Wiscoy Township

Wiscoy Township

Wiscol' township lies in T. 105, R. 7. Its boundaries are, on the north Wilson township, on the east Pleasant Hill township, on the south Houston county, and on the west by Hart township. It comprises thirty-six complete sections. The surface, like that of the neighboring country, is very much broken. Money Creek valley, a deep valley running almost north and south, is traversed by a stream which bears its name. There are two branches of this creek, the east branch and west branch. The main stream enters the township on Sec. 35. The east branch flows north through Sees. 27, 26 and 24, while the west branch traverses Sees. 28, 29, 20, 16. This subdivides and flows north through Sees. 8, 9, 7 and 5. The soil is productive, raising wlieat, corn, oats and barley. The average crop is said to be, wheat per acre, 15 bushels ; corn 50 buslu'ls; oats, 40 bushels; barley, "siuall (juantities." Timber is ])lentitul throughout tlie township. There are but three district schools in Wiscov, namely, on Sees. 12, 16 and 27. There are in all about 150 pupils in the township. The first school was the one now standing on Sec. 12, built 1857. The first teacher was Rufus Thomas. There is one cemetery in Wiscoy, standing on Sec. 16, laid out in 1866. A Methodist Episcopal church stands on Sec. 12. It has a very small membership, and its insignificant history is enveloped in comparative obscurity. Wiscoy has two flourmills, one standing on Sec. 29, owned by Judson Wells (a frame building ei-ected in 1856, and having a capacity of fifty barrels per day). Another mill owned by L. J. Clark, built 1865, stands on Sec. 16, and has a capacity of forty barrels per day. The first postoffice in Wiscoy was kept by Benton Aldrich as early as 1857 on Sec. 86. James Clark took charge of the office in 1873, and has been postmaster since that time. The first settler in Wiscoy was Ira A. Boianton, who came in 1855 and settled on Sec. 12. Ira Boianton is now dead, but the farm is in the hands of his children and widow.

A. F. Hill arrived the same year and took up a farm on the same section. II. A. Corey and Lemuel Abell came to Wiscoy the same year (1855). H. A. Corey settled on Sec. 24, in Money Creek valley. He is still living and in possession of his farm. Lemuel Abell settled on N.W. J of Sec.' 3. O. G. Morrison arrived in 1857 and entered a part of Sec. 27. Both Lemuel Abell and O. G. Morrison have kept their farms without changing hands. The township was organized and the first meeting held May 10, 1858. Rufus Thomas was a])pointed town clerk. The members of the first board were : Lemuel Abell, Joseph Brooks, supervisors ; H. A. Corey, assessor; Franklin Vidits, collector ; James Greenfield, overseer of the poor ; Calmer Harris, Edward Taylor, justices of the peace ; Esben Skinkle, A. B. Watsen, constables. The town clei-ks in order : Rufus Thomas, 1858-9 ; S. G. Jones, 1859-60 ; C. A. Fuller, 1860-62 ; C. A. Wheeler, 1862-65 ; M. S. Wood, 1865-67 ; C. A. Wheeler, 1867-8; D. W. Pickart, 1868-9; S. G. Jones, 1869-72; James (lark, 1872-82-3. Present board: E. Skinkle, Charles Waldo, wnY>KA villa(;e. Witoka was laid out in 1855 by Geo. W. Morse, L. Thomas and David Parker. It lies on Sec. 35 and comprises an area of fifty- eii^ht acres. It was known at first by the name of Centerville, but was afterward changed to Witoka. L. Thomas came May 16, 1855, and built the first house in the village. He also jDut up a store for the sale of general merchandise. The same year Calvin Ford came and started a store also. A blacksmith shop was built at this time by Wm. Jones, who was followed by Harvey Bourne. The first postoffice was established in 1856; L. Thomas was the postmaster. - During the fii-st year he carried the mail at his own expense, but at the end of that time a mail route was established. The first marriage was that of Becky Smitli to Wm. More in 1857. In 1856 a small dwelling-house was built which was turned into a schoolhouse. This school was taught by Rufus Thomas. A district school was erected in 1857 ; the first teacher was Charlotte French. There was a doctor in the village at this time. Dr. Samuel Miller. Divine service was held as early as 1855, in the house of L. Thomas, presided over by Rev. Cogswill. The next year, 1856, a series of sermons were delivered every tour weeks by Elder L. Babcock, in the same place. After this meetings were held in the schoolhouse,- by both Methodist and Baptist ministers. The first hotel in Witoka, a large frame building, was owned by L. Thomas, and was burned in 1877. At present there are two towns, known respectively as West or Old Witoka and East or New Witoka. All the residence part of the village is in West Witoka, while the business part, stores, hotel, etc., lies in East Witoka. East Witoka lies directly on the line between Wilson and Wiscoy townships. When the Pleasant Valley road was laid out in 1878, all the stores, etc., left the old town and came over to East Witoka. At present writing there are two stores in East Witoka, kept respectively by O. Abell and George Yongs ; two blacksmith shops, owned by Phillip Bourne and B. Bragg ; two wagon shops, worked by B. Bragg and Walter Crandell ; a large brick hotel two stories high, run by L. Thomas. The dimensions of the hotel are 84x21: feet, with a wing 26x18. The postmaster is O. Abell. A fine graded school was built in West Witoka in 1868. It is a frame building with a dimension of 80X30 feet. The school has two departments; the "principal'' is W. Wilbur, with Emma Stray er as "assistant." J. Crandall is the village physician. There is one church in West W^itoka, the Congregational. The building was intended for the use of a grangers' hall, but was sold in 1879 to the church. Rev. Elmer was the first pastor ; he was replaced in 1880 by the pi-esent pastor, H. A, Bushnell. A Sabbath school exists in connection with the church, with an average attendance of sixty-live pupils. Henry Kader is the superintendent. There is one society in Witoka, the "Witoka Grange.'"' This association was organized in 1870, with a membership of 1-14. The otHcers for 1882 were : G. M. Hiley, worthy master ; J. E. Balch, secretary; H. Neman, treasurer. Its object is mutual protection from monopolies and exorbitant charges for transportation.

Wilson township lies in T. lOG and R. 6. It is bounded on the north by AYinona township, on the south by Wiscoy township, on the east by Homer township and on the west by Warren township. The surface is very much broken, and is divided by the bluffs into two valleys running north and south. These valleys are traversed by two creeks, West Burns Valley creek and East Burns Valley creek. West Burns Valley creek rises in Sec. 15 and flows northeast through the valley, and joins the east branch on N.E. ^ Sec. 8. East Burns Valley creek has its source in Sec. 9, flows north to Sec. 3, where the two unite and leave the townshi]) on Sec. 2. The soil is productive and wheat, corn, oats and barley are raised. In an early day this land was thickly covered with timber, which has now been to a great extent cut down. The township comprises thirty-six complete sections, and measures six miles in each direction. It was organized May 11, 1858, with W. W. Kelly as town clerk. The officers appointed at this first meeting were : J. S. Wilson (chairman), D. McDougall, Myron Toms, supervisors; M. W. Crittindon, assessor ; Amos Shepherd, collector ; William Jones, overseer of the poor ; William Jones, Alvin Lufkins, constables ; Reuel

The average crop for the year 1882 is said to be, oats per acre, 45 bushels ; wheat per acre, 12 bushels ; corn per acre, 40 bushels ; barley per acre, 20 bushels.

Wilson township has seven district schools ; the}^ stand on the following sections : 18, 13, 20, 28, 31, 32, 35. The county poor farm is in this township ; it lies on Sec. 6 at the liead of Gilmore valley. There are four churches in Wilson township, namely. Congregational, on Sec. 35 (village of Witoka) ; Evangelist (German), on Sec. 28 ; German Catholic and Lutheran.

There are two postoffices in Wilson township, one at Witoka, O. Abell, postmaster ; another on Sec. 29 is kept by Henry Biaiser - this is known as Wilson postoffice. The first house in the township was built by J. Giles in 1854 on Sec. 29. Frank Brown was the first child born, in 1854, The postoffice now known as Wilson postoffice was first called Wayland postoffice, and was kept by John F. Giles. John Giles was no doubt the first man to settle in Wilson ; he came as early as 1853 and entered a part of what is now Sec. 29. He was, however, dissatisfied with his claim, and removed, but returned again in 1854. The year 1855 was marked by the entrance of a large number of land-seekers. J. C. Walker, Antone Schoebe, Joseph A. Hilbe, Joseph Heller, Wm. Bergman, Sr., Wm. Bergman, Jr., Louis Keller, Levi Winget, Jerry Moran, R. D. Fellows, Michael Koenig, Henry Benig, Lauren Thomas and Henry Heublin all were among the number.

John Nevill is said to have come in 1854, One year earlier than the above. J. C. Walker entered a part of Sec. 1 ; his farm has since been sold, and is known as "Hamilton's farm." Antone Schoebe and Joseph Hilbe took up land in East Burns valley. Joseph Heller entered land at the head of Rolling Stone valley. Louis Keller settled on Sec. 28, where he can be found still. Henry Benig settled on Sec. 30 and Michael Koenig on Sec. 21. The Hourmill now owned by M. J. Laird, of Winona, was the first and only mill in Wilson.

Warren Toavnship

Warren township lies in T. 106 N. and R. 8 W. Its boundaries are as follows : On the north Hillsdale township, on the east Wilson township, on the south Hart township, and on the west Utica township. The surface in the north and northeastern part is viTv much broken, wliile the remainder forms a level prairie. The soil is good and the products are wheat, corn, oats and barley. Warren is traversed by two branches /)f Rolling Stone creek. The east branch rises in Sec. 26, flows north through Sees. 23, 14, 11, 10, 8 and 2, leaving the townshi}) on Sec. 3. The west branch rises in Sees. 7 and 8, flows northeast through Sec. 5 and leaves the township on Sec. .5. Warren is also cut by the Winona & St. Peter railway, which enters the township on N.W. ^ of the N.E. ^ Sec. 4, runs southwest through Sees. 5, 18, 17 and 8, and leaves it on S.W. J of Sec. 18. Warren has no village settlements whatever. There are two postoflices, each in the southern portion of the township. Wyattville postoflice is in Sec. 33 ; it was established about 1859, with Hiram Wyatt as postmaster. Frank Hill postofRce was established at the same time, with A. B. Dunlap as postmaster. ^ About 1862 two other postofMces were in existence, one in Sec. 19 and the other in Sec. 20. The one in Sec. 19 was known as North Warren, and kept by L. C. Ferrin ; the one in Sec 20 was kept by Hiram Paris, and was known simply as Warren postoflice. Both of these were abandoned soon after their establishment. In 1856 a large hotel or tavern was kept for the accommodation of travelers by James McQuestion on Sec. 20. This hotel was burned some time in 1865. A store devoted to general merchandise was owned and run by Farrar & Russell in 1859 on Sec. 33, This has been abandoned long since. A flour-mill was built in 1857 ; this was at first used as a sawmill, but was converted into a gristmill in 1865. " This mill stands on Sec. 4, and is owned by William Duncanson ; its capacity is very small.

Leonard George kept a school in 1856 in a private house which stood on Sec. 21. The next school was kept by Margaret Grey in a little schoolhouse built on Sec. 31 in 1857. Susan Buswell taught the next in 1858 ; this was in Sec. 20.

William Duncanson came to Warren township in the spring of 1854 from La Crosse. The first wagon track was made by him through this section on June 5, 1854. He settled on what is now the N^E. 1 of S.E. i Sec. 20. In the fall of 1854 Theodore, son of Wm. Duncanson, was born : this was undoubtedly the first birth in the township. The first laid-out road was that known then as the territorial road, running from Oliatfield through Rush Creek and Sec. 20 t«-) Stockton.

present there are the following churches : Methodist, in Sec. 20 ; Presbyterian, in Sec. 36 ; Brethren, in Sec. 19. To each of these is attached a cemetery.

William Duncanson, of whom mention has been made, was the oldest settler in Warren. He came in June, 1854-. He was followed in the fall by Jacob Duncanson, his brother. Jacob Duncanson, with his family, settled on Sec. 21 ; Oliver Panger and A. J. Ayers Arrived at the same time and entered part of Sec. 19. The following made their appearance in 1855 : Joseph Mixter, Lucius Brainerd, Frederick Hall, Moses Stickney, Hiram Wyatt, Sylvester Frink, E. B. Jewett, Mortimer Gage and H. P. Archer. The following came in 1856 : Theodore Warnkan, Arnt Warnkan, John Demoung and Jessie Wheeler.

A stone-quarry, on Sec. 3 of Warren township, employs from 200 to 400 men during the summer months. A variety of limestone, very valuable for building purposes, is taken from this quarry, [t is owned by the Chicago & Northwestern railway, and has been worked for four years.

Brethren. Church of Warren townshijp. - This church was organized in the year 1855, with the following official members : Phillip Pamer, elder ; David Whetstone, deacon, and Christian F. Wirt, pastor. The lay members were Stephen Thackery and wife, Solomon Ramer and wife, Peter Ramer and wife, Daniel Ramer and wife, Andrew Ketcrmaii and wife. The meiubersliip at first numbered sixteen. It is impossible to give the complete history of this church, as the record has not alwa^^s been kept. This much, however, is known. In the first tliree years of its organization four members died and several removed from the country, while a few deserted the church and united with the Advents. The church up to 1874 held service in the schoolhouse. In 1874 a building was erected to be used as a church. It was a frame structure, "SOxSO feet. They possessed a plot of one and a half acres for church and cemetery. The new church cost $1,600, and stands on Sec. 19. A Sabbath school connected with the church is in a good condition. Presbyterian {German) Church of Warren township. - Regularly organized in 1873. Prominent original members : John Lafky, Peter Hertzwurm, Paul Loerch, John Lafky, Jr. The church is a frame building, put up in 1874. It is forty feet long and twenty-four feet wide, and stands on Sec. 36. Connected with the church is eight acres of land and a cemetery. The ministers in order are John L. Funk, Jacob Schaeder, John Leirer, August Bush. A neat frame parsonage is connected with the church. The membership is said to be twenty-four.

Hillsdale is but one-half of an entire township comprising eighteen complete sections in all. Its boundaries are, on the north Polling Stone, on the east Winona, on the south Warren, and on the west Norton. It is six miles long and three miles wide. On the north, east and south portions the surface is broken, while to the northwest there is a slight prairie land or "grubb land" as it is sometimes called. It has a limestone soil composed of a rich dark loam. One of the early pioneers, while breaking land on the present site of Stockton, dropped potatoes along in the furrows as he plowed and at the same time turned the sod over them. The land was not touched again until fall, when out of the one-fourth acre of land he dug 110 bushels of potatoes. (The richness of the soil can be imagined.) Timber was jJentiful at first, esj)ecially along the streams. There were several kinds of oak besides hickory and butternut. Oak is plentiful still. Among the animals were deer, red-fox, prairie-wolf, badgers, woodchucks and beavers in the streams. The early pioneers, sliut out almost entirely from the east excejit in summer, found it difficult to secure provisions. Deer and prairie-cliickens were numerous, and venison was a great article of food. Potatoes alone brought $1.40 per bushel, and other things in proportion. Timber was plentiful, but lumber was scarce. J. H. Swindler says he built him a house in 1855, 14x16 feet, out of 1,200 feet of lumber; the dimension pieces and framework were taken from the neighboring woods. The earliest settlers were a few of the members of the "Western Farm and Village Association " of New York city. S. D. Putnam, Charles Bannan and Lawrence Dilworth all came in 1852, and were members of the above company. S. A. Houck, O. H. Houck and John McClintock came in 1853. In 1855 J. J. Matteson, John Hart, C. Hertzberg, Jabez Churchill and J. H. Swindler arrived. S. D. Putnam entered the N.E. J of Sec. 27 in June, 1852. Charles Bannan entered a part of Sec. 23 and John McCliqtock a part of Sec. 27. Lawrence Dilworth settled on Sec. 23, J. J. Matteson on Sec. 26 and John Hart on Sec. 23.

What is now known as district 31 on Sec. 23 is said to have been the first school in Hillsdale. It was built early in 1857 by private subscription, the districts not being organized at that time. The schools at present, with their section and districts, are : District 81 on Sec. 31, dist. 97 on Sec. 30, dist. 31 on Sec. 23, dist. 110 on Sec. 36, dist. 17 on Sec. 34. The average number ot pupils in Hillsdale for 1882 is 203.

A grist-mill was built in 1865 on Sec. 26, by Benjamin Sherry. It was two and one-half stories high and had two run of burrs. It stood on Rolling Stone creek. At present writing it is owned by H. W. Jackson. The Winona & St. Peter railway runs through the township in a northeasterly and southwesterly direction. It has a station at Stockton. Hillsdale is also traversed by Polling Stone creek, which enters the township on Sec. 34, flows north through Sees. 27 and 26, and leaves the township on Sec. 23.

The township was organized and the first board appointed May 11, 1858 : J. B. Alexander, town clerk ; L. R. King, James Gwinn, M. Collins, supervisors ; J. B. Morehead, assessor ; O. D. Hicks, collector ; Henry Wiseman, overseer of the poor ; T. Q. Gage, justice of the peace ; S. T. Gwinn, J. Schmettyer, constables. Successive town clerks : J. B. Alexander, C. E. Gage, J. B. Alexander, A. S. Gregory, George Little, John A. Moore, J. N. Byington. Wm. H. Churchill, George S. Wiseman, J. N. Byington, H. W. Mowbray, B. Dripps, F. A. Thomas, James Mitchell (present town clerk). Present board : John Monk, W. H. Jackson, H. J. Krans- key, supervisors; S. T. Gwinn, John Midler, constables; James King, Henry Kranske}', justices ot the peace ; James King, collector ; George McNutt, treasurer.

Stockton Village

The village of Stockton, in Hillsdale township, was laid out in the summer of 1856, although the land was pre-emj)ted in 1855 ; J. B. Stockton, Wm. Davidson and Wm. Springer were the proprietors. The town was named after J. B. Stockton ; Stockton stands on the E. ^ of Sec. 34. The plat is one mile long and one-half mile wide, and embraces an area of 320 acres. Rolling Stone creek enters the town plat on the west and flows northeast through the village. Stockton stands in the main Rolling Stone valley, sometimes spoken ol as the ''west branch.''

In the summer of 1855 PI. A. Putnam emigrated to this section with his family, and built a frame building, 24x IS feet, which was used both as a dwelling and as a store for general merchandise. This was undoubtedly the lirst house erected. Among the early residents may be mentioned : George Gregory and family. Rev. Wm. Poling, John Dacon (blacksmith), Andrew Miller (carpenter), Henry Parrot (wagonmaker), Robert Curtis (blacksmith), Henry Wiseman and John xVlexander. Wiseman and Alexander owned a carpenter and wagon shop in 1857. The year 1858 was marked by the grading of the "Transit railway" (now Winona & St. Peter), which cut through the town. The population were pleased with the new venture and were anxious for its com])letion, but when the company failed and were unable to pay their bills for labor and goods, the enterprise was looked upon with disfavor. The road was then purchased by the Winona & St. Peter company, a ;d com])leted in 1861.

J. B. Stockton was the proprietor of the lirst hotel in 1856. Wm. Dodge was the tirst ])ostmaster in Stockton. The oflice was kept in 1856 just south of the town line. The present mill was built in the shape of a sawmill in 1855, by Wm. Dodge. In 1857 it was sold to Starbuck & Jones, who converted it into a gristmill with two run of burrs. Li 1859 it passed into the hands of Hugh Sherry, who sold a half interest to Dr. S. B. Sheardown. It was run by the above for Ave years, when it was purchased by Mowbray & Sons, the present possessors. In 1870 the old burrs were abandoned and new patent rolling and crushing machinery put in. The capacity is now 250 bbls. per day. Rolling Stone creek supplies half the power, the remainder is secured by steam-engines. The mill is a frame structure, three stories high, and doing a lively business. The first school, a frame building, 20x28 feet, was built in 1857, and was taught by Albert Thomas. The present school, a large frame building, was built in 1875. It has a dimension of 28x50 feet. There are two departments, a primary and intermediate department. Two teachers and an average attendance of 100 pupils. This school is doing some good work.

Present merchants are as follows : Thomas & Swindler, general merchandise, also drugstore ; Sheardown & Sheardown, general merchandise and drugs ; James Mitchell, hardware and boots and shoes ; Simon Ramm, general merchandise. Two physicians, namely. Dr. S. B. Sheardown, Sr. ; Dr. T. B. Sheardown, Jr. Two blacksmith shops kept by Christopher Lowerish and Geo. McNutt.

Stockton has two churches, the Episcopal and Methodist. The services of the Episcopal church were held at first in the schoolhouse at Stockton. The first minister was Rev. Benj. Evans. The congregation was regularly organized in 1859, and a church building was erected the same year. This structure is of frame, 32x42 feet, with a spire forty^-five feet high. Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Bond, Wm. H. Bayard and family, J. A. Moore and family and John Monk and family were the prominent original members. For several years the church has been without a regular minister. Rev. Joseph Hilmer, of Winona, has charge of the congregation at present.

Methodist church meetings were held in Stockton's Hotel as early as 1856, Rev. A. J. Nelson presiding. These were continued until 1857, at the building of the schoolhouse, when it was used. Rev. Wm. Poling was appointed minister by the conference in 1857. A frame church was built in 1872 ; dimensions, 40x32 feet; tower or belfry, fifteen feet (above roof). Rev. Wm. H. Soule was the first minister appointed for the new church. Present membership, forty-four.

A Sabbath school was organized in 1856 by Mrs. H. A. Putnam, in her own house. The present school has a membership of fifty, with five teachers. Rev. W. A. Miles is the minister for 1883.

much good tor the community, but at present it has fallen into decay. The otticers are: W. H. Thomas, W.P.; Mrs. Mary Blair, R.S.; Leila McNutt, F.S.; Frank Mitchell, I.S.; Alex. Torrence, O.S. ; F. E. Blair, Treas. ; Geo. Kissinger, Chap. Charter members at present, forty.

Stockton cemetery, having an area of two acres, was laid out in 1860, at the north end of tlie town plat. The main streets are fouirods wide, excepting Broadway, which is six rods wide. The alleys are sixteen feet. The population is said to be 383.