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

CROSS PLAINS.
BY HENRY WINKLE, ESQ.

  THE town of Cross Plains, or town No. 7, north of range No. 7 east, is
situated just fifteen miles west of Madison. The town was first settled in 1840,
by Edward, Hugh and John Campbell. They were soon followed by John W. Thomas,
Berry Haney, Francis Wilson, Thomas Arland and Sylvester Bell, who settled in
the northern part, and William and Samuel Showers, Ripha Warden, Sidney Morgan,
Jno. H. Clark, George P. Thompson, William Howry and David B. Carden, the last
gentleman still a resident of the town, in the southern part.

  The organization and first town meeting was held on the 6th day of April,
1847, and Ripha Warden, Ira Campbell and Jno. H. Clark were elected supervisors;
Berry Haney, clerk; William Showers, treasurer; William Howry, assessor. Four
school districts were organized. Shortly afterwards schools were opened and
teachers supplied.

  The town received its name from two military roads—one from Galena to Fort
Winnebago, and the other from Prairie du Chien to Green Bay — crossing on a
plain or piece of prairie land, about the middle of the town, and hence the name
"Cross Plains."

  The town was a favorite hunting ground among the Indians, and was also noted
as the residence of Robert Steele, a hunter and trapper, who, as the town became
settled, moved away to some other place more suited for his business. In 1845,
John Howry came from Virginia and settled on section 19, where he still
continues to reside.

  A great deal of suffering was endured among the early settlers, especially
among those who came late in the season. Some were obliged to hunt for roots and
herbs to sustain them until harvest brought them their grain, which they carried
to Madison to be sold, or rather exchanged, for what was then called store
goods. Their grists were taken to Pokerville, in Iowa county, about fifteen or
twenty miles distant, and sometimes a great deal farther, if they were
unfortunate in finding the mill undergoing repair.

  The Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad crosses the town on the north,
and the Madison, Mineral Point, or Madison and Dodgeville stage road, crosses on
the south. The population of the town is about 1,500.

  The northern part of the town is laid out in three villages, of which the
first is Cross Plains. It was platted by the Baer Brothers, who kept a general
stock of merchandise suitable for a country store. John, one of the brothers, is
still doing an excellent business. Adrian Virnig has a grocery and saloon; Engel
Uebersetzig, saloon and public hall; Joseph Marx, blacksmith; and Peter Schut,
wagon maker. Nearly opposite John Baer's there is a neat Catholic Church, built
in the Gothic style, and with a parsonage attached for the use of the pastor,
Rev. John Friedl, and a large building for the use of the parish and parochial
school, which is taught by two of the sisters. Toward the northeast part of the
village the Hon. Peter Zander, a wealthy and prosperous farmer, and our
ex-assemblyman of 1876, has his farm.

  The next village is Christina, platted in 1856, by P. L. Mohr, Esq., then
living in Madison, who had selected this spot for a village, on account of the
loveliness of scenery it presented, and gave it its present name in honor of his
wife. The Indians, in early times, had their wigwams raised there, and visited
it often for a number of years after the white faces had taken possession of it.
The three story stone grist mill at this village was built in 1858, by Oscar
Mohr and Dr. Francis Fisher, who also erected a number of dwelling houses, and
carried on a farming and milling business for eight years. A. Dederich and
Charles Herman kept hotel in the village in those times. Herman Zinkeisen, who
afterwards perished on the ill-fated steamer "Schiller," carried on the first
and most extensive general store and produce business in the village, which he
afterwards sold out to B. Pickhardt. In 1856 the mill was sold to A. Kimball,
who ran it for three years, and then sold it to Gustave Hering, who put in steam
power. Besides being in the milling business, he is largely engaged in the sale
of agricultural implements of every description, and adds to his extensive
business both energy and thrift. Herman J. Dahmen is located on the opposite
side from the mill, and has a general stock of merchandise, with a saloon
attached; then there is Cross Plains postoffice and harness shop, kept and owned
by F. H. Fredericks, who is doing a lucrative business, and whose handsome
princely residence is a short distance from the store. Next comes Michael
Stricker, hardware store and lumber yard; Edward Lampman, general merchandise
store; and two thrifty blacksmiths, Charles Brendler and Chr. Koch, with Ph.
Baerenklau, as wagon maker. There have recently been erected two new district
school houses two stories high, where the higher and lower branches of education
will be taught.

  The next village is Foxville, platted in 1857, by Abijah Fox, one of the
oldest settlers of the town, then a farmer, on whose land the depot was located.
Mr. Fox bought and shipped the first bushel of wheat from that station, in his
block warehouse. Joseph Virnig and Louis Saemann each keep a saloon here, while
the Brendler Hotel, owned and kept by Michael Brendler, is widely known among
commercial travelers as a first class hotel, and where mine host, Michael, seeks
to make his guests comfortable and at home. William Marxs keeps the blacksmith
shop; and Carl Jacobi, a first class store of general merchandise.

  Looking from the depot toward the northern border of the town, in the vicinity
of Black Earth village, is a large rift of bare rocks, and going south about
four miles, you find yourself on a small hill in the center of the town, on the
farm of John Laufenbery, an old settler and wealthy farmer; and still farther on
you behold the valley of Pine Bluff, one of the richest valleys in the town,
about three miles square, and a perfect picture in beauty of landscape. It is
called the " Ridge."

  Pine Bluff is a solid ledge of high rocks, on the top of which grow quite a
number of fine pine trees, a scarcity in this part of the country, which gives
the valley quite a romantic aspect, and from which it takes its name.

  The Sugar river rises in the southwest corner of of [sic] the town, on section
32, and passes through sections 33, 34 and 35, in an eastern direction, into the
town of Springdale, in the northeast corner. There is a branch or spring that
rises on section 27 and unites on section 35. Near where it enters the town of
Springdale is the Mormon Baptismal Pond. In the early history of the town
several Mormons settled here, and the whole neighborhood for years were kept in
a fevered excitement by the Sunday carnivals they often held George P. Thompson,
T. S. Lloyd and George Harlow were some of the leaders among them. George was a
son of old Isaiah Harlow, whose grave is in the beautiful burying ground on the
hill that is overshadowed with the grove of trees, on Jeremiah Murphy's farm,
section 31. There are several of this family buried here, as seen by the neat
gray slabs or headstones that mark their last resting place. These graves are
designated by some of the neighbors (but by mistake) as those of the Mormons.
The only member of the family who became a Mormon was the son George, but who
afterwards renounced and would have nothing to do with them. Near this same spot
is the grave of Mrs. Odell, whose sudden and mysterious death filled the
neighborhood with amazement.

  In approaching the town of Cross Plains from the east, on the Madison and
Mineral Point road, we come to the dividing ridge or ancient beach, so well
defined and preserved as to be observed by every student of geology. This beach,
or ancient sea shore on this road, comes within ten rods of the east line of the
town of Cross Plains. On its summit there is yet to be seen an old log, behind
which Ebenezer Brigham (the first white settler of Dane county) and Zach. Taylor
(ex-President of United States), slept all night.

  From the highest part of this ridge, on the Mineral Point road, we have one of
the finest landscapes presented to our view that can perhaps be found anywhere
in our state, taking in the beautiful valley in which the head waters of Sugar
river rise. This valley is surrounded on all sides by the dividing ridge and its
spurs, except an opening of about forty rods on the southeast, through which
Sugar river flows. There is a painting now in the land office at Washington, D.
C., taken from a point on this ridge near where the Mineral Point road descends
into the valley, which is pronounced by good judges as being the finest
landscape painting in that department. It was made by a celebrated English
artist, and takes in the valley with its undulating prairie, the surrounding
hills, and the Blue Mounds in the distance.

  Any one approaching this valley from the east during one of our beautiful
summer evening sunsets, and who may have paused to view this landscape,
presenting miles of the most gorgeous and grand scenery, must have been
convinced, as the English artist was, that here was a view worthy to be
transferred to canvas by any artist.

  Politically the town is democratic. During the late rebellion, on the first
call for men, it sent twenty-two, of whom Hubert Kremer died in the hospital,
while most of the others served through the war. It furnished its full quota of
men, so that no draft ever occurred with us.

  St. Mary's Catholic Church is built on a small hill near the bluff, and
attached to it, is a parsonage and the sisters' house. There is also a new
district school, where John Loehrer keeps store and saloon; William Cullen, of
the Pine Bluff tavern and blacksmith shop, and well known as a veterinary
surgeon. Henry Winkle is postmaster, and the mail is distributed about four
times a week. [Mr. Winkle has filled the office of postmaster very acceptably
for over seven years. He keeps store and has a general stock of merchandise.
Besides being engaged in business, he has also a farm.]

  Mr. James Bonner lives in the first house built in the town, and known as the
old stage house, and which for many years was occupied by Edward Campbell as the
relay house for the stages between Madison and Mineral Point.

  The Hon. Matt. M. Anderson is one of the leading farmers in our town, owning
about 350 acres of the best land in the valley. His farm is known by the name of
"Anderson's Willow Grove Stock Farm." He is largely engaged in the raising of
stock, and has also a large dairy, from which he manufactures a very choice
butter, and ships direct to the Philadelphia market. In 1871 he was member of
Assembly for our district. James Farrell, Richard Farrell, M. Casey, Henry J.
Bollig, Jacob Kalscheuer, Joseph Wallraff, Jeremiah and Ed. Murphy are some of
the leading farmers and stock raisers in the southwestern part of the town.

  The present town officers are: Henry J. Bollig, chairman, Jerry Murphy and
Joseph Schaefer, as Supervisors; Henry Winkle, Clerk; Bernard Bollig, Treasurer;
J. A. Mueller, Assessor.

  The town has seven substantially built school houses.


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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