Webster Town

Webster Town

This portion of Vernon county is bounded on the north by the town of Christiana, on the eas^t by the town of Stark, on the south by the town of Liberty, and on tlie west by the town of Viroqua. The town is square in size, comprising 36 sections. There is only one stream of any importance within its limits, with the excojition of the main branch of tiie Kickapoo river, which fl<nvs through the eastern half of section 36. The west branch of the Kickapoo river enters the town on section 6, and takes a southerly course through sections 5, T, 18, 19, 30, 29 and 32, leaving the town on the southwestern part of section 33. Besides the streams mentioned, there are various tributaries which form a net work of water courses throughout the town, making the land valuable for both stock and agricultural purposes.

The surface of the territory is very rolling, and along the banks of both branches of tlie Kickapoo river, the bluffs greatly resemble those on the Mississippi.

Early Settlement

In 18.52 two brothers, R P. and A. W. Gillett, came into the present boundary of this town and entered land on section 18. The former now resides in Monroe Co., Wis., and the latter in An oca, Minn.

William Jobe came the same year, but now resides in Kansas. In 1853 John Snider came into the town, entered land on section 19. After Snider came the following settlers, all of whom are now deceased: John Graham located forty acres on section 19; Lemuel Joseph settled on section 28; John Richardson, on section 21;

Sol Richardson, on section 17, and John Pottson section 21. Isaac Glenn and his son Isaiah came from Ohio to Webster town in 1853. The former died here in 1862. Mordecai Adams is a native of Morgan Co., Ohio, and came to Vernon county in 1853, and to this town in 185o.

Joshua Selby was a bachelor from the good State of Maryland in 1854. In 1859 he married Rebecca Stanaford. By being industrious and economical, Mr. Selby has accumulated a handsome competence.

James Allen is a native of Athens C'o., Ohio, where he was born in 1807. He came to this town in 1854, and purchased eighty acres of land on section 4. He was the first chairman of the board of supervisors, and held that honorable position for six years. He was married in Ohio, in 1831, to Amanda Gardner, who bore him nine children - Rodney D., Augusta E., C'harles A., Arthur P., Calista C, Oscar P (who died at Pittsburg Landing in 1862), Harvey M., Edwin P. and Albert G. Four of these son* were in the Union army - Rodney, Perry, Oscar and Harvey. Mrs. Allen departed this life May 4,

John Lyons is a native of Columbiana Co., Ohio, anil in is.ol came to Vernon Co., Wis. He located 160 acresof land in this town, which he still owns. He was married in 1852 lo Catharine Cowden.

Isaiah Glenn, one of the honored pioneer settlers of this town, was born in Columbiana Co., Oliio, in 1832, and in 1854, accompanied his parents to Vernon Co., Wis. He pre-empted eighty acres of land, which he sold in 1805. When he located in Webster town, there were only three families living within its borders, and Mr. Glenn taught the first school. In 18.t(3 he married Elizabeth Teal, and two children were given them - Laura J., wife of George Fulton, and Clarence. Mr. Glenn suffered th? loss of his wife in 1859, and wa.s again united in marriage, in 1865, to Mary -Criss, who is the mother of seven cliildren. Minnie, Theophilus, Preston, Rosetta, George, Ar^na M. and Minnie B. Mr. Glenn's father, Isaac, was born in Ohio in 1806, and was fifty six years of age at the time of his death.

On the 7th day of April, in the year 1856, a band of hardy pioneers and early settlers gathered together at the house of Sol Richardson to perfect the organization of a new town. It was called Webster, after the great American St;Uesman. The general affairs of the town have surely been conducted in a manner cr(Hlital)le to the name of that illustrious man, as is fully substantiated by the general prosperity of the settlers and thrifty appearance of the land al ihe present time.

After officers of election were appointed .uid approved, the following were selected by the thirty-five voting, to first conduct the affairs of the new town: Chairman nC the board of supervisors, James Allen; clerk, John Richardson; side board, James Oliver and William Huntington; assessor and treasurer, Isaac Glenn. The present officers of the town are: Chairman,

First Things

The first school in the town was taught by Isaiah Glenn, in a log building on section 8, in 1855. This building had been erected for a dwelling house.

Educational

The number of school buildings in the town is six. They are mostly of wood, and their aggregate value is about 81,020. The school population of the town number 442.

Religious

Mount Zion Church, located on section SO, was organized in 1869 by Rev. D. K. Young, with a membership of forty persons. Soon after the organization the congregation went to work and secured the funds necessary to the erection of a neat frame structure, 20x.30 feet in size, and at a cost of about $300. In is79 a rather serious misunderstanding took j]lace among the different members on some subject pertaining to Church matters, and a large portion of the congregation withdrew from the j Church. In addition to this regretful affair, a j great many of the members have removed to other climes, and the present membership nuini bers only ten.

The Advent Church was organized in 18 67, on section IS, by Rev. Huff. The congregation first met for vforship at the school house in the village cf Avalanche, and continued their services there until 1875, when they erected a substantial frame structure, 24x40 feet in size, at a cost of ^1,000. The organization was disbanded in 1881 for want of funds to meet expenses.

The first postoffice in the town of Webster was established at the village of Avalanche, in 1868, and Robert Welch was duly commissioned by "Uncle Sam" as its first postmaster. He was succeeded by Daniel Busbee, E. Enochson, August Sweger and the present postmistress, Mary Sweger.

The ofiice above mentioned is in the extreme western portion of the town, and rather inconvenient to settlers in the eastern, northeastern and soutlieastern parts. As the town settled it was thought necessary to have another office in the eastern part, and Otter Vale postoffice was established on section 14, in 1878, with William S. Marshall as postmaster. He was succeeded by E. Marshall, the present incumbent.

There are located in different parts of the town, mostly along the banks of tlie west branch of the Kickapoo river, three saw mills, one grist mill and one grist and saw mill combined, and one woolen mill.

Village Of Avalanche

This place is situated in the extreme western part of the town. It was laid out and platted in fourteen blocks or squares on the center of section 18, by Cyrus F. Gillett, in 1854. The village takes its singular name from the formation of the earth immediately east of the place, which resembles a gigantic landslide or avalanche suddenly stopped in its destructive course.

The first saw mill in the village was operated by R. P. and A. W. Gillett, in a building on the west branch of the Kickapoo river, which had been built in 1852.

The first flouring mill in Avalanche was erected in 186 0, by Busbee & Piper, with three run of buhrs, on the mill race to the west of the village.

The grist or flouring mill is owned by Enoch Enochson. It contains three run of stones, and is run by water power, with a capacity of thirty barrels per 'lay. The rnill and maclii i ery is valued at about $10,000.

Enoch Enochson was born in Norway, in 1826, and came to the United States in 1851, He subsequently came to Wisconsin, and located on Coon Prairie, where he remained until 1862, the date of his removal to the village of Avalanche. Mi-. Enochson is the owner of 200 acres of land on section 18, of this town, and 156 acres on Coon Prairie, in the town of Viroqua. He has been a steady, industrious farmer, and has served his fellow-citizens as chairman of the town board, its treasurer for four years, and as a member of the side board for six years. He was united in marriage, in 1854, to Sarah Olson, who departed this life in 1872. Seven children were born to this union - Helen, witV of Lirs L. Ramstead, Elizabeth, wife of William Garrett, Olena, Edward, Martin, John and Anna.

Thomas P. DeWitt, a well known farmer of Webster town, came to Vernon county in 1857. He first located in Viroqua, and remained there till 11^60. lie then purchased 133 acres of land in this town, where he has since resided and de- voted his time and attention to agricultural pursuits. He was born of good parents in Athens Co., Ohio, in 1825. In 1853 he removed to Boone Co., Ind., and in 1854, located in Union Co., Ohio. He came west in 1857. Mr. De- Witt married Catharine Lattimor, and nine children liave blessed their union - John, who marlied Frankie Shell, Hannah, wife of. Levi Calkins, James, Delia, wife of Allan Starke, Colonel, Arvilla, Grant, Eva and Levi. In 1864 Mr. DeWitt enlisted in the 42d regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served until he was honorably discharged in 1865.

Hans Larson, who located here in 1860, was born in Norway in 1834. He emigrated to these United States in 1857, and in 1860 entered forty acres of land on section 18, of Webster town, which he has since increased to 120 acres, valued at $800. In 1864 he enlisted in the 17th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and manfully upheld the cause of the Union until his discharge in 1865. He was a member of the side board for many years, and has held other offices in the town. Mr. Larson was married in 1857 to Anna Hanson. They have six children - Lewis, Hans, Gustave, Ida, Anna and John. Mrs. Larson departed this life July 14, 1878.

William P. Brown, who came to Vernon county from Ohio, in 1865, was born at Beverly, Ohio, in 1842. He received a liberal education, and lived in his native place until 1861, when he enlisted in the 18th regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving four years- and seven months. Ho participated in eighteen different engagements, and shared in all the victories and defeats that fell to the lot of the armies of the Ohio and the Cumberland. From the first inception to the close of the war he was in active service, witli the exception of two montlis spent in the hospital at; Chattanooga, Tenn., recovering from wounds received in the battle of Chickamauga. At the close of the Rebellion he removed to Wisconsin, and located at Star, in this county. In 1875 he sold out his property at tliat place, and came into this town, buying an interest in a saw mill on the west branch of the Kickapoo river, one half mile south of Avalanche. In connection with the saw mill Mr. Brown also operates a woolen mill, for custom work. He was married, in 1865, to Laurana Bacon. Clarence P. and Charles S. are the fruits of this union. Mr. Brown's father now resides on section 19 of this town. Although somewhat advanced in years, he still continues to manage the affairs of a large farm, and is, in connection with his son, in the mill business.

John Spencer, who has lately become a resident here, was born in Iowa Co., Wis., in 1847. He attended the common schools, and resided in his native _place until 1874, when he removed to Richland Co., Wis., and there worked at his trade of a mason, and carried on a farm until 1882. He then removed to Webster town, and bought ninety-four acres of land on sections 32 and 33, where he has since resided. He was united in marriage, in 1877, to Lucy F. Colbine, of Richland Co., Wis. They have three children - Eleanor, Miriam and Eva E. In 1865 Mr. Spencer enlisted in the 28th regiment, Nebraska Volunteer Infantry, and was wounded in the right thigh at the battle of Plum Creek. He was discharged the same year.