig- gins & Graves, S. H. Vandercook, L. A. Biederstadt, G. Ray & Son, Ray & Fairchild, Ray & Holloway, Holloway & Horton, and Ritter & Horton. While it was the property of Higgins & Graves, in 1850, the dam gave way, letting in an immense volume of water upon the mill building, which was washed away. It was an unfortunate occurrence, keenly appreciated by the citizens of Palmyra, quite a number of whom witnessed the scene of devastation. But few of the old settlers who were present on that memorable occasion are left to relate the circum- stances. Some have moved away, others have gone to their eternal abode, but the All-powerful Hand, probably in anticipation of the advent of the historian, has spared to his fellow-men one individual, Prof. Ryder, who, while he lives, will never forget the terrible affair. The Professor is well known in the great scientific world as an accomplished student of botany, and a man of extensive observation and herbal research. No one who knows him will doubt the accuracy of his narrative of the bursting of the dam. He says : "I heard the roaring of the waters, and knew in a moment what was going on. With as little delay as possible, I prepared to go to the rescue of my hogs and chickens. [Prof. Ryder's chickens were wont to roost in the loft of the mill, while two fine shoats, also the property of the Professor, had taken up their abode on the lower floor of that structure; hence, the Professor's anxiety when he heard the roaring of the waters.] Reaching the scene, I saw the mill moving slowly from its foundation, as the seething tide bore in upon it. Already the water had surrounded the building, and, as each moment passed, the stream grew wider ; but no time was to be lost. Springing from the crumbling carth beneath my feet, I landed safely upon the door-sill of the mill, which, by this time, was almost afloat. I heard the grunting of my shoats, and, making my way through the shafts and wheels, found them lazily reclining in a corner. They were very gentle, and had grown to be so fat that it seemed a misery for them to move. But they must be saved ; so, gathering one under each arm, I emerged from the swaying and creaking building, reaching the door to find an expanse of water twelve feet wide separating me from the land. With a single bonnd, I landed upon terra firma, and deposited my hogs beyond the reach of the engulfing flood. The next minute, I was in the loft of the mill among my chickens, where I found them serenely sleeping, utterly unconscious of the peril that awaited them. Taking a dozen and a half of the largest
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IIISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
and finest of them, nine in each hand, I descended to the lower floor. The stream had almost doubled in width, but I leaped to the shore with my fowls and turned them loose on dry land, returning to the mill-loft again and again, until the last hen and rooster had been rescued. Yes, sir," said the Professor, with a concluding sigh, " that was an awful night." And it was.
INCORPORATION OF THE VILLAGE.
In the fall of 1843, John Fish surveyed and laid out the village in lots and blocks, but it was not until 1866 that Palmyra laid elaim to sufficient population to entitle it to incorporation. The necessary legislation was secured, and Palmyra became one of the large number of prosper- ous villages in the Northwest. By reason of an error in the act, which provided for the incor- poration of Sections 26 and 27, instead of Section 22, the charter was dissolved, in 1872, but in 1874 a new one was granted by the Circuit Court. The original act of incorporation was approved April 4, 1866, and on the 15th of May following, the first election for village officers was held, with the annexed result :
1866-President, Miles W. Coon. Trustees-S. B. Higgins, F. C. Webb, R. J. Wash- burn and I. C. Thompson ; Marshal, Miles Wilbur: Clerk, J. R. Crosby ; Street Commissioner, James W. Benedict ; Fire Warden. S. M. Bigelow.
1867-President, Monroe Mckenzie. Trustees-Miles Wilbur. E. W. Brush, George W. Pratt and H. Mason ; Marshal, J. Kennard ; Treasurer, J. N. Bingham: Clerk, J. R. Crosby. Mr. Mason not qualifying, Mr. Roe was chosen in his stead.
1868-President, Miles W. Coon. Trustees-Henry Strong. Charles Chase, A. W. Henry and Charles II. Powers ; Justice of the Peace, Wilbur Chambers ; Treasurer, J. M. Bingham ; Marshal, S. S. Colton ; Clerk, W. J. Allen ; Deputy Marshal, Daniel Campbell.
1869-President, S. M. Vandercook. Trustees-J. M. Hadley, B. F. Holmes, W. Elden and H. E. Coon ; Treasurer. J. M. Bingham : Justice, Lindsey M. Bigelow ; Marshal, D. Camp- bell; Clerk, W. J. Allen ; Street Commissioner, D. Campbell.
1870-President, S. B. Higgins. Trustees-L. M. Bigelow, A. Willson, J. Dunstone and George Pickett ; Justice, W. J. Allen ; Treasurer, J. M. Bingham ; Marshal, L. Clemmons ; Clerk. W. J. Allen.
1871-President, O. P. Dow. Trustees-G. L. Whitney, E. Boyington and C. F. East- man ; Treasurer, J. M. Peck ; Justice. E. Johnson ; Marshal, D. Campbell ; Clerk, William Elden. This Board of officers was chosen by the supporters and cohorts of the cause of tem- perance, and, as a consequence, fought the liquor sellers on every hand. Proceedings were instituted against the saloon keepers, and had not the latter, through their counsel. discovered the flaw already alluded to in the village charter, the liquor traffickers would have been compelled to pull up stakes in Palmyra. As it was, the charter was dissolved, and the village was without any government, save that which exists among all well-disposed people. until May 5, 1874, when, a new charter having been granted by the Circuit Court, the following officers were elected :
1874-President, Miles Wilbur. Trustees-S. B. Higgins, D. Craig, R. Loewe, E. Errick- son, S. Mitchell. O. B. Palmer and Z. C. Willson ; Treasurer, R. Williams ; Clerk, A. S. Por- ter ; Assessor, James MeWilliams : Justice, E. W. Coon : Constable, I. II. Porter.
1875-President, John Mitchell. Trustees-W. F. Chambers, T. J. Dancy, O. B. Palmer, W. F. Brown, John Messerschmidt and Richard Williams ; Clerk. A. S. Porter; Treasurer, S. Mitchell : Justice of the Peace. L. M. Bigelow ; Police Justice, B. F. Holmes : Constable, G. Daney : Supervisor, A. S. Porter ; Marshal, S. Brisbin ; Street Commissioner, S. B. Higgins.
1876-President, D. Craig. Trustees-E. Erickson, G. HI. Buzzell, J. B. Messerschmidt, J. C. Reed, R. Loewe and C. B. Hibbard : Clerk, A. S. Porter ; Treasurer, Joseph Smith ; Police Justice. C. Griffin : Justice of the Peace, H. Clemmons ; Constable, W. F. Chambers ; Supervisor, W. F. Chambers.
531
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
1877-President, Samuel Mitchell. Trustees-A. D. Hills, T. R. Qualey, George Thomas, M. Kaiser, T. J. Dancy and W. Groves ; Clerk, A. S. Porter ; Treasurer, R. Loewe ; Justice of the Peace, J. A. Allen ; Constable, G. II. Pattee ; Supervisor, S. B. Higgins ; Street Commissioner, W. C. Thompson ; Marshal and Fire Warden, G. II. Pattec.
1878-President, G. H. Buzzell. Trustees-R. Loewe, M. Kaiser, W. Groves, F. Ray, T. J. Dancy and S. A. Reed ; Clerk, C. D. Hibbard; Treasurer, J. A. Allen ; Police Justice, J. C. Reed ; Street Commissioner, William Thompson ; Marshal, G. H. Pattee.
1879-President, E. Sherman. Trustees-S. A. Reed, T. H. Mitchell, O. Sherman, E. M. Towle, George Thomas and T. R. Qualey ; Clerk, S. Mitchell ; Treasurer. R. Williams; Justice, J. A. Allen ; Marshal, S. Colton ; Constable, G. H. Pattee ; Supervisor, C. H. Powers ; Street Commissioner, C. F. Eastman.
THE SCHOOLS.
The first schoolhouse was built in the fall of 1842, and a teacher employed from White- water, who, unfortunately for himself, sent up a written order for some groceries, which, owing to the peculiar style of his spelling, fell into the hands of one of the members of the School Board (Mr. Miles Wilbur), who declined, with others, to ratify the engagement. The young pedagogue thereupon instituted a suit against the Board, which was decided in his favor. To satisfy the judgment, he took the windows out of the schoolhouse and sold them. There was a big suit over it, which was finally compromisedl for about $40 or $50. The following summer, Miss Mary Rockwood was engaged by the Board to teach the school, and she taught three months. The building was used as a schoolhouse until 1846, when the Town Hall was built, and, until 1858, was occupied for that purpose, when the present handsome high- school building was erected. There are now 180 pupils on the roll. It is a two-story frame building and cost $4,000. It was constructed under the supervision of Mr. A. J. Craig, who afterward became State Superintendent. Following is a list of the Principals employed in the past twenty-one years : 1858, E. B. Gray ; 1859, J. J. Angier and R. M. McKee; 1860, A. H. Pettibone; 1861, F. B. Williams ; 1862, J. L. Danner; 1863, William Green ; 1864, E. G. Clark ; 1865, William Elden; 1868, J. A. Slattery ; 1869, William Elden ; 1870, E. S. Tilson ; 1871, James Congdon : 1872, J. I. Bennett ; 1873-75, A. H. Porter; 1876, William Peck ; 1877-79, R. Perkins.
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