Bloomfield Village

Organization And Topography

On January 23, 1844, Township 1, Range 18 east, being the southeast quarter of the town of Geneva, was, by act of Legislature, set off and incorporated under the name of Bloomfield. Bloomfield is the extreme southeastern town in Walworth County, and is bounded north by the town of Lyons ; south by the town of Richmond, Illinois ; east by the town of Wheatland, Kenosha County ; and west by the town of Linn. It contains thirty-six square miles of varied and diversified country, well watered, and admirably adapted to agricultural pursuits, Bloom Prairie, in the southwestern portion of the town, being considered the richest land in the county.

The surface of the country is rolling prairie, interspersed with openings of oak, and broken by ranges of hills and sharp hillocks, with swamps covered with a growth of tamarack or larch on the lower lands.

The prairie lands are situated as follows : Bloom Prairie in the west, a part of Nippersink Prairie in the south, and a part of Mound Prairie in the east part of the town, comprising Sections 19, 20, the larger part of Section 31, and parts of Sections 16, 17, 18, 20, 28, 34, 35, 25.

The principal range of hills runs east and west across the north part of the east half of Section 31, the north part of Sections 32, 33, 34, and on to Section 35. Sections 7, 8, are also somewhat hilly.

The marshes are distributed pretty evenly throughout the town, there being but two Sections (t), 25, j entirely exempt. The largest tamarack swamp is on Sections 8, 9, equaling in extent a section and a half; the second in size is on Sections 3, 10, 15, equaling about a section.

There are about 3,100 acres of growing timber, principally red, white and burr oak, with occasional poplar and hickory. There were originally several varieties of timber on Section 16, but nearly all the rest were burr oak openings.

The town is watered by the three branches of the Nippersink, several small brooks, a portion of Nippersink Lake, a part of Middle Lake, Lower Lake, Pell's Lake, and a small part of Ryan's Lake.

The main stream of the Nippersink, known as the middle, or northwest branch, rises in nearly the center of the town of Linn, enters the town of Bloomfield on Section 18, flows in a southeast direction and enters the State of Illinois from Section 35.

The west branch rises in Illinois, enters the town of Bloomfield on Section 31, flows in a northeast direction and empties into the main stream on Section 27.

The northeast branch has its source in the three lakes (Nippersink or Power's, the Middle and Lower Lakes,) flows in a southwest direction, and forms a junction with the main stream on Section 26. The Nippersink has several small tributary branches, and there are also a number of small streams running northward into the town of Lyons.

A part of the Nippersink (or Power's Lake) is on Section 13, in the Town of Bloomfield. It is one of the most beautiful lakes in the county. A part of Middle Lake and the whole of Lower Lake are on Section 24, Pell's Lake is on Section 15, and the southern portion of Ryan's Lake is on Section 3.

First Settlers

The first persons that settled within the present geographical limits of the town of Bloomfield, were I\Ir. Harry Kimball and his son Oramel. Mr. Kimball was a native of the State of Connecticut. He removed to Cooperstown, N. Y., and from that place came to Bloomfield in the fall of 1836, and made a claim on the southwest quarter of Section 6. In the spring of 1837, he was joined by his son, when they built a log house on the claim, and became actual settlers. Mr. Kimball did not remove his wife and family from Cooperstown until two or three years later. He died in the winter of 1851, and his wife a year or two after. Oramel Kimball, his son, is now living in the town of Delavan.

The first family that made a home in Bloomfield was that of Mr. Harry Tapper, consisting of himself and young wife, Mrs. Tupper being the first white woman that settled in the town, and the mother of the first child born there. Mr. and Mrs. Tupper came in the fall of 1837, and lived during the first winter in the log house of Harry Kimball, built the preceding spring, but as yet the only house in town. During the winter, Mr. Tupper made a claim on the northwest quarter of Section 19, built a house on his claim, and moved his family into it in the spring. In this house, on the 24th day of June, 1838, Silas Wright Tupper was born, the first white child born in the Town of Bloomfield. In 1839, Mr. Tupper removed from Section 19 to Section 20. In 1849, he went to California and never returned. His son, Silas Wright Tupper, enlisted into Company K, Eighth Wisconsin Infantry, and died in the service of his country in 1865. Mrs. Tupper died at her home in Bloomfield, May 1, 1881.

Marcus Moody came in 1837, from St. Lawrence County, N. Y. He settled on Section 29. He married Lucy Barker, a grandchild of Ebeneezer Tupper, who came in 1838 ; sold out his claim to Hiram Barker ; moved away many years ago. Both he and his wife are dead. Mrs. Moody died in Wisconsin ; he died in Kansas.

W. J. Miller came with his foster father in 1837, and settled upon the " Alexander Place." He afteward went to Kenosha, where he learned the carriage trade ; married Miss Mary Hubbard, of that village, returned to Genoa and started a shop, which has grown into his present establishment. His three sons and daughter live in the town of Bloomfield.

Doric C. Porter came to Wisconsin in 1837, from Franklin County, Mass. He made a trip to Ohio and married Miss Jane Hanchitt, and on his return settled on Section 4, in Bloomfield, where Amos W. Stafford now lives. He subsequently removed to the town of Walworth, where he and his wife still live.

Thomas P. Rutenber came from Cooperstown, N. Y., to Bloomfield, in 1836 or 1837. A year or two later, he built a log house on Section 6, and removed his family from New York. He afterward removed to Geneva, where he and his wife both died.

William K. May removed from Ohio to Geneva, Wis. (present town of Linn), in 1837 ; thence to Bloomfield, in 1838, where he made his claim, and settled on the southwest quarter of Section 18. His son, Darwin R., was born while the family were living in the log house on the Manning farm, in Linn, October, 1837. Mr. May was Chairman of the first Board of Supervisors elected in and for the town of Bloomfield (1844), and was afterward elected SheriflF of Walworth County. At the expiration of his term of office, the family removed to Racine, where he and his wife still live.

Daniel Rowe came in 1838, from Onondaga County, N. Y., and settled on Section 35. He brought his family, consisting of his wife and one child. John H. and Asa were born there, and are still residents of the town. Mrs. Rowe died June, 1875, and Mr. Rowe early in 1878. The other children born in Bloomfield were George, William, Mary and another daughter, now Mrs. Edwin Hart, of Chicago.

Levi and John Moody came in 1838. John entered the service and died in Memphis. Levi still resides in the town. Neither of the brothers ever married.

William D. Chapin, son of John and Clarrisa Chapin, was born in Heath, Franklin Co., Mass., April 28, 1814. He came to Geneva, Wis., in the spring of 1837, and made a claim in the present town of Bloomfield, in the summer of the same year. In the spring of 1838, he built a shanty on the northeast quarter of Section 6, and broke about one-sixteenth of an acre with his spade. In 1889, he built a log house, and fenced twenty-four acres of land, and broke seven acres. He was married to Miss Loret Hyde September 29, 1847. Mr. Chapin moved onto the farm where he now lives in 1840.

John Chapin moved to the town of Bloomfield with his family in the fall of 1838, and settled on the southeast quarter of Section 6. Mr. Chapin was born in the town of Heath,

Franklin Co., Mass., married to Miss Clarrisa Patterson in 1813. moved to New York in 1828, and thence to Bloomfield. Mr. and Mrs. John Chapin both died at the residence of their son, William D. Chapin - Mr. Chapin on the 29th of December, 186.5, aged seventy-five years and nine months - Mrs. Chapin on the 23d day of April, 1873, in the seventy-ninth year of her age.

The Chapin family consisted of eleven children, nine of whom came to Bloomfield, and the youngest, Mariette, was born in the town February, 1841. She is now Mrs. Ezra Gifford, and lives in Boone County, Iowa. William D. was the oldest. The other children were Jonathan P., John, Jr., Jacob, Clarissa J., Belinda, Diantha, Emily, Lyman, Monroe and Mariette, who -was born in the town. Of the family none now live in Bloomfield except William D.

Jonathan Ward, a native of Franklin Co., Mass., came to Wisconsin in 1836, and worked for a time at Geneva, with Warren and his associates in the construction of the mill race. In the fall of 1837, he returned to Massachusetts and married Miss Electa King; returned soon after and settled near the head of Geneva Lake, in the town of Walworth, remaining there until 1840, when he removed to Bloomfield, and settled on Section 5, where he lived until his death in April, 1872.

Timothy H. Fellows, born in Luzerne County, Penn., in 1812, moved to Michigan in the fall of 1829, where he married Miss Eliza Ann Duncan in December, 1831. In 1839, he moved to Bloomfield and settled on Section 3.5, where he and Mrs. Fellows still reside. Mrs. Fellows was born in Sullivan County, N. H., in 1814. When Mr. and Mrs. Fellows first moved into the town, there were two sons, G. D. and T. A. Seven children have since been born to them - Emma J., Anna E., Francis R., Mary H., William T., Louisa I. and Katy L. Emma, Francis, Louisa and William have died, and of the others only one lives in the county - Katy L., now Mrs. Reynolds, of Bloomfield. Anna E., now Mrs. Duncan, lives in California. Gilmore D. lives in Kansas, and Theo. A. in Colorado. Mary H., now Mrs. Avery, is living in Illinois.

Benjamin F. Trow and wife came from Massachusetts to Bloomfield and settled on Section 24, in the spring of 1838. They lived for a time in the adjoining town of Richmond, 111., and about 1870 moved into the village of Genoa Junction, where Mrs. Trow now lives. Mr. Trow has been dead several years.

Sebastian Sherman emigrated from Germany and settled on Section 4, in the town of Bloomfield in 1838. Both he and his wife lived on the farm until the time of their death.

Andrew and John Kull, brothers, from Germany, came about 1838. Andrew is still living in the town. John died in July, 1881. Many of his children still live in the town.

Cyrus Rugg, of Franklin County, Mass., settled on Section 5, in the fall of 1841. He was married in Massachusetts to Miss Lucinda Graham. The family moved to Delavan, Walworth County, about 1868, and thence to Iowa, where they now reside.

Isaac White came in 1839, with a family of sons and daughters, being at that time a widower. He settled on Section 20. He remained about ten years, moved then to the western part of the State. He is deceased. One daughter, Mrs. William H. Reed, still resides in the town.

Jeremiah Jerrod also came in 1839 or 1840. Both he and Mr. White came from Sangamon County, 111. They were natives of Connecticut. Mr. Jerrod settled on Section 28, where he lived till about 1868. He now lives in Iowa. None of the family remain in the town.

In 1837 a Swedish family of five sons, named Freeman, were brought by their father from the old country. The oldest, John, was not over fifteen years of age ; the youngest, Otto, not half as old. Between the two were William, Adolph and Herman. The father, quite a politician and man of public affairs in Sweden, held a Government office, and had brought up his sons

30 that theirs was no hard road of toil. Becoming convinced, however, that the New World (where they would escape military service and where labor would avail them) was the place for his boys he brought them away with him to find a home in the far West. Himself and oldest son first came to Burlington where they built the first log hut on Brown's Island, Racine County. Here they lived for a number of weeks. Mr. Freeman, however, finally decided to locate his family in the town of Wheaton, Kenosha County. Here he built a log house. After remaining a year and seeing the boys comparatively settled, he returned to Sweden to resume his official duties. He took back Herman, and after educating him returned him to his brothers with a chest of clothes and other substantial remembrances. The family had in the meantime plodded along and fought their way sturdily, as if they had been inured to hardships from babyhood. Their father died over thirty years ago, but their mother lived to be ninety years of age, her death occurring in 1879. She lived to see her sons, planted thus in the wilderness, upright, stanch and flourishing members of society. At an early day they became residents of Bloomfield, and there resided for many years. Adolph, an e.xcellent business man, died in 1871. John, with his family, moved to Kansas, where he died during the same year. William sold out his lumber business and has quite recently removed with his family to Los Angelos, Cal. Otto, a man of means, is largely engaged in mining, cattle raising and other business in California, Nebraska and Missouri. He still is a resident of Bloomfield. Herman lives in Kentucky.

Charles Dorothy came to Ottawa, 111., in 1835, and to Bloomfield in 1839 or 1840. He took land on Sections 26 and 27. He married a daughter of Ebenezer Tupper for his first wife. His children have all left. He still lives on the old place.

Abial Fuller and wife and his son Joseph and wife, came in 1841. They took land on Section 34. Abial and his wife have long since died. Joseph still owns the old homestead, but lives with his wife and son William D., on Section 35.

Ira A. Pell came in 1842, and settled on Section 15, near the lake which now bears his name. He died in 1870. His widow and two sons still live on the claim.

J. U. Searls came to Geneva in 1837. There he married Jane Dalton in the winter of 1838. They moved into Bloomfield in 1841 or 1842, and settled on Section 21. Went into the western part of the State where he died some years since.

Mortimer Duel came in 1841. He settled on Section 21, did not remain long. Both he and his wife died some years ago, in Johnstown, Rock County.

Charles High came in 1841, settled first on Section 30. He has remained a resident of the town ever since, and is the largest land holder at present in the town. He married Miss Rolf of Milwaukee. They had three daughters, one of whom, Mrs. Whiting, still lives in town.

James Grier came in about 1842. He settled on Section 30. He and his family, consisting of three sons and two daughters, are still living on Bloom Prairie, with the exception of the oldest daughter Lucy, who lives in Connecticut. They are all sturdy farmers and good citizens.

John Burns and wife, direct from Ireland, came to the town in the spring of 1842, and settled on Section 36. They took up land, built a cabin, raised a family of children, and moved to Minnesota about 1870. Charles, one of their sons, served faithfully during the war, and is now also living in that State.

E. H. Olden came to the county as early as 1842. In 1843, he came to Bloomfield and located on Section 15. Went East and married Julia Greggs and returned. They have lived in the town ever since. Have raised a large family, four boys and two girls, and have prospered. Two of the sons and one daughter are in Kansas. Two younger sons, Arthur and Horace remain at home. One daughter lives in Geneva.

About this time S. Besteder came from New York with his family, and settled on Section 25. Edward Bundy was also an early settler of the town.

E. B. Carter came from Boston, Mass., in 184.3. Married Miss Charlotte Vincent of Bloomfield, and settled on Section H. He and his wife moved subsequently on to Section 25. They now live in the village. Two sons are deceased.

S. W. Benson, settled on Section 2.5, on land formerly owned by W. 0. Sleeper, who took up land early but moved away. Mr. Benson was born in Armenia, Dutchess Co., N. Y., November 8, 1810. He married Miss Jeanette Hillard, and came to Bloomfield in the spring of 1845. In 1859 they moved to Genoa Junction, where Mrs. Benson died, August 29, 1877. Mr. Benson is still living in Dakota.

W. W. Byington, from Williston, Vt., came in May, 1845, and settled on Section 6. He served as Clerk of the town five successive years; from 1853 to 1858 inclusive. He has now retired from active business and resides in the town of Elkhorn.

Sidney Buell came in 1844 or 1845. He was a young man of some means, and brought in the first considerable flock (some two hundred) of merino sheep. He was the first to start sheep husbandry in the town. He Settled on Section 29. He married Miss Mary Maynard in September, 1847. She died many years ago. They had three sons, none of whom reside in the town. His second wife, a most estimable lady, was Miss Antonette Holcomb. They still live in the town. He is one of the leading farmers and citizens.

In 1845, Thomas Wilson and family, from the same State, settled on Section 36. He and his wife both died in town, where he has a daughter still living. A son resides in Richmond, and another is a Methodist clergyman in Appleton.

At a later, but comparatively early date, came Solon Reed and family, A. K. Hill, both now living in Geneva; George W. Edwards, now living in the north part of the State; Silas Wright, still living in the town ; Thomas Beeden, now living in Richmond, 111. ; James Irwin and wife, deceased ; one of his daughters, Mrs. Joseph Fuller, still living in town; Eli Manor, a prominent merchant, hotel proprietor etc., who lives in Genoa Junction.

Early Events. '

The first birth that occurred in the town of Bloomfield (Silas Wright Tupper) has already been noted in the mention of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Tupper.

The first marriage occurred in the month of February, 1841, William Williams, a resident of McHenry County, III., and Miss Adeline Buckland of Bloomfield, being the contracting parties. They were married by C. M. Baker Esq., at the residence of the bride's father.

The first marriage (both parties being residents of the towa) was that of J. P. Chapin, son of Deacon John Chapin, to Miss Sarah Jerrod, at the residence of her father, Jeremiah Jerrod. The ceremony was performed on March 18, 1841, by C. M. Baker, Esq., of Geneva.

The first breaking was done on the southwest quarter of Section 18 (owned by William K. May) and the southwest quarter of Section 6 (owned by Harry Kimball) in 1837, the first crop consisting of corn, oats, wheat, potatoes, etc., being raised on the same ground in 1838.

The first school was a private school, taught in the summer of 1840 by Mrs. Electa Ward in a house built by W. D. Chapin, on the northwest quarter of Section 6.

Source changes here: from History of Walworth County, Wisconsin .., by Beckwith, Albert C. (Albert Clayton), published 1912; 4,011 words in this source stream.

Bloomfield Village

It is not now known why town i north, of range 18 east, was so named. There was Bloomfield, Essex county, northern Xew Jersey, and there was its namesake in Ontario county. New York, which is now two towns. East Bloomfield and West Bloomfield. It does not appear that any considerable number of settlers came from any of these places. It is not improbable that the early naming of Bloom prairie led to this appropriate name for the whole town. It has Linn westward, Lyons northward, Randall and Wheatland, both in Kenosha county, eastward, and the Illinois towns of Richmond and Hebron, in McHenry county, southward. At the primitive division of the county into five towns the southeastern quarter constituted the town of Geneva. By further legislation, January 23, 1844, Bloomfield, Hudson and Linn were severally set off from the parent town for home rule. There is in Waushara county, too, a township named Bloomfield, whence arises part of the difficulty in identifying the soldiers of the Civil war for whom credit should be given to this part of Walworth county.

The surface of the town is as fair to look upon as that of anf part of the county or of the neighboring counties. Though there is no great extent of level prairie, its slight unevenness nowhere breaks abruptly into hill country, nor are there great areas of low-lying swam]). Its wooded sections are fairly distributed. The timber is mostly oak of the usual varieties, on the level and high ground, while a tew patches of swamp lands are covered with tamaracks. These evergreen-bearing swamps are often or generally peat-bottomed, with blue clay underlying. Modern scientific farming will at some time lead away the water and convert the peat into fertile soil. The Nippersink, by its three valleys and thosr ,,f its little tributaries, distributes the relatively small marsh surfaces fairly about the town. Along the Kenoshan border the Towers lake chain in sections 13. _>_(., a small part of Ryan's lake in section 3, Pell's lake, in sections [5, 22, and a few glacial pol holes, subtract aboul 928 acres from the total area of the town That is. official estimate shows -'-\i [2 acres of land surface: but, as the wellinformed leader is aware, owing to surveyor's slight inaccuracies, as well as tn the convergence northward of all meridian lines, township areas are not invariably 23,040 acres of land and water. Bloom prairie reaches out into Hebron and Linn, about two-thirds way across the town northward and something like one-third way eastward from the line of Linn; and its primitive unplowed beauty was in no way deceitful.

The whole town, for the first forty years of its settlement, yielded the usual fair to full returns in grain and root: but. like its neighboring towns, it has found its truer value in its adaptation to corn raising and.dairv production. Returns for [910 made to the county clerk show these acreages of improved land: Barley, 301: cabbage. 2<)\ corn, [,339; growing timber. 1,307: hayfield. [,86] : oats. 2.331; potatoes. 103: rye. 74; wheat. 30. Mr. Sikes shows census of live stock and true values: 3,093 cattle. $02,000; 845 hogs, $9,300; 804 horses, $66,200; two mules, $200; 1,056 sheep, $3,900. Land values, for town. Si. 73 1.000, at an average of $jH.2j per acre; for village, 458 acres at $429.47 per acre, whole value $196,700. The valuation of town and village is 5.01 per cent, of that of the entire county.

The permanent settlement of the town began late in 1830 with the coming of Henry Kimball and his son. Oramel. who made their claim in section 6. The elder pioneer brought his wife. Keziah. and such family as they had. from Otsego county, as soon as he had made for them a home in the solitude He was born in July. 1783, and died January 31. 1S51. His wife was bom in 1783 and died August 10. 1852. Oramel was horn May 20. 1815, and died in the town of Delavan, June 27 1882. His wife, Lucinda, who outlived him. was born in 1830.

The earliest coming family was that of Harry and Elizabeth Tupper, late in 1837. Their son. Silas Wright Tupper, eldest of four children known, was born in the town. June 24. 1838: enlisted in [86] as a private of Com pany K. Eighth Infantry: re-enlisted in 1803; was transferred December 28. [864, to Veteran Reserve Corps; died February 12. [865, in the military hospital at Indianapolis, '["he other children were Sarah A., born in 1844; Norman H., born in [846: Ellen A., bom in [848. Harry Tupper died in California. Elizabeth, daughter of Eli and Dorothj Moody, was horn March 2. 1813; died May 1. [881. John and Levi Moody were her brothers, both unmarried, and both came among the settlers of [838.

Among other best remembered settlers from 1837 to 1840, inclusive, were Hiram and Clarissa Barker, Thomas Buckland. John and Clarissa Chapin, Jonathan P. and \Y. Densmore Chapin, Charles Dorathy, Timothy H. Fellows, Carl Freeman, Samuel T. Hatch and wife, Caroline; Jeremiah and Orpha Jerrod, Andrew and John Michael Kull. William K. May, Welcome J. Miller, Marcus Moody, Doric C. Porter, Dan and Eliza Rowe, Thomas Peck Rutenber (1809-1855) and Polly Brazee. his wife; Sebastian and Apollonia Schurman, Benjamin Franklin Trow (1802-1870) and wife, Aurelia H. (1814-1890) ; Ebenezer and Mary Tupper, Everton Walker, Jonathan Ward. Isaac White, Jr.

Within the next eight years came Samuel and William Allen, Thomas Beeden and wife, Elizabeth ( 1810-1849), Schuyler Besteder ( 1800- 1883) and wife Eliza Jane (1806-1889), Dewitt C. Blakeman, Morris Wait Blodgett, John Brown, J. Sidney Buell, Edward Bundy, Conrad Burget, John Burns, William Worth Byington, David Ward Carey, Enoch B. and James B. Carter, Levinus Carver, George H. Christian, Simon Williams Clark, Robert Cobb, Dudley Wesley Cook. Peter L. Craver, Edward Crowell. William Doughten, Delamore Duncan. Alfred W. Dyer, George Woodward Edwards, James Ervin, Andrew Everson, William Faulkner, George Field, Langdon Filkins, Jason Fobes, John Chesley Ford, Abiel, Joseph and Russell Fuller, James Grier, Dike W. Hall, Jonah Hanchett, Jr., Daniel P. Handy, Ephraim and Nathan Harrison, Dewitt C. Hay. Alanson K. Hill, Charles High, James C. Latour. Valorous 1). Manning, Eli Manor, Stillman Moores, John II. Nichols, Edwin Ruthven and Enos Hanchett Olden, Ira A. Pell, Thomas Peters, John Yerwell Petty, Oakley A. Phillips, Preston Brewer Plumb, Joshua Post, Archibald, David and James Primmer, Solon Read and Alinda M.. his wife. Lyman Redington, Cyrus and Erastus R. Rugg, Hiram J. Sawyer. Joseph W. Searles, John Sibley, George Smith. Clark Williams Spafard, Amos W. and Samuel II Stafford. Aimer Strickland (1814 1900), Philo C. Taylor. Hamilton Temple, Dr. Oliver S. Tiffany. Jeremiah and William < i. Tmesdell, Samuel Ward. Michael VVelden, William II. Whiting. Nathaniel B. Whittier, William R. Wilkins, Thomas Wilson. Abner Wing. John Wood, Uanson and Silas P. Wright. \ few of these may have boughl governmenl land without intending to settle. One such instance was that of \ndrew Galbraith Miller, for many years judge of the federal court at Milwaukee, who bought in section [3. A Larger number went a few years later to other towns, counties, or -tale-; ami a few of the old settlers died within the next few years.

Neither from public and private records, nor from the memory of aging men and women of the next following generation, are now to be gathered, with fair approach to fullness or exactness, many facts as to the earlier lives and later careers of the fathers and mothers of the county; though something might yet be done to recover and preserve these "little lines of yesterday," were time and much effort to be given to such labor of love. The following notes include a few names of later comers :

Adeline, daughter of Thomas Buckland, was married in February, 1841, by Judge Baker, to William Williams, of McHenry county. This was the first marriage in Bloomfield.

William Worth Byington (1822-1909), a native of Vermont, married, first, Adeline, daughter of Abner Wing and Mehetabel Ingham; second, Mrs. Sarah B. ( Newton) Pier. He was for several years in business at Lake Geneva, and came in 1876 to Elkhorn, where he died.

Enoch Boutell Carter ( 1819-1902), son of Leonard and Persis, was born at Leominster, Massachusetts. Charlotte | 1824-1910) was daughter of William Vincent and Lydia Wilcox. Enoch married in 1845.

Charles Dorathy (1811-1893), son of Joseph, came in 1840 to Bloomfield. His first wife was Mary, daughter of Ebenezer and Mary Tupper. His second wife was Eliza Kimball.

Samuel Tucker Hatch 1 [802-1882), son of I larman 1 whose wife was named Tucker), came in [840 to section 12. His first wife was named Caroline; his second was Mrs. Lucy Small. It is nol known that he was of the same family as others of his name, in DeLv.ui. Geneva, Linn, or elsewhere.

Charles High (1809-1887) was probably son of Charles and Christine, of Washington county, New York. He came in 1841 to section 30, and married Nancy B. Rolfe, of Milwaukee. His farm was one of the largest and best in the town.

There was in Bloomfield, long ago, and perhaps is yet, a second Kimball family, of German origin. From tombstones it is inferred that the name was Kimpel, and changed by local pronunciation to the more familiar form. Carl R, of this family ( 1814-1891 ). had wife. Anna E. ( 1826-1885).

Eli Manor ( i8_'_'-i885) was son of Joseph and Louisa Lucia Manor ( Tliis name is spoken "Man-ore." ). lie built the only hotel now at the Junction.

Eli Moody (1780-1843) and wife Dorothy (1784-1847). Of their known children. Elizabeth was Mrs. Harry Tupper; Levi (1808-1890) died unmarried; John died October 27, 1802, in naval hospital at Mound City. Illinois, seemingly in gunboat service. Alfred ( [815-1881) may have been of Eli's family.

Enos Hanchett Olden (born iN_>_>) came about [842 to section 15, and soon afterward married Julia A. Gregg (horn [826). Their farm, now Elisha T. Hibhard's. has been found ralhrr remarkably adapted to fruitraising.

Otis I'.. Phillips ( [798-185 I and wife Olive ( (800-1865) were buried at Lake Geneva, lie may have been son or brother of Oakley A. Phillips, who may have been a non-resident buyer in section 31.

lames Primmer (horn [816) and wife Hannah (burn iS_>i). daughter uf Philip and Rebecca Shaver, were natives of Rensselaer county. They came tn section 7.

Jane Eliza Trow, daughter of Benjamin F. and Aurelia II., first girl born in the town - October 8, 1839 - lived to marrv and died about 1X71.

Jonathan Ward (1814-1872) married Electa King (1820-1894) and came to section 5 in 1837. In [860 they had five children. They were buried at Lake Geneva. Airs. Ward seems to have become Mrs. Adams.

Silas P. Wright (1815-1896) was horn near Sackett's Harbor; lived on section 20, Bloomfield : died at Lake Geneva. Mary, his wife, was born in 1816.

Bloomfield centre - not Centre - was but a convenient way of denoting the site of an early school house, a half-mile south of the town-centre, on the diagonal road from Geneva to Richmond (or, a little later, to Genoa). This house for long served as a meeting place of religious gatherings and earlysocieties, and for other township purposes. The first school was taught in 1840 by Mrs. Electa (King) Ward, in section 6, at a house built for her use as a private school. There is now a district school house on her husband's farm, at the center of section 5. There are at present in the town (the village not included) six school districts, of which two are joint districts - No. 6 with Lyons; Xo. 8 with Randall, in Kenosha county.

The whole number of soldiers of the Civil war whose service was credited to Bloomfield was one hundred thirty-one. If not all of these were really residents of the town the non-residents were fairly offset by the men of Bloomfield who were enrolled for other towns. Her volunteers turned <>ut promptly in the first two years, and her citizens voted liberal bounties in order to fill later calls for troops. The town was well represented in the Fourth Infantry-Cavalry and the Eighth and Twenty-second Infantry, and by smaller numbers in many other commands. Company K. Eighth Infantry, the Live Eagle regiment, was credited with thirt) six batik'.- and skirmishes, in six states. Its orderly sergeant. Theodore \. Fellows, returned as its third captain, after exactly four years of constantly active service.

The town and village records are quite full and generall) legible. The clerks have usually been chosen for their fitness, and have often been reelected. The bonk- tor 1X50 arc a- easily read as printed script. The clerk for that year was Mr. Youlen, a young farmer who had at that time a work ing partnership with David \\ . Carey, and whom nobody but the latter's son, Julian M. Carey, seems now to remember. The official list for the town of Bloomfield is as follow - :

Justices Of The Peace

These dates are usually those of the several elections for a term of two years; but two dates connected by a dash indicate beginnning and end of service. Vacancies, rilled for one year, are shown by letter "v."' Only names of justices who tiled with the clerk of the court certificates of their election are shown, because of the uncertainty as to winch of others elected took the oath of office.

Genoa J Unci Con

The fair and fertile fields of Bloomfield, I. inn. Walworth, and Sharon stretch 1 . 1 1 southward into the older state. Tin- village of Richmond is about two miles below the point at which the Nippersink abandons Wisconsin, littlemore than a stone's throw from the state line. Its slightly earlier settlement and its immediate growth as a center of local trade, with similar development at the foot of Geneva lake, placed churches, schools, mills, shops and stores within fairly convenient reach of the earlier-coming fanners of Bloomheld, and thus retarded village platting in that town.

In or about 1850 James F. Dickerson came to improve the null-site and to lay out a village, which was named Genoa, a little below the united Nippersink and on its left bank, in section 35, within a quarter-mile of the state line. Its railway distances are: From Chicago, jj.i, miles; from Richmond, 1.3 miles; from Lake Geneva, H.j miles; from Kenosha, jj.^ miles; from Harvard. 16.8 miles. All its railway connections are by two intersecting Chicago & Northwestern lines. In no long time arose occasional confusion in the mail service because of another Genoa in DeKalb county. Illinois. To avoid this the word "Junction'' was added to the village name, and now Genoa postoffice is in Vernon count}, Wisconsin. The territorial road from Kenosha to Beloit passed through the present village plat, within the limits of which it is named Walworth street. The village lies on slightly uneven ground, giving easy ascents and ready drainage. Its appearance as a whole and in detail is clean and homelike, its roadways hard and smooth, and its cement walks are now measurable in miles. In the modern ways of city life this village may be regarded as suburban - directly and quickly reached from Chicago by four daily trains.

Charles A. Noyes bought in [853 a share in the mill property, and also built the Cottage Inn, to which the Manor House succeeded in 1 87 1 and remains as the Junction House. .Mr. Dickerson had died, and Adolph Freeman had married his widow and for a short time controlled the mill management. Mr. Noyes was followed by Thomas Carter and A. J. Goin, from whom the mill passed to John Alexander Pierce, of Millard, and Charles Covell, and in later succession to John Albert Pierce, the Genoa Junction 1 ompany, ami Julian M. Carey. Within a few years Mr. Care) turned the water-power to its presenl use, that of supplying the village with electric light. The Pierces were father and son. and their ownership of the mill was in more than one way memorable.

Welcome J. Miller came in [850 from Kenosha, where be had well learned his business, and began work as a maker of carriages and farm wagon- of such quality and workmanlike finish as to secure a wide market for his steadily increasing production. IN- two older boys, as they grew to manhood, became hi- partners, and for long the Miller wagon made the linn and the village famous. Modern conditions of manufacture and sale do not lung permit the several rivalries of small establishments. Mr. Miller died m [885 and the sons have been forced into more humbly useful repairing and smith-work.

The Borden Condensed Milk Company, whose products reach the frontiers of civilization, has here one of its large and fully ecmipped factories, handling the local supply of milk to the extent of forty thousand pounds daily, and making Genoa Junction an important shipping station.

H. Albert Gibbs has here an ice cream factory, the product of which finds its market in this and several near-lying counties. His business seems likelv to be permanent, and is an important addition to the village enterprises.

The earliest postoftice here was named Bloomheld, and was successively named Genoa and Genoa Junction. There is no local record of postmasters in their order of service and with beginning of each one's term of ofhce. but the following list is as full and accurate as men's memories now supply: James S. Stilson, Schuyler W. Benson. Julian M. Carey, 1878; Albert E. Simons, 1885; John Coppersmith, 1889; Lanson G. Deignan, 1893; Dexter B. Holton; Julian Marcellus Carey, 1897: Charles H. Prouty, [908.

Religious Societies

Rev. Lemuel Hall, a pioneer clergyman then of Geneva, came April 5, [846, in ln-lp Rev. Leonard Rogers in the work of organizing a Congregational society, with twelve members, at the center school house. About [852 its meeting place was fixed at Genoa. In the pastorate of .Mr. Caldwell a sightly and convenient church was built at Park and Freeman streets at a cost (with bell) of nearly five thousand dollars. This was in 1804-^. Addition was made in [892 for Sunday school room and parlors. The present membership is forty-four persons. Dr. Benjamin J. Hill has been clerk of the society for more years than Ik1 can tell without reference to church record. Mis nearesl predecessor was Mrs. Asa C. Rowe. Mrs. Frances Bundy, one of the rarhesi members, is yet living, near the village, in her eighty-sixth

W. Helmer, 1895; Frank B. Hicks, 1897; Alexander E. Cutler, 1904; Benjamin F. Ray; Frank Atkinson; Charles Parmiter, 1910. There was now and then an interregnum in this pastoral succession - generally not more than of one year's length.

It has been told as a fact of town history that the first religious society organized was by twelve Methodists, at the center school house, in 1X41. However this may have been, except for prayer meetings at convenient houses, the members of this denomination attended church at Richmond until 1887. In that year they met at Spice's Hall, in Genoa Junction, Rev. Daniel Cross holding services. In the next year they built a Sunday school room with "supper room" above. This was in the pastorate of Rev. Air. Smith. In 1894 the main building was finished and dedicated, with Rev. Frank C. Richardson as pastor.

Rt. Rev. Jackson Kemper held Episcopal service in August. 1X4S, at Air. Whiting's house in section 32, administered communion to members of the Whiting and Sibley families, and a Whiting daughter. The parish of the Holy Communion was organized in October with William H. Whiting and John Sibley as wardens and Samuel Allen. Robert Moore, Charles W. Sibley and Royal Sikes as vestrymen. Rev. .Messrs. McNamara, Ludlum, Peters and Studley were successively rectors of this parish, and a few years later the rectors at Lake Geneva came over monthly. In the absences of clerical attendance, as at present, the service is read by lay readers. Mr. Whiting built a chapel in 1849 on section 29, for temporary use; but it lias nol yet been replaced by a more permanent building.

The Evangelical Lutheran society was organized in [881, its membership including eight families. It owns a lot in the northern pari of tinvillage, but holds its services in alternate afternoons at the Congregational church Its pastorate is suplied from Lake Geneva or Slade's Corners, lis present membership is about forty families.

The German Methodist societj was formed in [885, in connection with the church at Bristol, Kenosha county. It holds no property, but uses the Methodist church fortnightly in summer and once in three weeks in winter It- membership is .about twenty-five.

The State Bank of Genoa [unction was organized in [904 with lliel Al. Holton as president, John Moore as vice-president, Thomas Moore as cashier, and six stockholders besides. The capital was five thousand dollars. This bank seems to have made but one yearly report.

Chester A. Stone had been for some time in business at the village as a private banker. In 1904 he found it practicable and advisable to bring his business under statutory provisions. With thirty-five other stockholders he organized the Citizens State Bank, with twelve thousand dollars capital, Tames Crier Alien as president. Hoxie W. Smith as vice-president, and himself as cashier. Most of these stockholders are men of the town and village, and of Lake Ceneva.

About 1889 Capt. Luther Cranger Riggs, soldier, poet and editor, began to publish tlic Genoa Junction Journal, as a thus localized edition of his paper at Richmond. lie was one of the order of cry-aloud, spare-not country editors, and seemed to think that peace is dear at any price and too inglorious for an ex-centurion. His militant editorship was regarded as vigorous and racy, and it was rather overcharged with his own personality. His paper leaned toward prohibitionism and the abolition of minor evils. He suffered some loss from a lawless entry upon his premises at Richmond, with attendant malicious mischief, as. some dumping of type cases or newspaper forms into the Nippersink. His troubled career ended with his death, October 31, 1891. 1 le was then aged about fifty years.

In [900 a new paper, the Times, began under ownership of Hurley B. Begun, followed about [902 by Charles F. Dixon; in 11)03 '>>' A. M. Spence (but initials are doubtful); in [903 by Chauncey A. Swenson; in [909 by Morris B. Rice; in 191 1 by Swenson F. Foster, by whom it was discontinued about the end of the year.

Village Organization

At an election held July 23, [901, the citizens of Genoa Junction accepted a village charter by vote of 1 2j to 107. This was on the petition of Dr. Benjamin J. Bill, Julian M. Carey, Eli E. Manor, John Moore. Edward Miller and Chester A. Stone. William Child, county surveyor, established the village boundaries and made a plat for record at Elkhorn. The first village board was made up of Russell Holmes as president, with Dr. Benjamin |. Bill, Charles 1). Cibbs. George Gookin, H. Frederick Henning, Eli E. Manor. Edward Miller, as trustees; Charles D. Blanke as clerk. II. Allien Gibbs as treasurer, and Julian M. Carey as member of the county board Mr. Holmes is still president, having been relieved only in [904 and 1910. in which years John H. Miller was chosen. Mr. Blanke's service as clerk has continued without an interval. The later treasurers elected were Clarence A. Graves in [902, Charles II. Prouty in 1906, Lanson G. Deignan in [908, \. Willis Hyde

Walw0Rti1 County. Wisconsin

1809. Joseph W. Westlake became assessor in 1902, and William E. Trow in 1903 and is still in service. Mr. Carey served four years on the county board, followed in 1905 by Capt. Theodore A. Fellows, who served till his death. February 10, 191 2; and in April Mr. Carey was called back. Dr. Bill has been and is vet health officer.