Dane County WI Archives History - Books .....Blooming Grove 1877
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/wi/wifiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 27, 2006, 9:31 pm

Book Title: Madison, Dane County And Surrounding Towns...

BLOOMING GROVE.
BY JAMES KAVANAUGH,

  THIS township is one of the most interesting portions of Dane county, which,
from its early occupation by the natives and the unmistakable evidences of their
rude productions that have been found from time to time, render it full of
studious contemplation and instruction. Its proximity to the beautiful city of
Madison, whose light shines upon a hill that cannot be hid, makes it at once
desirable for all agricultural and remunerative purposes; its location and soil
being well adapted to all industrial pursuits.

  Abram Wood, the man who superintended the building of Mrs. Eben Peck's house,
the first house in Madison, was the first settler; he lived at Winnequah, and
had a squaw wife, a daughter of the chief De Kaury. When Simeon Mills came to
Madison, by way of Janesville, he crossed the Catfish three times, and finally
landed at Winnequah. Here he found Wood, and through him was able to bargain
with two Indian boys, for fifty cents each, to carry him across the lake to
Madison, a favor which he was unable to persuade the boys to do before.

  Robert L. Ream (in Durrie's History of the Four Lakes) says that on a small
estuary or spring on Third Lake, he saw a red fox fishing for pickerel, which he
caught by springing suddenly into the water and bringing the fish out, and then
sitting down, quietly devoured the fruit of his labor.

  The town of Blooming Grove is known as town 7 north, of range 10, and situated
in the center of the county, about four miles east of Madison. It was originally
a part of Madison, but was organized a separate town April 2, 1850, at a meeting
held for that purpose at the house of R. W. Lansing. N. J. Tompkins was elected
chairman; Wm. J. Reese and John L. Lewis, associate supervisors; Dr. H. A.
Tiffany, town clerk; Ben. W. Caswell, treasurer; Josephus Lansing, assessor;
Rev. John G. Miller, superintendent of schools. Mr. Miller having to leave for
the east, R. W. Lansing was appointed to serve in his place. Mr. Miller, from
1845 to 1850, served in the capacity of a missionary among the Germans in
Wisconsin, and recalls a very striking contrast between the homes of the
citizens of to-day and those of former times. The Germans were very few then,
but there were large settlements of Norwegians, a great number of whom preferred
building their houses in excavations made in a hill or bluff, where they boarded
up the sides with lumber.

  Elder Miller purchased some land in Blooming Grove, next to Doctor Tiffany,
and others who were among the first settlers. About this time Doctor Tiffany
came to Elder Miller, stating that they had better organize a town of their own
and be separated from Madison, so as to manage their own affairs and save
expense. Accordingly a petition was made to the board of supervisors and the
request granted, and on the 2d of April, 1850, town officers were elected. Some
time after the organization the Doctor spoke of naming the town, but had not as
yet found a suitable name for it. Elder Miller asked the privilege of naming the
town. The Doctor said, "Very well, Elder, if you have a suitable name, let us
have it." Having been privileged to travel through this country for several
years he readily recognized the beauties of nature which surrounded him, as he
behold at a short short [sic] distance, the burr and black oak, resembling an
Ohio and Pennsylvania orchard, and the prairies full of wild flowers in great
abundance, of the most beautiful colors imaginable, so that no florist could
have arranged his plants more artistically than was visible all around. "With
this scene before him, the Elder said, "I think the town names itself — Blooming
Grove." "You have hit it, Elder," said the Doctor, "it is a Blooming Grove;" and
so as its name was given, so does it continue in reality a Blooming Grove.

  The first German church and congregation was organized and built in the
southeast corner of Blooming Grove, in the year 1853, under the inspection and
care of Rev. J. H. Ragatz, of the Evangelical Association. The present pastor is
Rev. T. Umbrecht.

  The Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, and the Watertown division of the same
road, pass through various sections of the town.

  The earlier inhabitants found this township in a wild, unimproved condition,
and in possession of the Indians, who had rudely cultivated a large portion of
the lands on the west bank of Monona, directly opposite Madison. The evidences
of their rough culture have not entirely disappeared at this time. There are
three mounds along the west bank of said lake still apparent. Many of the Indian
relics have been found in and about these mounds; but they have never been
thoroughly opened and explored. The Indians, in greater or less numbers, have
habitually and annually revisited this delightful resort, to engage in fishing
and hunting; the lake at all times affording abundant supplies of fish and game.
About twenty years ago, during a quarrel the Indians had among themselves, an
Indian chief shot one of his braves and then threw him in the lake; the body was
taken out subsequently and buried on the lake shore, on the land now owned by
Robt. McComb, where the mound is still to be seen.* The following day after the
murder, about twenty-five Indians, among whom was the wife of the murdered man,
passed the residence of Mr. Geo. Zinck all riding on ponies, with the exception
of this woman, who walked alongside leading her pony, which the Indians said it
was necessary for her to do for a number of months, as evidence of her mourning
for her husband.

  * A statement is also made in reference to the above fact, that the Indian
committed suicide while suffering from the effect of a fever.

  When the Hon. Moses M. Strong, Levi R. Marsh and Mr. Potter left Milwaukee on
the 16th day of January, 1837, and traveling on horeback [sic] through Prairie
village (now Waukesha), Fort Atkinson and First Lake, for the purpose of
visiting the newly located seat of government, they took the Indian trail from
Second Lake to Third, and arrived on the southeast side in the town of Blooming
Grove near Winnequah, where Mr. Strong taking his field glass fixed upon a bay
on the opposite shore in a northwesterly direction as the most probable
direction of the section line, and crossing the lake on the ice, struck the
meander post of the government surveyor at the foot of King street, and through
the center of which the section line runs.

  The early settlement of the town was greatly retarded for want of ready
facilities for obtaining the necessaries of life, Madison affording but small
amounts and at enormous prices, and Milwaukee being the nearest market (95
miles) where even the smallest demands of the citizens could be occasionally
supplied. However, by economy, patience and perseverance, the forests were
subdued and cleared, and the richest productions of the soil soon produced an
abundance for home consumption, and the people became happy and hopeful; and now
think they have the richest and most productive soil, the most beautiful farms,
and enchanting scenery of any other town in the county. Its healthful condition
has ever been proverbial, and from some of its eminences may be seen, and at
once, the 2d, 3d, and 4th lakes, also the city of Madison and the historic Blue
Mounds, twenty-five miles west of Madison, a sight full of grandeur and
magnificence. Bounded on the west by Lake Monona, the best and most placid sheet
of water of the four lakes, its shores are easily accessible over a bed of white
gravel, looking like brilliants set in the diadem of nature. Here bathing may be
freely indulged in, our town having no prohibitory law; and for aquatic sports,
in boating and fishing, it cannot be excelled. Part of sections seven and eight,
all of section eighteen, and nearly all of nineteen, lie beneath the waters of
Lake Monona, while sections twenty-eight and thirty-three are mostly covered by
Lake Waubesa. The Catfish river connects the two, running through sections
28.aud 29. There are some smaller streams in the town, upon one, Mr. Dunning
erected a sawmill in the year 1841. Dr. Tiffany was the first physician in the
town. Dr. Pelton came shortly afterwards.

  There are a number of genial resorts on this side of the lake, where sumptuous
repasts may be had in good order and at moderate rates. Steamboats ply the lake
at all reasonable hours, and pleasure seekers have the freest and fullest
rational enjoyments. The citizens are all farmers and hard workers, as the
delightful and growing condition of their farms will show, and are proverbial
for genial hospitality and high intelligence. The soil is of the very best
quality that could be desired. The town has twelve school districts, and
contains a population of 1,500 inhabitants.

  Blooming Grove Grange, No. 250, was organized in 1874, and meets weekly at the
Town Hall.

  Monona Lodge, No. 285, I. O. of G. T., meets every Wednesday evening at the
Town Hall.

  The Cottage Grove Fire Insurance Company, comprising the towns of Cottage
Grove and Blooming Grove, and adjoining towns, was organized March 24th, 1875,
with the following incorporators:

  James Bell, Daniel Bechtel, John S. Daily, Henry Peters, G. Timmerman, John S.
Gallagher, G. M. Nichols, Wm. F. Uphoff, Richard Gallagher, John Sprecher, Jacob
Baringer, John Wolf, C. Gousmann, Fred Pepper, Gasper Storcks, H. Witte, Francis
Zink, Chas. Jorks, C. Rodefeld, Wm. M. Townsend, Francis Good, Robert Gallagher,
C. Uphoff, H. Hippe, M. E. Emerson, Mrs. C. H. Pellage, C. Horfmacher, C,
Kanmier, H. Drakley, E. Steinhaur, George Pellage, John Maeder, A. B. Emerson,
Fred Schultz, C. Drakley.

  The following officers were elected at first meeting:

  Wm. F. Uphoff. president; Daniel Bechtel, secretary; John S. Daily, treasurer;
M. E. Emerson, Henry Peters, G. Timmerman, James Bell and J. S. Gallagher,
directors.

  The company commenced business on the 8th day of June, in the same year, with
a capital of one hundred thousand dollars. The company insures all kinds of farm
property, and is in a prosperous condition, and has up to this date, August 20,
1877, only sustained two small losses, amounting to $92, and has increased its
capital to $270,000. Its present officers are:

  James Bell, president; Daniel Bechtel, secretary; John S. Daily, treasurer;
Philetus Hurd, Henry Kleinefelter, G. Timmerman, H. M. Harriman and Wm. F.
Uphoff, directors.

  The town officers of 1877 are: Supervisors — Daniel Bechtel, chairman, Matthew
Conlan, William M. Townsend; town clerk—James Kavanaugh; assessor— Wm. H. Pauli;
treasurer—Holmes Halverson.

  In 1870 a town hall was built; previously town business was transacted in
different houses of the town.


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.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wi/dane/history/1877/madisond/blooming7ms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/wifiles/

File size: 12.0 Kb