Cambria Village (part 2 of 2)

On the 13th of August, 1853, a cemetery association was formed with S. C. Higbie, S. M. Smith, Samuel Lashier, J. D. Bullis, E. T. Kearney, Christopher Brown, Thomas Benner, S B. Hancock and Elisha Roberts as Trustees. Three acres of ground were purchased of C. Brown, off the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of Section 26. The first burial therein was a son of Christopher Brown.

Dr. Hanson Hurd in 1856 started a match manufactory in the place, which he ran for two years, when he sold out to M. & E. H. Bronson, who successfully continued the business until 1860, when they disposed of it to Prime & Randall, who continued it until 1862, when it passed into the hands of Folsom & Grout. The latter firm, in consequence of the hard times during that period, suspended. For a time, the factory employed from ten to twenty hands.

Cigar Manuf actor jj . - C. Palmer started, in 1860, the manufacture of cigars, but continued the business but a short time, disposing of it to D. Bobbins, who soon after suspended. In 1872, Charles A. Taylor commenced to manufacture, continuing for about one year, when Z. B. Russell engaged in the work. The latter has had fair success in building up a trade. In 1879, he employed one hand and worked at the bench himself.

Cheese Manufactory. - In 1873, 0. B. Prime commenced the manufacture of cheese in the village, making, the first year, about eighty thousand pounds. The quantity was increased each year until 1878, when it reached 166,000 pounds. In 1879, a less amount was made on account of the scarcity of milk. An average of $12,000 per year, from 1873 to 1879, inclusive, was distributed among the farmers in the neighborhood from this one industry alone.

Fall River House. - In 1849, S. C. Higbie erected the Fall River House, opening it to the public the same year. In 1860, he disposed of it to George Sickles. From 1860 to 1880, it has passed successively into the hands of Mr. Miller, John Fields, John Young, Richard Blake, S. L. Batchelder, C. Palmer, Lewis Norton and John Hicks. The house was built so as to accommodate twenty guests.

Post Office. - One of the first things attended to by A. A. Brayton, on his removal to this place, was to petition the Post Office Department to establish an office at this point, which was accordingly done early in 1847, and Mr. Brayton was made the first Postmaster. He was succeeded by S. C. Higbie, and in turn by F. W. Stiles, and F. W. Stiles by S. H. Bronson.

Railroad Station. - On the completion of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad to this point, Mr. Hildreth was appointed Station Agent. Between the years 1864 and 1880, Mr. Hildreth. J. W. Taylor, E. W. Williams and H. Newnham had been in the employ of the company. As Express Agents, E. W. Williams, H. Newnham, H. D. Cotton, S. H. Bronson, George D. Rice, W. E. Batchelder and J. A. Smith had served.

Sohoolhouses. - In 1850, a schoolhouse was built in the village, the district being designated as No. 1. The house, in 1856, was found too small to accommodate the number of scholars living in the district, so another was added in that year. The primary scholars attend one, and the higher grades the other.

Methodist JEpiscopal Church. - This society was organized in the log house of Clark Smith, by Rev. Stephen Jones, in 1844, the locality at the time being connected with the old Aztalan circuit. The members were Rev. E. J. Smith, Martha Smith, Clark Smith, Sarah Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Aaron E. Houghton. E. J. Smith was appointed leader. A log schoolhouse was erected soon after, and the meetings transferred to it. As the population of the village increased, in due time the society was removed here. In 1855, a church edifice was built, at a cost of $2,000. It was rebuilt and enlarged in 1875, at a cost of $1,200. Revs. Stephen Jones, N.

S. Green, C. G. Lathrop, Mr. Marshall, J. M. S. Maxon, Ezra Tucker, James Lamson, R. Franchen, William Averill, S. L. Brown, William Stevens, D. Lewis, E. W. Stevens, J. C. Aspinwall, A. Hitchcock, J. Searles, W. Sturgess, S. V. R. Shepherd, C. L. Shepherd, A. Hamilton, J. S. Bolton, J. E. Grant, A. J. Brill, W. E. Randolph, C. D. Cook and C. A. Stockwell have served the church as Pastors. In March, 1880, the membership of the church was ninety-five, with S. H. Bronson, Rec. Steward; John Fardell, H. S. O'Brion, J. S. Babcock and George Kirk, Stewards ; J. H. Haskin, H. S. O'Brion, H. C. Glendenning, A. Horton. J. S. Babcock and B. Babcock, Trustees.

First Regular Baptist Church and Society. - The first preaching by a minister of the Baptist Church in this vicinity, was in 1847, Elders Green and Reed being the pioneer preacliers. A church was also organized about this time. A legal organization was effected March 18, 1867, under the name, " First Regular Baptist Church and Society." The first Trustees were H. C. Brace. J. A. Franklin, L. B. Reed. Loyal Morton, Deacon ; H. C. Brace, Clerk. In 1869, a house of worship, 38x60 feet, was erected at a cost of $.5,000. Those serving the church as Pastors from 1847 to 1880, were Elders Green, Reed, Wade, Jones, Jeffreys, Meredith, Chapin, Langridge, Gorman and Pickering. In 1877, H. C. Brace and A. M. Hastings were elected Trustees, and in 1879, James Randolph, F. C. Thomas, M. A. Franklin and E. Oliver were added to the number. M. H. Bender, Deacon and Clerk.

Town Of Hampden

^, The first settler in the town of Hampden was Alfred Toplifi", who located there May 1, 1844. Lewis and Landy Sowards, with their families, arrived there some four or five weeks later. J. E. Haight and family arrived in the autumn of the same year. What is now the county of Columbia was, in that year, mostly an uninhabited wild. Fort Winnebago, Dekorra, and some eight or ten families in Columbus and Fountain Prairie, then constituted nearly the entire populaticn of the county. The first settlers of Hampden had to go to Aztalan Post OflSce, a distance of thirty miles, for their letters and papers. Most articles of provisions were procured at Milwaukee, a distance of seventy miles. The road then traveled to Milwaukee was by way of Aztalan, and thence through the dense and nearly uninhabited forest of Rock River woods for eighteen miles, over a track that was hardly passable, requiring five or six days to make the journey to Milwaukee and return. The country in all directions was without roads (excepting the Indian trails) and all rivers and brooks without bridges, in this or adjacent towns. The traveler had to search in all directions to find a place where he could possibly cross the streams and marshes and then to find himself in a situation from which, with the utmost difficulty he could extricate himself and reach the opposite shore. This difiiculty was much increased by the rains which were of such frequent occurrence during the summer and September of that year. The marshes which were the dependence of the settlers for hay to winter their stock, were so filled with water that hay could not be procured from them until October, when the grass was so injured by frosts as to make the hay of diminished value, and a consequence was that quite a proportion of the cattle died during the winter following for want of suitable food to sustain them.

In 1846, the brothers, Elijah and Perry Lee, with their families, and Mrs. Roys and her son. Clarendon Roys and brothers, and Messrs. Henry Clark, Thomas Smith and Benjamin Chase, arrived and located in the town. A settlement of Norwegians was also made in the southwest quarter, and a settlement of Germans in the southeast quarter of the town.

The town of Hampden is bounded on the east by Columbus, on the west by Leeds, on the north by Otsego, and on the south by Dane County. Before the organization of the county into towns it was in the third election precinct composed of Townships 10 and 11, Range 11, the place of voting being at the house of Landy Sowards, the Judges of Election being Jonathan

E. Haight, Landy Sowards and Henry Pellet. The precinct was known as Dyersburg, socalled in honor of Wayne B. Dyer, the first settler of Otsego, and first Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners. In 1849, Township 10, Range 11, was organized into a town to which was given the name of Hampden, and the house belonging to Cornwall Esmond, situated on the northwest corner of Section 15, designated as the place for holding the first election.

Among other early settlers of the town were Daniel Soward, Clarendon Roys, Benjamin Chase, Mr. Tillotson, Henry R. Clark, Clark Hazard, James Montgomery, Jonathan E. Haight, William K. Custer, John A. Franklin, Lyman Morse and John Derr.

Rev. Reuben Bates, a pioneer Methodist preacher, was the first to proclaim the Gospel here, though previously Rev. Edward Smith preached the funeral sermon of Mr. Douglas in June, 1845. In 1846, at the house of Mr. Morris, he delivered his first discourse.

The town in 1865 erected a comfortable town hall, 26x36 feet in size. Here town meetings are held, and the hall has also been used for religious and educational purposes.

A post ofiice was established near the center of the town in 1847, and A. Topliff made Postmaster. He was succeeded by Benjamin Chase, Lloyd Newcomb and William Bradley. About 1865, the office was discontinued, but re-established in 1877, and Halver Halverson made Postmaster.

Among the principal farmers prior to 1856, might be mentioned Clarendon Roys, Henry R. Clark, Clark Hazard, Eli Sowards, Daniel Sowards, C. C. Tillotson, T. S .Roys, James Montgomery, E. Fairbanks, James H. Sutton, John Derr, Peter Hanson, 0. J. Oleson and E. Knudson.

About the year 1868, E. Fairbanks began to give special attention to the improvement of cattle and sheep. His herds of Durham cattle and merino sheep, between the years 1868 and 1880, have been exhibited at county, district and State Fairs, with results highly satisfactory to their owner. The example of Mr. Fairbanks has been imitated by other farmers in the town. Several fine horses were imported from France, in 1875, by an association formed in the town.

The town of Hampden is largely rolling prairie in the western and central portions, the prairie connecting by a narrow strip with that of Fountain Prairie and Columbus. In the southwest there are small tamarack marshes. The town lies upon the eastern slope of the dividing ridge, and thus rises rapidly from east to west. In the lower portions on the east line, the altitude is 320 to 350 feet ; whilst on the west side, it is 400 to 500 feet. In the southeast is high ground, continuous with that in southwest Columbus. The town lies on the southern boundary of the county, in the southeastern part, by which it is separated from the town of Bristol, in the county of Dane. It is about twenty miles southeast of the city of Portage, and is known as Township 10 north, of Range 11 east. The town is watered by a small stream that flows through it from west to east - an afiluent of the Crawfish River.

The first entry of land was made by Alfred Topliff June 28, 1844, consisting of the southwest (juarter of the northeast quarter and the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 11.

1868 - James Montgomery, Chairman ; John Derr, Ira H. Ford, Supervisors; A. Sanderson, Clerk; Charles Conrad, Treasurer; A. L. Sutton, Assessor.

Town Of Leeds

The town of Leeds is almost altogether upon the top of the watershed, having a surface of rolling prairie, and a general altitude of 450 to 570 feet. In the northwest corner, this high ground breaks down abruptly 200 feet towai'd the head-fcaters of Okee Creek. The State Geologist, in one of his reports, remarked that there were some of the finest lands here that were to be found in the State. The first entry of land was made October 3, 1844, by Johii Dalziel, consisting of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter, and the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 26. Prior to this, La Fayette Hill made claim on Section 14. He erected a log house which, in his absence, was burned by the Indians in the winter of 1843-44. In the spring of 1844, one Johnson came in, and Mr. Hill, for a small consideration, surrendered to him his claim and removed into the town of Dekorra. Mr. Johnson conveyed in June following a portion of this tract to Oliver G. Chilson. William Young came in in 1844, but remained only a short time, when he removed his house just across the line in the town of Lowville. In the fall of 1844 came William Bradley, Thomas Dalziel, and Mr. Hinman. Soon after this came Stephen Bray ton, Charles B. ThompsoQ, Sylvester Button, 0. C. Howe, A. Klienert, F. Rennebohm, Jacob Townsend, Smith Scott, Charles Brown, Norman Ives, Fred Lubins and others.

The town of Leeds is an agricultural town. No effort has ever been made to locate a village within its boundaries, but now its inhabitants are well supplied with mail facilities, there then being four post offices in the town - Leeds, North Leeds, Leeds Center, and Keyser.

Leeds Post Office was established on Section 32 in 1854, with William P. Bradley as the first Postmaster. Mr. Bradley was succeeded by George Durkee, and Mr. Durkee by Anson Engel.

Leeds Center was established in 1856, chiefly through the instrumentality of Dr. R. A. Squires, who was made its first Postmaster. He was succeeded by Norman Ives, who continued but a short time when G. E. Fox was appointed, after which it again passed under control of Dr. Squire, who was succeeded in 1857 by A. S. Packard.

Humphrey McKinney was the first Postmaster of North Leeds, the office being established in 1858. William Dieruf was Mr. McKinney's successor.

The first school,, in the town was held at Leeds Center on the corner of the northwest quarter of the southwest corner of Section 14, in 1848. In 1850, a substantial log schoolhouse was erected which burned down the first winter. In 1851, a stone house was erected which served the district (No. 1) until June, 1878, when a good frame house was erected and well furnished at a cost of $1,600.

It has been stated there had never been an effort to locate a village in the town, but notwithstanding this fact, around Leeds Center Post Office quite a little village sprang up in 1850- 57, there being there at that time two stores, a blacksmith-shop, post office and a tavern, the latter being erected by John T. Baker, and continued by him about four years. Leeds Center was then on the line of the stage route from Beaver Dam to Lodi and also from Madison to Portage.

From the organization of Leeds, town-meetings have been held at Leeds Center. Election days have generally been considered as holidays and the average voter expected to have some fun. There formerly lived here a genius who would occ;»sionally imbibe too freely of the juice of the corn. He was an ardent Republican and never got so drunk but, he knew the difference between a Republican and Democratic ticket. On one occasion on election day, he was so drunk a leading Democratic politician thought he would get him to vote the Democratic ticket, and to accomplish his aim was very affectionate toward the old man. Taking him by the arm and placing a Democratic ticket in his hand, he led him up to the polls. The Republicans were of course watching every movement. When the old man arrived at the voting-place, he turned to a leading Republican and said, '' Give me a ticket, John." " Why," responded John, "I thought you were going to vote the Democratic ticket? " " You think (hie) because I've got the (hie) symptoms, I've turned Democrat, (hie) do you':*" John furnished him with the ticket of his choice.

Horse-trading has been classed as a high art in Leeds, and the people of that town have become proverbial as horse-traders. Woe be to the man who considers himself the better judge of horseflesh, and the more experienced in a trade. Orin Powers was a good-hearted, honest citizen of Lowville, and was possessed of a horse valued by good judges at $125. One day, he made up his mind that he would take that horse over to Leeds, and make a little by trading him to some one. He was advised by a friend not to go, but the advice he considered an insult. The idea of his being taken in by those Leeds men ! He would show them he knew what he was about in a horse trade. So over to Leeds he went. Along about sunset, he was seen returning to the point from which he started, on foot, with a bridle in his hand. " Why, Orin, what's the matter?" said the friend of the morning. " Oh, Doctor," he replied, " they've used me up." " Why, how is that?" " Well, you see, 1 went over there, made two or three trades, and on the last one I got a horse and two cows. I thought I had done well. The horse was a fine-looking animal, and I got on him to ride him home, and coming along, the blasted thing had a fit, fell down and nearly killed me. I took off the bridle and left him to die, and here I am with two cows, worth not over $25. I wish I'd taken your advice.''

The town of Leeds is situated in the south part of the county, on the county line, which sejiarates it from the town of Windsor, in Dane County. It is about fifteen miles southeast of the city of Portage, and is in Township 10, Range 10 east. Nearly one-half of the township is prairie land : the other half is oak openings, which are in the northern and southeastern parts. The town is scantily supplied with brooks or streams, there being only a small rivulet in the southeast portion, which has an outlet in a lake situated on parts of Sections 23, 24 and 26. A large number of the settlers in the southeastern part of the town are Norwegians, and that nationality, with the Germans, largely predominate. The town is well improved and under excellent cultivation.

Lutheran Church. - On the 27th day of March, 1847, the first Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran congregation in Columbia County was organized, by Rev. I. W. C. Dietrickson, as " Spring Prairie Congregation." It consisted of settlers re.siding in the towns of Leeds, Hampden, Otsego, Lowville, and later Arlington and Dekorra, in Columbia County, and Bristol, Windsor and Vienna, Dane County. The first Norwegian services were held at the house of Sjur Reque, some time previous. Among the first members of the congregation were John 0. Fosmark, Nels 0. Fosraark, Lars Johannesen Moen, Aad Johnson Himle, John Langeteig, Peter Ilalvorsen, Augund Aames, Eivind Thorstensen. On the 15th day of October, 184'J, Spring Prairie congregation was divided into three congregations - Spring Prairie and Bonnet Prairie, Columbia County, and Norway Grove, Dane County. These three congregations resolved to constitute one parish, where, somewhat later, was joined Lodi congregation, in the towns of Lodi, Arlington and Dekorra, in Columbia County. Rev. I. W. C. Dietrickson had charge of these congregations, and served as their minister up to the 10th of April, 1850 ; Rev. A. C. Preus from May, 1850, till August, 1851. Rev. H. A. Preus took charge of them August 10, 1851, and has served as their minister till the present time. As the latter gentleman has had to attend to a very extensive missionary work among Norwegians in the northern and middle part of Wisconsin, and has also, since 1862, acted as President of the Norwegian

Evangelical Lutheran Synod in America, the following named have served as assistants : Rev. C. Magelssen, from September, 1866, to October, 1867 ; Rev. B. Hovde, from January, 1869, to April, 1872; Rev. A. Vinnor, from May, 1872, to May, 1873; Rev. A. Bredeson, from May, 1873, to August, 1876; Rev. Chr. K. Preus, from August 13, 1876, to the present time. The first Norwegian church edifice was a small log one, in the town of ( )tsego, built in the summer of 1853. On the 25th day of June, 1853, the corner-stone of the church in the town of Leeds was laid. It is 50x85 feet, has a fine steeple, and, when erected, cost $2,500. The Bonnet Prairie congregation, Otsego, built a stone church in 1866, 54x35 feet, which cost $7,000. The Lodi congregation was the next to build, in 1871. Their church edifice is of brick, 54x28 feet, with a steeple 70 feet high ; is located in the town of Arlington, and cost $3,600. There are 280 families in the various congregations connected with this parish. Trustees of Spring Prairie congregation - John 0. Fosmark, John Hermundsen, Hans Bjortisen ; of the Bonnet Prairie Congregation - Andves Loseln, Halvor Anderson, J. B. Berquam ; of Lodi - Ives Larsen, G. Pedersen and A. Oramundsen.

The town of Leeds was organized in 1850, and comprised all of Township 10, Range 10, and the east half of Township 10, Range 9. In 1855, the latter portion of the town was set off to Arlington, leaving the town of Leeds one full township.

1856 - Sylvester Dutton, Chairman ; Thomas Dalziel, Amond Christophers. Supervisors ; M. J. Waterhouse. Clerk; William T. Bradley, Treasurer and Assessor; L. A. Squire, School Superintendent.

1859 - Charles L. Brown, Chairman; B. F. Everett, A. Christophers, Supervisors; Abel Allen, Clerk ; Halver Halverson, Treasurer ; William T. Bradley, Assessor ; L. A. Squire, School Superintendent.

1871. - L. A. Squire, Chairman; G. A. Kleinert, Anson Nelson, Supervisors; William Dieruf, Clerk; William C. Kleinert, Treasurer; Norman M. Ives, Assessor.

1872. - L. A. St|uire, Chairman; G. A. Kleinert, Anson Nelson, Supervisors; William Dieruf, Clerk ; AVilliam C. Kleinert, Treasurer ; Norman M. Ives, Assessor.

Town Of Lem'Iston

The town of Lewiston includes the whole of Township lo north, in Range 8 east, except the southeast ([uarter of Section 36, which lies within the city limits of Portage ; also all of the north tier of sections in Township 12 north, in the same range, lying north of the Wisconsin River, except the east half of Section 1, which is a part of the city of Portage ; also, so much of the east half of Township 13 north, in Range 7 east, as lies north of the Wisconsin. It contains, therefore, about one township and a half of land. It i.s bounded on the north by Adams and Marquette Counties ; on the east, by the town of Fort Winnebago and the city of Portage : on the south, by the city of Portage and the Wisconsin River, and on the west by the Wisconsin River and the town of Newport.

On the 18th day of November, 1852, " Range (8) eight and the east half of Range (7) seven, in Town [ship] thirteen,' were "formed into a new town, under the name of Lewiston." Afterward, so much of Township 12, in Range 8, as lies north of the Wisconsin River was added to Lewiston, this fraction and Township 13, in the same range, being diminished a little over three-fourths of a section when the city of Portage was incorporated. When the selection of a name became necessary, that of Beaver Creek was suggested, and was so incorporated in the petition for the organization of the town ; but the Board of Supervisors changed it to Lewiston, in honor of E. F. Lewis, one of the earliest settlers.

The southwest portion of the town, along the Wisconsin River, is quite level, and, in high water, it has overflowed and run through the town, thence to Fox River, by the way of a stream known as the Grand or Big Slough. There are several small streams of water in the town, mostly emptying into the Fox River. There are also three lakes, situated in the northwest corner of the town, known as Lake Whiting, Lake Loomis and Lake Corning. Lake Whiting has a small stream running into it on the northwest part, passing out on the south and running down the west side of this town and east side of the town Newport, the Wisconsin River ; thence to the Gulf of Mexico. From the same lake there has been a ditch dug, running in an easterly direction, a distance of about a mile and a ((uarter, with a fall of twenty-one feet, and thence through the Fox River to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The Big Slough forms on Section 33, near the Wisconsin River ; crosses Sections 34, 26, 23, 22, 21, 16, 9 and 4, entering Neenah Creek, or North Branch of Fox River, on Section 3. Though the name of " slough " is given it, it can hardly be said to be appropriate, as it is a stream of living water, and, though narrow and shallow in places, occasionally are to be found holes ranging in depth from twelve to twenty feet, and increasing in length and widtii as it approaches its mouth. From the bottom of these deep holes springs of cold water are forced upward. Bass and pickerel abound in the stream. Neenah Creek, where connecting with the Big Slough, crosses Sections 3, 2 and 1, passing into Marquette County on the northeast corner of Section 1, and returns into this county on Section 5, Town of Fort Winnebago.

The first white settlement in the town was made by Daniel Brown, in February, 1849, on the northwest quarter of Section 12, Township 13, Range 7, and Thomas Fletcher soon after settled on the northwest quarter of Section 17, Town 13, Range 8, which was all the setdement in the town until the 8th of June following, when E. F. Lewis settled on the northwest quarter of Section 21, Township 13, Range 8. On the same day, there was a load of lumber left on the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 2.5, Township 13, Range 8, by Samuel and Jacob Reader, to secure a claim made there by them. Also, at the same time, L-a Young made a claim on the southeast quarter of Section 17, Township 13, Range 8. James Sloan and William Finnegan made claims on Section 20, Township 13, Range 8. About the 20th of June, Peter Thompson and Mons. Johnson made claims on the east half of Section 21, Township 13, Range 8, which was the first settlement by the Scandinavians in the town. Amplias Chamberlain and John Huxley made a settlement on Section 6, Township 13, Range 8, in July, and Jonathan Butterfield and Aaron Toun made claims, in the spring of 1842, where Briggsville now stands, and gave the claim to A. E. Briggs, in 1851, on condition that he would improve the water-power thereon. Mr. Briggs built a saw-mill at once, which was the first start of the village of Briggsville. Solomon Clark and Daniel Burlison made a claim on Section 26, Township 13, Range 8, and Jacob Jacobia also settled on the same section in the fall of 1849. Several settlers came in during the months of July and August of that year, among whom were Robert Shortly and a man of the name of Parks, who settled on Section 1, and Robert Thompson, who settled on Section 4, Township 13, Range 8. About this time, the Germans began to settle in the south part of the town, along the Wisconsin River, among whom were Fred Bach, on Section 32 ; William and Harry Lintz, and Christian Pfieler, on Section 4, Township 12, Range 8. The first settlers in the east part of the town were the Devine brothers and Patrick Shea, who settled on Sections 18 and 14, Township 13, Range 8, and the Ryan brothers, on Section 24. William, James and Robert Clark settled in the northeast corner of the town, on Sections 3 and 10, and from that time on the settlement became general throughout the town.

When Mr. Lewis settled on his claim, he lived three weeks in his wagon box. He then erected a log house 22x52 feet, a story and a half high, for hotel purposes, christening his house the " Pinery Exeliiuige." Being on the old pinery ro;id, on which there was considerable travel, the hotel flourished until tiie buiklinij of railroads diverted emigration. Other hotels along the line of the road through tlii-; county were erecteil, each receiving fair patronage. Jacob Jacobia built on Section liG, in the fall of 184'.i, and E. N. Storms in 18.'>1. When the new pinery road was opened in 1852, E. B. Craig erected a hotel where it crosses the Big Slough, naming it the "Menominee House."

In 1849, a claim society was organized, composi'd of settlers in the towns of Newport, and Lewiston, Columbia County, and the counties of Ailams and Marquette. The object of the society was to protect the first settlers in their claims. The land, not then being in market, was not subject to entry, but many men locating and improving binds selected, with the intention of securing their claim as soon as thrown in the market. It was feared that there would be those who, observing improvements made, would hasten to file claims before the original settler could do so, thus defrauding them out of their just rights. A number of cases of disputed claims came before the society, which they attempted to settle in their own way. In the spring of 1852, James Litchfield located upon the northwest quarter of Section 1, Township 18, Range 7, erected a small frame dwelling and cleared about five acres of land. He received notice from the society to vacate, as another party had a prior claim. Consulting with neighbors, he was satisfied that Mr. Norris, the other claimant, had selected another quarter, and was, therefore, entitled to no more. For this reason he refused to go. One Saturday, in the month of May, 18;")2, near midnight, some ten or twelve masked men came here, and calling up Mr. and Mrs. Litchfield, ordered them from the house, set it on fire, burning it to the ground. The unfortunate couple went to the house of John Brickwell, where they remained a few days, and from there to Mr. Briggs', where they stayed until a new house could be built for them by the sympathizing neighbors. Five of the masked men were recognized by Mr. and Mrs. Litchfield, warrants were sworn out, and they were arrested and bound over for trial in the Circuit Court for the crime of arson. The first terra, after indictment, the defendants got a continuance of the case, and at the time of the second term Mrs. Litchfield was too ill to attend the trial. The matter was then compromised and the case stricken from the docket.

The first white child born in the town was a daughter of Frederick Back, on Section 32, Township 13, Range 8, in the summer of 1849. This child died the following winter from being scalded in a tub of hot water.

The first death was at the house of E. F. Lewis, in September, 1849. Elisha Parmenter, with his family, came from the State of New York, and stopped with Mr. Lewis. There he left his family, and with his team returned to Milwaukee for his goods. Returning with them, he was taken sick and lived but a few days. He was buried in the military burying ground at Fort Winnebago.

The whole number of acres assessed on the first assessment roll was 13,747.73, valued at §40,420. The value of personal property on the same roll was ^1,150. Total, S!47,870.

The first election was at the house of E. F. Lewis, on the 5th of April, 1853, at which Kiley Woodford, Almon Hay and John Brickwell acted as Inspectors and L. C. Jacobs as Clerk. Those voting at this election were John Brickwell, Riley Woodford, E. F. Lewis, Almon Hay, Robert Thompson, M. B. Eastings. Charles S. Mason, George W. Bird, Moses Johnson, Peter Thompson, Filing Mahl, Hans 0. Mensen. Jacob Jacobia, John Fitch, Orrin Hay, Hans Hanson, Jr., Lewis Hanson, Hans Hanson, Sr., Thomas Robinson, Hans Thompson, M. H. Dahl, Warren Hay, T. E. Bendi.xon, John A. Gund, Joseph Wagner, Jacob Poagle, Robert Thompson, Allen Vincent, George Winders, Nek Paterson, Albert Oleson, Peter Hees, Hans LoUiger, Lewis Sader, Frederick C. Martin, Stephen CoUenson, Solomon Clark, Henry Jertson, Hans Jertson, Lars Isaacson. Joseph Mathias, Isaac Andrews, Sven Johnson, Ole Johnson, Ole Oleson, John O'Mare. William McDonald, Edmund Beaz, S. A. Reader, Riley A. Woodford, Fred Bach, Claus Hilderbrand, Frederick Guildner, Mortz Kuhl, Andrew Languard, Robert Clark,

The town was divided into school districts May 19, 1853, by John Brickwell, who was then Superintendent of Schools of the town. In 1871), there were ten districts in the town, all of which had good schoolhouses. A good deal of interest has generally been manifested in the schools.

The town has had to be at considerable expense in building roads and bridges, and also in the construction of a levee on the bank of the Wisconsin River, to prevent it, in stages of high water, overflowing and so passing over a portion of the town, to Fox River, thereby keeping the land too wet for cultivation.

The land was generally surveyed by the General Government in 1850 and 1851, the township lines being run in 1850 and subdivision lines in 1851, after which, and before the land was brought into market, the settlers had a chance to take out pre-emption papers on their claims, and prove them up, without interference of the land speculators.

The first piece of land entered in the town was August 11, 1852, by Jacob Jacobia, the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 26, Township 13, Range 8 ; the next was on August 28, by William McDonald, the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 23 ; the third entry was by Henry Lintz, on August 29, the south half of the southeast quarter of Section 33 ; the fourth was by Jerry Devine, on the 30th of August, the north half of the northeast quarter of Section 24, and all in Township 13, Range 8.

I^or.wegian Evangelical Lutheran Church, by Portage. - This church was organized in 1851, by Rev. H. A. Preus, with about fifteen families. Mr. Preus was called to the pastorate, and served until 1865, when Rev. Sh. S. Regue was chosen, serving until 1872, when Rev. B. Hovde took charge of the work, remaining until 1879 ; Rev. E. J. Petersen was then called. A small church was erected in 1873, on the northeast quarter of Section 20. In 1879, there were twenty families connected with the congregation.

Methodist Episcopal Church. - A class was organized in the schoolhouse of District No. 2, in 1853, and a Sunday school shortly after. Meetings of the class and occasional preaching by ministers in charge of the circuit have since been held at the same place.

German Methodist Episcopal Church. - On Section 26, Township 13, Range 7, a German Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1858. A church house was erected in 1860, at a cost of $800. Regular services have since been held, and a large congregation formed.

German Evangelical Lutheran Church. - The Germans living in the west part of town erected a log house for religious purposes, in 1853, when a congregation was formed, bearing the above name.

In 1851, a post office was established, which was given the name of Beaver Creek, with E. F. Lewis as the first Postmaster. Mr. Lewis continued to serve until elected Sheriff in the fall of 1856, when he resigned in fiivor of Nelson Farrar. Mr. Farrar served as such two years, but, failjfhg to forward his bond to the Post Ofl5ce Department for approval, and failing, also, to account for government property in his possession, the office was discontinued. In 1868, it was re-established under the name of Lewiston, and E. F. Lewis was again placed in charge.

The old pinery road strikes the town on Section 36, Township 13, Range 8, leaving on the line between Sections 2 and 3, Township 13, Range 7. The new pinery road strikes the town on Section 24, Township 13, Range 8, and leaves it on Section 5. For many yejirs, the

In 1857, the La Crosse & Milwaukee, now the La Crosse Division, Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, was built through the town, entering on Section 1, Township 12, Range 8, taking a northwesterly direction, passing out on Section 22, Township 13, Range 7. A station was located on Section 27, which was given the name Lewiston, and a post office established thereby the name of Colburn.

E. F. Lewis, in 1872, commenced at his home in Lewiston the manufacture of ladies' and gents' underwear, an article which has given universal satisfaction, his trade yearly increasing. The goods, instead of being woven, are knit, and knit the double rib stitches, making them very elastic, and conforming closely to the form of the body and limbs. There is no shrinking or stretching, from wearing or washing, and fitting closely to the body, they admit of no currents of air next to the skin, thus preventing the chill one experiences on going out doors, or passing from a warm into a cold or damp room. In the winter of 1879, to this industry, Mr. Lewis added that of knitting socks by hand, thus furnishing employment to many deserving poor of his neighborhood. From using about one hundred pounds the first year, the amount was increased to over two thousand pounds in 1879.

In Township 13, Range 8, the general altitude is about two hundred and thirty to two hundred and fifty feet, but on the eastern and northern sides are sandstone bluffs, running up one hundred to two hundred feet higher. This town is watered entirely by the branches of a tributary of the Fox, Neenah Creek, or the "Big Slough," which trends within half a mile of the Wisconsin, on Section 33. Beginning in Township 13, Range 6 (town of Newport), and Township 13, Range 7, the ground rises rapidly toward the north and west. On the west side of this town, and extending into Newport (Township 13, Range 7), is a tamarack marsh, four miles across from north to south, and three from east to west.

There are no villages in the town, but two post offices - Lewiston and Colburn. The last is at Lewiston station, on Section 27, on the Chicago, Milwaukee <& St. Paul Railroad. The following comprises the town officers from 18-53 to the present time : 1853 - Samuel A. Reader, Chairman ; William Clark, Frederick Martin, Supervisors ; L. C. Jacobs, Clerk ; Riley Woodford, Treasurer : William Finnegan, Assessor.

1857 - Samuel A. Reader, Chairman : Lars Isaacson, A. A. West, Supervisors ; L. C. Jacobs, Clerk : Riley A. Woodford, Treasurer : E. Corning, Assessor.

1859 - James Devine, Chairman ; Andrew ifertson, A. A. West, Supervisors: William K. Harvey, Treasurer ; S. V. Hanft, Tiionias Norton, Assessors.

1861 - L. D. Dean, Chairman : A. A. West, Albert Scliarf, Supervisors ; William Mc- Donald, Treasurer: G. M. W. Carey, Clerk : J. W. Treadway, Assessor.

History Of Columbia Count T.

1864 - E. B. Craig, Chairman ; Andrew Jertson, Fred Klein, Supervisors ; Albert Scharf, Clerk ; James Devine, Treasurer : Theodore Eickholt, Assessor. Albert Scharf resigned. Thomas McFarlane appointed April 21, 186-!:. G. M. W. Carey appointed Clerk, September 7, 1864, in place of Thomas McFarlane, gone to the war. Thomas Norton appointed Side Supervisor, in place of Andrew Jertson, October 5, 1854, gone to the war. B. 11. Wilmsen appointed Treasurer, December 28, 1864, in place of James Devine, having removed from town.

186.5 - E. B. Craig, Chairman ; Lars Isaacson, Thomas Norton, Supervisors ; G. M. W. Carey, Clerk ; B. H. Wilmsen, Treasurer ; Fred Klein, Assessor. Fred Klein did not qualify. G. M. W. Carey appointed May 29, 1865, in place of Fred Klein.

1866 - E. Corning, Chairman : S. Cushman, Lars Isaacson, Supervisors ; F. 0. Barney, Clerk; M. W. Smith, Treasurer ; William McDonald, Assessor. F. 0. Barney did not qualify. E. F. Lewis appointed Clerk, April 11, 1866. E. Corning resigned January 7, 1867, B. B. Utter appointed in his place. E. F. Lewis being absent from town, G. M. W. Carey appointed to fill vacancy January 11, 1867.

1867 - M. W. Smith, Chairman ; William McDonald, Hilarius Ehr, Supervisors : Jacob Thielen, Clerk ; Herman Brane, Treasurer ; B. H. Wilmsen, Assessor. B. H. Wilmsen refused to accept the oflSce as Assessor. E. Corning appointed Assessor.

In the spring of 1844, G. M. Bartholomew, then a citizen of Illinois, being advised by his physician to seek a better climate than that State afforded, visited Lodi Valley and determined that either here or in Portage Prairie he would in the future reside. Returning to Illinois, his description of Lodi Valley so charmed his brother, Marston C. Bartholomew, that the latter determined also to emigrate; therefore in the early spring of 1845, he bade farewell to his family and sought out the "land of promise." He arrived here in March, located a claim and erected, with the aid of a friendly Indian, his cabin upon the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 22. George M., the brother, came back in April, 1845, and selected the southeast quarter of Section 22. In May of the same year came Rev. H. Maynard, who settled upon Section 21. Mr. Maynard brought with him his family, his wife being the first white woman in the valley. In September, the two Bartholomews brought their families out, and in December following, James McCloud came and settled upon Section 27. These four were all the sellers in this town during that year.

In the spring of 1846 came Isaac H. Palmer, with the intention of locating a new village. He, too, settled upon Section 27, and in April of that year erected a saw-mill, the first in the town. During that year there also settled here Adam and Nathan Bowman, .Joseph Brown, Jacob Hurley, Amos and Jehu Stroud, Aaron Chalfant, William G. Simons. G. T. Simons, Johnson Sowards, John Chance and Simeon Ryder. In 1847 came T. S. Wells, John Foote, H. M. Ayer, Ira Polley, Alonzo Waterbury and Peter Froland.

When the first settlers came, in 184-"), they found about two hundred Indians encamped on the creek, near where the village of Lodi was afterward located. These were mostly Winnebagoes : a few were Brothertowns. During that season, they were peaceable and friendly, and in the fall they all disappeared. In 1847, they came back to the numberof about eighty, with their chief, and encamped on the creek below where the Bartholomew's had settled. They soon began to show their natural propensities, and the property of the settlers occasionally disappeared. One of the settlers, G. M. Bartholomew,' returned to his home, after an absence of a few days, and found the Indians had stolen a part of his hogs. He went to the chief and complained. The chief denied, but the complainant insisted, and resolutely told Mr. Chief that he could have till the next morning when the sun was "so high," telling him how high by pointing, to be oflF. The chief promised to be off at once and to go to the " Milwaukee woods." Thereupon, Bartholomew roused the settlers to the number of about twenty-five, and the next morning, when the sun was " so high," they appeared at the spot " with horse and gun," but the Indians had left. Fearing they might again camp near enough to continue their depredations, our cavalry followed their trail, and found them just striking their tents on Rowan's Creek, in the town of Dekorra. As the settlers approached the camping ground, they were discovered by two hunters. who were apparently going out to bring in some game, who, seeing the fearful array and fearing more to follow, turned their ponies and rapidly returned. The pursuers halted and Bartholomew went forward to the camping ground and inquired if this were " Milwaukee woods." The chief answered " No :" whereupon he was informed he could have just five minutes in which to make his departure. At the expiration of the time nameil, the redskins were on the move. The pursuers followed at a respectful and effective distance, as far as Poynette, or where the village was subsequently located, and then returned to their homes. The Indians never reappeared to make further trouble.

Notwithstanding no more trouble was experienced, the settlers were continually on the alert, and on one occasion were considerably frightened by the report that a large body of Indians were marching on the settlement. It appears that one evening as one of the early settlers was busy doing up his chores, his strong frame was made to tremble at the sight of several hundred redskins, who had made their appearance on the prairie not half a mile distant. He could plainly see they were marching in solid ranks on the beautiful village of Lodi. and that something must be done at once, or every settler in the vicinity would fall a victim to the merciless sons of the forest. Accordingly he quickly loaded his family into a wagon and hastened to the village and spread the news, then there was hurrying to and fro, and every man's team was brought into requisition to convey the women and children to places of safety, while the stronger sex, save those with the teams, were armed with muskets, riHes, shotguns, pistols and bowieknives, and forming into ranks marched to the brow of the hill, on the south side of the village for the purpose of meeting the enemy in open engagement. The brow of the hill was reached, and it was discovered that the Indians had halted and turned their ponies loose to graze on the prairies. Then a little reconnoitering was done, and it was ascertained the savages had suddenly been transformed into a herd of cattle !

In the summer of 1S46 the first marriage occurred, being that of H. W. Kingsbury and Miss Nancy Chalfant. They were married by Henry Carpenter, Esq., of Portage City.

The first sad affair that cast a gloom of sorrow over the settlers of Lodi Valley, and called them together in mourning, was the announcement of the death of Mr. Chalfant's son, aged about two years, who died in November, 1846.

The first white person born in the town was Josephine, daughter of G. M. and Catherine Bartholomew. April 80, 1846. She grew to womanhood in the vicinity and within the village of Lodi, and was married to William H. Chapin, October 29, 1866.

On the organization of the countv in 1846, the County Commissioners ordained that the west half of Township 10, Range 9, Township 10, Range 8, and the Fractional Township 10, Range 7, should comprise a precinct to be known by the name of Pleasant Valley Precinct. Marston C. Bartholomew, Aaron Chalfant and H. Maynard were appointed Judges of Elections, which were to be held at the house of Marston C. Bartholomew. The same boundary lines were retained on the organization of the town. January, 1849.

The first election for town ofl5cers was held at the log schoolhouse, about one-fourth mile northeast of the village of Lodi, April 3, 1849. The legal voters assembled at the schoolhouse at 10 o'clock A. M., and were called to order by Isaac H. Palmer. On motion of Mr. Palmer. George M. Bartholomew was chosen Moderator, and James 0. Eaton, Clerk. The hotel of Freedom Simons, in the village of Lodi, was chosen as the place for holding the next annual meeting, and one hundred dollars was voted to be raised by taxation to defray the expenses of the town for the year. Marston C. Bartholomew was elected Chairman of the Board of Supervisors : William H. Mcintosh and Ira Polly, Supervisors ; James 0. Eaton, Clerk ; William G. Simons, Assessor ; Timothy S. Wells, Treasurer ; John Foote, Superintendent of Schools : James McCloud, Horace M. Ayer, Lester Ray, Constables ; John Slown, Aaron Chalfant, Simeon Ryder, James Thomas, Justices of the Peace. Those voting at this election were Isaac H. Palmer, Robert Hopkins, Samuel B. Farrington, Lewis Baldwin, Lester Ray, James Thomas, 0. A. Kilburn, George Lyman, W. E. Cathcart, Joseph B. Hopkins, James Thomas, Jr., Leander Drew, Timothy S. Wells, Jacob Dawson, William G. Simons, Simeon Ryder, John Foote, Reuben Ring, Nathan Bowman, Samuel Ring, Jacob Hurley, G. M Bartholomew, J. 0. Eaton, John Slown, H. M. Ayer, Johnson Soward, James McCloud, Joseph Brown, M. C. Bartholomew, Moses Chase, Freedom Simons, William H. Mcintosh, J. B. Tabor, Aaron Chalfant, William B. Partridge, Silas Ryder, Joseph Stretch. Total, 37. Of these there were still living in the town, in March, 1880, Isaac H. Palmer, Timothy S. Wells, William G. Simons, John Foote, G- M. Bartholomew, J. 0. Eaton, H. M. Ayer, James McCloud, Joseph Brown. M. C. Bartholomew, Freedom Simons, William H. Mcintosh and J. B. Tabor. Total. 13.

The first school was taught in a house erected in 1846, on Section 27. The building was a small log house, and the school was taught in the summer of that year by Miss Mary Yockey. The next schoolhouse was a frame building, erected in 1851, also on Section 27. Mrs. S. J. Andrews in the Lodi Journal, July 21, 1872, thus speaks of the old log schoolhouse: "That primitive institution of learning, which contained no desk but a board fastened at a convenient height, for the purpose, against the wall, or rather logs, seats of the plainest kind, with no backs, and a floor through the crevices of which snakes and mice often emerged to our delight, was situated upon the rise of ground, then shaded "oy lofty wide-spreading oaks, near where Mrs.

Bower's house now stands. And the boiling, bubbling springs at the foot of the hill, the leafy coverts so admirably arranged for miniature housekeeping - and other considerations, drew the round-eyed, wriggling pupils, full many a time, from the sight of the not too vigilant schoolmistress, under cover of the weak subterfuge of studying in the shade. I think I see them now, gay gamboliers in verdant summer bowers, their rippling laughs and gleeful shouts sounding strangely far off and echo-like adown the corridors of time. Play on, blindfolded children, types of innocency and thoughtlessness, for just before you on life's journey are tears and open graves, thorns that will tear your tender feet, and icy-wind storms that may blast, or cover with perpetual snow, the fraj^ile buds of promise in the gardens of your hearts. Or, if your steps grow laggard from weariness, go in to your indulgent teacher and con your right-soon forgotten tasks. There are lessons for you in the future of distrust and indifference, which contact witli a world without a heart must teach. They will be bitter ofttimes, and you cannot forget them, though you would."

The first entry of land was the northwest quarter of Section 20. E. Hale purchased and patented June 21, 1836. I. H. Palmer made three of the first entries by an actual settler, being a portion of Section 27. on which he laid out the village of Lodi.

The town of Lodi is skirted on the south and east by the edges of the high limestone country. North and west of this edge, which is ragged, sending out irregular projecting points, the general surface is 200 to 300 feet lower, but this lowland includes a number of limestonecapped outliers, some of which have an area of several square miles, and reach as great altitudes as attained by the limestone country to the south and east - that is, 500 to 600 feet. Considerable areas of prairie occur in southern and eastern Lodi. The principal stream is Spring Creek, which, heading in the towns to the southward, traverses Lodi from south to north with a fall of some si.xty feet. Along its valley the county, though well down in the sandstone, shows a rich alluvial soil. A little marsh occurs along Spring Creek.

The Chicago & Northwestern Railroad was built through the town in 1871, passing through Sections 8, 17, 16, 21, 27 and 34. . Two villages have been laid out, Lodi on Section 27, ami Okee on Section 8.

During the four years' struggle for national existence, the part performed by Lodi was such as will illustrate the character and patriotism of her people. The call was no sooner made by the President than many of her brave sons responded. Company H of the Second Regiment, Capt. Randolph (the first company entering the Unitei^ States service), was largely made up from this town.

Collin, Joseph Church, Cornelius Dever, Thomas J. Dowden, Joseph R. Eells, F. A. G. Eaton, Thomas Farber, E. Howard Irwin, G. W. Kingsley, A. J. Kyle, H. C. Lockwood, John Lawrence, James Pettit, George Phinney, Anthony Phillips, James Quinn, Leroy Riddle, William Ring, Ransom P. Ray, G. E. Reynolds, J. F. Stahl, C. F. Stacker. John Sweet, John R. Scott, Seth B. Tannhill, Thomas Townsend, L. F. Warner, Leander Wells, Thomas Yule, George Van Lone, W. W. Hurd, Robert Travis, William Travis. Thoms Anfreson, Ed. Moore, J. C. Stahl, T. R. Cross, G. W. Barney, W. H. Dowden,- G. T. Hill, J. B. Rogers, Isaiah Van Brocklin, Trueman Piper, Edwin Chapman. Of this number, November, 1863, seventeen had died in the service of their country - eight were killed in battle and nine died of disease. Twenty-two others had been wounded, and twenty-five discharged in consequence of wounds or disease. At this time Lodi had furnished one in eleven and a half of her entire population. The quota of the town under all calls was eighty-four, therefore an excess of thirty-six had gone out to battle. Says a writer in a local paper at that time : '- Had we been able to have procured credit for our excess, we would not only have been clear of the late draft, but we would also have had more than enough to clear us from the next 300,000. Had the whole State done as well as we have here, she would have sent 67,650 men to the war. Had New York done as well she would have sent 340,000. Had the loyal States all done as well, counting only 50 per cent of the population of the border States, we could have had an array all told, of 1,900,000 men ; and we would have in the field, to-day, an army of 1.235,000 effective men. Lodi has had her representatives on many of the most fiercely contested battlefields of the war. The first Bull Run was witness to the valor of her sons, and Gettysburg was the crowning glory of many noble deeds. It is no slight honor that fifty of our townsmen are, or have been, connected with the Old Iron Brigade. Not at the East alone, have our brethren displayed their heroism. Nothing could have required greater self-denial than what our boys were obliged to endure before and during the siege of Vicksburg. But without a murmur they bore it all for the good of the cause."

While the soldier boys were in the field, the loyal men a*nd women at home were not idle. A large Union League Club was formed in the village of Lodi March 7, 18(;3, for the purpose of aiding and assisting the Government in its efforts to crush out treason and rebellion. Also at Okee, on the evening of March 17, 1863, a similar club was organized. The call of the Government the latter part of 1863 became very urgent, and to encourage enlistments a large fund was raised, by private subscription, to pay each volunteer from the town the sum of $200. In response to the call then made, J. G. Knappen, Frederick Richard, Charles F. Greenman, John F. Hair, Lucius A. Crosier, Norman Cutler, Cyrus Casper, Joseph Charles, George Phinney, George Donaldson, George Evans, Henry O'Connor, Francis Cole and Henry Dunning were sworn into the service.

At a town meeting, held Tuesday, August 2, 1864, a tax of $4,000 was voted to procure volunteers. On Friday, August 19, another meeting was held, and it was voted to pay each volunteer $200 each, and an additional tax of $3,500 was levied. About this time, G. M. Humphrey began to raise a company, which was soon completed, consisting of 84 men. This was the fourth company raised and was known as Company C, Forty-second Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Captain, G. M. Humphrey: First Lieutenant, Robert Steele; Second Lieutenant, C. M. Bush. Sergeants - Lewis Lyman, Thomas Baltuff, Charles Early, Charles Pigg, H. A. Shaw. Corporals - Frank Church, W. Ryder, J. Chase, G. Keebaugh, A. Chrisler, P. V. M. Pools, M. Cooper, E. Riley. Musicians - ^'E. Richmond, J. B. Quiggle, H. Barnes, H. S. Northrop, D. L. Richmond, G. Davis. Privates - J. Avery, R. H. Brown, A. Bitney, L. J. Burlingame, R. A. Burlingarae, J. Burrows, H. D. Crosby, J. W. Chrisler, W. E. Curtis, S. Clements, J. Cole, J. Donalds, M. Donahue, N. C. Densmore, J. Evans, W. Edwards, H. A. Foster, W. D. S. Gardner, H. D. Gamsby, E. Gardner, W. M. Groton, B. Haskins, L. I. Hinds, W. H. Hartson, S. K. Hovey, J. Johnson, H. J. Jenkins. J. Jermore, H. Koch, D. Koch, W. Keebaugh, .J. Kuster, J. Lewis, S. M. Lewis, E. Luse, W. Lyman, H. S. Lamb, William Lang, L. Mclntyre, G. Mortor, J. McFarland, J. Pagler, P. Proper, C. T. Potter,

The ladies of the village of Lodi and vicinity formed a Soldiers' Aid Society, November 2, 18C4, and Mrs. W. M. Bartholomew was elected President : Mrs. E. B. Wait, Vice- President ; Miss M. A. Lewis, Secretary ; Miss M. A. Palmer, Treasurer ; Mrs. D. Hinds, Mrs. Humphrey. Miss M. Farrell, Mrs. H. Cass, Mrs. J. N. Lewis, Directors. The society rendered much aid to the sick and wounded soldiers.

In 1864, the fifth com])any was raised ; this was known as Company C, Fiftieth Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. Capt. Philander Phinney. In this company, there were from Lodi Frank E. Austin, Joseph M. Bartholomew, John Buchanan, William Cross, Henry Daws, Lewis E. Harris, Anthony Kibbe, John R. Knoles. Charles W. Narracong, Philander Phinney, James W. Rathbun. Henry Schlosser, Edward Beynow and Ira A. Sodders.

Pursuant to call the old settlers of Lodi and vicinity met at Eaton's Hall on Monday evening, March 22, 1880, for tiie purpose of organizing an " Old Settlers' Society." G. M. Bartholomew was chosen Chairman and John Foote, Secretary. On behalf of a committee appointed at a previous meeting, J. 0. Eaton presented a draft of a constitution for such a society, which was read, and, on motion, adopted and signed by most of the early settlers present. The following persons were then chosen permanent oiEcers of the society : President, G. M. Bartholomew ; Vice Presidents, James Wilson and J. < >. Eaton ; Secretary, John Foote; Treasurer, J. B. Dwinnell.

Constitution

Whereas, It has become customary in all well-regulated communities, to form associations of the early settlers, therefore, the undersigned, residents of Lodi and vicinity, do hereby unite in such an organization and adopt the following constitution :

Art. II. - Its object shall be to encourage friendship, by holding a social meeting at least once in each year, and to place on record incidents that heretofore have, or hereafter may occur, which will be of interest to future generations.

Art. III. - The officers of this Club shall consist of a President, Two Vice Presidents, a Secretary and Treasurer, who shall hold their offices for one vear and until their successors are chosen.

Art. V. - The officers of this Club shall perform the duties usually appertaining to their respective offices, to call all meetings of the Club, and the Secretary, in addition to the usual duties of his office, shall record any incident worthy of record, that may be related by any member of the Club, at a regular meeting thereof.

Art. V.I - Any person who, at the time of signing, has resided in the vicinity of Lodi. Wisconsin, for the term of twenty years, may become a member of this Club on the payment of twenty-five cents and signing this constitution.

Village Of Lodi

In the summer of 1845, Isaac H. Palmer made a trip through the southwest portion of Columbia County in search of a suitable place on which to locate, and where he could, in time, be surrounded by a thriving village. He found the greater part of the choice Government land had been taken up by speculators, but Section 27, Township 10, Range 8, was yet subject to entry, and there being a fine water-power, he determined here to set his stakes. On the 6th day of February, 1846, at the land office in Mineral Point, he entered the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of this section, and on the 17th day of March, 1846, he entered the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter. On the 2d day of April, 1846, he entered, in tiie name of G. D. Palmer, the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter. He also entered the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter, August 12, 1847, which he transferred to James McCloud, who had built a house upon the same some time previous. Again, on the 14th day of February, 1848, he entered the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter, making a total of five quarters, four of which he retained for his own use, and upon a portion of which he afterward laid out the village.

About the 1st of April, 1846, Mr. Palmer came and at once commenced getting out timber for a saw-mill, and preparing to erect a log house for his family. The saw-mill was completed and in running order by fall ; the house was ready for occupancy, and his family moved in June of the same year, being the first actual settler within what was afterward made the village limits.