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

MONTROSE.
BY H. E. STORY.

  THIS township lies on the southern line of the county, which separates it from
the town of Exeter, Green county, and consists of township 5 north, of range 8
east. It is fifteen miles southwest of Madison.

  The soil of the town is quite varied. The north half is a heavy, clayey soil,
mostly oak opening; the southeast part is rather light, warm and sandy; the
southern part is mostly timber and prairie, and is excellent soil. The whole
town is well watered, Sugar river running through it, entering on section three
and passing into Green county on section thirty-five, and also by the west
branch of Sugar river, which enters the town on the western boundary at section
eighteen and empties into Sugar river at section twenty-eight. A number of large
springs are also well distributed over the whole town. The surface is rolling,
timber well distributed. The whole is well adapted to stock raising and the
dairy business. There are good marsh lands on the streams.

  The early settlers were Daniel M. Holt, John Webb, J. M. and P. W. Matts and
Geo. McFadden.

  The town was organized February 11, 1847.

  In 1838, when Mr. Robert Ream (the father of Wisconsin's sculptress, Minnie
Ream, proprietor for a number of years of the Madison House, or first house
built in Madison, at one time owned by Eben Peck), in company with W. C. Wells,
traveled from Monroe, then known as New Mexico, and passing through this town
towards Madison, which was the only market for produce from Green county in
those days, camped the first night at Grand Springs, or on the land that was
afterward entered by Mr. McFadden, but which was not at that time known as the
Springs. After cooking their supper, and having a little fear of the wolves
troubling them, they kept a good log fire burning, but did not remain long in
the pleasant enjoyment of their frugal meal before they were completely
surrounded with droves of of [sic] snarling, barking, prairie wolves, but
keeping a rousing fire all night and singing negro melodies and camp meeting
songs to help the general concert of the roaring, crackling fire and the
infernal howling of the wolves, they very early next morning took leave of their
new friends. Finding the old road very crooked and uncertain, they were the
first that blazed the road between here and Madison by way of Stoner's Prairie,
and which for a number of years was used as the public highway. Mr. Ream says
that when he returned from Madison he made the journey to Monroe on foot in one
day, a distance of forty miles by the road, and was obliged to wade the Sugar
river and a number of its tributaries, together with several large marshes,
which resulted in bringing on a severe attack of rheumatism.

  Mr. Ream was brother-in-law of Mrs. McFadden, of Grand Springs, and in
speaking of the trouble of wolves he relates that on one occasion when returning
with a load of provisions from Green county, his sister put him up a good tin
can of butter to carry home to Madison. The possessor of a good bucket of dairy
butter was in those days a matter of envy by all who knew of it, and while
passing over the rough roads and anticipating the pleasure he would have on
reaching home and showing his prize, he unconsciously tipped out the basket and
traveled four or five miles before he missed his treasure. Taking one of his
horses out of the wagon, which he mounted, he started back, but only reached the
place where his loss occurred in time to scare off a pack of wolves that had not
only devoured the butter, but had gnawed the bucket in pieces.

  Mr. W. W. Willoughby, one of the old pioneer settlers, speaking of the
condition of things when he came, says:

  Myself and family arrived in the town of Montrose at noon on the 16th day of
May, 1846. Starting from Chautauque [sic] county, New York, we were twenty-two
days on the road. We put up at the house of Mr. Geo. McFadden, where we
relished, with a keen appetite, the pork and beans set out before us for dinner.
We encountered a great number of hardships in consequence of the rainy weather,
the muddy roads being such as to very much impede our progress. Vegetation was
pretty far advanced, and the whole country looked beautiful, but we had become
so mystified in our continued traveling, that the sun would persist in setting
in the north and rising in the south. Go where we liked, it would remain so
until time wore it out.

  Religious services were always held in summer in Mr. McFadden's barn, and in
winter, in the house. The day after our arrival being the Sabbath, the Rev. Mr.
Bunting preached from the text: "Are not the waters of Abana and Pharpar, rivers
of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them and be
clean?" In two or three weeks after my arrival, I raised a balloon-frame house,
the first in the town. There being but one sawmill in the county near at hand, I
had to take my turn in getting lumber from the mill, which was about once in two
weeks, and then I would get a small load of clapboards to nail on. In the
meantime we had no roof over our heads, only a carpet, which did very well
except when it rained, and it seemed as though that was every night. The only
way we kept dry was for my wife and child to sleep under the umbrella, while I
hung my camlet cloak slanting on some chains. With all these inconveniences I
enjoyed myself hugely, but my wife would get homesick once in a while, and would
often make tea five times a day to get rid of it. Tea is a good medicine for
homesick people, and I can recommend it from experience. About three months
after we came, we were able to keep dry in our own house, and, though small in
size, we often had as many as eighteen living with us. Sometimes as many as
three families of our friends would stay with us from five to six weeks, until
they got located.

  The first school kept in this township was taught in my grain barn, Miss Kate
Killroy, teacher. All the children for two miles each way made a school of over
twenty scholars. We were good friends and neighbors in those days, when we lived
five and six miles apart. It was in these times that we drove ox teams to
Milwaukee, got forty cents a bushel for wheat, and took eight days to make the
trip.

  Deer were very plenty then. I remember inviting my wife to go hunting with me
(I never was much of a hunter, but I killed a deer once in a while). Starting
with my team, I had not gone over half a mile from home before I came broadside
upon a big buck. Leaving the reins to my wife I drew up my gun, but it shook so
I missed the deer, and my wife teased me so much about it that I never asked her
to go hunting again.

  The time of my first visit to Madison was in June of the same year I moved
here, and I went with Mr. and Mrs. McFadden. We were entertained at the house of
W. W. Wyman, who printed the whig paper, and politics ran very high then. His
daughter Emily invited my wife to go into the printing office, and her
introduction of my wife to her father was, "Father, give this lady a paper; she
is a whig." She had made the discovery that my wife was a whig, which in after
acquaintance was the cause of many a laugh with Miss Emily, who is now no more.
I still live on the farm I entered from the government, and but few of my old
neighbors are left here with me.

  The year 1846 was a very sickly season; almost everybody in our part of the
country had the ague, and before I had been here three months I was taken down
with a sickness the nature of which I did not know. There was no doctor except
Dr. Fox, and he lived fifteen miles away. I found it necessary to consult some
one, so Mr. McFadden showed me the Indian trail, and told me to follow it and it
would take me to the doctor's house. I obeyed instructions and found him. He was
sitting in his chair, propped up with pillows and bed quilts, and his wife
trying to make him comfortable. It seemed he had had the misfortune to fall into
a half dug well, having been called up the night before, and had broken some of
his ribs and sprained an ankle, and was smashed up in general. But all of that
did not prevent him from administering to his patients. He told me I had the
ague, and gave me some medicine. I continued after that to have it about one
year off and on.

  I had but little means left after my farm was paid for; in fact, nothing but
my hands, and I truly thought it looked like a sorry day for me. But there was a
good deal of teaming at that time from Illinois with flour into the pineries,
and one man being too heavily loaded,, sold me a barrel of flour for twelve
shillings. None knew how thankful I was for that good fortune. My wife and Mary
Killroy were the only women in this part of the town that escaped the ague. A
family from Vermont, named Rogers, who lived about one mile from me, with a
family of seven children, were all down with it, and my wife and Mary used to
take turns in baking bread for them. I being sick, my wife would have to hunt
the cows at night, and as we had heard awful stories about snakes in Wisconsin
(she was terribly afraid of them), she would put on my high topped boots, and
when she came to high grass (it was pretty high in those days), she says she ran
through it for dear life.

  Prairie chickens were more plenty in my dooryard than tame ones. The first one
I ever saw was on the other side of Beloit. I heard a strange noise in the
marsh, so I took my gun, thinking of wolves all the time, and started to see.
When I came in the vicinity of the groaning, to my astonishment it was nothing
but a bird, stamping around with its feathers all in a rumple, and while I was
contemplating and wondering what the d—l ailed it, it took wing and left.

  The first postoffice established was called Grand Spring, and remained so
until Belleville grew up a village, when it was changed to that place and name.
I think our town was first named Grand Spring by Mr. McFadden, after his spring,
but there were so many townships that had a spring in their name that the
legislature did not grant their request. I think it was named Montrose by P. W.
Matts, Esq.

  For thirty-one years I have enjoyed Wisconsin life. Whether I live thirty-one
years longer or not, I know they will not be any happier.
                                      W. W. WlLLOUGHBY.

BELLEVILLE.

  The village of Belleville is situated on the west bank of Sugar River, on the
south line of the county, twenty miles southwest of Madison. It is surronnded by
an excellent farming country, well adapted to stock raising and dairy purposes,
which is now becoming the most profitable business in the county. A large
portion of the farms are stocked with sheep.

  The splendid stock farm of William Lysaght's of twelve hundred acres is near
the village; he is the largest and most successful stock raiser in the state,
and bases his plans on practical and scientific principles. His influence among
the farmers, by his knowledge of stock raising, has been a great benefit to the
town. He is a gentleman of superior educational attainments, high minded,
reliable and honorable, having resided here since the first settlement of the town.

  The raising of stock on small farms is now very extensive, and is daily
increasing, resulting from the continued failure of the wheat crop for the last
fifteen years. Farmers having thus been forced into the stock business have
given their land rest, and enriched it, where otherwise it was becoming
impoverished by the raising of wheat.

  John Frederick located here in 1847, and built a grist mill the next year; he
was the first settler on land now occupied by the village, and built the first
dwelling house. In 1848, the village was laid out by John Frederick and John
Mitchell, owning one-half, or twenty acres each. The village was named after
Frederick's native place, Belleville, Canada West. The first marriage solemnized
in the village, was by the Rev. Matthew Fox., and in Mr. Frederick's house.

  The first store was built in 1847, by John Sylvester, and occupied by him till
1857, when he removed to Kentucky, his native place.

  The first district school was organized in 1846, now district No. 3. A meeting
was called for all the legal voters in the town, and the attendance was quite
large for that time. The especial object, aside from the organization, was the
location of the school. After quite a discussion upon the subject, it was found
on examination that there were but two legal voters, Geo. McFadden and Wm.
Morehead, and they located the school. However, the remainder retired quietly,
and were afterwards well satisfied with the location, it being near the center
of the town. There are now seven school districts in the town which compare
favorably with any in the county.

  The first school house was built in 1847, an octagon building, one story, and
intended at that time to accommodate about forty scholars. The present school
house was built in 1869, 28 by 36 feet, two stories high, and will bear
comparison with any village school house in the county.

  The first religious society formed, or organized in the township, was
Presbyterian, in 1847, Rev. Matthew Fox, pastor. The meetings were held from
that time until the village was laid out, and the school house built, in Geo.
MacFadden's barn, at the Grand Spring Farm. Mr. Fox continued to preach once in
two weeks, for some time, with great satisfaction, till about 1861. He was
honored and respected by all who knew him, for his energy, manliness, and the
honesty with which he gave expression to his opinions and sentiments. The church
is still in a prosperous condition, and is composed of some of the wealthiest
citizens.

  Rev. Matthew Fox speaking of his early ministerial work among the pioneer
settlers, says:

  Geo. McFadden was one of the early settlers in the section of country now
known as the town of Montrose; he established himself near the Sugar river some
18 miles S. and E, from Madison. There was a large spring, and on that he built
his log house. At that time there was considerable teaming to the pinery of
Wisconsin from Northern Illinois. Mr. McFadden's residence was in the line of
travel, and teamsters used to put up there attracted by the spring, his
comfortable barn and ample board. The place was known as Grand Spring. Shortly
after my arrival in Wisconsin, in 1845, I was invited to preach here, and after
some time established regular services. For a while I preached in Mr. McFadden's
barn, afterwards in his house and at a later day in a school house. I organized
the Presbyterian church (now known as the Presbyterian Church of Belleville) in
that barn, and there administered the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. The place
where Belleville now stands was then a wilderness.

  There was an Indian trail from Second Lake to Sugar river, and that trail was
my guide in those early days. I also preached at the Badger mills before the
town of Verona was established, and at the residence of Mr. George Robinson held
regular services. There I organized the Presbyterian church, now known as the
Presbyterian Church of Verona.

  I commenced my ministerial work in the place now known as Oregon in August,
1845. The bar-room of the Rome house was my church. After a year's labor I
organized a Presbyterian church. Caleb Spooner and Charles P. Moseley were the
Elders. The amount of salary raised for me during the second year of my ministry
at Oregon was twenty-seven dollars and fifty cents. But few of the first members
of the church are now living. In a pastorate of so many years, I have witnessed
great changes; have had experience of great hardships; have received many signal
blessings and have had many precious evidences of affectionate regard; here I
have spent the vigor of my life, and here, as the shadows of life's evening are
gathering, I am waiting for the voice of my Redeemer to call me Home.

  In 1856, our house of worship was built; our membership as per session record
is some 90.

  In 1853, a Free Will Baptist society and church was organized here, Rev.
Benjamin Davis, pastor. It continued but a few years and then died out.

  About 1847, the Methodists began to hold meetings here, and have continued to
do so with varying success, up to the present.

  In 1856, a Baptist society and church was organized, Rev. Mr. Whitman, pastor,
and prospered well under his ministration. In 1858, the society, with the
assistance of each of the other religious bodies, built the first church, which
was also used by the other denominations until 1875. The house at this time
being badly out of repair, in consequence of a number of those who had taken an
active interest in the church having died, or removed from here, so that there
were not enough left to interest themselves in the necessary repairs, when it
was leased to the Second Advent Church and society for ninety-nine years. This
society was formed about 1858, the Rev. Mr. Hitchcock, pastor, and has continued
prosperous up to the present time. Since the leasing of the church to them they
have repaired it in a very tasteful manner, and it is now quite an ornament to
the village. The Baptist, Presbyterian and Methodist still possess the right to
use it.

  The first physician that settled here was Dr. E. H. Osborne, who came in 1847,
and has earned a reputation as one of the most successful in Dane county; his
practice extending over several townships. He retired from practice in 1874 (on
account of failing health), with an ample fortune — a large hearted man, ever
ready to help all enterprises that would be for the benefit of his fellow man,
and respected by all who knew him.

  The cemetery was laid out in 1855, on land bought of Wellington Willoughby.
Until a few years back but little interest was taken in keeping the ground in
proper repair, but now there is quite a taste awakened to suitably ornament the
grounds.

  The first blacksmith shop was built in 1848, by Mr. Fuller. He continued in
business until 1851, when he returned to Ohio.

 • The first hotel was built by John Wood in 1851, and to-day will compare
favorably with any village hotel. It is in excellent condition, and kept in
grand style by the present owner, S. A. Barker, who has the tact and the means
to keep a good hotel.

  The first mill built here was by John Frederick in 1844, a large stone
building, but was taken down in 1870. The present mill was built in 186T, by Wm.
B. Norris, who sold to J.W. Norton in 1870, who now owns and operates it.

  This is one of the best water powers on Sugar river. There is scarcely
one-half the power utillized. It is also one of the safest and least expensive,
not being liable to damage by floods, which speaks well for it as one of the
best locations for manufacturing purposes in Dane county. The business of the
village at present is two good general stores, H. E. Story and William B.
Norris, both doing a good business; J. D. Oliver, harness shop, doing a
prosperous business; D. S. Smith, wagon shop, doing a good paying business; T.
B. Withers, blacksmith; Geo. Dyson, shoe shop; C. C. Pease, cheese factory; Miss
A. H. Gassett, millinery goods, and doing an excellent business; Miss Kate
Sullivan, dressmaker; J. M. Williams, cabinet maker.

  The growth of Belleville has been shown from the start, but being located
between two railroads forty miles apart, about equal distance between them, it
very naturally has a tendency to carry immigration by to newer places, with
better prospects for railroad comforts and conveniences- A route for a railroad
was surveyed from Brodhead to the "Wisconsin river in 1856, and another about
the same time from Brodhead to Madison. But owing to bad management and local
jealousy, it was never completed. The present spring another has been surveyed
from Brooklyn to Belleville, a branch of the Northwestern, and it is hoped may
be built. Should we get a road to this place, we would in a very few years have
the largest town in Dane county, judging from the beautiful location, ease of
access, water power, and well cultivated lands.

  There are several mounds on the banks of the river, some of them have been
opened, but nothing new discovered to give any light on their origin.

PAOLI-BY H. S. UTLEY.

  Paoli village is situated on the east branch of Sugar river, in the town of
Montrose, five miles north of the county line between Green and Dane counties,
the river here having an average width of about twenty-five feet and the valley
of about two miles.

  Fine farming lands surround the village on every side, and within a few years
good and substantial farm houses and barns have been erected.

  The village was laid out and named by Hon. P. W. Matts, in 1849, and a
saw-mill put up by him the next year. The water power is gained by a race
one-fourth of a mile long, cutting across a bow in the river. The fall is about
eight feet.

  The first store was opened by John Mitchell in 1851.

  In 1864 the mill property was bought by the brothers, B. M. and F. H. Minch,
who put up a substantial stone grist-mill, using the saw-mill as a storage room.
They now do business under the firm name of B. M. Minch & Co.

  Others, doing business at present, are the following: Willliam Fischer,
Postmaster, dealer in dry goods and groceries, and proprietor of the Paoli
Cheese Factory. William Minch & Co., dry goods, groceries and notions. Henry
Goodnow, general blacksmith, light and heavy forging. Solon J. Smith,
harnessmaker. C. J. Keve, blacksmith. John Meyer, wagonmaker. Milo Sanders,
carpenter and joiner. Miss Mary J. Ulerich, dressmaker. Miss Lucy Sanders,
milliner. Mr. Hangartner, shoemaker. Dr. George Pickett, physician and surgeon.
Frank Meng, proprietor and keeper of the hotel.

  Paoli cemetery, one-half a mile south of the village, is regularly laid out
with a central park and pleasantly situated.

  The St. Raphael (Catholic) church and parsonage are located in a thriving
German settlement two and one-half miles west of the village.

  The Methodist church was organized about the year 1850 in the log school
house, and one of the principal preachers of that day was known as Father Fox, a
very earnest advocate of the gospel, and father of Dr. and Rev. Matthew Fox, of
Oregon. They now have a neat and commodious church building in the village. The
present pastor is Rev. Mr. Burnip.

  The Paoli school house is pleasantly situated on the east bank of Sugar river,
and consists of two commodious rooms well furnished, the school being graded
into two departments during the winter term. The assessed valuation of the
district is $131,500, and it has 108 children.

  Paoli Lodge, No. 177, 1. O. G. T., meets every Tuesday evening, in M. E. Church.

  Paoli Grange, No. 476, meets Saturday evenings, every two weeks, in Solon J.
Smith's hall.

  During the winter, the large hall in William Fischer's Cheese Factory makes a
very pleasant place for social gatherings.


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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