Stoughton City (part 1 of 13)

Stoughton City

of money the undertaking was abandoned, as it could not be made to pay. The experiment, though a costlyone, proved largely beneficial, as by that means the big marsh was thoroughly drained. In 1856, the Milwaukee & Mississippi, now the Prairie du Chien Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, was built through the town. There is a post oflSce on Section 3 called West Middleton.

City Of West Madison

Sometime during the spring of 1837, Stephen Peck, James W. Glenney and Timothy Johnson, of Milwaukee, caused to be platted in what is now the town of Middleton, on the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 22, in Township 7 north, of Range 8 east, a " city," which they named West Madison. The plat was recorded May 29 of that year. It contained twenty-five blocks and a large number of lots. Through the middle of the " city " ran the road from Madison to Blue Mounds. But West Madison never became even a hamlet. The tract on which it was located is marked on the Dane County Atlas of 1873 as the property of J. Wittemburg (70 acres) and L. Paul (10 acres), in the town of Middleton. Concerning the "city," a writer who stood upon the site on the 31st day of May, 1837, says :

"We had advanced about seven miles from the lakes [Mendota and Monona] into the prairie [toward the Blue Mounds], when we met with the old bachelor, Mr. [Ebenezer] Brigham, whose cabin we had stopped at, at the Blue Mounds, accompanied by another person holding various papers in his hand, and who appeared somewhat agitated as we came up with them. This man's name was Picketts, and his story was as follows : He had left New York on a trading expedition for Milwaukee, on Lake Michigan, and, on arriving there, had sold and delivered to a person there, of the name of Glennie [Glenney], butter, bacon and other commodities to the amount of $900. Mr. Glennie, it appeared, being desirous of introducing respectable settlers into tiie Western wilderness, and being gifted with very persuasive powers, had induced Mr. Picketts, when in a remarkably verdant state of mind, to receive, in payment for his goods, nine lots admirably situated for erecting city buildings, in the city of West Madison, which, as the engraved map most forcibly exhibited, was advantageously situated upon the banks of the Third Lake. Mr, Picketts had thought it one of the best bargains that had ever been made, which was probably also Mr. Glennie's opinion, who, in addition to his deeds in fee simple, delivered him a handsomely engraved plan of the city of West Madison, with its imposing squares and streets, and the most charming of lakes lying, in all its quiet beauty, in front of the city.

"Now, these deeds were bounded by certain ranges and lines that had been surveyed by the surveyors of the General Government, so that, of course, the lots were there. Having obtained from the land oflBce some directions and instructions as to the numbers of his lots, he brought Mr. Brigham with him to identify that part of the township where they were situated. Mr. Brigham, who understood all this machinery very well, had just communicated to his companion that the lots described in his deeds were exactly where he was standing. Mr. Picketts therefore had all that satisfaction that a man can have who has found a mathematical point, but, M to Its value to him, which depended altogether upon its being in a city founded on the bank 01 a large lake, jt was as clear to his comprehension as anything could be that it was nil, for, However true it might be that the lots were there, it was no less so that the lake was seven miles off, and could not be seen from them.

Upon looking over his papers, I saw into the fraud at once. The plot of ground where we now stood had been laid out into squares and streets on paper, and the building lots in the s reels had been regularly numbered and conveyed into the deeds, in which no mention whatever was made of the lake. By way of embellishment, the vender had added the lake to the plan of the city, and had called the city West Madison. This was the best that he and f ^^^ customers. He had brought the lake and city very prettily together on paper,

'^°''^^s°'i3,ble to ask him to bring two points together in any other way that ^m had so far divided. He had merely sold the lots by their numbers and bounds, and there 3 were. To he sure, there was not a drop of water, nor a tree, nor a being, within seven miles of them, and it was pretty certain that there never would be; so nothing was left for Mr, Picketts but to make the most of his wrinkle, and to part with them to some untraveled friend in New York who had a romantic turn for lake scenery.

" Leaving the outwitted New YoAer to his reflections, we rode on to the Buffalo Mounds [ancient earthworks], which had previously attracted our attention, and, having re-measured several of them, pursued our way to Brigham's."*

Middleton Detective Association - -At a call meeting of the citizens of Middleton, held a1 the junction, on the 14th of October, 1861," it was decided to organize an association, the objecl of which should be the protection of property from the depredations of thieves. A committee was appointed to draft a constitution, and the meeting was adjourned to meet on the 19th of the month. At that meeting the society was thoroughly organized, and the following officers were elected: J. 0. Gordon, President; Danel Vernon and Henry De La Matyr Vice Presidents;

D. H. Town, Secretary, and W. D. Sillibridge, Treasurer. At the two subsequent meetings, ten vigilants were elected. Officers are chosen each year. Since the second annual election, W. Whitney has been President, and for the last ten years J. Goodwin has been Secretary. Any one can become a member by paying $1. Any expenses for the relief or protection of a member, is paid out of the general fund. There have been eighty-four members enrolled thua far, but many of these are dead or have removed. At present there is $77.50 in the treasury.

Middleton Fire and Lightning Insurance Company. - The first meeting of this company was held in the hall of Daniel Moul, at Middleton, on the 4th day of January, 1876. The organization was .then effected, there being twenty-nine persons present who subscribed to policies to the amount of $25,000, as required by law. Nine Directors were elected, as follows: R. E. Davis, H. J. Hill, D. Richardson, J. Ben, R. Green, D. Vernon, J. E. Brumm, J. Wheelwright and J. Drives ; R. E. Davis was chosen President ;i Daniel Vernon, Vice President and R. Green, Secretary. Elections are held annually. The Directors remain the same, excepting that Samuel Barry, G. W. Sanford, F. Elver and William Wullock have been chosen in the place of J. Ben, D. Vernon, R. Green and Jesse W. Wheelwright. The officer^ now are R. E. Davis, President ; G. W. Sanford, Secretary ; J. E. Brumm Treasurer. Thus far 255 policies have been issued, and eleven losses have been paid. The present liabilities are $268,- 676.25; amount of loss, |294.75. The company covers the territory of Middleton, Madison, Springfield, Verona, Westport and Fitchburg.

Middleton Cemetery Association. - Previous to 1854, the dead were either interred on their farms or in a now disused burial-place, near West Middleton, on Section 28. About 1852 or 1853, a cemeterj' was laid out by a regularly organized association, at Middleton, on Section 22. in 1871, the association was re-organized with seventeen members; five Trustees were elected, and the following officers : Richard Green, President ; J. Gordon, Secretary, and D. Vernon, Treasurer. The Trustees were elected in classes, once in three years. The first man buried here was J. T. Word, in March, 1854. In 1870, the grounds were enlarged to two acres. The present officers are H. Goodwin, President ; Richard Green, Secretary, and youngs Hallock, Treasurer.

There are several other cemeteries in the town, but they are all connected with the different churches, there being no independent organization to control them.

The German Eoangelical Association of West Middleton. - The first preaching of this denomination in town was by J. Gibbons, in 1754. Soon after a class of eight members were organized ; there are now sixty-three members. .

*From Featherstonhanghs " Canoe Voyage up the Minnay Sotor," Vol. I, pp. 106-109. It is but justice to the proprietora of tie "city to say that the plat, as recorded, shows no lake near. - Ed.

History Of Dane Coukty

There are two Lutheran societies in the town that have churches, one on the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of Section 5, and one on the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of Section 15. The organizations are under the pastoral care of Charles Schenck.

Village of Middleton. - The first plat of this village was made on the 10th of November, 1856, by C. M. Williamson, Levi P. Drake being the surveyor. It was recorded November 27 following, and includes the north half of the southeast quarter of Section 11, and all of the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 11, lying north of the railroad. The streets are all sixty-six feet wide.

An addition was afterward made by B. D. Clinton, C. A. Haskins being the surveyor. This plat was recorded on the 2l8t of January, 1867, and was laid on the farm of Mrs. Par. menter, who received every other lot for her share.

Previous to the coming of the railroad, which passes directly through the village, this locahty was covered by small trees and brush, there being no other dwellings in the vicinity than the cabins of the first settlers, or perchance a stray Indian wigwam, or a retreat for the dis- . pensing of the ardent.

The entire surrounding country was a muddy district, and gave but little promise of its present excellence. But time is the magic wand that njellows and improves all things it touches, and that often makes the realization far better than the most sanguine hopes.

The village was first known as Peatville, in honor of its surroundings ; then it became Mendota, which it retained until a Mendota started up in another locality; then it was changed to Middleton Station, and subsequently to Middleton.

The growth of the village has not been rapid, but has been constant and gradual. The business done here has always been largely in excess of the apparent resources of the place, and in some respects it has been much greater than that done by towns of ten times its size throughout the country.

The shipments of grain and stock from this point annually, especially the former, have been during some years simply enormous, and perhaps more than from any other inland point in the State. It is said that in 1868 the shipments of wheat alone from this point, amounted to 500,000 bushels. And as early as 1865, R. E. Davis and Richard Green, who were then the grainbuyers, paid out each about $119,000 in one month for wheat. The grain trade has fallen off largely since 1870, owing to poor crops, and the passage of the North- Western Railroad through a section adjacent to this place.

Eight years ago, Middleton acquired a considerable notorie,ty throughout the country, as the place where the first distillery crookedness was discovered and the ways of defrauding the revenue revealed. That industry ceased about that time and has not been resumed.

Socially and religiously, this place is not excelled in the entire country, considering its size, tor there are not less than twelve different denominational and secular organizations. They lave hrst-class schools here and maintain a high educational standard, and the general character of the people is above the average.

on Lot 1, Block 7, and opened a saloon and store. This was the first store in town ; subw}uently, Charles Weinburg purchased this property and kept store here. The building is now ttsea tor a saloon.

In 1856, William A. Wheeler built the brick building on the corner of Hubbard and Parmenter streets, where he opened a store. After him S. Damas occupied it, then Sam Thuinger and, in 1873, Dufrenne & Lyle. The property passed from Mr. Wheeler to J. Leuz, and then to A. Van Edig.

A warehouse was built here in 1856, by B. C. Slaughter, which was used for depot, warehouse and post office. William McCord was the agent, and a Mr. Glosser, the first grain-buyer. In 1851, Isaac Bunting came here and established himself permanently as a grain-buyer, purchasing a warehouse that had been brought out from Madison a short time before. In 1863, Richard Green bought out Mr. Bunting, and went into the grain-buying business, and in 1865 R. E. Davis built the east warehouse, noW' owned by Mr. Green, and embarked in the same business. For several years these gentlemen were the competing buyers until Mr. Davis was elected to the Senate, and made the political arena his field Of labor. In 1867, James White built a warehouse, and Mr. Green also built the first part of the present elevator during the same year. In 1868, the White warehouse passed into Mr. Green's hands, who, in 1876, moved it and united it with his new warehouse, making the present commodious elevator, which is 20x 110 feet and two-stories high, with stone foundation. He has now a ten-horse-power for elevating and grinding grain, and the capacity of this elevator is 1,500 bushels.

In 1868, the building belonging to the Odd Fellows, now occupied by R. E. Davis' store on the lower floor, was built, and in 1869, the present depot was erected. There are three hotels in Middleton; the Mendota, kept by William Hafiman ; the Washington, by Daniel Maul; and the American, by Gerard Aussem. There is a drug store here that has been in operation for some time, started by Drs. A. A. Rowly and I. C. Cooledge.

A. B. Kingsley has the lumber-yard at this point. Mr. Kingsley has a planing-mill also, which is used in connection with his other business, built in 1871, and having a ten-horse-power engine, and such other machinery as is necessary. The sales of lumber here annually amount to 700,000 feet on the average.

In 1879, a subscription list was circulated by R. E. Davis among the business men and farmers of this locality, and $1,700 was raised to build an elevator, which should be free to any one for the storage of grain, if they belonged to the association, and where any one could buy grain by paying taxes and insurance. The elevator has a capacity of 8,000, and furnishes very acceptable accommodations for those who wish to ship their own grain. There are several parties engaged in buying and shipping stock, who have commodious yards and buildings for carrying on the business.

The Middleton steam-mill of to- day is the outgrowth of several institutions. First, the old depot, erected by Williamson, was here; then, in 1868, W. A. Wheeler and William Wheeler converted it into a mill, which was 24x30 feet, into which was put a 40--horse-power engine and two runs of stone. In 1870, Jacob Lenz purchased the property and enlarged the building, and began to distill highwines. He did run above two years, when he failed and run the country. The distiller passed into the hands of his bankers, who put Allex Rogers to conduct the business. Under his management, the revenue-swindling scheme developed into a bonanza, which was finally discovered by Uncle Sam in 1874. The property then passed into the possession of Mr. Vanslyke, who re-converted it to the milling business, with the two runs of stone and the same engine.

Besides what has been mentioned, there is an undertaker's and furniture establishment here, a meat market, several saloons, and blacksmith, wagon, shoe, tailor and millinery shops.

Middleton Post O^ce. - After the railroad came, in 1856, the post office was established, and kept, at first, in a warehouse, before mentioned, B. C. Slaughter being the Postmaster, jne warehouse then stood where R. Green's elevator now is. It was subsequently moved on to Lot 2, Block 13, and converted into a dwelling-house. Mr. Slaughter was Postmaster one year; then the office was taken by N. Griffith, who kept it in a building on Lot 3, Block 7, where A.

A Rowley's drug store stands. Mr. Griffith kept groceries and liquors. In 1863, the oflSce was placed in charge of Richard Green, who kept it in the old depot, erected by Mr. Williamson. After Mr. Green, S. Barber had the office, with the depot agency, for a time ; then John Riplineer was appointed, and moved the office into a store and saloon on Lot 7, Block 4, of Clinton's addition. While he was Postmaster, the building burned and everything in it ; after that A. B. Parmenter kept the office, as deputy, in the old Rose building, on Lot 1, Block 7, until 1865, when he received the appointment of Postmaster, from Andrew Johnson. Subsequently, the ofiBce was removed to its present station, on Lot 5, Block 12, of Clinton's addition. In 1870, Mr. Parmenter resigned, and R. E. Davis was appointed, Mr. Parmenter remaining Deputy. During the same year, Mr. Davis resigned and Mr. Parmenter was re-appointed, and has since held the office.

Digtriet School. - After passing through the various stages of development, from the log building up, Middleton, or District No. 12, has now a two-story stone building, costing, finished and furnished, about $2,500. There are two departments, and the rooms are well fitted, with commodious patent seats that will accommodate 120 pupils. An incident which occurred several years back, at a school-exhibition, is worthy of mention. While the upper room was jammed full, one of the lamps exploded and threw the audience in to a panic, and, in their frantic endeavors to escape, five more were broken. The scene which ensued was beyond description. Seventeen persons jumped from the windows to the stones beneath, and the remainder were so inextricably crushed together that they could not escape for some time. Several persons were very badly injured, but the fire did but little damage.

High School. - At the annual school meeting of 1878, District No. 12 voted $1,000 to erect a high school building, and, during the summer of 1878, the present brick structure was completed, under tlie management of R. E. Davis. The building is 25x44 feet, and one story high, and is a single schoolroom and entry-way. The floor is laid in oak, thoroughly oiled. The schoolroom was seated by the town, plain board seats being supplied. The room will accommodate fifty pupils. The use of the house was given by the district to the town, which employs the teacher and controls the school. The standing is very high. Four pupils graduated here last year that were admitted into the Freshman class of the State University.

The Masons. - A Masonic lodge was instituted here June 1, 1870, under the name of Middleton Lodge, No. 180, A., F. & A. M., with Mansfield Orries as W. M. ; J. M. Bull, S. W. ; H. P, Rider, J. W. ; Elisha Baily, Treasurer ; R. E. Davis, Secretary ; W. J. Taylor, S. D. ; C, Klanber, J D., and J. B. Colton, Tiler.

The number of members in good standing is forty-eight. Since the lodge was instituted several deaths have occurred. At the death of each member the lodge pays |50 ; at the death of a member's wife they pay $30, called funeral benefits. The members are nearly all connected with the Odd Fellows' Insurance Society of the State ; which has already paid to the families of aeceased members here, $6,500.

ihe lodge owns the lot and large frame building on the same, the upper story of which is used for their lodge room, and which is also rented from them by the Freemasons and Encamp- The lower story is used for a store, by Davis Bros.

Grood Templars. - The Middleton Lodge, I. 0. G. T., was organized on the 2d day of March, 1866, with the following charter members : R. Green, R. E. Davis, J. Parmenter, J. W. Bush, G. Murray, Sarah Barber, Emerette Davis, Mary Murray, A. Maud Green, H. Colby, D. Meredith, M. Dunn, P. S. Meredith, M. 'D. Meredith, M. Kerrighan, A. Colby, T. Scott, J. Middlemore, Sarah Barber and A. L. Parmenter.

Officers now, A. B. Kingsley, W. C. ; Miss L. Coolidge, W. V. ; W. M. Hoyt, W. C; J. W. Green, Secretary; E. Clark, Treasurer. There are now twenty-three members in good standing.

Mendotas. - The Ancient Order of the Mendotas, an organization devoted to the interests of the temperance fraternity and its progress, was conceived, developed and founded here, the first organization being convened on the 17th day of June, 1872, according to the plan of the originator of the institution. This order is supposed to derive its antiquity from the traditions and ceremonies of long-extinct Indian tribes, even as far back as the time of Montezuma, or when the ruins of Yucatan stood in stately grandeur, the scene of active life and prehistoric endeavor. Nevertheless, the order is the result of the inventive genius of a Middletonian of A. D. 1872. Although the Queen, Sachems, warriors and squaws of the Society No. 1 have, like the native aboriginals, dispersed and divided, even though they were at one time a large tribe, yet the order continues to be very popular in different parts of the country, and will, doubtless, continue to exist and do good, and afford amusement, for years to come, and mav some time become ancient.

The Presbyterian Society. - This society was regularly organized and incorporated, according to law, on the 15th of November, 1868, at the schoolhouse where this denomination had been in the habit of holding services. The Trustees elected were G. W. Murray, Thomas Whittlesey and Daniel Brush. Previous to the time of organizing, services had been held here irregularly for a short time by different ministers, the last of whom was Rev. W. M. Hoyt, who officiated at the organization, and who has since been minister in charge of the church. Services were held in the schoolhouse until 1869, when the present house of worship was erected at a cost of $1,600. It is a frame building, and will seat 150 comfortably. In March, 1869, when the project of building the church was started, the society was organized into an ecclesiastical body by the Columbus Presbytery, to be called the first Presbyterian Church of Middleton, consisting of seven members. There are now twenty members.

Baptist Church of Middleton. - The society which constituted the nucleus of this church was called "Meadow View." The meeting for the purpose of organizing was held on the the 14th day of December, 1853, about one and one-half miles north of Middleton Station, in the schoolhouse of joint district No. 1, Elder R. Jones officiating. The society soon became quite large, and continued to hold meetings at the schoolhouse until 1863, when it had become so reduced in numbers that, to maintain services, it joined with the Springfield Church, where meetings were held until 1868, when the society began having preaching in the schoolhouse at

Middleton Station, where services were continued regularly until 1870. At a meeting held March 2, 1869, Elder Wilder officiating, the society re-organized into the present church. Very soon after, a subscription list was circulated to obtain funds for building a church, and during the following summer the church edifice was begun, the Methodists uniting with the Baptists in famishing the means for building. By April of the following year (1870), the structure was completed at a cost of |1,800. During the month of April the buildings was dedicated by Dr. Hodge. The present membership of the church is twenty-six.

The ministers of the society since 1853 have been Elder Jones, Elder Wisner, Elder Sherman, Elder HiU, Elder Humphrey, Elder Bowman, Elder Rowley, Elder Wilder, Elder Martin, and Elder Smith, who has been here since 1873.

M. E. Church. - The Methodist Society of Middleton was organized in July, 1869, the Rev. E. C. Arnold, of the East Middleton Circuit, officiating. The first members were D. Meredith, W. A. Knowlton, Mrs. H. Davis, Mrs. E. C. Hyde, Mrs. Mary Murray, Mrs. E., of Knowlton, Ellen Oberst, M. D. Meredith, S.^ Meredith and Ursula Meredith. The present, membership will not exceed twelve. The Presbyterians, Baptists and Methodists have had a Union Sunday School for the last three years.

The G-erman Lutheran, Evangelical and Presbyterian Association. - The German Lutheran Society was organized in 1872, with about twenty-five families. The first minister was the Rev. Mr. Compmeyer, the next the Rev. Mr. Vogel, then the present minister, Rev. Mr. Wilke, who has had charge for the last three years. There is also an Evangelical Association and a Presbyferian society. All of the above societies hold their services in the Presbyterian Church, as they have no churches.

Village of Pheasant Branch. - This place, platted by Thomas T. Whittlesey, lies on Pheasant Branch Creek, in the southwest quarter of Section 1 and northwest quarter of Section 12, Town 7, Range 8. It was surveyed February 20, 18.52, by D. B. Travis, and was recorded February 16, 1853.

The old Sauk road passes directly through the village, and, in its palmy days when the travel was large and the two mills were running, it was a thriving place and bade fair to become a large town, but these expectations have not been realized, although there is now a good deal of business done here.

The first house in this vicinity was built by Isaac H. Palmer, now of Lodi, in 1847, which stood about eighty rods up the creek from the present site of Pheasant Branch. After him, each of the first settlers, when they came here, occupied this house, as follows : T. T. Whittlesey, Elder Dawson, A. Bush, R. R. Gyles, Francis Gault and A. Grinnell. In that house Frank Gault found his wife, theirs being the first marriage at this point, and then Mr. Grinnell, an unscrupulous old rascal, traded away his daughter for another man's wife. This is now Mr. Knapp's kitchen at Middleton.

T. T. Whittlesey entered the land where the village stands, and, in 1847, built the first house on the site, and, in 1849, Frank Gault built a house where he' now lives.

In the fall of 1849, Mr. Whittlesey had a steam saw-mill built (the first in the town), with sash saw and twelve horse-power. Frank Gault ran it three years, then it was sold to Illsby & Son, of Madison, who ran it three years and sold it back to Mr. Whittlesey, who then sold to Alex Worth, who wore out the mill. It ran twelve yeairs.

In 1850, a store was started here by M. K. Cody and H. A. Winston, near the present bridge. This store became the first tavern in 1852, called the Pheasant Branch Hotel, which at that time did a thriving business, a,s the travel over the Sauk road was then very large. Mr. t'Ody kept it first. After passing through several hands, it finally burned. The last landlord was J. Doty, who left between two days. , , , 1850, J. Dohr opened his wagon-shop, and, not many years after, Mr. Prion started a

^ During the summer of 1852, W. A. Wheeler and Frank Gault erected a steam flour-mill we, d4x40 feet in area and four stories high, built of oak on a stone foundation. ' They put in a forty-horse-power engine and three runs of stone, and could grind five barrels per hour running night and day. They ran it ten years, doing a thriving business, then sold it to T. T. Whittlesey for $7,000. He ran it two years, then sold to J. Camel, who rented it to this and that one until 1865, when it was closed up, and subsequently rotted down, the machinery being sold for a song.

The brewery here was started by J. Wagner, in 1865. In 1868, it was purchased by J. Lenz and J. Hess, for $8,000. They improved it and did a large business, when Lenz fled. The brewery passed into the hands of the First National Bank of Madison, and lay idle- for a long time. It is now owned and run by Hubert Bernhardt and John Fendorf, and is doing a fine business.

The first fire in the village occurred in 1869, when Frank Gault's house was burned, at a loss of $2,500. On its ashes he erected his present handsome brick dwelling.

The second school in the town was taught in a frame schoolhouse that stood for a time between Middleton and Pheasant Branch, and which accommodated both places for a time. It was subsequently moved to its present location in Pheasant Branch, where it now stands and serves the same purpose, having been suitably repaired.

The post ofiice was established in 1850, and was first kept in the old store and hotel by M.- K. Cody as Postmaster. He was succeeded by J. A. Roloif, who kept the office in his saloon in the tavern now called the " Travelers' Home." From him it was transferred to John Lorch, the present incumbent.

Thomas Tucker Whittlesey, the founder of Pheasant Branch, was, in his day, one of the most prominent and influential men in this State. He is remembered with feelings of admiration and great respect by all who had the pleasure to know him, and was undoubtedly one of Wisconsin's most gifted men. He was the son of Elisha and Mary (Tucker) Whittlesey, and born at Danbury, Conn., May 12, 1794. He graduated at Yale College, and in 1836, was elected a member of Congress, where he remained until 1839. After coming to this State, he entered into politics, and was a member of the Senate in 1853-54. In his death the county, town and State lost a valuable citizen.

Town Of Pleasant Sprinss

This territory was first brought under town government, along with twenty-three other townships, all forming the town of Madison, in April, 1846. It so continued until February 11, 1847, when, along with the' territory now constituting the town of Dunn, it became a new town called Rome.

By an act of the Territorial Legislature, approved March 11, 1848, Rome became extinct, and its east half was erected into a separate town called Pleasant Springs.

The first town election was held at the house of John Patterson, the first Tuesday in April, when the following, among other officers, were elected :

The town of Pleasant Springs is situated in the southeast part of the county. It is watered in the northwest part by Little Door Creek, which passes through Section 6, in the northwest corner on its way to Lake Kegonsa, and by the Yahara River, which proceeds from Lake Kegonsa, on Section 20, and runs southerly into the town of Dunkirk, Section 33. Lake Kegonsa covers a portion of five sections in the western part of the town. The principal part of the lands are oak openings. There is also a good proportion of marsh or meadow lands with fine springs and small streams of living water. The town is traversed by the Prairie du Chien Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. Pleasant Springs receives its name from a large spring on Section 27, and numerous smaller ones in diflferent parts of the town.

Abel Rasdall was the first settler of the town, locating his cabin on the eastern shore of First Lake (now in Pleasant Springs), about half a mile south of its outlet.

K. H. Roe, H. Severson, Robert McComb, P. S. Markham, John Sanderson, K. Kittleson K. A. Juve, K. A. Joitel, Daniel Wheeler, John Patterson, John Thetcham, W. Dinman, James Brante, Abram Divan, Zina Gilbert and Joseph S. Mills, were among the early settlers of the town. The Norwegian element predominated from the start, and maintains the lead to the present time.

In 1877, J. I. Williams built and launched on Lake Kegonsa an elegant little steamer. In size it is fifty-six feet long, four feet six inches deep, nine foot beam, with an upper and lower deck, and is propelled by a twenty-horse-power engine.

The " Sugar Bush," a large grove on the farm of J. I. Williams, is often used for holding ' picnics and camp-meetings. There are also a number of large Indian mounds bordering on Kegonsa.

Town Of Springdalb

The first settler in the town was John Harlow, who came here in 1844, and built the first house in the town. In 1845, other settlers came in, among whom were Wyatt Perkins, Thomas Bently, Perry Hunger, Michael Jacket and others. They were followed in 1846, by Thore T. Spaanem, N. H. Dryden, Hawley Childs, Thomas B. Miles, Morgan L. Curtis, John S. Berge, Martin Nash and Henry Boland.

The first election for town officers was held the second Tuesday of April of that year, when hrenty-one votes were cast, and as many officers elected. Martin Nash was elected Chairman ; Thomas Bently and Wyatt Perkins, Supervisors ; Robert N. Ashmore, Town Clerk ; Morgan Li. Curtis, Treasurer; Perry Hunger and Thomas Miles, Assessors; Axium Malone, Collector; Martin Nash and Horgan L. Curtis, Justices ; Thomas Bently, N. H. Dryden and Robert N. Ashmore, Commissioners of Highways; Hawley Childs, Thomas B. Miles and Wyatt Perkins, School Commissioners; Perry Hunger and Thomas B. Hiles, Assessors ; Hichael Jacket and oawley Childs, Fence Viewers ; Axium Malone and John I. Berge, Constables : William A. dryden, Sealer of Weights and Measures.

There are in the town several mounds which are supposed to contain the remains of an ancient people who inhabited this country before the Indian races. The three mounds which excite the most interest are situated on Section 15. These mounds are nearly forty feet in diameter, circular, and used to rise six feet above the surface of the adjacent land, but by repeated cultivation, this height has been greatly decreased. In 1870, one of these mounds was opened and partially explored by Charles H. Lewis. He found a well-preserved human skeleton, together with stone implements, knives and pipes.

It was judged from the last skeleton taken from the mounds, that the inhabitants of that age must have been nearly 6 feet 10 inches in height.

There are but two churches in the town ; one the Norwegian Lutheran, is situated in the northwestern part of the town on Section 8. A. Bradisen is the present Pastor.

The Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, was organized July 26, 1869, with about sixty members. Rev. G. S. Martin was the first Pastor; John T. Shumway, Church Clerk; Trustees then appointed were Edmund Spears, John Lansworth, Evan Jones, Stephen Foye, S. Ireland, C. J. Lewis and Q. H. Ovr. I. G. Brader, Sr., was elected Deacon, which office he has held to the present time. Rev. G. S. Martin was succeeded by Rev. L. Smith, who is the present Pastor. He lives at Verona, and preaches here once in every two weeks. The present church building was erected in 1870, at an expense of $3,500. Before the new church edifice was built, services were held in the schoolhouse. The present Trustees are I. Gr. Brader, Norman Randall, D. H. Eastman and C. J. Lewis. This church is a branch of the Baptist Church of Verona.

The town is well watered by the Sugar River in the northern part, the west branch, of the Sugar River in the southern part, also by two tributaries of the former in the southern portion. About two-thirds of the town are oak openings, and one-third prairie, some portions are uneven, rising into bluifs and ridges. The land is productive and well adapted to stock-raising and dairy purposes. The town is inhabited by a thrifty class of farmers, mostly of German and Norwegian origin.

Good Templars. - Perseverance Lodge, No. 487, was organized February 6, 1879, at the residence of A. G. Colman. The first ofiicers elected were Mrs. Nellie E. Tolifi", Lodge Deputy ; Miss H. Palmer, Chaplain; A. D. Colman, Worthy Chief ; Mrs. A. D. Colman, Treasurer; John Randall, Secretary ; Zella Ison, G. ; Miss Jessie Black, Marshall. The present membership is thirty, with the following officers : I. W. Patterson, Worthy Chief; A. D. Colman, Secretary ; E. C. Pierce, Lodge Deputy. The average membership is forty, and meet every Saturday evening.

There are but two villages in Springdale - one is Clantorf, situated on Section 11. There are but three or four families here ; Patrick Carr was the first Postmaster ; keeps a general store, and is the present Postmaster. John Lindelien is the blacksmith. The schoolhouse was built here in 1868.

Mount. Vernon - A snug little village, situated down among the hills, nineteen miles southwest of Madison. This village, of about 100 inhabitants, is pleasantly located on the middle branch of the Sugar River. The greater portion of the town lies on the east side of the river; on the west side, high rocks and picturesque hills add to the beauty of the scenery. George Britts laid out the first plat of the town, and Dr. Byam laid out the addition. Philander Byam was the proprietor of the plat surveyed by J. T. Berger, recorded October 9, 1862. The plat is located in Section 34, town of Springdale; just a corner of the plat, the southwest, is in the town of Primrose.

In 1849, George Britts built the first and only saw-mill in the town. This soon ran down. C. Semford Shumway next bought eighty acres from George Britts, and built a log house. 0. H. Lewis came in 1850. Hall C. Chandler started the first general store, built a frame oak building, which is still standing, and used as a dwelling-house. John Jones, Sr., kept the iirs hotel.

In 1860, there were in the village two blacksmith shops, and two general stores, a schoolhouse which was built in 1852. At this time, there were but twelve families in the village. A hotel was built by C. C. Allen, to which an upright and addition has been added, new barns have been built, making it a convenient and comfortable stopping-place for travelers. Mr. Allen died in March, 1880. His wife now has charge of the hotel, and is its proprietor.

At present, there is one general store, kept by 0. B. Dahle & Son, two shoe-shops, three blacksmith-shops. The post office is kept by 0. B. Dahle. The grist-mill was built by Philander Byam, in 1852, which is now run by John Jones, Sr.

Among others doing business here are P. E. Call, saddler ; Orne Cobblewig, saloon ; Charles Shumway, butcher, and C. H. Lewis, carpenter. Several new buildings have been built here within the last year. Mr. A. C. Brader at present is putting up a large two-story frame building.

Town Of York

The territory now included within the town of York is Township 9 north, of Range 12 east - the extreme northeast township in the county. _ The original town created by the act approved February 2, 1846, of which the town of York is now a part, was Sun Prairie.

By an act approved March 11, 1848, three of the four townships which went to make up the territory of the town of Sun Prairie were erected into separate towns, one of which was called York.

The first town election was held the first Tuesday in April, at the schoolhouse near Walter Brown's, when the following officers, among others, were elected :

B. B. Freeman, Chairman ; David Emery and Walter Brown, Supervisors ; Otis B. Lapham, Clerk and Treasurer ; Walter Brown, William P. Randall and Walker Johnson,

The first settlement made in the town, was in the spring of 1843, by John Petty, William Stewart, William Ward, John Brown, William Mortrom and David E. Emery. In 1844, John Hasey, D. A. Hasey, Walter Brown, Silas W. Herring, Orrin Rogers, John Petty, Lyman Parker and John Parker made a settlement. Among other early settlers were, 0. C. Johnson, E. S. Johnson, Julius Campbell, Jason Bolton, Smith Johnson, Franklin Carter, William Anwas with Dunning & Payne, three months, Wright & Payne, two and one-half years ; then the firm of drews, William Cleland, Moses Wood, Daniel Wood, Garret Porter, J. H. Porter, Otis B. Lapham, William Douglas, Alpha Wood, William Thompson.

The first entry of land was made by John Hasey, in the fall of 1844. His entry comprised the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 11, a tract of 40 acres.

Religious services were first held in the town, at the house of Franklin Carter, Rev. P. Allen, a Methodist Episcopal minister, officiating. A watch-meeting was held at the house of Garret Porter, December 31, 1845, Revs. Allen and Jones being present. These men, about this time, organized a class, being the first religious organization in the town. Services were held at the schoolhouse on Section 34, until the completion of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in Marshall, when the class was disbanded, the majority of its members uniting with the Marshall church. A class was afterward formed near the central part of the town, meeting at the schoolhouse on Section 22.

"he Baptists organized a congregation on Section 22, under the ministration of Rev. A. E. ween, in 1847. Elder Green was its first pastor, being succeeded in turn, by Elders Rowley, owain, Morton, Mclntyre, Kone and Ketchbole. The congregation now meet for worship at the schoolhouse, on Section 29, and have a membership of fifteen.

^ In the fall of 1878, Rev. Emery Z. Thwing commenced to hold services at the Good Temp- 'srs hall, on Section 34, and in February, 1879, organized a class of Free Methodists, composed Ot twenty-five members. The society afterward purchased the hall of the Templars and fitted it P specially for religious services, and now worship therein.

On the 12th day of November, 1864, a lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars *s organized at the schoolhouse district No. 3, consisting of twenty-five charter members.

E. A. Cone was ths first Worthy Chief Templar, with Loretta Porter, W. V. T. ; J. H. Porter W. S. : Philander Porter, L. D. Meetings continued to be held in the schoolhouse for some three years, when the lodge erected a substantial frame building for their special use, where for ten years, meetings were regularly held. In 1877, the charter of the lodge was surrendered, and in 1879, their building was disposed of to the Free Methodists.

In 1853, a postoffice was established in the towa, to which was given the name of York Center. William Douglas was the first Postmaster. Until the completion of the Watertown line, of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad, the mail was received at this office twice a week, it being on the line of the stage and mail route from Columbus to Janesville. After the completion of the road the mail was received at Deansville.

At York Center, a store was established, in 1848, by Otis B. Lapham, who continued it until 1850, when he disposed of'the stock to William Douglas, who in turn sold to WilUam Brown, in 1853, since which time, W. B. Dodge, W. S. Amos, William Douglas and Kichard Arian supplied the neighborhood with general merchandise. This store, together with a blacksmith-shop and postoflfice, comprised the village of York Center.

R. Eaton, in the spring of 1845, taught a term of school in a log house erected for that purpose, on Section 34, being the first school in the town.

In the fall of 1874, S. W. King organized York Grange, No. 44, Patrons of Husbandry. This grange has had a very prosperous existence,- numbering at one time,~140 members. They own their hall, which is located at York Center. H. J. Douglas was the first Master of the grange, and George Weeks, Secretary.

A cheese-factory was established at York Center, in 1873, by Richard Arians, and continued in successful operation until 1876, when it was burned down. The building was immediately re-erected, and soon after its completion sold to the Patrons of Husbandry, who converted it to other purposes.

There are five cemeteries in the town ; one on the southwest corner of Section 85 ; one on the northwest corner of Section 27 ; one on the southwest corner of the southeast quarter of Section 4 ; one on the northwest corner of Section 6, and one on Section 11. This last is the most important one in the town, and is known as the East York Cemetery. An association was formed, in 1850, and re-organized April 4, 1873, on which occasion Cyrus Montgomery, George W. Stiles, Justice Andrews, E. S. Johnson, Elijah Federly, Thomas J. Johnson and C. B. Weeks were elected Trustees. A Mr. Price was the first buried here.

The first child born in the town was Abigail Thompson, in 1844. The first marriage was that of Philo Ranney and Miss Sally Thompson, in the fall of 1845.

The land in this town is oak openings, with occasionally marsh, there being no prairie within its borders. It is watered in the southwest part by Waterloo Creek, which is the only stream in the town. The land is good quality, and produces good crops. There are numerous springs, which supply the ordinary wants of the inhabitants. While there are no villages in the town, its inhabitants are yet convenient to good markets, and the many well-tilled farms, fine dwelling-houses and barns prove that here live a thrifty and contented people.

Town Of Montrose

THOMAS BALFOUR, Sec. 30 ; born in Boon, Perthshire, Scotland, April 27, 1833 ; was for six years in the hardware business in Creef and Stirling ; came to America in 1856 ; engaged in farming and hop-growing in Otsego Co., N. Y. ; came to Wisconsin in 1858, and went from Montrose to Groodhue Co., Minn., where he engaged in wheat-growing for fourteen years ; he then returned to Montrose, where he has 61 acres. Mr. Balfour is a self-taught blacksmith, and on his land is a shop (built by James Wilson), where he manufactures wagons, sleighs, etc. He married Matilda Jane, daughter of Robert Oliver ; she was born in Wyota, Wis., and is the mother of five children - Nettie, John, Nellie, Emma and Agnes ; the three eldest were born in Montrose, and the others in Leon, Groodhue Co., Minn., of which town their father was Chairman three years, and Town Clerk two. Mr. Balfour is a Republican, and, with his wife, a Methodist.

S. A. BARKER, of Belleville; born Feb. 18, 1818, in Bradford, Orleans Co., Vt. ; son of William and Naomi (Andross) Barker; learned harness-making of his father when a lad of 10; came West in 1842, locating at Johnstown, Wis. ; began farming, and, in 1849, hotel-keeping; went via the Nicaragua' route to California in 1852 ; worked at his trade and at gold-mining until 1858 ; returned via the isthmus to New York, and to Wisconsin in 1859 ; worked at harnessTmaking in Belleville from December, 1860, to 1875, when he bought and has since kept the village hotel ; is a straight out-and-out Republican, and has been an Odd Fellow since 1850. He married Esther E. Seeley, and has two daughters - Seorgiana (Mrs. A. Robbins) and Dora Belle.

F. A. BIRD, Sees. 20 and 21 ; P. 0. Paoli ; born in Madison, Wis., Sept. 22, 1839 ; his father,' Charles Bird, came from New York to Wisconsin in 1837, and was one of the historic party of sixteen who made the famous trip to Madison; after working as a carpenter on the old oapitol,- he built and for a time kept the old Madison House ; later, he became one of the pioneers of Sun Prairie, where he still lives. His son, the subject of this sketch, enlisted, in August, 1861, as Quartermaster Sergeant in the 11th W. V. I.; Nov. 4, 1861, he was appointed Assistant Quartermaster of the regiment, with rank of Second Lieutenant, by Gov. Randall ; on the 11th of August, 1862, Gov. Salomon commissioned him Second Lieutenant of Co. B, 20th W. V. I. ; was wounded at the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., and thenceforth was on detached service, first as Regimental and then as Brigade Quartermaster, participating in the siege and capture of Vicksburg, in the Alabama, Louisiana and Texas service, and in the reduction of the Mobile forts ; was commissioned Captain of Co. B in August, 1865, by Gov. Lewis, and was honorably discharged the same month ; has since owned five difl"erent farms in Sun Prairie and Bristol Townships ; settled on his present 280-acre farm in June, 1879. He married, in Cottage Grove, March 13, 1867, Miss Celia A., daughter of Albert and Adeline Gaston ; she was born in Saline, Mich., and settled in Cottage Grove in' 1845. Mr. and Mrs. Bird have a daughter - Minnie E., born in Bristol. He is a stanch Republican ; was Deputy Sheriff six years, and the first Village Marshal of Sun Prairie ; is a member of Sun Prairie Lodge, 143, A., F. & A. M.

HEXBY BONING, Sec. 11; P. 0. Paoli; born in the village of Goldenstedt, Oldenburg, Germany; son of John H. and Catherine M. (Flege) Boning; his father died in 1839, and, thrown upon his own resources, young Boning came to America in 1843, located at Cincinnati, and, in 1849, went to California ; two years of gold-mining here were followed by a voyage to Australia ; himself and two or three partners established a rude bakery at Ballerat, where they " dwelt in tents," like Abraham of old; the return voyage was via Callao and the isthmus to New York ; his gold was then coined at the Philauelpma Mint, and a visit made to the Fatherland, which came near resulting disastrously to ' him, as he was arrested for non-fulfillment of military service, fined f 1,000 and six years' imprisonment ; Duke Paul iJrederic, however, released him upon his procuring a substitute ; this cost him $300, and was done in spite of the best efforts of the American Minister, ex-Gov. Marcy ; finally returning to America, he spent *'*^ months in Cincinnati, then came to Wisconsin and settled on his present farm in 1856. Oct. 23, |o57, he married Janet Clark, of Stirlingshire, Scotland, by whom he has eight children - Henry, Jessie, aelen, Margeret, Lillie, Minnie, Jane and James; they, besides these, lost a son, James, aged 2i years; all were born on the Montrose homestead, which contains 220 acres ; here their parents began in a log ouae, and have worked their way up to a pleasant home ; the substantial stone farmhouse was built in J»W. Mr. Boning is a Republican.

WIMilAM CALDWELL, farmer, Sec 33 ; P. 0. Belleville; born in the parish of Magilligan, County of Londonderry, Ireland, December, 1825 ; he emigrated in 1843, locating in Exeter, Green Co., Wis.; began as a. laborer, running a breaking-team, harvesting, thrashing, etc.; owned a farm in Exeter several years, and his present farm since 1853. Married 'Margaret Norris, of County Donegal, in Exeter ; she died in October, 1852, leaving a son - William N., born Dec. 9, 1851, in Exeter. After losing his wife, Mr. C. resided a number of years in Exeter, then settled in Belleville. In the fall of 1868, he married Mary .J. Sheperd, a native of England, and settled on his 200-acre farm ; on this he built a basement barn in 1861, and a handsome farmhouse in 1868. As he began in Wisconsin with $2, this is not a bad showing. His only son was only prevented, by failing health, from graduating from the State University, after attending three years ; he began mercantile business in Belleville, in May, 1877, and is doing a large business ; in February, 1879, he was appointed Postmaster. Father and son are Republicans. Mr. and Mrs. William Caldwell have a daughter, born Aug. 11, 1870.

£D()}AR W. COMSTOCK, farmer, Sec. 15 ; P. 0. Paoli ; is a son of William and Fanny Comstock, who settled in Dunn, Dane Co., Wis., in 1845 ; the father was a native of Rhode Island, and the mother of New York, and they came West from Pennsylvania, beginning on Grovernment land, with Dr. William H. Eox for the nearest neighbor, in the first log house. E. W. was born Aug. 9, 1847 ; grew to manhood in his native town, and married, Dec. 23, 1867, Miss Anna, daughter ofR. P. and Cordelia (Dakin) Main ; she was born Sept. 25, 1848, in a log house, where her parents first settled in Town of Oregon. In September, 1872, Mr. C. went to Iowa, and for four years tried his fortunes on a new farm, in Buena Vista Co. ; he then returned to the homestead and remained until March, 1877 ; he settled on his present 120-acre farm, with about 90 acres under cultivation and good buildings ; is a G-reenbacker. Mr. and Mrs. Comstock have four children - William R., born in Dunn ; Jay M., born in Iowa ; Ethel U., born in Oregon, and Frank C, born in Montrose. Mrs. Comstock is a member of the Paoli Methodist Episcopal Church.

PETER CLARK, Sec. 4; P. 0. Paoli ; born Feb. 11, 1830, in the parish of Denny, Stirlingshire, Scotland ; learned the stone-cutter's trade ; came to America in April, 1849, and located at Hadley Falls, Mass., thence to New York City, and from thence, via the isthmus, to California ; after eighteen months of gold mining, he went to Australia, and fifteen months later returned to Peru, thence to New York City and to his present Wisconsin farm in 1854; has 295 acres, and has erected excellent buildings ; has grade Cotswolds and grade Durhams, and is a thriving, well-to-do farmer. Has been a Republican since the party was formed, and looks upon the future as did Paine and Voltaire.

PLINY CLARK, farmer. Sec. 10 ; P. 0. Paoli; -born in Andover, Windsor Co., Vt., Sept- 10, 1810 ; his father, Samuel Clark, was born in Townsend, Mass., in 1772 ; married when 29, and at once settled in Vermont ; was seventeen years in the State Legislature ; a self-educated lawyer ; was Chief Justice of Vermont thirty-seven years, and died at 91; of his father's eleven children the youngest to die was 75 years of age, and the eldest 107. His son, our subject, married, in 1834, Miss Valeria A. Fletcher, of Walpole, Mass.; while farming in Windsor and Addison Counties, he devoted great care to the breeding of Spanish merino sheep; in June, 1846, he came West and bought his present farm of Uncle Sam ; built a log shanty, and began pioneer life ; in 1849, he bought in Vermont a $300 ram and fifteen thoroughbred ewes; these were the first blooded Spanish merinos ever brought to the State ; to Mr. C, also, is due the honor of having bred the sheep which sheared 29 J pounds of wool ; his sheep, for years, took all the prizes over such exhibitors as the Hammonds, of Vermont ; he also introduced the first Morgan stallion into the State, in 1851, and the first Durhams in 1852. Himself and wife were the first two to register as members of the Montrose Methodist Episcopal Church, and his house has ever been the resting-place of all godly men. In early times, Capt. McFadden's barn was the meeting-house, and a pair of cattle and " prairie buggy" the conveyance to it. Is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Clark have nine children - Samuel P., Alvin F., Valeria A., Ozro M., Corphelia J., Cleora A., William A., Frank L. and Loella E. ; the eldest five were born in Vermont, and the others in Badgerdom.

J. R. CROCKER, the second eldest resident of this town, came here in May, 1842, accompanied by Author Smith and S. Esty ; his parents, Benjamin and Rebecca, joined him here in September, 1842 ; his mother was the first adult to die here, in October, 1845 ; her funeral service was the first religious service here. Mr. C. is a stanch Greenbacker, and was in the Wisconsin Assembly in 1870, representing the eight southwest towns of Dane County. His wife, Jane Lester, of Cayuga Co., N. Y., died June 11, 1873; thev had nine children - James B., Horace A., Andrew B., Erastus G., George W., Sidney E., Henry 0., Frances C. and Flora B. Three of his sons enlisted in the Union service - J. B. died at Brazier City, La. ; A. E. was mortally wounded June 2, 1864, in front of Petersburg, and died July

10, 1864 ; Horace served through the war. The fiye sons are now in Minnesota, where the father intends to remove ; " J. R.," as he is best known, was born Oct. 23, 1820, in Salem, Washington Co., N. Y. ; his father was first Justice of the Peace of Montrose.

J. HOLLIiS CROCKER, Sees. 30 and 31 ; P. O. Montrose ; was born Nov. 13, 1827, in Salem, Washington Co., N. Y. ; his parents, Benjamin and Rebecca, left his native town in the fall of 1842, and on the Great Western came up the lakes to Milwaukee, thence to Montrose, where they joined J. R. in September ; during that fall they lived just over the Green County line, meanwhile building on his present farm a log house, the shingles for which were shaved out on the farm ; this house still stands eixty rods northwest of the frame house which supplanted it; wooden plows and pitchforks, ox teams and log houses, were the rule; teachers were paid $20 for a summer term, and expected to "board around," fifty cents per week being allowed for this ; their wheat was floured at the Hicox mill or the Curtis mill, on Richland Creek. Mr. C. worked out for a number of years in Green County, sometimes at less than $10 per month ; he now has 200 acres, 120 of which was entered with a Mexican warrant in 1849. He married, Aug. 17, 1850, Caroline Esterday ; she was born in Gratiot's Grove, La Fayette Co., Wis., July 16, 1829, and is one of the first white natives of Wisconsin ; her parents removed from Manitoba to the lead regions in 1825. Mr. and Mrs. C. have ten living children - Margaret, Charles, Rebecca, John, Mary, Matilda, Sarah, Emma, Peter and Barbara ; also lost a son Thomas, aged 5. Mr. Crocker is liberal in politics, and belongs to the M. E. Church of Montrose. Eor the past twenty-eight years, Maj. William Devise, one of Wisconsin's veteran pioneers, has made his home here ; he was born March 16, 1793, near Huntersville, Va. ; is of French and Scotch ancestry; in 1826, he came West and spent two years at Vandalia, from there he reached Shullsburg in March, 1828, and was at the Blue Mounds a few months before Col. Brigham made permanent settlement there. He won his title in the Black Hawk war, and is thought to have plowed the first furrow in Green County.

WILLIAM W. CROCKER, farmer; Sec. 30; P. 0. Montrose; born June 6, 1831, in Salem, Washington Co., N. Y. ; coming West with his parents in the fall of 1842, he remained with them up to his father's death ; then began working by the month, six years in all, for such men as L. Ross, William Woodel, Robert Oliver, Elom Elder, etc. He married, July 20, 1854, Miss Mary A., daughter of Richard and Anne Sharman ; she was born Oct. 26, 1834, in Derbyshire, England ; her parents settled in Montrose in 1853 ; here her parents died, and her brother now resides. Mr. Crocker has 144 acres, which he has improved ; is a member of the M. B. Church of Montrose, and has been Steward ; is a Greenbaoker, of Whig-RepubHcan antecedents ; has four children - Eliza, Abraham, Wallace and Arminda ; and has lost five - Amy, died aged 2 months; Abraham, 3 years old; Benjamin, 2 years; Richard, 10 years, and Isaac, 16 years.

BLY COWDREY, retired farmer, Belleville ; was born Jan. 1, 1799, in Tunbridge, Orange Co.; Vt. ; his younger life was spent in Hartland, Conn., and in traveling, he having been in fourteen different States of the Union ; came from White Pigeon, Mich., to Montrose, in the fall of 1844; located, with his wife, formerly Nancy Woodrufl^, of Canton, Conn., on Sec. 34 ; here they began as pioneer settlers, seeing much of frontier life ; his first wheat crop, 1.400 bushels, was hauled 100 miles to Milwaukee, and sold at 60 cents per bushel ; one trip, made by ten teams, occupied fourteen days. Mr, Cowdrey 18 now the oldest settler in the Belleville neighborhood, and has lived in his pleasant village home since 1860; this cozy, even elegant place, is the result of his own labors and good taste, and has been well earned. Mr. C. is a Republican, and a do-right in religion. His only son, T. B. Cowdrey, is doing a good business in Oregon, where he has a clothing store.

JAMES DERRICKSOIV, farmer. Sec. 1 ; P'. 0. Paoli ; born in Greenridge, Gloucester Co., N. J., Nov. 20, 1811 ; five years later his parents, John and Mary (Packer) Derriokson, moved to a tarm near Miamitown, Ohio, going on a keelboat from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati ; suffering much from the fever and ague of that then new country, they "pulled up stakes" and went to Shelby Co.,Ind. Here he married Miss Sarah Foster, born Nov. 8, 1815, in Monongalia Co., W. Va. ; they came to Wisconsin in June, 1848, locating on Sec. 1, Montrose Township ; bought 320 acres of Government land, put up a cat- faced" shanty with a huge stone chimney, and began when Indians and wild animals were more ^enty than white people around them. Wheat brought from 45 to 60 cents in Milwaukee, and 37 i in Madison ; Mr. D. has owned and sold much land ; now owns 21 1 acres on Sec. 1, and 40 on Sec. 4 ; his son, Charles W., also owns 100 on Sec. 2, and 108 on Sec. 1. Mrs. Derriokson died Oct. 2, 1878, leaving two children - Mary E. and Charles W. ; H. A., A. W., J. R., E. J., J. H., Jane and Josephine, all died Mtore the mother. Mr. D. and son are old-fashioned Democrats ; the father was the first Clerk of District ^0. 1, and held school offise twency yejrs ; the son was Town Treasurer 1874 and 1875. Mr. Derriokson is a genuine old pioneer hunter, and his pride is now the trusty old Kentucky rifle, with which he can now outshoot most of the young Americas around him.

ELOn ELDER, Sec. 20; bom in Airdale Co., N. C, April 22, 1818; ten years later his people removed to Illinois, and then, in 1834, to the lead region of Wisconsin. In the fall of 1841, Elom Elder built a log shanty on his present farm and hais since resided here - now the oldest resident of Montrose - Messrs. Kendrick and MoFadden only were ahead of him. He married, July 10, 1850, Susan Lester, of Cayuga Co., N. Y. ; they have had six children - M. J., deceased in 1854; Phebe A, (Mrs. William Leary) ; Franklin, died 1857 ; Andrew, born 1858 ; Thomas W., born 1861 ; and Jane M., born 1863, died 1873. Mr. Elder began here so poor as to be obliged to draw hay on a home-made sled in haying time ; to use wooden log-chains and wooden forks, furniture, etc., of bis own make - perhaps no man in Dane Co. has spent more time in the woods with rifle and ax, and scores of deer, etc., have been "laid out" by him.

JOHN FRITZ, Sec. 19 ; P. 0. Montrose; born ia Kindenheimer, Bavaria, Nov. 26, 1826; emigrated to the United States with his parents, Peter aod Elizabeth, in 1836 ; settled in New York, and remained until they came West in 1849 ; for two years they owned the Sharman farm, in Montrose; then settled on the present 315-acre farm, beginning with 200, of which, perhaps, 30 were broken, and on which was a log house alone ; since he came to Wisconsin Mr. Fritz has cleared and broken about 300 acres ; has built a good stone house, a 36x54xl8-foot basement barn, etc., etc. Mr. Fritz has been three times married, and has nine children - George, Edward, Marcus, Alexandei*, Minnie, John B., Peter, Hattie and Mary - Grant died aged 5 years. Mr. F. has been Steward of the Methodist Episcopal Church for fifteen years. Is a Republican and a most successful farmer ; has of late given much attention to dairying, his butter finding a ready market in Chicago.

JOHN AND A. D. FREDERICK, of Belleville. John Frederick, the founder of the village, called it after his native Canadian village ; he was born Nov. 20, 1799, and came to the States in 1844 ; bought 700 acres near First Lake, Dane Co., in June, 1844 ; built the first house where Belleville now stands in 1845 (see sketch of the village), and still resides here; his son, A. D., born Jan. 27, 1831, near Belleville, Canada; now owns 115 acres adjoining the village ; he was in the mines of California in 1853 and 1854, for several months earning $140 per month by working extra hours, or eighteen out of every twenty-four. In December, 1850, he married Amanda J., daughter of Joseph Kurtz; she was born May 22, 1844, near Wilksbarre, Penn. ; they have five children - Franklin F., Ella (Mrs. A. Fitts), Joseph, John E. and Lillie G. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick belong to the Adventist Church. Politics, Greenbacker ; his farm is devoted to both grain and stock, and he is now gathering a crop of 6 acres of tobacco.

THEODORE GREENWOOD, Belleville; was born March 16, 1802, in Three Rivers, Canada ; the year 1834 found him in Green Bay, Wis., and during the summer he helped build the first saw-mill on the Wisconsin, owned by Daniel Whitney, and located three miles below Stevens' Point ; Mr. Greenwood sawed the first log and helped run the first raft down the river ; returning to Green Bay, he, in March, 1835, came to Potosi Grove ; engaged in lead-mining three years, then went to La Fayette Co.; in 1842, he settled on a farm in New Glarus, and remained there until he came to Belleville in 1868 ; his farm was Government land ; in Belleville he has twelve village lots. He married Buletta Henderson, born in Norway ; they have eight children - Alfred, Helena, Joseph, Henry, Julia, Mary, Theodore and Fanny ; the eldest was born in La Fayette Co., and the others in New Glarus. Mr. and Mrs. Greenwood are Methodists, and he is an Odd Fellow and Republican ; descended from an old French family, he ranks with the hardy Toyageurs who made the path for the civilization of the Northwest.

JO$$EPH JACKNON, miller, Belleville; born in 1823, in Wadworth, Yorkshire, England; learned milling at 18, with a cousin in Knottingley ; finishing a three years' apprenticeship, he exchanged - places with a brother, and worked at Ackworth until 1858, when he came to America ; first locating at Chicago, he came to Green Co., Wis., in 1860, and worked at Dayton, Albany, etc., at one time renting the Albany Woolen Mill ; in 1871, he came to and has since resided in Belleville; leased the flouring-mill here June 1, 1 880 ; his thirty years' experience is a good guarantee of his ability to run this excellent mill ; it has three runs of stone,and is well equipped. Mr. Jackson married Miss Olive Ellis, who was born June 24, 1829, near Eckington, J)erbyshire ; she died April 8, 1876, leaving three children - John H., born June 30, 1863; Ida M., born Jan. 2, 1865 ; Alice, born Jan. 30, 1867, died Oct. 30, 1868; and Fred B., born June 25, 1868. Mr. Jackson is a Republican and an Odd Fellow; his wife was a member of the M. E. Church.

HON. JOHJV li YliE, farmer, Sees. 17, 6, 18 and 20 ; P. 0. Pao'i ; born in the parish of Houston, Renfrewshire, Scotland, May 7, 1835 ; his father, John Lyle, married Mary Holmes, who died iQl843; marrying again, he came to America in 1851, locating on Sec. 12, town of Springdale, where he died in 1873 ; his son, our subject, was educated in the school at Bridge-of-Wier, Scotland, and has been a life-long farmer; he settled on his present 390-acre farm in 1804, " bached it" that summer, and married, Deo. 20, 1864, Miss Christina, daughter of John and Catherine Stewart ; they came to America in 1843, and, by- settling, Aug. 6, 1843, in Verona, became one of its pioneer families; here the mother still lives, John S. dying in February, 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Lyle have three children - Margaret A.., John T. and Catherine Irene. The parents are Presbyterians. Up to 1864, Mr. L. was a Lincoln Republican, since that time he has been a Democrat; was elected Chairman of Montrose in 1869 and 1870, and from 1874 to 18? 9 he represented his District in the State Legislature.

PETER W. MATTS, Paoli ; bom June 20, 1814, in Bucks Co., Penn.; served a two-years apprenticeship as a carpenter, and, at 21, located at New Brunswick, N. J.; ftom 1835 to 1837, he was busy at his trade in New York City; in the spring of 1837, he reached Indianapolis, and, in the spring of 1838, started for Madison, Wis., with a four-horse team, arriving here in June, and at once started on foot for a tour through the southwest ; visited Galena, Dubuque, Potosi, Platteville, Blue Mounds, Helena and Black Earth ; Indian trails were his most usual routes ; resolved to settle in Madison, he followed his trade there until 1842. That year he married Helen R. Dickson, of Otsego Co., N. Y.; her brother David was the first " printer's devil " in Madison ; her sister Anna married David Hyer, who was one of the party of fifty who crossed the Territory and located the capital at Madison ; he settled there with his family in 1838; after his marriage, Mr. Matts returned East and spent the winter; in 1846, he was elected Sheriff of the county, and held the oflGioe two terms - the last Sherifi[ under the Territorial and the first under the State Government; in 1845 or 1846, he entered 600 or 800 acres, including the water privilege of Paoli; in 1847, himself and brother built the saw-mill ; in 1848, his family settled here, he joining them in 1850. This genuine representative of the pioneer element of Wisconsin is best known as Major Matts, he having received a commission as Major in the State militia from Gov. Dodge. An old time Whig and Republican, he was Chairman of Montrose six or eight years (see records in this volume) ; has also been Justice of the Peace, etc. The saw-mill was kept in operation until 1865, when he sold out to the Minch Brothers ; he has sold most of his land, and is resting from the wear and tear of a long, useful and well-spent life. Major and Mrs. Matts have had seven- children - Eugene W., Alvernon T. (deceased), Mary C. (Mrs. E. D. Wood), Ella I. (deceased), Orville E., Florence and Elmer.

WILLIAM M. MOREHEAD, Sees. 22 and 30; P. 0. Belleville; born in Cadiz, Harrison Co., Ohio, Nov. 16, 1819; has been a lifelong farmer; resided for a few years in both Coshocton and Licking Cos., and, in 1845, came to Wisconsin ; in November of that year, bought of Uncle Sam 80 acres of his present farm, and built a log house, which stood a few feet north of his present residence; during the next few years he did pioneer work among the openings on ihe Sugar River bottom ; he now owns 224 acres in a body as his homestead, and 20 acres of timber on Sec. 20. In 1850, he married Miss Sarah Southard; she was a native of Addison Co., Vt., and joined relatives in Montrose in 1849 ; at her death, May 7, 1880, she left an only son, William B., born Dec. 7, 1852, on the Montrose homestead. Mr. Morehead is an Old-Line Whig-Republican ; was Justice of the Peace in 1849, 1850 and subsequently; was also Assessor many successive years, and Chairman in 1870.

CALVlSr MORTON, P. 0. Paoli ; was born in Hatfield or Wheatley, Conn., Jan. 16, 1796 ; a few years later the family settled in New York State, where he grew to man's estate, and married Betsy Hale ; she died and left one child. The present Mrs. Morton was Cynthia Sylvester, of Vermont. Squire Morton brought his family West in 1846, and, for eight years, lived on Sec. 15, Montrose ; sold out and went to Iowa and spent a year, and, in 1856, settled where his eldest son now lives. He has been Justice of the Peace for about thirty years, and is still re-elected from year to year ; was also Town Treasurer in 1852. Is a Republican. A. S. Morton, his eldest son, has 255 acres on See. 3, in Montrose; he was born Dec. 10, 1830, in Cortland Co., N. Y., and married E. C. Thompson, of Ticonderoga, N. Y.; they have two daughters - Cynthia E. (Mrs. S. H. Cook) and Mattie M. Mr. Morton has made about all the improvements on his farm, upon which he has seventy head of cattle, with other stock. Is a Republican and an Odd Fellow. 8. E. Morton, the second son, was born in Centerville, Allegany Co., N. Y., Sept. 8, 1832 ; has resided on his present 150-acre farm. Sees. 7. and 10, since 1868; married Mrs. Julia A. (Bishop) Rice ; she first married j^^s^Pajker, who died in 1858, leaving a daughter, Nellie P. (wife of Milo Saunders, of Paoli) ; the second Orson Rice, died in ihe Union service, in 1864 ; was in the 37th W. V. I.

ROBERT A. OLIVER, Sec. 19; P. 0. Montrose or Belleville; born April 4, 1 842, in Exeter, Green Co., Wis. ; his father, of Scotch lineage, was borti in Ireland ; emigrating to the United States he settled in La Fayette Co., Wis. Married Madelena Readuspacher, and louated in Exeter, in 1841 ; from there he settled on the present farm of J. A. Ross ; thence to that of John Fritz ; thenoe to the one now own d by R. A., and finally settled in a most pleasant little home beside him. R. A. Oliver enlisted in 1861, in Co. H, 8th VV. V. I., as 2d Corporal ; was in the battles of Frederickstown, Mo., Farmington, Mi-is., Corinth, the siege of Vicksbur^, the Red River expedition, the capture of the Mobile forts, and was discharged at the close of hostilities. Returning, he bought a farm to the north of his present one, made an exchange, and has since owned this well-improved farm of 165 acres. He married Mrs. Jane (Collins) Mason ; they have three sons - George W., James T. and Charles H. ; her former husband, Capt. Mason, of the 31st W. V. I., died at Nashville, Tenn., during the war. Mr. Oliver is Liberal in politics, and is now serving his sixth term as Supervisor ; is also an Odd Fellow.

OSCAR OSCARSOW, farmer, Sec. 20 ; P. 0. Belleville; born April, 1834, in Christiansand, Norway ; in 1850, his parents, Oscar and Emilie, emigrated to the New World, and spent three years on a 160-aere farm near Beloit, then on the present 200-acre farm ; about YO acres were then broken ; Mr. 0., having broken 90 acres, rebuilt the house, built barn, etc., etc. He married, in Rock Co., Caroline Jorgensoo, born in April, 1838, near Kongsberg, Norway ; they have eleven children - Emily, Thomas, Julia, Mary, Betsy and Jane (twins), Gilbert, William, Clara, Josephine and Edwin; they also lost an infant daughter. The Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a member, is built upon the farm. Republican in politics.

E. W. PIERCE, Sec. 2 ; P. 0. Paoli ; born Feb. 9, 1831, in Jefferson Co., N. Y. ; his parents, Alfred and Julia A., were also of New York State; in 1843, the family came West with a team and wagon, camping out by the way, and reached Janesville when there were only three framed buildings in it, viz., two stores and Stevens' Hotel ; they farmed it in Rock Co., until 1852, then settled in Springfield, Dane Co. Here E. W. Pierce married Malinda Seward, of Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., and began farming on his own hook, on Sec. 33 ; he cleared up a farm there, and, in the spring of 1867, settled on his present 180-acre farm ; Webb, Watterman, Tipple and Seward were its former owners, and its only buildinsr was a log house; to-day a tasteful farmhouse, with the basement barn 34x50 feet, corn-house 18x24, granary 16x16, and other buildings, are the result of the care and labor of E. W. Pierce. He is a Republican ; was Assessor one year and Supervisor five ; has merino sheep, Poland hogs, and is a live and thorough farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce have four children - M. Roscoe, Josephine M., Antha M. and Herbert A.

JOHN A. ROSS, farmer, Sees. 31 and 32 ; P. 0. Belleville ; born in the town of Jerusalem, Yates Co., N. T., June 9,1818; his parents, John and Christie A. (Mitchell) Ross, both Scotch by birth, came to America when young, and were married in New York State ; at 19 J. A. Ross began the boot and shoo business in York Village, and, with his brother James, continued it until 1845, when the family came West, and, after traversing Wisconsin thoroughly, settled on a section of land near Madison ; poor water here caused a removal to the present farm of 366 acres ; it is the old Kendrick farm, and was the seat of the first settlement of the township ; a beautiful and now well-cultivated farm, flowing with abundant springs, one of which supplies aU the water needed for the house and the stock ; Mr. Ross expended $5,000 during the war for buildings. His father died in 1845, in Milwaukee, and his mother in 1872, at his home. He married Miss Catherine, daughter of Peter and Jessie (Davidson) Martin ; she and her parents were from Perthshire, Scotland, and settled in Verona in 1842 ; her mother did not see another white woman here for weeks; both parents died in Verona. Mr. and Mrs. Ross have six children - -William L., James, Henry, Edwin, Emily and Cora, all born on the Montrose farm, the eldest John M., died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. R. are Presbyterians; as farmers, few have done better in Dane Co. Mr. Ross in an early day made some money as a stock-dealer and speculator, once bringing a drove of 175 head of cattle and some excellent horses from Illinois ; he began with nothing but youth and health, and has earned a good home and a good record; politics. Republican.

A. H. SMITH, farmer, Sec. 29; P.O.Belleville; born in the town of Sandgate, Bennington Co., Vt., Oct. 5, 1819. Married Miss Amerillis, daughter of Thomas Peck, Esq., of his native town; the ancestors on both sides were Connecticut people; in 1853^ Mr. Smith came West and settled on his present 300 acre farm ; on the first 240, he paid $500 down, and gave a $500 mortgage ; it was then as the fashioning hand of Nature left it, and the cleared and improved farm of to-day, with its first-class buildings, etc., resulted from the labors and care of its owner. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have three children - Dolphus S., Frank E. and Phebe A., all born in Sandgate, Vt. Mr. S. is a Republican, and was twice Assessor of his town ; his first trip West was in 1844, when he spent several months in Prairie du Chien.

Town Op Montrose

PETER TAYLiOR, Sec. 12; P. 0. Paoli; born May 27, 1821, in Withington, Laneastersliire, Bnglaad ; his early life was spent as a farmer, and, owing to the customs of the country, he became quite dissipated; reforming, however, he came to America in 1852; and began farming in Pennsylvania with $5 capital; eighteen mouths later he went to Putnam Co., N. Y , and in 1855, came to Wisconsin, buying 40 acres two miles south of his present farm ; lived the first fall in the tenement house of B. Bethel, while building a log house of his own ; in 1860, he settled on his present ] 37-acre farm ; it was then a wilderness, and his first move was to put up a 13x13 board shanty, battened barn fashion ; during these twenty years he has cleared 105 acres, built a large twostory farmhouse, a 16x24 "upright," with two wings of equal size, barn 32x80 in place of one demolished May 23, 1878, by the cyclone, and also a hog-house 16x24, corn-crib 18x24, granary 16x24, an additional 18x28 barn, windmill, etc., making up a small village of trim, well-painted buildings ; as he began here 11,000 in debt, he has at least done well. His only son, William H., was born in the old log house where his father first settled. Mr. Taylor is a Republican.

ROBERT TURNER, wool-carder, Belleville; was born Dec. 29, 1813, in Haddersfield, Yorkshire, England ; came to America in December, 1839; located in Dutchess Co., N. Y., where he worked at cloth-finishing ; in 1850, he located on a farm in Sec. 31, in Oregon Township; settled in Belleville in 1865, and has since followed wool-carding. Is a Republican and a Methodist, also an Odd Fellow of forty-five years' standing, joining the Order in England. Married Oct. 26, 1835, Harriet Cockroft, born in his native town Oct. l4, 1812 ; she died Nov. 30, 1866, leaving six children - Robert, Anna, Sarah B., Susan H., Celta F. and William A. The present Mrs. Turner was Caroline Norton, born June 14, 1812, she married Asa Wilson, who died, leaving three children - Martha, John and Jane. Mr. Turner is now Justice of the Peace.

JOHN UTLEY, deceased; was born Sept. 29, 1801, in the State of New Hampshire; left a homeless orphan in boyhood, he drifted West, settling in the village of Keyesville, Essex Co., N. Y., where he married Lena Smith, in 1826 ; in 1847, he came with his family via the Great Lakes to Milwaukee, thence to Montrose, arriving June 1. The Utley homestead was bought of the United States ; a log house built and pioneer work begun among the oak openings, all the original quarter-section is now under cultivation, except 40 acres ; in 1872, two acres were sold to the Paoli Cemetery Association. Mrs. Utley died Aug. 19, 1855, and her husband followed Jan. 19, 1878 ; three children were born to them - Lovina L. (Mrs. J. M. Matts), Elvira D., died Oct. 6, 1851, and Henry S., born Feb. 4, 1837 ; he enlisted in October, 1861, in Capt. Drurj's 3d Wisconsin Battery ; served in Kentucky, Tennessee and Northern Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia ; during the bloody struggle at Murfreesboro, Dec. 31, 1862, he was shot through the right leg, was three months in the hospital, but served out his entire three-years term of enlistment. He married, Sept. 12, 1869, Mrs. Luoinda Cooper, a daughter of Mr. Guynup, of Clinton Co., N. y.; she married Asa Cooper, who died, leaving four children - Etta, Chauncey, Elmer and Minnie. Mr. and Mrs. Utley have two daughters - May A. and Cora E. Mr. Utley is a Greenbacker of Republican antecedents, and is now serving; his twelfth year as Town Clerk ; is also a member of Paoli Lodge LO.ofG.T. ' ^ ^ ' »

1820; son of Peter and Maria (Holenbake) Van Wie, both of the old Knickerbocker stock; this is a notable family of large and long-lived people; a grandmother of his weighed 294, and died aged 98. Mr. van Wie began as a farmerand later as a hotel-keepei ; dealt in stock for twelve years, often buying from 4,000 to 8,000 sheep, slaughtered per annum for their pelts alone ; in 1855 he came West, and has since resided in Madison and on his 240-acre farm, purchased in 1860 ; on this he has over sixty half-blood Durhams, but makes a specialty of Poland China hogs, having built what is admitted to be a model piggery, costing f 800, and most conveniently arranged ; it will shelter 300 hogs ; he also has thirteen horses and colts. Mr. Van Wie was appointed Deputy SherilF in 186i, and held the office five years, residing in Madison ; in 1879 he built a handsome brick residence at a cost of $2,200 ; married Almira Burst, of his native county ; they have two sons - Jonas, an attorney at law in Austin, Texas, and Jesse, now in California. Mr. Van Wie 's a live and substantial farmer, well and favorably known in his county. Democratic in politics.

W. S. WHEELWRIGHT, M. D., of Belleville ; was born Dec. 18, 1851, in Cattaraugus ^o-i N. Y. ; his parents, David and Jane (Simmons), were English people, who both came to the United States when young ; in 1853 they settled in Middleton, Dane Co. ; here W. S. grew up, and began the study of medicine with A. A. Rowley, M. D.; entering the Rush Medicil Colhge, Chicago, he graduated as physician and surgeon Feb. 26, 1878; began practice in Belleville the following June, and has met with gratifying succes. He married, April 23, 1878, Miss Lula A., daughter of the veteran Dr. N. C.

Rowley, of Verona and Middleton ; Mrs. Wheelwright was born in Verona, and has a little daughter Emeretta M. ; her father died in Middleton Station. The Doctor's parents now live in Forrest Vernon Co., Wis.

W. W. WILIiOUGHBY, farmer. Sec. 27 ; P. .0. Belleville; born in the town of Sheridan, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Dec. 8, 1815 ; has been an almost life-long farmer, serving two years as clerk in a factory ; in 1838, he went to Seneca Co., Ohio, where he married, Nov. 10, 1840, Miss Mary S. Mallette; born June 23, 1819, in his native town. The year 1844 was spent in their native place, and in the spring of 1845 they came West with a team ; bridgeless streams, swollen by the almost constant rain, made the trip one never to be forgotten by them ; at the end of thirteen eventful days, or May 16, 1845', they arrived in Montrose. Mr. W. at once made entry of part of his present farm, and built a rude house, but the first frame one in the town; Eastern friends who came West "looking land" used to fill their 13x14 room "seventeen deep," as Mr. W. says ; the house was afterward enlarged, and the next year he built a small barn or granary, which still stands, and in which Kate Kilroy (now of Minnesota) taught the first school, in 1846. Mr. W. has kept pace with the times and made a good home ; has 131 acres, and has deeded 40 to a son ; has three sons - Howard M., Willis H. and Waldo W., all residents of Montrose. Mr. W. is an old-time Whig Republican, and has been Supervisor two years, and Collector two years. Mrs. W. is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

THOMAS WILSON, farmer, Sec. 29 and 30; P. 0. Belleville; born in Parish Tamlaght Fangalan, County of Derry, Ireland, Nov. 5, 1816. He came to America and Dane Co. in 1844, and settled on his present farm in September, 1844 ; began on a quarter-section of wild land ; built a shake-roofed and oakfloored log house, and has made a good farm and home. He married, in his and her native parish, Jane Cherry ; she died in 1864, leaving two sons - James, born February 25, 1844, in Ireland, and Thomas, born Dec. 31, 1849, in Montrose Township, of which he is the oldest resident native. The father is a genuine old pioneer, who helped to build many of the first bridges in the town, and who is identified with its early history. He is a Greenbacker, and is serving his fourth term as Justice of the Peace.

Town Of Primrose

HANS H. ANDERSON, farmer. Sec 15 ; P. 0. Primrose ; born in Spring Prairie, Walworth Co., Wis., Aug. 5, 1857 ; in the fall of 1857, his parents settled on the present Ole Torgerson farm, in Perry; five years later they settled in Primrose, and on the present farm of 100 acres in 1867 ; Mr. Anderson also owns 26 acres of meadow, and an 80-acre piece in the west part of the town. He married Maria Holland, born July 16, 1856, in Jefferson Co., Wis. ; they were married May 11, 1878, and have a son, Herman M., born on the Priml-ose homestead, March 16, 1879 ; the father of Mr. Anderson is with him; he was born Dec. 31, 1830, in Norway, and came to America in 1857, and the family belong to the Norse Evangelical Lutheran Church, and are Republicans.

Olili ASL AKSON, Sec. 14 ; P. 0. Primrose ; born in Stavanger Amt, Norway, January> 1826 ; married Nov. 8, 1852, Julia Jacobson, born in Stavanger March 2, 1828 ; they came to America in 1855, and settled in 1860 on the present 149-acre farm ; here he has improved the house, built a 30x40 barn, erected a windmill, etc. They have six children - Andrew, born Sept. 4, 1856; Gabriel, born Sept. 18, 1858; Lena, born July 8, 1862; Henry, born March 16, 1864; Oliver, born Sept. 28, 1868, and Ole, born Nov. 10, 1870. Anna M., Ole, August and Gustav (twins), Melvin C, James and Melvin, are not living. Mr. Aslakson is a Republican.

P. O. BAKER, Sec. 26 ; P. 0. Belleville; born June 16, 1838, in the valley of Hallingdal, Norway. His father, Ole Baker, died in Norway, and in 1850, his mother brought him, her only child,, to America ; arrived in Primrose in September, having spent the summer on the voyage and land journey. Mr. B. lived in the east part of the county until 1860, when he rented a farm in Primrose, gradually working his way up to the purchase of his 120-acre farm. He married in York, Green Co., 1861, Julia Johnson, born near Bergen, Norway ; they have six children - Mary, Rosa, John, William, Albert and George ; all except the oldest (born in New Glarus) were born in Primrose ; the father began as a laboring man, working in Green, Rock and Walworth Counties for about thirteen years. Mr. Baker is a Republican ; has been Constable, Supervisor and Justice of the Peace, and is now serving his second term aa Chairman of Primrose.

Toavn Of Primkose

OLE O. BARTOX, Sec. 8 ; P. 0. Mt. Vernon ; born in Norway, Dec. 20, 1840 ; in 1848, his parents, Ole and Ingeborg fRulang) Barton, came to America, first settling on Grovernment land in Blue Mounds ; their son, our subject, was educated in this town, and taught several terms of school here ; also in Perry and Primrose. Enlisted, 1862, in Co. D, 23d W. V. I. ; participated in the Red River expedition ; was in Texas in 1864, and helped reduce the forts at Mobile ; was mustered out in Mobile j returned to Blue Mounds and began farming in 1867 ; he settled on his present farm of 182 acres. Married, 1863, Miss Mary A. Tvedten ; she died Aug. 16, 1879, leaving Isaac 0., Emma M., Albert 0., Anna C. and Ella A. ; all <xcept the eldest were born in Primrose, he was born in Perry. Mrs. Barton was born in Norway, and came with her parents to America in 1852. Mr. Barton is a Republican ; was elected Justice of the Peace and Town Clerk in 1870 ; has been Justice of the Peace since ; served three terms as Town Clerk; was a Supervisor in 1874 and 1875, and has been Town Clerk since 1876; is a member of the Norse Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

LAURENZ BOWAR, Sec 7 ; P. 0. Mt. Vernon ; born Sept. 3, 1828, in the Canton of Argal, Switzerland; came to America in 1852, settled in Perry, Dane Co., Wis., and for three and a half years worked for his brother-in-law, Michael Gobel. He married, Oct. 11, 1855, Isabella Schlimgen, born Nov. 25, 1832, near Koenl, Rhenish Prussia; the family settled in Primrose,, where the wedding took place, in 1854; 1856-57 were spent in Perry ; they then settled on part of their present farm, and lived eleven years ; then returned to Perry, where he owned a large and valuable farm, which he sold in the spring of 1880, then settled on his present farm of 210 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Bowar have ten children - John, Mathias, Lorenz, Joseph, Charles, Henry, Mary, Josephine, Christina and Frank ; the two eldest and two youngest were born in Perry, and the others in Primrose ; the eldest is a landlord in Scotland, D. T., and Mathias and Lorenz are farming near there. Mr. B. is a Catholic and a Democrat.