Spring Valley Town

Spring Valley Town

This town contains very little prairie. Its surface is gently undulatiug and covered with a scattering growth of large bur oaks, with more or less hickory, and altogether a vety good agricultural town, well watered, well wooded, a good productive soil with a reasonable portion of good, natural meadow for cutting hay, making it altogether a very desirable location for a farmer who wishes the conveniences for a farm - rather than to have an extensive one. The Southern Wisconsin Railroad will pass through this town, and will have a station here. They havein this town one Store, [one Tavern, kept by Col. E. Clapp and' Dr. S. W. Abbott. A Post Office,

The population of ttis town in 1850 was T66 ; in 1856 it was 1,006. It has ten School Districts and six School Houses. The number of scholars is 361. This town receives the sum of $2T5 from the State School Fund the present year.

The first settlers in this town were James Kirkpatrick, Erastus C. Smith, Robert Taylor, Roderick M. Smith, James Bradshaw, Almerin Sprague, Amos Remington, Allen Hurlbnt, S. G. Milk, and Solomon Rose.

Churches - ^A Free Will Baptist - a Primitive Methodist and a Presbyterian - -have been oj'ganized and each have stated preaching, although neither have a churph building. Quite a portion of this town is settled by Norwegians, who make very good citizens. Many of them are quite large farmers. They are uniformly Lutherans in their religion.

Source changes here: from The History of Rock County, Wisconsin; Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., by Wesern Historical Company, Chicago, Pub, published 1879; 3,239 words in this source stream.

Spring Valley Town

The town of Spring Valley lies in the southwest portion of the county, its western boundary separating it from Green. It was organized by act of the Legislature, approved February 2, 1846. Its territory includes Township No. 2 north, of Range No. 10 east. The first town meeting was held at the house of Nicholas E. Phelps.

John Crall was the first settler. Among those who soon after made claims, were James Kirkpatrick, Erastus C. Smith, Robert Taylor, Roderick M, Smith, James Bradshaw, Almerin Sprague, Amos Remington, Allen Hurlbut, S. G. Mills arid Solomon Rose.

The Monroe branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad passes through the central part, entering on the east at Orfordville, and passing out on Section 19 across the western boundary of the county.

E. ANDERS01V, farmer ; P. 0. Orford ; was born in Norway in 1844 ; came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1850. Married in 1872 ; his wife is a native of Norway ; they have four children ; lost one. Mr. A. owns forty acres of land.

H. T. BORTNESS, farmer. Sec. 26 ; P. 0. Orford ; was born in Vermont in 1830 ; came to Wisconsin in 1850. Married in 1858; his wife was born in Germany; they have three children. Mr, B. owns 120 acres of land.

Wllili ARD BOWLES, farmer, Sec. 16 ; P. 0. Brodhead ; was born in Wisconsin in 1840. Married in 1870; his wife was born in Pennsylvania; they have two children. Mr. and Mrs. B. are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. B. is a tenant on Mr. Purdy's farm.

THOMAS BRICE, farmer, Sec. 34; P. 0. Orford; was born in Scotland in 1826; came to America in 1840 ; removed to Wisconsin in 1851. Married in 1862 ;' his wife was born in New York ; they have two children. Mr. and Mrs. B. are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. B. owns 150 acres of land,

PETER RROUGHTOIV, farmer, Sec. 22 ; was burn in Norway in 1845 ; came to Wisconsin in 1861. Married in 1868 ; his wife is a native of Norway ; they have six children, and are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. B. is a tenant on Mr. Bverson's farm.

W. F. CliARK, carriage-maker; P. 0. Orfordville; was born in New York in 1814; came to Wisconsin in 1844, and entered a quarter-section of land, which he farmed until 1869, and then went into his present business. He served as mechanic in the late war, in the 8th Tenn. Vol. Inf., Co. G, and took an active part in the battle of Nashville. In 1836, he married Miss Hannah Van Wagner; she was born in New York ; they have five children.

Jf . COIjE, farmer. Sec. 18 ; P. 0. Brodhead ; was born in New York in 1820 ; came to Wisconsin in 1848. Married in 1848 ; his wife was born in New York ; they have three children. Mr. and Mrs. Cole are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Cole owns 280 acres of land.

T. O. COTO, dealer in dry goods, groceries and general merchandise ; P. 0. Orfordville ; was born in Wisconsin in 1852. In 1875, he married Miss Nellie Larsen ; she was born in Wisconsin ; they have one child. Mr. and Mrs. Coto are members of the Lutheran Church.

H. V. DONOVAN, farmer, Sec. 1 ; P. 0. Orford; was born in Ireland in 1825 ; came to America in 1848 ; came to Wisconsin in 1869. Married in 1853 ; his wife was born in Ireland. They are members of the Catholic Church.

T. ENNIS, farmer. Sec. 10 ; P. 0. Orford ; was born in Wisconsin in 1851. Married in 1877 ; his wife was born in Ohio ; they have one child, and are members of the M. E. Church. Mr. E. owns 180 acres of land.

Li. C. FISHEK, Postmaster of Orfordville, and of firm of Fisher Bros., general merchandise; was born in Pennsylvania in 1849 ; came to 'Wisconsin in 1854. Appointed Postmaster in 1876. Married, in 1877, Miss Hattie M. Lacy; she was born in Wisconsin. Mr. Fisher is a member of the L 0. 0. F.

F. T. FISHEK, of the firm of Fisher Bros., dealers in dry goods, groceries and genera! merchandise, Orfordville ; was born in Pennsylvania in 1850 ; camo to Wisconsin in 1858. Married, in 1877, Miss Mary Patriquin ; she was born in Nova Scotia. Mr. F. is a member of the Sons of Temperance and of the I. 0. 0. F.

OliE P. OAABDEB, famer, Sec. 25 ; P. 0. Orfordville; born June 9, 1844, in Spring Valley Township, Bock Co., Wis. ; his father, P. H. Gaarder, came to America in 1843, located in Plymouth Township, and moved to Spring Valley in 1844 ; bought 240 acres of wild land, which he and his sons cleared and cultivated ; he died in 1875 ; 0. P. Gaarder bought 120 acres from his father in 1860 and has Since added more ; he now owns 260 acres and raises corn, oats, wheat, horses, cows, sheep, hogs and poultry ; selling pork and beef principally and making butter for the market. Married Miss Annie Husemon, of Newark Township, Feb. 20, 1868, and has five children - Nellie, born Jan. 30, 1869: Perry E., Aug. 5, 1871 ; Bertha, Nov. 23, 1873; Ida H., June 7, 1876 ; Herbert C, April 13, 1879^ He was Assessor for 1870 and 1871 ; Side Supeivisor for four years and is again for 1879 ; was Clerk of School District nine yeais ; is Treasurer School District for 1879; Pathmaster several times; is a member of Spring Valley Anti-Horse-Thief Afsociation ; was elected a Director of the Hecla Fire Insurance Company of Madison in 1876, and still holds that position. lie and his family are members of the Lutheran Church.

THOMAS OAHAGA]V, faimer. Sec. 14; P. 0. Orford ; was born in Ireland in 182^; came to America in 18t)0 ; came to Wisconsin in 1867. Married in 1852 ; his wife was born in Ireland : they have seven children. Mr. G. owns forty acres of laud. Mr. and Mrs. G. are members of the Catholic Church.

S. T. GKEEX, farmer, Sec. 22; P. 0. Orford; was born in Connecticut in 1823; came to Wisconsin in 1849. Married in 1859; his wife was born in New York. They are members of the Congregational Church. Mr. Green owns eighty acres of land.

G. GUTHORNSOIi, farmer, Sec. 21 ; P. 0. Orford; was born in Norway in 1836; came to America in 1857 ; canae to Wisconsin in 1869. Married in 1861 ; his wife was born in Norway; they have seven children living ; have lest two. Mr. and Mrs. G. are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr, G. owns eighty acres of land.

D. HAEl/, farmer. Sec. 18; P. 0. Brodhead ; was born in Wisconsin in 1852. Married, in 1874, Miss Mary Biown, also of Wisconsin ; they have one son. Mr. Hall is engaged in fanning on Mr. Douglas' farm.

OLE HAKSOW, fiarmer, Sec. 14 ; P. 0. Orford ; was born in Norway in 1834 ; came to Wisconsin in 1850. Married in 1861 ; his wife is a native of Norway; ihey have seven children, and are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. H. owns eighty acres of land.

H. E. HARRIS, farmer. Sec. 9; P. 0. Brodhead; was born in New York in 1826; eameto Wisconsin in 1854. Married, in 1851, Miss Maria Alcott; she was born in New York; they have two children. Mr. and Mrs. H. are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. H. owns twenty acres of land in Sec. 9.

T. O. HAY, faimcr. See. 32; P. 0. Brodhead; was born in Ohio in 1815 ; came to Wiscoosinin 1847. Married in 1840 ; his wife was born in Ohio; they have four children. Mr. and Mrs. Hays arc members of the Disciples' Church. Mr. Hay has held the office of Town Assessor and Trustee and minor iiffices. He own.s 120 acres of land.

ROBERT HEATH, farmer ; P. 0. Brodhead ; was born in New York, in 1827 ; came to Wisconsin in 1854 ; was on the Town Board of Supervisors in 1873 and 1874; was Justice of the Peace in 1875 and 1876. Married, in 1859, Miss Lydia A. Heath, a native of New York ; they have three children. Mr. Heath owns six acres of land in fine state of cultivation.

E. O. HOPPER, farmer, Sec. 3 ; P. 0. Orford ; was born in Ohio in, 1823 : came to Wisconsin in 1846. Married in 1849 ; his wife was born in New Jersey; they have three children living, and have lost three. Mr. and Mrs. H. are members of the M. E. Church ; Mr. H. owns 120 acres of land.

B. HUNWERFORD, farmer, Sec. 16; P. 0. Brodhead; was born in New York in 1844; his parents emigrated to Wisconsin in 1845 ; in 1861, he enlisted in the 13th Wis. V. I., Co. G; wag discharged in 1865, at Madison, Wis. Married in 1861 ; his wife was born in England; thej have six children living, and have lost one; Mr. H. is engaged in farming on his father's farm.

B. D. HUNGERFORD, farmer, Sec. 16 ; P. 0. Brodhead ; was born in 1828, in New York ; came to Wisconsin in 1845. Married, in 1853, Miss S. B. Grifford, a native of New York ; since his residence in the town, Mr. H. has served as Constable, Town Treasurer and minor offices ; he owns forty acres of land.

BELE S. HUIVGERFORD, farmer, Sec. 16; P. 0. Brodhead; was born in Massachusetts, in 1805 ; removed from there with his parents, in 1812 ; emigrated to Wisconsinin 1845. Married in 1826 ; his wife was born in New Jersey ; they have eight children living, and have lost one ; Mr. H. was Supervisor from 1853 until 1855 ; he owns 100 acres of land.

ROBERT JACK, farmer, Sec. 7 ; P. 0. Brodhead; was born in Scotland in 1838; came to Wisoonsin in 1847 ; in 1852, he went to California and remained until 1863, then went to Idaho ; returned to Wisconsin in 1870. Married, in 1864, Miss Anna Sexton ; she was born in Ireland ; they have one daughter ; Mr. J. owns 122 acres of land.

li. KINGMAX, farmer, Sec. 13 ; P. 0. Orford ; was born in New York in 1834 ; came to Wisconsin in 1860. Married in 1870 ; his wife was born in Wisconsin ; they have six children : Mr. and MVs. K. are members of the M. E. Church; Mr. K. owns eighty acres of land.

SAMUEL McNAIR, farmer. Sec. 18; P. 0. Brodhead ; was born in Livingston Co., N. Y., in 1806 ; came to Wisconsin in 1846, and located in Waterford, Racine Co. ; removed to his present homestead in 1863. Married, in 1836, Miss Mary A. Drake, of New York; she died in 1873 ; they had nine children, three of whom are dead. In 1876, Mr. McNair married Mrs. Laura Richardson ; Mr. and Mrs. McNair are members of the Presbyterian Church ; Mr. McNair owns 150 acres of land in Sec. 18.

ANDREW MAT AT ALL, farmer. Sec. 9; P. 0. Brodhead; was born in Nova Scotia in 1840; came to Wisconsinin 1870. Married, in 1867, Miss Caroline Fisher; she was born in Nova Scotia; they have two children. Mr. and Mrs. M. are members of the Methodist Church.

J. S. MOORE, farmer, Sec. 16 ; P. 0. Brodhead ; was born in Canada in 1829 ; came to Wisconsin in 1854. Married, ^in same year. Miss Jane E. Clawson, a native of Pennsylvania; they have two children livioe: and have lost five. Mrs. M. is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Moore owns 120 acres of land.

ROBERT OLIVER, farmer. Sec. 8; P. 0. Brodhead; was born in Scotland in 1816; came to Wisconsin in 1844. Married, in 1841, Miss Elizabeth Alexander, a native of Scotland ; they have five children living and have lost two. Mr. and Mrs. 0. are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. 0. owns 230 acres of land.

J. PALMER, farmer. Sec. 9 ; P. 0. Brodhead ; was born in New York in 1840 ; came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1848. Married in 1868; his wife was born in New Jersey ; they have two children. Mr. and Mrs. P. are members of the Disciples' Church. Mr. P. owns 140 acres of land.

N. N. PALMER, farmer, Sec. 12; P. 0. Orford; was born in New York in 1820; came to Wisconsin in 1847. Married Miss Jane Scott, in 1845 ; they have five children. Mr. and Mrs. P. are members of the M. P]. Church. Mr. P. owns 180 acres of land.

JOHX PATRIQUEN, farmer. Sec. 16 ; P. 0. Brodhead; was born in Nova Scotia in 1819 ;, -came to Wisconsiii in 1857, and located in Orford ; located on his present homestead in 1867. Married in 1844; his wife was born in Nova Scotia; they have two 'children. Mr. and Mrs. P. are members of the M. K. Church. Mr. P. owns seventy-three acres of land.

L. PEPPER, farmer. Sec. 13; P. 0. Orfordville; was born in Pennsylvania in 1830 ; came to Wisconsin in 1842. Married, in 1856, Miss Sarah E. Inmau, a native of Pennsylvania ; they havr four children.

ANDREW R. PETTERSON, farmer, Sec. 30 ; P. 0. Brodhead ; was born in Wisconsin in 1857; son of B. Peterson, who died in 1858; owns 100 acres of land in Sec. 30. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.

T. M. PURDY, farmer. Sec. 13; P. 0. Orfordville; was born in Bennington Co., Vt., in 1814; at an early age, his parents removed to New York ; in 1847, Mr. Purdy emigrated to Wisconsin, and located about two miles west from his present homestead ; there were but few settlers in the town at that time, and but oiro road was laid out ; he has carried his wheat to Milwaukee with an' ox team ; it usually took ten days to make the trip, if they had fine weather ; some times the trip would not be a financial success, as their expenses would come to more than they got for their wheat. In 1838, he married Miss Judith Rush; she was born in New York; they have two children living - Sabelia and Frank E.; they have lost three - John F., who enlisted in 1863 in the 13th Wis. Vol. Inf., Co. G, and died, July 4, 1865, at Cairo, 111 ; Henry and Franklin. Since his- residence in the town, Mr. P. has held the office of Town Treasurer two terms. He owns 118 acres of land.

Union Townspiip

S. RODLjY, farmer, Sec. 2; P. 0. Orford ; was born in Germany in 1837 ; came to Wisconsin in 18Y0, and located in Spring Valley. Married in 1875 ; his wife was born in Germany ; they have two children. Mr. and Mrs. R. are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. R. owns forty acres of land.

J.J. S A BIBf , harness-maker ; P. 0. Orfordville ; was born in Wisconsin in 1859. Married in 1878, Miss Ada M. Randall ; she was born in Iowa; they have one child - Rosby J., born May 23, 1879- Mr. Sabin commenced business in 1878 ; previous to that, he was engaged in farming on his father's farra.

O. H. SCOOEN, boot and shoe dealer, Orfordville; was born in Norway in 1824; came to- Wisconsin in 1867. Married in 1846 ; wife was born in Norway ; they have two children living, and have lost two. Mr. and Mrs. Scogen are members of the Lutheran Church.

J. SIMS, farmer. See. 34 ; P. 0. Orford ; was born in Wisconsin in 1852. Married Miss Anna Doyle, a native of Indiana, in 1877 ; they have one child - -Albert, and are members of the Episcopalian Church. Mr. S. owns eighty acres of land.

WALTER SMITH, farmer. Sec. 8 ; P. 0. Brodhead ; was born in Scotland in 1806. Married in 1828, to Miss Elizabeth Taylor, a native of Scotland ; they have three children living, and have lost two. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. S. owns 280 acres of land.

S. M. STRAUS, farmer, Sec. 2; P. 0. Orford; was born in Germany in 1829; came to America in 1840'; came to Wisconsin in 1852. Married in 1861 ; his wife was born in Germany; they have six children, and are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. S. owns eighty acres of land.

M. SUIililVAlV, farmer. Sec. 15 ; P. 0^ Orford ; was born in Ireland in 1847 ; came to America in 1850, with parents ; came to Wisconsin in 1868. Married, in 1871, Miss Julia Flinn, a native of Ireland; they have four children. Mr. and Mrs. S. are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. S. owns fcirty acres of land.

TAYIiOR SWANIV, farmer. Sec. 20 ; P. 0. Brodhead; was born in Scotland in 1817; came to Wisconsin in 1845. Married in 1840 ; his wife is a native of Scotland ; they have five children. Mr. Swann owns 340 acres of land.

D. W. H. TAYLOR, gardener. Sec. 18; P. 0. Brodhead; was born in New York in 1838; came to Wisconsin in 1857. Married, in 1867, Miss Sarah M. Jelliif ; she was born in New Jersey ; they have six children. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are members of the Congregational Church. Mr. Taylor owns twenty acres of land.

ROBERT TAYLOR, farmer. Sec. 17; P. 0. Brodhead; was born in Scotland in 1805; came to Wisconsin in 1844, and was the second settler in the town. Married in Scotland in 1831 ; his; wife is 41 native of Scotland; they have five children living; lost two - Robert, who enlisted in 1861 ini the 13th Wis. V. I., Co. G, and died in Paducah, Ky., from sickness contracted in the service, and Archibald, who enlisted in California and also died in the service. Mr. Taylor owns 461 acres of land.

JOHN V. WARD, farmer. Sec. 6; P. 0. Brodhead; was born in New York in 1833; came to Wisconsin in 1844. Married, in 1864, Miss Julia Purdy ; she was born in Ohio; they have one child. Mr. Ward owns forty-four acres of land.

H. WHITE, farmer, Sec. 1; P. 0. Orford; was born in Ohio in 1850; came to Wisconsin with parents in 1852. Married in 1876 ; his wife was born in Wisconsin ; they have one child. Members of the M. E. Church. Mr. White owns 160 acres of land.

MARK WRIGHT, farmer. Sec. 20 ; P. 0. Brodhead; was born in Ohio in 1839; came to Wisconsin in 1850. Married in 1870; his wife was born in Kentucky; they have four children. Mr. Wright is a member of the I. 0. 0. F. He owns eighty acres of land.