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 93
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In December, 1875, a lodge of Odd Fellows-Lavalle Lodge, No. 244-was chartered, with H. A. Sturges, H. P. Apker, Wenz Mihlbauer, Asa Gale, R. W. Clarke and Frank P. Sanford as charter members. The P. G.'s in the lodge are Mossrs. Sanford, Apker, Muhlbauer, Sturges, Gale, A. Pound, F. Myer and B. Douglass. There are about thirty members.
The temperance cause has received considerable encouragement in Lavalle. Probably the most effective organization of this character in its history was accomplished in August, 1879, when a Good Templar's Lodge was instituted. The charter members were Mary, Fannie and Parker Apker, W. Bierd, A. Clement, H. W. Douglass. J. A. Douglass, Henry Eger, Alice Graham, Annie Head, Seth Kingsley, W. Marden, H. Paddock, Dell Sanborn, Charles Sanders, Milo Seeley, Mrs. A. Pound and Robert Wilkie. H. W. Douglass was the first W. C. T .; the present is Herbert Paddock. The lodge is in good working condition.
Before the railroad reached Lavalle the traveling public were accommodated by C. Henne- berg. Upon the completion of the railroad in 1872, J. F. Sanford enlarged his residence, and' converted it into a hotel. W. N. Carver is the present lessee of the Sanford House.
The town of Lavalle was formerly a part of the town of Marston, in which was also included the territory of what is now the towns of Woodland, Washington and Ironton. The two former were set off as separate towns, leaving what are now Ironton and Lavalle, the town of Marston. A petition was sent to the Board of Supervisors, praying for a change in name from Marston to Lavalle, but the prayer was not granted. The inhabitants of the south end of the town then
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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.
petitioned to be set off as a separate town. To this, the citizens of the north end, for some reason best known to themselves, demurred. but the Ironton people succeeded in carrying through the project, and the town of Ironton was the result. This naturally left the records of all the territory in question in possession of the town of Marston (now Lavalle), and it was con- sidered a pretty good joke when the town of Ironton found itself compelled to make a tran- script of them at its own expense. Marston soon after became, as it is now, the town of Lavalle, and every one was happy.
The village of Lavalle now contains three general stores, one hardware, one drug, and one hardware and grocery store ; one hotel, two blacksmith-shops, one wagon-shop, one livery-stable, one shoe-shop, one millinery store, one saloon, one stave-mill, one hoop-pole factory, one grist- mill, one carding-mill, one graded school, one church, one Odd Fellows' Lodge, one Good Tem- plars' Lodge, and has one doctor.
TOWN OF WASHINGTON.
This town is situated in the western tier of towns in Sauk County, and twelve miles south of the north line of the county. The territory included within the limits of the town was origin- ally a part of the town of Eagle, subsequently was organized as the town of Marston, in con- nection with the townships now known as Ironton and Lavalle, and, on the 1st of April, 1856, the town of Washington was organized. The town boundaries included the present territory, Town 11 north, Range 3 east, together with the two tiers of sections lying directly on the north, being a part of Town 12 north. Range 3 east, making the town eight miles north and south, and six miles east and west, in extent. The first election was held in the schoolhouse, on Section 15, April 1, 1856. The inspectors of election were H. W. Reeve and Nelson Wheeler. The whole number of votes cast was seventy-five. The officers elected were D. H. Boland, Chairman ; Arva Frost, Joshua Holmnes, Supervisors ; E. S. Drake, Clerk ; H. W. Reeve, Superintendent of Schools ; G. W.Gray, Treasurer ; Ira Jones, Assessor ; Nelson Wheeler. Thomas J. Gray, Justices of the Peace ; G. V. Ostrander, Thomas De Voe, Samuel Drake, Con- stables.
Subsequently, the two tiers of sections from Town 12, Range 3, were cut off and annexed to the Town of Ironton, leaving the town in its present form, that of a Government township of thirty-six sections.
The surface features are generally of an uneven character. One wide ridge extends north and south, through the western part of the town, on a line north from Sections 32 and 33, swinging slightly to the west on Sections 6 and 7. This ridge varies in width, being from two to three miles wide. Originally, it was heavily timbered, but at this time it contains many well-cultivated farms. Another wide ridge extends eastward from Sections 29 and 32 to the east line of the town, widening out on Sections 26 and 25. The main ridges form the division between the head-waters of several streams. From these ridges extend lateral ridges or spurs, generally at right angles. Quite an extensive and rich valley sets in near the northeastern part of the town, and extends in a southwesterly direction to Section 21. On the uplands, the soil is a strong clay loam, and in the valleys a rich black loam, well adapted, in both localities, to all products of this latitude. Tame grasses grow luxuriantly on both uplands and valleys. A large portion of the town was originally heavily timbered. The exceptions were portions of the south ridge and the valley mentioned above. A second growth of timber now covers such portions of that territory as are not under cultivation. The timber throughout the town is very thrifty, and, in many places, large and clear. Trees two feet in diameter and clear of limbs and knots for the first fifty feet, are common. Stave bolts and wagon lumber form quite an im- portant part of the products of the town. The varieties of timber consist of oak, in its several kinds of white, black and red; white ash, hickory, basswood, elm, hard and soft maple, butter- - nut, ironwood and cherry. The several varieties of oak constitute a large proportion of the timber.
The town is remarkably well supplied with water by its numerous creeks and springs. In the valleys, at the base of the ridges, fine springs of cold water abound. Their number exceeds
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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.
several hundred. These springs form clear brooks of never-failing water, which are a great con- venience to the farmners for the watering of stock. Windmills are almost unknown. On the highest ridges, good water is obtained at an average depth of seventy-five feet. Narrows Creek and its trib- utaries flow through the northeastern part of the town, and tributaries of Honey Creek through the southeastern, of Bear Creek through the southwestern, and of Willow Creek through the north- western part. Speckled trout were once quite plenty in the latter streams in early days. At this time, they are not found in numbers great enough to satisfy the lovers of the rod and line.
The rock is composed of lime, flint and sandstone. One large limekiln is in successful operation on Frederic Rowe's farm, on Section 6, and another has been recently started by G. L. Sebring, on Section 2.
There are two post offices in the town. The Sandusky Post Office was established in the fall of 1855. The first Postmaster was William Dano, and the present is H. W. Reeve. The office is situated at the northwestern corner of Section 33. For the past fifteen years, the office has had four mails a week. Arrangements have been perfected by which it is expected soon to have a daily mail. The second office was established February, 22, 1880. It is called Tuckerville, and is situated on the north side of Section 14. John T. Pollock is Postmaster. Mails arrive and depart on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
There are ten school buildings in the town ; all frame but one, which is of logs. The first schoolhouse was built on Section 2, in 1854. School was taught by Miss Jane Wheeler. R. O. Myers was Clerk of the district, and Nelson Wheeler, Director.
The first store was opened and kept by William Dano and J. Holmes, at Sandusky, in the spring of 1855; the second by Robert Hawke, and the third by H. W. Reeve, opened in the spring of 1861. Mr. Reeve is still in business at this writing (1880). Another is kept by Fred Zweig, also at Sandusky. The two latter are all that are in operation at this time.
There are four churches in the town. The first was built by the Sandusky Society of the Evangelical Association of North America. The building was erected on land donated by Mr. C. J. H. Erffmeyer, on Section 27, in October, 1864. Cost of building, $400. The society was organized at a meeting held at the house of Charles Schluter, June 5, 1862. Trustees were elected-Frederic Schoephoister for one year, Henry Ties for two years and Charles Schluter for three years. C. J. H. Erffmeyer was Chairman of the meeting, and the Rev. Joseph Harlacher, Secretary. Mr. Erffmeyer donated one acre of land in the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 27 for church and cemetery ; in consideration of which, he was voted lots free for a family burying-ground. Rev. Joseph Harlacher was the first Pastor. Among the first members were Charles Schluter, Fred Schoephoister, Henry Ties, Chris Schluter, C. J. H. Erffmeyer, John Schoephoister, Christian Uphoff, Ernest Biernhiet and Chris Gieseke. The present membership is about forty families. The present Pastor is the Rev.
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church is situated on the north side of Section 26. This society was organized about 1864. The first regular Pastor was the Rev. A. Susner. Six years previous to this, meetings were held in private houses by various traveling ministers. The first meeting was held in the log cabin of Mr. Charles Brandt, in 1858; the old house still stands. Among the first members were Charles Brandt, Frederic Brandt, Henry Brandt, John Wise, Chris Krueger and Mr. Westedt. The church was built in October, 1871, at a cost of about $400. The membership was thirty-one families; Trustees, Charles Muchow, Aug Krueger and William Krueger ; Pastor, Rev. M. Claus.
The society known as the United Brethren was organized about 1868, and meetings were held in private houses. The first Pastor was the Rev. George Hickey. In 1876, a very neat and roomy church was built at a point known as Tuckerville, on the north side of Section 14, and dedicated the last Sunday of June, 1877. The Pastor at that time was the Rev. James Aldrich. The cost of the building was about $1,100. Among those who contributed toward the building of the church may be mentioned John Shoup, Nelson Blood, William Blackburn, Levi Purdy and Philip Apple; Adam Tucker donated the site. The present Pastor is Rev. J. Good. The first Baptist services were held in the schoolhouse on Section 27, about 1869,
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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.
Mr. John Seamans officiating. About 1872, the society was organized, the first regular Pastor being Rev. Harvey Bacon. In 1875, a building was bought, situated on Section 34, that is used as a church. The present membership is fourteen, and Mr. A. L. Prouty is Pastor.
The Methodists have no church building within the limits of the town of Washington. They are connected with the Ironton Church, a history of which is given in that of the town of Ironton. The first Methodist services held in the town of Washington were conducted at the schoolhouse on Section 2, in the summer of 1855. Preaching was by the Rev. Mr. Hall. The church at Ironton was built in 1863, and the present Pastor is Elder George Tyake.
Forest Lodge, No. 106, I. O. O. F., was instituted about 1863, J. G. Blakeslee, D. D. G. M., of Ironton, doing the work. The lodge was instituted in Reeve's Hall, Sandusky. D. B. Marsh was elected N. G., and H. W. Reeve, R. S. The lodge had a membership of thirty-five. About 1873, the charter was surrendered by consent of the members.
The Good Templars had an organization in this town in 1867. Meetings were held in the Sandusky schoolhouse at first, and subsequently in Reeve's Hall. The lodge was organized by Miss Emery (State Lecturer). It only existed about three years.
There are several steam saw-mills, one water-power grist and flouring mill and one cheese factory in the town. In addition to these should be mentioned several cooper-shops and a few blacksmith-shops. Mr. William Schoephoister is rebuilding his steam saw-mill on Section 22. Its capacity will be 6,000 feet per day. Hardwood is the principal timber in use ; much of it is worked up into wagon material ; shipping-point, Reedsburg. E. & H. Staples have a steam saw-mill in operation on Section 33. Another is run by . Charles Nebel on Section 31. John Williams has a new grist and flouring mill on Section 14, run by water-power; capacity, 100 busliels per day. A cheese factory is in operation at Tuckerville; run by Edwin Booker, lessee ; capacity, 400 pounds per day. A cooper-shop at Sandusky is owned and run by Thomas Lyndon, and doing a good business. Several others are operated in different parts of the town by various parties.
The first white settler in the original town of Washington was Washington Gray. He built his log cabin on Section 35, Town 12, Range 3, in the spring of 1850. He was followed in November of the same year by R. O. Myers, who located on Section 3, Town 11, Range 3. As that portion of Town 12 on which Gray settled was subsequently set off and attached to Ironton, Mr. Myers is left the first settler in the town of Washington, in its present form. The next settler after Mr. Myers was Sevyer Selden, who located on Section 2, Town 11, R'ange 3, where he still resides. Nelson and John Wheeler followed, settling on Section 35, Town 12, Range 3. From 1852 to 1856, the town settled very rapidly. Among those who came in about this time may be mentioned Clark Miller and family, 1852; Campbell Miller, 1852; Lewis Lumery, 1852 ; E. S. Drake, 1853; D. H. Boland, Doc and Edward Davison, Z. Staples, the Strouds, William Dano, J. Holmes, H. W. Reeve, Gilbert Wheeler, Jeremiah & C. R. Buel, Addison Hale, A. C. Harris, Philip and George Apple, Samuel Thompson, Timothy Chapman. The first German settler was Charles Schluter, coming in 1856.
' The raising of log houses was the order of the day. In fact, it became quite a tax on the time of the first settlers. Some weeks they were away from home at raisings five days out of the seven ; but, as they were glad to get neighbors, the service was rendered cheerfully. Mr. Myers says the first time he saw an assessor was when a gentleman came up from Sauk City, assessing the town of Reedsburg. He was warned out to do road work on a slough five miles from his home, by the Pathmaster of his road district, and who was living at Cazenovia, eight miles distant.
The first frame house in the town was built by Gilbert Wheeler on Section 14.
The first mill was built by William Cobb and H. W. Reeve, a steam saw-mill, situated near Sandusky, on Section 32; sawing commenced January 1, 1857.
The first grist-mill was built in 1879, on Section 14, by John Williams (water-power).
The first post office established was the Sandusky office; William Dano, Postmaster, appointed in the fall of 1855.
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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.
The first schoolhouse was built on Section 2, in 1854; Miss Jane Wheeler was the first teacher. Previous to this, in 1853, Miss Laura Tucker had taught school in a private house.
The first church was built on Section 27, and dedicated October 2, 1864, by the Sandusky Society of the Evangelical Association of North America ; Joseph Harlach, Pastor.
The first religious meetings are believed to have been held by the Methodists, in the fall of 1854, in the schoolhouse on Section 2; Rev. Mr. Hall officiating. Rumors of meetings held in private houses, prior to this date, may have some foundation, but nothing positive is known.
The first death of a white person is believed to have been that of a young boy named Willie Beman, which occurred in the fall of 1853.
A daughter of Mr. Aden Tucker died in August, 1854, and a daughter of Samuel Welch September 11, 1854.
The early marriages were Isaac Frost, to Mary Wheeler, in the spring of 1855; L. Acker- man, to Jane Wheeler.
The first white child born in the town was of the family of Washington and Frances Gray, born in 1852.
In the spring of 1865, indications of carbon oil were found on the surface of a spring, on the farm of J. C. Piper, Section 36, Washington. Two companies were at once organized, with a view of developing the oil business in this town. Each of them leased about a thousand acres of land in the vicinity of the discovery. One was composed mostly of parties from Sauk City ; the other from citizens of the town and other parts of the county. The Sauk City Oil Com- pany procured an engine and boiler and drilling apparatus ; an expert was employed, and the drilling commenced. Excitement ran high. Fabulous prices were asked for land in the vicinity. Parties by the name of Long & Perkins built a hotel near the proposed well.
The drilling progressed to the depth of 138 feet, when the drill was lost. Shortly after- ward the work was abandoned. The excitement abated, and the citizens of Washington awoke from their dreams of sudden prosperity to the fact that they were only an agricultural people.
On a Saturday evening, shortly after the New Ulm massacre of Minnesota, when the people living on the frontier were excusably nervous on the subject of Indians, a Mrs. Stambaugh, living a mile and a half northwest of Sandusky, seeing, as she supposed, a party of Indians pass through the woods near her place, took her little ones and fled to Mr. Hart's, one of her nearest neighbors, and sought protection. On hearing her story, the news soon spread, and, by common consent, the neighboring settlers gathered with their wives and children at the Hart place, taking with them only such weapons and household goods as they could conveniently carry. Here they made a stand, determined to sell their lives as dearly as possible.
Fort Hart was soon in order to resist an attack. Windows and doors were barricaded ; weapons, from a rifle to a pitchfork, put in order. A young man living further south, and who happened to be at Hart's, mounted his horse and made a bold push for home. On the way, he spread the alarm without stopping to enter into particulars. As he passed Mr. Reeve's place, on a dead run, he made out to shout, " Oh, Harvey, the Indians are coming ; the woods are full of them," and passed on like the wind. This very naturally excited Mr. Reeve's fears. And he prepared to put his cabin on a war footing. Bullets were run ; the rifle loaded ; corn knives and scythes placed at hand. Barricades were erected, and things began to look as though no small band of Indians would have any business with that ranche. About this time, neighbor Joseph Powell put in an appearance at the Reeve fortress. He and Mr. Reeve determined to reconnoiter Fort HIart. At great risk of being shot for redskins, they made out to gain admis- sion to this formidable place. Here they found about thirty men, women and children crowded into one small room, the floor covered with bedding and such household goods as the refugees in their flight had brought with them ; women and children, pale and trembling ; men evidently nervous, yet pretending to be cool. All sorts of weapons had been pressed into the service. from a flint-lock rifle to a brush scythe. It was certain that no scalps would be taken here without a desperate struggle. One old man with considerable bravado opened the door and called out- "Come on, ye blood thirsty savages," but shut it very hastily for fear of being taken at his word.
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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.
Capt. Reeve and the veteran Powell watching an opportunity when no painted warriors were in sight stole quietly back to the protection of their families. Greatly to Mr. Powell's alarm, he found his home deserted. It was plain the wife and little ones were prisoners in the hands of the merciless savages. In fear and trembling he made a closer search of the premises, expect- ing every moment to stumble upon the murdered remains of some of his dear ones. Finally, a faint voice from the log barn-loft reached him. Greatly to his relief he found them all safely hidden away under the hay. Mr. Reeve, in order to allay the fears of his family, pretended to doubt the actual presence of any Indians and went to bed, but not to sleep. His wife, not satis- fied with this arrangement, spent the long night in anxious watching. She was very positive that, if they were permitted to live till another day, they should go back to Ohio at once. The long night passed without an unusual sound. The clear light of day brought with it confidence and hope. The garrison at Fort Hart ventured on an investigation. It was then discovered that Mrs. Stambaugh's ferocious Indians were only three innocent neighboring hunters, who, in passing her place in the dusk, by their bronzed faces and buckskin suits, had caused her to mistake them for Indians. Thus ended the great Indian scare of Sandusky.
When the settlement was young, one summer evening, as one of Sandusky's fair mothers was wending her way home from a neighbor's, accompanied by her son, a hopeful of perliaps fifteen years, they suddenly discovered a large black animal approaching them. Black bears were quite common in those early days, and, recognizing Bruin at once, they took to their heels for safety, the animal lumbering along behind them. The mother, finding that she was likely to be left behind by her stalwart son, seized him by the coat-tails, to help herself to escape from the savage brute in pursuit. Imagine her feelings when the boy tried to shake her off, very coolly observing, " What is the use of us both being eat up ; " but the mother wouldn't let go, and together they reached their gate, only a few steps in advance of-not a great hungry bear, but of a pet black calf.
The people of Washington, like their neighbors in other towns of Sauk County, date many of their financial troubles back to the hop crash of 1868. For a few years previous to that year, the growing of hops had been very remunerative. The yield was so good and prices so fair, that very large profits were realized. Men could count their money by thousands who had only had hundreds before. It got so that a man who was known to have a hop-yard was counted financially solid, no matter how small the yard. An extravagant credit was given the hop- grower, which in many cases was injudiciously used. The clearing of land and general farming were neglected ; many spent their large profits lavishly and went deeply in debt on the strength of their expectations. Suddenly the collapse came, as it always does, sooner or later, in such cases. Good crops in other hop-growing districts, and a general increased production through- out the country, caused prices to tumble. The crop of 1868 was picked on the expensive prices of previous years, and, when the hops should have been marketed, they were so low that many held on, hoping for a raise. This was going from bad to worse, as the prices still declined ; ruin followed ; mortgages and executions were uncomfortably common. Many have never recovered from the effects of the disasters of that time. The planter did not suffer alone; all classes, mer- chants and mechanics, were crippled alike. To redeem their fortunes, people turned their atten- tion again to legitimate farming. Lands were cleared, staple products cultivated, more attention given to stock and dairying, and to-day, Washington is prosperous, and safer by far than she was in the palmy days of hop-growing.
TOWN OF WINFIELD
is formed of Township No. 13 north, Range 4 east, and contains thirty-six sections. It is situated on the north line of Sauk County, the third town west from the Wisconsin River. The territory comprising this town was first organized as a part of the town of Baraboo, and was organized as the town of Winfield in November, 1852. The first Chairman of the Town Board was Ezra Gregory ; Clerk, Hiram Pelton.
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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.
The surface of the town is formed of ridges and valleys, with stretches of table-land on the bluff; soil, black and sandy loam in the valleys ; and uplands, clay loam. Water is abundant and of good quality. Good springs are numerous. Twin Creeks and tributaries flow from the northern part of the town to the southwest, emptying into the Baraboo on Section 31. The head-waters of other streams form in this town. The rock is principally sandstone.
Many picturesque masses of Rock, forming bluffs of considerable height, add greatly to the beauty of the scenery. The town contains many well-improved farms, tasty residences and good outbuildings. The population in the west and northeastern parts of the town is mostly Irish. In the southeastern and central, mostly English and American.
There are seven school buildings generally good structures. On the northeast corner of Section 21 is a fine Catholic Church, situated on a tract of four acres given by Mr. Martin Con- way for church purposes, being the only church in the town. People of other denominations either hold services in the schoolhouses, or go to Reedsburg, which is not far distant.
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