Rock County, Wisconsin - The whole text, 1856 (part 2 of 7)

The Indians in considerable numbers remained around in this vicinity for several years, and even until very recently, they have made annual visits to fish and gather rice, which formerly grew m great abundance on the borders of the lake. I was in the habit of traificking with them ; selhng them "quashagon," bread ; " coocoosh," pork ; "wahbumbra," melons and squashes, and received in payment, buckskins, venison, moccasins, buckskin coats, <fec.

At one time I came near having trouble with a company of six Indians. I had a grindstone, the only one perhaps in Rock county, and I allowed the Indians to grind their knives and tomahawks whenever 'they wished to. This was in the latter part of the winter, when these Indians came to my shanty and asked the privilege of grinding, which I readily granted them as usual. After grinding, they came into my shanty - I was alone ; the only white person in the settlement - they asked for food. I had been in the habit of giving it them frequently, but at this time I was almost out myself, and did not know when I could get moie from Milwaukee. I ktiew they were nearly famished - Shaving consumed their winter's stock of rice and muskrats - and pitied them ; but was obliged to refuse them. They then offered me money, even to a handful of half dollars, for a small piece of bread; but I told them how little I had, and that 1 knew not when I could get more. I could talk Indian considerably then. Still they insisted on having something to eat, and one of them stepped to my pork barrel and took off the cover and looked iu, where I had a few small pieces of pork swimming in the brine, and manifested a dispositiou to take jt, when, I took my ax and resolutely stepped towards him, told him to " puckach^e," clear out. I was fully determined to split him down if he, had not desisted, and he undoubtedly thought so; for he stepped back, and after some consultation they left rnc unmolested. I almost tremble eyen at this l3,te day, when I consider. the risk that I run, and my fortunate escape from my probable and almost inevitable fate, had I sti-uck the Indian down, with such odds against me ; and the probable effect that would have been produced on the others, under the circumstances.

George W. Ogden History And Statistical View Of The Several

This is town 1, range 10, east. It is divided into eleven school districts, and has eight school houses. Number of soholaig, 314. It rece:ives the present year from the State school fund, $236,88. I'here are in this town 89 fai-ms. We cannot better describe the town than to use the language of the following communication from J. L. V. Thomas, Esq., our worthy and gentlemanly Clerk of the Board of Supervisors ; he also gives a history and description of the Norwegian settlement situated in part in this town.

Avon, And The Norwegian Settlement

south lino of the town being the Stats lino bet^veen Illinois and Wisconsin ; and the west line being the eotinty line botween'Roclc and Green couBties.

Avon is-a well-wateved and well-timbered township ; about one quarter being prairie and the balance burr oak and white oak openings, and rich bottomland along the Sugar river, a small but fine stream running through the south-west part of the town. From these fcottom lands a large quantity of wild grass is annufllly cut.' The village of Avon is on Sand prairie ; la very level, beautiful,' but sandy ]3rairie, which extends along the Sugar river for many miles. It is near the river - where there is a giist mill and saw mill, two steres, blacksmith shop, (fee.

The township'Was settled in 1844. Among the names of the early settlors are Jos. Kinney, Jr., Mr. Northrop, Jos. Huntley, Wm. Crippin, H. Scales, W. F. Thompson, Wm. Grimes and Jos. Watson. The town was not bi'gatiizcd until 1B46, previous to' which' it was apartof the town of Newark. Its population in 1860 was 579, and in 1855 it was 758.

The town officers in 1855 were: Supervisors, A. N. Randall, chairman; Alvin Randall and Hiram Howard. Town Clerk, Anson Sherwood. Town Treasurer, Wm. Grimes. Town Superintendent, Lafayette Odell. Assessor, Walter 0. Pearl. The completion of the Milwaukee' & Mississippi Railroad from JanOsville west to the Sugar river, about two miles north of the north line of the town, will develop the resources of this town, and make Avon better known and appreciated.

The N0H,W,Egi.4.N Settlement

Some of the early pioneers of Rock county were Norwegians, many of whom have resided here since 1,836. A nucleus was early formed in the town of Newark, near where the town corners with the towns of Plymouth, Avon and Spiing Valley, in a beautiful valley, christened by the eai-ly Norwegian settlers, Luther Valley. A church was built in the year 1847, and a few years after a village laid out callad Bornitz, which, however, is not a place of any considerable importance; the majority of the Norwegians being agriculturists. There is, however, a printing office there, from which is published the Emigrantcn, a respectable newspaper, which has until lately been the only permanent Scandinavian newspaper in the United States. It is published by a society, at the head of which is the Rov.' Diedrichtson, the much esteemed pastor of the Norwegian Lutheran society there. Mr. P. I. Pflcischer is the edil®- of the Emigranten.

Rev. Claud Lars Clausou was the first pastor and leader of the Norwegians in this neighborhood ; and although now a resident of Mitchell county, Iowa, deserves an honorable place among the early settlers of this county.

us an honest man and a gentleman. Cleophus Holverson, Lars Siraonson, Inbred Ingerbretson, Gunder Holver, Gens Enudson, Peter Holverson and Andrew AriTiundgon are among the early Norwegian pioneers. From an acquaintance of eight years with- the Norwegians within the influence of the settlement above described, I can say that, as a class, they are an honest, industi'ious, entei-prising and moral population. They assume the habits (except office seeking) of the American people faster than any European population with which I am acquainted.

John L. V. Thomas

Beloit is otte of the south tier of towns in Rook County, and in the governmental survey is known as town one, range 12, E. It is, therefore, contermirious with territory belonging to the State of Illinois. The Rock river runs from Borth to south through its -whole extent ; cherishing the verdure on its margin ; aflbrding sites of beauty on its bluftSj and imparting power to the busy mill wheels in its course. Of the aboriginal condition of the town, Mttle is known. Its smface, indeed, beai's various marks impressed by the hand of its former lords, but; these exist in charactei-s so illegible, that they reveal no important certainty to the inquirer. The old graves found at distant intervals, tell us that Death has befen doing his work in the past ages ; the choice of picturesque bluffs as the 'place of sepulture, speaks of respect for the dead, and witnesses for the extinct race that a sense of the beautiful and gi'and actuated them as it does their more polished successors, to select as a final resting place Mount Hopes and Mount Aubums.

Other ancient works of human hands are found in the mounds scattered here and there, but chiefly aggregated within what is now the College inclosure; but what these signify-^whether they speak of war or of worehip, is a matter of conjecture merely, and the best conjecture we may suppose has occurred to him. who has with most painstaking and research, applied himself to the investigation of this general subject. See a paper published by Professor Lapham, of Milwaukee,

The name, Beloit, originated with a committee appointed by a convention of citizens who were not satisfied with Kew Albany, the name which for a few months the town wore. The story is as follows: The committee having the matter in charge, being in consultation, one of its members was at labor to, shape a French word to an English termination, 'when another jnember, Mr. L. G. Fisher, Catching by the ear a sound somewhat analogous, pronounc(id the word Beloit, which was agreed upon in committee and adopted by the convention. Such was the origin of the distinctive and euphoneous name, Beloit. ,^.

The story of the first settlement of this town, is parcel of that pertaining to the State generally. No stories remain among our legends like those which make memorable the mor« romantic and perilous beginnings in New England or even Ohio. No wild foes lay in ambush about our corn fields, nor beset our home-path.

The moral lesson whose last teachings were uttered in 1833, at the dispersion of the Black Hawk array, were then so recent that the Indians were fain to give a wide berth to the pale faces, or to put on their blandest manners when tliey ventured among them. We know nothing of the stern difficulties of settlement encountered by those who carried their com so far to mill, that the meal became exhausted in feeding -the carrier before he could reach home. The steamboat connecting our market by lake navigatiomvith older States, and the prairie wagou-road lying between us apd market, held out facilities to this ' to>vn in common with tliis region, such as have favored the beginnings of no previous settlements since the migration of Abraham from Ur of the Ghaldees. Instead of the sad and sanguinaiy incidents generally inwoven with the beginnings of population, those relating to the first settlement of Beloit, which are best remembered, are so coipipounded of - th« earnest and the ludicrous, that the rehearaal of, them inflicts no wound upon the tenderest sensibilities. Let the following be taken as examples :

Tlie year 1835 marks the flist step towards the settlement of this town. The settlement began at the site of the present village of Beloit, at which place all the, settlers were domiciled until after the land sale, which took place in February, 1S38 or '9i .

Caleb Blodgett was the first of the settlers. He found at his first visit to this place in, 1835, Thiebeau, a Frenchman, who had taken an Indian wife, wlio pretended to claim a territory somewhat indefiijite in extent. This equivocal claim it was the fii-st care of Blodgett to quiet, and in this he epsily succeeded. TJje consideration paid to Tiebeau was $250. The next object to wMch he bent his energies^ was to fortify his own claim so that it would appear respectable in the eyes of succeeding adventurers, and stand the test of border law. Th© mode of establishing a claim' was to make-soma^ improvement upon the ground, and to effect this, th« readiest plan was to plow a furrow on the prairie. But as the amount of land which can be so claimed by one individual in his own name, was by general consent limited to 320 acres; and as such an amount of land boro no propoi-tion to the enterprise of Blodgett, nor to the unbounded claim which he'had acquired fi'om Thiebeau, it became necessary to extemporize men for the exigency. Men of straw wore accordingly found. Greenings^ loafers, and those whose-young- ness incapacitated them from seeing that they might just as well caiTe a portion for themselves, all, were hired into the employment of Blodgett. They prospected and made claims in their own names, but really on Im account. Thus, while in the transaction all the glory came to the,m, all tl>e ^ro/?i finally inured to him. In this way the.olairii ef Blodgett was made' to extend to four miles square, or in the descriptive phrsjso of the times "to all the land adjoining him."

An incident of -these stirring times is preserved, which may claim an jnsertionhere. In consequence of the unlooked-for increase of the number of eaters which the expedient just related had collected around the board, the department pf supplies wasted, apace. This state of facts was duly.reportod by Mrs. Blodgett to her lord, who was just then absorbed by cares so numerous and weighty as to have no time to bestow upon a matter so inconsiderable. Through this neglect the case soon swelled up to an e;x%ency. There were twenty who liad supped at that table the night before, and who were then sleeping in the undisturbsd confidence that they should find the morning repast at the same board, when Mr. Blodgett was posed by a testwhidh made an occasion to display the resources of his generalship. The end had come - there was nothing in the bag and nothing in the- barrel; one hour would bring the breakfast time, and the material basis of that ceremony was yet to bo found. But he rose with the occasion; his expedients were prompt and equal to the emergency; and, marching oat to the yard where the steers were resting fi'ora the toil of plowing yesterday's claims, he planted a blow upon the head of old Bright which operated as a final discharge frdm the renewal of similar toil, and in a few minutes he reappeared, bearing a full supply of steak for the occaMon.

Another incident, illustrative of the spirit of those early times, requires a brief notice. The lands on the west of Rock river were surveyed, and earlier in the market than those on the eastern bank; and yet,- with a seeming fatuity, or for reasons which no man can now see, the men in search of laiid, with great uniformity, came to buy rights under the Blodgett claim, in preference to taking up land equally fertile over the rivei', which was already in market. Ti'adition relates .that such a land seeker arrived at Beloit in the afternoon with a span of horses which were fpr sale. Blodgett liked the horses, and made no objection to the price ; indeed he would purchase them and give for them a clHim to a quarter-section of land. This offer the owner concluded to accept. As soon as the bargain was made, Blodgett had- the horeos harnessed to a plow, and with his new team drove out and plowed, in three hours, the furrow which perfected the claim which the mornino' following he gave in payment for the horses.

The year 1837 constitutes- an era in the history of this town, from which -dates the rising of its social community, its schools, its religipus institutions - ^all that now characterizes it.

In February, of that year, came Dr. Horace White, asan agent of "The New England Company," and purchased of Blodgett one-third of his claim. A company known in annals the of this town as the "New England Company" was formed in New England for tlje purpose of facilitating the work of emigration, and to constitute a congenial, social community where they shoi^d locate. Although ho . articles stipulated for such an object, it was understood that whercver-they should locate, they would unite in sustaining the institutions of science and of religion, and all those adjuncts which contribute to the happiness, thrift and elevation of society.

John W. Bicknell and liis sons, George W. and Otis P. Bicknell, Israel Phoney, A. L. Field, R. P. Crane, A. B. Howe, Mrs. Lucy Dyer and two sons, Israel Cheney, Ira Young, L. C. Beech, and Leonard Hatch.

In the previous year, 1837, came Charles F. H. Goodhue, who had before resided in Sherbroolc, Canada, and who had just before made a claim and a beginnning at Watertown, Wisconsin. By his attorney, Tyler Moore, he bought of Blodgett one-fourth part of his whole claim, and immediately set about building a saw-mill, which the wants of the people and the danger of coming frost drove on night and day to completion. Mr. John Hacket came also in May, 1836. At a later day he became the firet post master, first legislator, and now, in middle life, is among our first citizens. The same year came also L. G. Fisher. He had started from Milwaukee -with his face set toward the mineral region. Following a trail, he had proceeded to Watertown, where, meeting with Goodhue, a former acquaintance, his course was deflected by the glowing representations of Goodhue, touching the beauties of the lower Kpck, and finally both came together in a dug-out down to New Albany, now Beloit. As they were completing the arrangements for their voyage, three passengers presented themselves who wished to go with them. They were accepted on the condition that they should work the craft and so pay their passage. The river was uncommonly high, and they were without a chart. No material incident of the voyage is preserved, except that iu passing the rocks and rapids at Monterey, their progress became so rapid that they were impressed with their first ileas of railroad speed, and of the consequences of a collision. Fisher gave in to the representations of Goodhue, and speedily bought of him one-fourth part of his purchase, which was equal to one-sixteenth of the whole Blodgett claim. About this time a grist-mill was erected on the Turtle creek, which has an especial interest, because it is believed to be the first similar mill in the state. Customers came to mill from a distance of one hundred and five milQS. This mill was built by Charles F. H. Goodhue, iind is still working in the possession of William T. Goodhue, his son.

The same year, Maj, Charles Johnson, and' John Doolittle, bought twotwelfths of the Blodgett claim. In this way the site of the present village and much of the adjacent land was parcelled out. That we may have the original division before us at one view, we will here recapitulate :

Blodgett retained one-fourth of his original interest. According to the ratio here indicated, the original proprietors divided the village and the surrounding lands.

After the settlement of the town had thus fully commenced, it continued at so rapid a rate that for a short time the supplies which the industry of tho farmers could f umisli, could not keep pace with the demand. Some minds, however, began to forecast the necessity of a market which might receive tho anticipated overflow of agricultural affluence. The question was raised in a public meeting " Whore shall we find a future market for our produce ?"

Dr. White being present, was of the opinion that the incoming population would demand all that could be produced for a long time, and that no surplus would be found within twenty years.

The fallibility of uninspired men in regard to things in the future was never more clearly illustrated than in this instance. Three years after the date of that utterance, there was a surplus of all kinds of produce; wheat was worth only twenty-five cents and corn ten cents. A bushel of wheat was offered and refused in exchange for a pound of salaratus.

To conclude, however, that the price of agricultural produce was uniformly low, or even moderate, would lead us into a fallacy. Owing sometimes to improvidence, but more frequently to the badness of the roads, the market became bare, and the citizens had to make their wits serve as a committee on ways and means. At first, flour came from Ohio and from New .York. The ports at which Beloit ti'aded were Southport, Milwaukee and Chicago. One week was the time consumed in a round trip. The state of the roads might easily double that time.

When from any cause supplies ran short, report was had to the river. Goodhue's race was made to ovei-fiow its banks, and no small portion of tho soUd matter left upon the flats after such an occurrence consisted of sucker?. Whoever can recall the events of 1838-40 will not fail to find suckers and hoccake in the grouping. In the spring of 1838 the member representing the commissariat of each of the few families then in Beloit might be seen with baskets on the flats gathering suckers for breakfast. The modern citizen can but poorly sympathise in the gusto of the joke when some aboriginal citizen now directs a boy, peddling suckers, to "cjirry them to Mr. Bundy, or Mr. Colley, who is very fond of them and will surely buy the lot."

It should be borne in mind that while all this claiming had been going on, while there had been divisions and fractional divisions, and while fortunes already began to be inflated and to confer consequence, the land, the very substratum of all, had not been bought. The United States owned it, and should they conclude to use it themselves, all these transactions and their consequences would prove " like the baseless fabric of a vision." And yet, as an antitype of squatter sovereignty, the men on the ground had inaugurated a complete system. They had made an officer to register claims, had appointed a committee on contested rights, and, in short, done all those things that would have been becoming had they been invested w ith the soil in fee and the rights of jurisdiction.

The effects of this irregular proceeding, however, was so to fkcilitate fUture operations, that when the land sale in March, 1838, occurred, one man was sufficient to represent the many interests. That duty was devolved upon Mr. L. O. Fisher, who, attending in Milwaukee, discharged it to the satisfaction of the parties concerned.

The new accession of IBS'? to the population, began to manifest its power in the erection of those institutions which at this day constitute the glory and strength of Beloit,

At the first meeting of the temtorial legislature, following the apportionment of the Blodgett claim to the New England Company and others, Maj. Johnson and Cyrus Ames were sent as lobby membei-s to Burlington, in Iowa, where the representatatives of the large -territory now constituting the two states of Wisconsin and Iowa were assembled, They went down the river in a dug-out to Bock Island, subsisting on smoked suckers and other primitive ship stores. From that point they took a steamer up the Mississippi to Burlington, the place of assembly,

A prominent object of this trip, and one in which they succeeded, was to obtain an act of incorporation for a seminary. Thus early and earnestly did the people of this town initiate a system which ever since they have pursued with dilligence, to provide for the youthful generation the highest class of scholastic training.

It wiU assist us to understand the ease with which this county w^ subi dued, if we compare our history with that of regions where tall forests had to be removed, and where, for many years, undecayed roots obstructed the plow, In such countries, feUing, cutting, log-rolling, burning, picking up and f«ncing, are but the beginning of sorrows. The stumps and stubborn roots remain from year to year stumbling blocks and ej'e-sores, deflecting furrows and prccludiog the use of tlio mower, the cultivator, and other economical implements by which the muscular labor of the farmer has been relieved, and the productiveness of the soil increased. When the first settlers came here the broad plain was ready for the plow ; and thousands of acres were covered with grass, and other thousands were outspread around without a root to obstruct or a stump to mar the scene. The crops were put in and matured without the protection of fences, during the first two ygars.

Although as appears in the foregoing recital, immigration did much for this place in the first days of its history, it was judged neither safe nor desirable to neglect other means whereby population might be increased and its perpetual succession insured.

Recoui-se was had the expedient of ord iuary generation. To this peren» nial fountain of popula,tion are we indebted for scool-houses full of slips and rudiments of humanity, whose names are yet to be made and whose parts are all to be acted in time to come.

The first accession through this channel to the population of Beloit, was gained on the 29th day of March, 1838, in the person of Lucian Dwight Mears, who has smce grown into a college freshman.

All the people regarded this birth as an event-^the women were proud and jubilant - the news ran through the whole circuit of New Albany-^the fathers of the settlement were tickled ; they cotigi-atulated the parents, suggested an illumination, talked more at large of giving a lot to bless the boy and encourage the parents, (the lot was even designated); but the week passed, the excitement subsided, they became first prudent, then oblivious, and like many genial promptings, the benevolent thought blasted, in blossoming, and perished from memories on the spot where it sprang. The rights under it are now bared by the statute of limitations, but the lot remaineth unto this very day ; on Broad street it may be seen.

Organization And Limits Of Town

The town of Beloit was constituted by an act of the territorial legislature, approved l7th February, 1842i , At its organization the town embraced an

Townships number one of range 10, 11, 12, and 13, ' except that the two eastern tiers of sections, and also the north section of the third tier from town one, range thirteen, were given to Clinton, and sections 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 31, 32, and 33, of town two, range thiiieen, wove taken into Beloit.

Without the addition of the sections on the north, the town would have been in a regular form, twentyrtwo miles from east to west, by six miles from north to south. The addition of those sections made the line irregular.

The first town meeting was held at the sphpoi-house, in Beloit, and for purposes of organization. Hazen Cheney was made chairman, and Edward Bicknell, clerk.

" Voted to set the office of Collector up at auction and the one that will give the most to the town out of the five per cent, allowed by law, shall have the office." " Bid off by Henry Meara at four per cent." " Voted that this meeting stand pledged to support the man for chairman of the board of supervisors who will pay the most to the town out of the two dollars per day allowed him by law for services in said office." " Bid off by Sehy Kidder at one dollar per day."

Alas, for public pledges ! Republics are ungi'ateful. This young democracy having solicited a bribe and pledged to accept it, after all elected another man. Mr. Kidder put himself at half price and so had the pledge, while a full priced man, David J. Bundy, obtained the votes. Political aspirants, take note !

The officers elected at this first town meeting were David J. Bundy, Joseph CoUey, and John P. Houstin, supei-visors ; Israel C. Cheney,, town clerk; Asael B. Howe, assessor; Edwin Bicknell, treasurer; Henry Mears, collector; S. G. CoUye, Chas. M. Messer, and Alex Douglass, commissioners of highway ; Leonard Humphrey, Milo Goodrich, , and Jesse Moore, commissioners of schools ; Otis Bicknell, constable ; Ira Hearsey, sealer of measures ; Thos. Crosby, John Reed, and Richard Dole, fence viewers.

When the newly elected ofiScers came to be sworn in, the record indicates that the oath was strengthened to correspond to the weighty interests which were to be affected by the respective functionaries. Thus a fence viewer was sworn only to support the constitution of the United States ; a commissioner of highways to support the constitution and to be a good officer ; but the chairman of supervisors, in addition to takin? care of the c^nstitu- lion and doing tlie duties of his office, was sworn that he " would do equal right and justice by all men ;" and it is believed that he did.

The first organization of churches in Beloit, dates from 1838. From the day of the arrival of the New England company in 1837, public religious worship on the Sabbath was instituted by Congregationalists, and never afterwards omitted. Before the arrival of Rev. Mr. Adams, woi-ship was con^ ducted by laymen, atid consisted of singing, prayer, and reading a printed sermon. In December of that year, the Congregationalists, who were supplied by the stated ministrations of Uev. Wm. M. Adams, and the Methodists, supplied by the occasional ministrations of Rev. Mr. Tuttle, of Roscoe, 111., organized churches of their respective denominations.

The former consisted of twonty^oUr, and the latter of five members. At that time the whole population numbered one hundred and fifteen. TIio following brief statements will indicate the origin and growth of the several churches existing in this town :

A house of worship was built in 1847, at a cost of $4,300. Rev. John Nolan, 1855-56. Original membership, 5; present membership, 201, Sabbath school, 125. Volumes in librar}-, 350.

Congkegational Chukcii

This church was organized 30th of Dec, 1838. Rev. Wm. M. Adams assisted at the organization of the church, and continued preaching half the time to them, and half the time at Rockton, for two years. Mr. Adams was succeeded in Nov., 1840, by Rev. Dexter C. Clary, who continued to labor with this people for ten years. He was installed in Feb., 1844, and dismissed in the autumn of 1850. For three years after Mr. Clary's dismission the church was without a pastor, but was supplied by Rev. Dr. Chapin, Rev. Professor Emmerson, Rev. Professor Porter, officers of the college, and also by Rev. Messrs. Huggins, Randall and Blodgett. In the autumn of 1853 their present pastor, Rev. H. N. Brindsmade, D. D., commenced his labors among them. This church received missionary aid durino- the first year of its existence, and since that period has been self-sustaining.

This church has enjoyed several extensive revivals, and has been in a prosperous condition. A house of worship, of stone, and having a basement, was erected by this society, and dedicated in January, 1844. It cost four thousand dollars, and was the third church edifice erected in Wisconsin. A church at Green Bay, and the 1st Presbyterian church at Milwaukee, alone had preceded it. The church building was much enlarged in 1853. , It will now accommodate six hundred and fifty persons. But again, in 1856, it is found too small for the congregation, and measures are now matured for the immediate erection of one that can contain fifteen hundred, and that is expected to cost $28,000.

On the 6th day of Feb., 1856, by a vofe of the society, the site for this new church -was determined. Its location' is fifty rods north-east of the present site.

1)1 the spring of 1840, at their o\yn request, forty-six members were dismissed for the purpose of constitwtfng a new body. In continuance of this puipose they were constituted a Presbyterian church.

A committee of inquiry on Missions exists in this church, which collects and presents monthly to the congregation, the state of Missions throughout the world.

Protestant Episcopal Church

In 1840,came Rev. Aaron Humphrey ,from New York, and established worsliip. His labors were divided and shared by this place in connection with Belvidere and Janesville. Mr. Humphrey organized in his own house the little band of Episcopalians on the 26th of Feb., 1841. Finding, in 1845, that the burden of years superadded to the burden of the parish were becoming too weighty, he gave place in that year to Rev. S. C. Millett, who continued ministrations in this society until 1853. Rev. I. E. C. Smedes, in deacon's orders, succeeded 30th July, 1854, and continues (1856) the pastor of this people.

A new and beautiful church edifice has been completed by this society, which is the only one on the west side of the river. The site was given by John Hackett, Esq. The comer stone was laid in the spring of 1848. It was occupied in Dec, 1851. The building is of stone, in the gothic style, and is capable of seating three hundred persons. Cost, $5,700.

Roman Catholic Church

In 1842 worship was instituted according to the rites of the Roman Catholic church. Beloit, being too weak to maintain an independent existence, was appended a^ a mission to the Parish of Janesville. Having no building in whicli to celebrate their worship, they were kindly invited by Capt. T. A. Power to occupy rooms in his dwelling. Such prosperity was given to their society that it soon swelled beyond the capacity of their acoommpdations, and they consequently removed to a bam. These now quarters were furnished them by Capt. Power, who finally gave the barn to the society, which being accepted by them, was fitted up for more permanent use. Capt. Power continued, while he hved, a liberal patronage to this society ; and his kindness has since been continued by his widow, who has given the Catholic church on School street, at a central location, two lots, on which there is now erected a substantial stone edifice, one hundred and three by forty-seven feet. The society now embraces more than one hundred families.

Baptist Church

The Baptist church was constituted on the first day of May, 1841, and had originally fomteen members. Kev. A. Burgess officiated. This church has been blessed with a large measure of spiritual prosperity. Revivals, attended with great power, have been enjoyed. Between three and four hundred have been received to its communion; two colonies proceeding fi:om it have become independent churches - one having its center at Rock and the other at Newark. The following pastors have labored among this people: -

Rev. Niles Kinney. Rev. Daniel Eldiidge succeeded and suppUed at Beloit half of the time. Rev. Thomas Holmes became pastor in January, 1866.

The infancy of this society was cherished by Miss Moore, who, when the members were few, expended labor and money most bountifully to promote the interest of the scattered sheep. The church located on School street cost $5000. Number in Sabbath school, 65.

Presbyterian Church

This church, as is seen fr6m the foregoing history, was formed from materials supplied from the Congregational church. From that body forty-six members were dismissed, who, on the 21st day of March, 1849, were, Rev. L. H. Ross, of Rockford, officiating, assisted by Rev. Messrs. Clary, Bushnell and L. Benedict, constituted the first Presbyterian church of Beloit.

Rev. A. Eddy having been called to the pastorate of this church, commenced to labor in it on the 24th of July and continued in their service un- til the spring of 1855, when ill health required a release. The present house of worship was erected in 1849, and dedicated 23d July) 1850. It cost $6000. A bell, manufactured by Menely, weighing 1600 pounds, has since been added to it.

Rev. Luman Hawes, late of Carroll College, Waukesha, was called to the pastoral office and commenced labors with this society in December, 1855.

Its Sabbath school numbers 103 scholars. Its S. g- library has in it 350 volumes. Its membership is 151 ; average attendance, 400. The session #f this church consists of a pastor and a bench of seven elders,

Union Schools

An eft'ort has been made to sustain at Beloit public or common schools of a high giade. The schools are constituted in three grades. Teachers are liberally paid. The wages of principal of the character required is eight hundred dollars for an academic year ; assistants are hberally paid. A school house which cost six thousand dollars, stands on the east side of the river, and one to cost twelve thousand is in progress on the west side, and will be completed about the firet of July next.

A new Female Seminary was established here late in 1854. A board of trustees was organized, and Ladies Isabella McQueen and Almira White who had gained experience and reputation as teachers in the State of New York, were engaged as associate principals. The success of the school exceeded the expectation of its founders. Sixty-eight pupils were immediately collected in the Seminaiy, and the number has since been, increased to near one hundred. The proficiency exhibited by the pupils in successive examinations has justified the high expectations of the patrons.

Post Office

When postal facilities began to be enjoyed by this people, their post office was at Chicago, ninety miles distant. When any one was going that way, an order on the post master was made out and signed by all the settlers. - Next, Belvidere became a post town, and the distance to the post office was reduced to twenty miles. Next an office was established at Eoscoe in 111., six miles fi-om Beloit, and a boy and horse were sent there weekly after the lettei-s. Next, in 1839, a post route from Belvidere to Janesville, passing

As the returns of the post office are almost the best possible indices of the commerce and intelligence of a given locality, it has seemed good to present t]ie receipts of the post office so far as known. It is believed that the following particulars relating to the increase of business in the post office will testify favorably for the intelligence and business of the town and compare advantageously with any office in the county, supplying an equal population.

The receipts of the post office for the last official quarter ending Dec. 30th, 1855, amounted to $950. Showing an increase since three years ago, of $500 per quarter. The number of boxes required during Mr. Bastian's term was 300 ; since which the increase of the office business has demanded a larger building, and the establishment of 600 boxes and 25 drawei-s, which are all in constant use, and still the demand remains unsupplied.

The present post office building is the largest, and affords the best accommodation to the public - and its interaal arrangements for the transaction of the regular post office business is not surpassed byany office in the Stite.

There are now 10 mail routes having their termini at Beloit - 5 dailies 3 tri-weeklies and 2 weeklies^making the mail arrivals and departures amount to 1006. for each quarter.

There are 150 dailies, 1163 weeklies, 400 monthlies, making in the aggregate, for each quarter, 29,719 papore and magazines received at this office.

Beloit College

This institution is so interwoven with the social history and prosperity of Beloit that, in giving the chronicles of the town, those of the institution are necessarily comprehended. So far as we know, the idea of Beloit college originated with three ministers, returning on a steamboat from a clerical convention held at Cleveland in June, 1844. They were Revds. Stephen Peet, Aaron L. Chapin and Theron Baldwin.

dations of a College. Their plati embraced the State of Illinoia, together with the territories of Wisconsin and Iowa. At a convention held at Beloit, on the 6th of August of the same year, wo find Iowa represnted by four ministers ; Illinois by 13 ministers and 14 laymen; Wisconsin by 16 ministers and 10 laymen. Soon, however, Iowa fell out of the scheme, and finally the lines were narrowed to embrace Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. For this region was contemplated providing collegiate education for youth of both sexes; and in order to unite the two political divisions in one enterprise, it was resolved to erect an institution for males a little north and for females a little south of the line of the two States, The institutions at Beloit and at Rockford are the realization of this idea.

Other conventions were held in succession, at which it was agreed that the moral interests of the institution would be best secured by choosing for it a location away fi'om the commercial towns of the coast. The pretensions of Whitewater and of Waukesha were canvassed in connection with those of Beloit. -It was thought that a careful consideration was required before deciding to attempt uniting Wisconsin and Northern Illinois in a work of this kind.

After a session of two days, they agreed upon a resolution expressing their own concuiTeuce in the plan, but recommending " that more time be allowed and further measures taken in order to ascertain the views of all the ministers and churches in this region, prior to final action.'' A circular was accordingly sent to all the ministers and churches, inviting them to meet at Beloit and consider the question on the 27th of May, 1845.

Ottowa Presbytery, 4 ministers, 1 delegate ; Galena, 4 ministers, 2 delegates ; Fox River Union, 3 ministeis, 2 delegates ; Rock River Association, 4 ministers, 2 delegates; Milwaukee Con., 8 ministers, 9 delegates; Beloit Convention, 15 ministers, 10 delegates; Mineral Point Con. 4 ministers, 1 delegate.

When the question asserting the expediency of establishing a college for the region before mentioned came to the vote, it was affirmatively decided by a vote of 63 to 1.

The citizens of Bcloit made a donation to the college in the building and site of 112,000. Hon. Thomas W. Williams, of New London, Conn., made a donation to the college, of land, worth $10,000. Uav. Heniy Barber, of Dutchess county, K Y., gave land worth $1000.

The college was still without a President. The friends and patrons of the college had been inquiring for one suitable to fill that office. At the convention in 1845, a committee had been raised, of which Rev. Aaron L. Chapin, pastor of the FretPresbyterian church of Milwaukee, was chairman, whose functions required them to institute a wise and judicious lookout for a President, and other officers for the nascent institution. In the prosecution of their delicate duties, this committee addressed a missive to Savans in New England, (where else could they look ?) setting forth their wants and begging said Savans to nominate a man for President, possessed of learning, piety, industry, wisdom, patience, versatility, firmness, affability, experience, commanding presence and a willing mind, who might be made head of the college.

After time for deliberation, the Savans addressed, returned a kind answer to the committee through their chairman, Mr. Chapin, that they had deliberated upon the weighty matter respecting which their counsel was required, and that they harmonized in the nomination of the pastor of the 1st Presbyterian church of Milwaukee, to the high station. The Spaniards have a proverb, " He went for wool, and lost his own fleece," which was realized in this case. This nomination proved acceptable to the trastees, and in due order Mr. Chapin was installed President in Feb., 1850, and has continued in that office, discharging additional duties as Professor of History and Civil Polity, and preacher in the college chapel, with great ability and to general acceptance.

Among the students of the college, societies are maintained, which, in addition to the mutual improvement which results to their members, contribute not a little to the literary enjoyments of the community.

A monthly paper, sustained by an editorial committee of students, is issued, which is devoted to Essays, Reviews, Archaology, Poetry, Criticism, Belles-lettres and general Science.

To the enterprise of the Archaean Society the town is indebted for the oom«e of lectures, in the composition of which, the best talent of the U. S. has been employed. The Archaean Society and the Missionary Society have libraries numbering more than five hundred volumes, of which the members of those societies have the benefiti

The Cabinet contains specimens of most of the minerals and rock formations of our country ; it is especially rich in fossils from the Silurian rocks of the northwest.

By, the liberaUty of different friends, the Institution has been furnished with a large collection of marine and fr^sl) wat^r shells, and a valuable botanical collection, which embraces more than fifteen hundred species of plants, many of them foreign to to this country.

In addition to the gentleman before nanied, tiere have been asisociated with him as teachers in the professprships of the (VJllege, the folloiving, in addition to the professors elected in 1847 :

Dr. Sf Pearl Latbrop, Prof, of Chemistry and Natural Science; Franklin W. Fisk, A. M., Prof, of Ehetoric and English Literature ; Rev. William Porter, Associate Pjpf. of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy.

Trustees And Faculty Railed Ads

The-termini of four different railroads are found at this town. In November, 1853, the first raih-oad reached us from Chicago, by way of Belvidere, which was built by the Chicago and Galena company. Another company, called the Beloit and Madison company, are engaged in the construction of a road to Madison, which is now open to Footeville. The Racine and Mississippi company, on their way to Beloit, have reached it with their grading.

and have completed the road fiom Racine to Delevan, nnd in July next, existinjr contracts being fulfilled, will have laid the iron as far as the state lino at this town. Other companies existing under laws of Illinois, are building .1 road which is virtually an extension of the Racine and Mississippi road, from the state line at Beloit, by way of Freeport, to the Mississippi river, at Savannah. . Ten miles of this line leading south-west ft-om Beloit are under contract.

The Chicago, St. Paul and Fond du Lac railroad will open to the people of this town another commercial avenue in which they feel a deep interest. This road will be completed early in the coming season to Janesville, and by a junction at Clinton with the Racine and Beloit road, will open to this town a direct and speedy route to Chicago.

The influence of railroads has shown itself friendly to good morals, and has been most auspicious to the commercial interests of the place. Railroads cxjnjointly with the college have raised the value of real estate one hundred and fifty per cent, in this town.

Water Power

The water-power at Beloit is supplied from tw^o sources - the Rock and the Turtle rivers. The power used at this place derived from Turtle river, gives a head of twenty-four feet, which is equally divided into four powers, each of which can turn six runs of mill stones.

Paper Manufactory

The only paper manufactory in our county is at Beloit, owned by Messrs. Wright, Merrill & Co. It was built in 1851 - first paper made October 1st, of the same year, and exhibited at oar county fair, for which a diploma was awarded accompanied with commendatory remarks from the committee.

The quantity of paper manufactured the past year, 1855, is as follows: Printing paper, 190,000 lbs., at 12 cents per pound - $22,800; Wrapping

Beloit Steam Planing Mill, And Sash, Door And Blind Factory Public Men

Delegates to form a State Constitution from Beloit - ^David Noggle, and .John Hackett, Esqs., to the firet, and Joseph CoUeyj Esq., to the second convention.

Bushnell House

The importance of a first'class hotel to the respectability and business of the town which had long been felt, became at length so pressing that Mr.

Bushnell, at a sacrifice of his own ehorisliod pursuits, yielded to much solicitation and the promptings of public spirit, and in 1853 undertook to build the fine hotel which was completed in 1854, and has since been known as the Bushnell House.

It occupies the site of the old Eock Eiver House, and is separated from E«ck river by the street. It cost twenty-seven thousand dollars. It is built so as to form three sides of a square, enclosiug a court. It is four stories high above the basement, and fronts ninety-eight feet on Turtle street, by ninety-seven feet on School street. The end and rear walls are of stone, but the whole front of one hundred and ninety-five feet, is faced with the beautiful Milwaukee brick, a material which is now iised so extensively for fronts, that we hardly need say that it is durable and pleasing to the eye.

The fii'st story is occupied by two banking offices and five stores, with the kitchen arrangements of the hotel. The remaining three stories are occupied exclusively by the hotel. The whole front of the middle story is divided into parlors, with bed-rooms attached, designed for the accommodation of famihes. This hotel is situated near to all the business of the town, and convenient to the several railroad depots. From the roof of the house the eye has an extended and most delightful range. The windings of the river, where its silver thread can no longer be seen, is still traced by the belt of timber upon its margin ; a hundred rural homes amid surrounding grass and corn are seen dotting the near landscape. Rock prairie, stretching without apparent limit to the north and east, contrasts happily with the Grampian bluffs, which variegate and adorn, though they interrupt the prospect southward. The eye cast downward conveys to the mind a sense of contact with the bustle of busy life ; elevated, it suddenly transports one to the solitude of the prairie, or the charms of a leafy retreat.

This hotel has contributed not a little to the attractions of the place, and in the public benefit it has conferred, it has not disappointed its enterprising projector.

Ba.Mks And Officers Fire Company

Presbyterian Ministers - Rev. Luman Hawes; Rev. Alexander Montgomery; Rev. Miles P. Squier, D. D.; Rev. Derrick C. Lansing, D. D., has purchased with a view to make a home at Boloit ; Rev, R. G. Thompson.

Allopathic - 8. Spencer, G. W. Bicknell, George A. Carey, E. J. Taggart, A. Clark, E. M. Clark, Jesse Moore, H. P. Strong, J. M. Tillepaugh, H. Smith, Dr. Richards, A. J. Bennett, Jesse Gage.

Dry goods stores, 11; groceries, 13; eating houses, 4; shoe stores, 2; saw mill, 1 ; tin shops, 3 ; meat markets, 2 ; hardware stores, 3 ; steam milla, 2 ; foundries, 2 ; reaper factory, 1 ; scale factoiy, 1 ; blind and sash factorx", 1 ; harness shops, 3 ; wagon shops, 5 ; blacksmith shops, 8 ; other shops, 1 2.

Town Officers For 1854-5 History Ot Newspapers

Beloit Messenger, by Cooley & Cirer; commenced Sept. 4th, 1846. It was a five column newspaper ; just half the size of the Beloit Journal. Neutral in politics.

Beloit Journal, commenced by Stokes &Brigg3, June 22d, 1848. J. R. Briggs, jr., bought out his partner's interest, in the fall of 1848, and continued the publication alone until Sept., 1849, when he formed a partnership with C. G. Foster, of Troy, N. Y. The Journal was published from this time until May, 1854, by Briggs & Foster; when Mr. Foster bought Mr. Brigg's interest, and continued the publication of the paper until August,1865. At this time Mr. Foster sold the establishment to Messra. A. Paine, J. J. Bushnell and L. G. Fisher, and the publication was continued but a few weeks by A. Paine & Co. The last named firm sold to H. L. Devereux, who continued the Journal until January, 1856, when he formed a partnership with B. E. Hale.

Concluding Kkmark3

It is interesting to trace the relation between the present condition of this town, the first acts of its first settlors. It is not more certain that th& affluent beauty of our streets in June, proceeds from the taste of our ladies in the arrangement of shrubbery, than that the general prosperity of Beloit has its seminal principle in the events of the first years of settlement.

The voluntary self-assessment of the poor settlers, by which the means t&. build th3 old school house were realized, was a fit prelude to that zeal for the Union School, which has sinco adorned both banks of the river, with tlioso convenient and costly structures within which the Union School is stilj cherished.

The persistence of laymen under difficulties in maintaining public religious services, was tlie germ whose ripe fruit now appears in those churches, material and spiritual, which adorn the town, and which has made itself a record upon the public morals and order.

Maj. Johnson's romantic voyage down the Rock and up the Mississippi rivers, when he obtained of the Territorial Legislature, at Burlington, a charter for a Seminary, had a significance, which, when we look upon the College and upon the Female Seminary, we can appreciate as he could not.

Who can doubt that these acts severally and conjoined, have determined the character of the accretions which have since been made to this population ? It is not an accident that educated parents, desiring to secure the highest educational advantages for their children, resort to Beloit and make there their homes.

The moral prominently taught in the history of this town, is, that a gen* erous patronage of improvements of real utility, results in the production of material wealth, and that the maintenance of religion and learning, while it also contributes to the same end, has this higher advantage, that it pro= motes the individual thrift, refinement and religion of the population.

The Amount Of Produce Raised, And Also The Amount Of Stock

The following note was received from the town clerk of Beloit, in reference to the statistics of that town, collected by him : 0. Guernsey, Esq., Cor. Sbc'y <fec. : Dear Sir: - It is but justice to the farmers of Beloit to state that the ngricultural statistics obtaiaed by myself, agreeable to your rcquebt, fall fa,r short of representing the actual amount ofproJuco raised in Beloit. In almost all cases, I found it impossible to obtain statements knoion to be ct>rroct ; as the fanners had either forgotten the amount of grain raised, or neglected to measure it ; and when estimates were made, I am convinced they were oftener too low than too high. Besides this, the products of some fai-ms are not reported at all, as tlie producers had removed from the premises, and estimates c\-en tolerably correct could not be made. 'These faeti need to be considcn-d in judging from the statistics of Beloit as an agricultural town. ypure Truly,

James W. Strong

The whole number of Farms in the town of Beloit is 103; number of School Districts, 8 ; School Houses, 4, one of which cost $5,500 ; Scholars, 1385. They receive f7'om the State School fund the present year 1968 41 .

This is town 1, range 14 ea.it, and is situated in the southeast corner of the county. Its histoiy and description cannot be better told than in the words of the following communication from A. C. Resscguie, Esq., of that town:

In compliance with your request to aid you in the work of getting up a history of Rock count}', a few recollections of events connected with the early history and settlement of the town of Clinton, are furnished you, with permission to reject, amend or publish entire as you may deem proper. Many incidents in the early settlement of a town, attracting little or no observation at the time of transpiring, ai'o looked back upon by its inhabitants with a degree of interest proportionate to the lapse of time since their occurrence ; and as this is a history for the future as well as the present inhabitants of the to'KTi, some things may with propriety be recorded, which would strike the present reader as trifling and unworthy of a place in such a work. On the 2d day of April, 1837, under the guidance of Deacon Chauncey Tuttle, (who had visited this section of country the fall previous,) accompanied by " Aunt Amy's '' prayers and receipts for making broad, Dr. Den- nis Mills, Milton S> Warner, Charles Tuttle and Wm. S. Murray, started from Meacliam's Grove in Illinois, for some place on or near Rock river in Wisconsin. The main object in view was to secure some good farms.

The journey to " Blodget's place," now Beloit was accomplished after five days of hard toiling through mud, sloughs and unbridged rivers and creeks. It was necessary many times in the course of each day for one or more of the company to wade into the sloughs nearly waist deep and lift at the wheels, to enable the horses to draw the load through. The river at Belvidcre, and Turtle creek at Beloit, from rrcent rains and melting snows, were up to high water mark and had to be crossed in a " dug out," or canoe, carrying oyer a wagon wheel, or ba.rrel of pork, or barrel of flour at a time, consuming several hours' time at each placQ in crossing. The day of awival at Beloit was rainy and cold and, the place presented any thiijg but an inviting appearance to the stranger. The soft side of a bun-oak puncheon Was the best sleeping or lodging accommodations the place afforded ; that, at California prices, was obtainable at the house of Caleb Blodget, the enter^ prising founder of Beloit. This, with the exception of Monsieur Tebo's shanty, occupied by himself and two Squaw toives, was the only house in the place. This was a roughly built, commodious, " double yolked " log house, or, in other words, two stories on the ground. A part of the first saw mill frame was raised, and the digging of the race commenced. On the 8th, the company, piloted by Mr. Blodget, visited Jefferson praiiio, and determined upon locating there. On the 9th, with the aid of Tebo and his little canoe, re-crossed Turtle creek with their efiects, and commenced a settlement on the west side of Jefferson prairie, within the present limits of the town of Clinton. They arrived there about sun down, and began the first improvement, a very frail stracture. It received no name, was a mere thing to sift sunshine and moonlight through, and rain, if it chanced to come, though it did serve all the purposes of a house for eight days and nights. - It consisted of four crotches set in the ground, on which were placed cross poles, and a brush heap for roof; sided up on three sides with Indian blankets, and fronting on a log heap fire, by which was cooked the first settlers' supper in the town of Clinton, and which was probably eaten with as keen a relish as any subsequent suppers, though served up in a much better or very different style. The floor was made of a wagon box taken to pieces and laid down as evenly as the suiface of the ground would admit of. The establishment was amply furnished with " Straw beds, all but the tick," and like an omnibus, could accommodate as many as could conveniently get in.

All feed for the horses being exhausted, it was necessary to use them at once in collecting together materials for a more penmanent house. Accordingly, the logs were cut and drawn, and the body of a house 12 by 16 raised by the middle of the afternoon, when Charles Tuttle started with the team for Rockford, the nearest point where grain could be procured. The horses were exchanged for oxen and a breaking plow, and about one hundred acres broken up that season, most of which was put under crops of com, potatoes, oats, buckwheat, turnips, &c.

The house was completed without using one foot of sawed lumber, and served as a shelter for many a new comer into town, after the owners had vacated it for better ones. There was a feeling of almost veneration for the old habitation, which should have protected it from the hands of the destroyer. But a family of Da es, who were sent annually to scourge some locality different from the one they had infested the year before, came along and demolished it.

Stephen E. Downer, Daniel Tasker, and their wives, visited the prairie about the same time. Those two were probably the first white ladies who had ever honored the prairie with their presence. They seleeted claims on the southeast side of the prairie. In July, Oscar H. Pratt and Franklin Mitchell, from Joliet, Illinois, came on and made claims at Summer\all6 and aiTanged to have some breaking done. In October they built a log house, which was occupied that fall and following winter by Stacy L. Pratt, three of his sisters and father. They were joined in the winter by Ai and Reuben P. Willard. Humphrey and Ezekiel Brownell settled near Summerville that winter. Humphrey had a family, and Ezekiel wishing to set a good example for his tjrother bachelors, soon after took to himself a rib. - They were the first couple launched upon the Matrimonial Ocean from Jefferson prairie, or Clinton ; Joseph S. Pierce, Esq., had the honor of pronouncing them one.

The same fall and winter, Stephen E. Downer, Daniel Tasker, Martin Moore and Henry Wheeler and their families moved on to the claims that Downer and Tasker had made in the summer.

In October, '37, Henry L. Warner, Henry Tuttle, Albert Tuttle, Griswold Weaver, Mi-s. Milton S. Warner, Mrs. Daniel Mills and Miss Harriet Warner joined the settlement on the west side of the prairie.

Milton S. Warner finished his log house in December, and Daniel Mills his in Januar)', to the gi'eat accommodation of boarders and travelers. Chi- cago was tlien the nearest provision market where settlers could get supplies. The price of flour then at Chicago was about $10 to $12 per barrel, and pork $6 to $8 and $9 in the hog. The price varied according to the running qualities of the animal. Wo frequently got those that were said to have been " inside of two-forty on the plankl" They had countenances much resembhng, in longitude, those of disappointed pohticians.

The first load of grain, consisting of buckwheat and Corn, sent to mill from this town, was taken by Griswold Weaver to a mill on the Piskasaw river, somewhere below Belvidere, 111., in the month of January, 1838. The miller, as was customary at that time, returned the toll instead of the grist. The nearest post office during the winter of '38 was at Roscoe.

In '38-9 considerable additions were made to the settlement, and the time of the settler was heavily taxed in being so frequently called out to log house raisings ; though the work was always cheerfully done.

According to the best recollections of the the first political speech publicly made in town, was at a political meeting at the house of Chas. Tuttle, in the summer of '39, by a prominent aspirant, (not now a resident of this town,) to the honors of a seat as member in the Territorial legislature. As a model speech, admirable at least in point of brevity, it should not be lost to the world. The orator was elevated by his admirers into a lumber wagon, standing in front of the house, and with a becoming degree of diffidence began thus : " Gentlemen, to begin with, I am rough shod ; fourteen ribs on a side, and, am hard to handle. If I go to Madison, I expect to go on my own hook and get back the best way I can. I have no hobby upon which to ride into office. My hobby horse's head and tail is down. Some men will promise you a canal, fitted up in every little ravine and rivulet for steamboats to ply on, with a glibness. Some one thing and some another; but gentlemen, I can 't say what I shall do when I 'm elected."

The speaker here closed, stepped down from the wagon, and whispered to a friend that he should have said more, but he did n't want to offend them precincts, and it was understood that they intended' to make speeches, but were unwilling to hazard a comparison of their oratorical powers with what they had just listened to, and left the field without making an efibrt.

The first religious service in town was conducted in 1838, by Elder Toppin, then a resident of Walworth county, at the house of Chas. Tuttle. Ministers' visits were at that day few and far between, and always called out the whole population to listen to their religious teachings. The Rev. Albert Tuttle, of Roscoe, at the earnest solicitation of Wm. Hildreth, preached several Sabbath evenings at Ephraim Hildreth's house. Mrs. S. E. Downer, in the year '38, gave birth to the firet ^"hite child born in t&wn; Mre. M. S. Wamor, the second child. Thoiv example was sanctioned by all good married ladies, and the settlements began to prosper.

The 2d wedding in town took place on the open prairie, all parties being on horseback. The couple, (names- not remembered,) desiring to bo united under the holy bonds of marri%e, wore in search of a magistrate, and met Joseph S. Pierce, Esq., on his return from his saw mill, where he' had been at work. They were " in something of a hurry," and the generosity of the 'Squire could not deny their request. Dispensing with the little formalities of license and certificate, ho pronounced them husband and wife, and they rode off across the prairies, galloping on their way rejoicing.

Second town meeting held on the 4th day of April, 1843, at the house of Samuel Case. Officers elected for the ensuing year, were, Heman Murray, ChaiiTQan Supervisors ; James Chamberlain, Assistant do ; Joseph S. Pieroe, do. do. Benjamiti F. Mun-ay, Assessor; F. Rice, Town Clerk; James Mendenhall, Treasurer; C. M. Baldwin, Collector. W. W. Carey, Chas. Randall, Samuel Case, Commissioners Highways. B. C. Baker, D. M. Piatt, Henry Tuttle, Commissioners Common Schools.

Edwin Anunson, do. do. A. C. Resseguie, Town Cleric; Judd P. Wells, Treasurer; C. L. Hartshorn, Town Superintendent. Thos. Tuttle, D. B. Colyer, S. S. Northrop, Torre lielgerson, Justices of the Peace. Cyms 6. Barker, Henry Tuttle, Assessore.

In the years '40 and '41, many settlers were added to the -numbers already in town. Among them were Messrs. Reuben, Samuel and Alexander Case ; Oliver and. Alonzo Richardson; Mr. Ingraham, Mr. Bower, Mr. Allard Mr. Phelps, Mr. Amasa Wells, James 0. Case, Daniel C. Baker, Mr. Yorty, Col. Stewart, Dr. Wheeler, and many others. Ole Knidson was the first Norwegian settler in Clinton.

The town has now 4 whole and 7 joint school districts, 1 school houses ; whole number of children between the ages of four and twenty, 513, and receives the present year from the State School Fund, $329 24. According to census returns of Juno 1st, 1855, the town has under improvement 10,500 acres of land. Population in 1850, 1,116; in 1855, 1,359. Four churches - one Baptist, two Lutheran, one Catholic. The Methodists are now engaged in obtaining funds to erect a meeting house near Clinton Station, the crossing of the Chicago & St. Paul, and the Racine, Beloit & Mississippi railroads, which will soon be m running order.

There are two post offices and two stores in town, and to the great credit of its inhabitants be it said, there is no place where whiskey is sold.

Considerable attention is being paid to the cultivation of fruit. Estimated No. of apple trees in town, 30,000. Dr. John Tinker has 25 acres of ground planted to fruit trees, besides a nursery of several acres, embracing a great variety of the best selections known at the present day. The general healthiness of this town has invariably suggested removal, or some new employment to physicians, who have settled here with the expectation of living by their profession.

Within the town are 15 miles of railroad, already gi-aded, and when completed, will afibrd its inhabitants the be.st facilities for reaching the different markets.

crooked courses, water a gi'eat many farms. Lime stone quarries, furnishing good building stone, are abundant, and as an agi-icultural town it is not surpassed by any in tbe State.

Wm. S. Murray, Esq., to whom reference is made in the above communication, yet resides on the " Old place," one of the finest farms in the country. He was one of the fii-st Boai-d of County Commissioners, and has held other responsible trusts from his fellow citizens.

List Of A Few Of The Largest Fabmehs In The Town Of Clinton Center

Lies west of the town of JanesVille, being town 3 north, rano-e 11 east. Andrew Stevens was the first settler in this town, at a beautiful grove called Black Oak grove. He settled here in October, 1843. At that time he had no neighbors within ten miles west or five iTiiles north. Here is a beautiful creek and several fine springs. Such fine and eligible situations for convenient farms as are found around this grove, are hardly equalled in the countj-.

I'liis town is situated on the west side of Rock prairie, and is mostly prairie land - the northern part oak openings and some very iine mareh for cutting grass-. Tiie following named pei-sons settled in this town soon after Stevens : David Davis, Philander Davis, William Webb, William Wan-en^ Elijah Wood.

The town of Center, 18 miles east and west, nine miles nortb and south, including the present towns of Center, Plymouth, Spring Valley, south half of Magnolia, and that part of Janesville west of the river, was organized in 1842 ; and in 1846 was divided into Center, Spring Valley, Plymoulhj Magnolia, &c., according to the government survey of townships.

In answer to your request to give you a sketch of the early history of the town of Center, pei-mit me to say that at this late day, time will hardly allow me to do justice to myself, to the town, or to the history you are about to publish. The sketch, under the circumstances, must be a hasty one, and of course, subjedt to imperfections. By reference to the acts of the territorial legislature in 1842, it will be found that this town was organized in that year, and embraced the territory now included in the whole tovnis of Plymouth and Spring Valley, the south half of Magnolia, and the present towii of Center, fractional sections one and two, lying north and west of Rock river, in town two, range twelve, and all that part of the present city and town of Janesville which lie in the south half of town three, range twelve.

The first election was held at the house of James H. Knowlton. The town at that time must have embraced about three-and-a-half townships - about nine miles wide from north to south, and running from rock river on the east, to Green county line on the west, nearly eighteen miles.

In 1836, James T. Watson, of the city of New York, bought from the government about eleven hundred acres of land, including the beautiful groves of timber near the corners of the present towns of Centerj Plymouth, Spring Valley and Magnolia. Mr. Watson having hved in " bhssful celibacy," these groves took the name of " Bachelors Grove." Among the early settlers of this early town were Wm. Holmes, Esq,, and &mily, near the present city of Janesville ; Wm. WaiTcn, Esq., in the town of Center, on the present stage road from jTanesville via. Union to Madison ; David Douglass, and 8. F. Chipinaij, Esqs., and Caleb Inman and families, in the present town of Plymouth; John Crall, Robert Taylor and others in Spring Valley.

My first visit to this town was in the spring of 1843. At this early day pohtical excitement ran high. In the spring of 1 844 the whole tenitory within the town was thoroughly canvassed and every voter brought on the ground, except one; thirty-two in all. It being known how every man had voted, there was found to be a tie vote for every office in town. The last one was then sent for, Anthony Partridge, who came, and voted, selecting from the two tickets, electing eveiy man for whom he voted. Those were indeed exciting times, and town offices above par. At this election George Ayres was elected chairman of supervisors; Wm. Holmes had been the former chairman. The neit spring Caleb Inman was elected to that office ; the next five successive years, E. A. Foot; in 1851, Wm. A. Webster; 1862 and 1853, E. A. Foot; 1854 and 1855, Wm. A. Norton. The magistrates in the present town of Center, have been E. A. Foot, ten years; Lewis Davis, one; Wm. R. Warren, one; John Wallihan, seven; Jonathan Cory, six; Wm. A. Norton, six.

But to return to the present limits of the town. In 1843 there was a Ic^ shanty on the south line of section twenty-seven, but who was its builder or occupant I am not informed. In October, of the same year, Andrew Stevens, from Chatauque county, N. Y., moved into this shanty. There may have been other families in the north part of the town, at this time, but I know of none except that of Esq. Warren, on the stage road. In the fall of 1844, Elijah Wood, from Oneida county, N. Y., and David Lyon, from Michigan, settled on the south line of the town, on section 35; Mr. Wood, where he now lives, and Mr. Lyon, on the farm now occupied by Mr. Woodbridge ; Kennedy McOlure, on the s. e. qr. of 36, where he now resides ; and Julius Gilbert and Francis Smith " shantied" on the s. e. qr. of 34, during the winter of 1844-5. Thoy were young men and single. In the spring, A. E. Foot and E-. F. Richards, from Connecticut, commenced on the s. e. qr. of section 32. At this time we found near the center' of the town, John Warren, Wendnl Fockler, and, I think. Dr. Fisher and Seth Fisher. The same sea- F«n came in John N. Smith, James Holms, Abraham Caufman, and others. The next summer, 1846, the lands within the town were mostly taken up and settled by emigrants fi'om New England and Now York. And hers let me remark, to the honor of the inhabitants of this town, and to the instructions of their for.'fathoi's, that tliere has never been sold any ardent spirits, lawfully, with'n the town ; and not a dollar has been expended by the town for the support of paupers.

Tlie first church was organized in 1846, by the Episcopal Methodista. The first members -were E. A. Foot, F. A. Beach, E. F. Richards and wife, Abel Avery and wife, six - now about forty members, and in progress of building chapel 36 by 50 feet, with a basement intended for a district school. The next church organization was the Close Communion Baptist. Number of communicants not known. Shortly after a Congregational church was organized, and in 1854 built a small chapel, on section 34. There is also, near the center of the town, a Free Will Baptist and a Campbellite church organization.

The only store in the town is that of W. Beach, on section 82. The only tavern that of A. Caufman, on section 22. One post-oiEce on section 23; John Wallihan post-master.

The north half of the town, with the exception of a marsh running across it from west to east, is covered with " Bun- oak" timber ; rather level, but good for plowing. The south half mostly beautiful rolling prairie, and is an excellent agricultural town.

The village of Footville is in part situate in this town and partly in Plymouth, embracing portions of section 32 in Center, and sections 4 and 5 in Plymouth. Was surveyed and platted in the fall of 1854, and is the present terminus of the Beloit and Madison railroad, and contains the stationhouse and fixtures, two warehouses, two lumber yards, two taverns, three stores, one gi-ocery, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, one harness and shoe shop, one steam saw-mill unfinished, one post ofiice, one physician, one chapel unfinished, one school-house, and probably sixty families. In the fall of 1853 there were seven families only.

Thus have I given a hasty and imperfect sketch, regretting seriously that I have not time to extend and perfect it, trusting that you will abridge or extend to suit your purpose, I subscribe myself,

E. A. Foot, Esq., now a resident of Footeville, in this town, was a delegate from this county to foi-m the present constitution of the stat?.

Supervisors - W. A. Norton, chairman, Andrew Stevens, Gabriel Crist; Ira Farmleo, Town Clerk;, Charles K. Bennett, Superintendent; E. A. Foot, Jonathan Cory, John Wallihan, W. A. Norton, Justices of the Peace.

Town Officers For 1855

Ira Pai-mlee, Town Clerk; John Wallihan, Treasurer; Calvin Fitch, Superintendent ; John Wallihan, E. A. Foot, Jonathan Cory, W. A. Norton, Justices of the Peace.

Augustus Parker raised, on fifty acres of land, 25 tons of broom corn, the present season, for which he w.as offered $100 per ton. Andrew Stovons raised 100 tons of hay.

Harmony

Contiguous to, and east of Janesville, is the town of Harmony ; beins; township 3 N.-, of I'iange 13 E. The south half of this town lies on the north side of Rock prairie, and contains some of the best farms in the county. There is, however, a lack of water^ except from weUs, as no streams, and very few springs are found within the limits of the town. In the openings in the northern part, however, is a small lake, which affords stock Water for a considerable distance around. The north half of the town is quite heavily wooded with bur oak; furnishing not only an -ample supply of vrood am) fencing stuff for the rest of the town, tut also' for the prairie farms of the towns of LaPrairie and Bradford*. Most of the farmers ot'thesO prairie towns nianage to secure wood lots as near as possible, froni which, at least, they can get their. fire-wood. Very few, however, at the present day, think of cutting their thnher for rails to fence with, preferring rather to preserve it for wood, and buy pine lumber for fencing.

Mount Zion, in the east part of the town, is a beautiful elevation, commanding a view of the country for many miles around. No place in the entire west, probably, presents a more enchanting prospect to the stranger than this. To the west, as the traveler ascends the moiint, along the old Territorial road from Chicago and Milwaukee to Madison, which passes over it, a view of Janesville city burets upon his vision, with the country beyond ; to the south, abroad expanse' of prairie spreads out, bounded only by the horizon. North of this, and extending east and west as far as the eye can reach, is a long belt of timber. East is an extension of the same Rock prairie couur . try, a distance of some eight miles, to where it is bounded by the extensive oak openings of Walworth county. All along this road, and others, is a continuous succession of the most beautiful farms, among the first that were settled in the county. Conspicuous among the rest, are the farms of Elder Babcock, Joseph Spaulding and Wm. Spaulding. ,

Joseph SpauUling, Esq., who represented his a3sem"hly district in 1853, resides in this town. There are 128 farms in the town. It formerly con- . stituted a part of Jaiiesvillc, but in 1850 it waS, organized into a town by itself. The population in 1850 was 840; in 1855, 805. l^ight school districts - 291 scholars over four.aad under twenty years of age. It has seven school houses; This town receives the present year the sum of $284,16 from the State School Fund.

This town was first settled in the year 1'836. The following are the names of some of the early settlers: JosepTi Spaiildiug, Wm. Spaulding, G. H. Williston, John Turner, Harvey Holmes and AnsSl' Dickinson.

The Congregationalists have a church here, near Mount Zion. There is a Free Will Baptist church in this town; Revs. P. W. Belknap and James R. Pope, ministers. The Universalists also have preaching here occasionally, and their preacher is Rev. George W. Lawrence, from JanesvUle.

The only church building over erected in this town, as well as the society, was mainly built up through the agency and influence of Ansel Dickinson, vho did more for the intellectual and religious cultivation of the children of the town than any other man during his life. His death was a serious loss. The church building has been converted into a school house, and the members are scattered abroad. The fact that the town of Harmony is so near Janesville, (forming, indeed, a part of the city,) will explain the absence of any villages or churches.

Town Officers For 1854 Thb Hahes Of A Fkw Of The Pmwtpal Fahsier3 In Harmony

Joseph Spaulding, raised 15 tons of Timothy hay; John Turner, 80 tons { Qurdon Leonard, 16 tons; Godfrey Bishopj 8 tons'; Lewis D, Gage, 20 tons; David B. Wood, 21 tons.

Situation

Town three N., range fourteen E. Bounded on the north by LimOi east by Rithndond, in the county of Walworth, south by Brfidford, and west by Harmohy.

Sections 30 to S6 inclusive and the average half of Sections 19 to 24 also inclusive, are situated on Rock Prairie near the N. E. comer of it, and the remaining sections are tod were Oak Opeings.

two portions, is so strongly marked that it can readily be observed in passing. The openings are better adapted to the raising of good wheat, while the prairie is better for corn and oats and not easily affected by drought. - The latter also has a decided preference in regard to health, ague not being prevalent and fevers rare.

There is a commendable degree of contentment manifested by the inhabitants of both sections, in not being willing to exchange situations with each other.

The inhabitants are principally from the eastern states. There are however several Scotch families who are enterprising farmers and among our best citizens.

Settlement

The first settlement was made in 1837. the first family was that of .Konnan Smith who claimed on the present site of the " Johnstown Center House" owned by Henry B. Johnson, and afterwards sold his claim to Noah Newell. The second family was that of Capt. Caleb D. Hill, who is still a resident. The other early settlers were Elisha Newhall and his sons Wright and Elbridge G., Noah Newell, John. A. Fleteher, Daniel Phelps, Daniel McKillip, John Putnam, John A. Pickett and William Virgin. The first framed house was built by Daniel McKillip, and is now owned by Slmbael Farr.

The Free Will Baptist Church, in the N. W. part of the town, organized Jnnuary 22d 1843. Present number of raembei-s 53. Worship in a convenient Stone School House. Rev. E. D. Lewis, Pastor.

The 1st Congregational Church at Johnstown Village organized July 6th, 1845, by Rev. Stephen Peet, then agent of the Am. Home Mis. Society, have a Meeting House 30 by 52 feet and a Bell from Meneely's Foundry. - Present number of members 60. Rev. S. S. Bicknell, stated supply.

The Baptist Church organized in the fall of 1845 have a Meeting House at Johnstown Center, but it is now in disuse. The church enfeebled and nearly extinct.

There are 8 Scljool Houses in this town, and parts of three districts whose School Houses are in adjoining towns. The formel- are all supplied with Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.

In 1850 and previously, there was comparatively a large floating prtpulation, immigrants fi'om the Eastern States and Eastern world to the Great West, who stopped here temporarily until they could procure homes eko- \vhere, one house containing 1 2 families, and thfoe of these families numbered 24 children. In 1849 there were 157 who voted^ and' of that number only 58 are now residents in town, 99 having died or left, chiefly the latter. The present population is more peroianent. '

The early cultivation of fruit has been too much neglected. The feiv apple. Plum and Cherry trees planted at an early day, give evidence that those fruits can be grown successfully, while with Peaches it is more probablemaU ical. With Pears the experiment has not been sufBciontly tried to determine. Peaches have been raised to a limited extent in the openings, but the prairies are too cold in winter to admit of it unless well and faithfully guarded from the wind.

D. R. Spooner

Note. - In consequence of the Town Clerk of Johnstown having neglected to gather the statistics of his town as we requested, we are unable to give so full a list of the largo farmei-s of that town as we do of others. The following are a very few. Johnstown has a large number of the very best farmers in the county.

Janesville Town

Is town 3 north, of range 1 2 east. The city of Janesville was mostly taken from the southeast corner of this town. The remainder of the town is very superior farming land - both prairie and openings - and well wooded and watered. The Eock river runs through the eastern part of the town. The first bridge built across Rock river, in the county, was built by A. W. Pope and others, in the northern part, on the Milwaukee and Madison Territorial road. This road, until within a few years, in fact until the opening of the M. & M. railroad to Janesville, was the greatest thoroughfare in the county, or in the State even, as far from the Lake shore.

Near this bridge is a tavern, the Rock River House ; and a few miles farther west, on the road, is the celebrated farm, owned by General J. C. Johnston.

This farm consists of about three thousand acres in a body; 840 acres under improvement; 600 to crops, and 240 into timothy meadow. Gen. Johnston, the past year, raised 360 tons of timothy hay, 5,000 bushels wheat, 10,000 bushels com, 1,500 bushels oats, 800 bushels rye, 500 bushels potatoes. He has 6 horses, 2 mules, and 260 head of cattle, of which 125 are cows, and eleven yoke of oxen; and employs from 15 to 30 men. He cuts all of his grain and hay by machinery, of reapers and mowers. He has one of the largest and most commodious brick farm houses, with convenient barns and out-buildings, which, together with laud of superior quality, renders his situation one of the most desirable, not to say the largest farming establishments in the State. The General has only been in the Slate about two years, and intends to break 400 acres more the present season - making altogether, under improvement, 1,240 acres; and we may reasonably anticipate that when he " gets the hang of the country," he will be considerable of a farmer.

The population in 1855 was 770; 10 school districts and 6 school houses, and 283 scholars. It receives the present year from the State School fund, $225 40.

Number Of Farms Town Officers Fob 1854

Supervisors, Z. P. Burdick, Chairman; A. W. Pope, John Russell J. A. Blount, Town Clerk; Virgii Pope, Treasurer; Dr. John Stacy, Superintendent; N. P. Bump, Assessor. I. S. Scofield, James Lawrence, Justices of the Peace.

La Prairie

Is town 2, range 13 east. This town is almost entirely opoii, unbroken |»t-aitie. Its euphonious name is at tlie same time very significant. It is from the Fren«ii, and simply means "the meadow, or the pasture." It-w southeast from the city of Janesville, on which it comers, a small portion of Was severed by the Corporation act, to help constitute the city. The early settlers in tliis county, although they thought highly of prairie lands, carefully avoided the middle portions of Rock prairie, because of the grcfat lack of wood and water ; but subsequently, public opinion changed in that matter, and now L&Prairie contains some of the largest and most successfel farmers itt the county. This tovmship, on the first division of the county into towtts, was divided' - Beloit including the south half and Janesville the north half. At a subsequent date, when Turtle and Harmony were constituted, the south half became a part of Turtle, the north half a part of Hartaony. After being divided and sub-divided, and bandied about, it at last became an independent town, with corpoi'ative poWers in 1849.

The popBlation of this town in 1850 was 3lB\ in 185S, 602. It has 9 school districts and 5 school houses. The present number of scholars is 198, and received the present year from the State School Fund,'$152 14.

So named, at the suggestion of S. Porter Wheeler, by the inhabitants of town 2, range 13, convened for the purpose of petitioning the legislature, then in session, to pass a law organizing the south of Harmony and the north part of Turtle, as a legal town. The law was passed, and approved March 2eth, 1849, by Gov. Dewey, making it the duty of the electors of said town to hold their first town meeting at the house of Justus P. Wheeler. The first town meeting was held at the place appointed, on the 3d day of April,

1850, and the election for 1849 and 1850, was held at the house of Mr. Samuel L. Halstead, on the east line of the northwest quarter of section 15, From thence removed to the house of Freeman Hitehcock, on the west line of section 28, and is for the present held at the house of Hiram Finch, on the east line of the northeast quarter of section 14. The whole number of votes cast at the first town meeting, was 56. The names of town oflBcers elected, were Justus P. Wheeler, HoOry Cheesebro and James Chamberlain,

This town is a rolling praiyie, of deep soil, with an underlay of sand and gravel in the west and northwest part. There is plenty of lime rock in the bluffs of the central and eastern part of the town. The only surface water we can boast of, is Turtle ereek, which rises in Walworth county, watering and fertilizing the town of Bradford from side to side - enters this town on the east line of section 36 and passes out on the south line of 35, into the town of Turtle. Running within the limits of this town less than two miles, it passes through the town of Turtle nearly from corner to corner, and falls into Book river near the State line at Beloit. This stream rose during the night of June, 1851, 10 or 12 feet above its usual level, carrying off mill dams, bridges, fences, .sheep, hogs and other property, to a great amount. The water was the highest about day light, reaching as high as Mr. Clark W. Lawrence's door step; leaving a tree in the upper casement of the school house window, and filling Mr. Chamberlain's house above the window stools.

The only timber now standing in town, is on sections 5, 6, 35 and 36, amounting to less than a quarter section. The inhabitants are supplied with good water, in gi-eat abundance, by digging wells from 15 to 85 feet deep; and with wood, by hauling it from the neighboring towns, a distance of from 3 to 10 miles. The mail route from: Racine and Chicago passes through this town. The Chicago, Fond du Lac & St. Paul R. R. enters, the town on the south line of section 35, and passes out on the west line of the sonthwest quarter of section 7. Some, of the early settlers of this county made their first "pitch" in this town. Samuel St. John and family were among the first who made a permanent settlement on the Rock river. He wintered with the first seven or eight, who built the log shanty on the east side of the river, at the rapids. His was the first claim made in town. He and his brother, Levi St. John, claimed and entered at the laiid sale at Milwaukee, the whole of section 6. He built, a good log house on the west half of the section, now standing within the chartered limits of the city of Janesville. William Mertrom, about the sanie tijne, made a claim on section 5, and built a lo^ house, which ^N^ehemiah St. John pui-chased and occupied for several years. ' Natian Allyne, in 1835 or '36, made a claim on section 35, broke several acres, put in and raised crops without fence, except dogs. Lucius Burnham ihadff a claim on section 36, in the spring of 183*7, and made his first iniprovenlent in 1838, built the fii-st frame bam, now standing in this town. Clart W. Lawrence came into this cotmtry with his father and family, Mr. William Lawrence, of Beloit, in 1836, made a claim on section 36, and built the first frame house. Mr. Wateiman, James Chamberlain and L. B. AUyno located on section 35, in 1837 or 1838.

These early settlers, although located in a beautiful prairie country, where wheel carriages could tse driven in almost all directions, had many hardships to endure. They were charmed with the country. When they found the unclaimed place that suited, they pitched their tent, and built their shanty, not reflecting that it was seven days' journey to the nearest place where provisions could be obtained. Poor flour and rusty pork were great luxuries, at $30 and $40 per barrel, transported with ox teams from Chicago, Ottowa, Gfelena or Milwaukee, over the prairie, without places of entertainment, or bridges to cross the streams ; having to cook their provisions, camping on the ground, under the wagon; frequently seven days onJhe road between this place and the nearest point where they could get supplies. Potatoes and other sauce could not be got at any price for seed. Rutabagas stood high in the market. After the mill was built at Beloit, and grinding done without bolting, many of the inhabitants lived on buckwheat cakeS) with such game as they could catch. Their hardships were small during warm weather, to what they wera in the winter, when streams had to be forded, or the family sufier for want of provisions at home. After the land sale at Milwaukee, the settlement in this town remained stationary for several years. - The town being all prairie, with a small quantity of timber in the northwest and southeast comers of it, other towns in the county filled up rapidly with settlers, while LaPrairie remained stationary with but one school house, located on section 36, built by Mr. James Chamberlain. Justus P. Wheeler made big purchase in the faU of 1840. Eliakim Thatcher,^ in 1843. A man by the name of Hocura made a claim on section 3 ; afterwa,rds sold to Mr. Covil. Cliaries C. Cheney, Henry Cbesebro, William Loyd, Adelmon Sherman and Ephraim Leach, Jr., made their purchases in the years 1844 and 1845. Almerin Sherman, Peter Shufek, James I. Hoyt, Wm. G. Easterly and Mr. Ford, in 1846. Jefferson Sinclair made his large purchase on the prairie, and William Reed made improvements on it about the same time. Ralph W. Schenck, William Schenck and William H. Stark came into town soon after Sinclair made his purchase.

The third is located near the comer of seotions 1, 2, 1 1 »nd 12. The- fourth is near the oomer of sections 13, 14, 23 and 24. The fifth, is now building, near the quarter stake, on the oast line of section 5. We have no other public buildings; no store, grocery, or tavern. In fact we have to go to the neighboring towns for wood, lumber, all kinds of merchandise, and mechanism of every kipd. For many years we have had but one mechanic in town - Mr. James Chamberlain. He built the court house at Janesville anid, the first bridge across the Rock river in this county. It was a toll bridge, built for Mr. Charles Stevens and others, on Milwaukee street, where the new bridge, now stands, in the city. He a:lso built the first bridge at Beloit, and the bridge at Bocktop.