Dane County WI Archives History - Books .....Albion 1877
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Book Title: Madison, Dane County And Surrounding Towns...

ALBION
BY PROP. A. R. CORNWALL.

  THE town of Albion received its name at the suggestion of Isaac Brown, in
honor of his former place of residence in the state of New York. Considerable
discussion arose as to which name, Albion or Salem, should be given to the town,
when some of the English settlers came in and battled for Albion, the name
Caesar gave to their native island. Freeborn Sweet was the first settler. He
came from Oneida county, N. Y., in August, 1841. In September of the same year,
Bjorn Anderson and Amund Anderson, from Norway, settled on section 2. The same
fall, Samuel T. Stewart, of Massachusetts, settled on section 14.

  In September, 1842, Jesse Saunders and Duty J. Greene, from Alleghany county,
N. Y., settled on section 22, on what has since been called Saunders Creek,
where the village of Albion now stands. In June, 1843, Solomon Head, Adin
Burdick, James Weed, and Hiram Bently, settled in the same neighborhood. On the
22d of June, 1843, a "Seventh Day Baptist Church" was organized, Rev. O. P.
Hull, first pastor. Among the early settlers in the northern part of the town
were the Marsdens, Clarks, Halls, Busseys, Slaters, Humphreys, Rev. James
Wileman, William Short, John Bullis, and several families of Norths. These
settlers soon organized a Primitive Methodist Church, with Rev. Marsden as first
minister. Jesse Saunders opened the first store; Duty J. Greene the first hotel.
The first school was opened by voluntary contribution in 1844. The Seventh Day
Baptist meeting house was built in 1861, while Rev. T. E. Babcock was pastor. In
1868, the Episcopal Methodists erected a beautiful house of worship two miles
from the village of Albion. Since then, in the same neighborhood of the
Episcopal church, the Primitive Methodists have built a handsome brick church.
This church is near a beautiful lake, and altogether this community has one of
the pleasantest locations in southern Wisconsin.

  ALBION ACADEMY was founded in 1854. This institution has become one of the
foremost academies in the northwest. There are three large brick blocks situated
in the center of a twelve acre park, which constitutes the centre of the
village. The corporate property of the academy is valued at $75,000. The courses
of instruction embrace a six years' course in Greek and Latin; four years'
course in mathematics; an extensive course in metaphysics; natural science;
Normal course — a regular professorship in instrumental music, vocal music,
elocution, bookkeeping, penmanship, etc. A faculty of ten teachers constantly
employed. Nothing whatever sectarian is connected with the school. There is an
annual attendance reaching from 250 to 325. A large number of Scandinavian young
people have been educated here. They are as a rule excellent scholars, and of
industrious habits. Rev. T. R. Williams D.D., now of Alfred University, was the
first principal. He remained in the institution six years, from 1854 to 1860. In
1856, he was joined by A. R. Cornwall, A.M., a graduate of Union College, as
associate principal. Prof. Williams retired from the academy in 1860; since that
time Prof. Cornwall has been at the head of the institution. The academy has a
fine cabinet in natural history. The three literary societies have each a fine
hall. The recitation rooms are ample. The institution receives no aid whatever,
but relies entirely on a small tuition from each student. A large number of
teachers are trained for the public schools, and some of the foremost teachers
in the state have been educated here. Hon. C. R. Head, M.D., has been president
of the trustees during the twenty-three years of its existence. He has
contributed largely and been one of the foremost in building up the school.
Jesse Saunders has been a trustee from the beginning, and one of the main
supporters.

  Albion is one of the pleasantest villages in the northwest; healthy, and
surrounded by a rich farming country. No intoxicating liquors were ever sold in
the town. Expenses of students are less than any where else in the country. For
the education of young men and women, few places offer equal advantages. A
summer school of natural history will be connected with the academy, managed by
Prof. Thure Kumlien.

  LAKES. — On the borders of Koshkonong Prairie is a beautiful lake called Rice
Lake, a mile and one-half in length and three-fourths of a mile wide. The town
of Albion also borders on Koshkonong lake, which is nine miles in length and
three to four miles in width. Rock river flows through the entire length of the
lake, making its waters pure, and attracting to the lake immense quantities of
migratory birds and of fishes. This is one of the most noted lakes for game in
the northwest. Amateur hunters from London, Boston, New York, St. Louis, Chicago
and other cities, visit this lake annually. Gen. Sheridan has often tried his
hand here, but rumor has it that he has better luck in catching Indians with his
"black charger," on the fly, than wild ducks and geese on the wing.

  A four thousand dollar steamer will be put on this lake by the first of June.
The steamer is nearly completed—is being constructed by Messrs. Burdick &
Lanphere, for pleasure excursions on the lake and river. It will have a 65 foot
keel, 12 foot beam, double deck and pilot house; first deck, 20x90 feet; second
deck, 20x60 feet, and a cabin 12x24 feet. The boat will have a new 18-horse
power engine, built especially for steamers, and will be capable of carrying
from 250 to 300 persons. It will be as strong and perfectly safe in every
respect as regular passenger steamers, and elegantly finished and furnished
complete. Koshkonong lake is the paradise of the naturalist. On its bosom are
wild ducks innumerable; also geese, cormorants, pelicans, swans, and all the
varieties of smaller birds found in the northwest are on its margin. It is
claimed that one hundred tons of fish are taken from its waters in a single
season. This lake is known all over the globe, chiefly through Prof. Kumlien,
who has furnished specimens in natural history taken from it for a good many
universities and museums, in the old world as well as in this country. The
specimens in our normal schools are found here and prepared by him.

BUSINESS. — E. L. Burdick has a large dry goods store, and keeps a large
assortment of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, hardware, drugs and
medicines. Commercial agents call him one of their most reliable customers.
Miller & Gibson have a wagon and blacksmith shop, and do a large amount of work.
Jesse Greene has a blacksmith shop, is a genial fellow and does good work.
Burdick & Lanphere have a steam mill, and deal in bent lumber; are manufacturers
of wagons and sleighs. They also deal largely in picture frames. Collins &
Spencer, dealers in pictures and picture frames, are doing a lively business. A.
B. Campbell, harness maker, has a fine shop. He also has a shop at Middleton and
one at Alden, Minn., and does a thriving business. A. B. Greene, general
traveling salesman for the Fox River Manufacturing Co., Dayton, Ill., for the
states of Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. G. B. Huntington is a well known dealer
in improved stock. Albion is one of the best tobacco growing towns in southern
Wisconsin. In building up the village, Jesse Saunders has done more, by way of
selling lots at reasonable prices, and erecting buildings, than any other one
man. Dr. C. R. Head has been a prominent and successful physician for more than
twenty-five years, and is well known throughout the state. The Burdick Brothers,
builders, do a large amount of work. Visitors to Albion will find a nice home at
the Randall House, and can visit the lake at will.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Dane County Towns Section

MADISON, DANE COUNTY AND SURROUNDING TOWNS;
BEING A HISTORY AND GUIDE
TO PLACES OF SCENIC BEAUTY AND HISTORICAL NOTE FOUND IN THE TOWNS OF DANE COUNTY
AND SURROUNDINGS, INCLUDING THE ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNS, AND EARLY INTERCOURSE
OF THE SETTLERS WITH THE INDIANS, THEIR CAMPS, TRAILS, MOUNDS, ETC.

WITH A COMPLETE LIST OF
COUNTY SUPERVISORS AND OFFICERS,
AND
LEGISLATIVE MEMBEES, MADISON VILLAGE AND CITY COUNCIL.

ILLUSTRATED,
MADISON, WIS.:
PUBLISHED BY WM. J. PARK & CO.,

BOOKSELLERS, STATIONERS AND BINDERS, 11 KING STREET.
1877.

COPYRIGHT.
WM. J. PARK & CO. 1877.

DAVID ATWOOD, STEREOTYPER AND PRINTER, MADISON, WIS.

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