Lyons Town

Organization And Topograpy

Lyons, formerly called Hudson, was organized under its present name by act of Legislature January 23, 1844. From the organization of Walworth County in 1838, to that date, this township .had been known in the Governmental survey as Town 2, Range 18 east, and comprised the northeast quarter of the town of Geneva. As now organized, Lyons contains thirty-six square miles, minus five acres in a square form, in the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of Section 31, which belongs to the village of Geneva.

Lyons is more broken and varied in its surface than the other towns of the county, a range of hills running through the center from northeast to southwest, which, in some places, break into bold and precipitous bluffs. Originally, about one-half the surface consisted of oak openings, and over a thousand acres was timbered with oak of different varieties. The soil is mostly of a clay texture, with sand and gravel in the hilly portions. Rocks seldom pierce the surface of the country, though there is a good limestone ledge on Section 16.

The principal stream is White River, the outlet of Geneva Lake, which, entering the town opposite Section 80, pursues a tortuous course through Sections 29, 20, 16, 15, 10, 11 and 2, and passes into Spring Prairie from Section 1, running in a general northeasterly direction from the southwest to the northeast corner of the town. White River has several tributaries. Ore Creek waters the northwest portion of the town, and empties into White River on Section 10, a little south of Lyons Village, and a creek forming the outlet of Ryan's Lake runs through nearly the entire eastern tier of sections, and joins White River on Section 1.

Ryan's Lake is on Sections 34 and 35, in the extreme southern portion, and small lakes or ponds are formed on Sections 22, 28 and 14. Bass and pickerel abound. Upon Section 30 are Sheridan Springs, which possess decided medicinal properties.

Official

The first meeting of the town board was held at the residence of Dr. John Stacy, on the first Tuesday in April, 1844. With the rise of the general level of prosperity, this first official gathering place has ftiUen to the lot of swine; in vulgar parlance, it has become a hog pen, and where embryo statesmen, perhaps, first saw the light, it is known for a certainty that more than one pink porker first ignorantly grunted his satisfaction with the ways of this world. Following is the town roster from 1844 to 1881 inclusive :

Water-Powers

The first settler of the town of Lyons was Allen Perkins, a veteran of 1836, whose early experience at Delavan and Spring Prairie during the first year of his sojourn in this vicinity is narrated in the history of those sections. He left the latter town in 1837, having sold his land to Ellis Burtolf, and coming to Lyons settled upon Sections 15 and 10. Mr. Perkins purchased two quarter sections, his great ambition being to get possession of a water-power. The Lyon brothers - Thomas and Fletcher - came from New York soon after, took up land in the southwest quarter of Section 10, and in the northeast quarter of Section 11. They at once commenced to improve the water-power upon the former section. The mudsills were laid in 1838, and there, for want of money, the enterprise rested for a time. During the next year, Fletcher Lyon's father-in-law died, and left his wife a little money. The two returned to New York, and, coming back in 1840, the brothers went to work again, built the dam, and erected a sawmill. By a long dam, used as a part of the highway, and consolidated by such use, and a raceway of half a mile, they obtained a fall of twenty feet. Mr. Perkins endeavored to get a foothold in the privilege, but was unsuccessful. The saw-mill passed into disuse, and in 1846 William F. Lyon and M. 0. Pulver erected a grist-mill upon the site of the present Lyons' Flour Mills. Twelve years later came the famous freshet, whose destructive effects upon the mill property at Lyons are thus spoken of by James Simmons, of Geneva :

" In June, 1858, occurred another great freshet. The lake was filled to its utmost capacity by heavy rains, and the waves, aroused and pushed forward by a strong southwest wind, threatened to break all barriers. To relieve it somewhat, and save the race and mill, a shallow channel was cut through the bank, in the immediate neighborhood of the fish pond recently constructed by C. L. Wilson. The small stream speedily grew larger, until it became an uncontrollable torrent, cutting a wile and deep channel through the bank, and sweeping away roads, bridges, and mill dams in its onward course. The dam at Duck Lake also gave way at its western end, and its waters joined and swelled the current rushing from the lake toward Lyons. This latter calamity was attended by a loss of life, a man attempting to cross above the gap in a small boat, with the mail for Elkhorn, being thrown out and drowned. The eflects of this flood were not confined to White River, the stream issuing from our lake alone, but were felt far down the Fox. The mill-dam at Lyons, then owned by Thomas B. Bullen, like all above and below it, succumbed ; but its owner was not satisfied to charge his loss to the waters only. Believing that our mill owners had been negligent instead of provident in keeping so large a supply of the fluid on hand, he, in May, 1861, commenced a suit against R. W. Warren, laying the whole fault to his charge, and claiming $6,200 damages. In the following winter, the testimeny in the case was taken before James Simmons, as referee, occupying eighteen or twenty days and evenings. The mass of sworn evidence collected on that occasion shows how little reliance can be placed upon the human memory. One material point to be determined was whether the break here occurred previous to that at Lyons, and numerous eye witnesses of the facts flatly contradicted each other as to the day of the week on which those events happened."

To take up the beginning of the thread of narrative, Mr. Perkins removed to Baraboo with his family. His mill enterprises were there also unsuccessful. He is now living with his daughter-in-law in Spring Prairie, at an advanced age.

There are two other good water-powers in the town of Lyons - that on Section 16 having a fall of twenty-one feet and being naturally more valuable than the one at Lyonsdale - or the "The Dale," as it is called in distinction to Lyons Station. It is situated, however, upon school land, which did not come into the market until late. In the subdivision of that section for sale under the authority of the State, this water-power was all included in one forty-acre lot, but the right of flowage upon other parts of the section was reserved and sold with that lot. It is now the property of the Hands.

The Spring Valley power is upon a small stream supplied principally by springs. In 1858, C. Stevens built a grist-mill upon it, it having been occupied by carding works for some time previous. Mr. Stevens' mill and one subsequently erected were burned, and the power is at present unused.

Early Settlement

During the same year that the Lyons brothers emigrated from New York, B. B. Davis, formerly Register of Deeds, also settled in the town of Lyons upon Section 17. He had married Miss Adaline Barker, of Sugar Creek. Three years afterward occurred the unfortunate accident, near Madison, which partially disabled the young man for life. Mr. Davis afterward removed to Elkhorn, being elected Register of Deeds in 1842. There he remained for many years engaged in mercantile pursuits until the time of his death.

John Jardin and James Canan came during this year, but never became closely identified with the town's interests. Daniel Campbell, one of the early settlers of Spring Prairie, located on Section 4. His son, William J. Campbell, is now Clerk of the town, and has served several terms as Supervisor.

The next year Peter Campbell, the brother of Daniel, Seth Hamlin, and William F. Lyon, all emigrated from New York. The former located upon Section 10, and with Z. B. Burk, who came in 1842, purchased land which became the site of Lyonsdale. In the summer of 1844, the property was surveyed by Mark Morris, who had been laying out roads in that vicinity. When the railroad gave " The Dale" " the cold shoulder" and the settlement moved down to what is now Lyons, the village was platted by Mr. Burk and Mrs. Campbell, her husband having died.

Details of the settlement of the villages of Lyons and Springfield will be given further on, in the space devoted to these topics. Following is a list of persons who settled in the town of Lyons from 18.37 to 1848, inclusive :

Thomas Fowlston, born in Yorkshire, England, May 4, 1795, came to Lawrence, Ostego County, when ten years old. At the age of twenty-one, he went to the Town of New Lisbon, same county, and remained thereuntil 1839. Then he came to Lyons, Wis., and remained there until the time of his death, August 2, 1878, aged eighty-three years.

Those settlers of 1837, 1838, 1839 and 1840, who still reside in the county, are: Allen Perkins, John Brown, M. Farley, F. Matteson, E. Dayton, H.Hand, Joseph Host, C. F. Cowles,

The first regular religious services were held in Fletcher Lyons log house in 1839, Rev. Mr. Worthington conducting them. He was a Methodist.

Dr. John Stacey, the brother-in-law of E. Dayton, was the first physician. He came with Mr. Dayton in 1839, and settled on Section 15. It was his intention to give himself strictly to agricultural pursuits, but when his neighbors discovered that he was a professional man and the nature of his profession, he often was obliged to drop the spade and take up the medicine case.

The first marriage was that which joined Norman Dyer to Mary Lake, of Lyonsdale, in 1841. In 1842, L. R. Smith was married to Melissa Campbell and Amos Brand to Catharine Campbell.

The first blacksmith - a blacksmith clergyman - came from Elkhorn and located in 1843 upon a piece of land which E. Dayton donated for the purpose. His name was T. S. Barthola-- mew. Besides following his trade, he preached Universalist doctrine, and it is stated on good authority that while he lived in Lyons his time was fully occupied, either ?t his anvil or in pounding away at the orthodox beliefs of Brother Worthington.

William P. Lyon, now on the State Supreme bench, was the first lawyer to commence practice in town. This was about 1846, and his shingle first saw the light of day in Lyonsdale. While he lived here his practice was neither remarkably lucrative nor successful.

George B. Smith kept the first tavern near the Lyons mill-dam. It was built by Benjamin Goodwin in 1843. and burned in the spring of 1852. Soon after the railroad passed through the town, a Mr. Richardson erected one at Lyons Station, the first one built in that village.

The village of Lyonsdale sprung from the improvement of the water-power by the Lyon brothers. In the winter of 1839, before the work had much progressed beyond the mud-sills, Ebenezer Dayton, with his three children, and Dr. John Stacy (his brother-in-law) arrived at the settlement, and were " shown around" by Thomas Lyon. They finally decided to locate on Section 15. Mr. Dayton relates that on Christmas Day of that year his log cabin received its " warming" in the shape of a fine deer which Mr. Lyon brought to him and helped him to drag into ^he house. The completion of the mill during the next year caused quite an influx of emigration. By 1843, it had assumed so much the character of a village that a post ogice was established and Thomas Lyon, Jr., appointed Postmaster. For some reason, Mr. Lyon was not very popular, and when the settlers found that lie had received the appointment, a petition was forwarded for his removal. The first batch of mail which the newly appointed P. M. received contained an order for his removal. Dr. John Stacy was appointed in his stead. Before the oflSce was removed to Lyons Station, Fletcher Lyon and Lathrop BuUen both served as Postmasters.

When it became evident to the Lyons that the village which they had founded would eventually be deserted for a point on the railroad further to the north, they departed from the town. Thomas started for California, but died on the way. Fletcher Lyon sold out his property to John Bullen in exchange for a stock of goods and removed to Kenosha. He afterward went to California, but subsequently returned and is now in Chicago, engaged as an author on Spiritualism. As an item of more than common interest in connection with the Lyon family, it is stated by one employed in driving the horses who were dragging the scraper which was cleaning out the grist- mill race, that young Lyon (now on the bench of the Supreme Court) had supreme control of the scraper. He was a wide-awake young man, and a great favorite in the town, but was never above work of any kind which was honorable. He taught school, he studied law, he was elected Town Clerk and Justice of the Peace, and gradually mounted from . lower to higher trusts.

In l!S.56, the Western Union road was put through the town, and there was a general stampede from Lyonsdale to Lyons. As it stands now, it is a pleasant little village of about three hundred people, situated in the northern part of the town. It contains one hotel, owned by P. Strassen, one grist and feed mill, one cheese factory, one wagon shop, one farm implement depot, three blacksmith shops, two general stores, two hardware stores, two shoe shops, two harness shops and one meat market. It contains three churches. The village possesses no lawyer, and but a single doctor. The village being unincorporated, the good district school, whose privileges it enjoys, is a portion of the town system. The school is taught by the Misses Melvina Arnold and Anna Rooker.

The regular platting of Lyons took place in February, 1868, the proprietors being R. B. Winsor, R. Openshaw, Julius Host, Joseph Host, Z. B. Burk, Ann Campbell, Nathan Hazen, A. C. Goodrich, Charles Phinney, T. T. Pendleton, Alma Taylor, John Strassen, Peter Strassen, Thomas K. Hudson, James Morin, J. Robilliard, E. Dayton, J. P. Frazer, Ela Cone, Isaac B. Merriam, and Summer Chapin.

Since 1856, E. N. White, H. P. Brown, W. J. Campbell and G. G. Reeve, have been Postmasters at Lyons Station, the latter having been in office since 1875. The town hall was erected in 1877. It is a neat, two-story frame building, costing §2,500.

M. E. Church. - In 1840 a class was organized, and in 1857 the society built a church on Section 9, at a cost of $2,700. This was the first religious organization, and the first church in town. Revs. Parks, Calender, Walker, Grant, Smith, Merrill, Mead, Salisbury, Shepard, Thomas, Parsons, Bullock and Brooks have served the society at different times. Rev. J. H. Brooks, who also has charge of the society in Spring Prairie. He resides at Lyons. The membership of his circuit is 117, and the value of the church property, in Lyons, $5,000.

Catholic Church. - In 1867, the Catholic society was formed, and a church building was erected the next year at a cost of $1,700. The society is now in charge of Rev. Francis Pfaller. It contains a membership of about eighteen families, and possesses property valued at $2,500.

German M. E. Church. - A society was formed in 1868, and the schoolhouse transformed into a church building the next year. A mission was formed in 1870, and Rev. Charles Becker engaged as pastor. Then came in succession Revs. John Walter, Conrad Steiner, F. Grube, Cristian Wenz, Sebastian Weckerlin and J. C. Rinder. The latter now has charge of the mission, which embraces Lyons and Burlington, with a membership of seventy. The cost of the church property in Lyons is $1,000.

Lyons Mill. - John BuUen was the next owner of the mill property after it passed from the hands of Fletcher Lyon. It was afterward purchased by Frank Holborn, Waughan & Merrick, W. W. Waughan, and Messrs. M. Schenk and P. Strassen. The latter gentlemen formed a partnership in 1880, and now control the water-power and operate the mill. From two run of stone, the capacity has increased to four run and one patent roller. Building and machinery have been enlarged and improved, so tliat everything is first-class - up with the times. The capacity of the mill is 50 barrels of flour and 250 bushels of feed per day. The brands are "Lyon's Mill " and "Liberty Mills," the former being the No. 1 grade. Connected with the mill, as part of its property, are two warehouses and a dwelling house, the entire value of which is $15,000. It is the only manufactory of the kind in town. Mr. Strassen is also owner of the Lyons Hotel, erected in 1866, but since greatly increased in size, and improved. The main building is 23x76 feet, two stories.

Cheese Factory. - A building for a cheese factory was erected in 1879. It has been idle one season, but is now in operation. The property is in the hands of a stock company, the factory being operated by H. Erdley. It turns out 300 pounds of cheese per day.

A few miles west of Lyons on the Western Union line is the little village of Springfield, containing about one hundred and twenty-five people. It owes its existence to the building of that road, although a number of early settlers located near its site years previous.

In 1839, Edward Warren came from the East with his family and settled on Section 7, about a mile northwest of the village. After living here a number of years he moved away. Soon after William B. Rose visited the vicinity of the village site, and employed Charles Gillett to break land for him. He did not come to settle himself until 1843. In that year he arrived with his wife from New York, and purchased four "eighties" of land - the site of the present village. When it became evident that the railroad was to make a village he sold two "eighties" and a "forty" to Herrick, Fuller & Company, of Racine, who had the land surveyed and platted. This was in October, 1855. He had previously sold one "eighty" and a "forty" to Arnold Weeks. The village was surveyed by S. C. Kelsey ; proprietor, Henry T. Fuller.

Arnold Weeks came to Geneva in 1842, accompanied by his wife and four children. They emigrated from New York. In 1845, they came to Springfield, locating upon Section 7, just west of the village. Of his sons, Levi, Marcin and Theodore are in the town, James H. is in Colorado and John is in Michigan.

John Neil and Peter Orell came together during this year. The former was an Englishman, not long a resident of this country. His daughter was Mrs. Peter Orell.

At present Springfield contains a well-conducted district school, an Episcopalian society, one hotel, a cheese factory, a wagon shop, general store, hardware store, blacksmith shop and shoemaker shop.

St John's Mission Chapel. - The Episcopalians of the village organized a society in about 1861, holding services in the old district schoolhouse until the erection of the chapel building in 1865. Revs. Shaw, of Racine, and E. K. Miller, of Oak Creek, officiated at diflFerent times before the church building was erected. Rev. R. T. Kerfoot, of Geneva, has charge of the society, which numbers twelve members. Prof R. C. Hindley, of Racine, is the lay reader, ofSciating three Sundays in the month. Connected with the mission is a ladies' aid society.

Ghef^e Factory. - In 1878, C. B. McCanna erected a building for a cheese factory, the experiment which had been tried the previous year in one of the warehouses, having proved a success. In the season, it turns out 500 pounds of cheese per day. During the cooler months, both butter and cheese are manufactured.

Lyons In The War

The town of Lyons came to the front during the war with both money and men, as appears from the general war history. At the very first war-meeting held, $2,000 was subscribed. Before the conflict was over the sum was increased to $5,400. Of the seventy men furnished, most of whom joined Companies C, of the Twenty-second and Thirty-sixth Regiments, thirty died either by disease or on the field of battle. E. Dayton, John Spoor, Thomas Hudson, Jesse Balcomb and others were active in raising money and in other important service to uphold the cause. They sent boys to the front, and lost them. Mr. Dayton mourns the loss of two sons. Robert McMillan, another well-known young man, gave up his life for the Union. If every section of the country had been as faithful - both men and women - as Lyons, the rebellion would not have died so lingering a death.

In 1881, there were 5,541 acres of growing grain ; 255 acres of apple orchard ; 1,864 acres of mowing and pasturage, and 3,142 acres of growing timber. The number of milch cows was 93.3, valued at $19,283.

There were six whole and five joint school districts. The number of scholars, enumerated between the ages of four and twenty years, was 452, of which number, 303 attended school. There were nine schools taught by ten teachers, at monthly average wages of $27.66 for male, and $24.55 for female, teachers. There were nine schoolhouses, valued at $10,400, including the sites. At the time the town was organized, the valuation of property was $5,300, and the population, 470.

Biographical Sketches

ZEN AS B. BURK, Lyons. He was born in Somerset Co., Me., Dec. 9, 1814. He lived in the . State of Maine until 1840, when he went West .is far as Michigan, and spent about one year in Indiana and Michigan, returning to Maine in 1841 ; he came to Lyons in the fall of 1842, and purchased 100 acres of land, a part of which is now the village of Lyons ; his chief occupation has been that of a farmer ; no man is better known in the town of Lyons than Mr. Burk ; he was a Justice of the Peace for twenty-eight successive years, viz., from 1852 to 1880, and was Town Clerk of his town for twenty-three years, viz., from 1856 to 1879, and was Chairman of the Board of Supervisors for several years. The long series of years in which the people and the town have insisted on his continuance in the office, in his ability and integrity, being a careful observer, and possessing a remarkable memory, he has long been the authority on all matters of public or personal interest in the history of his town. Mrs. Burk was the daughter of Mr. A. Cahoon, who came to Geneva from Ohio January, 1843, settled on Sec. 11 ; he died in 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Burk have four children - -Amos A. (a resident of Kansas), Ruth E. (now Mrs. Silas A. Ingham, also of Kansas), Martha E. (now Mrs. F. B. Nedall, now a resident of Nebraska), and Flora M. (now Mrs. Charles D. Windsor, now a resident of Lyons). Mr. Burk has a farm of '210 acres in Lyons.

DANIEL CAMPBELL (deceased), Lyons ; he was one of the pioneers of Walworth Co. ; he was born in Clinton Co., N. Y., and came to the Territorj of Wisconsin in 1836 ; he came to Walworth Co. the same year, and made a claim in the town of Spring Prairie. He sold his claim before the land came into market, and in 1839 he settled on Sec. 4, in the town of Lyons; he died July 23. 1879; his wife, Mary Campbell, died Feb. 27, 1872. Mr. Campbell had five children, all of whom are living - two sons, Wesley J. and William R., resides in Lyons ; the former was born in Franklin Co., N. Y., in 1835 ; married Harriet A. Spoor, daughter of John S. Spoor, one of the early settlers of the town of Troy ; his present wife was Marie Moran, born in the town of Lyons. Mr. Campbell has two children by first wife - Lewis A. and Harriet A. ; has two by present marriage - Mabel and Ethel. Mr. Campbell has been a member of the Town Board for several years ; is also Justice of the Peace and Town Clerk, positions that he has filled for several years. William R. was born in Franklin Co., N. Y., in 1827 ; he also resides in Lyons.

L. S. CARY, station agent at Springfield. Mr. Cary was born in Addison Co., Vt., in 1809, where he was brought up on a farm. Mr. Cary is one of the pioneers of Wisconsin ; he came to Racine Co. in September, 1837 ; he came to Springfield to take charge of the station here in 1859, and, except an interval of five years, has oceupied that position since that time. His long continuance in this position is evidence of his faithfulness, and the confidence placed in him by bis employers.

SUMNER CHAPIN, carpenter and joiner, Lyons. He was born in the town of Darien, Genesee Co., N. Y., in 1823, where he lived until May, 1849, when ho came to Walworth Co., and has been a resident of this town most of the time since, engaged in work at his trade, that of the carpenter and joiner. He was married in Genesee Co. to Miss Harriet Spencer. They have two sons - Spencer A. and Eddie A.

EZRA CLARK, farmer, Sec. 4 ; P. 0. Lyons. Mr. Clark came to the town of Lyons from Darien, Genesee Co., N. Y., October, 1848; he was born in Genesee Co., where his father, Ezra Clark, resided till his death. Soon after he came to Walworth Co., he built a store in the village of Lyons. During the following season, he worked for Mr. David Williams, and the next year for Mr. C. K. Phelps. He settled on 80 acres of his present farm in 1851, which he bought of Thomas Fowlston, and afterward purchased another 80 acres of Mr. Fowlston. His wife was Deiadama Coleman, daughter of John Coleman, who settled in the town in 1848, and died in 1866 ; she was born in Genesee Co. in 1827. iMr. and Mrs. Clark have four children - Albert E., Mary J., Helen and Jesse.

C. F. COWLBS, farmer. Sac. 5 ; P. 0. Lyons ; was born in Columbia Co., N. Y., in 1820, where he was brought up ; he came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1840, and has been a resident of the town of Lyons since that time. His father, Moses Cowles, came the following year, and settled in Geneva, where he resided till his death. Mr. Cowles married Louisa Lytle, a daughter of Samuel Lytle. They have four children - Harriet, Augustus, Orsborne and Ullysses. Mr. Cowles' farm contains 160 acres.

EBBNEZBR DAYTON, retired farmer, Lyons, is one of those pioneers of whom there are but comparatively few remaining old settlers who had reached mature life, whose memory now in the decline of life goes back vividly to the events of more than twoscore years ago. He was born in what was then Genesee, now Livingston Co., N. Y., May 15, 1810. He removed to Allegany Co. with his parents when 7 years of age, where he lived until the fall of 1839, when he came to the town of Lyons, and .set-, tied on Sec. 15, on a farm which he purchased of the Government; he sold his farm and settled in the village in 1867. Mrs. Dayton, formerly Miss M. West, was born in the town of Victor, Ontario Co., N. Y., December, 1813. Mr. and Mrs. Dayton have had seven children, three of whom are living - Henry (who lives in Chicago), Laura (wife of R. W. Taylor, lives at Stevens Point, Wis.), and Emily Isadore (wife of Hilary Heck ). Two sons of Mr. Dayton, John S. and William W., lost their lives in the service of their country during the rebellion. John W., a member of Company C, 22d W. V. I., was killed near Atlanta, Ga. ; William W. was mortally wounded at Gaines' Mills ; he was a member of Company C, 36th W. V. L

MICHAEL FARLEY, farmer. Sec. 8; P. 0. Springfield. Mr. Farley is one of the pioneers of the town of Lyons, having settled here in November, 1838. He was born in County Meath, Ireland, near Dublin, in 1809; he emigrated to Canada in 1834. The following year he went to Lewis Co., N. Y., coming here in the f^iU of 1838 ; he settled immediately on his present farm, which he purchased of the Government. He raised his first crop the following year, sowing about 15 acres, including 10 acres of wheat. Mr. Farley has done well his part toward redeeming the wild uncultivated soil, and is now enjoying the fruit of his industry. His wife was Mary Dolan, born in County Cavin, Ireland, about 1808; after a long life well-spent as a help-mate to her husband, she passed to her reward Feb. 7, 1882. Mr. Farley has eight children, four sons and four daughters. His farm contains 160 acres.

JOSEPH T. FLANDERS, painter, Springfield. Mr. Flanders is not an old resident of the county, having come to Geneva in April, 1867 ; he was born in Vermont in 1847 ; he was a soldier in the war of the rebellion; he enlisted iu the 1st Vt. C, in 1863, and was in active service in the field until the close of the war. He was in Grant's campaign of the Wilderness ; was with Gen. Sheridan in his Shenandoah campaign, participating in all the battles of that memorable campaign ; was at the battle of Five Forks, and participated in the closing event of the war. On the close of the war he returned to Vermont ; he engaged iu business at Springfield in 1872, with Mr. D. C. Davis. They conducted the business of wagonmaking and painting ; they were in partnership about one year ; he is now engaged in the business of painting. Mrs. Flanders was formerly Miss Libbie Gray.

EZR.-V B. FOWLSTON, flirmer. Sec. 2; P. 0. Lyons. Mr. Fowlston is the son of Thomas Fowlston, one of the early settlers of the town of Lyons. Mr. Thomas Fowlston was born in England, May 4, 1796; his parents emigrated to the State of New York when he was 10 years of age, where he was brought up. His wife was Hannah Barton ; they came to Walworth Co. in May, 1839, and settled on Sec. 3. The father of Mr. Fowlston died at the homestead, Aug. 2, 1878; he had four children, of whom Ezra B. was the eldest - a daughter, Betsey (is now Mrs. Collins Smith), a brother, Delos (lives in the State of New York), and another sister (is now Mrs. Maria E. Sherman). Ezra B. was born in Otsego Co., N. Y., in 1820 ; he came to Walworth Co. in 1844, and made his first settlement on Sec. 3, in the town of Lyons; he bought the farm on which he now resides in 1854, of Mr. Miner Wilcox. Mrs. Fowlston was formerly Miss Almira Campbell, daughter of Peter and Anna Campbell ; she was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. Mr. Campbell was one of the pioneers of Walworth Co. ; hi settled in the town of Lyons in 1839, and died several years later, of cholera, during the prevalence of that disease in this county. Mrs. Campbell still resides in Lyons. Mr. and Mrs. Fowlston have three children^Emmet E., Romelia E. and Willie G. Mr. Fowlston's farm contains 160 acres.

LORENZO HAND, residence on Sec. 19; P. O. Geneva. Mr. Hand, commonly known as Prof. Hand, is a native of New Lebanon, N. Y., where he was born in 1814 ; he graduated at Union College, Schenectady, N. ¥., in 1842 ; he has made the profefsiun of teaching a life-work, beginning at the age of 17 ; after leaving college, he was engaged for a number of years as Principal of academic institutions in the State of New York ; he had charge of Nassau Academy for a time, and was Principal of Greenville Academy for six years ; he went to Michigan in 1852 and took charge of what was known as Leoni Institute, where he remained four years; he came to Elkhorn, Walworth Co., in 1856, where he taught a select school for two years; in 1858, he went to La Porte, Ind., where he was Superintendent of the Public Schools for three years ; he then returned to Walworth Co., failing health compelling him to relinquish his profession ; he located on a farm in the town of Lyons, but he has found it impossible to give up entirely his chosen profession, and he is now conducting a private school for boys, who make their home with him, and being at all times under his influence, receive the benefit of his large experience and his wellstored mind ; he is the son of Jesse Hand, who came to the town of Lyons, with his family, in 1841 ; though , he lived but a few years after becoming a resident of Walworth Co., yet he left a record as an honorable, upright, citizen, and as a man possessed of much more than ordinary intelligence and ability, and he is remembered with marked respect and esteem by all who remember him ; he died in January, 1846, leaving a numerous family, whose nances are prcminently identified with the history of Walworth Co.

NATHAN B. HAND, farmer. Sec. 11 ; P. 0. Lyons; he was born in the town of New Lebanon, Columbia Co., N. Y., in 1818 ; his father was Jesse Hand (see sketch of Lorenzo Hand) ; Mr. Hand came to the town of Lyons in 1840, and bought of the Government a farm on Sec. 12, which he owned about six years; he went by the overland route to California in 1849, consuming six months in making the trip, driving a team of cattle the entire distance ; he was absent about two years ; he purchased his present farm about 1855, of Mr. Peter Van Slyke, of Geneva; he removed to Geneva in 1872, for the purpose of giving his children better school advantages, where he remained about eight years, and then returned to the farm. Mr. Hand is a representative of quite a numerous family of the earlier settlers of the town of Lyons, among which are numbered some of the most intelligent and substantial men of the county ; he has been married three times, his first wife was Miss Marcia K. Cowles, who died in 1848 ; his second wife, Miss Caroline Hand, died in November, 1878; his present wife was Miss Mary A. Hand, daughter of Nathaniel B. Hand; he has two children by first marriage - Ellen M., wife of John G. Meadows, and Emma, wife of George Meadows ; he had six children by second wife - Charles H., Frank, Edwy, Rupert, Joe and Hattie.

THOMAS WARDEN HILL (deceased); he was born in the town of Swanton, Franklin Co., Vt., Jan. 9, 1817 ; his parents removed to Essex Co. when he was a child ; he lost his parents when quite young, and resided with Joseph Wells until 21 years of age; he came to Geneva in October, 1838; in 1839, he purchased a farm on Sec. 18, in the town of Lyons, which he owned until his death, and which is now the homestead of his family ; in the spring of 1868, he removed to the village of Geneva, and in 1870 was elected to take charge of the Walworth Co. Poor Farm, a position he occupied until his death ; he was Chairman of the Town Board of Lyons for several years ; has twice represented his Assembly District in the Legislature, viz., the sessions of 1853 and 1863; he died suddenly at the homestead. May 26, 1879. Mrs. Hill, formerly Miss Lydia Ferris, was the daughter of Lewis Ferris, who came to Walworth Co. with his family in 1841, and settled in the town of Lyons; he died February, 1856 ; Mrs. Hill was born in Steuben Co., N. Y., and was married in February, 1843; she has three children - Marion E., wife of James E. Brett ; Henry L., who now resides in Geneva and was born March 27, 1849 ; was married to Florence E. Stearns, of Oak Creek, Milwaukee Co., Wis., Nov. 20, 1872 ; she was born at the same place ; and Charles Fremont, who resides with his mother at the homestead ; he was born in 1856; married Miss Mary E. McBeath, born in Whitewater, Walworth Co.

PERRY'^ G. HOPKINS, firm of Hopkins & Son, hardware dealers, Springfield. Mr. Hopkins was born in the town of Cabbot, Caledonia Co., Vt., in 1818 ; he lived in New England until 26 years of age, coming to Wisconsin in 1844 ; he settled on Honey Creek in the town of Spring Prairie, where he worked at the business of carpentering ; he came to the village of Springfield in the spring of 1857. Mr. Hopkins is a carriage-maker by trade, and he established that business in Springfield, which he continued until 1876, when he sold his business to Mr. John Russell ; he engaged in the hardware business under the firm name of P. G. Hopkins & Son, November, 1880 ; his wife was formerly Miss Eunice C. Morrell, born in the town of Warner, Merrimack Co., N. H. Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins have four children - Ellen Jane, wife of Otis Vaughn, lives in Nevada ; Charles M., in Dakota ; Ida May, wife of William Dodge ; and Albert H., who is engaged with his father in business.

CHARLES B. McCANNA, proprietor of Springfield Cheese Factory, Springfield. Mr. McCanna is a native of JeiFerson Co., N. Y., where he was born in 1851 ; he was brought up a farmer ; came to Fond du Lac, Wis., in 1876, thence to Allen's Grove, Walworth Co., where he engaged in the manufacture of cheese with Mr. Davis, owning one-half interest in the factory at that place; he and Mr. Davis dissolved partnership in March, 18V8; Mr. SIcCanna built the cheese factory at Springfield the same year; he also, with Mr. J. H Harris, built a factory on Spring Prairie, the same year, in which he has one-half intere.st. The capacity of each factory is about 200,000 lbs. per year. In 1881, the actual production of both factories was 325,000 lbs., besides which they made about 40,000 lbs. of butter. Mrs. McCanna was formerly Miss Pauline Cheeseman, daughter of Edward Cheeseman, a native of England.

WILLIAM MEADOWS, farmer and wool buyer, Sec. 2 ; P. 0. Lyons. Mr. Meadows is of English birth. His father, George Meadows, emigrated to the State of New York from England, and thence to Burlington, Racine Co., in 1849, and located on a farm ; he removed to Walworth Co. in 1855, and purchased a tract of 290 acres of land in Sees. 1 and 2 in the town of Lyons. The parents of Mr. Meadows had eight children, three sons and five daughters ; the sons and four daughters are still living ; William and George now own the tract of land on which their father settled ; their brother John G. resides on Sec. 11. Their parents are now residents of Burlington, Racine Co. Mr. William Meadows was born in England in 1833, came to the United States with his parents in 1842. As a business man, Mr. Meadows is prominently known as a wool dealer, a business in which he has been engaged since 1865 ; he is probably the most extensive purchaser of that commodity in Walworth Co. ; he lakes an active part in whatever tends to promote the best interests of the county and community in which he lives ; he has been President of the Walworth County Agricultural Society ; was Chairman of the Town Board for the years 1876-77 and '78, and has served one term in the Legislature of the State. Mrs. Meadows was formerly Miss Ann Armstrong, born in the State of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Meadows have three children - George, William and Lizzie. Mr. Meadows farm contains 133 acres.

EDWARD MOORHOUSE, general merchant, Springfield. Mr. Moorhouse is a native of Dutchess Co., N. Y., where he was born in 1844. When 14 years of age, he came to Walworth Co. with his father, Henry Moorhouse, who settled in the town of Geneva. Edward went to California in 1864, and engaged in quartz milling ; he returned in 1868, and bought a farm about 1870 on Sec. 8, town of Lyons, of Mr. E. Booth; he engaged herein business in 1875, under the firm name of Moorhouse & Warhurst; his partner died September, 1880. Mr. Moorhouse has been sole proprietor since the death of Mr. Warburst ; he has an extensive trade; he is also engaged in buying grain, stock, wool and poultry.

JUDSON NEFF, lumber dealer, Springfield; born in Cortland Co., N. Y., in 1833; he came to Walworth Co. with his parents, Abraham and Elisabeth Neff, in 1842. The parents of Mr. Neff settled on Spring Prairie. Mr. Abraham NeflF was born in the State of New York, in 1797, and died Oct. 27, 1866. Mrs. Neff lives with her son at Springfield. The parents of Mr. Neff had four sons, two of whom grew to manhood, Judson and Henry N. The latter was a Union soldier during the rebellion, and was for a period of fourteen months a prisoner in the Andersonville Prison ; he died at St. Louis, July 26, 1 866. Mr. Judson Neff was engaged for a time at the business of carpentering at Honey Creek ; he was afterward engaged in the mercantile business at Burlington, Racine Co., for about eight years ; was afterward engaged in the salesroom of a sash, door and blind factory in Chicago ; has been engaged in his present business at Springfield since Feb. 24, 1880. Mr. Nefl^ married Miss Celinda Fowler, daughter of Benjamin Fowler, by whom he had two children - none of his family are living.

JACOB OLP, farmer. Sec. 6 ; P. 0. Springfield. He was born in the State of New Jersey in 1807. When 23 years of age he removed to the town of Mount Morris, Livingston Co., N. Y., where he lived until 1852, when he moved to the town of Livonia in the same county ; he came to Walworth Co. in 1854, and purchased the farm, where he has since resided, of Judge Baker, of Geneva; he has been married twice, his first wife was Mary Baylor, a native of New Jersey ; his present wife was Mrs. Elizabeth Hicks, formerly Miss Salthouse, born in England, and emigrated to the State of Illinois with her parents when 14 years of age. Mr. Olp had seven children by his first wife, who grew to maturity, four sons and three daughters; three sons and the daughters are still living ; has one daughter by the present wife. Mrs. Olp has three sons and one daughter by her former marriage. Mr. Olp's farm contains 125 acres of land.

JACOB QUACKENBUSH, farmer. Sec. 17 ; P. 0. Lyons. He was born in Montgomery Co., N. Y., in 1809, but removed to Oneida Co. with his parents, and thence with them to Oswego ; he came to Burlington, Racine Co., Wis., from Oneida Co.. N. Y., in June, 1840; he settled in the town of Rochester, Racine Co., the same year, but sold out and settled in the town of Spring Prairie the following year ; has lived in Walworth and Racine Cos. since he first came to the State of Wisconsin ; he bought the farm where he now lives, in June, 1855, of Joseph Cahone ; he has been married twice. His first wife died after he came to Spring Prairie : he had five children by his first wife, four of whom are living ; he has one child by his second wife ; his eldest son Edward and his youngest child Anna are at home.

GILES Gr. REEVE, general merchant and Postmaster, Lyons. He is a native of Herkimer Co., N. Y.. where he was born in 1833 ; he removed to the town of Trenton, Oneida Co., when 17 years of age; he came to Walworth Co. March 2, 1866, and settled on a farm on Sec. 27, purchasing what was known as the Crane farm, and, being located here in the village for a time, he engaged in the produce business at Burlington, Racine Co. ; he came here November, 1875, having exchanged his farm for a stock of goods with Farnum & Brown. The business was established by Sperry Northrup about 1855. Mr. Reeves was appointed Postmaster December, 1875 ; he is also express agent at this point. His wife was Sarah, daughter of Thomas T. and Elvira Worden. Mrs. Reeves was born in Trenton, N. Y., March 6, 1834. They have two children - Parker W. and Mary E., both of whom died in infancy. Mr. Reeves is the only member of his fiither's family in this State.

JOEL B. SMITH, farmer, Sec. 5; P. 0. Lyons; son of Chester Smith, who was born in Bennington Co., Vt., May 14, 1795, who is still living, and is residing with his son at the homestead, at the advanced age of 87 years. His father, Oliver Smith, the grandfather of Joel B. Smith, was a soldier ot the Revolutionary war; he marched with Gen. Benedict Arnold across the wilderness to Quebec, and participated in the disastrous attack of Gen. Montgomery upon that stronghold. Chester Smith emigrated from the State of New York to the then Territory of Michigan, in the fall of 1834. He came to Walworth Co. in April, 1846, and settled on the farm which he purchased of John Smith. His wife was Abigail R. Bostwick. They have four children, two of whom died in Michigan, and a daughter, Martha E., wife of Henry Banker, died in 1866. Joel B. Smith was born in Clarendon, Orleans Co., N. Y., in 1834 ; he married Mary E. Fellows, a daughter of Amos Fellows. They have three children - Lura A., Halbert E. and Anna L. The homestead farm contains 143 acres of land.

CYRUS P. TAYLOR, farmer, Sec. 7 ; P. 0. Springfield; son of Linus Taylor, who came to Walworth from the State of New York in June. 1845, and purchased a farm of Palmer Gardner and James Garfield, on Sec. 6, in the town of Lyons. He sold his farm in 1855, and. in 1857, removed to Champaign Co., 111., where he resided until his death. Cyrus P. Taylor was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., in 1826. He came here with his parents, and has been a resident of the town of Lyons since that time. He is one of the substantial and reliable citizens of Walworth Co. ; he has served four years as Sherifl' of the county, holding that position for the years 1873 and 1874, and for 1877 and 1878 ; has been a member of the Town Board for a dozen years, of which he was Chairman for six years. Mrs. Taylor was formerly Miss Lydia Dikeman, who came to Walworth Co., with her parents, from the State of New York, in 1845, a'nd settled on Sec. 7, town of Lyons. Her father now lives at Elkhorn. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have two sons - Frank E. and Millard D. Mr. Taylor's farm contains 160 acres.

HENRY B. TOWSLEE, Esq., resides on Sec. 11; P. 0. Lyons. Mr. Towslee was born in Rutland, Vt, in 1811. He is a lawyer by profession ; studied law in his native State, and was admitted to the bar in 1832 ; he came to Wisconsin in the spring of 1839. and located at Southport, now Kenosha, where he resided till 1855, when he removed to Detroit, Mich., where he practiced law till 1858, and then he returned to Kenosha, and engaged in banking; he practiced law in Chicago from 1861 till 1869, when his health having failed he came to Walworth Co., and settled on his farm, which he had purchased in 1851. His farm contains 200 acres.

A. D. VANTINE, farmer, Sec. 4; P. 0. Lyons; son of Lester S. Vantine, who was born in the eastern part of the State of New Y^ork, and came to Walworth Co. in 1844, and located the same year on the farm where his son, A. D. Vantine, now lives, where he resided until his death. His wife died previous to the death of her husband. They left two children - Darwin D. and Ashley D. The latter was born on the homestead in 1854; he married Eliza Hellowell, known as Nettie Wbitmore; they have one son, Lewis A. Ashley D. resides at the homestead. Darwin D. lives at Danville, 111. ; he was born on the homestead, also, and is the elder of the two. The homestead fiirm contains 96 acres.

LEWIS S. WEEKS, farmer. Sec. 4 ; P. O. Lyons. Mr. Weeks was born in Massachusetts, in 1818 ; when 15 years of age, he removed with his parents to the town of Darien, Genesee Co., N. Y. His parents were Spencer and Elvera Weeks; his father was born in Massachusetts in 1797 ; his mother was born August, 1798; his father came to Walworth Co., with his fiimily, in 1843, and settled on Sec. 4, town of Lyons, where his son, G. Vernon Weeks, now lives. His father died at the homestead in 1859 ; his mother still lives at the homestead, with her son, G. Vernon Weeks. Lewis S. Weeks came here from Genesee Co., N. Y ., in the spring of 1844, and purchased his present farm. He was married in the State of New York to Elvira F. Little, born in Genesee Co. They have two sons - John and Edgar A. Their farm contains 218 acres.

Source changes here: from History of Walworth County, Wisconsin .., by Beckwith, Albert C. (Albert Clayton), published 1912; 1,624 words in this source stream.

Lyons Town

Town 2 north, range 18 east, was set off from the town of Geneva by Act of January 23, 1844, and was named Hudson. James C. and Thomas K. Hudson came in 1846 and William Hudson lived there before i860; but, as their names are not found in earliest records it is not very probable that they named their town. It is rather likelier that men of Columbia county, Xew York, chose thus to remind themselves, of their old home. A few years later the city of Hudson, in St. Croix county, seemed to have the stronger right to the name, and in 1865 the name of the older town was changed to Lyons, to avoid some geographical confusion. The village of Lyonsdale had been founded, named for ,the early settling Lyon family and, as Lyons, had become a railway station and gave its name to the township.

Burlington and Wheatland lie next eastward, the one in Racine county, the other in Kenosha county. The outlets of Duck and Geneva lakes meet in section jo and thence White river winds its wa\ to the box and thus by the Illinois and the Mississippi to the Gulf. The united river affords a good water-power at the south side of section 10, and this was improved at an early time. The lowest lying rock surface, as found in sixteen measurements for Lyons, is in the southwest quarter of section i. 772 feet above sea level. The highesl measured point, near the middle of the south line of section 10, east of the dam, is 944 feet above sea level. Parallel ridges of gravelly soil give a somewhat rugged appearance to the middle belt of sections from east to wesl ; but these are owned and profitabrj cultivated now. as seventy years ago. The two northern tiers of sections are an extension of the fertile fields of Spring I'rairie.

heir sons. David, Isaac, Thomas and William Fletcher Lyon. The father and two or three of the sons came in [837 to sections II, 1 5, 22, began to build then dam in [838, and their saw-mill in 1840. Other settlers of 1837 were John Brown to section 35, Daniel Campbell to section 4, and James Curran to section 25. Peter Campbell came in 1838 to section 10. Ebenezer Dayton, Michael Farley. Thomas Fowlston (1805-1878), Tompkins Matteson, William Schurman, Sidney Wait and Edward Warren were of the men of 1839.

Edwin Booth (1810-1875) married Martha Turner (1811-1887). Iksettled on section 8, and was later and for long one of the active business men at Springfield.

Zenas Baker Burk (1814-1894), a native of Maine, came in 1842 to section 10. He married Mary, daughter of Amos Cahoon. It is not known how long he served as justice of the peace, owing l<> tin- . 1 i ...in n\ rccuni previous to 1859, but more than forty years.

Peter Campbell (1786-1854) was Daniel's brother, both natives of Clinton county. New York. He married Ann (1802-1883), daughter of Garret and Catherine Barron, and in 1838 they made their home in section 10.

Cyrus Fellows Cowles (1820-1889) was son of Moses (1785-1848) and Pamela. He came in 1840 to section 5. He married Louisa (1828-1881), daughter of Samuel Lytle and Harriet (Campbell) McGee.

Ebenezer Dayton (1810-1885) was son of Abram (1771-1848) and Levina ( 1 775- t 853 ) . He came from the Genesee valley in 1839 to section 15. His wife, Emily Malvina (1814-1891), was daughter of Thomas and Tirzah West. Two sons died in military service.

Ezra B. Fowlston (1820-1S00) was son of Thomas and wife Hannah Barton. He came from Otsego county to section 3 in 1844. He married Almira (1827-1906), daughter of Peter and Ann Barron Campbell.

Robert Uolley (born 1791) and Amelia (born 1798) came in 1844 to section 18. The family removed to Elkhorn about 1856, and later went westward. He was enrolled as an attorney, and was for some years a justice of the peace.

Thomas K. Hudson ( [807-1891) was born in Utica, New York. With wife Elizabeth (1812-1889) he came in 1846 to section 10. He had sons in military service. William Pludson was born 1808, died 1886.

Erastus and Theron Humphrey were first cousins. Erastus ( 1810-1881) was son of Roswell and wife Ruth Gillet. His first wife was Mary Porter Wilcox: his second wife was named Wis. Of his children, Rosell Pembroke Humphrej 1 born [823 ) was long an active citizen. Theron, son of Jonathan, married Jane A. Barker. The ancestors of Jonathan and Roswell were Michael1 . Samuel " a, Isaac1.

Cyrus King 1 [801-1879) and wife Margaretta 1 1806-1880) came early 1- ilit town, [f, a- seems probable, he was a young uncle of Cyrus l\. Phelps, "f section 1 Gem va, he was son of Israel King and Elizabeth Johnson. His grave is at Springfield cemetery.

A. Sperry Northrop came to section 13 in 1842, and married Catharine M., daughter of William F. and Catharine Pulver Lyon, December 21, 1843.

Joseph Ellicott (1821-1885), Russell, and Sidney Wait were sons of Russell Wait and Mercy Booth. Joseph E. married Elvira J. (1822-1899), daughter of Spencer Weeks. Russell, Jr., married Adeline Herrick (1823- 1902). They went to California, where both died.

Arnold Weeks (1811-1897), son of Levi Weeks and Anna Arnold, was born in the valley of the Mohawk. In 1832 he married Hannah, daughter of John Sperbeck and Anna Springstein. In 1842 he came to section 7.

Spencer Weeks (1797-1859) was son of Samuel Weeks and Lydia Williams. His earlier ancestors were George,1 William,2 John,s William,4 Hezekiah.5 Hence, Spencer was of the seventh generation in America. He married in 1817 Elvira (1798-1883), daughter of Thomas and Sophia Dimock. In 1843 he came to Lyons, section 4. where his ten children grew up to make some mark in the history of the town and county.

Village Of Lyons

The settlement at the mill soon gave promise of increase and multiplication, and in 1843 tne postoffice of Lyonsdale was established with Thomas Lyon, Jr., temporarily in charge. In 1846 William F. Lyon and Martin O. Pulver equipped the saw-mill or built anew for grinding, and, with successive improvements added, the mill is yet at work. Its ownership passed to John Bullen, Frank Holborn, Perez H. Merrick and William W. Vaughan, Matthias Schenk and Peter Strassen, Strassen's heirs, and to Joseph J. Heiligenthal. The Lyons flour long had ready sale at home and elsewhere, but the general transfer of flour making to the upper Mississippi valley and to the larger cities of the West, has left to this, as to many another mill, only local grists and feed-grinding - which is still enough to make the 1 1 ms mill good property.

It was known, at least as early as 1855, that the railway from Racine would pass over the somewhat higher ground northward. Early in 1856 the track was laid from Burlington to Delavan, and thence to Beloit in the fall. The new station, on the northern side of section 10. is about two-thirds of a mile from the mill. Lyonsdale had not yet become too unwieldly to move, and its business with its later increase of population gathered about the station, which a few years later dropped a syllable of its name. The station is 46.6 miles from Milwaukee and 85.2 miles from Chicago. Like other stations on this line, it became an important shipping point for grain and live stock. One item of its business was for a time rather noteworthy, namely, that of calf-buying for the veal trade - the slaughter of innocents. It was not long ago told in a daily newspaper that one buyer's shipments amounted to five hundred calves or carcasses yearly. Of course, these were of the lower grades of cattle, and were brought to the station in part from other towns.

The village has about two hundred and fiftv inhabitants, a bank, a hotel, three churches, a good school house, a convenient town-hall, and the needful number of stores and shops. Its streets and roads are well kept and its walks are of concrete. Bridges, in town and village, are substantially built of iron and cement. The village lies on both sides of the railway, and looks everywhere clean and homelike. The Methodist and Lutheran churches are of a long familiar style of village architecture, and. are kept in the good order, outwardly, observable all about the village. The Methodist society, organized in 1840. built its church in 1857. The Lutheran society was founded in 1868. The Catholic parish of St. Joseph was formed in 1867 and soon built a church, which has given place, in 191 o, to a larger and in every way liner building, of pressed brick, with stained glass windows, and all within and without in harmony. This parish lias also a cemetery in section 15, about a mile southward.

Tlie State I'.ank of Lynns was organized in [909. with a capital of ten thousand dollars, owned by fifty-three stockholders, mostly residents of the town. Its officers were and are: Edgar A. Weeks, president; John Wagner, vice-president; Wilbur G. Weeks, cashier; Josephine Host, assistant cashier. The hank has now a good building of its own. with suitable equipment for its business.

The village was platted in [868 for twenty-one proprietors: Zenas 1!. Burk, Mis. \iin Campbell, Sumner Chapin, Ela Cone, Ebenezer Davton, James I', Frazer, Wi ( '. Goodrich. Nathan lla/en, Joseph I lost. Julius Host, Thomas K, Hudson, [saac B. Merriam, James Moran. Robert Openshaw, Joseph T. Pendleton. Charles E. Phinney, John Robilliard. John Strassen, Peter Strasseni \lma Taylor, Richard B. Winsor, Mrs. Taylor ( \-'u 1N0S1. was wit',- of Jesse L. Taylor, Esq. 1 [793-1881 1.