Fairwater, Wisconsin

This fine agricultural town lies on the west line of Fond du Lac County, immediately south of Ripon and northwest of Waupun. This is called the richest town in Fond du Lac county, cities not included. This reputation is sustained by the taxes paid in 1879 by Metomen, which were about $300 in excess of those of any other town. It is Township 15 north, of Range 14 east, containing 36 full sections of arable land. The town as a whole is a rich, undulating prairie, scarcely one-twentieth of its area being timber. The most uneven portions have a soil of sandy loam, with a subsoil of gravel, and with an occasional outcrop of limestone, which can be profitably workeil. In the lowlands are found the vegetable mold - the choice alluvium of the marshy meadows. These, when thoroughly drained, constitute a mine of agricultural wealth. " Round Prairie," comprising several thousand acres northwest of Brandon is justly celebrated for its beauty and fertility. Much of Metomen is similar to Ripon, which has been called the "Eden of the West." Its elevation its gradually rolling surface and deep, warm soil combine to render it attractive and productive. Other portions of the township claim equal fertility. Much of the land is higher than any of the surrounding country - is, in fact, a watershed from which the streams flow southeasterly, northerly and westerly. The East Branch of the Rock River rises in Metomen. The Grand River, in the southwest corner, affords mill privileges at Fairwater. Wells upon the high prairie are not deep, but furnish exhaustless water supply. Creeks and brooklets are found, except upon the uplands. For a prairie country, Metomen contains some i-emarkable springs and streams. The spring on Almon Osborn's farm. Section 2, is the largest in the county, being tlie principal source of Silver Creek, which flows into Green Lake. Caraboo Spring, on the old Col. Mansfield farm, is twenty-five feet across and discharges an astonishing volume of water. This is the head of Grand River. The land has been well adapted to wheat-raising, but, lately, attention has been profitably turned to stockraising, particularly of sheep; and wool is becoming a leading export. For general farming purposes, Metomen is excelled by few in the State.

Passage source: The History of Fond Du Lac County, Wisconsin, published 1880.

A. M. dinner. In 1848, Mr. Carter built what was called for years the best dwelling in the township. By 1850, Fairwater was quite a little village, schoolhouses and churches were being erected, and the new country had many of the essentials of New England civilization ; Mr. Carter now has five improved farms, aggregating 460 acres, of which fully 400 are now under the plow. Mr. and Mrs. Carter have added to the census eight sons and four daughters, of whom five sons and one daughter are living - Mary A. deceased), Sarah E. (deceased) ; George W. (the present Warden of the Wisconsin State Prison at Waupun), James W., Harrison D. (deceased), Charles S., Alvin H. (deceased), Eliza B., Edward B., Henrietta L. ( deceased ), Louis E., and Herbert K. (deceased) ; three of the sons served through the rebellion, as soldiers iu Wisconsin regiments, and a fourth one was four years in the army as clerk in the Commissary and Paymaster's departments ; Mr. Carter's family were the second settlers in Metomen Township. Mrs. Carter is a motherly matron, whom many in that region regard as indispensable in sickness. Mr. Carter was the first Postmaster in Metomen Township ; has been Assessor and Town Chairman, and held other local oiEces ; he is- a "true-blue " Republican, and is actively interested in local and general politics. Himself and wife are not connected with any church, but they are in sympathy with all institutions designed to benefit mankind, and their faith looks to the ultimate happiness of all humanity ; they are a genial, hospitable and highly respected family.

Passage source: The History of Fond Du Lac County, Wisconsin, published 1880.

F.COLLIKS, farmer, Sec. 32; P.O. Fairwater; born in Warsaw, Wyoming Co., N. Y., on the 9th of May, 1822; has always been a farmer. Was married, Oct. 16, 1842, to Miss Louisa A. Norman, of Wyoming Co., N. Y.; removed to Michigan in 1844, and remained four years; his father, in 1845, preempted eighty acres, which constitutes a part of the farm now owned by himself; he came to this town.ship in 1848, and has not moved from the old homestead ; has 105 acres, of which sixty have been plowed ; twenty-five is timber, and twenty is pasture and meadow. Have had seven children - Amy L., born in 1843, married in 1865 ; Calvin D., born in 1846; Anna L., born in 1849, married in 1877 ; Alva N., born in 1853, married in 1878 ; Joseph T., born in 1857 ; William H., born in 1860 ; A. De Esten, born in 1866. Himself and wife are Methodists; has been a Republican since the formation of the party. Mr. Collins has declined all ofSce, but his neighbors speak of him as a very reliable and useful citizen.

Passage source: The History of Fond Du Lac County, Wisconsin, published 1880.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Metomen Town - it names this place 11 more 11 times.