Forest Town

Forest Town

The town of Forest was named after the splendid forests of hard timber that originally covered much the larger portion of its surface. No town in the county was blessed with finer hardwood timber, with occasional jungles of tamarack and some patches of cedar. It contains no genuine prairie, and but few oak openings. In early days, it was excellent for winter wheat, and is yet, as compared with other towns, owing to the peculiar soil of the timbered tracts. A great amount of labor has been expended in this town to fit the land for crops ; but the cash return for hard timber and cordwood, the abundance of it for home use, the protection forests afford in winter and the excellent soil when once ready for crops, abundantly repay the inhabitants for their extra exertions. The town is well watered, is rather more uneven than praii-ie towns, has some splendid sugar-maple groves and several water-powers. On Sections 28 and 3-3, in the south, is Mullet Lake, whence rises a stream of the same name, flowing noriheast into the Sheboygan River, which flows across the entire western portion of the town, turning a lathe, two mills and other machinery even as early as 1853. At Dotyville is a flouring-mill run by water - by the Sheboygan River. In February, 1847, the following act was passed :

Sec. o2. That township number fifteen north, ami the south half of township number sixteen north, of range number nineteen east, in the county of Fond c!u Lac, be, and the same is hereby, set off into a separate town by the name of Forest, and that the first town meeting be held at the house of George Chase, in said town.

Sec. 115. Township number fifteen and the south half of township number sixteen north, in range nuntber nineteen east, organized into the town of Forest, is hereby declared to be a town by that name, and the acts and proceedings of said town in its alfairs for the year 1847 shall not be deemed illegal or invalid by reason of said township having been included in Taycheedah.

The town is now the six full sections in Township 15 north, of Range 19 east. It was settled in 1845, Henry C. Giltner, now of Minnesota, probably making the first location, though Josiah A. King settled there permanently in May of that year, and James Davis and P. T. King settled the same year near the center of the town, and were, probably, permanently located a month or two earlier than Mr. Giltner. Early in 1846, William Chase, at whose house the first election was held ; 0. C. Wiiite, Solomon Benedict and others settled not far from Mr. Giltner's, in the western portion of the town.

The town is now largely owned by Germans, who are unusually well-to-do, a considerable amount of their ready money being derived from the sale of wood, which they haul to Fond du Lac.

At the first election, held April 1, 1848, H. C. Giltner was chosen Chairman. The first birth was that of Sarah Chase ; first death, James Davis ; first marriage, a Mr. Slocum to Miss Rilej. The first schoolhouse was built on Section 14, and, in the summer of 1849, S. Corbett taught school in it. The town now has eight schoolhouses.

Churches. - Some time in 1847, the first sermon was preached, at the house of William Chase, by Rev. Mr. Scott. In 185S, the Catholics built a church on Section 19, and now the town has five church edifices. The Union Church, on Section 36, was organized, April 7, 1879, by Henry Stannard, E. C. Coon, William Stewart and P. H. Montgomery; Henry Stannard, President and Secretary: E. C. Coon, Treasurer; H. Stannard, E. Conger and E. C. Coon, Trustees. It was dedicated by Rev. F. A. Marsh, February 19, 1880, who preached the first sermon in it. On Section 13 is the Methodist Episcopal Church. The society was organized November 17, 1878, at James Corbett's house. TJie edifice was built in 1874. The first sermon was by Rev. J. T. Woodhead. The first Trustees were James Corbett, S. Elecson, David Rogers, Ezra Coon, William Bennett and J. 0. Dowling. The first Pastor was J. S. Bolton. Present Pastor, Rev. H. Knight. The first marriages in the church were Joseph Cokon to 8. Hall and S. Gibson to Sarah Bolton.

The first post oflice was established early in 1847, called Oasis, of which H. C. Giltner was Postmaster. The second was Dotyville, cstablislied by Thomas Davidson in 1849. In 1852, Mr. Davidson opened the first store in Forest, at Dotyville. In 1866, C. A. Corbett established Banner Post Office.

A. ADAMS (deceased) was born in Rutland Co., Vt., Dec. 18, 1808. April 28, 1838, he married, in his native county, Merinda Bartlett. She was born in Rutland Co. Sept. 14, 1816. In about 1845, they came to Wisconsin, and lived in Walworth Co. one year, at the end of which time they moved to the town of Forest, Fond du Lac Co., where he died Oct. 8, 1868. He was a leading member of the M. E. Church, and took a deep and active interest in religious and educational matters, and during his lifetime was elected to various offices. His wife, Mrs. Adams, is still living, and resides on the homestead, on Sec. 13, town of Forest. She is a member of the M. E. Church ; owns 80 acres of land. Their children are Samuel A. - he married, in this county, Melissa Heath, they live in Clark Co., Wis.; Emily E., wife of David Rogers, Clark Co., Wis. (he served in the 14 W. V. I. during the war of the rebellion, and was wounded in the service) ; Mortimer, who enlisted, at the age of 19, in Co. A, 10th W. V. I., and died in the service May 27, 1862 ; Emery C., wife of Henry Rancior, Dunn Co., Wis. (he served in a New York regiment during the late war, and was severely wounded) ; Helen S., deceased; Noble, who married, in this county, Agnes Carter - they now live in Iowa ; David, now in Dunn Co., Wis.; Frankie, wife of Charles George, Dunn Co., Wis.; Eugene Ernest and Delyle, of this town (Forest). Mrs. Adams' fiither. Hooker Bartlett, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his father, J. Bartlett, was in the Colonial army during the war of the Revolution.

DAVID M. CARSON, Jr., farmer, Sec. 24; P.O. St. Cloud; was a soldier during the ate war of the rebellion in Co. H, 14th W. V. I., and participated in numerous battles, sieges and skirmishes ;

enrolled in September, 18(51, at Greenbush, Sheboygan Co., Wis., and wa.s honorably discharged in December, 1865. He was born in Augusta, Me., Feb. 16, 1837 ; removed with his parents, David M. and Mary J. Carson, to Wisconsin, and settled in the town of Forest, Fond du Lac Co. He married, in Greenbush, Sheboygan Co., Wis., on May 31, 1868, Miss A. C. Barnes. She was the daughter of Samuel K. and Salome Barnes, who settled in this town. Forest, in 1853. She was born in Steuben Co., N. Y. They have three children - William D., Ella A. and Austin J. Mr. Carson owns 120 acres of land; is a Republican in politics. His parents moved to Greenbush, Sheboygan Co., Wis. (where they now live), in 1868. Their children are David M., Jr., James H., now of Shell Rock, Iowa ; Frederick D., who served in 5th W. I. during the war; Ellen, wife of L. W. Casey, Forest; Otis M. Mrs. David M. Carson's father, Samuel K. Barnes, died in 1858. His wife is still living. Their children are Uphasia L., wife of S. W. Van Doran, of Oshkosh, Wis. (he was a soldier in the war of the rebellion ; served in Co. H, 14th W. V. I.) ; William J., of Springvale, this county, he was also a soldier in the 14th W^ V. I., during the war; Milton K., also served in the 14th W. V. I., and died in the service; Austin T., was in Co. I, 5th W. V. I., and was killed at Fredericksburg, Va.; Antoinette, wife of James MoConaughty (he served in Co. H., 14th W. Y. I. during the war; Alvina C., wife of David M. Carson, Jr.; Salome L., wife of George W. Brown, and Miss Viola.

E. C. COOIV, farmer. Sec. 36; P. O. Armstrong's Corners ; was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., iu 1832. Dec. 23, 1855, he married, in his native county, Angelica Crosier; she was also a native of Onondago Co. In 1859, they came to Wisconsin, located in the town of Forest, Fond du Lac Co., which has been their home since ; they have three children - Ida, VVillard and Charlie. Mr. Coon owns 240 acres of land. In politics, he is a Republican ; he takes an active interest in religious and educational matters, and is, in every respect, a public-spirited citizen.

JAIflES CORBETT, farmer, Sec. 13; P. 0. St. Cloud; was born in Benson, Rutland Co., Vt., April 11, 1826. He received a liberal education in his native county, and followed teaching there until 1849, in which year he came to Green Bay, Wis., and there and in vicinity, followed teaching and farming until about 1855. Nov. 1, 1854, he married in the town of Forest, Fond du Lac Co., Wis., Cinderilla Barragar, daughter of Hiram and Catherine Barragar, who settled in Greenbush, Sheboygan Co., Wis., in an early day; she was born near Belleville, Canada West, Sept. 3, 1836. During the war of the rebellion, Mr. Corbett enlisted in Co. G, 36th W. V. I., and was honorably discharged at the close of' the war. He owns 80 acres of land. In politics, is a Republican ; himself and wife are leading members of the M. E. Church. Their children are James F. (a graduate of the Cleveland Medical Institute, Ohio), Charles B., Ella and George W. Mr. C. is Secretary of the.Dotyville M. E. Church, a position he has filled since its organization. His parents were Peter and Melinda Corbett, who came from Vermont to Fond du Lac Co., afterward moved to Greenbush, Sheboygan Co., where his mother died March 18, 1879 ; his father is still living in Greenbush, a prominent citizen ; their children were Sylvester (now of Waterloo, Iowa) ; James (whose name appears at the head of this sketch) ; William H. (now in Minnesota, who was a soldier in Co. B, Sth W. V. I., two years) ; Sarah (wife of C. R. Barrager, of Crete, Neb., he was Captain of a company in 3d W. V. I., during the war of the rebellion) ; Charles (now in the mercantile business in Greenbush, served in the 8th W. V. I., during the war, and was severely wounded) ; Lester (also of Greenbush, served in the 14th W. V. I., in the late war), Alexander (of Greenbush). Mrs. J. Corbett's parents, Hiram and Cathrine Barrager, came from Canada to Greenbush. Sheboygan Co., where they lived two years ; then moved to Forest, Fond du Lac Co., where her mother died in 1857 ; her father now resides iu Sheboygan Falls, Wis. ; their children are Henry (of Kearney, Neb.), Charles R. (who was Captain of a company in 3d W. V. I., lives in Crete, Neb.), Bidwell, (of Greenbush, Sheboygan Co., was a soldier in the 14th W. V. I.) George W. (now in Iowa), Walter M. (now in Sibley, Iowa), Alfred J. (in Crete, Neb.), Wendell H., Sheboygan Falls, Wis.

SEYJttOlTR ELI.ICSOX, farmer, Sees. 23 and 24; P. 0. St. Cloud. During the war war of the rebellion, Mr. Ellicson served in Co. B, 8 W. V. I. ; he was enrolled in the autumn of 1861, and participated in nearly all the sieges, battles -nd skirmishes his command was in, the principal ones being Frederickstown, Corinth, New Madrid, Ft. Pillow, Vicksburg, and a series of engagements around that place ; at luka, he was taken prisoner and retained a short time ; was honorably discharged in the autumn of 1864. He is a native of Norway; was born May 7, 1831, and in 1846, emigrated with his parents, Leaman and Ann Ellicson, to Erie Co., N. Y.; his mother died at Lockport, N. Y., and his father married again and moved to Greenbush, Sheboygan Co., W^is.; they aft/crward moved to Winnebago Co., where they died. In 1853, S. Ellicson, the subject of this sketch, married in Greenbush, Sheboygan Co., Wis., Salome Snell, a native of Cortland Co., N. Y., born in 1835 ; she was the daughter of John and Phoebe Snell, who came to Wisconsin in 1847. and settled in the town of Forest, Fond du

Lac Co., Wis., where they resided until tlieir death. Mr. Ellicson and wife, after their marriage, lived in Greenbush until 1859, in which year they moved to their present home ; their children are John A., Florence (>. (the wife of Eugene Chase, Dunn Co., Wis.), Dora M. (wife of Silas Carpenter), Delbert, Esther E., Truman W., Annie S., and Lillian B. Mr. Ellicson owns 120 acres of land. Himself and family are members of the M. E. Church, in which he is a leading member ; he takes an active part in the religious and educational interests, giving them his .support on every possible occasion ; in politics, he is a llepubliean.

HEXKY ENtrELS, farmer. Sec. 29 ; P. O. Dotyvillo, Wis.; born in town of Forest, Fond du Lac Co., Wis., Feb. 9, 1858. His father, Matthias Engels, was born in the village of Arbuck, Kreis Adana, Germany, on 6th of July, 1819, and emigrated to Canada in 1843, thence to this town (Forest) in 1847. In 1851, he married Annie Balzar; he died in Forest June 11, 1879; his wife is still living, and resides on the homestead ; their children are Henry, John, Michael Martin, Frank, Katie, Lizzie, Mary and Rosa. The estate consists of 160 acres of land, well improved. During his life in the town of Forest, Mr. Matthias Engels was elected to various local offices, and took an active part in the advancement of the educational interests in the district wherein he lived.

MARY C GIBSON, farming ; P.O. Banner; owns 160 acres of well-improved land. She was boin in Montgomery Co., N. Y., in 1826; while she was a child, her parents, Christopher and Henrietta Carpenter, moved to St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. She was twice married, first in Onondaga Co., N. Y., to Chaunoey A. Greeutnan, now deceased ; by the above mirriage there was one child - William J. Greenman, now of Bremer Co., Iowa. In 1854, she came to Wisconsin, and, in 1861, married her second husband, Bussel D. Gibson, a native of Vermont, who had settled in Fond du Lac Co., Wis., in about 1852 ; he died Nov. 2, 1866. By this marriage, there is one child - Ella M. Mrs. Gibson oversees all work done on her farm, and is very successful in her management of it, and is a most exemplary woman.

HON. JOHN W. HALIi ; P. 0. St. Cloud; was born in the town of Herkimer, Herkimer Co., N. Y., Jan. 9, 1819 ; he received a liberal education in his native county ; in 1841, he went to Onondaga Co., N. Y., where he remained until 1853, in which year he came to Wisconsin ; located in the town of Forest, Fond du Lac County, which has been his home since. Mr. Hall was Chairman of Town Supervisors in Forest eleven years ; (!ounty Treasurer one term, and a member of the Wisconsin Assembly in 1861. In February, 1863, he enlisted in Co. B, 35th W. V. I., and .served until June, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. Politically, Mr. Hall is independent, voting for and giving his influence to the candidates whom he believes will serve the interests of the whole people best. He has been twice married - first wife was Margaret Elliott; she died in 1869; his present wife was Hannah C. Burns. Mr. Hall takes an active interest in publia aflFairs, and has filled every position he has been elected to, with credit to himself and constituents.

SPENCER A. HAMBEIN, fiirmer, Sec. 12 ; P. 0. St. Cloud. Mr. Hamblin enlisted in Co. H. 14th W. V. I., Sept. 11, 1861 ; he was severely wounded at Shiloh April 7, 1862, and discharged on account of said wound on Nov. 13, 1862; after he had fully recovered he again enlisted, and was enrolled in Co. C, 4th W. V. C-, i" December, 1863, and served until Oct. 26, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. He was born in Van Buren, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Aug. 8, 1837, and came to Wisconsin in 1852, and has made the town of Forest, Fond du Lac Co., his home the greater part of the time since. March 3, 1866, he married, in Greenbush, Sheboygan Co., Wis., Elizabeth Ghoslin; they have two children - Lavina N. and William S. Politically, Mr. H. acts with the Republican party. He owns 80 acres of well-improved land. His father, A. H. Hamblin, was born Aug. 2, 1794, and was a soldier in active service during the war of 1812 ; he married, in Onondaga Co., N. Y., Susan Woodward; they came to Wisconsin in 1852 ; he died April 9, 1874 ; she is still living. Their children are Samantha, wife of F. Spaulding, St. Cloud ; Martha, wife of L. A. Griswold, Ida Co., Iowa ; Hartwell C, who served in Co. H, 14th W. V. I. during the war of the rebellion, he died in 1872; Berlin ; Candace, wife of C. Alley; Spencer A.; Holland, who served in Co. H, 14th W. V. I. during the war ; Lucilla A., wife of E. Miller, Osceola Co., Iowa (he was a soldier in the 8th ^\ . V. I. during the war) ; Miles A., who served first in Co. H, 14th W. V. I., and afterward in Co. C, 4th W. V. C, was all through the war, he now lives in Osceola Co., Iowa ; Louisa K., deceased ; Owen H. N., deceased ; Theresa, deceased.

JOHN HARDGROVE, farmer. Sec. 26 ; P. 0. Armstrong's Corners; was born in County Clare, Ireland, in 1836 ; he emigrated with his parents, Henry and Mary Hardgrove, to near Toronto, Canada, where they lived about three years ; moved thence to Milwaukee, where they remained two years, at the end of which time they came to Fond du Lac County and settled in the town of ForeBt, of which they were residents several years; in 1873, they moved to Eden, this county, where they now reside. John Hardgrove, the subject of this sketch, received a liberal education at the common schools ; he has taught district schools for several terms; prior to 1861, when the system was changed, he was Town School Superintendent ; he is at present Town Clerk of Forest, a position he has been the incumbent of four years. He owns 100 acres of land. In 1862, Mr. Hardgrove married, in the town of Byron, Cathrine Heragarty ( daughter of James and Bridget Heragarty, who settled in the town of Mitchell, Sheboygan Co., Wis., in about 1850 ) ; they have seven children - Emily, Julia, Katie, Agnes, James, Mary, and Frances. In politics, Mr. Hardgrove is independent.

THEODORE LiOKHANG, dealer in agricultural implements, machinery and a full line of repairs, also proprietor of general blacksmith-shop, where he attends to general repairing and horseshoeing, Dotyville. Was born in Edensdorf, Krics Trier, Prussia, Oct. IS, 1850 ; in 1853, his parents emigrated to this country, and settled in the town of Calumet, Fond du Lac Co., Wi.s., where Theodore lived until 1872, when he learned the blacksmith trade. He married at Mt. Calvary, on Oct. 12, 1874, Annie Gesellchen, she was born in Mt. Calvary; they moved to Dotyville in 1876 ; their children are Theodore, Vincent and J. Joseph; Mr. Lorhang engaged in his present business in Dotyville in 1876 ; he is a firstclass mechanic, and his work gives general satisfaction, therefore he has a large custom. His parents were Bernard and Angelica Lorhang ; he a native of Paris, France, she of Kries Trier, Germany ; he died in Calumet in 1866; she is still living. Mrs. T. Lorhang's parents were Peter and Gertrude Gesellchen, natives of Germany, who settled in Marshfield, Fond du Lac Co., in 1850.

C. C liYON, a leading firmer, Sec. 14 ; P. O. Banner ; is a native of Strongsville, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio; was born Sept. 12, 1823, where he remained until 21 years of age; he then went to Cleveland, Ohio, and there learned the machinist and engineer trades ; worked at the machinist trade in various places in Ohio and iN^ew York in the winters, and in the summer seasons, following the vocation of engineer on the lakes ; in 1857, he came to Wisconsin, and Fond du Lac Co. has been his home the greater part of the time since ; he owns 177 acres of land, and in conneclion with John A. Smith, of Sheboygan Co., carries on a cheese factory ; their factory is located on Sec. 29, and the cheese they make is widely known for its superior quality. In politics, Mr. Lyon is a Democrat ; he has been elected to various local offices. Has been twice married, first in Buffalo, N. Y., to Matilda Curtis, she died in Forest in June, 1872; children by the above marriage are Frank M. (now in Denver, Colo.), Charles C. (who married Bertie A. Nutting and resides in Forest), Mary M., Emma, Fred and May ; present wife was Caroline Nutting, widow of E. D. Nutting ; her maiden name was Parmalee ; she was born in Pittsfield, Kutland Co., Vt., where she married her first husbaad, and came with him to Wisconsin in 1856; he died in Fond du Lac; she married Mr. Lyon Feb. 22, 1872; they have one child, Samuel S. ; by her first marriage, there are five children, viz. ; Charlotte (wife of Lewis Langstaff, of Milwaukee) ; Sarah R. («ife of A. D. Lytle, Wood Co., Wis.), Ella J., wife of D. E. Hadlock, Kearney Co., Neb.), Bertie, wife of Charles C. Lyon) ; Frankie, (wife of William Zan, of this town. Forest).

JOHX REIS, merchant, Dotyville. Was born in the town of Marshfield, Fond du Lac Co., Wis., in 1851 ; was educated at Mount Calvary; engaged in the mercantile business at Dotyville in 1877, and has a large and constantly increasing trade. His father, Theodore Reis, was born in Mehring, Kries Trier, Germany, in 1817 ; emigrated to America in 1846; settled in the town of Jlarshfield, Fond du Lao Co., Wis., where he married Gertrude Hoffman ; they are still living in Marshfield, old and honored citizens; their children are John, Mary (wife of Matt. Lanser, of Dotyville), Peter (proprietor harness-shop, Dotyville), Gertrude, Theodore, Helen, Annie, Philip, Clara and Applonia.

HENRY STANDARD, farmer. Sec. 35 ; P. 0. Armstron-'s Corners. At the breakingout of the war of the rebellion, Mr. Stannard enlisted in Co. B, 8th W. V. I.; served until October, 1862, when he was honorably discharged. He was born in the town of Gates, Monroe Co., N. Y., Jan. 20, 1843 ; when he was 3 years old, his parents moved to Rochester, N. Y., thence to Wisconsin in 1851, and settled in the town of Greenbush, Sheboygan Co. He married in Madi-son, Wis., Nov. 9, 1866, Unice N. Bryant, a native of Cheshire Co., N. H. On his return from the army, Mr. Stannard engaged as clerk in a mercantile house at Madison, Wis., two years ; in about 1865, he engaged in the mercantile business on his own account until 1870 ; in 1871, he moved to Forest, where he has resided since. Himself and wife are members of the Union Church ; their children are George E., Allen W., Gilbert H., and Laura Z., one deceased, James B. (born March 26, 1871, died July 30. 1874). Mr. Stannard owns eighty acres of land. In politics, he is a Republican. His father, Hon. E. W. Stannard, was born in Portland Co., N. Y., Nov. 22, 1817 ; he married in Sullivan, N. Y., in 1840. Zeviah Knowles; she was born in Madison Co., N. Y., in 1820; in 1848, he went to California, returned in May, 1851, and immediately moved to Greenbush, Sheboygan Co., Wis., where he lived until the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion, when he was made Captain of Co. B, of the 27th W. V. I., and was killed in the service, near Satarica, Miss., Juno 7, 1863. He was, for a number of years, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors in Greenbush, and several terms a member of the Wisconsin Assembly; she is still living, and resides in Greenbush ; their children are Allie L. (wife of H. C. Wade, of Greenbush) and Henry, whose name appears at the head of this sketch.

GEORGE QUACKEiVBOSS, farmer. Sec. 20 ; P. 0. St. Cloud ; was horn in Montgomery Co., N. Y., Nov. 18, 1817. In 1885, he removed, with his parents, to Clay, Onondaga Co., N. Y., where he married, in 1846, Miss C. M. Marshall, a native of Onondaga Co., born Nov. 11, 1823 ; in 1849, they moved to the town of Cato, N. Y., thence to Wisconsin in 1853; settled in the town of Forest, Fond du Lac Co., where they have resided since ; their children are Chester A. (now of Clark Co., Wis.), David 8., John 11., and George N. (of Forest), Sarah C. (deceased). Mr. Quaekenboss owns eighty acres of land ; in politics, he acts with the Greenback party. His father, Richard Quaekenboss, was born in Montgomery Co., N. Y., where his ancestors had settled prior to the war of the Revolution. He married Cathrine Garland ; both are deceased. Mrs. G. Quaekenboss' father was Nodiah Marshall, a native of Saratoga Co., N. Y. ; was a soldier in active service during the war of 1812, and his father, Joel Marshall, served in tlie Colonial army, under Washington, during the war of the Revolution. Mr. Quaekenboss has been engaged in farming since his coming to Fond du Lac Co., in 1853, and is among the mo.st successful in the town of Forest.

C. F. G. WERIVICKE, farmer, Sec. 12; P. 0. St. Cloud; was born in Vaethen, Kries Stendal, Regierungsbezirk, Magdeburg, Prussia, Nov. 7, 1831 ; in 1843, he entered the College of Halle, and pursued his studies there until 1846, when he entered the Agricultural College at Bedersleben, where he graduated in 1848 ; he then was appointed to oversee and manage several large estates until 1850, when he volunteered iu the 31st Regiment, Prussian Army, serving until the 27th of September, 1851, when he was honorably discharged ; in July, 1858, he received a full discharge from the Prussian Government as a citizen and as a Lieutenant of militia, and he emigrated to this country, arriving in New York Oct. 20, 1858 ; went thence to Calhoun Co., Mich., where he lived until February, 1859, when he came to Wisconsin, and purchased land in the town of Marshfield, Fond du Lac Co. On July 3, 1859, he married Sophia Fricke; they lived in Mar>hfield until October, then moved to Charlestown, Calumet Co., Wis., where he rented a farm, having lost his t}irm in Marshfield ; in 1864, he purchased a ftirm in Charlestown of 120 acres. In March, 1865, he was drafted ; reported at Green Bay ; was assigned to the 14th W. V. I. at Madison ; was discharged May 7, 1865. After being discharged, he returned to Charlestown, sold his farm, and, in the autumn of 1865, returned to his native country on a visit, remaining until March, 1866, when he returned to Charlestown, remaining there until May, when he moved to Forest and bought the farm he now resides on ; he owns 121 acres of land, well improved. His first wife died in Forest, April 29, 1872 ; she was born Aug. 31, 1839 ; she was the mother of five children - Antoine, born April 1, 1860, is now teaching school ; Otto, June 18, 1862, is now attending Commercial College at Fond du Lac ; Charlie, July 16, 1865 ; Anna, Feb. 26, 1867 ; Clara, May 17, 1869. June 6, 1872, Mr. Wernicke married his present wife ; her maiden name was Louise Knabe; by this marriage there are four children - Alfred, born April 21, 1873 ; Ida, Dec. 4, 1874 ; Fredrick, May 18, 1876 ; "Agnes, Nov. 7, 1879. In politics, Mr. Wernicke is a Democrat ; he has been Justice of the Peace about six years. He represents three fire insurance companies - Northwestern National, of Milwaukee; the Milwaukee Merchants' Insurance Company, and the German, of Freeport, III. His father, the Rev. Wernicke, a Lutheran minister at Vaethen, Kries Stendal, Prussia, was born in the city of EUerich, Prussia, July 3, 1795; was a soldier in active service in the Prussian Army from 1812 to 1815, and participated in the battles of Leipsic, Waterloo and Paris. His wife was Caroline M. W. Breust ; she was bora in 1797, and died Sept. 24, 1861.

Source changes here: from Fond Du Lac County, Wisconsin, Past and Present, by McKenna, Maurice, published 1912; 522 words in this source stream.

Forest Town

Owing to the present splendid groups of hard timber covering the larger por¬ tions of this town, the name of Forest was given it. This section of the county had a beautiful and valuable grove of hard wood timber with here and there patches of tamarack and cedar. Most of the woods have disappeared, as the trees have been cut up into lumber or fuel, although there are still some remain¬ ing. The town is well watered and the soil brings in a fair return for the money expended in fitting it for farming. Mullet Lake in the southern portion supplies sources of a stream by the same name, which flows in a northeasterly direction, after making a bend to the south. Other streams furnish the locality with splen¬ did water and drainage, some of which is of sufficient power for milling.

The town of Forest was organized in 1848 and at the first election, held April 1st of that year H. C. Giltner was chosen chairman. The town is on the western tier and has for its northern boundary the town of Marshfield, on the east Sheboygan county, south the town of Osceola and west the towns of Taycheedah and Empire. The earliest settler was Henry C. Giltner, who came early in 1845, and was closely followed by Josiah A. King, who made a permanent settlement in the town in May, 1845. James Davis and P. T. King settled here the same year near the center of the town and as permanent settlers were prob¬ ably here prior to Henry C. Giltner. William Chase came early in 1846 and it was at his house the first election was held. O. C. White, Solomon Benedict and others settled not far from Mr. Giltner about this time, and a short time thereafter the Germans were attracted here and became the predominant element.

A Mr. Slocum married Miss Riley and furnished data for the first marriage to take place here. In the summer of 1849 the first schoolhouse was built on section 14. S. Corbett was the teacher. Rev. Mr. Scott in 1847, at the house of William Chase, preached the first sermon. The Catholics erected a church building on section 19, in 1858.

The Union church was organized April 7, 1879, and a church building was erected on section 36. The organizers of this church were Henry Stannard, E. C. Coon, William Stewart, P. H. Montgomery and E. Conger. It was dedicated by Rev. F. A. Marsh in 1880. The Methodist church society was organized in November, 1873, by James Corbett, and in 1874 a building was put up for religious meetings on section 13. The first sermon was preached by J. T. Woodhead. The first preacher was J. S. Bolton.

The first postoffice established in the town was called Oasis, as early as 1847. The postmaster was H. C. Giltner. An office was established at Dotyville in 1849. Thomas Davidson handled the mails. He also in 1852 opened the first store at Dotyville. The Banner postoffice was established in 1866, C. A. Corbett presiding. Both these offices have long since been discontinued.