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 105
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In 1872, the railroad arrived here, to the great delight of the residents, who then thought that, in all probability, the place would grow in size quite rapidly. The depot which was built at that time is a very good one, it being unusually large for a small town. Mr. Flanders was largely instrumental in getting the road run through here, he having paid $5,000 down in cash as an inducement to have it cross the river at this point. In connection with the road are a stock-yard and warehouse, but, owing to the large amount of produce shipped at this point, which appears to be increasing yearly, the warehouse is considered, by many, not large enough, and there is, at present, talk of building another, that the accommodations may be ample. From 150 to 200 car loads of stock, and from forty to fifty car loads of grain, are sent to mar- ket from this point annually. This is a remarkable showing for so small a place.
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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.
The railroad bridge is one of the important and attractive features to be seen here. It is an immense affair, made of iron, and extending a distance of 1,900 feet over the Wisconsin. It was built by Fox, Howard & Co., of Chicago, in 1877, and stands directly in the path and on the same spot where the wooden bridge stood before, which was built in 1871. The piers on which the bridge rests are supported by piles sunk in the bed of the stream, and which were cut off beneath the surface of the water at the time the piers were built. These are of stone masonry, so built as to resist effectually the effects of the spring freshets. After the bridge was completed, its strength was tested by running three or four engines on one span. The aggre- gate weight of the engines was much greater than that of the span, but, notwithstanding, they did not settle it more than three-eighths of an inch, so tremendous is the strength of this net-
work of iron. Immediately after they were withdrawn, it returned to its former position, not being affected in the least by the enormous weight placed upon it. It is regarded by good judges as one of the very best bridges in the State, and, mechanically, is considered as being au fait. The total cost was about $800,000. It is forty-five feet above low-water mark.
The first school was taught here in a log schoolhouse, which stood nearly opposite where L. M. Smith's store is now located. After this, about 1854 or 1855, a small frame building was erected, which was used for several years. In 1876, another house was built, and the old one sold to James H. Smith for a dwelling house. In 1879, an addition was made to the last-men- tioned building, increasing it in size sufficient to accommodate two departments. The first records were burned, consequently nothing further can be given relating to the early particu- lars. There are now 128 pupils registered. In 1879, the district was re-organized, as it was then discovered that this district, in common with all but one in the town, had been operating illegally.
Merrimack has a Good Templar's Lodge at present. For many years previous to the start- ing of this (or the second lodge), there was one in the town, which held its meetings in the chapel. The second lodge, Riverside, No. 129, was organized in 1872, flourished finely for a time, then gradually subsided. The present lodge, Riverside, No. 500, was established last year, by Jenny Nash, and is now in a flourishing condition and lias a large membership.
A Grange club also meets here, but, as the genius that instigated that movement has ceased to actuate the farmers, this, like the majority of the lodges, will probably soon be numbered among the have-beens, having perished to give place to some equally injudicious and unnecessary movement.
Merrimack has a fine church, erected by the Methodists in 1876, at a cost of about $3,000. It is built of brick, and has basement for Sabbath school, etc. This is now used by the town for holding town meetings, there being no town hall. Religious services are not held here regularly at the present time, there not being a settled minister at this point.
In this connection inay be mentioned the Park Hill Cemetery Association. This organiza- tion was founded and formed December 19, 1865, by the following persons : T. Emery, S. Wheeler, S. Roby, L. N. Smith, L. Wright, William Butterfield, James Morey and George S. Shepherd. Subsequently, two acres of land were purchased, and laid out suitably in lots, which are sold at $7 each. Mr. Wheeler was the first one buried in the cemetery, but already, since that time, numerous headstones rise from the ground to mark the spot of the final rest.
To sum up briefly, the village was first called Colamar after the Postmaster General who appointed Mattson Postmaster, but was subsequently changed to Merrimack, after the town. The village was platted at quite an early day by Mr. Flanders. The location is suitable for the building up of a handsome village, which may eventually be done. The different Postmasters have been, after Mattson : J. M. Haines, 1855 ; then Messrs. Hodgson, Percy, Terril and True. In 1860, the present Postmaster, D. G. Tyler, was appointed. The business of the place is represented now by four stores, two blacksmiths. one hotel and one saloon.
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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.
TOWN OF PRAIRIE DU SAC.
Together with the villages, to this town belongs the distinction of having been the first place of settlement in the county. It is considerably below the average in size, it being only about thirty-one sections in area. It is bordered irregularly on the south and east by the Wisconsin, and on the north by the town of Sumter, and on the west by the towns of Honey Creek and Troy. The surface of the country is prairie, interspersed with undulating and slightly hilly tracts. The soil is not above the average, although it is by no means of a poor quality in many localities, or so worthless as to preclude the possibility of a profitable cultivation. It may be generally described as a light, sandy loam, and excellently well adapted to horticultural purposes, it being naturally very warm and friable. However, all kinds of grain are grown here, corn con- sidered the best average crop raised in the way of cereals. Of fruits, an abundance of wild and cultivated grapes, currants and berries, are raised, and stock both for marketing and dairying are grown here extensively. The town is well watered by Honey and Otter Creeks. The latter, a small stream, is entirely absorbed by a desolate sandy tract of land in the south part of the town, and the most worthless in town. Of timber, there is a somewhat limited supply, yet there is enough to supply the wants of the present generating, and, may be, one or
two more. The inhabitants are principally German, although there is a liberal sprinkling of other nationalities. The social and moral status is good, and will compare favorably with that of adjoining towns. Churches and schools are liberally provided and well patronized. Of manufacturing in the town, it may be said, there is about all done in that direction that there is a legitimate demand for, from brewing beer to grinding grain, or from making plows to build- ing reapers. Commercial pursuits are and always have been confined to the villages, which, with their early settlement, are fully described in another chapter.
THE EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The very early settlement, and events connected therewith, occurred at the villages, and are thus fully mentioncd. However, of those who settled on the prairie at an early day, aside from the village residents, we present such names as could be obtained. These were Louis Accola, Mr. Wollf, John McQuacker, Mr. Freeman, George Luetcher, Nat and Josh Perkins, T. Tabor, J. Kcyser, H. B. Staines, James Taylor, J. R. Woodruff, R. H. Davis, Ed Tabor, H. Stiver, Mr. Thatcher, the Waterburys, Capt. Watson, Mr. Bryant and a few others. The majority of the first-comers are dead, or departed have to other scenes. By 1850, the country in this section was pretty well settled, and continued to fill up very rapidly until all of the land was taken.
In 1841, the first bridge was built over Honey Creek.
The first religious services in town were held in the schoolhouse in Sauk, June 25, 1841, by Rev. T. M. Fullerton.
The first-born was a child of B. Haney's, born 1838, in the dug-out at Lower. Sauk.
The Indian scare on Sauk Prairie, an episode of 1845, caused some very funny exhibitions of character and odd doings. A brief allusion to James Taylor's experience at that time will very aptly illustrate what happened generally. The first that James Taylor heard of the matter was Johnny Gray waking him up, crying, "The Indians are coming ! Flee for your lives !" Taylor mounted an old black mare he had, and generously started to rouse the people. He first waked Ed Tabor. Tabor wanted to get up behind, so Taylor took him on. Then they went to Tom Tabor and roused him, and took him on. From this they went, as fast as the old mare . could waddle with her load, to get the people out, and finally pulled up at Ben Johnson's and run bullets all night. No Indians came during the night, yet in the morning they all turned out and formed in battle line, determined to have a smell of powder if they could not win any glory. James Taylor commanded, " Make ready ! Aim ! Fire !" At the last command one old musket went off solemnly, like an echo from a tomb, telling them what they had escaped. Since that time, Mr. Taylor has been known as the General.
680
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.
In 1847, Ed Juessen, who is now eminent as a lawyer and speaker in Chicago, and brother-in-law to Carl Schurz, tended sheep with Charles Naffs on Sauk Prairie, for Count Haraszthy. One day, either by accident or for mischief, they set fire to the prairie; and, the whole condition of things being, as a result, too hot for the young chap, he left, and thereby made his fortune.
There has been a mill on Honey Creek, in this town, since 1841. The original builder was a man by the name of Robert Bryant, who started a saw-mill. From him it passed into the hands of H. B. Staines. He bought some of the mill fixtures of an old grist-mill in Merrimack, including an enormous overshot wheel, and began refitting the mill, but, before he was entirely done, sold to Mix & Wilson, who finished his work and made other improvements. J. R. Wood- rass bought the property about 1856 or 1857, but soon after sold to H. Rowell. From him it passed into the hands of the firm of Merrihew & Rowell, who in the winter of 1859 and 1860 built a stone mill, which was burned five years after. The mill property being involved, it was soon afterward taken on a mortgage by Merrihew's father-in-law. Nothing further was done here until 1877 or 1878, when Martin Luddi bought and built the present large frame mill. This mill has three sets of four-foot buhrs, and one pony buhr. The dam has a seven-foot head, and three turbine wheels are used. This is the only mill in town.
Berry Haney and Albert Skinner were the first ones who, according to various accounts, attempted to settle their differences, about an early claim, by fist and bludgeon. In the melee, Skinner came out second best ; he having been somewhat lame from wounds received in the Black Hawk war, as well as being under sized, could not hold his own.
A thrashing machine was brought in here as early as 1843, by George Owens, of Prairie du Sac, and was said to have been the first in this county or Dane County at that time. He received one bushel in ten for thrashing.
The first settlers had to go some thirty miles to mill, to what was then known as Hickox Mills, now Ruggles' Mills, in Richland County, this being the nearest point, in 1840, where they could get grinding done.
The early settlers very often killed bears and wolves in this vicinity.
The first brick were made in town as early as 1841, for Mr. Bryant, and were used to make chimneys and fire-places.
In 1860, a grand Republican rally and mass meeting was held at Reedsburg, to which about twelve wagon-loads of people went from Prairie du Sac Town.
A Republican town club was formed in 1860.
One of the principal industries, among the Germans, especially, of this locality, is the rais- ing of wild and tame grapes, the wild grapes being raised exclusively for the purpose of making a wine which very much resembles port wine in color and flavor. Tame grapes are raised in large variety for domestic use, and for making wine also.
In 1860, Peter Bohn, proprietor of the Sauk City Greenhouse, received first premium for grapes at the State Fair.
Large quantities of sorghum are raised here for molasses-making.
George Owen was the first person to make a business of hauling merchandise, as dry goods, groceries and liquors, into the town.
A Baptist minister, Elder Conrad, established a Baptist society at Prairie du Sac at a very early day. He first held services in the house of H. Page, then afterward in a schoolhouse, until the society purchased the old Presbyterian Church. They were close communion. The first religious debate in town was between Elder Conrad, and Elder Cavanagh, Methodist. The church has no minister at present.
There is an Evangelical, or Dutch Reformed, Church in the southwest corner of this town. The society was incorporated in the spring of 1851. The church is a neat-looking structure, 24x32 feet. On the map it is called Lutheran Church, which is an error.
At the first town meeting, held on the 3d day of April, 1849, subsequent to organization of first towns, of which this town was then one, the following officers were elected :
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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.
Chairman, Nathaniel Perkins ; Charles Halasz and Samuel Kelsey being Side Supervisors; Town Clerk, Cyrus Leland ; Assessor, Archie Hill ; Treasurer, P. B. Stamatz ; Superintendent of Schools, J. B. Woodruff; Justices, Charles O. Baxter, Lyman Crossman, John Kupell and Henry Myers ; Constables, H. K. Howard, Albert Mann and Archie Hill ; Overseers of High- ways, E. P. Tabor, John Accola and Henry Myers ; Fence Viewers, B. Howe, J. Hatch and John Gallard. At this election, it was decided that the town meeting should be held next at Prairie du Sac.
At the general election, November 6, 1849, the whole number of votes cast was 185. Of these, Nelson Dowy received over three-fourthis for Governor.
The amount of school tax collected here this year was $639.32. The tax collected for town purposes was $204.10. Expense during said year was $165.23.
The second town meeting was held April 2, 1850, at Prairie du Sac, when Cyrus Leland was elected Chairman, and George Cargill, Town Clerk.
The third meeting was held at Westfield, April, 1850. Joseph Lester, Chairman ; George Mertens, Clerk.
At the general election this fall, the number of votes had increased to 220.
Nothing special occurred in connection with the next town meeting, aside from the election of officers, and voting of funds for fiscal purposes, unless mention be made of $200 appropriated to build a bridge near the old mill of J. C. Wilson.
At the general election held November 8, 1853, 276 votes were cast, there being an increase of 56 votes over the last general election. At this election, the Prohibitory Liquor Law, sub- mitted by the Legislature, was voted upon, there being 192 votes against it, the balance for the law.
In 1855, swine were restrained, by order of the board, from running at large. This order was repealed soon after by a special meeting of the voters. But again, at the town meeting held April 1, 1856, the swine question again came up, and was definitely settled by their being restrained from running at large in the future.
TOWN OF SUMTER.
This town was called Kingston up to 1861, when, on account of the confusion of mails with Kingston, Marquette Co., the name was changed to Sumter,* in honor of Fort Sumter. The town is somewhat irregular in shape, especially on the northern boundary, which makes it two sections larger than the regular towns. It is bounded north by Baraboo and Freedom, south by Prairie du Sac, east by Merrimack, and west by Freedom and Honey Creek. The surface of this town is as agreeable to look at as it is, in the main, available for the purposes of husbandry. It lies nearly in the center of the Sauk Prairie basin, and, therefore, embraces all of the best features of surface contour and soil. Along the northern part of the town extend the Baraboo Bluffs, from which can be obtained a view of the bottom lands of the town, and of Sauk Prairie generally, and as charming as fancy could suggest or desire. On the southwest may be seen
narrow belts of bluffs, outlying and environing the ever-recurring pockets, which break away on the south and east into undulating prairies, covered with well-cultivated farms, margined and dotted with clumps of timber. Probably no more picturesque or truly beautiful scene thian this is afforded in the county. The bluffy portion of the country here, as elsewhere, is all taken up by the farmers, to be used for pasturage and timber. Of this there is a fair supply, but principally a
young growth (except back in the Baraboo Bluffs), the larger trees, apparently, having been cut down. The tillable soil is second to none in the county. The bottom lands are, principally, a deep, rich loam, occasionally mixed with sand. From this, passing on to the bluffs, the soil be- comes a stony clay, which, although both heavy and cold, is highly productive when well tilled. The town is very well watered, especially in the central and north part, where numerous small streams head, and which ultimately unite, forming Otter Creek. Anything that can be raised
*Erroneously spelled Sumpter.
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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.
to advantage anywhere in the State, either for home use or the market, can be produced here. The cereals, vegetables, fruits, etc., of all kinds, indigenous to this climate, readily grow and mature here; while, for grapes and stock, no part of the county or country is better ; the geo- logical formations, and prehistoric remains in this town, present some exceedingly interesting features, especially the former. There are large beds of calciferous sandstone located in some portions of the bluffs that are well adapted to building purposes, and, as thoughi for an accom- paniment, dolomite lies above ready to be burned into lime for cementing the stones into build- ing wall. One of the formations particularly valuable for geological research is the Mendota limestone, which abounds here in large quantities. Mr. R. E. Stone, a practical geologist living in Stone's pocket, has found some very valuable specimens of trilobites here. One feature in this connection, which Mr. Stone has observed, is that specimens of these animals are sometimes found in this locality, lodged in the interstices of quartzite rock, two hundred feet above the level of their natural home. Who can explain this ? .
Recently, Mr. Stone, in connection with the State Geologist, opened one of the Indian mounds here, to find it occupied by the skeletons and implements of the former inhabitants. The most noticeable features were, that the mound was built above the natural earth level, and that the bodies were covered by clay, brought from some other locality.
Other notes in the above connection might be given, but these are sufficient to give a fair idea of the condition of the town. The inhabitants are mixed. But the American element predominates, and has always done so since the first settlement. The social, moral and intel- lectual status is above the average.
This was one of the first settled towns of the county, the date of its first settlement being nearly cotemporary with that of Prairie du Sac. It is pretty generally conceded that the first parties to come into the town were Albert Jameson, A. Bills, A. Hodgett and N. Lathrop, who came here on a prospecting tour during the month of December, 1838; also John Hoover came in about this time, or soon after, and Uncle William Johnson, who is now the oldest of the first settlers living in the south part of the county. ' None except Mr. Johnson remained longer that winter than was necessary to make their claims. He and his help threw up a cabin near where he now resides, and lived in it the rest of the winter. The next summer, Uncle William brought the first breaking-team into the town, and with them the old double-geared breaking- plow that is said to have done the first breaking in the town. It now stands at the door of an old tumble-down log cabin, a dilapidated memento of early days.
The first families to settle in the town were Charles Parks and Zena Harrington. They came in the summer of 1839. In November, of this season, A. Jameson moved in.
In 1840, Henry Teel, John Hoover, Andrew Hodgett, Isaac Gibbs, Alex Johnson, Charles Teel, P. Brigham and William Cary were here, some of them possibly having come during the fall or winter of 1839. During 1840, Uncle William Johnson brought in his family. There may have been more settlers here in 1840 than above enumerated, but nothing can be learned of such persons.
No attempt will be made to trace the number of settlers who came in before 1850, only the names of those now living here who came in before that time will be given. William Jolin- son, old Mrs. Jameson, old Mrs. Teel, Henry Teel, Isaac Gibbs, A. Waterbury, J. C. Payne, J. Freeman, George and H. Gatwinkle, H. J. Farnham, U. H. Kendall, J. W. Gordon, Samuel Haskins, Theodore Rock, Robert Colburn, R. E. Stone, H. Durke and A. Stedman are about all that are left of the early comers, and they will soon move away to give place to others.
The first birth in the town was the second one in the county, Charles Parks, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Parks, who was born in February, 1840.
The first deaths in town occurred during the above month and year, two children of Mr. Zera Harrington, with scarlet fever.
The first marriage, that of Phillip Blodgett, of New York, and Susan Harrington, daugh- ter of the above-named gentleman, was executed about 1840.
.
6812
HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.
Another of the early marriages is worthy of mention. The Rev. James G. Whitford, who wanted a wife, came to town in 1840, to visit the Widow Sayles, a daughter of Mrs. Teel. Mr. Whitford held religious services and organized a class while the wooing sped, and finally, on August 15, 1841, they were married, the Rev. Mr. Simpson coming from a distance to perform the ceremony.
It is the opinion of some that Mr. Whitford was the first minister who preached in the county, but Mrs. Teel avers that the Rev. John Crummer, a Methodist minister, came in May, 1840, and preached at John Hoover's, and Mrs. Teel certainly ought to know, considering that the other minister was her own son-in-law. The Rev. Thomas Fullerton was the first circuit rider to come here and fill stated appointments. He came the 23d of June, 1841.
A school was taught here as early as 1843, by Mrs. Brooks, in a log-house on Section 34. A tavern was opened in town on the east Sauk road, in 1843, by J. Hoover, Sr.
A post office was established here in 1850, named the Bluff office, with Prescott Brigham as Postmaster. It was located afterward at what was called New Haven. There is now no post office in town.
The above-mentioned place was regularly laid out on Section 3, and platted as a village in the spring of 1856, by Sol King; before that, it was called King's Corners. There were at one time a tavern, store, several dwellings and mechanics' shops, and a church, here, but at this time the village is a thing of the past.
William Wagner opened the first store in town, at New Haven, in 1856 or 1857, and Hoy King the tavern.
A steam saw-mill was built at the foot of the bluffs, on Section 4, and near Otter Creek, in 1855, by H. J. & William Farnham and E. Kellogg. They also had a small grist-mill attached. Two years after, the mill passed into the hands of Mr. Babcock, who afterward sold it, and then, about 1866, for want of business, it was discontinued.
A short time after the above mill was built, a man by the name of Hedges laid out and platted what was called the village of Otterville, near the mill. Another saw-mill was also built near here about this time by Robert Baxter ; but this, like its predecessor, has long since ceased to operate, and the village of Otterville is now no more forever.
In 1866, Luther Daniels built and opened a store on the east road, in Section 2. Daniels also kept the post office here, but the institution failed in about a year. The post office was then suspended, and the building passed into the hands of Isaac Gibbs.
The first reaper was brought into town by Henry Teel, and the first article that could grind anything from corn, cob and all, to small grains, was an overgrown coffee-mill, brought in by Uncle William Johnson. This mill is still in existence, and is said to have done grinding for pioneers all over the West. Like Uncle William, it is now rather too old to repair, and, with the old plow, needs to lay on the shelf.
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