Patch Grove Village

Patch Grove Village

This town, as at present constituted, embraces portions of Townships 5 and 6, Range 5 west, and is in area somewhat less than a Congressional township. It is surrounded by the towns of Miilville, Mt. Hope, Little Grant. Bloomington and Wyalusing. Patch Grove, when first apportioned off as a township, contained much more territory, as will be seen by the following taken from the records of the Board of Supervisors for the extra session of 1848, when it was enacted that " all that district of country in Grant County embraced in Townships 6 and 7 north, of Range 4 west ; also Townships 5, 6 and 7 north, of Range 5 west ; also Townships 5 and 6 north, of Range 6; also fractional Townships 5 and 6 north, of Range 7 west of the Fourth Principal Meridian, shall constitute a separate township, to be called Patch Grove." This territory has since been changed and divided, until it has assumed its present shape and proportions.

The first settler in the original township of Patch Grove was Page Blake, from whom the prairie stretching away to the north and west took its name, and mention of whom has been made in the Bloomington history, as well as other places in this work. The first settlers in the present township were Moses Hicklin and John Thompson. The former had been living at Cassville, and at the termination of the Black Hawk war moved out onto the prairie, where he located a claim, on which he resided up to the time of his death. John Thompson was formerly a soldier stationed at Prairie du Chien. He left the army at the close of tbis struggle, and came to settle upon this broad, fertile prairie. In 1835, Charles Blunt came, and afterward settled on Section 17. At that time the only houses between Blunt and Wingville were Hicklin's, Thompson's and the cabin of Ben Forbes, who was located on the farm at present occupied by James Davis.

In 1836, Mr. Henry Patch arrived in company with Messrs. Alfred and Ira Brunson. The former remained and first settled in a small log cabin by the' spring, just west of the present village. The next year he commenced the erection of that famous double cabin which has furnished shelter for so many weary heads and tired feet. This stood on the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 4, Town 5, Range 5, and was finished the same year, although not occupied until the year following. Around the house were a few trees, and the place became known as Patch's Grove, and as such was erected into a post ofiice about the time it was occupied by Patch, he himself being the first Postmaster. Previous to this time, the settlers on the prairie had been obliged to go to Prairie du Chien for mail. Ephraim Hall also settled on the Forbes claim about this time, the latter having returned to Cassville. William and. James Humphrey followed in 1838, the former locating on his present place. John Scott was also numbered among the early comers. In 1842, Enos P. Finn, now a resident of Bloomington, moved from his first location, near the site of that village, and took up a cabin near Hall's.

Up to this time, there had been no signs or evidences of establishing a village. Patch's was simply a stopping-place for those traveling through the country on business or pleasure, there being but very few of the latter, however. Kind and genial, the soul of honesty and honor, "Uncle Henry" served as a general depositary, both of news and valuables. His hearty welcome to the sojourner within his gates was of a kind to make him at once at home, certain that in this kindly landlord he could put all faith and trust. Hon. Henry Merrill, in his reminiscences, thus speaks of an early visit paid to " Uncle Henry:"

" After visiting Mineral Point. I called on my friend, N. Goodie, at Elk Grove, and then rode on to the furnace of Tom Parish, a very genial man. Spending a short time with him, I pushed on, and it became very dark, and traveling on an Indian trail so dark I could not see it, but let my horse take his own course. Finally, I brought up to a fence, and following it I came to a house where I was to stay, at Patch's Grove. I got into very good quarters, Mr. Patch being very sociable, as most people were in those days, for they were glad to get the news, as probably they had no mails oftener than once a month (Patch Grove at this time depended on Prairie du Chien for mail. - Ed.), and neighbors being few and far between. After conversing a long time, he wanted to know what State I came from, for, he said, he could generally tell, but in my case he could not make it out. When I told liim I was from New York, he said he thought so, as that was the only State that puzzled him. The next morning, I followed a road to a ferry across the Wisconsin, and then pushed on three miles to Fort Crawford."

The first house built in the present village of Patch Grove was erected by Mr. Enos P. Finn in 1843. It was a frame structure afterward used as a tavern by James Forshay, and kept as such by him for many years. It is still standing in the south part of the village, west of the Wisconsin House, a well-worn relic whose sunken lines and weather-beaten walls carry the memory back through the long vista, to the time when the present populous prairies were an abode for wolves and foxes. The land on which the west half of the village stands was entered by Robert C. Orr, and by him was sold to Enos P. Finn ; this was the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 4 ; among the articles of dicker in the trade is mentioned an " old gray mare," which was transferred to Mr. Orr; whether she proved afterward " the better horse," is not stated. This land was laid out into village lots by Mr. Finn, but the plot was never recorded. The first shop in the new village was a smithy built by Francis Brady, who started in business on the ground now occupied by the Wisconsin House, soon after the laying out of the town

The first store was started by I. G. Ury, who purchased a lot and erected a building on the ground now occupied by the store of J. J. Humphrey, in 1848. Mr. Luther Brown, who came soon after the laying out of the town, thus speaks of the young settlement: " When I came to Patch Grove in 1846, there were then living in the town Henry Patch, Charles Blunt, Hiram Brunson, Joshua Bidwell, J. M. Dickenson, S. H. Goodman, John Thompson, Moses Hicklin, James and William Humphrey, James and Alexander Paul. George and David Ballentine, George Pike, Hugh Garside, John Wilson, Henry Adams, Thomas Nagle, E. P. Finn and Francis Brady. In those early times, when we wanted 'store goods,' we went to Beetown, a drive of ten miles across the unbroken prairies." To the names of those who came in at a comparatively early date must he added that of Dr. Chambers, the first physician in the town, who came in 1842.

Among the early trials of the settlers in this section was the long distances which they were obliged to traverse in order to get to mill. At first, Galena was the nearest point where the early pioneer could get his " grist " ground, and the erection of Burt's Mill, with its facilities for manufacturing a certain kind of flour was mentioned as a subject of thanksgiving, albeit the distance tn be traversed to reach this new mill aggregated forty miles, taking the early settler from three to four days to accomplish the journey there and back. This mill and Virgin's, at Platteville, was the mealy Mecca of pioneers for many years. Finally, as years passed, the erection of mills nearer, obviated this necessity of long drives and wasted time. The post ofiice was established in 1888, in Patch's new cabin, that gentleman being the first Postmaster. The office was first known as Patch's Grove. After a time, the spirit of modern improvement took possession of the inhabitants, and the name was changed to Urskine, but, owing to the immense trouble caused by the change, the original name was resumed again, and as such it has remained up to the present date. These were the days when letters coming over three hundred miles were charged up to the receiver at the rate of 25 cents per letter. " Uncle Henry " remained in charge of the office for many years, and was succeeded by Mr. Paul. The office was moved for the convenience of the villagers, from Mr. Patch's double cabin to the store of I. G. Ury, soon after the latter started in business. A second store was opened about 18-50 by the Green Bros. & Fay, of Prairie du Chien, and Smith Brown placed in charge. This new business place stood on the opposite corner to Ury's establishment, on the site now occupied by the store of Robert Collier.

The new village went for a time, among those acquainted with its existence, by the euphonious name of " Finn town," but the eternal fitness of things was better observed by afterward

Scattering houses began to tell of incoming residents, and in 1857, Coddington and Thomas started a third store. The same year, Mr. Ury retired from business, disposing of his stock to Mr. A. Paul. About this time, the village was at the zenith of its prosperity. During the year 1855, Volney Osborn had erected several houses on the land east of the main street. These filled up rapidly, and besides the stores already mentioned, the town was possessed of one boot and shoe shop, run by Robert Collier, the present enterprising merchant, several blacksmith shops, and three saloons. Business was brisk, and everything seemed to denote an excellent future for the village. During 1859, Volney Osborn surveyed and platted the land owned by him on the east side of the principal street. This is the first recorded plat of Patch Grove, and is marked on the maps as the "original village," although the first commencement was some years earlier. The surveyor's work was done by L. P. Stringham, and the plat recorded June 4, 1859. A few years later, much of the village property fell into the hands of minor heirs, rendering it impossible to get a perfect title, thus preventing those who wished to locate in Patch Grove from carrying out their original intention. This, with other causes, operated against the prosperity of this village, and to the advantage of its young rival a few miles to the southward ; since this time, the older buildings have been replaced by newer and finer structures, but as said before, the business portion of the town has not been enlarged. At present, the village contains four general merchandise stores, being Alexander Paul's, at the north side of the village, where Mr. Paul a few years ago erected a large and commodious brick store ; J. J. Humphreys occupying the site of the store erected by I. G. Ury in 1848, which store was burned down ; Robert Collier's, situated on the site of Fay's former store, and that of Hope & Woodhouse, near the center of the village. Besides these establishments, there are two wagonshops, two blacksmith-shops, one shoemaker's shop, a harness-shop, and a few scattering shops, and an excellent hotel, the Wisconsin House.

A steam fiouring-mill was started in 1872. by Messrs. Paul, Scott and Hicklin. Owing to the almost total failure of the wheat crop in the immediate vicinity caused by the ravages of the chinch-bug. the mill did not prove the success it otherwise might have been. It is at present leased to Mr. Fred. Claur, who runs it as a custom mill.

The first school taught in the township of Patch Grove was taught by Miss Almira Brunson in the newly erected cabin of Mr. Henry Patch, in 1838. It was a private school, and had an attendance of about fifteen scholars. It did not continue long, as the house was soon, taken for a family residence, and used as such until within the past year. It still stands there on the old site, a monument to the hardy pioneers of long ago. The second school and the first "free school" was taught a few years later by Mrs. Roxina Blunt, in her house, two miles southwest of the present village, twelve or fifteen scholars being in attendance. The first school building was built of logs and ornamented with a sod chimney, and stood in a ravine northeast of town. It was built by private subscription and served for several years as the fountain of learning, to whose flowery banks the youth of the neighborhood were brought to imbibe that mystic knowledge of " readin', writin' and cipherin' " considered indispensable. The first teacher to hold sway in this rude institution of learning was Miss Minerva Warner, and among those who followed her were Miss Nancy Durley, of Platteville, and Miss Danley, of Prairie du Chien. In 1844, a new schoolhouse was erected on the northeast corner of Mr. Bradley's farm, now owned by Mr. McNamara, where it remained until 1848, when it was moved into the village, which had then begun to assume something of importance. The old schoolhouse still remains, although long since deserted for newer quarters, standing in a decayed condition opposite the store of Mr. Alexander Paul, at the north end of the village.

Patch G-rove Academy. - This institution of learning was started in 1861, the building being erected by private subscription. This was about the period that marked the decay of the "Tafton Seminary," and it was hoped by the incorporators of the new enterprise to transfer the prestige which had marked the old seminary to the younger, and at the same time give the youth of the neighborhood such educational advantages as would obviate the necessity of sending them away from home to finish their education. The academy was a fine looking two-story brick structure, standing on a slight rise of ground on the west side of the village, up which a pleasant lane led to the- school-grounds. The first Board of Trustees comprised the following: A. Paul, William Humphrey, J. Warner, Thomas Nagle, G. Forshay, James Paul, Henry Patch, S. S. Bradley, John Woffenden. The first principal was William B. Clark, at present engaged in the banking business at Bloomington. He had as assistant Mrs. Newcomb, while the musical department was under the charge of Miss Newcomb. Under Mr. Clark's administration, the school seemed in a fair way to fulfill all the expectations of its friends and patrons, but upon the departure of this gentleman, the school speedily began to show signs of degeneracy, and in a short time afterward the academy as such was numbered among the things that were. A few years ago, the building was leased by the district, and since that time has been run in conjunction with the school building erected near it by the district as a graded school, the latter containing the primary department with one teacher, while the intermediate and grammar grades are confined to the academy building, presided over by the principal and one assistant. This arrangement furnishes ample accommodation for all the children in the district with educational advantages equal to the best.

As has been seen, the town of Patch Grove was created by the Board of Supervisors at the special session held in 1848, and included, besides the present township of Patch Grove, the present township of Mount Hope, Woodman, Millville, Wyaiusing, and the greater part of the present township of Bloomington. The first township election was held at the old schoolhouse, noticed as still standing in the north part of the village, April 3, 1849. At the town meeting held the same day Hiram Bronson was elected Moderator or Chairman, and Thomas Nagle, Clerk. By-laws were passed for the government of the new township regulating the running at large of stock and care of fences ; also laws regulating the marking of stock. The Town Clerk was also ordered to provide himself with books for recording the town business, marks of stock, etc.

The ofiicers elected at this date were: Supervisors - Jared Warner, Chairman, George Ballentine and J. C. Orr ; Treasurer, James Humphrey; Clerk, Thomas Nagle; Superintendent of Schools, C. C. Drake ; Assessor, Austin Lord ; Justices of the Peace, William Kidd, Jr., Daniel Andrews, James H. Newbury, A. A. Franklin ; Constables, J. P. Stewart Alfred Drake, H. Lord. At the town meeting, George Pike, C. P. Smith, E. P. Finn, Thomas Nagle, Hiram Delap and William Whitesides were elected as Road Overseers, while William Whitesides, Moses Hicklin, Norman Washburn, John Lawless and Homer Lord, were appointed to the office of Fence Viewers.

May 8, the Justices held a meeting and balloted for the long and short term. William Kidd, Jr., and James H. Newbury, each were retained for the long term, Daniel Andrews and Amos A. Franklin being obliged to remain content with a short term as dispensers of justice.

The first meeting of the Board of Supervisors, for the town, was held May 12, 1849, when the town was divided into seven road districts and nine school districts. September 27, 1852, the population of the township had so increased that it was found necessary to create three pollingplaces, which was done as follows : The first to be the usual polling-place, " the schoolhouse near the residence of J. M. Dickinson, in the village,"' with one at the schoolhouse in the village of Millville, and "one at the 'red schoolhouse,' so called, in what is called the Orr settlement in the south part of town."

The boundaries of Patch Grove were somewhat curtailed in 1853, by the erection of Millville Township on the north ; and more so the succeeding year, by the creation of Wyaiusing on the west. Another readjustment of boundaries was rendered necessary in 1859, by the creation of the town of Lander - now Bloomington - by the County Board, since which time Patch Grove has remained at its present dimensions.

of Common Schools, C. C. Drake; Justices of the Peace, A. A. Franklin, Daniel Andrews. Benjamin Brown (to fill vacancy) ; Constables, I. Stewart and Horace Lord.

1852 - Supervisors, J. Warner, Chairman, George Ballentine, Moses Hicklin ; Clerk, James Paul; Treasurer, James Humphrey ; Assessor, .J. C. Orr ; Superintendent of Schools, C. C. Drake; Justices of the Peace, A. A. Franklin and D. Andrews ; Constables, A. Francis and D. Henshaw.

1853 - Supervisors, D. Andrews, Chairman, Haines Fitch, P. Palmer; Clerk, James Paul ; Treasurer, Henry Patch ; Assessor, J. T. Murphy ; Justices of the Peace, William Jacobs, Joseph Horsfall ; Constables, T. W. Smith, A. Francis and G. A. Bottom.

1854 - Supervisors, J. T. Murphy, Chairman, George Engle, Robert Glen; Clerk, J. BoUes; Treasurer, Henry Patch ; Assessor, H. Lord ; Justices of the Peace, James T. Murphy and J. W. Graves ; Constables, R. Lumpkins, L. Folsom and T. W. Smith.

1855 - Supervisors, J. T. Murphy, Chairman, Benjamin Briges, George Eagle ; Clerk, D.Andrews; Treasurer, Henry Patch ; Assessor, A. C. Stiles ; Superintendent of Schools, A. A. Franklin ; Justices of the Peace, James T. Humphrey, Henry Patch (to fill vacancy, A. A. Franklin) ; Constables, R. A. Lumpkins, William Young, L. Folsom.

1856 - Supervisors, J. T. Murphy, Chairman, George Engle, J. W. Brackett ; Clerk, Jesse Brooks ; Treasurer, D. Andrews ; Assessor, J. W. Blanding ; Superintendent of Schools, A.A.Franklin; Justices of the Peace, J. W. Brackett, D. Andrews; Constables, W. Buchanan, Henry Lord, A. Francis.

1857 - Supervisors, J- T. Murphy, Chairman, George Engle. Henry F. Young; Clerk, W. Brown ; Treasurer, Daniel -Andrews ; Assessor, J. C. Orr ; Justices of the Peace, J. T. Murphy, Henry Patch ; Constables, Reed Patch, Benjamin Cooper, A. Francis.

1858 - Supervisors, J. C. Orr, Chairman, George W. Lee, Henry Patch ; Clerk, Waldo Brown ; Treasurer, James Humphrey ; Assessor, J. T. Murphy ; Superintendent of Schools, T. S. Osborn ; Justices of the Peace, H. H. Reynolds, Samuel Tracy ; Constables, A. Osborn, William Martin, A. Francis. Mr. Humphrey resigned the Treasurership, December 20, and William Halford was appointed to serve out the unexpired term.

1859 - Supervisors, Henry Patch, H. J. Lord, George Engle ; Clerk, A. H. Fitch ; Treasurer, J. T. Humphrey ; Assessor, William Fitch ; Superintendent of Schools, ^yrus Sargeant ; Justices of the Peace, Henry Patch, S. A. Taylor ; Constables, Thomas Coddington, A. Francis, S. Brazee.

1860 - Supervisors, Henry Patch, Chairman, William Fitch, William Humphrey ; Clerk, L. Brown ; Treasurer, J. D. Clayton ; Assessor, Jared Warner ; Superintendent of Schools, James Curtis ; Justices of the Peace, J. M. Dickenson and James Paul (to fill vacancy, Levi Brown) ; Constables, John Day, Anson B. Lynn, E. W. Rice.

D. j!^agle ; Treasurer, Thomas Coddington ; Assessor, Levi Brown ; Justices of the Peace, Henry Patch and William Alexander ; Constables, L. Halford, A. B. Lynn, Dennis Roony.

1862 - Supervisors, Henry Patch, Chairman, William Humphrey, John Lewis; Clerk, Thomas D. Nagle ; Treasurer, J. D. Clayton ; Assessor, Levi Brown ; Justices of the Peace,. James Paul, J. M. Dickenson ; Constables, John Brock, A. Lynn, H. W. Patch.

1863 - Supervisors, Henry Patch, Chairman, William Humphrey, John Lewis ; Clerk, Thomas D. Nagle ; Treasurer, John D. Clayton ; Assessor, Levi Brown ; Justices of the Peace, Henry Patch (Harris Fitch, to fill vacancy); Constables, A. H. Lyman, A. B. Lyman, Edward Garside, C. H. Polly.

1864 - Supervisors, Levi Brown, Chairman, William Humphrey, John Lewis ; Clerk, Thomas D. Nagle ; Treasurer, Alexander Paul ; Assessor, Levi Brown ; Justices of the Peace, Levi Brown, R. R. Wood ; Constables, A. B. Lynn, A. H. Lyman, C. H. Polly.

1865 - Supervisors, Henry Patch, Chairman, William Humphrey, John Lewis ; Clerk, Thomas D. Nagle ; Treasurer, A Paul ; Assessor, Henry Patch ; Justices of the PeacCj Henry Patch, Luther Brown ; Constables, Jared Warner, J. A. Childs, J. W. Bidewell.

1866 - Supervisors, Henry Patch, Chairman, William Humphrey, George Ballentine ; Clerk, Thomas D. Nagle ; Treasurer, A. Paul ; Assessor, W. S. Brown ; Justices of the Peace, G. Forshay, D. E. Riley ; Constables, William Patterson, A. H. Lyman, A. C. Louks.

1867 - Supervisors, William Humphrey, Chairman, James Paul, J. D. Clayton ; Clerk Thomas D. Nagle ; Treasurer, A. Paul ; Assessor, J. M. Dickenson ; Justices of the Peace, H. C. Manard, George Ballentine ; Constables, H. W. Patch, C. H. Polly.

1868 - Supervisors, Jared Warner, Chairman, J. M. Diekenson, William Humphrey ; Clerk, Thomas D. Nagle ; Treasurer, A. Paul ; Assessor, J. M. Dickenson ; Justices of the Peace, G. W. Pike, J. M. Dickenson ; Constables, L. Folsom, S. D. Bean.

1869 - Supervisors, Jared Warner, Chairman, William Humphrey, J. A. Davis ; Clerk, Thomas D. Nagle ; Treasurer, A. Paul : Assessor, J. M. Dickenson ; Justices of the Peace, Charles Brown, H. W. Patch ; Constables, Benjamin Jones, D. Smith, S. D. Bean.

1873 - Supervisors - Haines Fitch, Chairman, J. Lewis, G. Forshay ; Clerk, A. Curtis ; Treasurer, J. C. Scott; Assessor, Thomas D. Nagle; Justices of the Peace, J. M. Dickenson, Luther Brown ; Constables, C. Green, Ed. Dickenson, S. D. Bean.

1874 - Supervisors, George Ballentine, Chairman, G. Forshay, S. A. Hatch ; Clerk, A. Curtis ; Treasurer, J. C. Scott ; Assessor, Thomas D. Nagle ; Justices of the Peace, 0. P. Wetmore, J. Woffenden ; Constables, S. D. Bean, E. Green, Ed Dickenson.

1876 - Supervisors, George Ballentine, Chairman, S. A. Hatch, G. Forshay ; Clerk, J. A. Curtis ; Treasurer, John Hicklin ; Assessor, Jared Warner ; Justices of the Peace, E. H. Garside, J. A. Davis ; Constables, Charles Parish, William Prior.

1877 - Supervisors, George Ballentine, Chairman, G. Forshay, S. A. Hatch ; Clerk, J. Bidewell ; Treasurer, John Hicklin ; Assessor, John Lawless ; Justices of the Peace, G. Forshay, W. Hicklin; Constables, William Prior, Charles Parish, C. Green.

1878 - Supervisors, George Ballentine, Chairman, G. Forshay, S. A. Hatch ; Clerk, J. W. Bidewell ; Treasurer, John Hicklin ; Assessor, J. A. Curtis ; Justices of the Peace, J. A. Davis, John Jones ; Constables, L. Munson, C. Parish, R. Newberry.

1879 - Supervisors - J. A. Davis, Chairman, James Hicklin, James Gary, Jr. ; Clerk, J. W. Bidewell ; Treasurer, Jared Warner ; Assessor, J. A. Curtis ; Justices of the Peace, G. Forshay (to fill vacancy, W. Hicklin) ; Constables, M. Richards, C. H. Parish, R. Newberry.

1880 - Supervisors, Read Patch, Chairman, John Cary, G. Forshay ; Clerk, J. C. Scott ; Treasurer, A. Paul ; Assessor, W. 0. Goodman ; Justices of the Peace, A. F. Smith, George Ballentine, Edward Kerr, George Calvert; Constables, C. W. Parish, C. Ladd, Ed Dickenson.

1881 - Supervisors, John Cary, Jr., Chairman, John Hicklin, Pat Morkin ; Clerk, Arthur Rice; Treasurer, E. Patch; Assessor, E. Kerr; Justices of the Peace, J. A. Davis, S. A. Hatch, H. F. Young, W. Quick ; Constables, Ed Dickenson, L. H. Munson, Charles Parish, H. L. Wetmore.