Columbia County, Wisconsin - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 11 of those read), 1880 (part 3 of 3)

The Methodist Episcopal society organized a class and Sabbath school at Randolph Center, in 1849. They own no building, but for several years they have used the Wesleyan Church, and hold religious services there every Sunday.

The German Catholic Church, on Section 7, was built in 1861, on land donated by John G. Fisher. Religious services are held there occasionally by a priest from Beaver Dam.

In 1868, School District No. 3, having decided to build a new schoolhouse at Randolph Center, by mutual agreement the town built a stone basement under it for the purpose of a town hall, at a cost of $642.05; furniture, $77.50; total, $719.55.

Randolph Center, at an early day, was platted as a village, but it never contained enough inhabitants for a set of village officers. In addition to what is mentioned elsewhere, it contains a post office, blacksmith and wagon shop.

What streams we have in town start from springs, except the one on the marsh, on Section 1, through which the small outlet of Lake Emily runs. We are pretty well up in the world, having a position on the boundary or divide between the Valley of the Mississippi and the Valley of the St. Lawrence, and on many farms the rain as it foils divides and finds its way to the ocean by different routes, a portion by the Gulf of Mexico and a portion by the St. Lawrence, so we have no fears of the greatest freshet doing us any damage. But I must not omit to mention that the celebrated Fox River takes its rise here at Lake Sarah, on the line between Section 4 and 5. It is not much of a lake, however, and once or twice, to my knowledge, during the time of our great droughts, it became perfectly dry, and at other times it is only a pretty good duck pond ; but nevertheless, it has been honored with the name of lake. I presume it must have been a wet time when it was named.

One-half of the area of this township is prairie, the wooded portions occurring especially in the northern half Marsh extends along the stream in Sections 15, 10, 11, 2 and 1, and also along the eastern side of the town. The surface is generally level, lying at an altitude of 350 to 400 feet. On the east sides are the heads of several small streams that pass eastward to Rock River. In the southwest quarter, the head-waters of Duck Creek make a deep ravine whose bottom has an altitude of only 240 feet.

The first entry of land in the town was made by Mary Perry, the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 12. Entered February 8, 1844; patented September 1, 1846.

Town Of Scott

Among the first settlers in this town were Matthew W. Patton, Samuel McConachie, William Jones, John G. Evans, John Smith, John McConachie, George Payne, Edward Root, James Inglehart, Theodore Thomas, John Sawyer and John Dodge. The first mentioned moved on to his claim in the fall of 1845, the others coming in the following spring or soon after. At this time, neighbors were like angel's visits, " few and far between," while the nearest post office was Fox Lake. For their mill privileges they were compelled to go to Beaver Dam, or to Catfish mill, fifteen miles south of Madison. Mr. Inglehart, on one occasion, went to Beaver Dam with a load of wheat to be ground, and was informed that it could not be done inside of four weeks. Not wishing to be delayed so long, he prevailed upon the miller to exchange a small sack of flour for some wheat, and returned home, divided it between four families, and set out for Catfish mills. At this place hfe was more fortunate, being enabled to return home in about ten days with his flour. On the 30th of December at 11 o'clock A. M., rain began to fall and continued for two hours, when it commenced snowing, continuing all night, covering the earth to a depth of eighteen inches. This snow remained upon the ground until the following spring. The neighbors of Mr. Inglehart experienced great difficulty in procuring food, many of them during the entire winter living on buckwheat cakes, the wheat being ground by Inglehart in a small coifeemill, and then run through a small sieve. Fifteen bushels of buckwheat were ground in this manner.

As in many other places, the Methodist " circuit rider " was the first to wend his way into this new country with the "story of the Cross." This was in 1847, since which time ministers of other denominations have presented their peculiar views for the consideration of those who would hear. Four churches have since been erected in the town, one on Section 12 by the Reformed Lutherans, another on Section 26 by Welsh Methodists, the third on Section 7 by the Methodist Episcopal brethren, and the fourth on Section 34 by the Presbyterians.

The first settlers were from the Eastern States, but at present many nationalities are represented among its citizens, the Americans predominating.

During the late war, the town showed its devotion to the Union in a prompt response to every call made by the national authorities, in no instance permitting a draft to be made.

Mark Barden and Freeman M. Ross, from this town, have represented the county in the General Assembly, serving with credit to themselves and honor to their constituency. Other men who became known outside of their own immediate neighborhood may be mentioned Squire Patton, Judge of the High Court of Centerville, and Edward Root, the honest man.

The south and east part of the town is prairie land, while the west and north part is timber land and openings. The northwest part has a sandy soil, while the south part is good heavy black loam.

Jude Luning taught the first school in the winter of 1847-48. and boarded around among the scholars for the sum of $12 per month. The house was situated upon Section 1, and, in 1879, was still standing upon its original site, but for many years it had been used for storing grain raised upon the farm of Robert Beattie. A potato patch had also, for many years, adorned the school ground where the children formerly romped and playe!. The house was long used as a place of worship by various religious bodies.

In 1860, the Presbyterians built a house on Section 34, and continued to hold services therein until 1872, when the congregation disbanded, its members visiting with such congregations as was convenient for them to attend. The Methodists had, as early as 1847, a class in this neighborhood, but which ceased to exist after a few years. In 1872, when the Presbyterians retired from the field, the class was re-organized by Rev. Daniel Brown, a local preacher. In 1871», they had a membership of thirty-two, with Ervin McCall as Class Leader. From 1872, the congregation had enjoyed the ministerial services of Revs. Brown, Smith, Teel, Suifron, Bronson, Shepherd and Logan. A Sunday school was organized at the same time as the class.

John Dodge settled in this town in the fall of 1844, but went back the same fall to New Hampshire and returned in the latter part of the winter, stopping at Cliicago to purchase a span of horses. Reaching Watertown, he bought a load of of corn and oats and brought it through. He then sent his brother to Green Bay on horseback to enter the quarter-section on which he now lives. A little more than two years later, the horses were stolen and run oif south, and John was left to mourn their loss, as he never found them This was the first horse team owned in this section. In the fall of 1844, snow fell to the depth of four inches in October, which was his first season here. They did not get their shanty completed until the middle of November, and it was very cold, but John says they did not mimi much about cold and storms then.

In October of that year, he went down on the marsh and cut a small stack of hay, which, of course, was nearly worthless. Sara Langdon sold him a little hay, and the rest of his supply he bought at the rate of $20 per ton from an ex-soldier, named Howey, who, after serving his time at Fort Winnebago, had embarked in a limited way in farming, about two miles north of the old Powderly place. This, with the small store of grain he brought from Watertown, tided his stock through that dreary winter ; John avers that his steers in the spring -' looked like delegates from the seven years of' famine,' lean tiesh and ill-favored." Powderly's house on the old military reservation was the only one between his place a!id Portage.

Deer and small game were plenty, and from time to time they replenished their larder with a buck or pheasant. He shot one buck from his dooryard. For two years or more, they were obliged to go to Beaver Dam or Columbus to mill, the trip occupying two days to go there, leaving their grist and returning for it in about a month, which required another day. In the fall of 1845, M. W. Patton, afterward known as the " High Court of Centerville," made his appearance at Mr. Dodge's, tired and hungry from land-hunting. The squire called for dinner, tfi which Mr. Dodge favorably responded. Patton says it was one of "' his biggest meals." and John believed him. The squire first' beheld John coming out of the woods with a gun and squirrel. He waited outside of the cabin while the culinary preparations were going on, the weather being fine, and fell to contemplating the scenery, thinking as his eye swept to the south that it was the finest panorama he had ever witnessed. Such a wealth of verdure, fertility and beautv reveling in its pristine glory he had never realized. Straight and lofty oaks clothed in their autumnal tints on the one hand, and the prairie with its rank vegetable growth on the other, bespoke the march of civilization and future wealth. After supper, Mr. Patton anil Perley went down to the creek and held a short palaver with a band of Indians that were trapping along the stream.

In 1846, the first move was made in the United States to found a settlement by the English " Potters' Society," which pitched its tent in the town of Scott, there arriving here in May, John Sawyer, Hamlet Copeland and James Hammond. The society had grown from a very feeble beginning, six years earlier, to a powerful co-operative society, accumulating considerable funds. It was organized to protect the artisans of this extensive labor class from the frequent strikes, and provide homes in America for many of its members, thus keeping a demand for labor for those that remained. They published a journal devoted to the interests of the society. Each new settler was entitled to twenty acres of land, a house to be erected on the land, and the family to be provisioned for one year, at the expense of the society. Sawyer, Copeland and Hammond were made Trustees of the society to invest funds in this country. They sailed from England in January, 1846, and arrived at New York the following April. . They were then instructed to erect cabins for the nex't year's installment out of funds in their possession.

At an early day, Theodore Thomas and Robert McConachie were together engaged in breaking land. In that neighborhood lived a family named Anderson. A fascinating young lady constituted one of the attractions of that household. It was always the custom to turn the cattle out to graze on the prairies through the evening and night, and they sometimes strayed a considerable distance. In the morning Robert would always say: " I will look around in the neighborhood of Anderson's," while of course Theodore would look in another direction, but could seldom find them, while Robert was nearly always successful. This fact after awhile aroused Theodore's curiosity, and he began to investigate the case, and discovered that his partner had furnished the salt, and induced the girl to salt them at her place. The treacherous plotter never could satisfactorily explain so palpable a deception.

In 1846, Samuel and John McConachie erected the " Blue Tavern," a roomy frame strucure. They " bached " it there a short time, when they rented the house to Zenas Oliver, who lived there about three years, and who was succeeded by Stephen B. Gage, who kept the house several years more, doing a thriving business. He charged travelers a shilling a meal, and always treated his customers to a drink of whisky. Out of these moderate charges he made a good deal of money. It was on the regular stage line, and in those days all the commercial and business traffic between Milwaukee and Portage passed over this road, as it was the main thor-- oughfare between these two points. It was no uncommon affair to see thirty or forty teams in a day on the road, carrying grain to Milwaukee, and freighting back goods. Mr. Gage stuck to the tavern until the railroad, in 1857, heralded the dawn of a new era, and this common thoroughfare almost lost its identity as a theater of busy life. The long line of teams daily toiling wearily through sand, marshes, tenacious clay and the frightful corduroys, consuming from ten to fourteen days to make the round trip to Milwaukee ; the jostling crowds at the wayside inns that dotted this great highway, the loquacious landlord who with a liberal hand dispensed ham, eggs and whisky to the teamster and the wayfarer, and then packed them away in his " prairie feather " beds, or sometimes, to meet the exigencies of the case, planted them on the floors ; the endless jokes and fearful stories that passed around the bar-room, and robbed toil of its tedium, are things of the past. - But they are still fresh in the memories of many of the pioneers who are yet working out their probation here, and who sometimes almost regret to see the modern innovation of steam breaking up the great social compact that bound them together as a band of brothers in common trials as well as in common joys.

All of Township 13, Range 11, was organized' into a town by the Board of Supervisors, at their annual meeting, held November, 1849, and it was given the name of Scott. The town is bounded on the east by Randolph, on the west by Marcellon, on the south by Springvale, on the north by Marquette County.

The town of Scott lies directly north of Springvale, and like it presents eastward projecting points of high|ground, with intervening sharply defined, and in part marshy-bottomed, ravines, which are occupied by the head-streams of Fox River.. The points of high land are shorter toward the northern part of the town, the longest lying on its south line. On the west side and into Marcellon, is an isolated area of high land, some three miles in length, from north to south. The low ground has a general altitude of 230 to 280 feet, the higher about 400. The extreme points are on the north half of Section 35. The latter point is on a prairie, which occupies the high ground on Sections 25, 26, 35 and 36, being an extension of the large prairie area of Randolph.

The first entry of land in the town was made by John Dodge, and consisted of the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 34. It was entered February 11, 1845, and patent issued June 1. 1848.

Town Of Springvale

This town is bounded on the east by Courtland and Randolph, on the west by Wyocena, on the north by Scott, and on the south by Otsego. In 1857, the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad was built through it, entering on Section 1, and crossing Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, and passing into Wyocena from Section 6. Duck Creek and its branches traverse the town in various directions. The territory comprising the town. Township 12, Range 11, was organized into a town by the Board of County Commissioners in 1849, and the name of Springvale given to it and the house of Edward Williams designated as the place for holding the first election.

Late in April, 1845, Ervin McCall came here from La Porte, Ind., in quest of a home. On the 1st day of May, he decided on the site of his present home, and, in the sub-land office at Fox Lake, immediately deposited the money for the entry of eighty acres of land. Mr. McCall stopped over night in the log tavern in that place, and, in the morning, long after sunrise, seeing no visible signs of a breakfast, he settled his bill and started for Oak Grove, a distance of fifteen miles, for breakfast. He arrived there late in the forenoon, got an early dinner, and while he was partaking of that meal a team passed the tavern ; he jumped up, settled his bill, ran and overtook the team, and secured a ride to ten miles beyond Watertown. He stayed over night with a farmer and took an early start the next morning. He was soon overtaken by a young man with a double-seated buggy, who was going to Milwaukee, who agreed to carry him to that point for the consideration of $1. He made a quick trip back to La Porte, and, early in September, with his family and brother John, with a wagon, two yoke of oxen, half a barrel of pork, a limited supply of other provisions and household goods, he started for his new home. While fording Fox River in Illinois (the bridge being gone), he overturned the wagon while ascending the bank, which resulted in a fracture of his wife's arm. The broken arm was properly adjusted and they came on to Rock County, where his brother-in-law, M. W. Patton, Jived. He left his family there, and, with his bi'other, pushed on with the team and stock, arriving here about the middle of September. The first night after their arrival here was spent at the log house of Sam Langdon. The next day, they commenced haying on the marsh near Cambria and got a winter's supply for their stock. They built a log house, and then Ervin returned to Johnstown, Rock County, for his family. Mr. Patton and family came back with them. While crossing the bridge over Rock River, a high and very narrow structure, the sides only protected by timbers laid along the edge of the bridge, a laughable incident occurred that might have been a lamentable accident. Mr. McCall was driving his two yoke of oxen, the wagon containing both families. The "leaders" were an exceptionably well-trained pair of old cattle, while the "wheel" oxen were a pair of skittish four-year-old steers. They had just got on the bridge, Mr. Patton following behind with a small herd of cattle, when a young heifer attempted to pass the team. It got by the wagon, but, getting frightened, turned in behind the steers and jumped astride the tongue. The steers snorted and plunged about in a very uncertain manner, and the risk of the whole load and teams going overboard seemed imminent. Perhaps they would, but for the nerve and coolness of Mr. McCall, who whipped up the head team and keeping the line straight, gave the heifer a free ride across the bridge and no harm was done, though all parties were badly scared. The squire, a terror-stricken witness of the scene from the end of the bridge, threw his hands over his head, assuming a most tragic attitude until the danger was passed, and then yelled out, "Well done." Had they been precipitated over the bridge, the result would likely have been fatal to the whole load. They came on the remainder of the way without further incident worthy of mention, and arrived at the hospitable residence of Sam Langdon on the 15th day of November, where they stayed all night, and the next day moved into the new cabin.

On the 27th of February, 1846, that winter, Janette Patton was "born, being the first female child born in the town of Springvale. She afterward married William Gage, now landlord of the City Hotel, Portage.

During the first winter of Mr. McCall's residence here, after making the necessary purchases of provisions to last until spring, he took an inventory of his bank and stock account, and found that his total assets were two twenty-five cent pieces. A little later, two Methodist ministers, who are never out of hearing of the pioneer's ax, came through here on a kind of frontier missionary work, preaching and locating places to preach. The elder of the two was the Rev. W. G. Miller, afterward a presiding elder and an eminent preacher of great worth and great popularity, and I suppose to the pioneers, "like the voice of one crying in the wilderness." He delivered a sermon to the settlers at the log house of Mr. Langdon, before mentioned, and that night was entertained at the home of Mr. McCall. To his colleague, the Rev. Mr. Hanson, a young man, Mr. McCall gave one of his twenty-five cent pieces. This was the first religious service held in the town.

Among the first settlers of the town were Ervin McCall, Robert Closs, Hugh Edwards, John Edwards, Evan Edwards, Robert Lloyd, John Rowland, Robert Rowland, William Lloyd. John 0. Jones, John Meredith, John Williams, Samuel Owens, Owen Samuel, Richard Owens, Alfred Cowley, John Morgan, David Roberts, John Leatherman and Mr. Jennings.

It was not until 1860, that a mill was built in the town. In that year, S. Ingram erected a small one, on the south branch of Duck Creek, on Section 20.

John Dodge, April 29, 1845, entered the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 1, and Lot 1 in Section 2, being the first entries in the town. He received his patents June 1, 1848.

Springvale lies on the Wisconsin side of the watershed. Three branches of Duck Creek traverse the town from east to west, running in flat, marshy, sharply defined valleys, which have an altitude of 230 to 260 feet, and are separated by tongues of high land which rise from 300' to 400 feet. The broadest marsh and valley are those of the north or main branch, the latter nearly four miles wide on the west line of the town. Prairie occiws on higher ground in Sections 11, 12, 13, 15 and 4, connecting with that in Courtland.

Springvale was the name given to a post office established in 1852, on Section 28, Thomas Cowley being the Postmaster. Ii was discontinued in one year, but re-established in 1862, on same section, with Wilbur Kennicat as Postmaster, and again discontinued after a short time.

Town Of West Point

This town lies in the extreme southwestern part of the county, and is bounded on the east by Lodi, on the north and west by Sauk County and on the south by Dane County. The first settlement in the town was made by Christian and David Dorsch, in 1845. Other early settlers of the town were Horace M. Ayer, Alonzo Waterbury, Simeon Ryder. Dr. Drew, James Thomas, Francis 0. Sisson, Lewis Baldwin, Jeremiah D. Shumway, Ira Polly, Jesse Van Ness, Aaron and Philip Burlingame, Cyrus Hill, Mr. Arnold, Eldredge Northup, Simon Walker, John Chance, Orrin Hutchinson, Christian Ribblett, William D. Partridge. Enias Carncross, Isaac Richardson, Peter Van Ness, Joseph Lester, Otis A. Kilburn and Timothy Tirrill.

On the organization of the county, in 1846, West Point was made a part of the Pleasant Valley Precinct. In 1849, it was attached to Lodi, but, on the 8th day of January, 1850, the Board of Supervisors set off the town, fixing as its eastern boundary, commencing at the northeast corner of the quarter-line, and running through the center of Sections No. 5, 8, 17, 20, 29 and 32, in Town 10, Range 8, and including all of Town 10, Range 7, lying south and east of the Wisconsin River. The house of J. D. Shumway was designated as the place for holding the first election.

The first marriage was that of Horace M. Ayer and Sarah A. Ryder, October 4, 1848. They were married by Aaron Chalfant, Esq. The day before the event occurred, Mr. Ayer went to tlie town of Lodi, to engage the services of Rev. Henry Maynard ; but, finding him absent from home, he engaged the Squire to perform the ceremony. A few minutes before the time set, the Squire, in company with a friend, was proceeding to the residence of the bridegroom-elect, when they noticed Mr. Ayer hard at work upon a house which he was erecting. Stopping, Mr. Chalfant called out, " Hello, young man ! ain't you the one that engaged me yesterday to come this afternoon to marry you ? " "Yes," replied Ayer, '' I'm the man. You go on down to the house and wait till I come. Like the man that was going to be hung, there can't be anything done till I get there." After finishing his task, the young man brushed his clothes a little, washed his face and proceeded to the house, was married, and at once took his bride to the home which he had prepared for the occasion.

In the fall of 1848, Miss Adula Jones taught a select school at the house of Otis A. Kilburn, in the south part of the town, it being the first. The next was in the Van Ness. neighborhood, and was taught by Miss Sarah B. Van Ness, in the fall of 1850, at which time the district was organized.

In 1852, on Section 13, Christian Riblett erected a sign, bearing the inscription, " Publick Inn," and. for a few years, entertained man and beast, this being the only hotel ever kept in the town.

The town of West Point, which includes all of Township 10, Range 7, south of the Wisconsin River, is skirted on the east and south by the edge of the high limestone country, which, from this part of its course, borders the Wisconsin all the way to its mouth. North and west of this edge, which is ragged, sending out irregular projecting points, the general surface is 200 to 300 feet lower, but the lowland includes a number of limestone-capped outliers, some of which have an area of several square miles, and reach as great altitudes as attained by the limestone country to the south and east - that is, 500 to 600 feet. Considerable areas of prairie occur in the central part of the town, including both lowland and high outlying bluffs.

In 1857, a post ofiice was established near the central part of the town, to which was given the name of West Point, after the town. Jesse Van Ness was the first Postmaster, and was succeeded in order by Corilus Stone, Cyrus Hill, S. C. Kingon. J. N. Fellows, William H. Worthley and Mrs. R. A. Moran. Another office was established in the south part of the

The most noted point in West Point is Gibraltar Bluffs, on Section 13, Township 10, Range 7, and Section 18, Township 10, Range 8. One of the legends of this bluff, as related by the old settlers, is, that at an early day, a party of hunters, with their dogs, had started a deer, which ran directly for the highest point, and being unable to check itself, jumped off into the marsh below, a distance of over 600 feet. The dog which was closely following it also gave a jump, the result of which can easily be imagined.

A story is related of Christian Riblett, of whom mention has been made. One winter, a party came to his house, and wished to engage him to cut wood for them upon some Government land, which lay but a short distance from his place of residence. A bargain was struck and Mr. Riblett worked faithfully during the entire winter, and a large quantity of wood was taken off. His wife several times anxiously inquired of him, if he was certain where he was at work. 0, yes, he knew what he was about. Time ran along, and, when the snow went off in the spring, his wife proposed, one day, they take a walk down where he had been cutting the timber. On arriving at the place the lady began to search for the corners, and soon found, as she feared, that her husband had all winter been stealing wood off his own land.

Wisconsin City. - While now there is neither city or village in the territory of West Point, there was a time when such was not the case. The State Historical Society, in 1872, published a report stating that : " Among the maps preserved by our Historical Society is an engraved plat of Wisconsin City ; without date, but made in 1836, 19 x 28 inches in size, and certified by John Mullett, United States Deputy Surveyor. It shows that this paper city was located on the south side of the Wisconsin River, on Sections 8, 9 and 17, Township 10, Range 7, situated in the bend of the river, on a beautiful eminence, commanding a splendid view of the stream, with two long public landings fronting the river ; a beautiful square for Territorial use, of two blocks; Franklin, La Fayette and Washington Squares, each four blocks - each block 260 feet square ; three market places, three blocks in length, and 200 feet wide ; streets from 60 to 100 feet wide. Isaac H. Palmer, of Lodi, confirms this description, adding that he visited the p.ace in 1837, with view of purchasing the city - it was then, he says, in all its glory, with the stakes all standing, or enough to show the public grounds. The locality of Wisconsin City is in the southwesthern part of the township of West Point, Columbia County, and must not be confounded with the paper place of the same name, mentioned elsewhere in this volume, located on Rock River, in Rock County ; nor yet Superior City, embracing the old Black Hawk battle-ground, in Dane County, a little below Sauk City."

The war record of West Point compares favorably with any town in the county. Her quotas were generally filled, and but one bounty tax was levied, and that near the close of the war, for $5,000.

The West Point Dairy Association was organized March, 1875, with a capital stock of $2,000. Enias Carncross was elected President; Martin Van Ness, Secretary; William Morrissey. Treasurer. During the season of 1875, the association made 30,880 pounds of cheese, which brought an average price of 10 cents per pound. In 1876, 42,605 pounds were made, realizing 8i cents per pound. In 1877, 55,102 pounds brought lOJ cents. In 1878, 57,904 pounds were made, which realized Ih cents per pound. In 1879, but little was made, the price during the season being so low, the association abandoned the work temporarily, with the intention of at once resuming when the price would justify. In 1880, the officers were Enias Carncross, President; Martin Van Ness, Secretary; William E. Smith, Treasurer ; W. B. Chrisler and George W. Nott, with the officers, forming a Board of Directors.

Town Of Wyocena

The land is generally what is called oak openings, mostly of a sandy soil ; but little of good land in town, but is well situated in regard to internal improvements.

The Fox River enters the town from Marcellon on Section 3, and runs southwest to the village of Pardeeville, where it forms a good mill site, thence northwest, emptying into Swan Lake. The north branch of Duck Creek enters the town from the east, on Section 13, thence west and southwest until near the east line of Section 21, where it forms a junction with the south branch, which enters the town from the east on Section 24, running in a nearly west course to the junction. From the junction the creek ruus nearly west through the town. There is a valuable mill site on the south branch on Section 23, and one on the creek 'on Section 21, one-half mile below the village of Wyocena, both occupied by mills.

The first permanent settlement in the town was made by Maj. Elbert Dickason, who moved here in May, 1843, and located on Section 21, and built the first house in town. The Major raised the first wheat in town on Section 21, and gave name to the town and village. He died here August 9, 1848.

Benjamin Dey moved here in January, 1844, and spent the winter with Maj. Dickason, and the summer following made the first entry of land on Section 10, and raised the first corn in town.

Aaron Hodgson settled on Lot 4, of Section 3, in 1845, and was the first settler in the north part of the town. In 1846, many others came into the town and became permanent settlers, among whom were Charles and Chauncy Spear, Darius Bisbee, S. H. Salisbury, Harvey Bush, Dr. Rockwood, Philip Hipner, Willis W. Haskin, and others. Harvey Bush built the first frame house on the southwest quarter of Section 22, which was afterward removed to the northwest quarter of Section 27.

In the summer of 1851, John Hunter and A. B. Winchell commenced building a gristmill on Duck Creek, one-half mile below the village of Wyocena. The mill was completed and commenced operations the next winter. It was burned down November, 1852, and rebuilt by Benjamin Dey in 1853.

The religious denominations are Catholic, Methodist, Congregationalist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Universalists and Episcopalians. The Catholics have a church on Section 32.

When the county adopted the county system of supporting the poor, the Commissioners purchased of Maj. Dickason's heirs the house and two acres of land with barn, at the village of Wyocena, for a county poor-house.

" After traveling around Wyocena for some time, I did not see any place that suited me any better than where the old log house stands on Section 10. I inquired of the Major if it was claimed by any one, and he told me it was claimed by Charles Temple, son-in-law of Capt.^ Low, so I went to Portage with the intention of buying it of him. He asked me if I wanted it for the purpose of selling it or to settle on and improve it. I told him I wanted to settle on it. He said I was welcome to the claim for that purpose. After I had built my house and moved into it, I received a letter from the claim society stating I was on C. Dinon's claim and I could accept of three offers: I could stay on the claim peaceably by paying $100, or I could give it up to them, or I must leave the country, as they would drive me out. I took the letter and went to the fort, as Portage was then called, to see my friend, H. Merrell. He sent for Capt. .Jewett and Lieut. Mumford, and showed them the letter, which stated the time when they were coming to pay me a visit ; that they had paid Mr. Lewis, of Columbus, a visit, and Mrs. Diefendorf, of Lowville, a visit. Capt. Jewett and Lieut. Mumford said they had six good wagons and teams, and they would be on the ground in one hour's notice with six wagon loads of regulars. I sent a letter back by the same man that brought it to me, to the reverend Claim Club Company, that I was not willing to capitulate on any of their terms ; that the only proposal I had to make to them was an open-field fight, on said prairie, by their giving me two hours' notice, and the victors to hold the spoils ; but I was never troubled with that party after that."

Samuel Wedge and Amanda White were the first couple, residents of the town, united in marriage - the event taking place in the fall of 1846. Another early marriage was that of Benjamin Yates and Eliza Ennis, in 1848. Miss Eanis, some time previous, had run away from home, and was working for Willis W Haskin. One day, on looking out, she discovered her father coming toward the house with the evident intention of taking her home. Seizing some of her things, she started out of the back door, where she encountered Mr. Yates, and told him the trouble she was in. Mr. Yates proposed they should be married at once, the proposition was accepted, and together the couple started for a minister, and in less than thirty minutes the two were made one.

The first election, before the organization of the town, was held in 1846, at the house of Elbert Dickason. Harvey Bush, Benjamin Dey and Solomon Salisbury were the Judges. The first election, on the organization of the town, was at the house of Richard C. Rockwood. The town was organized by the Board of Supervisors January, 1849, and is composed of all of Township 12, Range 10. It is bounded on the east by Springvale, on the west by Pacific, on the north by Marcellon, and on the south by Lowville. The name Wyocena, Maj. Dickason claimed, came to him in a dream. In that dream it was determined that the village should be the county seat, the same being realized for a period of one year in which the county business was here transacted.

In 1857, the Northern Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad was completed through the town, entering on Section 1, and passing west through Sections 2, 3, 4, 5 and into Pacific from Section 6. Afterward the La Crosse Division of the same road was completed through the town, entering on Section 31, and passing in a northwesterly direction, into Pacific.

The town of Wyocena resembles Marcellon in lying wholly within the Potsdam area, in possessing generally a low sandy soil, and in being entirely without prairie. The Fox River crosses the northern row of sections in an easterly direction, being bounded for the most of the distance by a marsh one-half to one mile in width. Duck Creek crosses the middle sections in a similar direction, and is similarly bounded by marsh. The Fox River marsh has an altitude of about 210 feet ; that of Duck Creek nearly the same. Between the two, there is a nearly level sand plain raised in its highest part not more than 20 to 30 feet above the streams. South of Duck Creek, the surface is much more broken, and near the south line are some quite high bluffs rising to an altitude of 350 feet.

The first entry of land in the town was made by Joseph W. Turner, June 17, 1886, and patented August 10, 1887, for Lots 5, 11 and 12, Section 5, containing 166 acres ; also Lot 5, Section 6, containing 58 acres.

1872 - C. J. Pardee, Chairman ; P. C. Irvine, A. E. Patchin, Supervisors ; H. W. Spear, Clerk ; A. M. Parmenter, Treasurer ; J. D. Shackley, Assessor.

Village Of Wyocena

Hotel of Dickeson. - One night, in the winter of 1844, Elbert Dickeson had a dream, so he affirmed, that upon the site of his farm, on Section 21, there would spring up a village called Wyocena, whichshould be the seat of justice for Columbia County. In the morning, he told his dream to Benjamin Dey, who was then stopping with him. The two talked the matter over and determined to put the plan into execution, for the fulfillment of the dream. To this end, Maj. Dickeson opened a public house, to "afford entertainment for man and beast." In 1846, the old log gave way to a large two-story frame building, which was duly dedicated with a grand dance the evening of July 4. Maj. Dickeson died in 1848 ; the hotel was not completed. Mr. A. A. Bull took a lease of the hotel for a term of years, completed the hotel ; he occupied it for one year, and leased it to William Wolcott for one year. Wolcott sold out his interest to John Hunter. Hunter sold out to Becker; his time expired with the lease. Widow Dickeson, married to Dr. Singer, took possession of the hotel, kept it a short time, and sold out to Noah Dickeson. He, Dickeson, sold his interest to I. M. Carr ; he sold to C. Hill, and he to W. Austin ; that closes the hotel business. The county bought the property for a county house, for which purpose it is now occupied.

About 1850, Dr. Rockwood built a public house, which was purchased by John Lewis, by him sold to J. Hunter ; he, in 1853, disposed of it to James Austin, who, iii 1880, had been in charge of the same for twenty-seven years. The name given to the house was Boston.

Maj. Dickeson, who was a practical surveyor, laid out and platted the new village, in 1846. The Board of County Commissioners adopting it as a temporary county seat, and the prospect seeming good for its being made permanent, lots brought a fair price and considerable improvements were soon under way.

Jacob Rogers was the first to embark in the mercantile business in the place. In 1847, he opened a stock of general merchandise and commanded a fair trade.

In 1817, the citizens erected a small frame building, for school purposes, which was used eight years, when, becoming too small, the district erected a two-story frame building, 32x40. The school was now divided into two departments, the primary department occupying the lower room, and the high school the upper. In 1879-80, Henry Stanley and Nellie Hughes were the teachers.

Some two years before the completion of this building. Elder Miner erected a building for a select school, in which the higher branches should be taught, and students be prepared for college. Only moderate success attended his efforts. In 1817, the building was disposed of to the Methodists and Baptists, for church purposes.

A post office was established here in 1845, with Harvey Bush as Postmaster. Jacob Rogers was next appointed. He resigned in favor of David R. Meloy. Mr. Meloy, in 1852, resigned in favor of John Weiting, who was commissioned by the Post Office Department, under James K. Polk. Through the successive administrations of Polk, Taylor, Fillmore, Pierce, Buchanan, Lincoln, Johnson, Grant and Hayes, Mr. Weiting has served the people. - In his proud boast that not a dollar ever mailed in this office has been lost, to the best of his knowledge.

In 1853. a grist-mill was erected by John Hunter and Chauncey Spear. In the fall of that same year, Benjamin Dey purchased the interest of Mr. Spear, the firm remaining Hunter & Dey for two years. In 1855, Mr. Dey purchased Hunter's interest, and, in the fall, the mill was burned. Mr. Dey immediately rebuilt, and on a more extensive scale. In 1865, he disposed of his interest to Mr. Sexton, of Milwaukee. Mr. Sexton continued sole proprietor for four years, when he sold to George Craig, who, in turn, in the spring of 1879, sold to Mr. Douglas.

Wyoaena Cheese Factory. - In the fall of 1875, a stock company was organized for the purpose of manufacturing cheese. A paid-up capital of -f 1,600, composed of sixty-four shares, at $25 each, was immediately subscribed. During the summer of 1876, about forty thousand pounds of cheese were manufactured, and the same during 1877. In 1878 and 1879, the amount was reduced to about twenty-five thousand pounds per year, in consequence of the inability of securing a supply of milk.

Spear's Cheese Factory. - This factory is located about one mile east of the village, and began operations in the summer of 1878, making about twenty -five thousand pounds of cheese. In the summer of 1879, the .same amount was manufactured.

ConyregntioJialist Church. - In the spring of 1853, Rev. S. E. Miner organized a congregation of fifteen members. For two years, services were held in the schoolhouse, but, in 1855, a small, neat house of worship was erected, at a cost of $1,600. From the organization up to Januaiy, 1880, Revs. Miner, Barton, Jenkins, Hassell, Donaldson, Richards, Fairfield, Logan and Ball have served as Pastors. At this time, there were twenty-eight members, with James I. Purvis, George Hill and De Witt Gilson as Trustees ; A. E. Patchin and John Wood, Deacons. A Sunday school was organized in 1853, which continued for three years, when, in connection with the Methodists and Baptists, a union school was organized.

Baptist Church. - The first religious services held in the town, at which there was preaching, was in the summer of 1846, Elder Wood, a Baptist minister, officiating. Elder Wood preached here occasionally for one year, and then returned East. In 1852, Elder Moses Rowley organized a congregation, with D. A. Vaughn and wife, Mrs. Electa Spear and Mr. Sherman and wife, in the organization. Elder Wood returned in 1853, and was called to the pastorate, serving for four years, when he went to Baraboo and remained thi-ee years. Elder Meredith, during that time, having charge of the Wyocena Church. In 1860, Elder Wood again resumed the pastorate, with a record of twenty years' continuous service in the spring of 1880. In conjunction with the Metliodists, the schoolhouse erected by Elder Miner was purchased in 18.57, wherein regular exercises have been held. About forty names were on the roll of church membership, January, 1880 - R. 0. Spear, clerk.

Methodist Episcopal Church. - A class was organized about the year 18.52. In 18.57, together with the Baptists, they purchased a house of worship. In the spring of 1880, they had a membership of twenty.

" Wyocena is the remains of a once thriving and increasing village assassinated by the building of the old La Crosse Railroad. Seventeen years ago, it contained five stores doing a good trade. Now it has two. Pardeeville was erected upon its decadence ; then the new division of the railroad was laid toward Portage ; the seat of commerce again shifted ; the glory of Pardeeville departed, and Rio was built upon its ruins. Wyocena is overgrown with the thin moss of the Western antiquity, and is ancient in appearance, as is permitted to any village of less age than a quarter of a century. It has a good schoolhouse, a tolerably commodious town hall (costing, perhaps, .^1,500 more than the one in Columbus), and two churches. But we observed no new buildings and few evidences of the vigor generally found in Western villages. The railroad, upon which it scarcely impinges, came too late to benefit it much. Its settlement antedated Portage proper, though of course. Fort Winnebago was older. Maj. Dickason, the hardy pioneer of our own village, we are told, was the first settler also. He built the log cabin on the bank of Duck Creek, in which he afterward died. A man named Bush located shortly after the Major, about a mile east of the Columbus road, and Charles Spear, John Dalton and Benjamin Dey, are mentioned too as among the earlier settlers. They live here still, but the Major's descendants have sought newer camping grounds. We believe the old veteran himself was buried here and we meant to visit the spot of his repose, but time did not permit. It is about eleven years since the poor-house was located at Wyocena ; previous to that date a temporary accommodation for the destitute had been provided at Portage. Three inmates were removed to Wyocena in 1858. During the first winter, the institution was kept in a small building a little east of the present one. The three persons with which it was founded were an old deaf man named Savage, who was afterward killed by the cars, a lad whose father sent him from Madison off to school, and who became dissipated, was expelled, and afterward sent up from Portage. The father came after the prodigal when he had been sufficiently punished. The third was a crazy Norwegian, who has since remained here. The buildings now occupied are pleasantly situated close upon Duck Creek. They consist of a two-story wooden building, and an adjoining two-story brick. The latter was built two years since by Messrs. Prescott & Carnagy of Portage, at a cost of about .$4,000. The frame of the former was erected by Maj. Dickason, who had been dispensing his hospitalities from his log cabin on the other side of the creek, and had determined to put up a more modern hostelry. The old Major's light was put out as the frame went up, and it was leased for a term on condition of being completed. It soon passed into the hands of the county and has since been used for its present purpose.

"A little cabin on the Crawfish, in Columbus, was the first structure that the Major built in the West, and the mark of his hands ceased with the future poor-house building of the county. In the interim is the story of all his pioneer days.

"An almshouse is the depository of much sad personal history. It is a discolored, worn and faded volume, in which are bound as many pathetic and discreditable biographies as there are inmates ; it is a charnel-house, where are laid the remains of missspent or unsuccessful lives ; and there is instruction there, in turning over dead relics of the past, and in the study of the causes of their decay ; it is a place where the brightness of life can be only a distant memory, and hope is but a specter of the irrecoverable. Few things can be sadder than the death of worn-out old age in the alms-house. We have talked with men of much experience in the management of pauperism, and they have invariably informed us that, in nine cases out of ten, it

" The individual history of many of the inmates would not be uninteresting, did space permit. In this poor-house, two years ago, died Jonas Haywood, aged ninety-two years. He was a man possessed of much general information, and had fought with Wellington in the Napoleonic wars ; he had many a tale of that stirring period that had never reached the historian's page, and, doubtless, not a few of them were true. The aggregated individual experience of contending armies is the only complete annals of war. It was too large and too frequent drinks that finally beat the old veteran.

"Here also died Gabriel Rongie, at the age of eighty-four, after living here four years. He came to Green Bay fifty-nine years ago, being a French Canadian. He was an Indian trader, and one period had amassed considerable property. During his life he formed three matrimonial alliances with dusky aborigines, and bequeathed to the Territory an unrecorded number of half-breeds. His personal experience and knowledge, properly compiled, would make a most readable volume. He was blind before he died, and used to aver that one eye was sick and that the other was scratched out by a wild cat, while he was climbing a tree for coon. He too succumbed to his cups.

" Edward Lahey, a former Catholic priest, was once an inmate here. It was he who was pardoned from States prison, where was sent for the shooting of a man, eighteen years ago, in Pardeeville. He was comparatively rich, but claims brought against him after the pardoning beggared him."

Village Of Pardeeville

In the fall of 1848, John S. Pardee, then merchandising in Milwaukee, sent out Mr. Reuben Stedman to build a store in this neighborhood, and in December following, Yates Ashley came out with goods and commenced trading for Mr. Pardee, and getting out timber to build mills. In 1849, the saw and grist mills were built and commenced operations. This was the beginning of Pardeeville.

In July, 1850, John S. Pardee platted a portion of his land, and Willis S. Haskin did likewise. In 1855, Dr. Lake made an addition to the village of some forty acres on the south.

The first frame house built on the site of the village was by Mr. Haskin, but Joseph Utley built the first after it was laid out. Killian Hepler built the second.

In 1852, Reuben Baughman erected the first hotel, giving it the name of "Diamond Hall." In 1855, he sold the same to Mr. Turner, who in turn disposed of it to Mrs. Johnson, who assumed management for awhile, and then leased it to various parties until September, 1879, when it was purchased by George Briffett, who immediately took charge of the same. The house is roomy, with accommodations for twenty guests.

Killian Hepler built the Hepler House in 1860, and leased it to John Benedict, who ran it three years, when Mr. Hepler took personal charge.

J. S. Pardee commenced the erection of the large grist-mill, in 1849 ; in the same year he transferred his interest in Pardeeville to Joseph Utley, who, about the year 1853, turned the whole property over to John Pardee, father of the original proprietor, who took possession of the property (the mill being unfinished), and completed the mill in the latter part of 1856.

About that time he disposed of a quarter interest in the mill property to Yates Ashley, the copartnership being continued till the death of Mr. John Pardee, which occurred June 26, 1873.

The site of the village is embraced within School District No. 3. A schoolhouse was erected in the district as early as 1847, which soon gave way for a better one, and it in turn by a still better one, erected in the village limits in 1868. This latter building is a large two-story brick. In the winter of 1879-80, Miss Nora C. Waters was Principal, and Mrs. Blaisdell, Assistant.

Presbyterian Church. - This society was organized in 1857, with six members - xllanson Hughson, Phila M. Hughson, Lebbuns H. Gilbert, William J. Ensign, Leona Ensign, and

Sarah Burcheeker. Rev. S. H. Barteau was the officiating minister in its organization. A. Hughson was elected Deacon and William J. Ensign and L. II. Gilbert, Elders. Rev. S. Barteau was the first occasional and then stated supply till .January 1, 1862. Rev. E. F. Tanner preached one year, from August 1, 1862. Rev. E. F. Waldo, as his successor, supplied the pulpit for one year from October, 1863. After being without a regular minister for nearly a year, Rev. E. F. Tanner became the second titns the stated supply from September, 186.5. The house of worship was commenceil in the summer of 1863, ami completed at a cost of §2, .500. It was dedicated March 30, 1864. Rev. Charles Hichards succeeded Mr. Tanner, and was followed by the Rev. Joseph Rossiel.

Methodist Episcopal Church. - The church building was erected in 1861. John W. Falconer and Samuel Cannon were the most active in its construction. Its cost was $1,800. Revs. Boschee, Parker, Joseph Bolton, T. M. Ross, M. Peck. Edward Bronson, Jabez B. Cole, 0. B. Clark, AVilliam Jones, William Cook, John Varty and W. F. Stright have each served as Pastor. The church form? a part of the Wyooena Circuit.

Pardee Lodge, No. J7I, A.. F. ^f A. M. - A dispensation w!is granted September 12. 1867, to organize at this place, wliicli organization was effected by the election of Samuel B. Rhodes, W. M. ; Charles J. Pardee, S. W. ; David H. Langdon, J. \V. A charter was granted to the organization .June 10, 1868. It had a membership January 1, 1880, of thirty-two. There have been four deaths and ten dimissions since the organization.

Pardee Lodge, No. 126, 1. 0. 0. F. - This lodge was instituted December 5, 1873, with Charles J. Pai'dee, N. G. ; David Narracong, V. G. ; F. A. Matthewson, Sec. ; John Hartman, Treas. Its membershiji January 1, 1880, was twenty.

Post Office. - The first mail route was established here in 1849, from Madison to Fort Winnebago, thence to Pardeeville and Wyocena. Yates Ashley was first appointed Postmaster in 1843, served two years. In 1852, Jose])b Utley, who served one year. In 1853, Hubble West, Sr., who served two years. In 1855, Darius Coman, who served four years. In I860. John Pardee, who served one year. In 1861, Ira Atkins, who served six years ; died in 1867, when Luman A. Gilbert was appointed, who .«erved si.x years. In 1873, Newton W. Gilbert was appointed, served five years. In 1878, Mrs. Susan Falconer was appointed, who now holds the office as Mrs. Susan Yan Schaick.

Errata

On page 764, Elling Muhl should be made Male : George Windens should read Windus : Nels Paterson should be Peterson : Hans Lollinger should read Hans Tollackson ; Stephen Collenson should read Colbenson.

On page 765, Talbot Askinson should read Tollac Asbinson ; Edmund Cushing should read Edward ; Nelson Van Wil should read Nelson Van Wie, and Andrew Baarnaman should read Boarnaman.

Since the article, page 752, on the Village of " Inch " was printed we are informed that there were lots sold, houses built, and some business was done in 1856 or 1857. - Ed.