Alto Town

Alto Town

Alto is the southwestern township in Fond du Lac County. It is bounded north by JMetomen, east by Waupun, south by Trenton, in Dodge County, and west by Mackford, in Green Lake County. It is Township 14 north, in Range 14 east. It contains 2.3,153.'31 acres, wliich is 93.31 acres more than thirty-six full sections. It was subdivided by John Brink in November, 1834, and in his field notes he wrote: "This township is second rate, and rolling, save its marshes. It is thinly timbered with burr oak, white oak, yellow and black oak, except its prairies and marshes, where trees are wholly wanting. The soil is of a yellow, ashy color, of clay loam and sand. The streams are sluggish and have a muddy channel." Fully one-fourth of its area is marsh, most of which yields valuable hay product. Nearly one-half was openings and timber land, which is highly prized by wheat-raisers. The remainder is prairie, rolling, warm and rich. The South Fork of the Rock River passes through the entire width of the town in its southern part, having two principal branches coming in from the north. Tliese, with brooks and springs, give abundant supply of water. Notwithstanding the United States Surveyor marked tbe soil of the town "second rate," it is, in fact, rich and highly productive. Wheat and woo'd are the chief exports. Waupun and Brandon afford convenient markets.

Frances D. Bowman, formerly of Rochester, N. Y., was the first settler in Alto, having located on Section 36 late in 1841, and for more than two years, was the "monarch of all he surveyed" in the town. His daughter, born in 1842, was the first birth, and his son, born in 1844, was the second child ia the town. After spending a season there, he went to Ohio and bought a flock of sheep and drove them to Alto, while he was still the " Robinson Crusoe" of the town. William Talcott was probably the second settler, and came early in 1844. Silas JMiller, a lay preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, came the same year; he named "Alto." Marcus Thwing, Dr. Green, iMr. Ilillyer and perhaps a few others came with their families in 1844. Martin Grider is undoulttedly the earliest settler who still lives in the town ; he moved his family into Alto in May, 1845, but he had entered land and sowed wheat in the fall of 1844. Mr. Bowman sold his claim in 1845 to F. F. Davis. Mr. Davis was afterward Sheriff of the county. His daughter, Cornelia C, died of consumption on the 7th of December, 1845. In the summer of 1846, Miss An^reline Booth taught the first school in Alto in the house of Mr. Davis, and the first i-cli(rious mcctinii; in the town was also at his house - preaching by Silas Miller, the father of Rev. W. G. Miller, who is now so favorably known in Wisconsin., Silas Midler built a saw-mill on a branch of Rock River, in the southeast part of the town, in 1845. /The first advent of a Hollander (said to have been a JSIr. Mcenk') into Alto was in 1845, and now threfiJiiiiutlis of the population are of that nationality"^ I'olitically, Alto is the banner Republican town of the county. In 1875 the inhabitants numbered 1,430. The Chicago, JMilwaukcc & St. Paul Railway passes through the noi-theast corner of this town, but the nearest station is, on the north, Brandon, and on the south, Waupun.

Alto-was organized on the Gth of April, 1847, at a meeting held in, the schoolhouse near Miller's mill, in the southeast part of, tiie town. Tdwnsend Green was Moderator, and Benjamin Davis and Frederick Talcott were Clerks. Tbe north half of Alto had previously been connected with Metomcn, and the south half with Waupun, for town purposes. The first town officers elected were : Chiirman, M. Talcott; Side Supervisors, J. R. jNIathews and William Talcott; Town Clerk, G. W. Sexmith; Justices of the Peace, F. F. Davis, G. W. Sexmith and Henry Boai'dman ; Assessors, Daniel W. Briggs; Treasurer, Zephaniah Miller; Scliool Commissioners, David Adams, T. Green and F. Talcott. At this first town meeting the proposition to confer "equal suffrage to colored people" was voted down by five majority . The "antilicense" ticket was carried at the same election by twelve majority. The town officers of Alto in the spring of 1880 are: Chairman, G. II. Downey; Side Supervisors, Jolm Bruins and William J. Boom ; Treasurer, John Gysbers ; Assessor, John W. Kastein ; Clerk, William H. Smithers.

The first school district wa^. organized March 18, 1850, at a meeting, of which George W. Sexmith was Chairman and Z. Miller Secretary, held for that purpose. The first oflicers were: George AV. Sexmith, Director; A. McMasters, Clerk, and John L. Sargent, Treasurer. The first schoolhouse, a frame building, 24x18 feet, was erected, that season, on Section 23, and Clara F. Pierce taught the first school in it, during three months, at $5 per month. The tax first raised amounted to $85 for all purposes. In 1877, a building costing $1,400 was erected. Alto now has nine schools, of which three are in union districts.

In 1856, February 1-3, land was bought, in Section 23, for a church building, on which " Ebenezer Church" now stands. It was organized as the Reformed Church, with forty-seven members, which number has swollen to about two hundred, embracing 100 families. The congregation is divided into three classes, which meet on difi'erent week-days to receive instruction. The first Trustees of this church were M. Mensink, F. Beeuwkos, M. Duven, G. Duitman, G. Stilsel, C. Landaal, J. Straks, .J. Landaal, L. Sligster and J. W. Kastein. The first settlement of the people composing this church, who are Hollanders, in Alto, was in 1846, near the center of the town. They immediately began to hold religious services in private houses, building a church of logs in 1848, which building, 10x26 feet, was also used for a schoolhouse. These people now form, in this part of the town, a very large, thrifty and respectable portion of the inhabitants, the 101 school children in District No. 1 being all Hollanders.

There are now seven churches in Alto, and all, save one, are well sustained. The First Reformed or " Ebenezer" Church was first organized. The others are the Second Reformed or "Ebenezer" Church, which was recently built, mainly at the expense of Henry Bruins; the Dutch Presbyterian and the Dutch Congregational, the German Methodist and the Methodist Episcopal Churches, and one Congregational Church, in which no regular meetings are held, the society being much reduced by deaths and removals.

Alto has two stores, but neither a village, nor a saloon, nor a post office ; though, in early days, a post office, called Black Hawk, was located in the center of a large prairie of the same name, on a spot which the celebrated Imlian chieftain and warrior of that name is said to have once used as a camp.

This town took its name from the village of that name, which was at one time larger than Fond du Lac, and promised not only to be the commercial metropolis of this portion of Wisconsin, but the county seat of Fond du Lac County.

Taycheedah formerly belonged to the town of Fond du Lac ; then was made up of the towns of Forest, Empire, a portion of Friendship (across the lake) and its present territory ; then of the present town of Empire and half of Taycheedah as it is ; and now is composed of the north tier of sections which should belong to Empire and twenty-three full and several fractional sections in Township 16 north, of Range 18 east. It has been in this shape since Empire was organized, in 1851. Lake Winnebago cuts into the town on the west, leaving but twenty-nine

" Under the Ledge, there is very fine timber and a soil as rich as any other in this country. On the upper level, the timber is somewhat deficient in quantity and growth. Some of the prairie is rather wet, but will make fine meadows. From the commanding prospect from the upper level, the lake [VVinnebago], stretching as far to the north as the eye can reach, and to the west from six to ten miles - there are but few places that can compete with this for beauty of situation. It will probably be a healthy location.'

Francis D. McCarty and Reuben Simmons lived in a shanty in the south part of Taycheedah, from December, 1838, to the spring of 1839. This was the first settlement in that part of the town. Mr. Simmons then built a house, near by, for James Duane Doty, and Mr. McCarty erected one for himself where the village of Taycheedah now stands. During the summer of 1838, 0. P. Knapp entered land in the timber, further north, which was the first settlement in that part of the town, and might be called the first in what is now Taycheedah. The many beautiful springs bursting from the Ledge, the delightful location and bright prospects for the future, called settlers rapidly to Taycheedah. They were at first mostly from New York, Ohio and New England, and Taycheedah once could claim more tlian half of the aristocracy, culture and honorable men of the entire county. No town has undergone greater changes in this respect. The governors, judges, generals, lawyers and other high officials have all emigrated or paid the last debt of nature, and a community of German and Irish farmers has taken their place. '

The first births, deaths and marriages are not recorded, except such as occurred in territory once belonging to, but not now a part of, Taycheedah.

Peebles Corners, on Section 32, which has a post office, tollgate, store and cheese-factory, was named after E. Peebles. It is a station on the Sheboygan & Fond du Lac Railway, which is really the father of the place.

Taycheedah Village. - This is comparatively an ancient hamlet. It was the rival of Fond du Lac and Oshkosh, and, for some years, outstripped them both, having, in the early forties, a larger store, better lumber-yard and greater lake commerce than both of them combined. It was, also, the first Wisconsin village to send steamboats up the Wolf River and carry on, in those afterward famous timber regions, the business of lumbering. Here, also, were the first schoolhouse, first bell and, possibly, though not probably, the first religious class in the county.

The first mill was a large stone fiouring-mill, on the lake shore, which began a large business in 1848, but was burned in 1854. In 1850, a steam saw-mill was built by 0. R. Potter, but that, too, was burned in 1853.

The first store was opened by J. L. Moore and his brother-in-law, B. F. Moore, now proprietor of the La Belle Wagon Works at Fond du Lac, in September, 1841. This was the first store in the county. Trade in it was brisk, the Brothertown Indians sometimes paying in §300 per day, cash, while large amounts were exchanged for furs. The warehouse connected with this store was burned in 1844, destroying goods and wheat to the value of $6,000 - the first fire of any note in the county.

The first schoolhouse in the county was built by James Duane Doty, Henry Conklin and the two Moores, at Taycheedah, in 1842. Henry Conklin gave a bell for this building, the first one in this county, which still does service in the more modern schoolhouse.

The first hotel was built by B. F. Smith in 1840. It was first kept by Francis D. McCarty, next by John Case, and then by Nathaniel Perry, who built a new and larger

The glory of Taycheedah has flown. It is now a place of no importance, commercially, whatever. A blacksmith-shop, little store, post office and a saloon or two constitute its business places. Its trade and prospects were killed by Mason C. Darling, when he gave a site for a court house at Fond du Lac. Its first Postmaster was Nathaniel Perry.

Taycheedah was named by James Duane Doty. It is not, in its present form, a proper Indian terra, being a corruption, no doubt, of the term tee-charrah, which, in pronouncing, should be run together with a quick guttural sound, barely sounding "tee." It means campingplace. Mr. Doty's translation was "our home," which was very nearly correct, though the present English pronunciation of the word is far from it. '

The different Chairmen of the town of Taycheedah have been : George D. Ruggles, George W. Elliott, F. S. Crons, John Ilett, Charles Geisse, 0. R. Potter, B. F. Smith, B. F. O'Laughlin and Michael Wirtz. The Clerks have been : Charles Doty, William White, J. D. Van Plack, C. W. Tallmadgo, John Ehvell, Cromwell Laithe, William Craig, B. F. Smith, J. M. Mitchell, O. H. Petters, James O'Neill, William Bassett, S. D. Schooley, Frank Harzheim, Paul Bucliholz, B. Adleman and Joseph Ditter.

ANDREW BRUINS, farmer, Sec. 9; P. 0. Brandon; was born in Gelderland, Holland, on the 3d of December, 1827. He was drafted before the age of 19, and receiving a year's furlough, he emigrated to America, in whieli he has acquired citizenship. On the 27th of May, 1847, he arrived in Alto, and bought a pre-emption in the same section where he now lives ; his parents and remainder of family came in the fall of the same year, and have lived in Alto ever since. He was married in October, 1851, to Miss Ellen Gleiven, formerly of Gelderland, Holland. He has 330 acres of land in Alto, and 80 acres in Metomen, the greater part of which is tillable; they have had nine children, three of whom died young; the six living are Henrietta, Henry, Anna, Mina, Ella and x\udrew. He prefers to tend his farm rather than hold office. The family are connected with the Pibenezer Reformed Church of Alto. His father erected their church edifice mainly at his own expense. He is a Republican. The father and three brothers live in Alto Township, and are all thrifty farmers and good citizens.

DERK BRlIINf^, farmer, Sec. 8; P. 0. Brandon; was born in Gelderland, Holland, on the 20tb of March, 1839 ; he came to America, with his parents, in 1847, and has lived in Alto to pre.sent date ; he is the youngest son, and has always lived with his parents ; his mother is dead, but the father still lives with Derk, and part of the property is still held by the father; he, the father, H. Bruins, is 81 years of age, has thirty-three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, and is in good health, except the necessary infirmities of age. Derk has 300 acres of land, all tillable except thirty acres of marsh, but forty acres are still wooded ; has 350 graded Merino sheep; raises other live stock, and also grain. He was married Jan. 11, 18G5, to Miss Cynthia B. Heusinkveld, formerly of Holland; they have six children - - William H., Hannah, Edward. Henry M., Mina H. and Derk, Jr. He has been Side Supervisor three years. Himself and family, and father, belong to the Ebenezer Reformed Church of Alto. He is Republican. Like most of his nationality, he is a moral, law-abiding citizen.

JOHN BRUINS, farmer. Sec. 16; P. 0. Brandon; was born in Gelderland, Holland, on the 27th of January, 1833; came to America in the fall of 1847, and settled in Alto, and worked on the farm with his parents for fourteen years. In April, 1859, he was married to Miss Christina Glirven, formerly of Gelderland, Holland. He bought his present farm in January, 1861 ; he has 240 acres, about 200 of which are tillable ; he raises some wheat to sell, but pays more attention to live stock, sheep and cattle ; he has two large barns with basement, and a comfortable house. Have had ten children ; two died in childhood; the living are Hattie, Cornelius, Henry J., Johanna H., Dina L., Mary, Jennie C. and Henrietta J.; all the children are at home. He is now Side Supervisor. Himself and wife are members of the Ebenezer Reformed Church of Alto; he is a Republican, and has the characteristics of the Hollanders ; is an industrious and moral citizen.

JAN W. BRUINS, farmer, Sec. 16; P. 0. Brandon; he was born in Wilp, Gelderland, Holland, on the 12th of February, 1S35; his parents came to Alto in 1847, and he lived at home till IStJS, when he settled on the farm which he now owns. He was married, Sept. 27, 1862, to Miss Gertrude Vanderbeek. by whom he had three children, of whom two are living - -Hendrikes and Dina. The mother died Dec. 25, 1867. He has 187 acres, fully 150 of which is tillable ; he raises grain and stock. In May, 1868, he married Miss Elizabeth Garritsen, by whom he had three children; the two living are named Gertrude A. and John. Mrs. Bruins died Aug. 10, 1873. He has been Side Supervisor two terms and Town Treasurer once. He was married to his present wife on the 27th of October, 1873 ; her maiden name was Aaltje Rens ; they have had three children, of whom two are living - Betsey an J Aaldert Van Wechel. Himself and family are connected with the Ebenezer Reformed Church of Alto. Has good farm buildings and an excellent brick residence. Is Rjpublican: is Trustee of the church ; is a reliable and respected citizen.

MATHIAS DUVEIV, farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Waupun ; born July 1, 1816, in Holland, Province of Gelderland. Was married in Holland, in 1840,to Alida Straks, who was born Dec. 19, 1818; daughter of Hendrekes Straks. Mr. Diiven came to America in 1846, and lived ten months in Jefferson Co., Wis.; then came to Alto, and has resided there since. Has held office in the Reformed Church (of which he is a member) over twenty-five years. Mrs. Duven died June 21, 1877, of paralysis; was taken in church at 2 o'clock P. M. and died at 11 o'clock in the evening. Mr. Duven has nine children - William, Henry, Charles, Henrietta (now Mrs. John (xyshers), Dora (now Mrs. Derk Reus), Mary (Mrs. Jacob Meenk), Jane (Mrs. John Redaker), John and Hannah, all living in Alto except Charles, who lives in the city of Waupun, and Jane, who lives in Trenton, Dodge Co. Has 160 acres of land, worth $40 per acre. Republican.

ELiISHA CifREEX, retired farmer. Sec. 29; P. 0. Waupun ; was born in the town of Weare, N. H., on the 27th of December, 1792, and is doubtless the oldest citizen of Alto: he is able to take care of himself - is, in fact, a vigorous, hearty old man ; he spent his early life in Addison Co., Vt.; came to Alto in 1854 and located on the farm where he now lives with his son George. He was married, Jan: 29, 1822, to Miss Silvia Chase, of Vermont; they had eight children, three of whom are dead; the living are Abigal, Silvia A., Mary A., George G. and Hattie E. The mother died Oct. 27, 1876. He came to Alto and bought land, but carried it on mainly by hired help; he is a natural mechanic and delights still to work in wood or iron. Is of Quaker parentage; was never an active politician, but has beeu a reliable Republican ; is an honest man and a good citizen.

GEORGE G. GREEN, farmer, Sec. 29; P. 0. Waupun ; was born in Ferrisburg, Addison Co., Vt., on the 16th of November, 1834; came to Wisconsin in 1854 and settled on his present farm. He was married, in September, 1872, to Miss Lusella Fowler, by whom he had one child - Lusella M.; the mother died April 7, 1874. He owns 240 acres of land, of which fully two hundred are tillable ; carries on mixed farming, but makes somewhat of a specialty of stock-raising, particularly of sheep ; he has 200 thoroughbred and graded Merinos ; is called a successful farmer and stock -raiser. Is a Royal Arch Mason and a Republican. Is a man of strong likes and dislikes.

WILIilAM GI^ENDIXiVING (deceased); was born July 9, 1805, in the parish of Ashkirk, Scotland ; served five years to learn the carpenter's trade. Married, March 22, 1827, Catharine Graham, who was born in February, 1805, in the parish of Howick, Scotland, daughter of Thomas Graham ; her mother's maiden name was Margaret Rutherford. Mr. Glendinning came to America in the spring of 1832 with his family; remained in Montreal a few months, then went to the State of New York and followed farming in Delaware Co. till June, 1 845 ; then sold out and came to Wisconsin ; he settled in the town of Alto on Sec. 36, where he followed farming till his death, which occurred Sept 5, 1872. He left a widow and eight children - William Thomas (living in California), Margaret (now Mrs. John Chapman, of Dickinson Co., Iowa), Effie (now Mrs. Hugh Meikle, of Alto), Isabell (now Mrs. Merritt Vader, of Alto), Elliot (living near Wausau, Wis.), and James and Helen, living with their mother on the homestead, which consists of 130 acres, and worth about §40 per acre.; one son, Walter, was accidentally killed Dec. 2, 1878, while engaged in unloading a car of logs at the saw-mill belonging to himself and brother Elliot, near Wausau, Wis.; left a wife and two children ; lost two children in New York, who died n infancy. P. 0. Waupun.

ROBERT GRAHA^H, farmer, Sec. 1 ; P. 0. Brandon; he was born in Eskdalemuir, Dumfrieshiro, Scotland, on the 24th of May, 1829; he is descended from one of the oldest families of Scotland, his ancestry dating back nearly four centuries. " Sir John the Graham," a prominent member of the clan, is known in history as the friend Sir of William Wallace, and l;is exploits as a Scottish Chief, Marquis of Montrose, are immortalized by Sir Walter Scott. The subject of this sketch was married in Scotland, on the 18th of February, 1853, to Miss Jane Inglis, of Roxboroughshire, Scotland; three years after marriage, they came to America, attracted by the glowing reports given by friends who had found homes in Wisconsin ; on the 12th of August, 1856, he and his " bonnie bride " took dinner in one of the rooms of his present fine residence, which was at that time the entire dwelling; he has lived in Alto continuously to present date; he was a shepherd in Scotland, and had saved but little more than $100 with which to commence farming in this town ; he first worked out by the month, but soon bought land and enjoyed the high prices of -' war times ; " he paid $9,500 for his present farm of 190 acres ; he has a few acres of marsh, but nearly all his farm is high, beautiful prairie, unsurpassed by any in the township ; he has spacious grounds inclosed with his residence, which stands upon the corner of two well-traveled roads ; he raises live stock and grain ; his barns indicate the thrifty farmer. They have had five children, one, a son, died in 1874, aged 21 years; the living are William, John, Elizabeth and George. William is married and lives in Brandon ; this son and a partner, named Clark, run a steam feed-mill on Mr. Graham's farm ; the engine is used a portion of the time in connection with a steam thrasher ; the mill has a daily capacity of six tons. Mr. G. has been District Clerk for a dozen years, and Side Supervisor two years. He is one of the Deacons of the Brandon Congregational Church ; and his family are also Congregationalists ; he is a reliable Republican. He has many of the characteristics of the representative Scotchman - is moral, industrious, attached to his countrymen and to " Bonnie Scotland."

JOHIV H. HAWEXS, merchant, south line of Sec. 14 ; P. 0. Waupun ; born Aug. 26, 1841, in Holland, in the Province of Gelderland ; son of Aaron and Henrietta Hagens, who took passage for America when he was about 5 years old, and both died before reaching New York ; John H. was taken to the New York Orphan Asylum, where he remained till 1858, then came to the town of Holland, Ottawa Co., Mich., and from there to Wisconsin, remaining in the town of Alto till 1860, when he went to Milwaukee and engaged as clerk in a dry-goods store ; continued in that business in Milwaukee till 1866, then returned to Alto and commenced trade for himself, where he still continues. Was married Dec. 8, 1871, to Theodora Kastein, who was born Feb. 8, 1849, in the same place as her husband; daughter of Ruloff and Elizabeth (Terheest) Kustein, who came to America in 1866; Mr. Hagens has three children - Aaron, Elizabeth and Theodora. Mrs. Hagens is a member of the Reformed Church. He is a Republican.

ROBERT HOBKIRK, farmer. Sec. 33 ; P. 0. Waupun; born April 13, 1817, in Roxburghshire, Scotland ; son of Robert and Margaret (Blakie) Hobkirk ; came to America in the spring of 1842 and settled in Delaware Co., N. Y., where he was married, July 26, 1844, to Jessie Riddoch, who was born Sept. 25, 1826, in Scotland, daughter of John Riddoc^h ; has seven children - Robert and John (living in Trenton, Dodge Co), William, Mary, Frank, Anna and Jessie ; Elizabeth died Sept. 29, 1877, in her 25th year, and Alexander died in infancy. Members of Congregational Church ; Democrat. Owns 200 acres land.

JOHIV KASTEIN, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Waupun; born March 10, 1835, in Gelderland, Holland ; son of John William Kastein ; his mother's maiden name was Theodora Terhurst ; came to America with his parents in 1847, and settled in the town of Metomen, Fond du Lac Co., Wis.; lived there six or seven years, then came to Alto and located on Sec. 23 ; his mother died Feb. 14, 1867 ; father still living. Was married, Nov. 30, 1858, to Ellen Giabenstein, who was born Aug. 12, 1836, in Gelderland, Holland ; daughter of Henry and Johanna (Sleister) (Jiabenstein ; has ten children living - Johanna (now Mrs. William Lovmans, of Alto); Theodore, John, William, Elizabeth, Rudolph, Antoinette, Maria, John, Angeline and Robertus ; all living with parents except Johanna; has lost one - John William, died in July, 1 864, aged 4 years and 9 months. Mr. Kastein has held the office of Assessor for the last four years ; Supervisor several years ; also Clerk of the School District, and has been one of the Directors of the Waupun Farmer's Insurance Co. for the last five years ; in politics. Democrat. Has 160 acres land, worth $40 per acre. Both members of the Reformed Church.

JOHN KLOOSTERBOER, former. Sec. 23; P. 0. Waupun; born Dec. 14, 1817, in Holland, Province oi' (leklerlaiid ; came to America in 1849, and settled in the town of Alto on Sec. 9 ; came to Sec. 23 in 1861 ; has followed firming ever since he came to this country ; had no English education in Holland, but took an English-print newspaper (the New l''ork Tribmie), when he first came to this country, and soon learned to read and speak English. In March, 1841, he was married, in Holland, to Fannie Groothedde, who was born April 27, 1804, in Holland; her first husband's name was Derk V'^an Wechel, who died in 1838, leaving four children - Ella (who died in January, 1875), Johanna (now Mrs. John Straks, of Alto), Arend (who lives in Iowa), and Anna (now Mrs. William Klumpers, of Alto). He has 374 acres of land in Alto, divided into three farms, worth about $15,000. He is a member of the Reformed Church, and a Republican.

WILLIAM KLUMPERS, farmer, Sec. 23 ; P. 0. Waupun ; born March 28, 1827, in Holland, Province of Gelderland ; came to America in 1847, and lived in the town of Sullivan, Jefferson Co., Wis., till the spring of 1857, then sold out, and bought the farm he now owns, where he has since resided. He was married, March 11, '1857, to Anna Van Wechel, who was born May 29, 1838, also in Gelderland. Holland, daughter of Derk Van Wechel, and stepdaughter of John Kloosterbocr ; have five children - Johanna, Derk, Garret, Frances and Willie ; have lost two - Garret died March 20, 1863, aged 17 months, and Frankie, April 27, 1868, aged 10 months. Johanna is now the wife of John Neehol, of Alto. Has eighty acres of land, worth $60 per acre. Both members of the Reformed Church, and he is a Republican.

JOHN LANDAAL, farmer. Sec. 26 ; P. 0. Waupun ; born Jan. 15, 1824, in Geldcrlanu, Holland; son of Cornelius Landaal, who came to America in 1848, settled in Alto, and died Sept. 20, 1874 ; John came to America in 1847, and worked at carpenter and joiner work (which trade he had learned in Holland) one year in Milwaukee, Wis. ; in the spring of 1848, went to Ottawa Co., Mich.; lived there till the fall of 1849, then came back to Wisconsin and settled in the town of Alto; first bouo'ht a farm of thirty acres on Sec. 21, subsequently added to it, and sold out in the spring of 1856 ; the next fiiil, he bought the farm he now owns, on Sec. 26 ; has 180 acres in his home farm, and 160 acres on the county line in Sees. 34 and 35 ; both farms are worth about §20,000. He has been Justice of the Peace, Supervisor and Assessor ; was one of the originators of the Waupun Farmers' Insurance Co., and is now agent for the town of Alto. He was married, Nov. 14, 1850, to Berendiena Mensink, who w;is born Nov. 28, 1832, in the same place as her husband ; her parents came to America in 1846; lived three years in Saratoga Co., N. Y., then came to Wisconsin and lived in Alto till 1864, then removed to Fillmore Co., Minn., and died there ; Jlr. and Mrs. Landaal have ten children - Mary C., now Mrs. Henry De Groat, of Alto ; Johanna H., now Mrs. John Duitman ; Henry B., married Alary Ue Groat, and lives in Alto ; Mina C, now Mrs. Anthony Loomaus, of Alto ; John L., Bernard J., Garret A., Emma L., Cornelius H. and Louisa A. ; have lost four - Jlina C., Cornelius H., Louisa A. and Benjamin. Mr. Landaal is a Democrat, and an Elder in the Reformed Church, to which they both belong.

DAVID T. McCLAUGHEY, Sec. 30; P. O. Waupun; was born Dec. 20, 1824, in Washington Co., N. Y.; he lived five years in Oswego Co. before coming West in 1839 ; his father, Daniel, and all the family, came to Wisconsin, and settled on Pleasant Prairie, Kenosha Co., on the 7th of November, 1839 ; David T. remained there until the summer of 1846, when he took up land in Alto ; he has been twenty-four years on the farm which he now owns. ' He was married, March 13, 1849, to Mi.ss Susan E. Knight, of Alto ; her parents were among the very earliest settlers in this township; he has 500 acres, all of which he regards as tillable, but about one-fifth is marsh, which yields an abundance of good hay ; he makes a specialty of stock-raising; has 125 thoroughbred and graded merino sheep; keeps grade Durham cattle ; has several horses of the Swigart breed. They have six children - Angeline B., Martha, David W., Maria, Je.ssie F., and Nellie V.; the two oldest daughters are married and live in Iowa; the other four are on the home farm; he was a partner with William Knight in keeping the first hotel in Alto ; it was on Sec. 31, and for a dozen years had a large patronage ; he has been Side Supervisor, and also Treasurer several times ; he never had a lawsuit in his life. He is a Republican, and is a member of Waupun Lodge, No. 48, of A., F. & A. M.; his father, Daniel, was born Dec. 21, 1802; came to Alto in 1863, and makes his home with his son, David T.; his wife died in 1S69 ; he had a family of nine of whom six are living ; the youngest died in the army. All have been successful farmers and good citizens.

JOHjV albert MEEXK, farmer. Sec. 25 ; P. 0. Waupun ; born Oct. 12, 1820, in Gelderland, Holland; came to America in 1844, arriving in New York City in August; lived in Westfield, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., till 1845, when he was joined by his parents, two sisters and five brothers; the whole family came to Wisconsin and settled in Alto, except Henry, who went to Texas. Mr. Meenk wis married, Feb. 2, 1850, to Henrietta Veenhuis, who was born in October, 1821, in Gelderland, Holland, and died July 24, 1857, of consumption, leaving two children - Jacob and Garret William, both living in Alto; Garret William with his father. Was married the second time, Nov. 17, 1858, to Anna Cornelia Wubbels, who died April 12, 1868, aged about 52, leaving one child by Mr. Meenk (her second husband), Gertrude. Was married the third time, Jan. 27, 1870, to Mrs. Alida Venhuis, whose maiden name was Droppers; has 180 acres of land, 840 per acre. Member of Reformed Church, and a Republican.

JOHN D. MEEN^K (deceased) was born in Gelderland, Holland ; came to America, with his parents, in 1845, and settled in the'town of Alto, being among the first settlers of the town ; lived first in the north part of the town, but sold out in 1865, and removed to Sec. 23, where he resided till his death, which occurred in the fall of 1873, of consumption, after an illness of several years ; he was but a child when his father, Garrett Meenk, came to America. He married Cynthia Loomans, daughter of John Wm. Loomans, who came to America from Holland in 1844, and to Alto in 1847, where he is still living. Mr. Meenk left ten children - Garrett (lives in Waupun), William, Jane (now Mrs. Garret Gyshers, of Alto), Mina, Delia, Hattie, Anna, Caroline, Hannah and Albert : all living on the homestead, except Garrett and Jane. Mrs. Meenk was married the second time, Feb. 10, 1880, to Derk J. Nigel, of Minnesota. The homestead eonsists of ei^htv acres of land on Sec. 23, with good buildings ; P. 0. Waupun.

<i}ERHARDES'<]}EOR4i;E NEEVEL, farmer. Sec. 22 (formerly painter) ; P. O. Waupun; born Sept. 16, 1827, in (ielderland, Holland; came to America in 1853, and settled in the city of Waupun, where he followed painting till 1875, then went on his farm in Alto, and has followed farming since. Was married, Dec. 26,1859, to Alida Elizabeth Deunk, who was born in his native place in 1838, and died July 29, 1874, leaving five children - John George, Edward, Mina Johanna, Gerret Christian (dead) and Frank Albert. Was married the second time Dec. 31, 1874, to Magdalena Anna De Mersseman, who was born July 2, 1840, in Zealand, Holland; she came with her parents to Wisconsin in 1848. They have had three children - Janneke Elizabeth, Theodoras Isaac and Isaac Gerhardes ; lost one child of the first wife - Gerret Christian, aged 1 year and 4 months. Own.s 160 acres of land.

J. RENSINK, farmer. Sec. 10 ; P. 0. Brandon ; was born in the Provinoe of Gelderland, Holland, on the 3d of January, 1833 ; at the age of 13, he, with his parents, came to America; they settled on the present homestead in Alto, in the spring of 1846 ; the aged parents still live with their son, and half the land is still in their name, but he is the only heir ; together, they have a farm of 320 acres, twothirds of which is tillable. He was married to Miss Julia Shalenski on the 2Sth of December, 1878. Both his parents and himself and wife are members of the Dutch Reformed Church. He has raised grain mainly, but intends to keep sheep ; he has good farm improvements. He has always been a Republican, but takes little interest in politics. J. W. Rensink is the father's name. All are moral, law-abiding citizens.

KOELOF SL.EYSTER, farmer and painter. Sec. 15; P. 0. Waupun ; was born Dec. 25, 1815, in Zutpheu, Holland ; his father was a painter and grainer, and Roelof learned the trade and worked with his father till 1S46, wheu he came to America and settled on the present homestead. He was married in Milwaukee, June 26, 1847, to Miss Johanna H. Liesveld, who was born April 6, 1822, in Arnheim, Holland ; since that date, they have lived on the home farm, the carrying-on of which he has superintended and also worked at painting a portion of the time ; he has been twenty-one years Clerk of his school district, fourteen years Supervisor, and, in 1870, was a member of the General Assembly from the First District of Fond du Lac Co. They have had ten children, one of whom died in infancy, and nine are now living - -Mary E., J. William, Johanna H., Liesveld A., Roelof H., Coba R.. Henry J., Eva M. and Benjamin U.; four children are still at home in the spring of 1880. He has 140 acres of land; raises grain and good grade live stock. His son, Henry, is raising blooded poultry. Mr. Sleyster was one of the first settlers of Alto ; he has never been in a law-suit, either as plaintiff or defendant. He is a stalwart Republican, and so, also, is each sou who has become of age. He gives due honor to his Worthy wife for her counsels and co-nperation in earning life'^s successes.

WIIiLIAM H. SMITHERS, farmer, Sec. 17; P. 0. Waupun; was born April 14, 1822, in Yorkshire, England; came with his parents to America in 1837, and r-ettled in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., where he remained eight years. He was married in September, 1844, to Miss Lois A. Knight, of York State. They came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1845, and remained one year in Bristol, Kenosha Co.; then, in the summer of 1846, they settled in the township of Alto ; bought his present farm in 1848; he has 222 acres of land, all tillable, except about fifty acres of marsh ; he sells no grain, but raises live stock - sheep, hogs, horses and cattle; has a large, well-planned barn, with basement, and good farm conveniences ; has a comfortable and hospitable home. They have had nine children - one daughter, Anna K., died in 1870 ; the living are Sarah E., Edna M., Ella M., Maggie D., Carrie Z., Willie F.J^Seba U. and Lois A.; four daughters are married. He has been many years Clerk of Elections, eleven years Town Clerk, two years Assessor, two years Treasurer and one year Side Supervisor ; he is a member of a temperance society and the Grange ; he passed through the privations and varied experiences of pioneer life. He and several other old settlers related this story of the abundance of fish, especially " bullheads," in the Rock River below Waupun ; When ice covered the river, people chopped airholes at some desirable point in the river, to which the fish would come in vast quantities, and from which they could be dipped up by the bushel. Several pioneers state a wagon-body full (twenty-five or thirty bushels) could be had for 25 cents - about 1 cent a bushel ; fifty wagon loads per day have been dipped out ; tens of thousands of bushels taken during the winter. Other kinds of fish at some seasons were nearly as abundant. They were obtained mainly to feed hogs. Many of the fish died of suffocation because of the immense masses and the want of aerated water. Wild fowls and deer were plenty. Mr. Smithers was one of the first to move out on the prairie away from the "openings;" his first house was built without nails, boards or glass - simply poles covered with hay, making a comfortable summer residence ; cooking, of course, was done "outside." Mr. Smithers has been a member of the Methodist Church for twenty years. He is a thrifty farmer, a capable man and a good citizen.

HEjVRY STRAKS, merchant and teacher. Sec. 23 ; P. 0. Waupun ; born Feb. 13, 1853, in Alto; son of John Straks, who came to Wisconsin in 1846 from Holland, and settled in Alto in 1848, where he now resides. Henry lived with his father till he was 24 years of age, except when at school ; is a graduate of the State Normal School at Oshkosh, and has followed teaching about four years. Was married, April 1, 1877, to Priscilla Neevel, who was born March 4, 1855, also in Alto; daughter of J. H. Neevel, a native of Holland, who came from Pittsburgh, Penn., to the town of Alto in 1848, where he still resides. Mr. Straks has a general store on the corners at the north line of Sec. 23 and employs a clerk to attend to that part of his business, while he is engaged in teaching in District No. 1, half a mile south of his store and dwelling. Has two children - John Hubert, born Aug. 22, 1878, and Nellie, Dec. 13, 1879. He is a Republican, and is now a Justice of the Peace; both members of the Dutch Reformed Church of America.

JOHN STRAKS, farmer. Sec. 23; P. 0. Waupun; born May 11, 1826, in Province of (lelderland, Holland ; son of H. D. Slraks ; mother's maiden name Catharine VVeenink ; came to America in 184(3, arriving in New York July (! ; came direct to Wisconsin, and lived in Waterville, Jefferson Co., till February, 1848; then came to Alto, and settled on Sec. 26 ; lived there till 1865, and then sold out and removed to his present location on Sec. 23 ; has 125 acres of land valued at about $40 per acre. Was married, June 2, 1851, to Johanna Van Wechel, who was born April 6, 1830, also in Gelderland, Holland ; daughter of Derk Van Wechel, and step-daughter of John Kloosterboer ; has six children Ifving - Henry, Derk Van Wechel, John, Catharine. Wilhelmina and Johanna - the last four living with their parents; have lost five children - -Henry, died in infancy; Catharine, at the age of 5 months and 10 days; Frederick, 5 months; Anna, in infancy, and Frank, Feb. 26, 1878, in his 16th year; he was of kind, obliging disposition, learned music readily, and was a natural artist, leaving a number of sketches showing considerable ability in that direction. Mr. and Mrs. Straks are both members of the Reformed Church, and he has been an Elder in the church since 1865. Republican. Had seventy-five guests at their silver wedding, which occurred June 2, 1876.

BEENERD TER BE|5ST, retired farmer, Sec. 16 ; P. 0. Waupun; born in Gelderland, Holland, June 6, 1806; came to America in 1856, and settled on a farm in Alto; lives with his son, Derk, on the farm which he bought in 1859. He was married, Dec. 9, 1829, to Miss Kathrina Louisa Bosch ; they have had seven children ; one died in Holland, and one died in the United States Army ; the living are Evert, Henry, Derk, Alida and Diena. He is a Republican ; both himself and his venerable wife are members of the Reformed Chui-ch of Alto, and are in good health and a happy old age.

DERK A. a. TERBEEST, farmer, Sec. 16 ; P. 0. Waupun; he was born in Gelderland, Holland, on the 8th of June, 1841 ; his parents came to America in 1847, and settled in Alto, where the entire family have since lived. He was married, March 13, 1879, to Miss Grada Johanna Heusinkfeld. He has lived on their present farm since 1859, but did not buy it till 1878 ; he has 80 acres, fully 45 of which are under good cultivation ; he raises all kinds of grain and live stock. He is a Republican ; him- .self and wife are members of the First Reformed Church of Alto.

JACOB WELUIOUSE, merchant and farmer, Brandon ; he was born in Gelderland, Holland, Dec. 31, 1833; came to America with his parents in 1847, and settled in Alto; has lived in that township ever since ; resides on Sec. 1 ; he lived at home until the .spring after he was of age. He was married. May 12, 1855 to Miss Johanna B. Terhurst, of Milwaukee. He has been a farmer from boyhood ; he has bought and sold several farms, and now owns three farms ; the one he lives on is located about one and a half miles south of Brandon ; he has 300 acres of land, more than nine-tenths of which is under cultivation ; he carries on all the land himself, raises both live stock and grain. He has five children, all living, named John, Henry, Eliza, Gerrit and Jacob, Jr. He has been five years Clerk of the School Board, and Township Treasurer twice ; he is a liberal Democrat, but takes no active part in politics ; himself and wife are members of the Congregational Church of Alto. During the present year he has bought a stock of goods in Brandon, and now has a full stock of all kinds of goods kept in a general village store ; he has a liberal patronage, both from his countrymen and Americans.

GRIFFITH R. WILL.IAMS, farmer, Sec. 4; P. O. Brandon; was born Dec. 25, 1833, in Caermarthenshire, South Wales ; he landed in Milwaukee Sept. 9, 1850 ; his parents settled in Waushara Co., in February, 1851, whore they continued to reside until their death in 1878 ; subject of this sketch- worked by the month four years as a farm laborer in Wisconsin, his parents belonging to that class so largely represented in new countries, " poor, but respectable and industrious." He was married. May 14, 1854, to Miss Susan O'Connor, of Jefferson Co., N. Y.; in fall of same year they removed to her native county, where he bought land, and carried on farming eleven years ; on the 13th of April, 1866, became to Alto, and settled on the farm which he now owns ; they have had three children, one of whom died in infancy in 1866; the two sons are Edgar R., who was married Feb. 25, 1880, and Winfield S. ; has 120 acres, nearly all of which is tillable ; is a membm- of Brandon Grange, No. 52 ; i.s a Republican ; is a moral, law-abiding citizen.

HARRY C- WILLIAMS, farmer, Sec. 31 ; P. 0. Waupun ; he was born June 19, 1809, in Lewis Co.. N. Y. ; his grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier, and his fiithcr was in the war of 1812; his early life was spent on his father's farm; he worked several years in clearing up a farm in the wooded section of York State. He was married, May 1, 18;j8, to Miss llcbeoca Wilcox, with whom ho has happily journeyed nearly to the fiftieth mile-post ; after marriage, he continued farming in the same county till 1847, when he came to Kenusha, Wis., then Southport ; his parents and relatives, to the number of twenty-two, came about the same time, some by water, others by land, but all met at Kenosha. The subject of this sketch, and his parents, located on Spring Prairie, Walworth Co., where the parents died in 1865. Mr. Williams remained on Spring Prairie four years. In 1851, he settled in Alto, on some land which he had previously " entered," and which is a part of his "present farm of 520 acres, three-fiflhs of which is tillable, the remainder is marsh, which is sometimes as valuable as the uplands. He raises cattle - has, at present time, one hundred head of graded Durhams ; keeps about fifty cows. For the last nine years he has also had a cheese factory, which uses the milk from lOt) cows, and which is superintended by his wife ; they have commodious barns ; within their fine residence are found evidences of refinemont and wealth; they have two daughters - Sarah E. and Mary R. ; the eldest is married to G. W. Adams, a prominent business man of Chicago; Mary 11. is an amateur artist of ability and culture; some of her paintings are worthy of a professional. He has been Chairman and also Side Supervisor ; he was never a member of any secret society.- He is a Republican, and himself and wife are Congregationalists. He has passed through the "hard times of pioneer life; he remembers that, in 1853, he drew wheat to Markesan, and was unable to dispose of it, except for cotton bags, which he did, giving a bushel of good wheat for each bag. Xow, blest with competency and friends, they are cheerfully passing on to ripened age.

URIAH WOOD, farmer, Sec. 4 ; P. 0. Brandon; was born Dec. 25, 1830, in Schoharie Co., N. Y. ; his parents removed to Wyoming Co., N. Y., 1832, where he resided until 1844, when they came to Wisconsin, and settled in Kenosha Co., but remained only one year ; in the fall of 1845, they located on the farm which they now own in Alto. When migrating to the West, young Uriah, then 12 years of age, drove one of the teams from New York to Wisconsin. The next year, after becoming of age, he went across the Plains and .spent two years io California. Was married, on the 17th of June, 1855, to Miss L. Agnes Mares, formerly of Canada. In December of that year, they settled upon their present farm, which is finely improved ; they have spacious barns, excellent farm conveniences and a fine residence ; the farm consists of 230 acres, mostly of choice prairie land, and 200 are under good cultivation. This laud is conceded to be unsurpassed for beauty and fertility, and the owner is known for his energy, thrift and thorough farming ; raises both grain and live stock ; is somewhat of a specialist in sheep-raising ; thirty-three of his fine flock of merinos are registered in the Vermont Merino Sheep- Breeder's Association. Has seven children - 'Henry C, Charlotte M., E. Addie, Agnes A., Dora C., Uriah D. and Maud M. He has always declined official honors, but, notwithstanding his protest, he was sent to the General Assembly in 1878, from the First District of Fond du Lac Co. ; is a member of Brandon Lodge of A., F. & A. M. Himself and wife affiliate with the Methodist Church, and so also do the parents of both ; he is a Republican. His fellow-citizens pronounce him a successful farmer and a capable man.

California, Colorado, Nebraska

Its Lines run from Chicago in so many directions that it is necessary to designate its Lines by certain specific names, whicli will give a correct idea to tile passenger of the part of country each Line traverses. These Lines, numbering nine, are as follows;

These Lines enable the "CHICAGO 4 NORTH-WESTEKN" to reach all principal points m the WEST, NORTHWEST, and, through its connections, the FAR WEST.

Its management ad^ipts every improvement known to the modern Railway System, and is determined that the CHICAGO & KORTHWESTERN RAILWAY shall remain the LEADING Railway of the GREAT WEST.

X- NORTH-WESTERN JtAlLWAY. «5- BEAR IS MIND, no other road runs Pullman Hotel Cars, or any form of Hotel Cars, TH HOUGH between Chicago and the Missouri River. This is the only Line that has THROUGH EATING CARS of any sort.

Source changes here: from Fond Du Lac County, Wisconsin, Past and Present, by McKenna, Maurice, published 1912; 856 words in this source stream.

Alto Town

This is the extreme southwest township in Fond du Lac county and is bounded on the west by Green Lake county, north by Metomen town, east by the town of Waupun, and south by Dodge county. In acreage it runs a little over a full congressional township, having 23,153.31 acres. The land is rolling, save with the exception of the marshes and sparse tracts of oak timber. The soil is of a yellow ashy color and is composed of clay, lime and sand. Its fertility does not compare with other towns in the county. The south fork of the Rock river passes through the entire depth of the town in its southern part, having two principal branches coming in from the north. The water is sluggish, however, and the channel muddy. Splendid crops of corn, however, are raised in various parts of the town. The production of hay is among the chief industries, to which must be added the manufacture of cheese of a very fine quality. There are a number of good schools and five churches in the community.

1841, was the first settler in the town. He located on section 36, where for more than two years he did not have a neighbor. A daughter was born to him in

1842, and in 1844 a son. These were the first births to take place in the town. After the first season Mr. Bowman went to Ohio, bought a flock of sheep and drove his purchase all the way back to Alto. His wife accompanied him in a prairie schooner, driving the team. In all probability this was the beginning of the sheep industry in Fond du Lac county but it should he here stated that Henry Conklin brought a Hock of sheep from Ohio into the town of Empire about the same time or soon thereafter.

William Talcott is given credit for being the second settler, having come to the town in 1844. The same year came Silas Miller, a Methodist preacher. It was Mr. Miller who gave the name of Alto to the town. Dr. Green, Mr. Hillyer, Marcus Thwing and a few others also settled here in 1844. Martin Grider came with his family in May, 1845, but he had preceded his family in the fall of 1844 and had sowed a crop of wheat. The claim of Francis Bowman was sold in 1845 to F. F. Davis, who was afterward sheriff of the county. His daughter, Cornelia C., died in December, 1845. In the summer of 1846 Miss Angeline Booth taught the first school in the house of F. F. Davis. The first religious services were also held at this place, Rev. Silas Miller preaching the sermon. Silas Miller built a sawmill on a branch of Rock river in the southeast part of the town in 1845, and it was m that year that quite a number of Hollanders set¬ tled in the town, and they were followed by many others of their nationality, until the population became largely Dutch.

The town of Alto was organized on the 6th of April, 1847, and the meeting was held in the schoolhouse near Miller's mill. Thompson Green was chairman and Benjamin Davis and Frederick Talcott, clerks. The officials elected for the town were: Chairman, M. Talcott; supervisors, J. R. Matthews and William Tal¬ cott; township clerk, G. W. Sexsmith ; justices of the peace, F. F. Davis, G. W. Sexsmith and Henry Boardman ; assessors, Daniel W. Briggs ; treasurer, Zephaniah Miller; school commissioners, David Adams, T. Green and F. Talcott.

The question of giving the negro equal franchise with the whites was passed upon and the vote was against the black man. At the same election an anti¬ license ticket was carried by a majority of twelve. At a meeting held March 18, 1850, of which George W. Sexsmith was chairman, and Zephaniah Miller, secretary, the first school district was organized. The first officers were: George W. Sexsmith, director; A. McMasters, clerk; and John L. Sargent, treasurer. A frame school building, 24x18 feet, was erected during the summer on section 23, and Clara F. Pierce taught the first school therein at $5 a month. The school taxes for that year amounted to $35.

The first church organized in the town of Alto was the First Reformed, or Ebenezer church. In 1856 land was bought in section 23 for a church edifice, on which the building was erected. It was organized as a Reformed church,, with forty-seven members. The first trustees were: N. Mensink, F. Beeuwkos, M. Duven, G. Duitman, G. Stilsel, C. Landaal, J. Straks, J. Landaal, L. Sligster and J. W. Kastein. This church, as will be noticed from the names of the mem¬ bers, was composed mostly of Hollanders. They first began settlements in the town in the latter part of 1845. These people first held religious services in private houses but in 1848 erected a log church, 16x26 feet, which also served as a schoolhouse. A second Reformed church was subsequently built, mainly at the expense of Henry Bruins : also a Methodist Episcopal and Congregational church were built.