Dane County WI Archives History - Books .....Dane 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, 9:20 pm

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

DANE.
BY ROBEKT STEELE AND MANSFIELD ARRIES.

  THE town of Dane is situated in the northwestern part of Dane county, being
town No. 9 north, range No. 8 east.

  The town of Dane derived its name from the old Dane postoffice.

  The surface of the town is quite rolling, and in a few places there are
precipitous bluffs. When in its natural state, the town was about equally
divided between prairie and timber land, the principal part of the prairie being
in the eastern and the timber in the western. The greater part of the town is
quite destitute of water. The only stream of water has its source on section
eight, and running in a northeasterly direction, crosses the county line near
the northeast corner of section four, being the stream on which the Lodi Mills
are situated. In. some respects this is a remarkable stream, and it is doubtful
if any other stream in the county can equal it. Its principal source is what is
known as the "big spring," and this alone furnishes fully one-half of the water
that drives Mr. Andrews' mill at Lodi, only three miles distant, the stream
being fed entirely by springs, from which It derives its name, "Spring Creek,"
and is not affected by the severest drought, but furnishes a uniform supply of
water the year round. The bottom lands along this stream are of the best quality
for growing various kinds of grasses, very little being marshy or too wet to be
drained with trifling expense, and thus be made the best meadow land in the
state. These bottom lands along this creek and a small portion of sections 34
and 35 are the only wet lands in the town. The scarcity of water and the great
depth at which wells had to be sunk, was a drawback to the early settlement of
the town. Many of the wells are from one to two hundred feet deep, and dug
through a hard sandstone rock, but the method of drilling, and the use of
windmills have almost entirely overcome what at one time seemed to be an
insurmountable difficulty. Now almost every farmer has an abundant supply of
pure cold water, which is brought to the surface with but little expense.

  The quality of the soil is of the very best for agricultural purposes, being a
dark brown loam, from two to twelve feet in depth. In the timbered portion of
the town the soil is a heavy clay loam, and very productive. About seventy-five
per cent, of the land is now under cultivation. The remaining twenty-five is the
rough or hilly portion of the town, which is covered with a dense second growth
of timber, that, if not wantonly destroyed, will furnish an abundant supply of
timber for the future. These rough and bluffy lands present to the casual
observer an aspect not the most pleasing, and it must be admitted they are a
drawback to the town, yet they are not an entire waste, for had they all been
tillable they would doubtless have all been brought under cultivation, and left
the town destitute of timber, and perhaps made water scarcer than heretofore.
There is another advantage derived from them, that is the abundance of limestone
they contain. A good quarry can be found on almost any section in the town
containing an inexhaustable quantity of stone of the very best quality for
building purposes.

  Wheat was the staple product of the town for the first twenty years, covering
a period of time from 1850 to 1870. During this time there were but few failures
of the crop, and all that was requried [sic] of the husbandman was to break up
the virgin soil, sow the seed, and a bountiful harvest was insured. For seven or
eight years this crop has been less cultivated, and it is doubtful if the wheat
crop of the town for three years back has paid expenses. As the continual
droping wears the rock, so the continual cropping of wheat has so exhausted the
soil, or those properties of it which are necessary to its growth, that a paying
crop was very uncertain. The system of farming has undergone a great change in
the last few years, mixed husbandry being: adopted by nearly all. The raising of
stock and the dairy products are the leading features of farming at the present
time, and promise to be very successful. The soil is well adapted to the growth
of clover and other grasses, never failing to produce a bountiful crop, except
in cases of severe drouths. Corn, oats and barley produce good crops under
ordinary circumstances. A large portion of the grain is fed out on the farm, and
the farmers are beginning to realize that by keeping stock their lands are
rapidly increasing in the productiveness of such crops as are required for stock
raisers, and which, during the past eight years have done much toward the
improvement of cattle, hogs and sheep.

  A cheese factory has been in successful operation at Dane station, for three
years, manufacturing the milk of 250 cows, and averaging 65,000 to 70,000 pounds
of cheese annually. There is also another, more recently started, adjoining the
Wm. T. Leitch farm, by George R. Hoisington, which is being very favorably
patronized.

  Fruit has received considerable attention, but not with the most nattering
results. A few of the hardy varieties do well and pay for cultivation. Small
fruits are cultivated to some extent, and with a fair degree of success, doing
much better than the apple or pear.

  It is always interesting to recall the scenes of early life, although it may
have been one of toil, privation and hardship. We like to think of the past and
talk of the thrilling events connected with it. The old soldier likes to dwell
on the past, and repeat the incidents connected with his life, while the sailor
loves to recall the perils of the deep. But in no department of life can we find
anything of more interest than we find in the pioneers of our country. We like
to see the man that built the first cabin in any town, county or state; that
struck the first blow in opening up our country to civilization; that took the
first step in the organization of civil government.

  This honor must be accredited to Freedom Simons, the first settler of the town
of Dane. He, with his family, consisting of his wife and children, immigrated
from Cayuga county, N. Y., landing in Milwaukee on the 6th day of September,
1842. To give the reader something of an idea of the privations and hardships
which the early settlers endured, we will give a few incidents in the life of
this pioneer family.

  Arriving at Milwaukee on board a steamer which came to anchor at a
considerable distance from shore (there being no docks or piers), they were
taken on board a lighter and landed safely where the city of Milwaukee now
stands. One small warehouse accommodated all the freight business of the state
at that point. After landing, Mr. Simons set to work to find means of conveyance
from Milwaukee to Prairie du Sac, the place of his destination. At that time
there were no public means of conveyance; no horse teams to be had, so he
chartered what was known in those days as a "Sucker team," which consisted of
five yoke of oxen. After six days travel, he reached the place of his destination.

  In the spring of 1843, he settled in what is now the town of Springfield, near
where Hyer's hotel stands, which was the only house between Fourth lake and
Prairie du Sac, and took part in the organization of the voting precinct,
consisting of all the territory between Fourth lake and the Wisconsin river.   
At the first election seven votes were polled, and Mr. Simons elected justice of
the peace; he also received the appointment of post master, and the office was
named Dane, after Dane county, through the influence of Mr. John Catlin of Madison.

  In 1845, he moved and settled on section 32, in the town of Dane. Mr. Simons
was not only the first settler in the town, but one of the pioneers of western
Dane county.

  In November, Mrs. Simons gave birth to a son, the first white child born in
the town. He is now living in Minnesota, bearing the name of his grandfather,
Sardis Dudley.

  Mr. Simons took part in the organization of the town of Dane, and was elected
to the office of assessor. He is a man of great energy and force of character,
never neutral on any question, and always taking an active part in town affairs.
He is now living in the village of Lodi, enjoying a green old age.

  In the autumn of 1845, Patrick Malone settled in the town and engaged in
farming and lumbering. He died of cholera in September, 1850.

  Early in the spring of 1846, Mr. Joshua E. Abbott settled on section 6. He was
one of the pioneers of Wisconsin, a native of Canada, and came to Wisconsin in
1836. He was married at Mineral Point in 1840, to Miss Elizabeth Skinner.

  The tide of immigration having fairly set in, G. O. Babcock and J. R.
Waterbury, from St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., and what was known as the Ohio
settlement, from Ohio, came in during the summer. This was a valuable
acquisition to the town, and it is seldom that a settlement is made up of men
and women as well qualified for pioneer life; all, men of a high moral
character, and in possession of a liberal education. They wielded a powerful
influence in shaping the moral sentiment of the community. Prominent among them
were Dr. Eben Blachly, his brother Bell, A. J. Luce, Wm. Dunlap and Samuel Bell.

  In this settlement the first school district was organized, and the first
school house in the town was built in 1847; Miss Sarah Blachly teaching the
first term. Miss Blachly was married to Rev. Dr. Bradley, of Siam, in the fall
of 1848 (the first couple married in the town), and immediately left for their
distant field of labor, and are still engaged in missionary work. A
Congregational church was organized in 1848, with Rev. Mr. Blachly as pastor.

  The sketch of this settlement would be incomplete if particular mention was
not made of Mr. Luce. He was a man of strong convictions, a fine public speaker
and an admirable debater. He was an active politician, thoroughly devoted to the
cause of freedom. Many of the politicians of Dane county will remember him from
the heavy blows they received at his hands in the discussion of some of the
issues of the day. He died in the spring of 1863.

  Among the early settlers were Mr. Otto and Peter Rapp and family. In the
summer of 1848 a large number of settlers came in, among whom were the Steeles,
Biddies and Strangeway. A large majority of the early settlers were from New
York and Ohio, and of the best class of society.

  The following, taken from the records of the town, will show the steady
increase of the voting population, and the men elected to the respective town
offices:

  The first town meeting was held at the house of William Dunlap on the 4th day
of April, 1848. George O. Babcock was elected moderator, and Bell Blachly and
Josiah Fitch, inspectors. D. C. Miller was elected chairman, Alfred Newman and
J. R. Waterbury, supervisors. Alfred Newman, town clerk. Nathaniel Martin, John
Miller and W. G. Winters, school commissioners. Sperry Tinker, treasurer and
collector. John Miller, Freedom Simons and Nathan Martin, justices of the peace.
At this time there were twenty-seven votes in the town; in 1860, two hundred;
while in 1876 there were two hundred and eighty.

  It will not be out of place to notice some of the privations and hardships
incident to pioneer life. A large majority of the early settlers were men of
limited means; all were engaged in opening new farms; houses of the rudest
bearing were built to shelter them from the pelting storms and the biting
frosts; fire places in one end of the cabin and the old tin oven answered for
all the purposes of stoves. Economy of the strictest sort was practiced to
procure the necessaries of life. The wool was shorn from the sheep, carded, spun
and woven by our good wives and mothers to make clothing for the family.
Threshing was done by means of oxen treading out the wheat upon the ground. The
wheat was taken to mill with ox-teams, taking three or four days to get a grist
to mill and home again, Badger Mills being the nearest. Wheat could seldom be
sold for money or traded for groceries without hauling it to Milwaukee by team,
and not unfrequently the expenses ate up the load. What would the farmers of
Dane think if they had to haul their wheat one hundred miles by wagon and sell
it for forty cents per bushel? And yet the universal cry of 1877 is "hard
times." The common method of traveling was on foot or with ox-teams. Traveling
with a horse-team and lumber wagon was a luxury seldom enjoyed. What a change
has taken place in less than one-third of a century. The old pioneer, when he
looks around, pauses in breathless silence and wonders if this can be a reality.
Then he could stand on our prairies and see no trace of civilization. The Indian
and the wild beast roamed at will over this beautiful country.

  From the time the first blow was struck, the work of civilization has gone
steadily and rapidly on, and now the waving fields of wheat and corn greet the
eye in every direction. The log cabin has given place to the stately farm
mansion, the hovel to the large and commodious barns, and the old rude
implements of husbandry to the latest and most improved farm machinery, so that
as much can now be accomplished in one day, with the same motive power, as could
in three days, twenty-five years ago.

  The farmers are now no longer obliged to spend a large portion of their time
in marketing the products of their farms, being well accommodated with railroad
facilities. The Northwestern railroad runs nearly through the town, crossing the
town line on the east side, about half a mile from the southeast corner, running
in a northwesterly direction, crossing the north line at the corner of sections
two and three. The action of the town in aiding the Northwestern Railroad
Company in building the road shows that the people of the town are awake to
everything that pertains to their interest. The town was asked to subscribe ten
thousand dollars stock to the Baraboo Air Line Railroad, which was virtually a
bonus of that amount to the Northwestern Railroad Company. The amount was
promptly voted, and the bonds of the town given for the stock. About the time
the bonds of the town were given, the raiload company made the town the
following proposition: That they would buy the stock at thirty per cent, if the
town would pay the balance due on the bonds in cash. Under the able and
judicious management of the town board of supervisors, Mr. H. H. Brearton being
chairman, the seven thousand dollars was paid in two installments, with seven
per cent, interest. Thus the entire indebtedness of the town was wiped out, and
its financial condition is good. Town expenses are generally light, but little
being required except for the salaries of town officers and school expenses.

  Dane Station is situated on the Northwestern Railroad, and is a flourishing
little village. The principal business men of the place are: M. Arries, dealer
in farm produce; O'Dwyer & Arries, druggists and dry goods merchants; M. Roland,
dry goods merchant, who is also building a new warehouse for the purchase of
produce; Knuteson & Bro., blacksmiths and wagon makers; Theodore Stuchen, wagon
maker; F. Anhalt, harness maker; A. Ballwey, shoemaker; M. O'Dwyer, postmaster;
N. Opdahl, meat market; N. Little, blacksmith; John Hochstine, Joseph Clames,
Nich. Little, saloon keepers.

  About one-half of the population are of German nationality, Americans,
Norwegians, Scotch and Irish making up the balance.

  The climate is very healthy. No maliarial diseases were ever known to
originate in this town.

  For healthfulness of climate, fertility of soil, railroad facilities, etc.,
Dane compares favorably with the best towns in Dane county.

  A large German Catholic church was built in 1875.

  There are four school districts and eight joint in town.

  The present town officers are as follows:

  Supervisors — Thomas Leitch, chairman, William Rapp and Seth. Benjamin. Town
Clerk — William T. Leitch, Jr. Treasurer — Peter B. Doane. Assessor— Frank X.
Endres. Justices of the Peace — William T. Leitch, Jr., G. W. Bell, and Richard
Ferrill.


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/dane41nms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/wifiles/

File size: 17.3 Kb