Rock County, Wisconsin - Chapter 10: Rock County Villages, 1879 (part 1 of 2)

Clinton Junction

Clinton Junction, a pleasant little village on the lines of the Chicago & North- Western and Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, is the southeast township in Rock County, and known as Town 1, Range 14 east.

On April 9, 1836, Deacon Chauncy Tuttle, Dr. Dennis Mills, Milton S. Warner, Charles Tuttle and William S. Murry arrived in the township and located a settlement on the west side of Jefferson Prairie, within the present limits of the town of Clinton, by the erection of a hut consisting of four crutches set in the ground with poles thrown across ; a brush heap for a roof, and Indian blankets for the sides. By a log fire in front of this primitive dwelling was cooked the first settlers' supper in Clinton.

The floor of the cabin was composed of a wagon-box carefully taken to pieces and laid upon the ground, and this served all the purposes of a house for eight days and nights.

The day following their arrival was spent in an examination of the. point and adjoining timber lands and a few sections worked and taken possession of in the name of the " Jefferson Prairie Company." The next business was to cut and haul logs for a house, which was soon " raised " without the use of one foot of sawn lumber, and served as a shelter for many of the first settlers.

A few days after that event, Charles Turtle was dispatched to Rockford, 111., the nearest point where grain could be obtained. The horses were traded for oxen and a breaking- plow, and 100 acres of land broken, and corn, potatoes, oats, buckwheat, turnips and garden " sass " planted.

In the year following, Stephen E. Downer and Daniel Tasker and their wives visited the Prairie, the ladies thereby gaining the honor of being the first white women who had visited the town.

The nearest provision market was Chicago, where flour cost from f 10 to $12 per barrel, and pork f 7 to $10 per hundred. The journey took from two to three weeks, according to the condition of the " sloughs."

The first load of grain taken to mill from the settlement, was hauled by Griswold Wearer, in the month of January, 1838, the mill being situated on the Piskasaw River, below Belvidere, 111.

The First Wedding

In new communities or settlements, among the ladies especially, the events of most interest are those connected with the " pilgrim of love." The marriage of Ezekiel Brownell and Adelina Pratt, the first celebrated in the settlement, was no exception to the rule, and when the last words were pronounced by Joseph S. Pierce, J. P., which made the twain one, great was the general rejoicing.

The First Religious Service

The first service of a religious nature was conducted by Elder F. Tapping (then a resident of Walworth County), at the house of Charles Tuttle, in 1838. He was followed during the same year by the Rev. Albert Tuttle, of Roscoe, 111., who conducted services several times at the house of Ephraim Hildreth.

The First Birth

Next to a wedding the most important event in the whole year's doings, is the advent of the first "little stranger," and as such was hailed the appearance of a girl-baby given birth to by Mrs. S. E. Downer, in the year 1838. Mrs. Milton S. Vt'arner is credited with being the second lady to add to the population, the baby being at present known as the late wife of W. B. Guild, Esq.

The First Town Meeting

Soon after the town was organized in 1842, a town meeting was held on April 5, at the house of Charles Tuttle, Esq., for the election of town officers, the voting being under the supervision of Col. William Stewart, Charles Randall and B. F. Murray. Fifty-nine votes were cast and when the boxes were opened it was found that the following gentlemen had been elected : Chairman of Supervisors, Col. William Stewart ; Side Supervisors, Heman Murray, Jared H. Randall; Assessor, Lovell R. Gilbert; Town Clerk, Henry Tuttle; Treasurer, Griswold Weaver; Collector, Reuben P. Willard; Commissioners of Highways, James Chamberlain, Henry Tuttle and Horatio J. Murray ; Commissioners of Schools, David M. Piatt, Charles Tuttle and William S. Murray ; Constables, Allen G. Murray, Reuben P. Willard and Albert W. Allyn.

The First Schools

Great credit is due the early settlers of the town of Clinton for their extreme liberality with respect to these important adjuncts of civilization and Christianity. No sooner were the town officers elected than a vote was taken upon the question of raising money for school purposes. After some discussion, it was decided that a tax should be levied, which was done, and the sum of $100 raised and placed in the treasury to the credit of the School Commissioners. The first school opened was at Willis Corners, with an attendance of twenty scholars, who were presided over by Miss Eliza Baker, in the year 1848, she being the first teacher.

The First Baptist Church. - On August 25, 1838, Deacon Stephen Barrett and family arrived in Clinton, from the State of Ohio, being followed two months later by Brother John Lewis from the State of Pennsylvania, he arriving on October 30. Soon after he was followed by Deacon Abel F. Lewis, who came for the purpose of paying a visit to his brother, and while there held the first Baptist meeting, preaching from the text, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up." Prayer-meetings were held through the winter of 1838 and, in the spring of 1839, Deacon Lewis returned, preaching to the members of that faith throughout the summer. September 1, 1839, a meeting was held at the house of Mr. William Smith, and the brethren to the number of six presented their letters and covenanted to unite in maintaining the worship of God and the ordinances of their faith. On the first Sunday in January, 1840, Elder F. Topping arrived in Clinton and held a meeting at the house of Deacon S. Barrett, and after that he preached regularly every second week. On Sunday, May 10, seven of the brethren were baptized in Turtle Creek, being the first to receive the rits of baptism in that stream.

On the following day a meeting, over which P. W. Lake presided as Moderator, was held at the house of Mr. John Lewis for the purpose of re-organizing the Church. Twenty-five brothers and sisters presented Articles of Faith and Church Covenant, which were approved and their holders admitted to good fellowship. On May 23, Stephen Barrett and Abel F. Lewis were chosen deacons, and on August 29, at a meeting, it was resolved to present the Articles of Association to the Wisconsin Baptist Association, and ask to be connected with that body. This was done. Elder F, Topping, Deacon S. Barrett, A. F. Lewis, J. Lewis and N. B. Kasson presenting the claims of their brethren.

From that year up to 1849-50, services were held principally in private houses, but in the latter years a church was built at Clinton Corners and occupied until 1857, when it was removed to Clinton Junction. But it was soon found that the rapidly increasing numbers of the congregation demanded a larger edifice, and accordingly it was determined that one should be built and during the season of 1867 the present edifice wag erected (38x64 feet, with a session-room in the rear, 20x30), at a cost of $6,500. The following is a list of the Pastors :

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at Summerville, in the fall of 1844, the origi. inators being J. 0. Case and wife, Bennett Wooster and wife and Peter Losee. Elder F. Sanders of the Rock River Conference, was the first Pastor, and Elder Stocking, of Brown's Prairie, the Presiding Elder. In 1845, the membership was augmented by the reception of Harson Northrop and wife and H. Newell and wife, who in that year arrived and settled in the town of Clinton.

The present edifice was erected in the year 1857, at a cost of about $1,800, the dedicatory sermon being preached by the Rev. Thomas Eddy, of the Northwestern Christian Advocate. The first Pastor was the Rev. H. B. Crandall, the present the Rev. Stephen Smith. The living is worth $1,000 per annum. In addition to the Church is a parsonage erected some years ago at a cost of about $1,000, which, however, is now entirely free from debt. The present Trustees are Charles E. Richardson, John Cate, S. M. Estes, J. F. Cleghorn, Phineas Crosby, Solomon Ellethorp and George Chilcott.

The First Congregational Church of Clinton was organized March 30, 1858, by a Council of Delegates from the Churches of Beloit, Allen's Grove, Emerald Grove and Shopiere. It consisted, at its formation, of the following persons :

In 1860, through the kindness and liberality of Mr. Thomas Tuttle, who donated the land, the society was enabled to erect a church, only the main 'edifice, however, which cost $2,000, and in consideration of that liberality and the interest which he took in it from the date of its organization, the Church and society adopted the following: That we extend our thanks to Mr. Thomas Tuttle, for his gift of the site and fence for the church building, together with the interest manifested by him in the erection of the house."

In 1867, the society erected a parsonage on a lot adjoining the church, which was bought at a cost of $250, by Mr. Thomas Tuttle, and presented by him to the Church, the whole costing about $1,800. In 1871, an addition to the church, consisting of a chapel and vestry-room, was erected at a cost of $1,900, and, in 1876, a bell was purchased at a cost of $300.

The society is in a very -prosperous condition, a fact which may be judged of by the fact that, within the past nine years, its members, in addition to meeting the neccessary expenses, have contributed nearly $1,000 for benevolent purposes.

The following is a list of Pastors from the date of its organization to the present time : 1860-64, Rev. W. H. Bernard, of Shopiere (supply) ; 1864-66, Rev. P. F. Warner; 1866-69. Rev. James Brewer ; 1869-72, Rev. D. M. Breckenridge, from Chicago Theological Seminary : 1872-79, Rev. G. F. Bronson- S. D. Peet, present incumbent.

The gentlemen who have filled the office of Deacon are Messrs. P. W. Smith, Abner Emery, P. P. Comstock, Gardner Johnson, James Benedict, J. A^. Covert, E. Z. Stowe, William Bruce and M. S. Warner, the latter for fourteen consecutive years ; Mr. B. B. Olds officiating as Clerk from the organization of the society to the present date.

In connection with the Church is a Sunday school, whose history is almost identical with that of the Church, the Superintendents of which have been : Eugene H. Tuttle, six months ; Augustus Covert, eighteen months ; B. B. Olds, seven years ; Hiram Cooper, one year ; Rev. D. M. Breckenridge, one year ; A. H. HoUister, three years ; Solon S. Cooper, one year ; J. R. Helmer, three years.

The Norwegian Lutheran Church, in the town of Clinton, was organized in 1849, and incorporated on March 26, of the same year. Prior, however, to the organization of the society, viz., in 1848, a brick church was built, at a cost of $800, and, as soon as the society was formed, the Rev. C. L. Clauson was installed as Pastor, the Trustees being Tosten Nelson, Erick Ellefson and Jens Gilbertson. In 1861, in consequence of an increase in the number of communicants, anew church was built, at a cost of $2,200. In 1865, a bell and organ were purchased, the former at a cost of $140 and the latter $430. In 1870, some of the members of the congregation were unfortunate enough to disagree upon some minor points, and dissensions arose,, the result being a " divided house," which, however, did not fulfill the old adage by falling, being merely served by different Pastors, but, subsequently, a healing of the breach was effected. The following is a list of the ministers who have officiated in the Church : Rev. C. L. Clauson, Rev. G. F. Dietrichsen, Rev. C. F. Maglesen, Rev. J. H. Simonsen and Rev. Wang Herald. The present number of communicants is about one hundred.

St. Catherine's Catholic Church, in the town of Clinton, was established in the fall of 1844, by the Very Rev. Martin Kundig, who was sent out in that year by the Right Rev. Martin Henni, Bishop of Milwaukee, for the purpose of establishing Missions at Racine, Kencsha, Burlington, Janesville, Beloit and Clinton. From the date of its formation, it has been attended by the following gentlemen in the capacity of Pastors : Very Rev. Martin Kundig, two years ; Rev. John Fondee, two years ; Rev. F. Fruseder,- one year ; Rev. Francis Pend'ergast, Rev. J. W. Norris, D. D., four years ; Rev. George Brennan, three years ; Rev. Thomas Smith, two years ; Rev. Henry Roche, eighteen months ; Rev. G. R. Herman, three years and six months : Rev. R. F. Sullivan, twelve years. The membership now is about three hundred.

The Scandinavian Evangelical Church was organized in the town of Clinton, in the year 1849, at the house of Sven Lursen, the discipline and government for churches of the Frankean Evangelical Lutheran Synod of the State of New York, being adopted pro tempore as its constitution. Trustees and Deacons were also elected, but, unfortunately, the papers containing the names, as well as those of the first members, are lost, so perforce we must omit them.

For a aumber of years, the Church had no presiding Pastor, the pulpit being filled principally by the Rev. 0. Andrewson, and the Rev. 0. J. Hatlestad. Until 1851, the Church had no synodical connection, but in that year its members participated in the formation of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Northern Illinois, which was held at CedarviiUe. Stephenson Co., 111., from the 18th to the 24th of September. '

In August, 1855, at a meeting held for the purpose of extending a " call " to a minister of that denomination, it was decided by a unanimous vote to address the Rev. 0. Andrewson upon the subject. He sent a favorable response to the call, which was signed by T. Tollifson, J. Jacobson and Fred. Fredrikson, Deacons ; 0. Thompson and Lewis Siverts, Trustees, and C. C. Newhouse, Secretary, and was duly installed in the spring of 1856.

At the annual meeting held on April 7, 1858, it was unanimously resolved to build a new church, which was accompllished in the^following summer at a cost of about $1,700. At the same meeting, a new constitution providing for the election of three Trustees and six Deacons, one and two of whom respectively are elected at the annual meeting. The Church is now connected with the Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Synod, which was organized in June, 1860.

Secret Societies

G-ood Samaritan Lodge, No. 135, A., F. ^ A. M., was organized under dispensation dated May 24, 1862, and a charter granted June 11, 1862, the place of meeting being Shopiere. But that village being somewhat inconvenient the headquarters of the Lodge were removed to Clinton, in June, 1867. The first ofiScers were: Dr. Coryden Farr, W. M.; F. A. Humphrey, S. W.; Benjamin E. Mack, J. W.; J. A. Chamberlain, Treasurer; D. S. Hopson, S. D.; William J. Briggs, J. D.; George Gould, Tiler. Since its organization, the Lodge has initiated 139 members, and have now about one hundred. Their officers are: R. R. Child, W. M.; C. Griswold, S. W.; J. Carruthers, J. W.; J. F. Cleghorn, Treasurer; C. M. Treat, Secretary; H. J. Barnard, S. D.; C. Perkins, J. D.; James S. Campbell, Tiler. They rent a large, well-furnished hall, and possess property worth about $250.

Johnstown Lodge, No. 58, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted at Johnstown Center, Rock County, on July 21, 1851, and was of considerable importance, owing to the magnitude of its roster until 1867, when, owing to the fact of its numerical strength being weakened by reason of the non-return of many of its members who had gone to fight their country's battles during the war of the rebellion, it was deemed advisable to surrender the charter to the Grand Lodge, which was accordingly done. It was not, however, doomed to perpetual obscurity, for, in March, 1868, it was resurrected and removed to Clinton Junction, meeting for the first time in Mr. W. H. Connell's chambers, under the Noble Grandship of Father C. C. Cheeney, one of the original charter members who had been elected to that office.

It soon regained its old-time prestige, and, erelong, the lodge-room was found to be too confined in space for the proper illustration of the tenets of Odd-Fellowship as exemplified by the admission and subsequent initiation of members. Accordingly, another move was made to rooms over Mrs. Perkins' milliner shop, but again the growth of the Lodge exceeded the dimensions df the hall, and another move made necessary. This time their furniture was transferred to a room over Mr. J. Snell's store, and remained there five years. But again its abnormal growth compelled a change of base, and, accordingly, Brother H. Pierce exerted his intellect and muscle, a combination of " faculties " which resulted in tlie transformation of a -long bare room into a cozy hall, wherein the members now meet and pass away the dull evenings by the interchange of congenial sentiments and the transaction of such business as appertains to the well-being of their society.

After the Lodge had worked one year under the name given above, it was deemed advisable to reconstruct it, and the consent of the Grand Lodge having been applied for and obtained, the name was changed to Pacific Lodge, after the Pacific Railroad, which was constructed about that time.

In the past ten years, the Lodge has granted degrees of membership to over one hundred persons, and since its removal to Clinton has tad the sorrow of seeing but one brother go to his "long home." That one was Mr. George Stoller, who was buried under the auspices of the Order.

It has a Camp, a higher branch of the Order ; also a Lodge of the Degree of Rebecca for ladies whose husbands have attained to the honor of the scarlet degree.

Within the past few years, the Lodge has run down, until now it numbers but fifty-two members, who, however, possess property valued at over $300.

Olinton Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, No. 38, was organized in November, 1872, with eleven charter members, Milton S. Warren being the first Worthy Master.

Up to the winter of 1875-76, the meetings of the society were held in the hall of Mr. James Vanderlyne, at Clinton Corners, but in that year they removed to Clinton Junction, occupying the hall in conjunction with the Odd Fellows. The present membership is about one hundred, and comprises a great many, if not all of the most intelligent farmers and their families in the vicinity.

ainton Lodge, No. IIJ^, I. 0. a. T. - hx the fall of 1845, Deacon Pliny Allen, of Allen's Grove, appointed a temperance meeting at a schoolhouse in Summerville, and engaged a lecturer for the occasion who, from some unforeseen cause not now remembered, failed to appear. Nonplused for the nonce was the worthy Deacon at such an inexplicable want of faith, but being determined not to disappoint the assembled multitude, he called for volunteers. His appeal for aid in the dilemma was answered by Deacon H. S. Wooster, who mounted the platform and gave utterance to the first temperance lecture heard in the town of Clinton. The discourse, however, did not bear immediate fruit, as it was not until December, 1863, that the above Lodge was organized, but from that date to the day its charter was surrendered, it did valuable work in disseminating and inculcating in the minds of young and old. the principles of temperance.

Since its organization, 250 persons have been connected with the Lodge, whichnow numbers about one hundred members. They are the lessees of a very comfortable hall on Main street.

Reform Qlub. - Another temperance society, bearing this name, was organized on June 18, 1^77, with forty-five meinbers. The name, however, from some unexplained cause, did not meet with especial favor from the members, and was accordingly changed on November 16, 1878, to that of the Blue Ribbon Club. The first officers were : President, J. J. Johnson ; Secretary,

B. Cummings, S. A. Kennedy and Calvin Pratt. Grievance Committee, W. Calkins, A. H. Morgan and W. J. West. The club now numbers 112 members in good standing, and their officers are : President, A. H. Morgan ; Secretary, George Wilcox ; Treasurer, Joseph Snell ; Chaplain, George Livingstone. Executive Committee, John Connelly, S. M. Case and Jay Johnson. Grievance Committee, C. B. Hinman, C. Hamilton and George Wilcox. They are also the lessees of a club-room and possess property, consisting of furniture, regalia, etc., valued at $150.

W. C. T. W. was organized in June, 1877, with thirty-five members. The present membership is now about fifty, and the officers are : President, Mrs. P. H. Swift ; First Vice President, Mrs.L. K. De Wolf; Second Vice President, Mrs. J. R. Helmer ; Secretary, Miss Allie Tuttle ; Treasurer, Mrs. C. T. Isham.

Clinton Knights of Honor, No. 329. - A charter was granted to this branch of the mutual insurance order of that name on October 4, 1877, the charter members being S. A. Kennedy, S. W. Serl, A. C. Rice, J. M. Slosson, William Edwards, F. P. Wallace, R. R. Childs, G. R. Millice, G. L. Smith, P. D. Dickerman, D. G. Cheever, J. T. Hamilton, George Seegar, C. L. Hanson, B. B. Cummings, George Covert, James Irish and A. P. Preble. The first officer.^ were: D., R. R. Childs; P. D., S. A. Kennedy; V.D., James Irish; A.D., S.W. Serle; C.E., B. Cummings; Guide, George Seegar; J. R., W. Edwards; F. R., C. L. Hanson; F., P. Wallace; G., J. M. Slosson; S., G. L. Smith; Medical Examiner, George Covert, M. D. During the term ending June 30, the Society paid out f479.34. The present oiScers are : D., William Edwards; V. D., George Seegar; A. D., James Irish; R., R. W. Cheever; F., R. E. Preble; T.,, P. P. Wallace; Guide, C. L. Hanson ; G., H. Foltz; S., W. Calkins ; C, E. B. Cummings; Trustees, James Irish, P. D. Dickerman and A. C. Rice; Medical Examiner, George Covert, M. D. The present membership is twenty-nine.

Clinton Cornet Band was organized in 1874, with fourteen pieces, but has since dwindled down to ten. The present members are W. H. Turneaure (leader), George Turneaure, Jacob Turneaure, Frank Turneaure, M. E. Case, Charles Salisbury, Herman Park, Clarence Murray, N. Shrive and Charles Curtis. The instruments are of the best make, and cost when new, $150. ,

The Clinton Cemetery

What now constitutes the last resting-place of many of the pioneers of Clinton, was first intended by the father of Mr. B. B. Olds, upon a portion of whose farm it is located, as a family burial-ground, and there were deposited the remains of a little son, eighteen months old. But the natural beauty of the ground and its adaptability to the purpose for which it was intended, made the residents of the village anxious to secure it as a public mausoleum. Mr. B. B. Olds was accordingly approached upon jthe subject, and acceded to the request so urgently made, by selling four acres of ground, which were, in 1860, laid out into lots, the terms of the sale being that the purchase money should be paid out of the moneys collected by the sale of lots. The first officers of the association were : Messrs. B. B. Olds, President ; G. N. Willis, Dr. T. Hunter and Hon. D. G. Cheever, Trustees ; Mr. L. D. Salisbury, Treasurer, and Hon. D. G. Cheever, Secretary. In 1874, the number of deaths and consequent interments which had occurred, precluded the possibility of any more burials taking place there, and so four more acres were purchased upon the same terms as before, only two of which, however, were at once utilized. The ground, therefore, contains eight acres, and, in addition to the beauties lavished upon it by, the bounteous hand of nature, the residents of Clinton have been unsparing in their efibrts to render it as beautiful as possible, by all the arts which can be controlled, being made to contribute to that end. Messrs. Cheever, Olds, Salisbury, Barker and Treat constitute the present Board.

Post Office

The first post ofiice established in the town of Clinton was opened at Summerville, on August 12, 1843, William Stewart being at the head of affairs. He remained in office until January 11, 1850, when he was succeeded by Reuben P. Willard, he being swallowed up on March 6, 1857, by a Governmental decision to close up the office and blend its affairs with that of Clinton, which went into force on that day.

The office at Clinton was established simultaneously with that of Summerville, Stephen Perley being the first Postmaster. On March 6, 1857, the name was changed to Ogden, but changed back again January 16, 1864.

Prior to the advent of the railroads, in 1856, mails were transported by Frink & Walker's line of stage-coaches ; but times are changed, and, instead of having to wait two or three days for letters, the "iron horse" and his precious freight deposit them almost at the door, and has vanished in as many hours.

The Manufacturing Interests

are represented by a cigar factory known as the Clinton Junction Cigar Works, which were established by F. A. Ames and 0. E. Burrows, on February 1, 1872, with a capital of $685. During the first year, they manufactured 120,825 cigars, upon which they paid a tax of $604.12. In 1875, the firm was changed to that of Ames & Guild, the members being F. A. Ames and W. B. Guild. At the present time, they employ twenty-one men, and, with an invested capital of $10,000, manufacture 60,000 cigars per month, which represent a value of $40,000 per year. The present members of the firm, trading under the style and title of F. A. Ames & Co., are F. A. Ames, J. H. Reigart and T. A. Ames. Their principal trade is with Wisconsin, but they also ship to Illinois and Michigan.

Merchant Mills. - The steam flouring-mills bearing this name were built in the summer of 1875, at a first cost of $25,000. The purpose of the projectors was to manufacture a high grade of flour, on the theory of what is now called the new process system of milling. The system being then in its infancy, the venture, for the first few years, was not a success^; but eventually, after the expenditure of much time and money, especially the latter, in improvements, etc., their efforts were crowned with success, and now the firm of S. W. Serl & Co. stands forth as being the exponents of the best system of milling extant. At the present time, they employ from twelve to fifteen men, and have $50,000 invested. They buy their wheat principally in Minnesota, using only the hardest varieties, known as fife wheat. That portion of the business is transacted entirely by Mr. S. W. Serl, the senior partner, while Mr. B. B. Cummings remains in Clinton as resident partner and manager. Mr. Willard Calkins is head miller, and Mr. W. M. Stillman chief engineer.

The town of Union, of which the village of Evansville is at the present time the principal market town, was first settled in the fall of 1839, by Charles McMillan, Samuel Lewis, Stephen Jones, Erastus Quivey, John Rhinehart and Rev. Boyd Phelps. In the following spring, there were a large number of persons immigrated to the State and to this town, among the latter the Rev. John Griffith, Hiram Grifiith, John Ai Griffith, Ira Jones, Jacob West, John T. Baker, J. W. Haseltine, Levi Leonard, David Johnson, Daniel Johnson, John Cook, John Adams, Washington Higday and John Sale.

The first settler on what is now the village plat was Amos Kirkpatrick, who located in 1842, and was followed about the same time by Wilber Potter, who settled and built a chair factory, and who was followed by Henry and Lewis Spencer, who erected the first frame dwelling in the . town.

The First Store

Up to 1848, the principal center of business for the whole country between Janesville and Madison was at the village of Union, three miles north of the present site of Evansville, but, in that year, William Winston and C. R. Bent built and filled the first store in the place, which, up to that date, had neither name nor post office.

The First Post Office

Prior to 1849, the residents of the district in which Evansville now lies were compelled to go to Union for their mail, but a beneficent government changed that by establishing a post office there, in the year mentioned. Jacob West had the first contract for carrying the mail ; his son, James R. West, then a boy of twelve years old, carried the mail on horseback.

Laying Out The Village

Upon the establishment of a post office, the name of Evansville was chosen, and, in 1855, the ground was surveyed and platted, and the name by which the post office was known selected as the future name of the village, which, in 1867, by virtue of an act passed by the State Legislature, became a chartered village, ofiicered by a president and board of trustees, clerk and treasurer, of whom the following is a list :

1877 - President, A. S. Baker; Trustees, Caleb Snashall, D. E. Stevens, B. W. Beebe, Lewis Spencer ; Treasurer, R. Winston ; Clerk, Homer Potter ; Supervisor, A. S. Baker ; Justice of the Peace, Jacob West ; Constable, H. W. Hubbard.

1878 - President, M. V. Pratt; Trustees, D. B. Huckins, W. W. Garfield, Byron Campbell, Lewis Spencer ; Treasurer, Reuben Winston ; Clerk, J. H. Hoskins ; Supervisor, M. V. Pratt; Justice of the Peace, D. M Rowley ; Constable, H. W. Smith. Mr. Huckins dying in May, the Board, at their meeting, held on the 13th of that month, elected David Stevens to the vacancy.

These gentlemen did not hold office very long, for, on April 15th, a special meeting was held, to consider the advisableness of re-incorporating the village under the general statutes. Upon that occasion, there were seventy-eight'votes cast, seventy-four of which were cast in favor of the issuance of a fresh charter, and, on May 13th, another election was held which resulted as follows :

F. Spencer, James Powles, J. E. Doolittle ; Treasurer, H. Potter ; Clerk, N. W. Adair ; Supervisor, M. V. Pratt ; Justice of the Peace and Police Justice, D. L. Mills ; Marshal and Constable, W. F. Williams.

The first schoolhouse in the settlement was built in 1841, about a mile and a half west of the present site of Evansville, and was under the control of Miss Mary Jane True. The second was built at or near the present village of Union, and the third was built on the present site of Evansville, and was in charge of Mr. Levi Leonard. The structure was of logs and served the purpose of a church and schoolhouse.

The subsequent structures erected for educational purposes, were of a very superior order and comprised a seminary, erected August 10, 1855, a select or high school and a graded school, built in 1868-69.

The teaching of a select school was first commenced in 1855, under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Church, whose building was used for the purpose, the scholars being under the supervision of Mr. R. 0. Kellogg,' who, with other teachers, controlled it until 1859, when the seminary building was finished, and a school opened therein by Mr. D Y. Kilgore, who, in conjunction with other Principals, kept it until 1874, when it was closed. Following is a detailed account of the circumstances attending its erection and the causes which led to its abandonment :

The High School

In 1868-69, the residents of Evansville, in accordance with the State laws, organized and built a large graded school, which was opened under the supervision of a School Board, composed of the following gentlemen, viz.: D. M. Rowley, Director ; S. W. Smith, Clerk ; J. M. Evans, Treasurer. It continued as a graded school until about, 1877, when it was transformed into a High School, the composition of the Board remaining the same, with the exception of the following slight changes : 1872, C. M. Smith, elected Clerk, vice W. S. Smith ; 1878, R. F. Woodbury, elected Treasurer, vice J. M. Evans ; 1879, M. V. Pratt, elected Director, vice D. M. Rowley.

The building, of white Edgerton brick, stands in the center of a plat of ground containing three acres. It is a fine looking building, two stories above the basement, with accommodations for 400 scholars, and when built cost $20,000.

The first class graduated last spring, and consisted of the following students : Messrs. Frank Holt, Martin Conradson, Wayland Axtell, Leander Hoskins, John Clifibrd, Herbert Mills and Misses Fanny Porter and Cora Hunt.

The M. E. Church. - In August, 1840, there being then a number of members of this denomination resident in Evansville, a meeting was held at the house of Hiram Griffith, about one mile west of the present site of the village, and an organization formed by the Rev. Samuel Pillsbury, who had been applied to for that purpose. The members constituting it were : Rev, Boyd Phelps (who, prior to that date, had preached to the resident families), Clarissa Phelps, Rev. Stephen Jones, Isabel Jones, Rev. John Griffith, Belinda Griffith. Jacob West, Margaret West, John T. Baker, Jemima Baker, Ira Jones, Sarah J. Jones, Alma Jones, Samuel Lewis, Sarah Lewis, Charles McMillan, Miram McMillan, Jane Brown, Erastus Quivey, Sally Quivey, Hiram Griffith, Sally Griffith, David Johnson, Kezziah Johnson, John Rhinehart and Deborah Rhin chart.

> Meetings were held in private houses until 1843, when, through the exertions of Rev. Stephen P. Keys, a log schoolhouse was erected, which also served the purposes of a church until 1847.

In 1845, at the Third Quarterly Conference, Messrs. Ira Jones, Hiram Griffith and Thomas Robinson were appointed a committee to estimate the cost of a church, and, during the year, a subscription list was circulated and a building commenced on the lot now owned and occupied by J. R- Finch as a shoe and grocery store, in the center of the village. It was a frame house, 30x45 feet, and was dedicated in June, 1847, by the Rev. Henry Summers. This church building remained in use until the fall of 1867, when it was sold to make room for a business block, and the present handsome edifice of white briek, erected at a cost of $6,000. It was opened in the fall of the same year, the dedicatory sermon being preached by the Rev. Mr. Fallows.

Free- Will Baptist Ohurch. - On July 1, 1854, the members of the churches of this denomination resident at Magnolia and Union coalesced and formed a corporate body, with headquarters at Evansville, where they met and elected the following Trustees, viz. : Peter AUer, Jesse Aller and Argalus Ballard. In the same year, they erected their present church, a large frame building, with a seating capacity of 300, at a cost of $3,000. In 1870, the congregation further improved their property by the addition a parsonage and fine barn, which were erected at a cost of $1,000.

Congregational Church. - On May 1, 1851, agreeably to a petition forwarded to the Beloit District Convention asking that action be taken with regard to the organization of a church, a meeting was held at the Methodist Episcopal Church in accordance with the permission obtained. The Rev. Francis Lawson presided, and, after prayer and the reading of the Articles of Covenant, the following persons signed the roll as members and entered into covenant one with another, viz. : Levi Taggart and Abigail Taggart, W. W. Paine and Hannah Paine, and Mrs. Laura Church. It was then resolved to build a church, but that the resolution was not immediately carried into effect, an item irrthe records bearing date June 28, 1855, and signed by Mr. W. W. Paine as Clerk, sufficiently shows. It reads : " Crowded out of the Baptist house, by that society.

St. John's Episcopal Qhurch. - On May 13, 1869, at a meeting held by the members of this denomination, J. M. Evans, M. D., VV. C. Lovejoy, S. H. Boyer and Adam Griffin were elected Trustees, and on August 4, at a meeting held at the house of Dr. Evans, it was resolved to erect a house of prayer, and a building committee, consisting of the following gentlemen, was elected: Rev. Erastus W. Spalding, Samuel H. Boyer and William L. Porter. A lot of land was purchased from Mrs. S. Brown, and, on December 21, the committee reported the church completed, at a cost of $3,000.

It is a frame building, and will seat about three hundred persons. The following are the Trustees and officers: C. M. Smith, W. Finn, R. Palmer, D. 0. Griswold, B. Davis, J. Carson, T. Shurrum, C. Andrews; J. W., I. M. Bennett; S. W., J. M. Evans; Treasurer, Dr. Smith; Secretary, D. C. Griswold.

The Close Communion Baptist Church. - On February 13, 1856, the Church was organized by delegates from Janesville, Union and Stoughton, of whom the following is a list : Janesville. Rev. 0. J Dearborn, William Kemp, W. H. Douglas, B. F. Pendleton ; Union, J. Boynton, M. A. Rowley, J. M. Mason, .J. Bullard, J. Cook ; Stoughton, S. Jones and J. Allen. The members constituting it were as follows : Josiah Howard, E. Howard, George Taggart, Jane Taggart, Curtis H. Sloon, Almira Moon, T. W. Stearns, Susan P. Stearns, Edward W. Stearns, Philotha E. Stearns, George F. Morrow, Emily P. Morrow, Hannah Hammond,, Lorana Karn, David, Rhoda, Aorva, Anna, Alva and Amanda Rowley, Minerva Warren, Eliza Higday, Martin Glading, W. Reed, John and Lucinda Given, Mary Rice, Milla Glading, George Barrett, Mary Carpenter, Mary Jones, Lucinda Rowley and Charles Ghagan.

On February 17, 1856, the first Trustees were elected, viz. : Josiah Howard, George T. Movion, H. Taggart, Nelson Winston, C. H. Moon; Deacons, Josiah Howard and C. H. Moon.

Following is a list of the Pastors : Revs. William Branch, D. S. Starr, D. P. Philips, D. T. Brehards, Jabez Snashall, J. B. Hutton, C. H. Kimball and C- R- Lathrop.

Union Lodge No. 3Si, A., F. ^ A. M., was organized and granted a dispensation on October 14, 1850, and was finally instituted December 13., 1850, with the following charter members and officers: Morian McMillan, W. M.; Calvin R. Evans, S. W.; Alanson B. Vaughn, J. W.; John D. Seaver, Treasurer; Warren Seaber, Secretary; John Hayden, John W. Fisher, John M. Evans, Stephen Martin, John Pealer. The Lodge has increased its membership very fairly of late, and is in a flourishing condition.

The bank of Evansville was organized as the First National Bank of Evansville, in the fall of 1870, with a capital stock of $50,000 in shares of $50 each, which were held by the following gentlemen : I. M. Bennett, Nelson Winston and L. T. Pullen, $15,000 each : J. C. Andrews, $3,000, J. A. Dow, §2,000, all of whom constituted the directory. The officers were : L. T. Pullen, President ; Nelson Winston, Vice President ; I. M. Bennett, Cashier.

In 1875, the stockholders being of the opinion that the Government was a little too hard on national banks, surrendered their charter and re-organized under the State law, but immediately after wei'e bought out by Messrs. J. C. Sharp and L. T. Pullen, who then reduced the stock one half. The present stockholders and officers are : Cashier, L. T. Pullen, representing $14,000; President, D. M. Rowley, $4,000; Vice President, M. P. Pratt, $3,000; Assistant Cashier, Charles F. Pullen; C. M., Smith, representing $4,000.

The Baker Manufacturing Company was started by Mr. A. S. Baker & Co. in the spring of 1873, as a foundry and machine-shop, giving employment to two men, the specialty being the manufacture of pumps and wind-mills. In the past six years, their business has increased to such an extent that they now employ twenty men and turn out about $20,000 worth of work per annum.

This spring (of 1879), a stock company with $20,000 capital, was formed with the following members: Caleb Snashall, Lansing Mygatt, Almeron Eager, W. S. Smith and A. S. Baker. They ship very largely to Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and throughout Wisconsin.

The Post Office. '

Up to 1850, the residents of Evansville had to go to the village of Union for their mail, but in that year, through the representations of the leading inhabitants, an office was established with Curtis R. Bent in charge. He was succeeded, in 1852, by Dr. J. M. Evans, who in turn made way for Mr. Jacob West. He was succeeded, by Mr. Edwin Brown, who in turn was succeeded by Miss F. Brown. She remained but a short time, giving place to Mr. Stephen Fairbanks, who, in July, 1865, made room for Mr. James R. West, the present incumbent.

The average receipts of the post office are $2,700 per annum, while the transactions in the money-order department foot up $26,000 per annum.

The Cemetery

When there were but a very few people in Evansville, Mr. Amos Kirkpatrick donated an acre of land on the south side of what is now Main street and East Madison street, for cemetery purposes. That small lot served all the purposes of a mausoleum until the first railroad survey, when it was required for building purposes. Accordingly, an Act was passed by the Legislature authorizing the removal of persons interred there to the present ground, and the incorporation of a new cemetery association. On November 19, 1855, a meeting for that purpose was held at the store of Jacob West, at which the following gentlemen were present: Hiram Griffith, Jacob West, Sidney H. Grannis, A. C. Fish, Henry G. Spencer, Freeman Palmer and Jeremiah Johnson. After the transaction of the usual preliminaries, an Association was formed, with thefollowing Trustees : William C. Kelly, Henry Spencer, Jeremiah Johnson, John Rhinehart and David D. Mills. The ground - six acres in extent, purchased from P. S. Buzze and T. Robinson - was then laid out, and the sale of lots commenced. The Association as at first constituted remained in full force - Trustees being elected every year - until 1873, when the ground was turned over to the Village Board, who at present control it. Much care has been exercised in its adornment, the beauties lavished upon it by the hrnd of nature being supplemented by the care and attention of the residents of Evansville, many of whom have friends or relatives interred here.

Characteristics And Trade

The prevailing characteristics of Evansville are to be found principally in the admirable manner in which it is laid out, and the care and attention which have been lavished upon its streets and avenues. Every street and outlet is lined with shade trees of various kinds, while, upon each side, are to be found handsome residences of every description. Altogether, it is the pret-^ tiest town of its size in the country. It supports two drug stores, four dry-goods stores, two clothing stores, one clothing and boot and shoe s*;ore, one boot and shoe and four harness shops, four blacksmith shops, three wagon shops, three lumber yards, one book store, three barber shops, one bank, two hardware stores, two meat markets, three hotels, one furniture- store, tw6 livery stables, three millinery stores, three shoemaker shops, five grocery, provision and confectionery stores, two tailor shops, two jewelry stores, two marble shops, one flour mill, one foundry and machine shop, one furniture manufactory, one cabinet shop, one bakery, four doctors, two lawyers, one dentist, one photograph artist, one egg and fruit house, one warehouse and firm that buy stock, grain and produce, one fine Masonic hall, owned and built by the Order ; the first floor of said building is used for the post office, and the State is challenged to show as fine and well-constructed an ofiice of its size as this. One weekly paper - Evansville Review.

The village of Shopiere, in the town of Turtle, containing about four hundred persons, was first chosen as an abiding-place by Mr. Caleb E. Culver, in the year 1839, he settling on the site of his present residence, where he made the first claim. He was followed by Mr. - Hopkins, in 1840, and a man by the name of Blackstone and Mr. Blodgett, the former in 1843 and the latter in 1842.

About 1840, Mr. Hopkins laid out the village, and it was christened Waterloo, in consequence of a quarrel about a claim in which the wives of the altercants, armed with broomsticks, played a prominent part.

The First House

in the village was a log structure, erected by Mr. Culver, but in 1841, Mr. Jared Randall's ideas soaring above anything so commonplace as a log hut, prompted him to build a frame house. In the year following, Mr. Culver erected a handsome stone house (the first in the village) which still stands.

As the number of inhabitants of the village increased, the necessity existing for the establishment of a store became apparent. It was met by the man Blackstone above referred to, who opened a sma,ll place and did a large trade.

which occurred in the village was that of Mr. Charles Culver, very shortly after the arrival of his parents. He grew to manhood, and was killed during the war.

The First Marriage

The First Congregational Church. - On April 27, 1844, Rev. Stephen Peet, Agent of tb e American Home Mission, being then in the village, a meeting was held for the purpose of organizing a society of the members of this denomination then resident in the village. A resolution to the effect that it was expedient to organize a church in the place, was introduced and passed, and the following residents put down their names, thus constituting themselves the first members : Deacon John Hopkins, Mrs. Sarah Hopkins, Mrs. Rebecca Rice, Mrs. Abby Culver, Mrs. Maria Swingle, Deacon Calvin Olds, Mrs. Hepsila Olds, B. B. Olds, Mrs. Ede C. Smith, Mrs. Lucinda Randall, Mrs. M. Chamberlain, Caleb E. Culver, Daniel Smith. On the following Sunday, the Rev. Mr. Dexter preached and administered the sacrament to the members.

For two years, services were held in the schoolhouse, but in 1846-47, subscriptions were raised and the erection of a church commenced upon a quarter of an acre of land, donated by

Jared H. Randall and John Hopkins. Ten years later the congregation purchased a house and lot for $825, which was turned over to the minister for a residence.

The M. E. Church was organized in 1856 with thirty-seven members, the originators being John Kemerer, Jeremiah Hawley, Jared Dunn, John Rice and Andrew Cromwell. In 1857, the church was built at a cost of $900, the basement being of stone and the remainder of wood. Since its erection, there have been additions made to it at a cost of $700, and it is now capable of seating 300 persons. During the year 1858-59, a commodious parsonage was built at a cost of $670.

The first Trustees of the Church were Joseph H. Vought, F. A. Humphrey, William J, Burton and George Grinnell. The present are F. A. Humphrey, A. H. Loucks, John Shimeal, Wm. Howard, Samuel Kemmerer, Alexander Babcock, Wm. J. Burton and Reuben Kemmerer.

Manufacturing Interests

The principal interest carried on is the manufacture of flour, the mill in which it is ground being owned by Mr. George Sears. It was built by Messrs. Harvey, Randall & Dextader in 1848-49, at a cost of $18,000. In 1866, Mr. Sears came into it by the purchase of a half-interest, and, in 1873, became sole proprietor. It is a large stone building, three stories high, ahd has a capacity of seventy-five barrels per day. They ship to Chicago, New York, Cleveland and Detroit,

The Turtle Cheese Factory was started in 1872, by Mr. F. N. Parker, with a capacity of fifteen cheeses of sixty pounds of that substance per day. For presses, building, etc., the first cost was $1,500, so that the capital invested is from $2,000 to $3,000. He gives employment to two men, and ships in large quantities to Chicago, St. Louis and the East.

Cemetery

The Shopiere Cemetery was laid out by Mr. Humphrey, on January 14, 1862, three and one-half acres purchased from Mr. J. F. Doxtader being the amount of land inclosed. He laid off the lots 18x20 feet, which are sold at $6 per lot. The first person to occupy a " narrow bed " there was Mr. Jiles Fonda, who died soon after it was opened. It is well laid out and uicely ornamented with trees, shrubs, etc., and contains besides many tasteful designs in marble, didicatory of the many virtues of those who sleep beneath .

The first school waS built in 1856, at a cost of $1,200 and opened the same year, but Tvhether by a lady or gentleman principal history saith not. It is now attended by a|)out 100 scholars who render obedience to Miss Cuckow, as Principal, and Miss Clark, second teacher.

Temperance

On January 14, 1877, a Temperance Society, under the name of the Red Ribbon Temperance Society was formed, and, in January, 1879, there being the two organizations, named respectively the Red and Blue, they united, forming the present Red and Blue Temperance Society. The first officers of the Red Ribbon club were Rev. Mr. Webb, President ; Albert Thomas, Secretary and Treasurer. Committee - Mrs. Artemus Smith, Mrs. Reuben Kemmerer, Mrs. John Shimeal, Mrs. James Parker and Mrs. Perkins. The present officers are Albert Thomas, President ; W. Parker, Secretary and Treasurer, and the same committee as existed in 1878. Meetings are held twice a month alternately in each church.

The Eikst Post Office

was established and opened in the village of Shopiere about 1850, Mr. S. P. Harvey being in charge. He retained it for some time, but tradition does not say to whom he turned it over, nor does it say by whom it was subsequently kept. The present Postmaster is Mr. Frank Parker, and as he gives general satisfaction, it will probably be some time before the newspapers of that section are called upon to chronicle any change in the administration of its affairs.

an outgrowth of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, upon which it is situated, was first settled in 1850, by Mr. Isaac Wright, who located on a farm south of the railroad ; but it was not until 1857, when the road was completed to it, that it began to grow. The village was laid out in 1855, by Mr. J. T. Dodge, a surveyor of Janesville, and included about sixty acres, a large portion of which was subsequently set back for farming purposes.

The first store was opened by Mr. Edwin Harrington about 1855, and the next year Messrs. Daniel Mow and David Harris built a store which was operated by a Mr. Greenleaf, The next year Messrs. Thompson and Diamond opened a grocery and liquor store.

The first birth in the village was in the family of Mr. Coleran, in 1857, the "boy " being now known to his compatriots as ''Patsey" Coleran. The first marriage occurred in 1856, the contracting parties being Mr. Edward Wright and Miss Edith Clark, and the first death in 1859, the victim of the " man on the pale horse " being Mrs. David Harris.

The Name The Post Office

This mark of civilization was established in 1857, under the name of Orfordville, the first mail received being brought from Brodhead on horseback, on June 6, 1857, and it is said that Mr. William Drysdale was the recipient of the first letter delivered. The mail was then received three times per week, but the presence of the cars inaugurated a daily mail, which has since been increased to two per day, one from the east and one from the west. As showing how the business has increased, it may be stated that the receipts, which in the first year were about |80, are now about $600. Following is a list of the Postmasters : 1857-62, George Helmbolt; 1862-67, Burr Sprague ; 1867-69, George Helmbolt; 1869, three months, John C. Lacy ; 1869-70, Isaac Wright ; 1870-72, George W. Stetson ; 1872-74, Giles Fisher ; 1874-79, L. C. Fisher, the present incumbent.

In 1858, a cemetery association was formed and a cemetery one acre in extent located, half of which was from the land of Mr. George Helmbolt and the other half off the ground

by Mr. Daniel Mow. The Trustees elected were: C. C. Coon, S. T. Green, - . Roderick, George Helmbolt and Amos Remington, they choosing as officers, Amos Remington, President, and George Helmbolt, Secretary and Treasurer.

That ground remained in use until 1862, when the present ground was located. It is situated half a mile east of the village and contains three and one-half acres, all of which is tastefully laid out and planted with many handsome shade trees.

The Methodist Episcopal Church is the oldest in the village, having been organized at a Very early day, but owing to the fact that there were no records, the exact date could not be ascertained. Meetings were held, however, for a long time, in the-schoolhouse, but in 1860, Mr. Daniel Mow donated the present site, on^ acre in extent, and a church was erected. It is a frame building 40x50, and cost $1,600.

The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church was formed in this wise. In 1870, a misunderstanding arose between the Rev. C. F. Magelson and his congregation, he being then Pastor of a church of a similar denomination in the town of Newark, and, in consequence of that misunderstanding, he and thirty-two families withdrew from the main body and organized in Orford. The next year they built the present church, at a cost of $4,000. It is a frame building, with a seating capacity of about three hundred, and very handsomely decorated inside. At the same time they erected a parsonage at a cost of $1,700, adding to it very largely this year.

The Schools

The first school opened in the vicinity of Orford was that taught by Miss Clara Sprague, in the year 1846, in the house now occupied by Mr. Isaac Wright. That building was utilized until 1848, when a new building was erected. That in turn gave place, in 1862, to the present frame building, which was erectedin that year at a cost of $1,000. It was first opened by a Mr. Race, as a winter school,, but since then has, passed through the hands of a great many different teachers, the last one being Miss Silverthorn. It is under the control of a District Board, composed as follows : B. F. Gifford, Director ; D. P. Lacy, Treasurer ; James Mow, Clerk.

I. 0. 0. F. - Waupega Lodge, No. 76, was first organized in Footeville, the date of the charter being January, 1864. After some time, howeverj it was allowed to go down and in 1870 its headquarters were removed to Orford, and a re-organization under the old charter effected, with the following charter members : Isaac Wright, J. Howlind, Simon Strous, William O'Brien, Levi Pepper, Jonathan Cory and K. Gisley. The first officers were : N. G., J. Howlin ; P. G., K. Geisley ; , Secretary, Simon Strous ; Treasurer, Isaac Wright. They have now a membership of about 54 and are worth about $300 in cash. The present officers are : N, G., George Helmbolt ; V. G., Alfred Gavey ; Secretary, Simon Strous ; Treasurer, L. C. Fisher. ,

Spring Valley Division, No. 93, Sons of Temperance, wsis orgetnized on February, 20, 1875, with the following charter members : T. H. Minard, James E. Morse, Rev. F. Potter, T. M. Purdy, D. C. Chipman, Miss Mary Crowell, Miss Alice Merrill, Mrs. Delia Morse, Miss Eliza Carver, Miss Emma Hfanna, Frank Purdy, Henry Gifford, George Gavey, P. Francisco, J. Schermerhorn, Mrs. Schermerhorn, H. R. Billings, Miss Lillian Gavey and E. C. Minard. The first officers were: W. P., James Morse; W. A., Mrs. Delia Morse; R. S., E. Purdy ; Treasurer, T. M. Purdy ; F. S., E. C. Menard ; Con., Henry Gifford. The present membership is sixtyfive and the Lodge is worth about $50 in actual cash. The present officers are : W. P., F. E. Smiley ; W. A., Miss Lily Taylor ; R. S., A. W. Hastings ; A. R. S., Miss Hattie Taylor ; F. S., Miss Ellen Beck ; Treasurer, Henry Peterson ; Chaplain, Daniel Mow ; Conductor, F. E. Purdy ; A. C, Miss Ella Gifford; I. S., Miss Maggie Noonan ; 0. S., J. F. Dickey ; P. W. P., C. H. Rossiter.

The first hotel in the village was built and opened in 1857, by Mr. S. A. Thompson, who kept it until 1859, and disposed of it to Mr. T. M. Purdy. That gentleman then assumed the character of boniface for about a year, but as it did not suit his disposition or ffom some other cause, he retired and leased it to Watson Beach, who kept it until 1861. He was succeeded in the character of mine host by John Lockridge, who abdicated in 1864, giving place to Mr. A. B. Fitch, who kept it for two years and retired, the next man to tempt the fickle goddess in the capacity of a hotel-keeper being John Secrist. He retained it until 1870, when it passed into the hands of Levi Pepper, he, in August, 1879, making way for the present proprietor, Mr. H. A. Skavlin, who by his courtous and kindly demeanor, is making hosts of friends. He is also the Deputy Sheriff of Rock County, an arduous position, which he fills to the satisfaction of all.

The business portion of the village is composed as follows: One hotel, two blacksmithshops, three shoemaker-shops, a harness-maker's shop, an attorney, the first in the village - Mr. George Helrabolt - and a doctor, the first in the place, D. P. Lacy, M. D.

Orford numbers among its residents a gentleman, Ralph Whitehead by name, who, in 1859, in company with a Mr. J. A. Bartlett, took one of the most unique voyages on record. The two built a side-wheel boat large enough to accommodate them comfortably and started for Pike's Peak, Colorado. Leaving Hanover, they ran down Bass Creek and Rock River, over the dam at Rockford to Rock Island. Thence down the Mississippi to Hannibal. From there they went to Alton, to the mouth of the Missouri. Up the " Big Muddy " two days, then back and down the Mississippi to St. Louis. From there they proceeded to the mouth of the Illinois River, and running up there arrived at Peoria, where they abandoned the enterprise, owing to financial depression. The whole journey took about ten weeks, and in that time they must have covered about 1,500 miles. The boat itself was very cleverly constructed, the wheels being operated by means of a crank similar to those employed by section-men in running handcars along the railroad. Mr. Whitehead speaks very favorably of his ship and declares that if he was a younger man he would go again.

Lima Center

or, as it is sometimes called. Child's Station, is situated on the line of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, and was first located in 1853, by Mr. M. A. Childs, who erected a house upon the ground now occupied by the village. He was also the Postmaster, and, with Mr. L. H. Child, built and occupied the first store. Mr. John Trueman, however, had settled in the vicinity and built a house as early as 1845.

In 1857, the United Brethren Society organized and built a church at Bullock's Corners where they worshiped for a long period. The first members were Ebenezer Bullock, Robert Bacon, James Bartlett, William Fritts, Levi Bullock, N. Smith and Clg,tie Salisbury. In 1868, when the Methodist denomination, who had a fairly large membership iii Lima, desired to erect a church, the Brethren sold theirs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and helped move it up to the village, upon condition that they should be allowed to occupy it. To this the Methodists consented, and the arrangement continued until 1871, when the United Brethren erected their present church edifice. It is a frame building, with a seating capacity of about two hundred, and cost f 1,600. The Society now numbers twenty-five members. The present Pastor is the Rev. Daniel Grover; Sunday-school Superintendent, Robert Bacon.

The Methodist Episcopal Ohurch was organized in 1868, with about twelve members. At first, there was considerable opposition to the organization of a church of any particular denomination, the cause assigned being the presence of representatives of almost every sect, and it was deemed advisable to erect a free church. A fatal objection was found, however, to the organization of such a church in the absence of a minister who would be willing to sacrifice his own creed ; so, after numerous meetings and a little hard feeling, the Methodists carried the day and formed their society. Subsequently, they purchased the meeting-house of the United Brethren, situated at Bullock's Corners, and moved it up to its present location, the purchase money, together with the cost of moving, aggregating $2,500. The present Pastor is the Rev, J. S. Bldridge ; Sabbath-school Superintendent, Ezra Sage ; membership, fifteen.

The Cemetery. - The land, two acres in extent, comprising the cemetery, was originally owned by Mr. John Childs, who, in 1847, donated it to the village for that purpose. In the same year, it was laid out and divided into lots. The location is a very desirable one, and neither pains nor expense have been spared to render it a fitting resting-place for the loved ones who have drifted out onto that mysterious sea whose wavelets gently lap the shores of the land, of eternal rest. It is dotted over with many handsome tombstones and monuments, the general appearance of which is a good index to the minds of the people who placed them there. The present Trustees of the ground are Messrs. George A. Warren, Fred Gould and Andrew Brown.

The business portion of the village is comprised in a blacksmith and wagon shop, two stores, two churches, a good school, built in 1857, taught, last term, by Miss Rose Wood ; a cheese factory, turning out about ten cheeses per day, and a post office, under the charge of Mr, Elijah Hull.

a village of about three hundred inhabitants, on the line of the Chicago & North- Western Railway, is essentially a railroad town,, having derived all its former importance from the fact that for a period of about six years it was the terminus of the road. It was first located, however, in June, 1845, by Mr. E. A. Foot, from whom it derives its name, he settling on a piece of ground opposite his present habitation. For some time he lived in a small log house, but finally erected a gravel building just across the town line, so that while de jure he is a resident of the village of Footville, in the town of Plymouth, de facto he is one of the inhabitants of the town of Center. He was followed in the fall of the same year by Mr. E. F. Richards, who located near Mr. Foot. With the exception of two other persons who moved in and built at a somewhat later date, this constituted the village of Footville until 1854, when the Galena & Chicago Union, as the C. & N.-W. Railway was then called, became an established fact, then, as might have been expected, emigrants from the Eastern States and other places began to flow in. The village was then laid out by Mr. E. A. Foot and Julius Gilbert, and building became the order of the day, and when the first ttain of cars ran into the depot at Bachelor's Grove, as Footville was then called, on January 1, 1855. it met with a rousing reception from the inhabitants of a large and very prosperous village. Prior, however, to that date, viz., in 1853, Mr. Watson Beach had opened a store, the first in the settlement, and was followed in the next year by Messrs. Bancroft and Northway, the latter of whom Mr. Foot brought from Connecticut. The first "small arrival" was in the family of Mr. E. F. Richards, the little one in question being now the wife of Mr. N. L. Maxon, a prominent resident of the village.

From the cradle to the altar is but a step, so it is but meet that the nuptials of Mr. E. A. Douglas and Miss Martha Beach, which were celebrated on Christmas Day, 1846, should be chronicled as the next most important event. The name of the first member of the human family in the neighborhood smitten by the "grim destroyer," has gone down the stream of time leaving no mark by which it can be recalled, but is known to have been that of a woman who was brought in from- the country and died in Mr. Foot's house.

The Churches

The Methodist Episcopal Qhurch was organized in the fall of 1846, with the following members : E. A. Foot, F. T. Beach and wife, E. F. Richards and wife, and Abel Avery. For nearly two years, meetings were held in a schoolhouse two miles east of the village, but on March 8, 1848, a change was made, and the first meeting held on the site of the village in Mr. Foot's log house, the gentleman who officiated being Mr. Boyd Phelps. The building thus improvised into a church, was utilized until 1855, when a church building was erected at a cost of $2,800. It was a frame building, with a seating capacity of about three hundred, with a large airy basement, which was turned over to the District Board for scholastic purposes. This building the congregation had the misfortune to lose in the spring of 1875, by fire, but very soon after erected the present building, at a cost of $2,600. It is a well-constructed frame building, with ample accommodations for the flock for whom the Rev. T. C. Wilson, the present minister, is guide, philosopher and friend.

The Church of the Bisciples of Christ, a branch of the one located in the town of Center, controlled by the same Trustees and supplied by the same minister, was organized in 1869, with about twenty-five members, the reason being the distance which members living in Footville had to traverse before reaching the church. Up to 1875, they held their meetings in a hall, and in that year they erected the present church, at a cost of $1,450. It is a frame building, with a seating capacity of about two hundred. They have now a membership of about forty, the spiritual charge of whom is confided to the care of the Rev. Mr. Morrison, of the town of Center.

The Roman Catholic Church was organized in the spring of 1869, with the following members: Richard Doran, Michael Hennessey, Widow Ryan, James Ryan, Michael O'Brien, Patrick McMahon, Martin Agon, Lawrence Ward, Christian Rourke, John Nolan, Thomas Drew, Patrick Maguire, John Devins, Patrick Conlin, Michael Brenock, James Murphy, John Turpy, Austin Flynn, Thomas Torp, Patrick Conway, Patrick Knight, Ned Plunkctt and Michael Murphy.

That same year, a small frame church was erected, at a cost of $1,000 ; but, in consequence of the increased membership, which now numbers about three hundred, it was deemed necessary to enlarge it, and this year, a neat frame addition was made, at a cost of about $2,000. They have no resident minister, the charge being Brodhead, Albany and Footville, the priest being the Rev. Michael Wynne.

Secret Society

The only society of this nature is known as A., F. & A. M., Footville Lodge, No. 137, which was instituted in 18C2,with the following charter members : M. Bargewell, J. Cory, C. M. Smith, H. A. Edgerton, Edwin Bailey, E. J. Andrew, John Andrew and S. A. Couch. The officers chosen were: W. M., C. M. Smith; S. W., J. Cory; J. W., M. Bargewell. The present membership of the Lodge is thirty-two, and their property, consisting of a building and lot and funds, is worth about $1,200. The present officers are : W. M., H. A. Austin ; S. W., J. Cory ; J. W., C. H. Campbell.

The early educational facilities of Footville were not, as may be supposed, the best in the world ; but, incomplete as they were, they laid the foundation of some very brilliant men. The first one was opened in the winter of 1848, by Julius Gilbert, in the old log building owned by Mr. Foot. It was kept there for about a year, and then a house was built half a mile north of the village, in the town of Center. That building remained in use on its first location until 1853, when it was removed into the village of Footville, and a school taught in it until the Methodist Church was erected, when pupils and preceptor moved into the basement, which they continued until the destruction of the building, in 1875. That same year, a new building was erected, at a cost of f2,600. It is a handsome frame building, with ample accommodatiorl for the large number of scholars who attend. It is under the control of a School Board, consisting of Aldredge Owens, Director; J. C. Cook, Treasurer, and C. H. Ferguson, Clerk. The whole number of scholars in the district is 115.

The cemetery, which is located in the town of Center, is used equally by the residents of the village of Footville and the town of Center ; but the control of it is vested in an association, all of whose members live in the latter place. It was laid out in 1847, and is well cared for.

The business portion of the village is composed of the following: Two stores, W. J. Owen's and J. F. Litel; two blacksmith-shops, C. H. Ferguson and Wheaton & Whitmore; one physician, Joseph Braden, M. D.; one harness-maker, William Wiggins ; one shoemaker, S. M. Chipman ; one good hotel, the Wells House, kept by Horace H. Wells ; two butchers ; Justices of the Peace, E. A. Foot and Andrew Bailey ; Notary, E. A. Foot.

The Post Office

This mark of civilization was established in the fall of 1845, the village then being known as Bachelor's Grove, with Mr. B. F. Richards as Postmaster. His duties were not of a very onerous nature, however, the mails being received but twice a week, by stage, from Galena to Janesville and return. They now receive two per day, one from the east and one from a contrary direction. Following is a list of the Postmasters: 1845-50, E. F. Richards; 1850-54. E. A. Foot; 1854-55, G. P. Bancroft; 1855-57, Zuriel Hall; 1858-61, John B. Robinson; 1861-74, Zuriel Hall; 1874-79, W. J. Owen, the present incumbent. The gross receipts of the office for the past quarter, were $76.92.

a village of about two hundred inhabitants, is situated at the junction of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Chicago & North- Western Railroads. It was first located by Mr. Joseph Hohensheldt, in 1844. He was followed the next year by Mr. Mathias Gundel and wife, but about that time emigration to the new settlement almost ceased. The village was platted on April 16, 1856, by John L. V. Thomas and wife, as proprietors. The Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad, as the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul road was then called, did not pass through till the year following, the first freight being received at their depot on September 4, 1857. It was from Janesville, and consisted of the following articles :

In 1856, a post office was established, with Mr. William Ranney as Postmaster, the official in fact being Mr. John Huggins, the depot agent, who was deputized to perform the duties, owing to the distance Mr. Ranney lived from the village. The latter only retained it one year, and Mr. Huggins was formally installed, continuing to act until 1873, when he died. The present Postmaster is Mr. John Jones, who received his appointment in 1878. Before the establishment of the office in Hanover, Footville was the only office in the neighborhood, the mails being received from there whenever they were sent for. Now they receive two mails per day, one from each direction.

The first birth to occur on the site of the village was in the family 6f Hohensheldt, in 1845, the lady being subsequently known as Mantana Hohensheldt. The first marriage took place in 1854, the contracting parties being Mr. Simon Hohensheldt and a Miss Fox. The first store was opened in 1856 by Mr. Nathan Aighmie.

The Cemetery. - On April 25, 1850, a cemetery association was organized with the following oflScers : James Waterhouse, President ; H. C. Inman, Secretary ; Caleb Inman, Jacob Fisher, Samuel Smiley, Samuel Johnson, Nathan Whitman and Archibald Smiley. The cemetery, consisting of one acre of ground, was laid out in the same year and lasted until 1878, when an addition of half an acre was made to it. The following is a list of the present oflBcers: President, James Van Alstein; Secretary, H. C. Inman; Treasurer, Edward Inman; Trustees, F. H. Chrisman, John B. Inman, Charles Denno and Emanuel Arnold.

There are no religious societies there with the exception of a German Lutheran society, which was organized about fourteen years ago, with seven members. It now numbers some twenty members, but they have no church edifice and, consequently, no resident minister.

The business portion of the village consists of two stores, a blacksmith- shop, a harnessshop, two hotels, one situated at the junction of the roads, and a grist-mill. The latter institution was erected in 1856, by Mr. S. F. Chipman, and after passing through the hands of various proprietors, came into the possession of Mr. A. Beckman. It is a frame, with two run of stone, with a capacity up to the requirements of the trade, which, with the exception of a buckwheat and rye flour business done with Chicago, consists almost entirely of custom work.

The village of Afton, a burg of about one hundred inhabitants, on the line of the Chicago & North-Western Railway, first became known, through the medium of that road in 1855, Messrs. Dimock, J. Allen, John Moore and Reuben Deuel being the first settlers to locate upon its site. It was laid out in 1855 by Mr. Joseph Church (the land then being the property of Messrs. Tripp, Hoyt and Hodgson) and speedily settled up. The first birth in the village o.ccurred in 1855, in the family of Mr. Charles Pulker, the young lady being now known to the world as Miss Sally Pulker. The first wedding took place in 1856, the contracting parties being Mr. Albert Newton, a Baptist preacher, and Miss Elvira Washburn.

The first death in the village was the result of a very sad if not criminal mistake. A young man (name unknown) who had been boarding for a short period at the house of a Mr. Collins, was suffering severely from ague, and sent to Beloit, so the story goes, for some quinine, which was returned through a mistake in the shape of strychnine, some of which he took, dying within an hour.

The village possesses a very nice church, the property of the Baptists. Their society was organized in 1856, with the following members : Deacon Moses L. Burdick, Elizabeth Burdick, Josiah and Mary Antisdell, Clark Antisdell and wife, Simon Antisdell, William Blanchard and wife, Rufus Washburn and wife, and Miss Nancy Church. Their meetings were held in the schoolhouse until 1861, when the present church was erected at a cost of about $2,000. It is a very neat frame building, with a seating capacity of about two hundred. They have no resident minister, the pulpit being supplied every Sunday by the Rev. Mr. Roe, of Rockton.

They have also a good school, situated a mile north of the village. Miss Clara Moulton being the lady to whom the fifty-two "youngsters" render their obedience. It was first opened in 1849 by Miss Kinney, the residents in the neighborhood being Josiah Antisdell, Samuel Church, Harmon Daly, Simon and Clark Antisdell and Mr. Inman. The first school in the neighborhood, however, was opened by Mr. Charles Newton, in 1847, in a building about a mile north of the present site of the village, known as Watts' Hotel. He taught it one year, and then removed to a little building across the river, where he also kept a school, finally giving it up in 1849, when, as before stated, the control of the institution passed into the hands of Miss Kinney.

The business portion of the village consists of a grocery store and post office, blacksmithshop, shoemaker's shop, wagon shop and a grist-mill. This latter was built in 1872, by J. F.

Litel, who kept it one year and sold it to Messrs. D. & W. H. Eldridge, who disposed of it in 1875, to Messrs. C. B. & M. E. Uehling, the present proprietors. It is a three-run mill, with a capacity of fifty barrels per day, and they ship to Chicago, New York, etc.

Magnolia

a little village two miles'from the railroad, was located in the fall of 1843, by Joshua Dunbar, Andrew Cotter, Joseph Prentice and a man named Jenkins, each of whom settled on dififerent sections, as follows : Dunbar on the northwest corner of Section 23, Cotter on the northeast corner 6{ Section 22, Prentice on the southwest corner of Section 14, and Jenkins, by an agent, on the southeast corner of Section 15. In 1845, in consequence of the advent of a number of settlers, Mr. Cotter had a portion of his ground platted for building purposes; but settlers evidently preferred to choose their own sites, and so his scheme was a failure. "Uncle Sam " made his presence felt in 1848 by establishing a post office, his representative being Mr. George McEnzie, whose duties, however, were of the lightest description, consisting merely of the reception and dispatching of a weekly mail via Monticello and Janesville. Subsequent Postmasters were Joshua Dunbar, Oliver Eager, James Howard and Wilson Brown, the present incumbent. The spiritual welfare of the residents is cared for by a Congregational and a Methodist Church, the former of which was organized in the fall of 1850, by Rev. J. Jameson, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Foote, of Janesville, the following persons uniting with it : Simon Reed and wife, Mrs. Prentice, B. Leonard and wife. Miss Althea Leonard, Miss Harper, Mrs. McEnzie, James Hawes, Miss Wealthy Hawes, Mrs. Betsy Hammon and J. Janison and wife. For a number of years, meetings were held in the schoolhouse, but, in 1854, they erected the present church, at a cost of $1,300. It is a frame building, with a seating capacity of about one hundred and fifty. The present membership is about twenty. The Rev. Mr. Jameson, who first preached the Word here, gave up his charge in 1869, and was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Morris, who remained one year. The Rev. Mr. Sabin was then installed as Pastor, and remained three years, being succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Doremus, who retired after eighteen months' service, leaving a vacancy which has not yet been filled. The Methodist Church is a much older institution, having been organized in 1844, with twelve members, some of whom were as follows : Andrew Cotter and wife, Harvey Partridge and wife, Mrs. Morrill and Mrs. Ogden Barrett. In 1872, a church edifice, having a seating capacity of about one hundred and fifty, was erected, at a cost of f2,200. The present membership is about forty-five, who receive their Sunday meal of grace from the lips of the minister at Footville, they constituting a portion of his charge. In connection with the church is a Bible Society, which was established in 1849, with Lyman Bates as Depositary. The present officers are - President, J. B. Hartley; Secretary, George E. Austin; Treasurer and Depositary, Langford Burton.

The other institutions of the village come under the head of manufactures, and consist of a spring-bed manufactory, started in 1877 by Osborn Howard, under the name of the Automatic Spring-Bed Company, which now employs five hands and turns out about one hundred beds per week ; and a sulky-plow manufactory, started this current year by Mr. J. R. Whitney. This is, as yet, only in its infancy, as it was only patented last February, but as it is an excellent invention and calculated, owing to its lightness and other excellent qualities, to save considerable wear of horse-fiesh, it will not be long, once it is fairly introduced to the farming community, before its merits are properly appreciated and a good trade results. The rest of the business portion of the village consists of a store, a blacksmith-shop, a shoe-shop, a hotel and a schoolhouse ; the latter is under the control of a Board of Directors consisting of J. R. Whitney, Derector ; George H. Austin, Treasurer ; George Howard, Clerk. It is a neat frame building, erected in 1872, at a cost of $1,400, and was last under the charge of Warren Howard.

This village, generally known as Cainville, owes is existence, as a settlement, to the Chicago & North- Western Railway, which passed through there in 1860. The immediate vicinity was located, however, as early as 1848 ; but there was nothing in it to attract settlement. It owes its latter name to Mr. S. J. Cain, who was instrumental in procuring the establishment of a post oflSce there in 1861, the gentleman appointed to take charge of " Uncle Sam's " budget being a Mr. Howell. Subsequent gentlemen acting in that capacity were Louis Hall, S. S. Bagley, Thomas Chase and W. P. Styles, the present incumbent. The settlement now comprises a store, a neat frame schoolhouse (erected in 1869), a depot and warehouse, and the dwellinghouses of about a dozen families.

Emeeald Grove

This village, so called from that gem of the prairie, " Emerald Grove," is located on the south part of Section 6, in the town of Bradford. In 1856, it contained " one post office, one tavern, one church, one blacksmith-shop, one store, one grocery, one schoolhouse and' fifteen dwellings." Since this early date, the village has considerably increased. It is a thriving place, eight miles from Janesville, has a good hotel, a harness-shop, a general store, two blacksmithshops, a shoemaker's shop and a few other establishments.

The village of Avon is located upon Sand Prairie, on Sections 17 and 20, in the town of the same name.' The prairie is a beautiful one - level, but sandy, hence its name. It extends along the Sugar River for many miles. The village is situated near the river, " where there. is," says a writer in 1856, "a grist-mill and saw-mill, two stores and a blacksmith's shop." Since that time, the place has grown some ; but it is still of small dimensions.

This prosperous village, containing about eight hundred persons, is situated on the line of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, seventy-one miles west of Milwaukee, one and a half miles from Rock River, twenty-six miles east of Madison, and one mile south of the south line of Dane County. As early as 1836, Robert and Daniel Stone, and William Squires, three of the adventurous spirits who, in common with many others, were swarming westward, located in the vicinity of what is now the village and turned their attentioh to the cultivation of the soil. They were followed by Thomas Quigley in 1843, 'jwho located and claimed sixty acres of ground where the railroad depot now stands. He was followed by Lucius M. Page, who purchased eighty acres on the north side of the depot.

In 1853, Mr. Page and H. S. Swift laid out the village on the north side of the railroad, and Messrs. Adin, J. and E. A. Burdick on the south side.

First Frame House

The first house of this nature in the village was built in 1853, by Mr. Ferdinand Davis, who kept it as a store. In the following year, he built two brick stores which still stand. In 1857, Swift's Block was built by H. S. Swift.

The First Hotel

This unfailing sign of the advent of civilization made its appearance in the winter of 1853-54, being built and kept by Mr. Nelson Coon, under the sign of the Exchange Hotel.

In the following year, he sold out to Mr. James Finney, who continued it under the same sign, and when asked one day what he exchanged, replied, " Whisky for money, by G - ."

In the same year, Mr. Coon built the United States Hotel, and the following year the American House was built, both of which are yet running.

After the village became an established fact as exemplified by a plat being made out, Mr. Frank Hall made his appearance upon this mundane sphere and is now recognized as the first male child born in the village.

First Marriage

As regards this all-important event, there are conflicting statements ; some of the residents inclining to the opinion that Mr. John Quigley and Miss Theresa Malian should be credited with the honor of being the first couple married in the village, while others are simply noncommittal.

The First Death

in the village is said to have occurred in the year 1854, the victim of the " old man " being a man named Hakes, a brother of Stiles Hakes, but about the same time, or shortly afterward, a gentleman from Ohio, a minister named Thorington, was killed by the cars, and filled the first grave in the cemetery.

The M. IE. Church was incorporated in February, 1863, by Moses J. Locksley, J. A. Lusk, Williain Short, Job Allen, F. Van Patten and C. B. Harding. For a number of years, they worshiped in the schoolhouse, being too poor to erect a church ; but, in February, 1867, they purchased a brick building from Mr. Locksley, at a cost of $700, and fitted it up for a church. It is a building 22x40, and will seat 200 persons.

The first Trustees were Randolph Brown, William Short, J. P. Towne, Joseph Locksley and F. Van Patten. The present incumbents of that ofiice are J. P. Towne, John Walters, W. H. Pomeroy, David H. McChesney and Dr. Lord.

The German Lutheran Qhurch was organized in 1872, with a membership of seventeen, which has since increased to twenty-nine. TheiV place of worship is Croft's Hall, a building rented from Mr. James Croft.

The first minister was the Rev. G. B. Dupork, who stayed six months, and was succeeded by the Rev. John Koerner, who drives over from Whitewater. The living is worth $225 per. annum. The society will soon commence the erection of a church edifice.

Primitive Methodist Church. - The first religious services held in the village of Edgerton were those gotten up by this sect in 1853, in the railroad depot, before it was inclosed, the attendance then being but about twelve members. Ever since that date, they have met in the schoolhouse, but now meet in Croft's Hall, where the services are attended by the remaining six members, viz., James Croft, Matthew Croft, J. C. Croft and three others. The following is a list

It will doubtless be a matter of surprise to a great many non-residents of Edgerton, to learn of the extent to which the raising, purchasing and exporting of tobacco is carried on in this place. Its fame as a tobacco-raising locality has long since reached to States and cities in the East, whose inhabitants, especially those engaged in the business of manufacturing tobacco, were not slow to turn their knowledge to good account, by the establishment of agencies at the village.

The " weed " which, from time immemorial, has proved a source of comfort and joy to the sons of men, was first grown in Edgerton by Messrs. Ed. Hall and Robert Johnson, in 1853, but, unaccustomed as they were to the growth of the plant, they failed to save the crop, and the mystery of growing and saving tobacco successfully was left unsolved until a few years later, when it was again essayed, this time with success, by Mr. Ralph Pomeroy, who was an old Ohio grower.

Up to 1858, crops were planted and saved, but they were very light, owing to the non-existence of a market. That year gave the budding industry a bad " set-back," the principal agent in the work being heavy frosts, which nipped the young plants in the bud, and turned the hearts of the owners thereof to gall and wormwood.

The idea of growing tobacco having received a shock, no more crops worthy of the name were put down until 1860, when some 500 cases (400 pounds to the case) were garnered, which brought, in the Milwaukee and Chicago markets, from four cents to six cents per pound. This was encouraging, and soon the tobacco-buyer was as much an institution in Edgerton as the cotton-buyer was in the Southern States. From that time to 1866, the amount of tobacco garnered gradually increased, until it reached the then large amount of 2,000 cases.

The fame of the place had by this time reached to the cities of New York, Cincinnati, Hartford and other places, and representatives of the leading houses were sent out to view its magnitude and the prospects of the longevity of the interest, with a view to establishing agencies. Apparently they were satisfied, for Messrs. Shohn & Ritzenstein, of New York, immediately commissioned Mr. William T. Pomeroy to purchase for them. Very soon after that, Mr. W. P. Bentley received instructions from Messrs. Joseph Meyer & Sons, of New York, to act for them, and he was followed by Mr. C. H. Wheeler, who had authority from Messrs. Becker Brothers, of Baltimore, Md., and Rothschild, Schrader & Eliel, of Chicago, to purchase all the tobacco he could get. Following him, came Mr.' W. W. Child, who bought for Messrs. Wintermeyer & McGowan, of Hartford, Conn., and after him, Mr. Thomas Hutson was directed by Schroder & Bond, of New York, to represent them in the " leafy field." The firm which he represents built the first tobacco warehouse in the village, in 1869, with a storing capacity of 2,500 cases.

The presence in 1870 of such a large number of agents, all buyers for first-class houses, instigated the farmers to put forth greater efforts in the tobacco-growing line than they had ever before attained, and, as a result, in the next year they gathered and sold 30,000 cases, or an aggref ate of 12,000,000 pounds, for which they received six cents per pound, or the enormous sum of 720,000. Prices had been higher ; for instance, in 1869 they had reached twelve and onehalf cents per pound ; but then there was only a small crop, not more than 20,000 cases. In the year following, from fifteen to twenty cents per pound was paid for a crop of 3,500 cases ; but in that year, as in 1869, the crop was small, and that of Connecticut, the largest tobaccoraising State, very poor. Another cause which militated very much against the reception by the growers of high prices in 1871, was the large quantity and poor quality raised. They outgeneraled themselves, but since then, have had no especial cause for complaint.

The tobacco grown in the neighborhood is 'wha,t is known to the trade as cigar leaf, and in that class dealers and growers now say that Wisconsin takes fourth rate as a tobacco-growing State, while they confidently state that as soon as this year's crop is gathered, she will step into and hold the second place.

Some idea may be gained of the magnitude of the business, when it is stated that of the nine houses represented, one alone pays out $120,000 per annum for tobacco alone, while the remainder do a business of from $80,000 to $100,000 per annum each.

There is one outrage which is daily practiced upon the agents by the astute owners of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul R. R., and that is the charging by them of one-quarter cent upon every pound of tobacco shipped to Milwaukee or Chicago, while the rates from Milwaukee to New York, or Chicago to New York, vary from 15 to 40 cents per hundred. But they have to accept their fate, as there is no other way by which they can get their crops carried to the first cities for shipment.

Date

The general .outlook for the crop of 1879,>is considered remarkably good, and many hold to the opinion that the planters will exceed the amount grown in 1871.

I. 0. G-. T., JEdgerton Union Lodge, No. 14£, was organized on February 5, 1874, with about thirty members, and the following officers: W. C. T., Dr. B. Burdick ; W. F. T., Mrs. Lavenia Green ; F. S., William P. Bentley ; T., Miss Esther Saunders ; R. S., E. H. Boyd.

P. of H., Fulton Grange, No. 195, was organized in 1875, with about fifty members, the first officers being M. D. J. Powell, 0. Elmer Langworthy, S. John Patton, T. Lucius Page.

The society is one of the most flourishing in the county, being the owners of a large general store known as " The Grange," which is managed by Mr. Z. H. Bowen in the capacity of

* Indicates that the number of cases was divided by 2, and half charged at each figure as price per lb. 12,000 cases were charged at 5c per lb. and 12,000 at Vc per lb. t A frosty year.

agent. The members have at different times put money into it until now, when they invested about $3,000, an amount sufficient to keep a good stock on hand.

The Grange has now a membership of forty. Their officers are M. Henry Brace, 0. Elmer Langworthy, Secretary John R. Powell, Treasurer James Hopkins.