Avon Town

Avon Town

This town - the southwest one of the county - comprises within its limits the original surveyed Township 1 north, of Range 10 east, containing thirty-six sections of land, equivalent to thirty-six square miles of territory. The south line of the town is the boundary line between the States of Illinois and Wisconsin - the base line, as it is termed, of the Government surveys in this section. The west line of the town is a part of the county line between the counties of Green and Rock. North of Avon is the town of Spring Valley ; east of it, the town of Newark. In its primitive state, about one quarter was prairie ; the balance, burr oak and white oak openings. As already mentioned, all that portion lying southwest of Sugar River was surveyed by the General Government during the first quarter of the year 1833 ; the residue, in the first quarter of 1834.

By an act of the Territorial Legislature, approved February 11, 1847, Avon was set apart and named, and a "town meeting" directed to be held pn the first Tuesday of April, 1848, at the house of Willian Crippen. Previous to the erection of Avon as a separate and distinct town, its territory formed a portion of the town of Newark. Among the names of the early settlers may be mentioned Joseph Kinney, Jr., Joseph Huntley, William Crippen, H. Beales, W. F. Thompson, William Grimes and Joseph Watson. Some of the pioneers of this town were Norwegians. In a beautiful valley in the northeast part of Avon, which they christened Luther Valley, they built a church in 1847, and, a few years after, laid out a village, calling it Bornitz. Rev. Claud Lars Clauson was the first Pastor in this neighborhood. Among the pioneers of that nationality in Avon may be mentioned Cleophus Holverson, Lars Simonson, Inbred Ingerbretsen, Gunder Holver, Gens Knudson, Peter Holverson and Andrew Armudson. From the first, the Norwegians have, as a class, ranked high as honest, industrious, enterprising and moral citizens. They assume the habits, manners and customs of Americans with facility. The population of Avon in 1850 was 579 ; in 1860, 908 ; in 1870, 886 ; in 1875, 878.

Ill the town of Avon there is one village, Avon Center. The town has no railroad, although one has been projected through its territory. About one-fourth of Avon lies southwest of Sugar River. The town has but one post office - Avon Center.

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.

JOHW ADAMS, farmer, Sec. 30; P. 0. Avon ; born in Ohio in 1823 ; came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1852, locating at Avon, where he purchased 160 acres - his present homestead. Married, in 1846, Miss Ellen Clark, a native of England ; they have had five children. Mr. A. is a very successful farmer, raising both stock and grain. He has been Chairman of the Board of Supervisors one year. Side Supervisor two years, and also Constable. Republican.

WIIiLiIAlI J. BARIVES, farmer. Sees. 5 and 8 ; P. 0. Brodhead ; born in Steuben Co., N. Y., in 1836 ; came to Wisconsin at an early age, locating with his father in Walworth Co. In 1859, he went to California, where he was engaged in mining for three years ; in 1861, he returned to Wisconsin, and purchased a farm of 110 acres in Avon - his present homestead. Married, in 1866, Miss H. Huntley, a native of Erie Co., N. Y. ; have two children - Ella May, born Aug. 3, 1868 ; Charles Henry, born Feb 24, 1871. Mr. Barnes enlisted in the 22d Wis., at Beloit, ai)d joined the regiment at Racine, for three years' service ; he took part in eight or ten engagements ; was wounded at Resaca, Ga. ; was mustered out in 1865 and returned to Avon. Mr. B. has been Chairman Board of Supervisors three years, Assessor two years, Side Supervisor three years, and District Clerk seven years. Republican.

ENOCH BEALS, farmer, Sec. 15 ; P. 0. Avon ; born in Vermont in 1821 ; came to Wisconsin in 1844, locating at Avon, where he purchased eighty acres - his present homestead. Mr. B. is one of the pioneers of Rock Co. ; at the time of his first settling in Avon, he drove an ox team to Milwaukee, which was the nearest grain market, taking from six to ten days for the journey. Married, in 1844, Miss Lucy C. Johnson, a native of New York. Had ten children - Amanda J., born March 14, 1846; Evaline, iMarch 21,1848; Florence ^., born Dec. 6, 1849 ; Leander B., born June 10, 1852 (died Aug. 31, 1852) ; Lenora L., born Sept. 15, 1853 ; Emma, born Aug. 22, 1858 (died the same year); Mark Vernon, born Aug. 17, 1860; Volney Lee, born April 6, 1864; Guy Washington, born April 27, 1866 (died March 19, 1867) ; Stella M., born Nov. 19, 1871. Mr. B. has been Supervisor two years, Side Supervisor two years, and member of School Board for a number of years. Democrat.

EDWIN BREED, farmer. Sees. 20 and 29 ; P. 0. Avon ; born in New York in 1835 ; came to Wisconsin in 1851, locating at Avon, whare he purchased 130 acres - his present homestead. Mr. B. is making a specialty of stock and dairy produce ; milks at present thirteen cows. Married, in 1857, Miss Melinda Hutchinson, a native of New York. Had three children - EUinor, born in 1858 (died in 1863) ;' Franklin, born Jan. 7, 1862 (died March 2, 1862 ; Cora E., born Dec. 18, 1869. Mr. B. has been Supervisor two years, District Clerk and School Director ; also Town Treasurer for the past nine vears. Republican.

RUFUS BREED, farmer, Sees. 17, 20, 29 ; born in New York in 1811 ; came to Wisconsin in 1849, locating at Avon, where he purchased 360 acres. Married, in 1837, Miss EUinor Buckelaw, a native of New York ; had eight children, five living. Mr. Breed is perhaps the oldest settler in the town of Avon ; he is at present living at Durand, 111., and his farm on Sec. 17 is managed by his son, E. D. Breed. He has held every office that was within the gift of the town. He is considered a very successful farmer, making a specialty of stock-raising ; he is also interested in the cheese factory.

WIIiLIAIffi BURCALOW, farmer. Sec. 21 ; P. O. Brodhead; born in Hamilton Co., N. Y., in 1825 ; he went to Evansville, Ind., in 1853, and, in the spring of 1854, came to Avon and bought eighty acres of land in Section 17 ; partly improved it, and sold it; worked on other farms a short time, and returned East; in November, 1856, he married in Harpersville, N. Y., Marcia Z. Silliman, and, in March, 1857, he' brought her with him to Avon ; he bought land at different times and built a residence, and now owns 228 acres in all ; they have four children living - Benson S., William D., Ellen T., Harry F.

CHARIiES CliARK, farmer, Sees. 19, 20 and 30 ; P. 0. Avon ; born in New York in September, 1831 ; came to Wisconsin in 1855, locating at Avon, where the early part of his life was spent with his father; in 1865, he purchased 240 acres, afterward adding 280 acres to his present homestead. Married, in 1858, Miss Susan Rickar, a native of Ohio, who died at Avon in 1869 ; had seven children, four living. Married again in 1869, Miss Hannah Brace, a native of Illinois ; had six children, five living. Mr. C. makes a specialty of stock and dairy produce. Member of the School Board. Democrat.

OliE T. DUSTRUDE, farmer. Sec. 16 ; P. 0. Brodhead ; born in Norway in 1827 ; came to Jefferson Co., Wis., direct in 1850 ; he remained there one month and then moved to Spring Valley; he lived there two years, and, in 1853, moved into Avon, and lived with Ole Stordock about two years, and then bought eighty acres in Sec. 16 ;' he built a log house and bought ninety-five acres more ; five years after, he built a frame house and barns, and now lives in it. He married in Norway, in 1850, Segra Thores; they had five children; his wife died in Newark in 1871, and he married again, in 1874, Mrs. Julia Anderson ; she had five children by her first husband and two children by her second husband ; she died May 18, 1879.

XEWELIi D. FITCH, farmer, Sec. 6 ; P. 0. Brodhead ; born in New York in 1835 ; came to Wisconsin in 1853, locating at Spring Valley, where he engaged at farming till 1864, when he moved to St. Croix Co., remaining there four years, when he removed to Avon and purchase(jl 102 acres - his present homestead. Married, in 1864, Miss Martha Shirley, a native of Norway; had two children - Herbert H., born Nov. 8, 1864, died Aug. 22, 1866 ; Horace H., born Oct. 15, 1869, died Nov. 28, 1870. Mr. Fitch makes a specialty of stock and dairy produce. Has been Assessor four years ; member of the School Board ; School Treasurer three vears. Republican.

STEPHEIV GARDNER, farmer, Sees. 17, 19 and 20; P. 0'. Avon ; born in England in 1819 ; came to Wisconsin in 1854, locating in Beloit, where he engaged in farming for seven years ; he then moved to Avon, where he purchased 500 acres - his present homestead. Married, in 1840. Miss Susan Bean ; they have had nine children, six living. Mr. G. is one of the largest and most successful farmers in the township ; he makes a specialty of stock-raising and dairy produce ; he also holds an interest in the cheese-factory. Republican.

W. R. H Alit, farmer. Sec. 28 ; P. 0. Orford ; was born in England in 1 822 ; came to America in 1345; came to Wisconsin in 1859. Married in 1857 ; his wife was born in Connecticut; they have three children. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are members of the Congregational Church. Mr. Hall owns forty acres of land.

ANSON HIIiLi, farmer. Sec. 8 ; P. 0. Brodhead ; was born in New York in 1824 ; came to Wisconsin in 1849. Married in 1850 ; his wife was born in New Jersey ; they have four children living. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. H. owns eighty acres of land.

JOHN HUNTJLEY, farmer. Sec. 5 ; P. 0. Brodhead; born in New York in 1848 ; came to Wisconsin the same year, his father locating at Avon, where he resided until his death, March 20, 1877. About the year 1866, John purchased 116 acres on Sec. 5 - his present homestead - also 40 acres in Spring Valley, on Sec. 32. Married, in December, 1873, Miss Mary D. Rathbun, a native of New York; they have had three children. Mr. H. makes a specialty of stock and dairy produce. He has been Justice of the Peace four years ; Town Clerk six years, and member of the School Board.

<f OHN HYIiAND, farmer, Sees. 31 and 32 ; P. 0. Avon ; born in Berkshire Co., Mass., in 1842 ; at an early age, he moved with his parents to Stephenson Co., 111., and lived there for twenty-eight years, when he moved to Avon and purchased 240 acres, his present homestead ; he makes a specialty of stock and dairy produce. Married, in 1868, Miss Mary Ryan, a native of Avon, Wis. ; had five children, three boys and two girls. Has been School Clerk and Side Supervisor, also agent for the Newark Insurance Company for the township of Avon. Greenbacker in politics.

ALEXANDER JOHNSON, farmer. Sec. 25; P.O. Orford; was born in Indiana in 1854; came to Wisconsin in 1869. Married April 13, 1878; his wife was born in Wisconsin; they have one son - George, born Feb. 21, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Johnson owns forty acres of land.

OUNDER KNUDSON, farmer, Sees. 16 and 17 ; P. 0. Avon ; born in Norway in 1844 ; came to Wisconsin in 1861, locating with his father at Spring Valley ; afterward moved to Avon ; in 1K70, on the death of his father, Gunder took possession of the farm, which consists of 120 acres, his present homestead. Member School Board. , Republican.

P. A. liARSEN, farmer. Sec. 18; P. 0. Brodhead; born in Vadso in the most northern part of Norway, in 1839 ; the son of Marchant B. and Cecelia Larsen ; he came to America in July, 1S65, and went to Chicago, where he was engaged in mercantile business a short time, and then, on account of sickness, went on to a farm to work ; was appointed teacher of Norwegian language in schools ; he first came to Wisconsin in 1870 ; farmed, and was also engaged.in teaching school in the winter, until December, 1873; he then came to Avon, and, April 10, 1874, married Widow Svenson, who owned a farm in Sec. 18; she had one son - Sebert Louis Svenson, born Aug. 12, 1865 ; when her first husband died, the estate went into the hands of an administrator ; part of it went to thjs son and part to the widow ; Mrs. Larson was born in Norway in 1825, and came to America July, 1857 ; she married Iver Svenson, September, 1858( in Dakota, Green Co., Wis., where they lived till 1869, and then came to Avon ; when here, bought 150 acres land with a house on it, which he piid cash for, earned by hard labor, and he died in Avon Sept. 8, 1872.

NEIiS O. liOFTHUS, farmer, Sec. 18; P.O. Brodhead ; born in Norway; his father and mother, Ole and Helge Lofthus, came to Avon in 1848, and bought IfiO acres in Sec. 18, on a claim from the Government ; there was a log house on it, in which they lived six years ; then built another log house, larger and better, which they occupied; in 1863, his father deeded all the land to him and his brother Knud, and in one year he sold out his share to his brother Knud, and forty acres more which they had bought. His brother married and had one child ; his father died March 1 5, 1879 ; his mother lives itt the same house ; his brother Knud died Oct. 9, 1870, leaving the estate in the hands of an administrator, Nels Lofthus married, Sept. 18, 1877, Anna Siverson, and has two children.

EPHRAIiri MIliLER, farmer. Sec. 6 ; P. 0. Brodhead ; was born in Ohio in 1827 ; removed to Wisconsin in 1846. Married, in 1859, Miss Ellen Bowden ; she was born in Illinois; they have six children living, lost one. Mr. Miller enlisted, in 1864, in 3d Wis. V. I., Co. C, and was mustered out in 1865, at Louisville, Ky.

FREDERICK WASH, farmer. Sec. 8; P. 0. Brodhead; was born in England in 1834; came to Wisconsin in 1858. Married, in 1850, Miss Eliza A. Whitney, of Frankfort, N. Y. ; Mr. and Mrs. N. are members of the M. E. Church ; Mr. N. owns eighty acres of land.

J. IVEIiSOlV, farmer. Sec. 4; P. 0. Orford; was born in Norway in 1831 ; came to America in 1852, and located in New York ; removed to Wisconsin in 1859. Married in 1856 ; his wife is a native of Germany; they have five children; and are members of the Lutheran Church.

CHRIST SORENSEN, farmer. See. 6 ; P. 0. Brodhead ; was born in Norway in 1 821 ; came to Wisconsin in 1862. Married in 1846 ; his wife is a native of Norway ; they have four children living, and have lost three ; Mr. S. owns eighty acres of land.

OLE STORDOCK, farmer. Sec. 7; P.O. Brodhead; born in Norway in 1816; came to Newark in 1843, and lived with his brother, Gunel Stordock, for one year, and then went to Illinois with him and lived there till 1850, and then bought 160 acres in Sec. 7, and twenty acres of timber in Sec. 28 ; there was a log house on the land in Sec. 7, which he repaired and lived in till 1860, and then built a frame house, with barns, and made all improvements. He married, in Avon, in 1850, Miss Ann Larson ; they have five children living.

JOHN G. WATSOX, farmer, Sec. 15; P. 0. Brodhead; born in Chenango Co., N. Y., in 1822 ; came to Beloit in October, 1846, and to Avon in May, 1849 ; he boughtforty acres of land in Section 15, on which was a log house, partly built ; this he completed and lived in till 1873, and improved the land, and then built a new frame residence, with barns, etc. ; he then bought ninety-four and one-half acres more land, part of it timber, and now owns 1341 acres in all. He married, Sept. 1, 1844, in Greene Co., N. Y., Polly Ann Silliman. They have no children.

SYLVESTER WOOD; bom in New York in 1811; came to Wisconsin in October, 1856, locating at Avon, where he rented a farm of 200 acres for two years. In 1858, he moved to Monroe, where he purchased 175 acres, remaining four years. In 1869, he returned to Avon, and purchased 160 acres. Married, in 1837, Miss Elizabeth Clark, a native of England. They have had eleven children, five living. Mr: Wood's sons engaged in the late rebellion. Theodore M. joined the 55th Ohio Regt.,andwas wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville ; was a young man of bright intellect, a scholar and a soldier ; he contracted a disease from over-marching, which caused consumption, of which he died at Avon, July 15, 1869. He left an only daughter to mourn his early death. Mr. Wood was appointed Postmaster in the year 1875, which position he at present holds; Republican.