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 97
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The pioneers of Newport were John Marshall (the founder of the place), Dr. Ambrose Jones, Edward Norris. William Steele, Joseph Bailey and James Christie-the two latter being the first settlers on the east side of the river. Frank Darrow established there the first store. There were nine mercantile establishments when the place was in its prime. The Mary Lyon Female Seminary was founded here in 1856, a building being constructed at a cost of $3,000 or $4,000. This institution was carried on about two years. The managers issued finely printed circulars and sent them broadcast over the land to induce patronage ; and they were not entirely without avail. We quote the following from one of these circulars giving a description of the place : " The location is selected at a point approaching the center of the State, north and west, upon a system of railroads that will soon give access to all parts of the State. It is above the latitude of bilious diseases, in a climate favorable to vigorous mental effort. The location being in a region whose base is sand rock, and not lime, insures health. The site proffered for building is about one mile from the depot at Kilbourn City, upon the La Crosse Railroad, where it crosses the Wisconsin River. The road will be in running order to this point before the sem-
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inary opens, in September. The region around has the diversity of hill and vale, mingled with wildness, calculated to interest the lover of nature. The bluffs upon the river and the dells of the Wisconsin (a miniature Niagara), with several wild gorges, furnish places of resort for hours of pastime. The people are mostly of Eastern origin ; the moral state of society is elevated ; its influence not only desirable, but equal to that of more favored Eastern communities."
William Steele built a large hotel in the place, and a Mr. Clark did likewise ; societies became numerous ; the Presbyterians had a splendid church edifice (since removed to Kilbourn) and Freeman Longley put up a hexigonal house. William S. Grubb now lives in it in Baraboo. Among other early settlers in Newport may be mentioned Frank and Norman Stewart, Joseph Kendrick (who kept the first hotel), E. B. King (a lawyer), Marcena Temple, Ephraim Kings- bury (who built a big steam saw-mill), Abraham Vanderpool, T. Hoffman (who risked his means in a brewery), Dr. G. W. Jenkins and Amyntus Briggs and others. Let their names be recorded.
In April, 1868, the last traces of the former glory of Newport were wiped out. The post office was discontinued, and the County Treasurer ceased to advertise Newport lots for the non- payment of taxes. Vale, Newport.
The following persons deserve recognition as the pioneers of the town of Delton : Joseph Sanders, who came in 1849 and located where the Shaw place is now; Daniel T. Clay, C. M. Fallett, Hiram Mason, William Bell, Solomon, George, Frank, Orange, Edson, Erastus and Daniel Brown, Henry House, Simeon Freeman, I. K. and Harvey Ainsworth, Roderick Hill, Simon Cobleigh, A. F. Washburn, Rev. W. B. Putnam, Walter Woodmancy, Moses Nulph, Freeman Comfort, John Lousy, Samuel Gilson, Antoin Prevoncil, the Rev. Vanalstein, Thomas Bell, O. W. Spalding, Mr. Cheesebrough (an old bachelor), F. K. Jenkins, Nelson Welch, Will- iam Hill, Jacob Frear, Frank Roberts, Jacob Flickner, John Lawsha, J. P. Shults, Thomas Marshall, Messrs. Wood, McCoy, Gray and many others.
TOWN OF WOODLAND.
This town is formed of Town 13 north, Range 2 east, being the extreme northwest town of Sauk County. It lies west of the general west line of the county, forming a jog by itself. The township is full, containing thirty-six sections. It is bounded on the north by Juneau County, on the east by the town of Lavalle, on the south by Richland County, and on the west by Vernon County. The surface is uneven, consisting of ridges, table-lands and valleys. The soil is gen- erally good, and may be classed as variable clay and sandy loam. Many of the valleys are nat- ural meadows, where not heavily timbered. Timber consists principally of oak in its various forms, interspersed with butternut, elm, basswood, hickory, soft and hard maple, ash and some other varieties. Water is abundant; the North Branch of the Little Baraboo takes its rise in the southwest part of the town, flowing southeasterly, and leaving the town on Section 36. There are two mills on this stream ; a saw mill on Section 32, built in 1863 by Caleb Harvey ; another saw-mill is in operation on the same stream, at Valton, a small village situated on the east side of Section 29. This was the first mill built in the town. It was erected by William Mann in 1857. Dr. John Thompson bought this mill in 1868, and put in a run of stones, making a grist-mill of it. On the north, a fine stream flows through Plum Valley, emptying into the main Baraboo on Section 2. The Baraboo flows through Sections 2 and 1. Numerous brooks and fine springs furnish a good supply of water for stock. A large saw-mill was erected on the Plum Valley Creek in 1875 by J. T. Heath.
In an early day, this section of the town contained considerable pine. At one time, it was the scene of active lumbering operations. Now, only a few straggling pines are to be seen, too poor to tempt the lumbermen to destroy them. They mournfully whisper to each other, in the freshening breeze, of happier days long past, when their family held their heads the highest and represented more wealth than any other in the valley.
The Madison Division of the Chicago & North-Western Railroad crosses the northeastern part of the town, and just north of Section 2, with its suburbs touching Sauk County, lies the
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thriving village of Wonnewoc, Juneau County. As this is one of the principal market towns of Woodland, it is proper that it should be mentioned in connection with a history of the town. Thousands of dollars are paid annually to Woodland people at this station for railroad ties, staves, wood timbers of all sorts, live stock and farm produce. Among the mamy industries of Woodland is one that is fast growing into prominence; that is, the growing of amber sorghum cane. The high ridges, with their rich, warm soil, and immunity from early frosts, seem pecu- liarly adapted to the growth of this product.
One factory at Valton (Jones & Mortimer's), by the close of the season (1880), will have manufactured 4,000 gallons of sirup. Their evaporator is twenty by five feet, while the grind- ing is done by a four-horse-power machine. They make at the rate of 110 gallons per day of twelve hours. The sirup is of fine quality, and sells readily for 50 cents per gallon.
Michael Truber has a factory on Section 27, where he manufactures 100 gallons per day of twenty-four hours. He will make this season 2,000 gallons. The business was established in 1876, by S. G. Yeo, who sold to Truber, September, 1880. Mr. Solomon Cook, Section 36, has manufactured 827 gallons this year. Last year he made 1,268 gallons. S. W. Sherman and a few others are making sirup on a smaller scale. The whole product of the town will reach 8,000 gallons.
The town possesses four buildings used exclusively as churches. The first church estab- lished was that of the "Ironton Monthly Meeting of Friends." The society was organized on the 18th day of January, 1860, in the dwelling of Fielder Brown, on Section 36. It opened with sixteen members, who emigrated to this State from Hamilton and Grant Counties, Ind. Their names are as follows : Solomon Cook, Mary Cook, Nathan Cook, Martha Brown, Thomas Mason, Mahala Mason, Jesse Dennis, Rachel Dennis, Antoinette Cook, Martha E. Cook, Ben- jamin Pickering, Sarah Pickering, Isaac Jay, Ruth Jay, Charlotte Brown and Francis Jones. The meeting now enrolls 128 members, embracing eighteen entire families and seventeen parts of families.
Services are held regularly twice every week, besides the regular monthly church meetings for the transaction of business. There are two " recorded " ministers, James Stanley and Mary A. Cook. In the year 1860, the society built a small log building for a meeting-house, and, in the year 1867, they built a new church building, 30x50 feet, with a large room above for school purposes, though this last-mentioned room has never been finished and occupied. This meeting. with a small subordihate tributary at Valton, in this town, is the only organized " Friends'" Church in the State of Wisconsin, and this, with its above-named branch. is subordinate to the Iowa Yearly Meeting of Friends. The members who petitionedthe Iowa Yearly Meeting for an organization here all lived to see their petition granted and the meeting permanently established, but many of them have since passed over the river, to be seen of men no more. The subordi- nate branch of the Ironton Monthly Meeting of Friends of Valton was established June 18, 1873, James Stanley, "recorded " minister.
The United Brethren have a new church at Valton that they are just completing, and the Catholics have a small church at the southeast corner of Section 11.
There are eight school buildings in the town, mostly good structures. The best appointed, judging from the exterior, is the Marsh Schoolhouse, District No. 1. The southeastern section of the town has furnished many of the teachers. .
The territory comprising this town had its first political organization in connection with three other townships (now Lavalle, Ironton and Washington), under the name of Marston. The organization was effected at the house of Reuben Thornton, of Ironton, April 6, 1852. Reuben Thornton was elected Chairman by act of the County Board. The organic election of the town of Woodland was held in Town 13, Range 2, April 7, 1857. Walter L. Clemons was elected Chairman ; B. Pickering and E. R. West, Side Supervisors; George F. Wood, Clerk ; John Fessey, Treasurer ; Isaac H. Stultz, Assessor ; James J. Duro, Superintendent of Schools ; J. B. Tennell, Peter Apker, Mark Davis and Samuel Veeder, Justices; W. H. Davis, David Swooveland and Truman Joiner, Constables. Resolutions were adopted to raise $150 for
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town expenses, $200 for school purposes and $50 for poor expenses. Whole number of votes cast, 43.
The first white settler in the territory comprising the town of Woodland is supposed to have been William Richards, who settled on Section 36 in 1849. John Rice was probably the first to enter land. He took up the southeast quarter of Section 36 early in 1849. J. D. R. Mitchell was the second settler, who came in 1850. He was followed by a Mr. Kingsley the same year. Then came Isaac Jay and Mark Davis, who settled in the southeast part of the town soon after. Alexander Camp settled in Plum Valley in 1850, James Burwell in July, 1851, Jesse Mallows in 1853 and J. H. Horine in 1853, Section 35. Richard Mann settled in the southeast part of the town in 1854. William Mann was the first settler at Valton, 1856. From 1854 to 1856, the town settled up very rapidly. Of those who came in 1855 may be mentioned J. E. Wallace, M. Hansbury, James Canon, Simeon Mortimer, Solomon and Hiram Cook and W. C. Broas.
The first store was established at Valton, in 1857, by Samuel Mann. The next year, another was opened by the Davis Brothers & Benson. This firm was succeeded by McKoon & Benson. Shortly after, McKoon bought out Benson and continued the business till his death, which occurred in 1871. In the spring of this year, Mr. Lester Clemons started the store where he is still in business.
The first post office was established in the spring of 1857, and called " Oaks." Hiram Cook was the first Postmaster. A few years ago, the office was dlscontinued, and re-established in October, 1879. Eli D. Horton was appointed Postmaster of Section 26. About 1866, a post office was established at Valton, called " Valton." Alonzo McKoon was the first Post- master. After McKoon's death, William H. Bedell was appointed in 1872. He was succeeded by William Craig, and, in January, 1876, Lester Clemons, the present incumbent, was appointed.
The first school was taught by Mrs. Jane Gill in the summer of 1855. She began the term in the dwelling of Mark Davis, and completed it in the new schoolhouse in Section 35. This was the first schoolhouse built in the town.
The first church was built by the Society of Friends in 1860. It was built of logs, and was situated on Section 36.
The first wedding was that of David Fancher to Mrs. Jane Gill, in October, 1855, Squire Blakeslee officiating.
The first. white child born in the town was James Mitchell, March 7, 1853, son of J. D. R. and Catharine Mitchell, Section 36.
The first death was that of Ameda Kingsley, a girl about eight years of age. She died in the summer of 1854, on Section 36.
Mr. J. D. R. Mitchell brought the first stove into the town in the fall of 1850.
TOWN OF FAIRFIELD.
This town is of irregular size, containing in all about forty-five sections, It is twelve miles long by about five wide at the widest point. The country is largely rolling and bluffy in con- tour, and in the southeast part quite marshy or swampy. The soil is good in patches and bad the same. Often, in going a distance of ten rods, the traveler will pass from the poorest of sun- dried yellow sand to a heavy loam or clay soil, of excellent quality ; but, on the average, there is more of sand than is needed or desired. Nature scattered a large quantity of stone and glass making material here that the people would gladly dispense with. There are but two or three small streams of water in the town ; considering its size, it is the poorest watered of any town in the county. It is very well timbered in the main. The inhabitants are principally Americans. They are sober, industrious, frugal, and, morally, somewhat above the general average. One will find here representatives of nearly every religious denomination commonly found in this country, from the free-thinking Universalist to the conservative Presbyterian. The products are stock,
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grains, fruits, hops, sorghum, etc., pretty equally divided, there appearing to be no special lean- ing toward one more than another-only their actual relative merits are considered. This is the true way to pursue agriculture. Nothing that mother earth will produce, that it will pay to raise, should be ignored, for, as is generally the case, some one or more products will usually be poor each year ; but which they may be, none can ever tell certainly. The town is bounded on the north by Delton and the Wisconsin River, on the south by Baraboo and Greenfield, on the east by Columbia County, and on the west by Excelsior.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first settler in the town of Fairfield was Amon Anderson, a Norwegian, who, accord- ing to the most reliable authorities, came here in 1843, and settled on the Wisconsin River, in the north part of the town. He then set to work and prepared the ground ready for sowing the ensuing year, and built a cabin. The next year he raised a snug little crop, and from that time on until his death, several years ago, was regarded as a prosperous farmer. He left a fine farm to his son, which has since passed into the hands of John Lamar. A little more than a year and a half elapsed after this before any other permanent settler came ; then Benjamin Teel put in an appearance, and located a claim on Section 7, Town 12, Range 7, and began work. Shortly after this, Mr. Teel moved on to Webster's Prairie, but the absence of wood and good water soon drove him back to his first claim, where he has since remained and reared a family. He and his eldest son are now owners of 400 acres of land in the town, the most of which is excellent in quality.
Mr. Teel has been in the town now longer than any other settler, having been in the country and seen its growth from its earliest infancy of improvement until the present. During this time, he has always voted a straight Democratic ticket, win or lose.
Below are given the names of a majority of the settlers who came before 1850, and, as nearly as can be ascertained, the dates of their arrival : T. M. Adams, 1845; S. Soule, 1845 ; Harvey Hurlbut, 1846; L. L. Lee, 1846; Jesse Bushnell, 1847 ; M. Newcomb, 1847; S. W. Turner, 1847 ; A. Polson, 1846 ; J. B. Russell, 1846; D. G. Hunter, 1846-47 ; C. Wells, 1846-47 ; C. L. Peck, 1847-48; Robert Hornby, 1846-47 ; Milton Newell, 1847-48 ; O. H. Battles, 1847-48 ; Hiram Bushnell, 1847 ; J. H. Bennett, 1848-49 ; H. Greenslit, 1848-49 ; H. C. Wilcox, 1848; Benjamin Brown, 1848-49 ; Job Benton, 1848-49; J. Brown, 1848- 49; P. G. Pearshall, 1848; F. Clark, 1849 ; A. Fuller, 1848-49; P. Fuller, 1848-49; C. A. Holmes, 1849; William Hill, 1849; William Little, 1849; A. Norton, 1848-49; O. Newell, 1848-49 ; D. B. Norton, 1848-49; Charles Robinson, 1849; W. Woodmansel, 1849; Samuel Williams, 1849; E. Heath, 1849. Aside from others whose names and the dates of arrival can not be learned, are Robert Bushnell, Ed. Delang, Ira Norton, O. Spalding, Charles Thatcher, Levi Thompson, and J. Noonan, who came before 1850.
The first death in the town was that of Mrs. Anderson, in 1845.
Amora, daughter of P. J. and Anna Parshall, was the first white child born in the town of Fairfield. She was born in January, 1848, and is now the wife of J. H. Vrooman, of Baraboo. The first school was taught at Russell's Corners, David Felt being the teacher.
The first blacksmith-shop was opened by Stephen Inman at Russell's Corners.
The first religious meeting was held at T. Adams' about 1847, the Rev. D. Van Alstine, a Universalist, being the preacher.
Who were the first to tie the hymeneal knot or have it tied here, it is not easy to ascertain, as there are none who are ready to stand forth and plead guilty to the charge of first. How- ever, it is thought that David Hunter and Betsy Fuller were the guilty parties, and that Justice T. Adams spliced them before 1850, but how long before cannot be proclaimed.
At first the town was called Flora, after a town down East, or one of the mythological beau- ties, a creation of the far East. The sturdy frontiersmen, thinking the name rather too fanci- ful, changed it to Fairfield after two or three years. Fairfield has a good cemetery, mentioned below, together with the cost and location.
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There are two churches in town, the Advents and Methodist, which have been in operation for a good many years. Twelve or thirteen years ago, they used to hold their meetings alter- nately in the schoolhouse of District No. 5; then they each wanted to hold protracted meetings, and finally a misunderstanding arose and the house was closed against the Methodists. The Methodists then went at it, and built what is known as the basswood shanty. This proved a very cold investment during the winter, for hardly any one's religious enthusiasm was strong enough to take them to that little church at Russell's Corners very often during cold weather. It is said that. the lumber being green when it was built, it shrank so that it was almost as open as a sieve. When the Methodists purchased the Templars' Hall (Section 5), James Halsted bought the basswood building.
The Advents also have a church on Section 17, so the schoolhouse is now free from denomi- national encroachments.
The first meeting of the Fairfield Lodge, No. 264, was held at the Methodist Episcopal Church, April 16, 1878. After the granting of the charter, the following officers were elected and installed : H. Porter, W. C .; Mrs. N. M. Herrick, W. V .; M. L. Dame, R. S .; William Kinney, Treas. ; F. B. Thomas, F. S .; A. Norton, W. C .; J. Wrightmyre, W. M .; H. Bunker, P. W. C. T. ; Mrs. F. B. Thomas, R. H. S. ; Mrs. H. Porter, L. H. F .; Carrie Agers, A. S .; Anna Deval, D. M .; H. Bunker, L. D .; Lizzie Thayer, I. G .; Perry Porter, O. G. This lodge is the only secret society that has headquarters in this town. It is the successor to the old Lincoln Lodge that was started here many years ago. Owing to some difficulty between the members, it was broken up. Lincoln Lodge was, at one time, quite influential, and succeeded in building a hall to hold their meetings in. After the difficulty, however, the hall was sold to the Methodist Episcopal Society, and it now serves a very good purpose as a church or place to hold religious services.
TOWN ORGANIZATION AND NOTES.
The first town meeting recorded was held at the schoolhouse, near Russell's Corners, pursu- ant to previous notice, on the 15th day of April, 1850, and the town organized into an independ- ent precinct. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year : Chairman of Town Board, Harvey Hurlbut ; Side Supervisors, Benjamin Teel and John Inman ; Town Clerk, T. M. Adams ; Assessor, Benjamin Teel ; Treasurer, John B. Russell ; Superintendent of Schools, Jesse Bushnell ; Justices of the Peace, Jesse Bushnell, Edwin Plummer, T. M. Adams and Ben Clark ; Constables, Peter Parshall and John H. Bennett ; Sealer of Weights and Measures, David B. Norton. The whole number of votes cast did not exceed thirty. At a special meeting, held the 14th day of May following, a vote was taken and carried to raise $150, to pay the town expenses for the ensuing year. At the end of the first fiscal year, there was left a balance of $70.79 uncollected taxes in favor of the town. At first, but $100 was appropriated to defray the expenses of public schools. In 1852, at annual town meeting, April 6, the chief question of interest to the electors was the moving an appropriation of money to build a bridge over the Baraboo River. In response to motion made, $50 was voted for this purpose. This included all charges to be made against the town. The bridge was built near Mr. Butterfield's, being the first public work of that kind that the town had engaged in. The town was divided into seven road districts at the first, which in the progress of time have increased slowly until there are now thirteen. During the first five years or more after the town had been organized, cattle and swine were allowed to roam on the commons, excepting uncastrated males. At the annual town meeting in 1855, there were forty-seven voters, there being an increase of seventeen in five years. At this meeting $250 were voted for school purposes.
At the town meeting, April, 1858, voted to purchase a certain piece of land at Russell's Cor- ners for a burying-ground, to pay for which the sum of $12 was appropriated, and this is the only cemetery in town. In 1860, the town electors had increased to ninety-six, and the Superintend- ent's report shows $218.74 used for educational purposes. During the year 1862, a fence was built around the graveyard. November 17, 1862, a special meeting was called for the purpose of raising money to pay the volunteers enlisted from this town, by L. H. Wells. After the
T
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HISTORY OF SAUK COUNTY.
meeting was called to order, it was at first proposed to raise $361; motion put, and lost. It was then moved that the above sum be raised by a tax on the next assessment roll. This motion, being agreeable to the voters, was approved. On the 1st day of December, 1863, pursuant to a call of twelve electors of the town, a special meeting was held for the purpose of raising more money to pay volunteers. At this meeting it was decided by vote to raise and pay $200 each to six men, required to fill out a town quota of men demanded for the service. Again, on the 27th of February, 1864, a special meeting was held, and a vote taken to pay $200 each to every volunteer from this town. On the 16th of August of the above year, another meeting was held pursuant to a special call, and a vote was taken to levy a tax to raise $2,400 bounty for twelve volunteers. At this meeting, seventy-two votes were polled, fifty being for the tax, and twenty- two against it. Pursuant to call, another meeting was convened soon after the above, namely, in January, 1865, when $2,400 more was appropriated to pay more men for going to the war.
July 29, 1865, another special meeting was called to raise money to pay for destroying a different foe, the enemies in this case being wildcats and wolves, which had become exceedingly troublesome. The bounty voted was $10 for every wolf-skin, and $5 for every wildcat or lynx- skin. This was eventually reduced to $5 and $3.
Amount of money used for education in town in 1865, was $311. At the town meeting, on the 2d of April, 1878, the voters denounced the action of former Town Board, and declared they had been acting fraudulently and deceptively in collecting a larger amount of money than had been voted at the annual meeting. (For number of voters now in the town, consult census reports.)
The Franklin Mutual Farmers' Insurance Company was organized in the town of Franklin, January 6, 1877, and at first included only the towns of Franklin, Spring Green and Bear Creek. James Bandel was elected President at the time of organizing, and holds the position still ; Richard H. Douglas, Secretary. The Directors were George G. Morgan, Richard H. Douglas, James Bandel, Edward Lester and James Ochsner. In 1879, the company embraced the towns of Ithaca, Buena Vista, Sylvan, Richland, Willow and Rockbridge, in Richland County.
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