USA > Wisconsin > Sauk County > The history of Sauk County, Wisconsin, containing an account of settlement, growth, development and resources biographical sketches the whole preceded by a history of Wisconsin > Part 100
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655
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.
CHAPTER XIV.
TOWN OF SPRING GREEN-TOWN OF TROY-TOWN OF BEAR CREEK-TOWN OF FRANKLIN-TOWN OF HONEY CREEK-TOWN OF MERRIMACK-TOWN OF PRAIRIE DU SAC-TOWN OF SUMTER.
TOWN OF SPRING GREEN.
The town of Spring Green is located in the extreme southern part of the county. On the south, it is bordered by the Wisconsin ; on the north, by the towns of Bear Creek and Frank- lin ; on the West, by Richland County, and on the east by the town of Troy. This town is, in great part, one of the best farming districts in the county, a large portion of the lands being well adapted, in every respect, to grain and stock raising. The south half is almost entirely level, while the northern portion is very bluffy, and, on the southern face, very sterile. The bluff district is intersected by numerous valleys, which are usually occupied by farms. The prin- cipal of these are the Wilson Creek Valley, Big Hollow and Mondago Valleys. The soil is vari- able through the town ; near the river it is generally sandy, but, as we approach the bluffs, passing north over what by many is considered the head of an ancient mammoth stream, we come to a very fertile soil, consisting chiefly of rich alluvial deposits. The soil of the hills is principally clay and sand, and, in the valleys, a rich, dark loam, mixed, in many instances, with sand washed from the hills. The various farm products common to this county, excepting fruits, are raised here in abundance. In the more sheltered districts, winter wheat is largely sown ; but corn and spring grains are chiefly raised. An industry which is yet comparatively in its infancy-raising sorghum-is being largely pursued here, and, as the soil and climate are well adapted to its growth and perfect maturing, the probabilities are that this will become one of the chief indus- tries. Hop-raising is also followed here, but to a limited extent only, as the general low price of the article at present and excessive fluctuations in value which are constantly liable to occur, besides the cost of raising a crop, prevent anything like extensive investments in this work. The time has been when hop-raising was the great thing to engage in to inake money ; then, after- ward, as nearly all of the farmers too well know, it became the great avenue for losing money, and, as a result, nearly all of those who made money in them lost what they made, and more too, before they were satisfied to stop.
The town is not so well watered with small streams as some of the adjacent towns, but among the bluffs there may be found a good many choice springs. On Spring Green Prairie there are to be seen evidences of a former stream that flowed from east to west, and which would add greatly to the value of the adjacent lands and be materially beneficial if it were here now. During the summer, the channel that this stream pursued can be easily traced by the crops grow- ing on it and along its border, as in the center of the channel the growth is but little more than half as strong as on the borders and beyond.
The town is well supplied with prehistoric remains and various geological features interest- ing alike to the archæologist and scientist, and that must be seen to be fully appreciated. One rather singular discovery or development we particularly mention, as it shows how enormous must have been the changes that have been wrought in the condition and topography of the country within a few hundred years : Mr. N. Hood, of Hood's Valley, while digging a well, found fallen timber and shell at a distance of fifty or sixty feet beneath the surface. These remains were so old that when brought to the surface they immediately resolved into dust.
The timber supply is very fair, although not so good as in some localities. There are no creameries or butter factories in town, and probably no regular dairies, although the country is
656
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.
well adapted to stock-raising, for cheese and butter-making purposes. There is some fine stock being bred here, but the majority raised are hogs and cattle, solely for the butchers' market.
SETTLEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT.
The first settler to come into this section of the county was Charles Wilson, who settled in what is now known as the town of Troy. The first one to locate in this town, according to the best accounts, was a Mr. Turner, who came about 1841 or 1842 and laid claim to what has long been known as the old Thomas Williams place, on Section 18. Reports regarding Mr. Turner are very meager of reliable information. It is only known that he came at that time, and that he died soon after from the effects of sunstroke. This was probably the first death in town, and occurred before any of the present residents had come, so many will know nothing of it. His wife was the first woman in town, and, when he died, was left alone among the Indians with a small child to care for.
Very soon after Mr. Turner's death, Thomas Williams came, probably as early as 1842, and we learn that, ere many months had passed, he had wooed and won the widow Turner. What sort of a marriage ceremony was performed, or how many presents were given, and guests present, remains unknown. Whether the traditional broonistick came into play, or what was done, conjecture only can explain.
Shortly after Mr. Williams' arrival, Evan Jones and family of two sons and two daughters settled here on the banks of the river, a little southwest of where the village of Spring Green stands. Mr. Jones started in with the intention of building up a town, but signally failed. At one time, three men from the East came here on a prospecting expedition, and proposed to pur- chase Mr. Jones' claim and start a place, but he would not sell. The place, such as it was, was known as Jonesville. A very sad calamity befell a portion of Mr. Jones' family not long after their coming. A son and two daughters were out riding one day in a canoe on the Wisconsin, when, through some unexplained cause, the frail vessel upset, and they were drowned.
Mr. Jones remained here several years, and his remaining son, Thomas, afterward opened a store, probably as early as 1846 or 1847. This was the first store in this section of the
county. Before, the people had either to go to Prairie du Sac, Richland City, or over into Iowa County for needed commodities.
About this time, the first post office was established there, with Mr. Thomas Jones as Post- master.
T. J. Morgans came into the town as early as 1844, and settled. Mr. Morgans now lives in the town of Franklin, and is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, settler in the south western part of the county.
.Another of the early settlers was E. Goodell, a hunter, who made a claim on Section 7, near Spring Green Village. Goodell, like the majority of hunting characters, was not a person to gather moss, consequently he went West with the tide of emigration.
The Davidson family, Ed, Oramel and William, came in as early as 1846. It is said that one of these 'brothers supplied the early settlers with the first blacksmith-shop, but, as a cotemporary historian might say, he did not forge out a fortune "from the much iron " he hammered.
To enumerate consecutively all of the different early settlers, and give the dates of their arrival entirely correct, would be next to an impossibility, and, besides, it is not necessarily essential or proper, as very many of the first comers left very soon . after their arrival, some going farther West and others returning to Eastern homes that they deemed themselves foolish in leaving. Also, when the country was new, miasmatic conditions prevailed largely on the prairie. Chills and fever are always a sure source of misery to the most determined and hope- ful, and will quell the most ardent enthusiasm ; so it is not to be wondered at that people were coming and going constantly, and that but few stayed in proportion to the total number that came and went.
65 7
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.
An old assessment roll of 1850 furnishes the following names, some of whom are yet living on the prairie, and nearly all of them enjoying the fruits of early industry and economy, as is attested by their large farms and comfortable homes. There were, besides some of those already mentioned, Amos Mercer, James Watson, Smith Love, James Cass, Samuel Huntly, Evan Evans, Daniel Williams, J. Dalley, J. R. Louis, William Parry, William Bower, H. Anderson, John Oleson, Daniel Evans, William Barnard, J. Y. McKee, Andrew Bear, Thomas E. Jones, D. B. Young, John Jones, Robert McCune, William Ecker, Alvin Parton, D. Jones, Isaac Blake, George.and James Coon, Andrew Rutherford, James Thomas and James Werden. This gives about all that were residents of the town as early as 1850.
To describe fully the extreme deprivations that were endured by many of the people here at an early day, would require a volume of no mean size and that would be intensely interesting. In a general way, none were exempt from bitter experiences, which the following account of Mr. Amos Mercer, if true as given by others, will fully illustrate. It is said, after he had planted some potatoes one season, probably the first, he was obliged to dig them up again for food. At another time, a letter came to Richland City for him, but he had not money to pay for bread, aside from the 25 cents postage, and, had not one of those generous souls that have brightened the earth in all ages, lent him $5, he might have been reduced to a worse condition than having to dig up potato seed. These early struggles were but the clouds of the past, that obscured the sun of to-day, and that have served a useful purpose in creating a thorough appre- ciation of present blessings.
The first physician here was a Welshman, Dr. Evans, who came before 1850, and, it is said, died not long after. After him came Drs. Hubbard and Davies. James Coon (given abov was the first horse doctor. He came at a time when the horses were principally of the horned variety.
As before mentioned, Thomas Jones kept the first post office. After him the brothers Alfred and Fred Gill, who started a store at Jonesville very early, kept it. Then in the spring of 1855, the Rev. J. Davies took it, and from here it was transferred to the village.
Thomas Williams and a man by the name of Teuton also opened a store in the town about 1850. This establishment afterward broke up in a row, which eventually had to be settled by the neighbors, who met at Dr. Davies and smoothed out the ruffled feathers.
A saloon was started by a man by the name of Anderson, on corner of Section 7, as early as 1850 to 1851. This institution furnished liquor to the county until Spring Green Village came to the rescue, then it subsided.
The first road over the prairie ran from Helena Ferry to Richland City. And the first ferry that crossed the river in this section of the county was a scow-boat, run by Alva Culver, as early as 1841, between Helena and this town. Mr. Culver also boarded the hands of the shot-tower.
A schoolhouse was built in the town as early as 1848 or 1849, on Section 7, nearly oppo- site to where E. W. Evans now lives. The first teacher was, as nearly as can be ascertained, Miss Minie Cass ; the next, Thomas Watson.
The summer of 1850, there were twenty-eight pupils going to this school, Mrs. S. Love being the teacher.
The early settlers throughout the county were as often in an early day the victims of various swindling schemes, as now. One of the chief methods pursued by rascals was to claim the improved farms of settlers, stating that they had first purchased them. In some instances this scheme took well, but in others it failed most completely, as the following shows : One day, about 1857, a nicely dressed chap drove through the county making inquiries for lands, and showing certain numbers on ivory tablets, and among the rest the numbers of Mr. Mercer's fine farm were shown. Mr. Mercer, hearing of this, prepared for war, declaring ifhe showed his face on his premises, he would kill him. The fellow, learning how kind a reception awaited him, quickly slid out.
U
658
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.
Nearly all localities have at some time had their literary characters. Spring Green had one one time in the person of a Mr. Beckwith, long since departed. He was genial and often invited his neighbors in to inspect his library of 300 volumes. So one day, James Watson, one of the oldest settlers here, an educated man and son of the Emerald Isle, called to see the library, when lo ! the 300 volumes consisted of a collection of 300 almanacs.
Miners from Iowa County came here in large numbers, from 1845 to 1850, prospecting for ore, but, owing to the absence of such mineral deposits as they sought, they went away empty- handed.
Spring Green has had one suicide, which occurred ten years ago. John Evans hanged him- self in his stable for fear of coming to want.
Also, at a very early day, there was an attempted murder, that caused the first law-suit in the town. A Mr. Louis, who came before 1850, was shot at with a musket, the ball passing through his hat. He accused a man by the name of McReady of the deed, and had him tried before Squire O'Meara, but could prove nothing against him.
The first cemetery here was opened on the old Thomas Williams place. The first one buried here being, in all probability, Mr. Turner. Now there are three, but one only is in use, the others having been long abandoned. It is located on Section 6. In a few years this will be filled also by the ashes of the departed.
There is a good stone quarry in town, owned by John Beaver. It is said to be the best in this vicinity.
About the only manufacturing pursued in town, aside from ordinary mechanical business, is the making of sorghum molasses by evaporators, two of which are located in town. One, owned by J. Mann, is located about five miles west from Spring Green, and has been in opera- tion each season for fifteen or sixteen years. The apparatus is not large, but the quality of molasses made is said to be very good. E. P. Alling owns the other evaporator, which is situated about a quarter of a mile south from the village. This apparatus was only set up last year, but it is, notwithstanding, doing a very good business. It has a capacity for making about 100 gal- lons per day. This season it will run off about 2,000 gallons.
The following anecdote illustrates how the poll-tax was paid twenty-five years ago: About 1858, a large party met in Big Hollow [now occupied by Norwegians, principally] to work out their poll-tax. The first thing the party did was to chip in and make up enough money to buy a couple of gallons of whisky. This was then sent for and brought, and also cards. When the cards and whisky came, then the labor began, which consisted in drinking, wrestling, running, jumping, boxing, card-playing, etc., until the day's work was done.
A United States Coast Survey party came on to the prairie two years ago, and were sta- tioned here several months, establishing base lines for altitudes, and also erecting signal stations, of which there are three, located at different points about three miles apart, and in the form of a triangle.
The first religious services were held here by the Rev. Fullerton, a Methodist itinerant, in Mr. Turner's cabin. There were but three or four young men besides the family present.
The oldest religious society now existing in the town is that of the Welsh Congregational Church, which was organized in 1850 by the Rev. William Parry, a native of Anglesea, North Wales. The first membership was eighteen. The Deacons were Daniel Williams and Thomas Williams. The early meetings were held in private dwelling-houses. In the year 1855, they built their church, which is 30x40, and which cost $600. A Sabbath school was started during the same year the society was organized, The ministers that haye supplied the church at dif- ferent times were, after Parry, Revs. John Davies, Jonathan Jones, John Jones, and now the Rev. William Harrison. There are no other churches in town outside of Spring Green Village.
ELECTIONS AND MANAGEMENT, ETC.
The town of Spring Green was at first a part of the town of Honey Creek, in connection with other towns, but was set off into an independent precinct by the County Board in 1850,
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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.
and at that time included a part of the town of Troy within its limits, being about eighteen miles long by five wide. The first town meeting was convened on the 1st day of April, 1851, when James M. Cass, Thomas Pound and Alex Stewart were chosen Inspectors, and James Watson and Thomas Wilson Clerks. Then the polls were declared open and officers elected. A tax of $150 was voted for town expenses, and 3 mills on a dollar of all taxable property for roads and 3 mills on a dollar for public schools. A road district was formed on the east end of the town [now Troy], extending east from the range line between Sections 4 and 5, and from the river to the town boundary on the north, Orison Thomas being appointed Roadmaster of the same. It was also decided at this meeting, that Thomas Williams should open a road from Helena to the big hill on the old road running up from the ferry that connected with the State road on the Iowa County side.
At the first meeting of the Board of Supervisors, July 5, 1851, by-laws to the following effect were passed, viz .: That a fence was legal, constructed of any durable materials, four and a half feet high, with no holes through it over six inches within thirteen feet of the ground. Stallions were also restrained from running.
It is noticeable that at that time the principal demand of the farmers was for roads, no less than four petitions having been presented to the board at its first session for the laying-out of new roads or changing old ones. It was a hard struggle to know who should get a road first, and no little wire-pulling was the consequence.
The total amount of tax collected in the town this year was $523.47.
The first order recorded as drawn on the town, was by Thomas Pound for $1 for serving as Inspector. The other Inspectors and Clerks also received pay.
At the second annual meeting, held April 6, 1852, the same amount for roads and schools was voted as at the first election, while $75 only was voted to pay town expenses.
A road from the Wisconsin, opposite Helena, in Iowa County, was laid out to Baraboo this year. The tax collected this year amounted to $324.70.
At the third annual meeting, held April 5, 1853, the taxes were put at $100 for town pur- poses, school tax four mills on the dollar, road tax three mills on the dollar. This year, a road scraper was first purchased. The town tax this year was $598.67.
At the fourthi annual meeting, held April 4, 1854, $200 was raised for town purposes ; five mills on a dollar for schools and three mills for road ; also a special tax was levied to raise $100 to help build a road from Madison to Prairie du Chien.
At the general election held October 16, 1854, there were thirty-seven votes cast ;: $1,318.81 tax recorded this year, and the first license granted, for $10.
At the fifth annual meeting, April 3, 1855, sixty votes are recorded. In the evening, . after the polls were closed, eight or ten Irishmen, who were working on the railroad, came to the polls and demanded to vote, declaring that they should vote any way. The inspectors said they should not, and prepared for battle. But the foe withdrew, satisfied that it was no go. Tax raised this year, $1,298.04.
At the sixth annual meeting, April 1, 1856, there were fifty-four votes cast. The taxes for this year were put at $125 for town purposes; road tax, seven mills on the dollar, and school tax, six mills on the dollar. At the Presidential election, 115 votes were cast, of which J. C. Fremont received 97. The tax-list for 1856 stood: State tax, $303.35; county tax, $325.32; school tax, $86.67 ; town and local taxes, $1,300.95-total, $2,016.29.
At the seventhi annual meeting, April 7, 1857, the number of votes cast was eighty-six ; taxes voted for the ensuing year-town, $125; road, three mills on the dollar, and school, seven mills on the dollar ; also, $50 additional road tax to be collected in order to obtain a grant of $100 from the county for said purpose. This year, two pounds were established for the restraint of unruly cattle, and poundmasters elected for each.
At the election held November 3, fifty-one votes were cast ; $2,159.89 tax recorded this year.
660
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.
At the eighth annual meeting, April 6, 1858, ninety-five votes were cast. It was voted that three Constables be elected for the ensuing year, and that the township be divided into two road districts. At the general election held November 2, 108 votes were cast. At a meeting of the board, November 30, it was voted that no license be granted to any one for the sale of intoxi- cating liquors until they have a good, substantial house for a tavern to accommodate travelers. The total amount of tax this year was $1,867.77.
The ninth annual meeting. April 5, 1859, was held in Mr. Simpson's bar-room. Number of votes cast, 147. An appropriation of $57.74 was made for paupers. The taxes voted were $200 for town purposes, $300 for school purposes and three mills on the dollar for roads ..
The tenth annual meeting, in April, 1860. Taxes voted-$100 for town purposes, $300 for schools, and three mills on the dollar for roads. Stamps were this year procured for the regis- tering of dogs, and notice was also given that all dogs must be licensed. Seven dogs licensed this year.
The eleventh annual meeting, April 2, 1861. Taxes voted-$150 for town purposes ; $300 for school purposes ; three mills on the dollar for roads. At general election, November 5, 1861, number of votes cast for State Governor was eighty-six. At this election, seventy-four votes were cast to amend the banking law.
The twelfth annual meeting, April 1, 1862; 108 votes were cast at this meeting. Taxes voted-$300 for school purposes, two mills on the dollar for roads. At general election, held Novem- ber 4, number of votes cast, 113. On the question of the proposed amendment to Constitution, twenty-seven votes were cast for and none against. On the amendment to banking law, sixty- three were cast for and none against.
The thirteenth annual meeting, April 7, 1863. Number of votes polled, 108. Taxes voted as follows : $300 for school purposes, 12 mills on dollar for road tax, and $200 for town purposes. At a meeting held December 26, 1863, to raise money for soldiers, the whole number of votes cast was nincty-nine, of which fifty-five were against raising said tax, and fifty-five for raising the same.
February 24, 1864, a special meeting was held for the purpose of raising $1,400 to pay volunteers. The whole number of votes cast was 106, of which number seventy-two were for the tax, and thirty-four against. On the 26th day of March, 1864, a special meeting was called for the purpose of raising a tax of $1,600 to pay volunteers. Whole number of votes cast was ninety-six, of which fifty werc against the tax, and forty-six were for the samc.
The fourteenth annual meeting, April 5, 1864. Taxes voted were $500 for school pur- poses, $150 for town purposes, $50 for pauper purposes and $25 for road purposes. Number of votes cast, 114. October 17, special meeting for the purpose of voting to raise a tax of $1,500 to pay volunteers. Whole number of votes, 116, of which seventy-four were for the tax and forty-two against it. At the Presidential election, November 8, number of votes cast, 146, of which William Field, etc., received 113.
1865-Special meeting, January 16, 1865, for purpose of voting on tax of $1,600 to pay volunteers to fill the quota of town under the last call of President. Whole number of votes, sixty-eight, of which sixty were for the tax and eight against. .
The fifteenth annual meeting. April 4, 1865. Taxes voted : $300 for school purposes, $150 for town purposes, and 1 mill on dollar for road taxes. September 10, dog fund appor- tioned to school. At the general election, November 8, eighty-two votes were cast.
The sixteenth annual meeting, April 3, 1866. Taxes voted : $150 for town purposes, $300 for school purposes, and three mills on dollar for road taxcs. Number of votes cast, thirty-seven.
The seventeenth annual meeting, April 2, 1867 ; 150 votes cast. Taxes voted : $175 for town purposes, $450 for town indebtedness, $250 for school purposes, and onc mill on dollar for road tax. At general election, held November 5, number of votes cast for Governor, 163, of which L. Fairchild received 127.
The eighteenth annual meeting was held April 7. 1868 ; 191 votes cast. Taxes voted : $200 for town expenses, three mills on dollar for roads, $300 for schools and $100 for poor fund.
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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.
The nineteenth annual meeting, April 6, 1869 ; 204 votes were cast. Taxes voted : $203 for town purposes, $300 for school purposes, $600 for road purposes and $150 for support of poor. April 16, $276 granted B. U. Strong for pauper claim. At general election held November 2. 183 votes were cast for Governor, of which L. Fairchild received 134.
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