Decatur Town

Decatur Town

The history of Decatur begins with the history of Centre ville, " a paper city " laid out in 1836 on the west bank of Sugar river, within half a mile of the place where the village of Decatur arose some years later. Upon the plat of Centreville, which was exhibited in Milwaukee, Detroit, and the eastern cities, were represented steamboats, churches, warehouses, and blocks of stores. Thus portrayed, the place was the cause of inanv a yearning for a western home, and a brisk sale of high priced business lots and four acre out lots began. Careful, prosperous farmers and tradesmen, wealthy speculators, and penny-saving laborers all embraced the opportunity to make a good investment, and purchased real estate in what the agents called the growing, bustling city of Centreville. One by one the purchasers learned that they were the victims of a fraud, that their land was no better than might have been bought at the government price. And so undesirable did it seem, when the unsettled state of the country was made known, that although their titles were unquestionably good, yet, so far as can be ascertained, not one of the purchasers of Centreville lots ever claimed a foot of the much lauded city, or ever settled within the limits of Decatur township. The place had indeed been surveyed and divided, as the plat showed, but the red stakes marking these divisions were the only marks of their presence which wThite men had ever left in the so-called city. Possibly too, though its social advantages were hardly of the kind to attract immigrants from the east, the city wTas as populous as its owners had claimed, for it was an Indian hunting ground. Here were found the marks of Indian labor which endured longest in Green County. The remains of an Indian council house and blacksmith shop could be seen here until 1847, when they were destroyed by a prairie fire. In one place in this vicinity, the first settlers found an acre or two of holes dug in the sand, which it is supposed the Indians had used as store houses for their corn; and Mr. Wm. Jones found, on attempting to cultivate one of their old corn fields, that they had entirely exhausted the soil. Aside from the arrow heads which are occasionally turned up by the plow, few relics of the Indian are ever found in Green County. Mr. Jonas Shook remembers seeing an Indian burying ground north of Dayton in 1837, and in '41 Messrs. John B. Perry and brother, Thos. Gillett, and others opened some mounds on "lost prairie," a little east of the village of Exeter, and found bones that it seemed to them must have belonged to a race of giants. The mounds were in two rows, one row on each side of the opening or prairie, with twentyfive mounds in one row and twenty-six in the other.

For many years after the advent of the whites, a remnant of the Winnebagoes visited their old Centreville hunting ground each winter, spending the summer at the mouth of the rivei*. In their long snow shoes they hunted over the ground very rapidly, and usually remained but a few weeks; but sometimes, as in the winter of 1842-^3, the cold weather kept them till spring. They numbered but a few families, and most of their children were half breeds. Being partially civilized, they sometimes made their pilgrimages in wagons, but their mode of life was essentially Indian. Their lodges, covered with storm proof mats, which the squaws had woven, were some of them thirty feet long. In the middle of the larger ones was a fire, round which the inmates lay and warmed themselves. Two Frenchmen lived with the Indians, one of whom, named Lavelle, told Mr. E. T. Fleek in i84i,that game was much more abundant in the vicinity of Sugar river then than it was when he first saw the country in 1826. He ascribed the change to the decrease in the Indian population.

The first settlers in Decatur township settled on Jordan prairie, near the Little Jordan creek. The first claim was that of John Moore of Ohio, made in 1839 on section twenty. In the following year he was joined by his sonin-law, Thos. Chambers, by John J. Dawson, and by Samuel Rowe. The first person born in the township was Caroline Chambers, born in 1840. In 1841 Robert Mattox and E. T. Fleek settled on section seventeen. In the winter of iS4i-'2, a post office was established, which the postmaster, Mr. Moore, named Decatur, in

To Decatur belongs the honor of having the first bridge in the county. It was built in 1842, a little northeast of the site of the village of Decatur, at the place where the river was crossed by the Indian trail from Sand Prairie to the northern part of the county, and by the territorial road from Janesville to Galena. The next settler, Win. Jones, came in 1842. Soon after his arrival he built on Sugar river, section fifteen, the first saw mill in the township. The first grist mill was built by Edson and Brown, but was not begun until 1S49. In i842-'3-'4, Donald Johnson, David Bigelow, Wm.

others, settled in the town. Many more came in 1S45 than had come before, and the work of breaking prairie was carried on with such energy that the decaying vegetation on the overturned sod produced malarial fever. In some neighborhoods almost every person was sick, and some died who might have recovered under proper care. Men sometimes went both to Monroe and to Exeter for a physician, and were unable to get one in either place. To their failure was ascribed, in a few instances, the recovery of the sick. One man who, as a physician, was never heard of in Decatur after the summer and fall of 1846, made between two and three thousand dollars by his practice along the Sugar river at that time. Mr. David Bigelow was the first victim of the fever, and the first person to die in the township.

The reputation of Decatur has not always been good. At a very early day the township was infested with counterfeiters and thieves. The counterfeiting was probably confined to making bogus silver half-dollars and dimes, but those engaged in it also bought and put in circulation counterfeit bills. Were the inhabitants of Decatur as imaginative, as garrulous, and as idle as the Spaniards, their reminiscences of the counterfeiters would be a fund of entertainment for their children equal to that furnished little Spaniards by legends of the buried and enchanted treasures of the Moors. How fortunate that time and inclination forbid! It would be troublesome to have boys running away to the woods to look for remains of fine horses left there to starve because those who put them there never dared to go back and feed them. Nobody would like to have neighbors' children slipping into his cellar, to see if the walls had been blackened by the fumes of chemicals; and still worse would it be if gamins were always waiting on the corners to ask the dimensions of the box of sand which somebody's respected ancestor might be fabled to have bought, foolishly believing it held a thousand dollars of the "queer." While the counterfeiting was in progress, Decatur had within her borders a floating population that no more belonged to her than to the rest of the county, and some of those engaged in it lived in other towns. But the centre of it all, so far as Green County was concerned, was Decatur township. Decatur men who went abroad in those days say that it always took them twice as long as other travelers to pay their bills, for, although large sums might be taken from other parts of Green County without hesitation, the smallest bill was never taken from Decatur until " the detector " and the microscope had been consulted. The end justified the hope of good citizens that the corruption would work itself clear. Soon after 1850, the visits of the transient class ceased, and the unlawful practices were ended. A few years later Monroe became the headquarters of another gang of countefeiters. Their business was suddenly brought to an end by the government, since which Green County has been free from the stigma which the conduct of such men attached to her.

The village of Decatur, to which reference has once or twice been made, was laid out in the spring of 1848, by Mr. Wm. Jones. He had, himself, built the first dwelling there, and he now built the first hotel. A few years later, Mr. I. F. Mack bought the greater part of the village, and, as the Decatur plat had never been recorded, he platted eighty acres and had it recorded as Floraville, the name being a compliment to his mother-in-law, and, it is thought, the only compliment of the kind which history records. But Mr. Jones insisted that the village should either continue to be called Decatur, or should be named for his mother-in-law; and in 1852 an act of the legislature restored the old name.

The refusal of Decatur to give $7,000 for a railway was her own death sentence. When the road reached Brodhead in 1857, Decatur had five stores, two hotels, two blacksmith shops, a wagon shop, a shoe shop, and about four hundred inhabitants. All the business and all the best houses immediately went over to Brodhead. The next year, the bridge, where the first bridge in the county was built, was taken down, and moved farther south to shorten the road to the all-swallowing town. The mills followed, and Decatur was literally a deserted village. There are now fifteen houses standing there, but several of them are unoccupied, and " the sounds of population fail."

The original owners of the town of Brodhead were E. D. Clinton, I. F. Mack, John P. Dixon, E. A. West, E. H. Brodhead, and J. L. B. Thomas. As hiid out by them in the spring of 1S56, the town was a mile square; but the only house there was a log house owned by Samuel Lampson. The place was named for Mr. Brodhead, and he promised to give a bell to the first church built there. Clinton would have been an appropriate name for the village; but Clinton Junction had been named for Deacon Clinton, Kilbourn City had been named for another railroad man, and it seemed right that Mr. Brodhead should have his turn in honor of this kind. Citizens of Waukesha, Deacon Clinton's former home, were the first from out of the county to ally themselves with the new town. The next comers were Vermonters, led by Messrs. Moore, Laird, and McLaren. There was the usual question as to which way the village should grow. At first business seemed likely to keep south of the railroad, and Messrs. Clinton and Dixon had each a natural desire to lead it into the street bearing his own name. But Martin Mitchell

(a business man from the village of Decatur, and the first clerk of the town), and a few others, happened to build north of the railroad in the street between these rival streets, and this half way ground became the nucleus of the village. Dwellings went up in the new town in the summer of '56 as fast as workmen could be found to put them up. Before the end of September, Messrs. Sherman & Clinton had erected two good stores and were preparing to build others; and Messrs. Laird & Coffin were ready to entertain all guests of the village at the Manly House. Laird, McLaren & Co.'s lumber yard (the first in the county, and the only one until N. H. Allen started his in Monroe the next year), Messrs. Clinton's warehouse, and a number of stores appeared in 1S57. In the first eighteen months after the town was platted, lots were sold to the value of $1 12,000; and at the end of her second year, B rod head had over six hundred inhabitants. In the fall of '57, thanks to the farmers, to Deacon Clinton, to Messrs- Graham, the contractors, and to J. T. Dodge, the engineer who had charge of the work, the railroad reached Brodhead. In February, '58, the dullest month of the year, the freight shipped from Brodhead amounted to 896,014 pounds. Monroe, Brodhead's senior by twrentytwo years, shipped 1,212,206 pounds during the same time.

One of the first improvements in the new village was the mill race, which Thos. and John Hendrie dug from the river dam near Decatur to the site of the flour mill which Messrs. Hendrie, H. B. Stewart, and S. C

Pierce built in Brodhead. Citizens of Brodhead subscribed several thousand dollars to assist in defraying the expenses of the race, which is eighty feet wide, and nearly three miles long, and which furnishes the power for a foundry, several wagon shops, and the Norwegian plow factory. The plow factory, which makes twentyfive plows a day, was built in 1874 by W. A. Wheaton, C. W. Mitchell, H. C. Putnam, and H. H. Sater.

Since August, 1S69, Brodhead has had a bank, known as the Bank of Brodhead. The stockholders are Ephraim Bowen, J. V. Richardson, Edwin Ludlow, and Mrs. Thos. Hendrie. It grew out of the necessities of the place, for in point of activity Brodhead is fulfilling the promise of its infancy. With good manufacturing facilities, Brodhead has also the advantage of being the point of shipment for a jDart of Rock County as well as for a large part of Green. There has always been a great deal of business done there, and conductor Wadsworth says there are nearly twice as many passengers to and from Brodhead as to and from Monroe, though the tickets sold in Monroe amount to more than the tickets sold in Brodhead. Since 1S70, Brodhead has enjoyed the honors and privileges of an incorporated town, and, [notwithstanding her greater age, wealth, and size, if Monroe was not the county town, she might have reason to fear that her lively neighbor would quite overshadow her.

Unlike Monroe, Brodhead never had to wait for anything. There were religious meetings there from the first, and Dr. Morris had established his reputation in the town as a good physician long before Brodhead was thought of. For some time after the village was started, the Congregationalist was the only religious society, but the first church was built by the Methodists, to whom Mr. Brodhead gave the promised bell. Political meetings were held at the depot at first. Early provision was made for public schools, including a high school; and since her fourth year Brodhead has never been without a newspaper. Beginning in the latter part of '59 the Brodhead Reporter was edited two years by L. W. Powell, and after him for a short time by T. J. Johnson. In '6i the life of the Brodhead Independent began. It has been edited successively by I. F. Mack, sen., I. F. Mack, jun., E. O. Kimberly, Morse & vStone, and E. O. Kimberly, the present proprietor.

The village is already so old that this brief sketch has had space for but few of the names of which a more detailed history would make frequent mention, so old that it has already been called to mourn the death of some who were long and intimately connected with its progress. The names of J. B. Blanchard, John L. Mc Nair (whose brother and former partner Miles McNair still lives in the village), Edson Clinton, H. T. Moore, and W. B. Wheaton will at once suggest themselves in this connection.

Source changes here: from History of Green County, Wisconsin, by Union Publishing Company, Springfield, Ill., Pub. [from Old Catalog], published 1884; 9,755 words in this source stream.

Decatur Town

The town of Decatur lies in the eastern tier of Green county's sub-divisions, embracing congressional township 2 north, range 9 east. It is bounded on the north by the town of Albany; on the west by Sylvester; on the south by Spring Grove; and on the east by Rock county. The surface of this town is quite variable. What is known as Jordan j^rairie - which comprises sections 6, 7, 8, 17, IS, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27 and 28 - is a rich productive portion of the town and was the first settled. Here located John Moore, Thomas Chambers, John J. Dawson, Samuel Rowe, Robert Mattox, E. T. Fleek, William Jones, Benjamin H. Fleek, Samuel Northcraft, Donald Johnson, David Bigelow, Thomas Stewart, J. I. Bowen, Perry and Washington Mitchell and others. The soil of this prairie consists of a rich loam mixed with sand, and is superior corn land. It also produces excellent crops of small grain and grass, and on the whole, is not excelled perhaps in the State for its general excellence. Of late years much attention has been paid to the raising of stock by the farmers here. South of Jordan prairie the land is lower, or more inclined to be marshy, the soil being composed of more or less clay, and in places a black loam. This portion of the town, however, contains a number of valuable farms, among which are those belonging to French Lake, John Douglass and KufusColton. Along Sugar river, which runs entirely across the town from north to south, the surface is generally low, and composed alternately of sand, clay and marsh. In fact the entire surfjKJe of that portion of the town which lies east of

Sugar river may be thus described. Among the successful farmers and stock raisers on the east side of the river are: W. E. Gardner, A. Murray, N. L. Lewis, R. J. Day and C. D. Wooster.

A ridge, considerably elevated, enters this town on section 6, from the town of Albany, passing southeasterly and terminating on section 22. Several bluffs of considerable height - which are really a part of this ridge - are found on Sugar river. The highest of these bluffs is on section 15, where it rises to a height of 200 feet above the river. The view from the top of this bluff is fine, the surrounding country and river being brought into view for miles in every direction, The principal stream in the town is Sugar river, which enters from the town of Albany, by way of section 3. It pursues an irregular southerly course, and leaves the town from the southwest corner of section 35. This is the most important stream in Green county, and at Brodhead affords an excellent water power. There are several branches of this stream which make confluence in this town. Little Jordan creek enters the town on section 18, flows eastand northeast and enters Sugar river on section 15. Sugar creek, which is quite an important stream, affording several mill privileges, enters this town on section 19, flows southeasterly, and leaves the town from section 34. It enters the Sugar river in the town of Spring Grove. Riley's creek, a branch of Sugar creek, rises in the town of Jefferson, enters this town on section 31, and makes confluence with Sugar creek on section 28,

Broughton's creek rises in the town of Albany, enters this town on section 1, flows southwest about three miles, and on section 14 flows into S. C. Pierce's mill race.

The ridge which has heretofore been described, was formerly heavily timbered with different varieties of oak, poplar, and some black walnut and hickory. The greater part of this timber has been removed "long years ago," In the southwestern portion of the town, particularly on section 31, in early days, was found a heavy body of white oak ; and throughout nearly all of the territory east of the river were found oak openings. Almost all of the original timber has been removed, giving place to a second growth. In fact, at present, a greater area is covered with timber than when the town was first settled.

Baely Settlement

The first settler within the limits now comprising the town of Decatur was John Moore, who came here in the early autumn of 1839. He entered 160 acres on section 20, and eighty acres of fine timber land on section 31, and did some breaking the same fall preparatory to a crop the following year. This was the first breaking, and his crop of 1840 the first in the town. He erected a log house on section 20, in the fall of 1839, which was the first building in the town. This house is still occupied as a dwelling, John Moore was formerly from the Sciota valley, Ohio, but came here with his family from Stephenson Co,, 111,, where for several years he had been living on a claim. His family, when he came here, consisted of a wife and seven children, four sons and three daughters. He sold out about 1859 and removed to Missouri, where he died at an advanced age several years ago. The family all removed to Missouri at about the same time.

John J. Dawson and Samuel Rowe came in the spring of 1840 and entered land, settling thereon in the fall. They both located on section 20, where Mr. Dawson still lives. Mr.

John J. Dawson is the oldest resident of the town now living here. He was born in Hampshire Co., W. Va., Sept, 15, 1814, and when twenty-one years old went to Licking Co,, Ohio. In August of the following year he went to Galena, 111. He had worked at the trade of millwright in Virginia, which knowledge proved an available resource, and was the means of securing him employment at times when a little money was with him a necessity. After remaining in Galena a few days, and earning a few^ dollars to enable him to continue his journey, he went to what was called "Buffalo Grove," Ogle Co., 111., where he engaged to work at his trade, and during his stay in that vicinity assisted in building a number of saw mills. In January, 1837, he went to Stephenson Co., 111., where he bought a claim and built a log cabin. In the spring next following he returned to Ogle county, but soon afterward went to what is now Sabula, Jackson Co., Iowa, where he built a saw mill. He worked also at the same business in Carroll Co,, 111, During the fall of 1838 he returned to his claim in Stephenson county, where he remained the following winter. He was accompanied by Samuel Rowe, who came to this county with Mr, Dawson, and became his partner. Mr. Rowe worked and improved the claim, and Mr. Dawson continued his business of millwrighting. In the spring of 1840 he returned to Jackson county with the intention of buying land, but came back to Stephenson county without having made a purchase. Green Co., Wis,, having been highly recommended as a desirable place to settle, Mr, Dawson and his partner, Mr. Rowe, came here in the spring of 1840 and entered 240 acres of land, 160 of which was a part of his present homestead farm, where he has since lived. Here he commenced life's work in earnest, and has been successful. He now has a farm of 360 acres, and for many years has been known as one of the prominent farmers and stock raisers in the town of Decatur. Mr. Dawson has been twice married, first in November, 1840, to Mary Ann Parriott, a native of West Virginia, She died in 1862. By this union there were eight children, six of whom are now living, three sons and three daughters. His present wife, to whom he was married Oct. 22, 1871, was Harriett Baird, daughter of William Baird, and a native of the town of Clarno, this county. They have had six children, four of whom, two sons and two daughters, are living - George Elmer, May Elisabeth, Sarah Fannie and Jessie W. The children by first wife are - John P., deceased; Ann Genett, Adrianna, deceased; Bevans Adie, Samuel N., Elmira Ann, Wolford P. and J. F. Mr. Dawson was originally a whig, then a republican, now he is a republican and prohibitionist. He is a member of the M. E. Church. Thomas Chambers came early in 1840 with his family, and settled on section 19. He w.is a son-in-law of John Moore, the first settler in the town. After a few years residence in the town Chambers removed to Galesburg, 111., from thence to Kansas, and finally went to Colorado, where he died.

Edmund T. Fleek and Robert Mattox came in the fall of 1841. Mr. Fleek entered eighty acres of prairie and forty acres of timber land on section 17, where he still lives. Mr. Mattox entered eighty acres on section 17, adjoining Mr. Fleek's on the north ; and bought eighty acres of timber land on section 4. He remained here until 1848 when he removed to Baraboo, and afterward went to Missouri.

Edmund T. Fleek, one of the most prominent men in the town of Decatur, was born in Hampshire Co., Va., Jan. 20, 1817. His parents were Adam and Mary Ann (Putnam) Fleek, wlio removed from Virginia to Licking Co., Ohio, in 1836. The following spring the family settled on a farm adjoining tlie city of Newark. His father was a miller and distiller, at which business Edmund engaged when a boy. Mr. Fleek is a half brother of John Dawson. The first winter of his arrival in this county he cut and split 10,000 rails and stakes on shares, receiving one-half for his work. This was his start in this country. Many a young man might profit by this example. He at once began improving his farm, and has kept adding from time to time to his first purchase, until he now owns 1,000 acres in a body, being one of the largest grain and stock farms in the county. During the past four years he has expended for land, over $17,000. Thus it may be seen that Mr. Fleek is a man of energy and good business capacity. His parents, Adam and Mary Ann Fleek, came to this town in 1846, accompanied by seven children. Of the family already here at that time, beside Edmund and Benjamin fleek, were John Dawson and Mrs. Northcraft, who were children of Mrs. Fleek by a former marriage. Adam Fleek settled on section 17, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1854, at the age of seventy-nine years. The mother survived him until October, 1883, when she died, in her eighty-eighth year. Adam Fleek was twice married. By the first marriage there were seven children, and by the second nine, who lived to an adult age. Edmund T. Fleek, the subject of this sketch, was married to Sarah Ann Howen, daughter of John and Isabell Bowen, who was born in Fayette Co., Penn , Feb. 20, 1828, and removed to Johnson Co., Iowa, during the spring of 1844. Her father died the following August. Her mother died at Waukon, Iowa, where she was visiting her children, Dec. 25, 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Fleek have ten cliildren, four sons and six daughters - Rinaldo, Emma V., Fannie F., Arthur E., Florence L., John L., Annie L., Alta J., Nellie M. and Howard H. Mr. Fleek originally was a whig, and still adheres to those principles, but votes with the republican party, as they most nearly represent those principles. Religiously, he was at one time a Uriiversalist, but for many years has been a Materialist. He is now well advanced in years. Adam Fleek, the father, first married Ebiotut TJmstott. By this marriage there were seven children, all of whom reached an adult age, but are now all deceased.

In 1842 William Jones came and settled on section 22, where he improved a farm. He threw a dam across Sugar river, on section 15. and in 1847-8 erected a saw mill, the first in the town. He was also the original owner of the plat of Decatur village. About I860 he removed to Kansas and is now deceased. Mr. Jones was a native of the State of New York, but came here from Racine Co., Wis.

Mr. Johnson settled first on section 28, where he lived for a few years, then went to the village of Decatur. He finally removed to Wa><I)- ington Territory, where he died.

Perry Mitchell located on section 29, where he lived until the time of his death. He was a native of Fayette Co., Penn., and a man who was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him.

Daniel Dye came from Cattaraugus Co., NY., at about the same time. He made several claims which he held and sold for speculation. He finally removed to the far west.

Jared I. Bowen resides on section 17, town of Decatur, where he settled in December, 1882, which place is the original homestead of Adam Fleek. Mr. Bowen was born in Fayette Co., Penn,, near the Monongehala river in the Forks of Cheat, in 1823. He learned the trade of cabinet maker and carpenter. In the spring of 1844 his father, John Bowen, removed with his family to Johnson Co., Iowa, where he died the same season. His mother with family came immediately afterward to the town of Decatur, this county, where her brother, Thomas Stewart, then lived. Jared I. did not accompany the family to Iowa, but learning of the death of his father and of the removal of the family to Green county, came here at once, reaching Monroe on the last day of December, 1844, and immediately afterward settled in the town of Decatur, where he has since lived. He resided for nianv years on section 5. He was married to Lacey Ann Fleek. Tliey have three children - Dr. D. H., now practicing physician at Waukon, Iowa; Wilder Lee and Edmund Fleek, The two younger sons live on the homestead farm, on section 5, which Mr. Bovven still owns.

In 1845 Benjamin H. Fleek and Samuel Nortlicraft came. Mr. Fleek settled on section 17, where he died Jan. 2, 1883. At the time of his death, he was the wealthiest farmer in the town of Decatur. When he came here, with his wife and two children, he :wa.s a poor man, having no money or property. Industry, economy and good management made him a rich man.

Benjamin H. Fleek was born in Hampshire Co., Va., Oct. 27, 1818, where he was reared. At the age of eighteen years he removed t<> Ohio with his fath.er. When he came to Green county his family consisted of a wife and two children. All the goods, chattels and money he possessed at that time did not amount to 1200 He took a claim of forty acres, which he sold t<> his father in 184(>. With the money he received for this land he began a successful career. At the time of his death he owned about 1,000 acres of land, besides having previously distributed several hundred acres among his children. He also possessed many thousand dollars' worth of personal property. His success was attained by his skill in raising large crops of grain, and the safe and jnofilable investment of his money, lie was an honorable and upright citizen, liberal in providing for his family, and for all charitable purposes, and in the support of the gospel, being a consistent member of the M. E. Church. He was married in Ohio, on the 2d of Septem ber, 1819, to Susan, daughter of Henry Fleek. She was born in Hampshire Co., Va. The result of this union was nine children, six of whom are living - Adam G. B., John J. D., Allen, Clementine C, Hattie and Tamson. Three children - Henry M., Demarius and Samuel J. are deceasetl. The children are all married except the youngest and live within two miles of the old homestead. Adam lives on section 27 ; John J. D. lives on section 19; Allie, wife of Jacob Roderick, lives on section 20 ; Clementine C, wife of Sylvanus D. Fisher, lives on section 16 ; Hattie, wife of John C. Murdock, living in the town of Sylvester, and Tamson, living at home. John J. D. Fleek was born in the town of Decatur, Aug. 29, 1845. He married Martha Erickson, born in Wisconsin. He lives on the homestead farm.

Samuel Northcraft resides on section 28, where he settled in 1847. He came to this town Nov. 7, 1845, and for two years worked the farm of John Dawson. He was born in Washington Co., Md., Feb. 15, 1812, where he lived until seventeen years old, when he went to Hampshire Co., Va., where he was married in 1832 to Elmira Ann Dawson, a sister of John Dawson of this town. He then went to Allegany Co., Md., worked in a mill three years, then returned to Hampshire Co., Va., and engaged in farming, where he lived until he came to Green county. With his wife and five children he came all the way by wagon, beitig twenty-seven and one-half days on the route. The parents of Mr. Northcraft liave but two children - Michael, the brother of Samuel, lives in Minnesota. Mrs. Northcraft was born in Hampshire Co., Va., April 17, 1819. They have had ten children, seven of of whom are now living - Mary E., Lucie Ann, Thomas J., Lewelan M., Franklin P., Martha C. and Josephine. One son, Isaac, died in Grundy <'o.,Mo., Sept. 4, 1872, in his thirty-eighth year.

William Frazee came during this year and settled on section 18. In 1881, he removed his family to Iowa, but still owns the farm, and intends to return.

A. Armstrong, a resident on section 21, is a son of Fitch Armstrong, who was married in Portage, N. Y., to Amelia Scoville, a native of Connecticut. After his marriage he removed to Genesee county, where his wife died, leaving him with four children to mourn her loss. In the fall of 1845 he started with his family in a lumber wagon for Wisconsin. It took him about eight weeks to reach Green county. That fall he purchased a claim of 160 acres on section 21, for which he paid $40, He died on the old homestead in August, 1856. His children consist of two sons and two daughters - Arminda, wife of B. F. Coon, residing in Iowa; Arteus, Lura, widow of Sylvanus Graham of this town; and Lycurgus, residing in Waverly, Iowa. Arteus was born in the town of Portage, Livingston Co., N. Y., Sept. 5, 1831. He came to this county in 1845. In 1852 he went to California, overland, with an ox team, being six months on the road. He was absent two years, and returned by the Isthmus route. He has been married twice. His first wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Anson Sheflield His present wife was Mrs. Pluma (Howard) Bryce, daughter of Philander Howard, of the town of Avon, Rock Co., Wis. Mr. Armstrong had five children by his first wife - Mary, w ife of diaries Thompson, residing in Waverly, Iowa; Charles F., mayor of Clyde City, Kansas; Frank, resident of Waverly, Iowa; Orr, a station agent and telegraph operator; and Nettie. Mr. Armstrong has one child by his presetit wife -

W. B. Mack, of Brodhead, is a son of I. F. Mack, the original proprietor of the village of Decatur, also one of the original proprietors of the village of Brodhead, and for many years a prominent citizen of Green county, but since 1869, a resident of Chicago. I. F. Mack is a native of Springfield, Mass, where he was born in September, 1806. His father was a clergyman. I. F. was educated at Munson Academy, one of the oldest and best institutions of learning in Massachusetts. He went to Rochester, N, Y., when twenty years of age and engaged in teaching school about eighteen months, when he went to Cincinnati and taught the first public school in that city for one year, during w.hich time he was instrumental in initiating the public school system there. He returned to Rochester and engaged in teaching again. He took a course of law, reading during the time. He afterwards engaged in mercantile operations, built two stores and tHree flouring mills and operated one for twelve years. This was at the time when Rochester possessed the largest milling interests of any city in the United States, if not in the world. He was for many years prominently connected with the educational interests of that city, and was the first superintendent of the city schools, under the free school system, of the State of New York. He came to Green county in 1848. He laid out the village of Decatur and was the principal business man of that village, being engaged in merchandising, milling and farming, also practicing law, having been admitted to the bar after coming to Decatur. He dealt largely in real estate, and was owner of a large amount of land on Sugar river. He was attorney and land commissioner of the Northern Iowa Railroad Company, and invested extensively in lands along the line of that road. He was also in the employment of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad coni[»iU)y, settling claims, etc. In IH.^G the village of Brodhead was laid out on land owned largely by himself, and he being one of the principal proprietors transferred his business headquarters to that place, also taking up his residence there in 1864. He was the first superintendent of schools under the present charter. He drew up the first charter for the village, and upon its incorporation was made president of the board of trustees. In 1870 he removed to Englewood, a beautiful suburb of Chicago. There he also aided in building up the schools, which now rank among the best in Illinois. He was one of the officers of the school board there. Seven buildings were erected under his supervision, and he erected seven residences, and dealt largely in real estate. He moved into Chicago proper in 1878, where he now lives. Although he has reached an advanced age, he is still actively engaged in business. He retains his powers of mind and body to a remarkable degree. He has been twice married. His first wife was Clarissa Beebe, a native of Vermont. She died in Rochester in January, 1848. He was married in August, 1848, at Oberlin, Ohio, by Rev. Dr. Finney, to Frances S. Day. He had by Lis first marriage seven sons, two of whom died quite young. The others came here with their father and four of them are still living - W. B., the subject of this sketch, is the eldest; I. F., Jr., is editor of the Sandusky, (Ohio) Daily Register^ and is president of thi- Editorial Association of Ohio; William C. is postal clerk between Chicago and Central ia, and is also engaged in business in Chicago; John T. is associate editor and part proprietor of the Sandusky Register. E. B. Mack, deceased, was a journalist, and at the time of his death, which occurred in December, 1881, was the eastern manager for the Chicago Titnes, the St Louis Republican, the Louisville Courier- Journal and the Cincinnati Gazette. He was an able journalist and a successful business man. There are also four surviving children by the second marriage, one son and three daughters. W. H. Mack was boi'n in Roches- ter, N. Y., April 22, 1832. He received hi? education at the public schools in Rochester, N. Y., and at Oberlin, Ohio. He came to Green county in February, 1849. In March, 1852, he went to California where he engaged in mining and mechanical work, atid for two years was book keeper for the Yuba River Water Ditch Company. In 1858 he returned to Green county and engaged in farming and mechanical occuj)ations. He was for three and one-half years with the F. B. Gardner Company, of Chicago, at their milling and ship building establishment on Green Bay as head joiner; having charge of finishing their vessels. For nearly two years he was book keeper for the lumber firm of A. M. Spear & Co., on the east shore of Green bay. He has held the oflice of treasurer for two years, also held the ofiice of justice eight years for the town of Decatur, and is at present village justice in Brodhead. He was married in June, 1858, to Ophelia Wicks, of New York city. They have four children living - Martha Wicks, Edward A., Ophelia and Cornelia M. They lost one child in May, 1879, Freddie, aged ten and a half yeai's,

Jerome Bonaparte Fleek is one of the seven children of Adam Fleek, who came with his parents to this county in 1846. He was born in Hampshire Co., Va., Aug. 23, 1830. After coming to this county he remained with his parents until his twenty-eighth year. He was then married to Margaret Hightshoe, daughter of David Hightshoe, of the town of Sylvester, 'and settled on section 21, where he resided till 1868. In that year he sold his farm to Philip Kilwine, and removed to his present residence. He now owns 490 acres of land. Mr. and Mrs. Fleek have three children - Kate, Virgil and Wade Hampton. Mr. Fleek was the youngest of nine sons. Like other members of the numerous Fleek family in the town of Decatur, hi' lias acquired a competence.

Vt., Sept. 10, 1807, where he was reared. He was married to Samantha Wadsworth, also born in the town of Bennington, Dec. 9, 1806. In 1845 he brought his family, consisting of a wife and three children, to Wisconsin, locating in Waukesha county. He only lived there one year, however, when he came to Green county. He improved his farm, and afterwards increased it to 508 acres. His widow still lives on the homestead with her son. They had three children - Gurdon, Warren E. and Martha. The latter is now the wife of Andrew Hall, who resides in Minnesota. Warren owns the homestead. He was born in Bennington, Vt., in 1839. He owns 548 acres of land, and is extensively engaged in stock raising.

Between 1845 and 1850 the town settled rapidly. Among the arrivals during this period were: John L. McNair, I. F. Mack, Samuel Mott, Anson Sheffield, J. B. Fleek, Dewey Gardner and a Mr. Pettibone.

Mr. Pettibone came from IMilwaukee in 1846 and located on the Sugar river, on section 10. With him came his two children, Harmon and Loretta. Mr. Pettibone died of cholera in 1849. The farm upon which he settled was divided between the children. The girl re turned to Milwaukee, where she married and died. Harmon was rather an awkward boy, and fond of reading. He went to Ohio and attended school, his teacher being James A. Garfield, who was his cousin, and finally graduated at the Michigan State University in 1859. He studied law with Hon. J. E. Arnold, at ^lilwaukee. Wis., and entered into practice at La Crosse. When the war broke out he enlisted, and became major of the 20th Wisconsin regiment. In 1865 he resumed the practice of his profession at Greenville, Tenn., under the name

First Events

The first birth in the town was that of Caroline Chambers, daughter of Tliomas and Rebecca Chambers, born in 1840. Slie is now the wife of Dr. Stair, of Black Earth, Wis.

The first school in the town was taught by Jabez Johnson, in a log school house, on section 20. on Mr. Moore's land. This was in the winter of 1844-5.

The first marriage in the town was that of Delilah J. Moore, daughter of John Moore, to William Riley, of the town of Jefferson. This was in 1842. Riley died in the town of Sylvester. His widow married again and removed to Kansas, where she died.

During the early autumn of 1846, the first deaths in the town occurred. The season was a very sickly one. The first adults to be called away by death were: David Bigelow, and a young man named William Nipple, a brother of Fred. Nipple. The first children to die were: John M. and Emily J. Northcraft. The former died Sept. 5, 1846, aged five years; the latter Sept. 15, 1846, aged nine years. These were children of Samuel and Elmira Northcraft.

The first dwelling was a log house erected by John Moore, on section 20, in the fall of 18:J9. It was on the farm now owned by Jacob L. Roderick. The cabin was removed from the spot where it first stood by Mr. Roderick, and is now used as a tenant house on his farm.

across Sugar river on section 14, in 1842. It was 100 feet in length. All the neighbors for miles around gathered to raise the bridge, but as there was no one to engineer the work the gathering did not succeed in the undertaking, and the structure was afterward raised with machinery by a man from Beloit. Joseph Woodle, of Sylvester, built the bridge. It was in use until 1856, when, the road having been vacated, it was taken down.

Educational

There are seven full school districts in the town of Decatur, and educational facilities here are fully equal, if not superior, to those of any town in Green county. The districts are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 9. The following items, showing the condition of the various districts, were taken from the reports of the district clerks for the year ending .June 30, 1883:

District No. 1. W. E. Gardner is clerk of this district. Number of pupils of school age, twenty-three; have a frame building, first cost of which was $400, present valuation, $200.

District No. 2. William II. Murray, clerk. Total number of pupils of scliool age, twentyeight. The school house in tiiis district is a brick building.

District No. 3. W. L. Bowen, clerk; number of pupils of school age, nineteen; frame building in good condition, cost $800; present value, $500.

District No. 4. J.N. Davis, clerk; total number of pupils of school age, thirty-seven. This district has a brick house which cost $1,200; at present it is in good condition and is valued at $800.

District No. 6. E. D. Hall, clerk; number of pupils of school age, forty-three. This district has a stone school house, which cost aVjouL $1,000. Its present valuation is $500.

There are two joint districts which embrace territory in this town. District No. 9, joint with Sylvester, has a building in the latter town. Nine of the pupils belong to this town. District No. 1, joint with Albany, embraces some territory in Decatur.

The first services of a religious character in the town, were held at the residence of Tliomas Chambers, on section 19, in 1842. They were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Ash, a Methodist Episcopal missionary. Services were also held at the house of John J. Dawson at about the same time. Late in 1842 a class was formed. Among the members were: John and Mary A. Dawson, Thomas and Rebecca Chambers and Mrs. John Moore. Services wei'e held at private liouses until about 1844, when the Iol; school house was erected on section 20. In 1848 a frame church 24x30 feet in size was built. The class increased gradually after its formation, and revivals were frequently held. John J. Dawson is the only one left of the original members. Nearly all of them are deceased. Regular services continued to be held until 1883, since which time most of the members have attended at Juda.

Official Orgaxization

The town of Decatur was organized in 1849. The first election was held at the school house, near William Jones' residence, on the 3d of April, 1849. At that time the following town officers were elected : Supervisors, George Gardner, chairman. Fitch Armstrong and Horace Countryman ; clerk, Martin Mitchell ; treasurer, Roswell D. Bigelow ; asse'Ssor, Perry Mitchell ; superintendent of schools, Erastus Hurlburt ; justices of the peace, Thomas Stewart, Martin Mitchell, William Wilford and

John B. Sawyer ; constables, Samuel Rowe, Walter W. Wheaton and Stephen B.Saunders ; overseers of roads, Nelson F. Roberts and Charles A. Warner. At this meeting $120 was appropriated for school purposes, and $240 for contingent expenses. The judges of this election were: William Jones, Thomas Stewart and E. T. Fleek; D. Johnson was clerk of the election.

In early days the dead of Decatur were buried on section 20, on the farm of John Moore. This was continued for a number of years, when a cemetery association was organized, to which Mr. Moore donated one acre ol ground. This took the name of Moore's Cemetery. It is located not far from the spot formerly used for this purjjose, and most of the bodies have been removed from the old to the new gi'ounds.

The Monticello Baptist Church association have acemetery in connectioti with their church on section 6, in this town. It was laid out in 1856. The first burial here was of the remains of Edmund Wheeler, who died Dec. 28, 1858. Bodies from other cemeteries, generally belonging to Baptist families, in adjoining towns, were re-interred here. The cemetery and church lot contain three acres.

Decatur Village

Decatur village was laid out in the spring of 1848, by William Jones. He had already built a house and soon afterw^ard erected a hotel. A few years later I. F. Mack bought the greater part of the village. At this time the plat had not been recorded, Mr. Mack platted eighty acres and liad it put upon record as Floraville, as a compliment to liis wife's mother. Mr. Jones insisted that it should be called Decatui-, and in 1852 it was so named by an act of the legislature. In 1 857, the village had five stores, two hotels, two blacksmith shops, a wagon shop, a shoe shop and about 400 inhabitants.

had the office named Decatur, in honor of Commodore Decatur. From that tlie election precinct took the name, and later the village and town.

Early Dats In Decatur, By I. F. Mack

"Your favor of the 10th inst., was received at my office during a weeks confinement at my home from a very severe attack of winter cholera. I am now in poor condition to either write or think. You can learn from my son, residing in Brodhead, inanj^ facts of Decatur's early history, and also from the iMessrs. Fleek, of that town, who were among the earliest settlers. I readied Decatur in September, 1848, and found, settled in the township, four Fleek brothers, two brothers-in-law of theirs and John J. Putman, an uncle, all of them energetic, thrifty men.

"William Jones had run out his shitigle from the door of a log house, and there kindly entertained strangers in that part of the town afterwards platted as the 'village of Floraville,' subsequently changed to 'Decatur.' Poetic names did not take well on the frontier at that day.

"In the spring of 1849 the village was platted and soon it numbered 100 souls. Martin Mitchell was the first man to dispense candy, pins and needles to the children and ladies, and Dr. R Morris was the first disciple of Esculapius that dared to meet the straggling Indians (squaws) that yearly came to fish and traj) in the bayous of the river, the Indian name of which was 'Sweet Water.'

'*The doctor and merchant above reached there in 1848, a few days or weeks before the writer, but it was reserved for the latter and liis family to purchase William Jones' squatter rights in the town, complete tlie platting, and finish the paw mill begun by him.

near the site of the saw mill and operated it a short time until fever-heat, resulting from severe friction, led to their separation and sale of the mill to the family of the writer, by whom it was operated for a time until sold to the Messrs. Hendries, who afterwards merged it with the Brodhead mill property and razed it for that ])urpose.

"In 1851 or 1852 Mr. Mitchell left for thegold mines of California, and J. B. Sawyer figured for a time as merchant in Decatur, but soon gave place to William, Joseph and Isaac Porter, who conducted a very respectable store of general merchandise for several years, and until some time, even, after Brodhead started, and until many of the buildings in Decatur had been taken down and removed to the new town, insisting that Brodhead would not 'make much of a shower,' and that Decatur would prove the lode-stone for the country around. They succumbed at last and removed to the town of Porter, Rock Co., Wis., where they are now thrifty farmers.

"Monroe furnished a man who was a sheriff, and who was charged with letting a murderer escfipe from his custody at a hotel, who erected and run for years previous to 1856 a very good public house at Decatur. * (This man was C. H. Thomas.) Others will give you his history. William Jones sold his remaining lands in DecaUir soon after Brodhead started, and removed with his family to lola, Kansas, where he died many years ago.

"The writer has witnessed the opening up and settling of more than one new settlement of farmers, and he has never known one compare with the town of Decatur, in regard to the frugality, integrity and unyielding energy of its early settlers, and if their descendents fail to make a judicious use of their inheritance, tiie guilt of great ingratitude will lay at their door."

Biographical History Of Green Counts'

Adam Fleek, oldest son of Benjamin H, Fleek, was born in Licking Co., Ohio, in 1842, and came with his father to Green county in 1845. He was married to Margaret Dixon, daughter of Martin Dixon, and they have three children - Fanny, Llewellyn and Adam. Mr. Fleek purchased his farm, which is located on section 27, of his father. It was entered by Christopher Waterkot and Anson Sheffield, and contains 282 acres. He also owns considerable land elsewhere in this town. Mrs. Fleek was born at Juda, in this county, in 1850. Her parents were early settlers in the town of Jefferson. They now reside in Evansville, Rock county.

Franklin J. Burt lives on section 6, town of Decatur, on a farm (on Jordan Prairie) which his father purchased in 184 7. He is a son of John Burt, who was born in Washington Co., N. Y., Jan. 13, 1800, and came here with his family in 1847, and remained until his death, which occurred in 1853. His wife, Samantha (Lamb) Burt, was born in \^'ashington Co., N. Y., in 1799. They were married in Onondaga Co., N. Y., in 1825, and she died in 1873. Two sons and one daut^hter came with them - Frank J., Harriet and Russell. The latter was always an invalid, and died in October, 1865, agei thirty years. Harriet was married to Lyman Dexter in 1847, and died in 1852. Frank J., the subject of this sketch, was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., in 1826, and came to Decatur with his father, as before stated, in 1847, from which time he has been a resident. He was married to Emily A, Turman, daughter of Benjamin Turman, who came to Green county from Indiana in the fall of 1847. She was born in Sullivan county, that State, iii November, 1826. Benjamin Turman was born near Harper's Ferry, Va., in 1802, and when but a boy removed with his parents to Urbana, Ohio, and was married at Vinceiines, Ind., to Prudence Nash, also a native of Virginia. Until he came here in 1848 he owned the homestead in Indiana, and was always a large land owner. Among other real estate, he owned for a number of years that part of Milwaukee known as "Walker's Point." Merchandif^ing in Perrysville, Ind., was a part of his business while tbere. A year previous to his coming to this county he resided in Texas, and was a man of ability, having served a number of times as a member of the legislature from Indiana. Politically he was a democrat, and took quite an interest in the welfare of that party. He removed to Missouri in 1867. His first wife died in 1841. His second and present wife was Mrs Mary (Miller) James. They reside at Higginsville, Mo. Mrs. Burt was born in Sullivan Co., Ind., on the old homestead, in 1826, and had good advantages for securing a good education. Her father, being in affluent circumstances, was able to give his family such opportunities. She came to this county with her father in 1847, and taught school for three years, being among the early teacher's of the county. She is a lady of more than ordinary culture and ability. Mr. and Mrs. Burt have two sons - John A. and Frank Henri. The former was born Dec. 13, 1854, and the latter Feb. 25, 1864, They lost one son, called Charlie, at the age of fifteen years. Mr. Burt is a thorough going, successful farmer, and is engaged quite extensively in stock raising. He makes the raising of fine horses a specialty. Although he seems to have had his share of reverses, yet by the energy and perseverance of himself and his wife he has secured a competence, and is now in the enjoyment of a home lionestly gained.

Frederick Enfield is a resident of section 29, where he settled in 1848, and which he purchased of the government. Mr. Enfield has resided in the county since April 29, 1844. He lived in the town of Spring Grove, about one year, then removed to the town of Jefferson, where he also lived about one year. He finally settled in the town of Spring Grove in 1846, on forty acres of land, which he entered. He came here from that town. Mr. Enfield was born in Somerset Co , Penn., Jan. 13, 1819, where he was reared to manhood on a farm. He is a son of Frederick and Catharine (Boyer) Enfield, who resided in Pennsylvania until their decease. His father was born in Somerset county, and his mother was born just across the line in the State of Maryland. The subject of this sketch came direct to this county from Pennsylvania. His wife wasMatikia Mitchell, daughter of John A. and Rebecca Mitchell. Mrs. Enfield was born June 9, 1825, in Somerset Co., Penn. They had thirteen children, eleven of whom are living. In the fall of 1862, Mr. Enfield enlisted in the 22d regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was captured at the battle of Spring Hill, Tenn., and was sent to Libby prison, where he remained a prisoner one month, when he was exchanged. Although his prison life was short he had passed through trials and hardships that he will ever remember. Being too ill to accompany Sherman on his march to the sea, he rejoined his regiment on the Atlantic coast and took part in the grand review at Washington. He was formerly a strong man, but his army life left him broken in health. He slill suffers much from disease contracted in the army. Mr. and Mrs. Enfield began life in limited circumstances, in Green county, but by industry and economy, have secured for themselves and family a beautiful home. His farm contains 160 acres.

John A. Clemmer, who now lives on section 6, town of Decatur, has been a resident of this county since April 12, 1850. He was born in Fayette Co., Penn., in 1832, His parents are Jasper and Delilah Clemmer, of the town of Sylvester, where they settled in 1850. John A. came to the county with his parents. He was married to Rhoda U. Whitcomb, daughter of James and Nancy (Goltry) Whitcomb. She came to this county with her parents, in 1849, and settled in the town of Mount Pleasant. Mr. Whitcomb was a native of Steuben Co., N. Y., born May 17, 1812, where he was married and removed to Indiana with his family, coming here from Indiana. Mrs. Clemmer was born in the State of New York, in 1834. Mr. and Mrs.

L. N, Lewis, a resident of section 3, was born in Rensselaer Co., N, Y., in 1830. He settled in Green county, in 1850, but had entered his land in 1849. He entered 132 acres, but now owns 180 acres. He is a son of Leonard and Elizabeth (Allen) Lewis, also natives of the same county. They came to Wisconsin in 1852, and settled in Dane county, in the village of Mt. Vernon, where they lived until their decease. They had ten children, eight of whom grew to maturity. L. N. is the only one of the family who was an early settler of this county. A brother, John L., settled in Dane county very early. He is now chief-of-police of Madison. The subject of this sketch was married near Stoughton, Wis., toSophronia A. Stillwell,born in the State of New York, in 1825. They have six children - Frank B., Laura, Arthur, Minnie, Ethan Allen and Marion Stillwell, twin boys. Mr. Lewis' mother, Elizabeth (Allen) Lewis, was a decendant of Ethan Allen, of Revolutionary fame. Mrs. Lewis' parents were Ezra and Polly (Howe) Stillwell. They came to Wisconsin, from New York, in about 1852, and settled in Dane county, where her father died the following year. Her mother now lives in Waukon, Iowa.

Samuel Rowe was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., in 1808. When a young man he removed to the State of Illinois, where he was married. He came to Green county with John Dawson. He located on section 20, of the town of Decatur, where he made a claim of 160 acres, eighty acres of which he entered. The other eighty acres was "jumped" by a man named Mott, who entered the same, and of whom Mr. Rowe purchased it. His wife, Margaret Brown, was a native of Centre Co., Penn. Mr. Rowe died April 18, 1872. Mrs. Rowe died on the 13h of the following September. They had eight children, seven of whom are living - John B., Catharine A., Amos C, Elmira (deceased).

Elizabeth M., William F., Emma S. and Viola M. Amos C, who owns and occupies the homestead, was born here in 1846. He was married to Emma V. Fleek, daughter of Edmund T. Fleek. Mr. and Mrs. Rowe have two children (twins) - Lola B. and Lee B., born Dec. 18, 1883. Mr. Rowe's farm contains 213 acres. He also owns twenty acres of timbered land.

Jesse Mitchell resides on section 31, town of Decatur, where he settled in 1853, upon a farm bought from his father, who obtained it from the government. Jesse Mitchell was born in the town of Wharton, Fayette Co., Penn., in 1813, where he was reared and married. A brother-in-law, Allen Woodle, had come to this county about 1835, and through his influence Mr. Mitchell was induced to emigrate from Pennsylvania to this county. On the 14th day of March, 1837, he left his home in Fayette county with his wife and child, and the following day took a steamer at Br.ownsville, on the Monongahela river, thence went down the Oliio, and up the Mississippi to Galena, and from there with ox team to the town of Sylvester, which place they reached April 19, forty-seven years ago. His brother-in-law, Joseph Woodle, with a wife and five children, accompanied him, and these men were the first settlers of what is now the town of Sylvester. Mr. Mitchell resided in that town until he came here, as stated, in 1853. He has been twice married. His first wife, who came with him from Pennsylvania, was formerly Priscilla Woodle, born in Fayette Co., Penn., in 1813. She died in 1849. His second and present wife was Mrs. Lucina (Oviatt) Damon, who was born in Trumbull Co., Ohio, in 1823, where in 1842 she was married to Alexis G. Damon, and came with her husband to Sylvester in 1843. Mr Damon died in 1846. Mr. Mitchell had six cliildren by his first marriage, four of whom are still living - Martha A., Hannah, Abner and Thomas. By his present wife he has seven children - Owen, Frank, Lois, Lucretia, Julia A., Cynthia and John A. Mrs. Mitchell had two children by her marriage with Mr. Damon - Samuel, who was a member of the 22d Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and died in the service of his country at Danville, Ky., and one daughter, who died in infancy. Mr. Mitchell has been a member of the Baptist Church for fifty years. His wife is also a member of the same Church. His father, Abner Mitchell, came to the town of Spring Grove in 1844, and died in Decatur in the fall of 1883, on his eightyfourth birthday. He was a man of considerable ability, and in 1853 was a member of the Wis-. consin legislature.

Thomas Munger, of the town of Decatur, resides on section 28, on a farm purchased from Sanford Cochrain, who bought it from Noah Ball, the original owner. It contains 175 acres. When Mr. .Munger purchased the farm, in the fall of 1854, but little improvement had been made. A log house had been built and about thirty acres broken. For this place he paid $15 per acre. Mr. Munger was born in Erie Co., Penn., in 1825, where he continued to live until he came to this county. His parents, Thomas and Pattie Munger, were natives of the State of New York, and removed to Pennsylvania in 1824, where they lived until death, the father reaching the age of sixty-six years, and the mother seventy-two. Thirteen children were born to them, of Whom Thomas is the youngest, and he was married Feb. 13, 1847, to Nancy Colton, a native of Chautauqua Co., N. Y. They have four children, one son and three daugiiters - Judson, Polly A., Mary E. and Sophrona.

Walgrave Atherton came to the town of Decatur in 1854. He settled on section 9, in 1855. He was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Aug. 4, 1826. His parents were John and Clarissa Atherton. Tlie former was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., the latter in the State of New York, and they moved to Licking Co., Ohio, where they lived until their decease. Walgrave Atherton is the only one of his father's family who settled in

Green county. He was married in 1852 to Ann Elizabeth Putnam, a daughter of John J. Putnam, and she was born in Athens Co., Ohio, in 1829, and caine here with her parents in 1849. Mr. Atherton came to Decatur from Oliio, for his wife, with whom he was acquainted in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Atherton have had nine childien, eight sons and one daughter. Their daughter, Florence V., was the eldest, and died when nineteen years old. Their son, (deceased,) was Charles Ernest, who died April 4, 1873. Their living children are - Edwin P., born April 27, 1855 ; John J. P., born Feb. 23, 1857 ; Oliver H.jborn June.21, 1858; George W., born April 28, 1860; Elmer E., born June 13, 1862 ; Harry C, born June 2, 1864, and Fred. V., born Dec. 11, 1871. Mr. Atherton first purchased 157 acres without improvements. The farm now contains 300 acres. He also owns the farm settled by Thomas Stewart in this town, containing 192 acres.

Philip Kilvvine lives on section 21, where he has a fine farm of 158 acres, where he settled in March, 1868. This farm was obtained from Jerome B. Fleek. He was born in Baden, Germany, in 1820, and learned the trade of mason. He came to this country in 1853, and first lived in Illinois three yetirs, where he worked at his trade. He was married to Julia Bach, who was born in Baden, Germany, in 1824. They have one son, Philip, who was born in Germany in 1845, and now lives on section 29, town of Decatur. Mr. Kilwine is one of the prominent farmers of the town Decatur. His residence, costing 82,000, was burned April 24, 1883. He rebuilt at about the same cost a fine dwelling, which he now occupies.

Russell J. Day settled on his present farm on section 13, of the town of Decatur, in 1855. The farm was purchased from Myron Hulsted by Warren Day, father of Russell, who received the deed from his father in 1864. The first transfer of the place was by Henry Hubbard to Franklin W. Day, in 1851 ; the consideration being $600. The next transfer was to Myron

Halsted, the same year, cunsideration 8850; and thence to Warren Day for 83,500. The farm contains 100 acres, and is situated one and one-half miles north of the railroad depot, at Brodhead. Russell J. Day was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., in 1829, where he lived until 1856, then came to Brodhead, and has lived on this place since that time. His father, Dr. Warren Day, was a a native of Vermont, and practiced medicine for forty years in Herkimer county. He came to this county in 1863, and lived with his son until his decease in 1871. Dr. W. Day's wife died here in 1865. Russell J. Day was married in Herkimer county, to Sarah Wood, a native of Herkimer county. They have three children - Will R., Jane W. and Fayette W. Mr. Day has made many improvements on the place, and the farm is now a beautiful and attractive place.

George W. Chace came to Green county in 1856, and the first few months of his residence here, was employed in driving a stage which carried the mail from Albany to Footville,'for S. F. Nichols. He then engaged in keeping the hotel, that is now the Nichols House, at Albany, about nine months. After this he joined the surveying corps, that was surveying the Albany Railroad, then engaged in farming in the town of Albany. In 1862 he enlisted in the 31st Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served till the close of the war. He continued witli the regiment eighteen months, after which he was detailed in the quartermaster's department until the end of the war. He was very near worn out in health when he returned from the army to Albany, where he opened a restaurant and meat market, which he continued one year, then exchanged his property for a farm at Spring Valley Corners, Rock county, where he resided five years. He then exchanged his farm for a meat market in Brodhead, which he carried on for about two years, then traded it for his present farm on section 14, of Decatur. This was in the spring of 1875. He did not settle immediately upon the farm, but worked the land arid opened a restaurant and confectionery in Brodliead, also carried on the ice business in that village. Mr. Chace was born at Boston, Mass., in 1821. He resided in New England, and the State of New York, and Ohio, until lie came to Wisconsin. He was married in 1843, at Portsmouth, R. I., to Abby Gifford, a native of that place, Mr. and Mrs. Chace have three children - George F., Helen K. and Charles S.

A. A. TenEyck resides on land which his father obtained from the government in 18;i9, who first settled in the town of Spring Grove and commenced improvements on this farm about 1859. It is located on section 34, town of Decatur, and was occupied by A. A, TenEyck, in October, 1874. He was born in the State of New York, on the Hudson river, but came to this county from Canada with liis father. He was married to Amanda Moore, a native of Vermont, and a daughter of Isaac Moore. f hey have six children - Albert M., Lena A., Sarah J., Belle, Robert T. and Frank A. They lost one son - Walter. The farm contains 37t) acres.

Jacob L. Roderick owns and resides on the first farm entered in the town of Decatur. It was entered by John .Moore, in the fall of 1839, and originally contained ICOacres. It now comi)rises 237 acres. Mr. Roderick was born in Fayette Co., Penn., in 1850, and came to this county with his father, in 1802, and has been a resident of Decatur since that timn. He was married to Allie Fleek, a daughter of Benjamin H. Fleek. She was born in 1851. They have four children - Iva M., Myrtle M., Susan A. and Benjamin H.

Mrs. Mary Cole, widow of Austin Cole, resides on section 32, town of Decatur, where they settled in November, 1867, but were residents of the county several years previous. He was born in Erie Co., Penn., Oct. 31, 1833, where lie lived until hismarriage, in 1857, wlien he came to Green county. He married Mary Shults, born in Erie Co., Penn., in 1838. Mr. Cole died May 24, 1878, in his forty-fifth year, leaving his wife and two children - Fred., born in 1868; and Ella, born in 1870. The farm contains 140 acres.

Andrew Smith resides on section 13, where he settled in 1866. His first settlement was on government land, in the town of Spring Valley, in Rock county, where he lived before making his present selection in February, 1866. He was born in Roxburghshire, Scotland, March 4, 1825. He came to this country with his father's family, in 1840. The family lived three years near Portage, N. Y. The father settled in Rock county, in 1843, where he lived until his decease. Andrew was married to Ellen Atkinson, who was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1824, and came to the United States with her parents in 1843. Her family came to Wisconsin tliree or four years later, and settled in the town of Albany, where they still live. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have four children - Belle, wifeof Ronaldo Fleek; Archie, Janie, wife of William Bell; and Bessie, at home. The farm contains 200 acres.