Green County, Wisconsin - Chapter 9: First Things, 1884

The first school, with which Green county was favored, was taught by Ralph Hildebrand. This was a subscription school. Andrew Clarno, William Bowen, Bennett Nowlin and William Boyls, thinking it unwise not to provide for the education of their children, engaged Mr. Hildebrand to teach them, and thus was formed a neighborhood school. Having at that time no school house, a small log building, set on a hillside, on section 36, in what is now the town of Cadiz, the lower part designed for a root cellar and the upper part for a smoke-house, to which uses it had already been devoted, was taken, and the upper part converted into a school room. This was in the winter of 1836. The first school house in the county was built in the vicinity of Mr. Clarno's in the year 1837, on section 30. The second was built at New Mexico, in 1838. They were of logs and very rude structures.

Tiie first preachers were Methodists. Daniel Harcourt and A. C. Delaj) came in 1836 and preached in the different settlements, using the cabins or the groves as meeting houses. Soon after came a Campbellite preacher by the name of William Blunt, who afterward went to Texas with the view of advocating his pro-slavery sentiments. He was received there as a hypocrite and driven out. He returned to Green county somewhat changed in sentiment, and full of revengeful wrath. After this experience, he is said to have entertained some doubts as to slavery being a divine institution. He afterward entered the Union army in the late war. He only got in by deception. In 1847, Rev. J. D. Stevens, a Congregationalist, settled at

The first marriage celebrated in Green county took place at the Clarno settlement, in 1834, between Josiali Blackmore and Nancy Wallace. ]^lackmore afterward moved to Warren, III. The second marriage was between James Hawthorn and Massey Boyls, in August, 1836, near Monroe.

The first frame house in the county was built in 1836, by Joseph Payne, a Mr. Billinger and O. C. Smith, at an expense of $1,500. The lumber for this building was brought from the Allegheny, down the Ohio, and up the Mississippi to Galena, and from there hauled on wagons to New Mexico, where the house was erected. This house was used as a store.

The first white child born in Green county, was Louisa Wallace - afterwards Mrs. Charles Thomas. But this must be considered constructively, as the child drew its first breath in Galena, 111., Aug. 7, 1830, its parents having their home, at that date, in Exeter, Green county. The first white child actually born in Green county, was a daughter of Nicholas Hale and Eliza Hale, in the year 1834, at tlie house of Andrew Clarno. The next child born was Charles R. Deniston, son of John W. Deniston and Maria Deniston, in 1835.

house of Jacob Ly Brand, in what was then called New Mexico, now a part of the city of Monroe. Two liundred and thirty-one votes, were cast. Only county commissioners were elected. These were Daniel S. Sutherland, William Bowen and Daniel Harcourt.

The first annual election was held in August, 1838, when one commissioner of the county, one treasurer, one register, one coroner, one assessor, and one collector were elected; but no one received a certificate, as the election was held on the wrong day. Another, and this time a legal election, was held Sept. 10, 1838.

The first regular physician who practiced in Green county was Dr. Baiikston, who lived just south of the State line in Illinois. The second was Dr. Peter Springstead who came soon after Dr. Bankston.

The first hotel in the county was built in 1837, by Payne, Billinger <fc Smith, at New Mexico. The building was two stories high, the main part 26x3G feet on the ground, with a wing 16x18 feet. This was a great step in advance; and for a long time, the inhabitants looked with pride at the building as a grand affair.

The first court of record held in Green county was the United States district court, in the month of April, 1838. It was presided over by Cliief Justice Charles Dunn; George McFadden (late of Dane county), clerk, who was succeeded by M. Bainbridge. After the second term of this court, David Irvin succeeded Judge Dunn, and continued to preside until the organization of the circuit court under the constitution and laws of the State of Wisconsin in 1848.

Monday of May, 1848. By the State constitution the county of Green was assigned along with Milwaukee, Waukesha, Jefferson, Racine, Walworth and Rock, to the first congressional district, to elect one member. At this first election William Pitt Lynde was the successful candidate to represent the district in the 30th Congress. The county was by the same fundamental law made a part of the 8th senatorial district of Wisconsin. E. T. Gardner, of Monroe, Avas the choice of this district for senator. Green county at first constituted but one assembly district. Henry Adams, of Monticello, was the first to represent the county in the assembly of the State.

The first term of the circuit court held in Green county commenced its session on the 4th day of September, 1848, and was presided over by Judge E. V. Whiton.

Tlie first election in Green county after Wis consin became a State, and under town organization, was held Sept. 3, 1849, for the election of a county judge. John A. Bingham received 448 votes out of the 702 polled, and was elected.

The first person tried by a jury was Daniel Harconrt. lie was charged with removing and destroying the boundaries of a lot of land. Verdict: "Not guilty."

Point to the Illinois State line in the Pekatonica, by the "Pekatonica Navigation Company," This company was incorporated in 1839. It is needless to say that slack-water navigation of the Pekatonica was never accomplished.

The first grave to receive a white settler was one dug by the pioneers, in what is now the town of Exeter, in 1828, to receive the mortal remains of Boner, who was killed by D. Mc- Nutt, at what was afterward called "Sugar River Diggings."

The first deed ktiown to have been executed for land within the present limits of Green county, was the following, which conveyed title to "the west half of the northwest quarter of section 30, in township 4 north, of range 9 east" (in the present town of Brooklyn), containing seventy-six and eighty-one hundredths acres :

"This indenture made the fourteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty six, between Thomas A. Holmes and Ursula, his wife, of Milwaukee, of the first part and Abraham Bolser of the same place, of the second part, witnesseth : That the said parties of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars to them in hand paid by the said party of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby conferred and acknowledged, have granted, bargained, sold, remised, released, aliened and confirmed, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, remise, release, alien and confirm, unto the said party of the second part, and to his heirs and assigns forever, the one equal and undivided half of all that certain tract of land known and described on .the receiver's certificate of the land office of Green Bay, to-wit : The southeast quarter of section No. 3 and lot No. 2 of section No. 27, in township No. 4 north, of range No. 11 east, containing 198.66 acres; also the west half of the northwest quarter of section No. 30, in township No. 4 north, of range No. 9 cast, containing 76.80 acres.

"Together with all and singular hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in anywise appertaining ; and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues and profits thereof ; and all the estate, right, title, interest, claim or demand.

whatsoever, of the said parties of the first part, either in law or equity, of, in, and to, the above bargained i)remises, with the same hereditaments and appurtenances : To have and to hold the said premises as above described with the appurtenances, unto the said party of the second part, and to his heirs and assigns forever. And the said parties of the first part, for themselves, their heirs, executors and administrators, do covenant, grant, bargain and agree to and with the said ])arty of the second part, his heirs and assigns, that at the time of the ensealing and delivering of these presents, they were well seized of tlie premises above conveyed as of a good, sure, perfect, absolute and indefeasible estate of inheritance in the law, in fee simple, and that tlie above bargained premises, in the quiet and peaceable possession of the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, against all and every person or persons, lawfully claiming or to claim the whole or any part thereof, they will forever warrant and defend.

"Be it remembered that on the 14th day of March, A. D. 18:J(i, came personally before me, the undersigned, a justice of the peace, for said county, the within named Thomas A. Holmes and Ursula, his wife, to me known, and acknowledged the signiiig, sealing and delivering of the within deed to Abram Bolser for the use and purposes therein mentioned, and the said Ursula, wife of the said Thomas, being b}'^ me examined separate and apart from her said husband, confessed it to be her free act and deed without the fear or compulsion of her said husband.

"This Hndenture made this twelfth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and tiiirtynine, between Joseph W. Smith, of the county of Green, and Territory of Wisconsin, of the one part, and Jacob Ly Brand, of the county and Territory aforesaid, of the other part, witiiesseth that tlie said Joseph W. Smith, for and in consideration of the sum of two hundred and live dollars to him in hand paid by the said Jacob Ly Brand, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath granted, bargained and sold, and by these presents doth grant, bargain, sell, alien and conHrm unto the said Jacob Ly Brand and his heirs and assigns forever, all his interest (it being three-fourths) of that tract or parcel of land situate in the county of Green and Territory of Wisconsin, namely: Lots numbered five, six, eleven and twelve of section number four, in township number one, of range number seven east; to have and to liold the premises aforesaid with all the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in anywise appertaining unto him, the said Jacob Ly Brand and his heirs and assigns forever; provided, always that these presents are upon this express condition that, if the said Joseph W. Smith, his heirs, executors or administrators, shall pay, or cause to be paid, to the said Jacob Ly Brand, his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, the sum of two hundred and and five dollars, in current lawful money, in twelve months from date, with interest from date, in manner, particularly specified in a certain note or obligation bearing even date herewith, executed by the said Joseph W. Smith to the said Jacob Ly Brand, then and from thenceforth these presents and everything herein contained shall cease and be void, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

"I, Joseph Kelly, a justice of the peace, in and for said county, do certify that Joseph W. Smith, whose signature appears to the foregoing deed and who is personally known to me to be the person described in and who executed the same, did acknowledge tlie same to be his free and voluntary act and deed for the uses and purposes herein mentioned.

Lots No. 3 and 4 in section 23, in township 2 north, of range 9 east, containing 71.86 acres, were entered by Jesse Armstrong, Aug. 17, 1835; and Lots No. 1 and 2, and northwest fractional quarter of same section, township and range, containing 230.39 acres, by Isaac Bronson,- Aug. 21, 1835; also by the person last named, the northwest quarter of section 24, in the same township and range, on the 21st of August, 1835.

The east half of the northwest quarter of section 30, in township 4 north, of range 9 east, was entered by Burley Follett, Dec. 14, 1835; and the west half of the same quarter by Thomas A. Holmes, March 7, 1836.

Township 1 north, of range 9 east, east half of section 9, May 9, 1836, by French Lake; also by the same, on the same day, the northwest quarter, the west half of the southwest quarter and west half of northeast quarter section 8, in same township and range. The next day he entered the east half of the northeast quarter and the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 18, in same township and range.

The east half of the southeast quarter and the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 30, in same township and range, was entered by Darius Daniels, May 9,1836. There were many other tracts entered in what is now Green county, afterward during the year 1836. miscellaneous "first things."

The first court house in Green county was "a two-story frame house, 20x30 feet," and was built in "the town of Monroe," by James Campbell and J. Sutherland, in 1840. It was completed and accepted by the county board November 4, of that year. It soon was destroyed by fire.

The first account allowed by the commissioners of the county as a valid claim and ordered paid by them was one to Jacob LyBrand, amounting to |4.25.

Tlie first road supervisor in Green county was Bennett Nowlin. He was appointed by the county board Oct. 2, 1838. He refused to serve, and Andrew Clariio was appointed in his place.

The first county seat was located "on the east half of the northeast quarter of section twentyfive (25), in town[ship] 2 north, of range 7 east, at a point designated by a stake," in the present town of Monroe.

The first grand jury was composed of the following named persons: Elijah Austin, Amos Harris, Mordecai Kelly, Joseph Woodle, Jarvis Rattan, Hiram Rust, Thomas Bowen, William Blunt, Peter Wells, John Blunt, Mathew Wells, Joseph Kelly, Jacob Andrides, Hanson Irion, Julius Austin and Augustus Chilton - Hiram Rust was appointed foreman.

The first clerk of the "district court of the United States" in Green county was George McFadden, who was appointed ji^ro tern. He only served one day.

T. S. Wilson was the first person who served in Green county as attorney for the Territory of Wisconsin. He was appointed by the court on the first day of the term (April 2, 1838). His was & pro tern appointment.

The first meeting house commenced in the county was begun by the Methodists, on the land given them for that purpose in the then village of Monroe, in 1847. It was finished in 1848.

The first bridge built in the county was one erected in 1842, a little northeast of the site of what was afterward the village of Decatur, at the place where the river was crossed by the Indian trail from Sand Prairie to the northern part of the county, and by the Territorial road from Janesville to Galena.

In August, 1852, H. C. Burchard, now superintendent of the United States mint, held at the seminary, in Monroe, the first Teacher's Institue, in Green county. It continued several weeks.

Abner Van Sant and his son-in-law, John W. Deniston, built the first mill in the county. It began as a feed-mill but grew, finally, into a flour mill. It was located on Honey creek.

The first religious society organized in the county was one by a Methodist minister - Rev. James McKane, who lived in the State of Illinois, and was connected with the Rock River Conference. The society thus organized was composed of the following members: Matthew Wells, his wife and daughter, Mrs. Maria Blunt and William Baird.

The first coftin made in the county was for Mr. Patterson. The lumber of which it was constructed was brought from Galena by Mr. Hawthorn to make a cabin door.

The first laid out Territorial road in Green county was one from Janes' Ferry (Janesville) in Rock county, through Rockport, on Rock river, to "Centreville" and New Mexico, in Green county, thence to White Oak springs and so on westward to the Mississippi. It was "blazed" in the woods and "staked" in the prairies in the spring of 1837, but nothing further done.

The first public school taught in the county was by Daniel R. Howe, in the town of Clarno, the term commencing Dec. 1, 1839. Mr. Howe is now (1884) pastor of the Christian Church in Monroe.