Wisconsin Gazetteer 1853:
Names, Location, And Advantages Of The Cities, Towns,
Villages, Post-Offices And Settlements, Together With
A Description Of The Lakes, Water Courses, Prairies,
And Public Localities In The State Of Wisconsin-For 1853.
Alphabetically Arranged.
ABBEVIATIONS.-
C. H., Court House, or County Seat;
L., Lake;
Pr., Prairie;
P. O., Post Office;
P. V., Post Village;
R., River;
T, Town;
V., Village.
[ A ] [ B ] [ C ] [ D ] [ E ] [ F ]
[ G ]
[ H ] [ I ] [ J ] [ K ] [ L ] [ M ] [ N ]
[ O ] [ P ][ Q ] [ R ] [ S ] [ T ]
[ U ] [ V ] [ W ] [ Y ]
[ D ]
DAKOTAH, Town, in county of Waushara, being town 18 N., of
range 10; centrally located, 10 miles west from Sacramento.
DANE, Town, in county of Dane, being town 9 N., of range 8 E.;
centrally located, 15 miles northwest from Madison.
DANE, County, is bounded on the northwest by the Wisconsin
river, by which it is separated from Sauk; on the north by
Columbia, on the east by Dodge and Jefferson, south by Rock
and Green, and west by Iowa. It was established from Milwaukee
and Iowa, and attached to Iowa for judicial purposes
December 7, 1836, and fully organized March 11, 1839. The seat
of justice is at Madison, near the geographical centre of the
county, and the Court House is the best in the
State. Dane county contains about 1,250 square miles, mostly
of good tillable land, and a fertile soil, well apportioned
between woodland, openings and prairie, and is well adapted
to grazing, and the raising of grain, roots and fruit. There
is, in the county, considerable non-resident land which can
be bought on reasonable terms. One of the most attractive
features of the county is its beautiful lakes of clear, pure
cold water, originating in deep springs. The Catfish river
forms the outlet of these lakes, and passes from the northwest
to the southeast completely through the chain known as the
Four Lakes. The county is connected with the second judicial
circuit, the second congressional district, and constitutes
the eleventh senate district. It is divided into assembly
districts as follows: 1st. The towns of Dunkirk, Christiana,
Pleasant Springs and Albion. 2d. The towns of Cottage
Grove, Deerfield, Sun Prairie, Medina, York and Bristol.
3d. The towns of Velrona, Monitrose, Oregoon, Greenfield,
Dunn and Rutland. 4th. The towns of Perry, Primrose,
Blue Mounds, Springdale, Cross Plains, Middleton, Springfield,
Berry, Black Earth, Roxbury and Dane. 5th. The village and
town of Madison, and the towns of Burk, Blooming Grove, Westport,
Vienna and Windsor. The county is watered by the Catfish and
Sugar rivers, and Black Earth, Badfish, Token, Waterloo and
Koskonong creeks. The population in 1836 was Ebenezer Brighami;
1838, 172; 1840, 314; 1842, 8,289; S18-i7, 10,935; 1850, 16,654.
Farms, 1,511; manufactories, 87; dwellings, 3,510. County Officers:
County Judge, X. Bishop Eddy; Clerk of the Court, Charles
Lumm; Sheriff, Willet S. Main; Register, John B. Sweat;
Clerk of Board Supervisors, Gabriel Bjornsen; District Attorney,
Samuel H. Roys; Treasurer, Philo Dunning; Surveyvor, Russel
Babbitt; Coroner, Andrew Bishop.
DARIEN, P. V., in town of same name, Walworth county.
DARIEN, Town, in county of Walworth, being town 2 N., of range
15 E.; centrally located, 10 miles southwest from Elkhorn,
the county seat. The population in 1850 was 1,013. It has
8 school districts.
DARTFORD, P. V., in town of Brooklyn, the seat of justice of
Marquette county, is located on the outlet of Green Lake, in the
openings on section 21, town 16 N., of range 13 E.; 65 miles
northeast from Madison. It contains about 400 temperate
and industrious inhabitants. It is on the stage route from
Milwaukee to Berlin and Plover, as also on the great western
thoroughfare from Sheboygan and Fond du Lac. The climate
of this vicinity is very healthy. It has 58 dwellings, 5 stores,
1 hotel, 4 mills, 5 mechanical shops, 1 church, and 3 organized
religious denominations.
DAYTON, Town, (formerly Middletown), in county of Marquette.
DAYTON, Town, (formerly, Embarrass), in northeast corner of the
county of Waupacca. It was organized in the fall of 1852.
DAYTON, Town, in county of Waushara, being town 21, of range
11.
DEAD, Lake, in town 24 X., of range 14 W., in Chippewa county.
DEAD, Lake:, near Madison, in Dane county.
DEATH'S, Door, the entrance from Lake Michigan to Green Bay,
between Plum Island an the main land of Door county.
DECATUR, P. V., in town of same name, in Green county.
DECATUR, Town, in the county of Green, being town 2 N., of
range 9; centrally located, southeast from Monroe. The
population in 1850 was 558. It has 7 school districts.
DEER, Creek, a tributary from the northwest, rises in Waushara
county, entering Mechan river in town 17 N., of range 9.
DEER, Creek, a small stream, entering Rock river about 2 miles
above Fort Atkinson.
DEER, Lake, is a small lake in the town of Harmony, Rock county.
DEERFIELD, Town, in county of Dane, being town 7 N., of range
12 E.; centrally located, 16 miles east from Madison.
DEERFIELD, P. O., in Dane county, on section 9, town 7 N., of
range 12 E.; 16( miles east from Madison, at Junction of
Columbus and Janesville stage road with the great eastern
mail route and thoroughfare from Galena to Milwaukee. It
has 75 inhabitants, 13 dwellings, 2 stores, and 1 hotel; and
is located in the vicinity of good timber, prairie and openings,
and has excellent water. This place is well known as
"Hyer's," in honor of D. R. Hyer, by whom it was settled
in 1843, at which time he was the only settler within 6 miles.
DEKORRA, Town, in county of Columbia, being town 11 N., of
ranges 9 and 10 E.; centrally located, 10 miles from Portage
city. The population in 1850 was 661. It has 8 school districts.
DEKORRA, P. V., in Columbia county, on section 6, town 11 N.,
of range 9 E.; 6 miles south from Portage city, and 30 miles
northwest from Madison. Its location is on the east side of
the Wisconsin river, at the mouth of Rocky Run creek, and
has 150 inhabitants, 45 dwellings, 2 stores, 2 hotels, 1 mill,
and 1 methodist church.
DEKORRA, Mounds, in La Crosse county, on sections 3 and 4, town
18 N., of range 7 W., near Black river.
DELAFIELD, TOWN, in county of Waukesha, being town 7 N., of
range 1S E.; centrally located, 9 miles northwest from Waukesha.
The population in 1850 was 1,134. It has 5 school districts.
DELAFIELD. P. V., on Bark river, in town of same name in Waukesha
county, on section 20. The former great western thoroughfare, from
Milwaukee to Madison, passed through this place, but since the
completion of the Watertown and Milwaukee plank road, which passes
2 1/2 miles north, the village has lost, in a great degree, the
activity and bustle that once characterized it. It has 2 good
flouring mills, 1 machine shop, 4 stores, 3 hotels, 3 shoe shops,
3 blacksmiths, 2 cabinet and 2 waggon maker's shops.
DELAVAN, P. V., in town of same name, Walworth county, being
on section 18. It is the seat of the Wisconsin Deaf and Dumb
Institution; has an excellent flour mill with good hydraulic
power, and one of the best nurseries in the State. It is 60
miles southeast from Madison.
DELAVAN, Town, in Walworth county, being town 2 N., of range
16 E.; centrally located, 5 miles southeast from Elkhorn, the
county seat. The population in 1850, was 1,260. It has 6
school districts.
DELAVAN, Lake, is in the southern part of the town of the same
name. It is about three miles in length, and one in width,
discharging its waters through its outlet into Turtle creek.
DELHI, P. V., in Winnebago county, on section 20, town 18, of
range 20. It is located on the south side of Fox river, 12
miles northwest from Oshkosh and 80 miles northeast from
Madison. Population 150; 40 dwellings, 3 stores, 1 hotel,
and 2 mills.
DELL, Creek, a considerable tributary from the west, entering the
Wisconsin river in the town of New Buffalo, Sauk county.
DELL, Creek, P. O., on creek of same name, in Sauk county.
DELL, Prairie, a large prairie near the Dells of Wisconsin.
DELLOXA, P. 0., Sauk county, in town of the same name, near
centre of town 1 3, of range S E.; 15 miles northerly from
Baraboo, and 55 miles northwest from Madison. It is half way
between Reedsburg and Delton, being about 6 miles from each.
DELLONA, Town, in Sauk county, being town 13 N., of range 5 E.,
The population is about 400.
DELLS, in Chippewa river, in town 28, of range 9 W.
DELLS, in Wisconsin river, in town 15 N., of range 5 E. The river
passes between rocks, 300 feet high, for S miles.
DELLTON, P. V., in Sauk county, in town of Deltona, on section
21, town 13 N., of range 6 E.; 10 miles northerly from Baraboo,
and 50 miles from Madison. It is well situated on Dell creek,
one and a half miles from its mouth into the Wisconsin. It has
a steamboat navigation with the Upper Mississippi, through the
Wisconsin river, which is navigable to this point. It is also
on the proposed route of the Milwaukee and La Crosse railroad.
It has 140 inhabitants, 34 dwellings, 2 stores, 2 hotels, 2
churches, and 7 mechanical shops.
DELTONA, Town, in county of Sauk, being town 13 N., of range
6 E.; centrally located, northwest from Baraboo. It has 6
school districts.
DENOON, P. V., Waukesha county, on the north line of Racine
county, on section 32, town 5 N., of range 20 E. (Muskego),
and section 5, town 4 N., of range 20 E. (Norway); 15 miles
southeast from Waukesha, 25 miles northwest from Racine,
and 80 miles southeast from Madison. It is located on the
Milwaukee and Rochester plank road, 20 miles southwest
from Milwaukee, on the east bank of Denoon lake. Population 100;
10 dwellings, 1 store, 1 hotel, several mechanical shops, and
1 Lutheran church.
DEPERE, Rapids, on thie Fox river, 7 miles above Green Bay.
They are improved by a dam at Depere.
DEPERE P. V. and C. H., in the county of Brown, in town 23 N.,
of range 21 E., 110 miles northeast from Madison. It was
first settled A. D. 1672, and a small log church was built by
the Jesuits. The first court house and jail in the State was
erected here, also the first saw mill, which was built in
1824. It has a bridge and draw 2,500 feet long, across Fox
river. It is the head of lake and foot of river navigation.
It has a most beautiful and healthy location, being on both
sides the river Neenah. Population 1,200; 400 dwellings,
10 stores, 4 hotels, 7 mills, 4 shingle factories, 2 extensive
fisheries, yielding annually 1,500 barrels of fish; 2 churches,
and 5 denominations.
DEPERE, Town, in Brown county.
DES PLAINE, River, in Kenosha county. See O'Plaine river.
DETOUR, River, is a small stream, entering Lake Superior east of
Herron river.
DETROIT, Island, is at the connection of Green Bay and Lake
Michigan, south from Pottawattamne Island. It is 4 miles long
and half a mile wide.
DEVIL'S, Chimney, so called, a natural curiosity, is situated near
the village of Mount Vernon, in Dane county. It consists of
a tall round arch about 20 feet in diameter and 125 feet high.
The surrounding country being comparatively level.
DEVIL'S, River, see East river, Brown county.
DICKERMAN'S, Creek, rises in the south part of Nekimi, Winnebago
county, and runs northeasterly into lake Winnebago.
DICKEY'SVILLE, P.O., in Grant county, on section 22, town 2 N.,
of range 2 W., being in the town of Paris, 20 miles south
from Lancaster, and 125 miles southwest from Madison, on
the Galena and Mississippi stage route. Population 50, with
6 stores, 1 hotel, and 1 church.
DODGE, County, is bounded on the north by Marquette and Fond
du Lac, on the east by Fond du Lac and Washington, on the
south by Waukesha and Jefferson, and on the west by Dane
and Columbia; and is 30 miles square. It was so named in
honor of General Dodge, first Governor of the territory, and
was set off from Brown, December 7, 1836, to which it remained
attached for judicial purposes until January 13, 1840,
when it was organized for county purposes, and its judicial
connection changed to Jefferson. It was fully organized Jan.
20, 1844. The seat of justice is at the village of Juneau,
formerly known as Dodge Centre. The surface of the country,
west of Rock river, is diversified with openings, prairie, and
good hay marsh; and the soil being good, it is well adapted
to the raising of wheat and the summer grains, and to grazing.
East of the river it is timbered with a heavy growth of maple
and other hard woods, and the soil produces the grain crop with
equal advantage with the other side, while it is more naturally
adapted to the growth of the cultivated grasses. Near the
banks of Rock river are beds of iron ore, which are success fully
worked. Dodge county forms a part of the third judicial
circuit, and of the third congressional district, and constitutes
the twenty-second senate district. It is divided into six assembly
districts, as follows: 1. Towns of Leroy, Lomyra, Williamnstown and
Theresa. 2. Towns of Hubbard, Hiermon, Hustisford
and Rubicon. 3. Towns of Emmet, Lebanon and Ashippun.
4. Towns of Elba, Lowell, Clyman, Portland and Shields.
5. Towns of Fox Lake, Trenton, Westford, Calamus and Beaver Dam.
6. Towns of Chester, Burnette and Oak Grove. It is watered by the
Crawfish, Roc and Beaver Dam rivers, and their tributaries. The
population in 1838 was 18; 1840, 67; 1842, 149; 1846, 7,787; 1847,
14,905; and 1850, 19,140. Dwellings, 3,561; farms, 2,338;
manufactories, 30. County Officers: County Judge, S. L. Rose;
Sheriff, Benj. Ferguson; Clerk of Court, J. B. Ribble; Register of
Deeds, N. Juneau; Clerk of Board of Supervisors, E. Sweeney; County
Treasurer, L. Merz.
DODGE CENTRE, see Juneau.
DODGE'S, Branch, of the Peckatonnica river, rises near Dodgeville,
Iowa county, and runs southerly through the eastern
portion of Iowa and Lafayette counties, entering the Peckatonnica
in the southeast corner of Wyota, Lafayette county.
DODGEVILLE, Town, in the county of Iowa.
DODGEVILLE, P. V., in town of same name, being on section 34.
The village contains about 100 inhabitants, mostly miners,
(English and Welsh.) There are 3 churches, 9 stores, and 1
smelting furnace. The country surrounding is well adapted
to farming, and is well watered.
DOUGHERTY, River, rises in York, Green county, and runs southwest,
entering the Peckatonnica, in the south part of the town of Argyle,
Lafayette county.
DOUGLASS, Creek, a small branch from the north, in town 19 N., of
range 5 W.
DOUGLASS, Harbor, on the western shore of Lake Michigan, in town
30, Door county.
DOOR, County, is located between Green Bay and Lake Michigan,
and is bounded on the north and east by the State line of
Michigan, on the south by Kewaunee, and on the west by
Oconto. It was set off from Brown, February 11, 1851. It
then included the present county of Kewaunee, and was attached
to Manitowoc for judicial government. The county seat was established
at Gibralter, on Gibralter Bay, here before known as Bailey's Harbor,
on the west shore of Lake Michigan, in town 30 N., of range 28 E.
Door county is for legislative and county purposes, in connection
with Brown county. It has several small streams emptying into the Bay
and into Lake Superior.
DOOR, Creek,, Dane county, rises in Sun Prairie, and runs south,
emptying into First Lake.
DOOR CREEK, P. O., is on Liberty Prairie, in town of Cottage
Grove, county of Dane, on section 33, town 7 N., of range
11 E. It is 11 miles east of south from Madison, and contains
1 store, 1 hotel, and methodist and presbyterian congregations.
DOTY'S, Island, is between the villages of Menasha and Neenah,
in lake Winnebago, at its outlet. It contains about 750 acres
of land, the residence of Governor Doty.
DOTY's, River, a small tributary of Rock river, which it enters,
in the north part of Dodge county.
DOTYVILLE, P. V., in town of Forest, Fond du Lac county, on
sections 13 and 14.
DOVER, Town, in county of Racine, being town 3 N., of range
20 E.; centrally located, 16 miles west of Racine. The
population in 1850 was 840. It has 5 school districts.
DOVER, P. V., on section 24, town of same name, in Iowa county,
33 miles northeast from Mineral Point, and 27 northwest
from Madison. The location is near the junction of the Blue
Mound and Black Earth rivers, 2 miles above the Wisconsin,
at the crossing of the western thoroughfare to the pinery, and
the eastern thoroughfare from Richland county. Population
100; with 20 dwellings, 2 stores, 1 hotel, 1 flouring mill, a
school house, mechanics of nearly all kinds, and several religious
denominations.
DUCK, Creek, Columbia county, rises in the northeast corner of the
county, and running southwest, enters the Wisconsin about 3
miles below the Portage.
DUCK CREEK, is the outlet of Golden Lake, on the line between
Waukesha and Jefferson counties, and empties into Bark
river about half way between Palmyra and Fort Atkinson.
DUCK, lake, Walworth county, see Como Lake.
DUCK, River, (or Duck Creek of Green Bay), rises in the northwest
corner of the town of Kaukauna, and runs northeast
parallel to the, Neenah, through the Oneida Reservation,
entering Green Bay a few miles below the mouth of the
Oieenah.
DUNDAS, P. O., in Calumet county.
DUNKIRK, P. 0., in Dane county.
DUNKIRK, Town, in couny of Dane, being town 5 N., of range
11 F.; centrally located, 16 miles southeast from Madison.
It has 7 school districts.
DUNKIRK FALLS, Rapids, in the Catfish river, in which the descent
is 6 feet, in a distance of little over a mile.
DUNN, Town, in county of Dane, being town 6 N., of range 10 E.;
centrally located, S miles southeast from Madison. The population
in 1850 was 258. It has 6 school districts.
[ E ]
EAGLE, Town, in the county of Waukesha, being town 15 N., of
range 17 E.; centrally located, 18 miles southwest from
Waukesha. The population in 1850 was 81S6. It has 6 school
districts.
EAGLE, Bay, a bay of Green Bay, about 16 miles northeast from
Sturgeon Bay, extending easterly into Door county.
EAGLE, Creek, rises in the northwest corner of Richland county,
and running southeast enters the Wisconsin, near the fourth
principal meridian.
EAGLE, Creek, a small tributary of the Mississippi, near range line
between ranges 11 and 12 east.
EAGLE, Harbor, western part of Eagle Bay of Green Bay, Door
county.
EAGLE, Lake, is about a mile and a half long, near the centre of
the town of Dover, in Racine county.
EAGLE, Mills, on Eagle creek, about two miles above its mouth.
EAGLE POINT, Town, in county of Portage, being all of same, west
of range 5.
EAGLE, Prairie, a large prairie in the southwest part of town of
same name, in Waukesha county, on which is located a depot
of the Milwaukee and Mississippi railroad.
EAGLEVILLE, P. O., in the southeast corner of the town of Eagle
on section 25, in Waukesha county.
EAST Branch, of the Peckatonica river. See Dodge's branch.
EAST Branch, of the Menomonee river of Milwaukee, which it
enters from the west, in the town of Granville.
EAST FORK, Creek, the northeastern branch of Grant river, rises
in Wingville, Grant county, and runs southwesterly, through
Lancaster, into that river in Beetown.
EAST river (Manitoo or Devil's), Brown county, rises in the south
part of the county, running parallel, on the east, to Fox river,
into which it empties about two miles below the village of
Green Bay.
EAST TROY, P. V., Walworth county, on sections 19, 20, 29 and
30, in town of same name, 12 miles northeast from Elkhorn,
and 73 miles southeast from Madison. It is a beautiful inland
village, in a good farming district, 35 miles southwest
from Milwaukee, and 33 miles northwest from Racine.
Population 400, with 75 dwellings, 5 stores, 2 hotels, 2 mills,
several mechanical shops, a Baptist, Presbyterian and Methodist
denomination.
EAST TROY, Town, in county of Walworth, being town 4 N., of
range 13 E.; centrally located, 13 miles southeast from Elkhorn.
The population in 1850 was 1,318. It has 7 school districts.
EAU PLAINE, P. V., on Wisconsin river, at Dubay's trading post
at the mouth of Little O'Plaine, in northern part of Portage
county.
EDEN, Town, in the county of Fond du Lac, being town 14 N., of
range 18 E.; centrally located, 10 miles southeast from Fond
du Lac. The population in 1850 was 840. It has 8 school
districts.
EDEN, P. 0., in same town, Fond du Lac county.
EDSON, Town, in Manitowoc county. (this may be labeled wrong, likely should be Chippewa county)
EIGHT MILE, Creek, rises in the town of Nekimi, Winnebago
county, and runs westerly into the outlet of Rush lake.
ELBA, P. O., in town of same name, Dodge county.
ELBA, Town, in the county of Dodge, being town 10 N., of range
13 E.; centrally located, 12 miles southwest from Juneau.
The population in 1850 was 1,548. It has 7 school districts.
EL DORADO, Town, in the county of Fond du Lac, being town 16
N., of range 16 E.; centrally located, 7 miles northwest from
Fond du Lac. The population in 1850 was 504.
EL DORADO, P. O., in town of same name, Fond du Lac county.
ELK, P. O., in Bad Ax county.
ELK, River, a branch from the north, of Chippewa river, rises in
town 26 N., of range 11 W.
ELK GROVE, P. O., in town of same name, Lafayette county.
ELK GROVE, Town, in Lafayette county.
ELKHART, Lake (Big), in the town of Rhine, Sheboygan county, on
sections 29 and 30 of town 16 N., of range 21 E.
ELKHART, Lake (Little), on sections 33 and 34, of town 16, of range
2 E.
ELKHART, P. V., Sheboygan county, on section 31, in the town of
Rhine, town 16 N., of range 21 east, 20 miles northwest from
Sheboygan.
ELKHORN, P. V.. and C. I., Walworth county, on section 36, town
3 N., of range 13 E., at the geographical centre of the county.
It is in town of same name, 65 miles southeast from Madison.
Population 250, with 60 dwellings, 4 stores, 2 hotels, steam
mill, various mechanical shops, and 4 religious denominations.
ELKHORN, Town, in county of Walworth, comprising section 1,
town 2 N., of section 36 of town 3, range 16 E., and section
6, of town 2, and section 31 of town 3 N., of range 17 E. It
is the county seat. The population is 600.
ELLENBORO', P. V., Grant county, on section 28, in the town of
highland, town 4 N., of range 2 W.; 7 miles southeast from
Lancaster, and 95 miles southwest from Madison. It is located
on Platte river, about half way between Platteville and Lancaster,
on the mail route from Galena to the Upper Mississippi, and is in
a good farming district, with excellent water power, with
considerable vacant land, and unimproved hydraulic power.
Population 51, 7 dwellings, 1 store, 1 hotel, 2 mills, and a
blacksmith and carpenter's shop.
ELLENBORO', Town, (recently south half of Highland), in county of
Grant, being town 4 N., of range 2 W.; centrally located 8
miles southeast from Lancaster.
ELLINGTON, P. V., in county of Outagamie, on section 20, of town
22 N., of range 16 E.; 13 miles northwest from Grand Chute,
130 miles northeast from Madison. It is located on the road
from Green Bay (36 miles) to Plover Portage (70 miles). It
is 28 miles from Oshkosh, and 35 miles from Lake Shawanaw.
Population 150, with 35 dwellings, 2 mills, 2 hotels and several
religious denominations.
ELLINGTON, Town, in county of Outagamie, being towns 23 and
24 N., of range 16 E.; centrally located, 20 miles northwest
from Grand Chute. It has 3 school districts.
EMPARRASS, Town, in county of Waupacca, being towns 23, 24 and
25 N., of range 14 E.; centrally located, north from Mukwa.
EMARRASS, River, see Bad or Mannaise river of La Pointe county.
EMERALD GROVE, P. V., in town of Bradford, Rock county.
EMMET, P. O., in town of same name, Dodge county.
EMMET, Town,, ill county of Dodge, being town 9 N., of range
15 E.; centrally located, 12 miles south from Juneau. The
population in 1 850 was 1,207. It has 7 school districts.
EMPIRE, Town, in county of Fond du Lac, being town 15 N., range
18 E.; centrally located, 6 miles southeast from Fond du Lac.
ENGLISH, Lake, a small lake in the northwest corner of town 18
N., of range 23 E.
EOLIA, P.O., in Dane county.
ERIN, Town, in county of Washington, being town 9 N, of range
18 E.; centrally located, 26 miles southwest from Ozaukee.
The population in 1850 was 849. It has 5 school districts.
ERVANDIGO, River, a tributary, from the north, of St. Croix river,
in La Pointe county.
EUREKA, P. V., in Winnebago county, on section 28, town 18 N.,
range 14 E., in town of Rushford, 16 miles west from Oshkosh,
and 70 miles northeast from Madison. It is beautifully
situated on the southern shore of Fox river, surrounded by a
rich farming country, and possesses plenty of lime stone,
sand, clay and timber, for building purposes. The settlement
was first commenced in 1850. Population 70, with 14 dwellings,
2 stores, 1 hotel, 1 mill, and various mechanical shops.
EVANSVILLE, P. V., on Allen's creek, section 27, town 4 N., range
10 E., in Rock county, 18 miles northwest from Janesville,
and 23 miles southeast from Madison. It has a population of
about 200 temperate and industrious people, with 25 dwellings,
2 stores, 1 hotel, 2 mills, 1 machine, 1 waggon, 1 shoe,
and 1 blacksmith's shop; 1 meeting house, and two religious
denominations, and a large and commodious school house. The
Madison and Beloit railroad is located through this place.
EVERFLOWING, River, a tributary from the north of the St. Croix
river, in the western part of La Pointe county.
EXETER, P. V., Green county, on section 33 of town of same
name, being town 4 N., of range 8 E., 16 miles northeast
from Monroe, and 24 miles southwest from Madison. Population
105, with 22 dwellings, 2 stores, 2 hotels, and 6 religious
denominations. The principal occupation of the inhabitants
is mining.
EXETER, Town, in the county of Green, being town 4 N., of range
8; centrally located, 15 miles northeast from Monroe. The
population in 1850 was 450. It has 6 school districts.
[ F ]
FAIRFIELD, P. O., (Maxson's Mill), in town of Bradford, county of
Rock, on section 13, town 2 N., of range 15 E. It is 11 miles
southeast from county seat, and 50 miles east of south from
Madison. Population 100, 12 dwellings, 2 stores, 1 grist mill,
and Presbyterian and Baptist denominations. It is on Turtle
creek, 16 miles from Beloit, and on the county line between
Rock and Walworth, 9 miles from the state line. The first
settler was Joseph Maxson.
FAIRPLAY, P. V., in Grant county, on section 25, in the town of
Jamestown, town 1 N., of range 2 W., in a good mineral and
farming district; 30 miles southeast from Lancaster, 12 miles
northwest from Galena, 6 miles northeast from Dubuque,
and 85 miles southwest from Madison. Population 800,
with 110 dwellings, 2 stores, 2 hotels, 1 church and 3 religious
denominations. A Roman Catholic college is located at this
place.
FAIR PLAY, Diqgings, on section 25, town 1 N., of range 1 W., in
Grant county.
FAIRWATER, P. V., Fond du Lac county, on section 31, town 15
N., of range 14 E.; being in the town of Metomon, 22 miles
west from Fond du Lac, and 65 miles northeast from Madison.
It is situated on the road from Watertown to Ceresco
and Berlin, in a fine and healthy section, of good farming
land, on the north branch of Grand river. It has two good
water powers, one of which is improved by a fine flouring
mill; the other is unimproved, with 28 feet head, and
sufficient water for three run of stone. Population 40, 5
dwellings, 1 store, and 1 hotel.
FALLEN ROCKS, on the Wisconsin, a few miles below Helena, in
Iowa county, where the river has undermined the rocks about
200 feet long.
FALL RIVER, P. V., Columbia county, in the town of Fountain
Prairie, on section 26, town 11 N., of range 12; 25 miles east
of southeast from Portage City, and the same distance north
east from on Madison. It has an excellent water power, with a
fal1, of 16 feet. on which is a good saw and flouring mill, being
the best hydraulic power in the vicinity. Population 175,
with 35 dwellings, 3 stores, 1 hotel, 2 mills, 3 religious
denominations, and a good school house.
FALLS OF ST. CROIX, P. V., and C. H., on St. Croix river, in town
34, Polk county.
FALLS OF ST. CROIX, Town, in county of Polk, comprising the same.
FARMER's GROVE, P. O., in town of York, Green county, being
town 4 N., of range 6 E.
FARMERSVILLE, P. O., in Dodge county.
FARMINGTON, Town, in county of Washington, being township 12
N., of range 20 E.; centraly located, 15 miles northwest from
Ozaukee. Population in 1850 was 501. It has 9 school districts.
FARMINGTON, Town, in county of Jefferson, being town 7 N., of
range 15 E.; centrally 1ocated, 8 miles northeast from Jefferson.
The population is 900. It has 6 school districts. The
surface is rolling, with heavy timber and good springs, and
small streams of water. The soil on the high land is mostly
a clay loam, in the vallies a black, vegetable and sandy loam,
with subsoil of clay. The timber is mostly maple, basswood,
oak, elm, walnut, and ash.
FAMMINGTON, P. O., Jefferson county, on section 14 of town of
same name, being town 7 N., of range 15 E.; 11 miles north east
from Jefferson, 38 miles east from Madison, midway between Milwaukee
and Madison, via Aztalan and Concord.
FARWELL'S Addition to MADISON, is on the northeast side of the
Catfish, and is laid out into lots of an acre each, conspicuous
to the business portion of the village.
FARWELL'S Mill, a small settlement on the Catfish river, near
Madison. At this place is the best flouring mill in the State,
with 8 run of stone; also a good saw mill, woollen factory,
brewery, and several mechanical shops.
FAYETTE, P. V., La Fayette county, on section 8, town 3 N., of
range 4 E.; 18 miles northeast from Shullburg, and 50 miles
southwest from Madison, in a good mineral region. Population 100,
30 dwellings, 2 st, res, 2 mills, I hotel, and 1 Methodist and
1 F. W. Baptist denomination.
FAYETTE, Town, in Lafayette county.
FENNIMNORE, P. V., in town of same name, town 6 N., of range 2
W., Grant county.
FENNIMORE, Town, in county of Grant, being all south of the
Wisconsin river of towns 6 and 7 N., of ranges 2, 3 and 4, and
fractional town 8 N., of range 3 W. It is centrally located,
12 miles north from Lancaster. It has 9 school districts.
FENNIMORE FORK, River, a branch from the south of Blue river,
Grant county.
FEVRE, River, rises near Belmont, Lafayette county, and running
southe,ly, through Galena, into the Mississippi, 7 miles below
that place.
FILLMIORE, P. V., in town of Farmington, Washington county,
being in 12 N., of range 20 E.
FIRST, Lake, the lowest of the chain of Four lakes, in the towns
of Dunn and Pleasant Springs, Dane county, 12 miles south east
from Madison. It has an area of five square miles.
FISH, Lake, a small lake in the northeast corner of Deerfield, Dane
county.
FISK's, Corners, P. V., Winnebago county, on section 11, town 17
N., of range 15; it is 8 miles from Oshkosh, and 90 miles from
Madison. Population 600, 100 dwellings, and 2 hotels.
FITCHBURG, P. V., in town of same name, formerly Greenfield, on
section 33, town 6 N., of range 9 E. It is an excellent region
of farming land, 10 miles south from Madison, on stage route
to Janesville. It has 1 hotel, 2 stores, a school-house, meeting-house,
3 religious denominations, 15 dwellings, and 80 inhabitants.
FITCHBURG, Town, Dane county, town 6, range 9 E., late Greenfield.
FLAMBEAU, Lake, in latitude nearly 46°, the outlet running north
to nearly the state line, thence southwest into the Chippewa.
FLEMING, Creek, a small tributary of Black river, from the south east,
into which it empties in town 18 N., of range 6 W.
FLORA, Town, in county of Sauk; centrally located, northeast
from Baraboo. It has 3 school districts.
FLORENCE, P.O., in town of Portage Prairie, Columbia county, on
section 6, town 12 N., of range 12 E., at head of Duck Creek.
FOND DU LAC, City. This place was one of the earliest located
towns in Wisconsin, a paper city, laid out and platted several
years in advance of the progress of civilization. But the past
ten years has wrought a change which few Western towns
can rival. The city is located at the head of Lake Winnebago,
on section 10, town 15, of range 17 E. The principal business
portion is situated about three-quarters of a mile from
the lake, on the Fond du Lac river, whose mouth forms
a convenient port of entry for the steam boats and other
water crafts which run between this place, Oshkosh, Wolf
river; and Upper and Lower Fox rivers. The river, at the
upper part of the city and a short distance above, furnishes
several very fair mill powers for the manufacture of lumber,
flour, &c. and on which an oil mill is also being erected. The
principal part of the city is built upon a level prairie on the
east side of the river. On the west side was formerly a beautiful
sugar maple grove, which affords one of the most
inviting and pleasant retreats that could well be desired, and
in which are erected a large number of private residences,
which are destined to be the most desirable in the city. The
place is backed up and sustained by one of the richest and
most productive farming counties in the State. One of the
most inviting features of this place, is the pure water with
which it is supplied, from the large nuimber of never-failing
fountains, or artesian wells, which brings the water to the
surface of the earth, and yields a most bounitiful supply of
as pure water as can be found in the State, and to which
may be attributed, in a great degree, the extensive healthfulness
of the place. The streets are wide, the lots of convenient size,
and laid out with much uniformity and taste — with several public
squares, which, when properly improved,
will add much to the beauty of the place. About 3 miles of
double plank road has been constructed within the limits of
of the city. A large amount of money has also been expended in
building side-walks throughout the entire city,
which are mostly of plank, and of very convenient width.
The present population of the city is estimated at about
4,000, and is rapidly increasing by the influx of business
men,and capitalists from the East. It was first incorporated
as a village in 1847, and a city charter granted in the winter
of 1852. There are in the city 9 hotels, 2 exchange or banking
houses, 12 dry goods, l0 grocery and provision, 4 clothing,
4 wine and liquor, 8 boot and shoe, 2 hat and cap, 4 harness
and leather, 3 stove and tin ware, and 1 iron and hardware
stores; 2 jeweller, 5 cabinet, 5 blacksmith, 3 paint, 2 gun,
3 waggon, and 3 milliner shops; 4 warehouses, 4 lumber
yards, 5 saloons, 3 livery stables, 6 bakeries, 1 foundry,
3 sash and blind factories, 4 meat markets; 1 cigar,, 1 car,
and 1 cradle manufactory; 1 book bindery, 2 planing mills,
3 nursery establishments, 1 auction store, 2 dacuerrean
galleries, 3 printing offices, 16 law offices, 9 physicians and
surgeons, 3 barber's shops. In addition to these, there are a
large number of small establishments, where various kinds of
business are carried on with great success. There are 7 religious
denominations.
FOND DU LAC, County, is bounded on the north by Winnebago and
Calumet, on the east by Calumet and Sheboygan, on the south
by Washington and Dodge, and on thle west by Marquette and
portions of Dodge and Winnebago. Its name is derived from
its locality, being at the "end of the lake." It was established
December 7, 1836, and set off from Brown, to which it remained
attached until Marchl 11, 1839, when it was organized for county
purposes. The seat of justice is at the city of Fond du Lac, at
the head of Lake Winnebago. This county is generally well watered
with springs, brooks, and small streams of pure water. The largest
streams in the western part of the county are the two branches of
the Rock river; one flowing eastwardly through the towns of Alto
and Waupun, and the other rising in Metomon, and flowing southwardly
through Springvale and the eastern part of Waupun. There are also
the two branches of Fond du Lac river (the east and west); the one
rising in the town of Rosendale, and passing through a portion of
Eldorado and Lamartine, and the other (the east) rising from small
streams and springs in the towns of Lamartine, Oakfield, and Byron,
and passing through the town of Fond du Lac, unites with its west
branch within the city, about a mile from lake Winnebago. There is
also another beautiful stream, known as the Chrystal Creek, (or the
Green lake inlet), passing westwardly through the town of Ceresco
into Marquette county, affording, at the villages of Ripon and
Ceresco, some of the best water power in the county; and also Grand
river, which rises and runs southwesterly through Metomon, affording
excellent water power at the village of Fairwater. In the eastern and
southern portions of the county are several small lakes and numerous
streams, also affording good water power. The most northerly branch
of the Milwaukee river rises in a small lake in the town of Eden, within
about eight miles of Winnebago lake, and flows southerly through the
town of Auburn, where there are numerous water powers. Another fine
stream rises in Dodge county, and flows eastwardly through the town
of Ashford, and unites with the last mentioned stream near the south
line of Auburn. The east branch of the Milwaukee river rises by separate
branches in the towns of Empire and Forest, and flows through the town
of Osceola, passing through Long Lake, and affording excellent water
power at its outlet. It is worthy of remark that the lake in Eden, which
gives origin to the Milwaukee river, is also the source of a small stream
running northwardly into lake Winnebago, and is within a mile or so of the
source of the Sheboygan river, which runs north and eastwardly through the
towns of Forest and Kossuth; affording, also, more or less water power to
those towns. In the northeast part of the county, in the town of Taycheedah,
and within 3 miles of lake Winnebago, arises the southerly branch of Manitowoc
river, which runs northeasterly through the town of Calumet into the
county of that name. In addition to these, there are numerouts small streams
and branches of the above mentioned rivers, watering almost every portion of
the county. Water powers are already improved in the city and town of Fond
du Lac, in Ceresco, the village of Ripon, Metomon, Eldorado, Oakfield, Alto,
Waupun, Ashford, Auburn, Osceola, Empire, and Forest. The soil of the county
is somewhat diversified. The eastern and southeastern portions being mostly
heavy timbered land, having a dark, rich soil in the bottoms, and fine
gravelly ridges upon the swells. In the western portion, which is composed
of small prairies and openings, and indeed in the whole open portion of the
country, which comprises more than two-thirds of the whole area, the soil
is an argillaceous loam, moderately mixed with sand and lime, resting on a
thin layer of limestone much broken, and occasionally interspersed with knobs
of drift gravel. Underlaying a considerable portion of the whole is a red sandstone,
which occasionally outcrops in ravines. On many of the highest points of the
prairies and openings, in the towns of Ceresco, Metomon, Waupun, Lamartine, Oakfield,
Byron, Empire, Taychleedah, and Calumet, the limestone comes to the surface,
affording thle best of material for building and fencing; and in many places
furnishiing the most beautiful flaggirng stones of any thickness, from one inch
to ten, of a texture nearly as fine and compact as marble. The face of
the country is gently rolling,, and from the quality of the soil, the county
is well adapted to all the more northern product; one of agrieulture. The
peculiar geographical position of this country, embracing nearly the southern
half of Winnebago lake, which is connected with the great lakes by Fox river
and Green Bay, and being, within some thirty-five miles of lake Michligan,
at Sheboygan, as well as thle character of its soil, renders it one of the
most important inland counties. Fond du Lae county forms a part of the fourth
judicial circuit, and of the the third congressional district. It constitutes
the twentieth senatorial district, and is divided into four assembly districts,
as follows: 1st. Ceresco, Metomon, Alto, Waupun, Springvale, and Rosendale. 2d. Byron,
Eden, Osceola, Ashford, and Auburn. 3d. Eldorado, Lamartine, Oakfield, Friendship,
Fond du Lac, and the city of Fond du Lac. 4th. Calumet, Forest, Taycheedah, Kossuth,
and Empire. The population in 1840 was 139; 1842, 295; 1846, 3.514; 1847, 7,459.
Dwellings, 2,722; farms, 1,073; manufactories, 16. County Officers for 1853 and 1854:
County Judge, C. l. Tompkins; Sheriff, Robert Jenkinsorn; Clerk of Court,
John J. Driggs; Register of Deeds, Randolph Ebert; Clerk of Board of
Supervisors, A. W. Paine; County Treasurer, O. S. Wright.
FOND DU LAC, Town, in county of same name, being town 15 N.,
of range 17 E. It is the seat of justice of the county.
Population in 1850 was 2,016. It has 6 school districts.
FOND DU LAC, City, see Appendix.
FOND DU LAC, River, rises in Oakfield, Fond du Lac county, and
runs northeast, emptying, into lake Winnebago, at Fond du
Lac city.
FORT ATKINSON, P. V., on section 3, town 5 N., of range 14 E.,
Jefferson county, being in the town of Koskonong, at the
junction of Bark with Rock river. It is 6 miles south of
Jefferson, and 32 miles southeast from Madison. It derives
its name from General Atkinson, who built a temporary fort
at this place duing the Black Hawk war —-hence its name.
Population 350, with 70 dwellings, 8 stores, 3 hotels, 1 steam
saw mill, 3 tailors, 2 shoe, 3 blacksmiths, 2 cooper, and 1
cabinet shops. 1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist church.
FORT CRAWFORD, formerly a military station near Prairie du
Chien, in Crawford county, about 540 miles above St. Louis.
FORT HOWARD, formerly a military station at mouth of Fox river,
see Fort Howard village.
FORT HOWARD, Village, is situated on the west side of the Fox
river, near its mouth, opposite to the old town of Green Bay.
The site of the village of Fort Howard was purchased and
surveyed into village lots by Joel S. Fisk and the Hon.
Urial H. Peak, in the spring of 1850, since which there has
been a rapid growth and settlement of the place, and it bids
fair to become one of considerable commercial importance. It
derived its name from being situated immediately in the
vicinity of Old Fort Howard, a military post of considerable
notoriety. The village contains some four or five hundred
inhabitants; it has several stores, three public houses, a large
foundry and machine shop which gives employment to some
thirty or forty workmen; there is also in the course of erection
two steam saw mills, together with shops for various
mechanical purposes. The soil on which the village is located
is alluvial, on a clay subsoil, and is well adapted to gardening
and the growth of fruit trees and shrubs; it possesses a back
country of very considerable extent, which is rapidly filling
up with an intelligent, industrious and go-a-head population;
and although the pioneer settler is under the necessity of
undergoing the fatigue and labor incident to the settlement
and clearing up of a heavy timbered country, yet when it is
brought under a state of proper cultivation it will not be
surpassed by any section of the state in fertility of soil,
and all the other appendages which make a country desirable
for farming purposes.
FORT WINNEBAGO, P. O., at the old military station of same name,
at the Portage of Fox and Wisconsin rivers, near Portage
city.
FORT WINNEBAGO, Town, in county of Columbia, being town 13 N.,
of range 9 E. Population in 1850 was 1,642. It has 11 school
districts.
FORREST, Town, in county of Fond du Lac, being town 15 N., of
range 19 E.; centrally located, 12 miles east from Fond du
Lac. The population in 1850, as then organized, was 1,218.
It has 8 school districts.
FOUNTAIN, Prairie, is the name of a large prairie south and west
of Columbus, in Columbia county.
FOUNTAIN PRAIRIE, Town, in county of Columbia, being 11 N., of
range 12 E.; centrally located, 23 miles from Portage city.
The population in 1850 was 546. It has 5 school districts.
This is an excellent farming town, and has a good water power
at Fall river, with a mill capable of making 500 barrels of
flour per week.
FOURTH, Lake, adjoining and north and northwest of Madison, is
the uppermost and largest of the Pour Lakes. It has an area
of nearly 16 square miles. Its diameter is 6 miles, and its
periphery 194. It is also called Mendota.
FOWL, River, (Sand Creek), a tributary from the north of St. Croix
river, in the west part of La Pointe county.
FOX, Lake, (Waushara), in town of same name, in northwest
corner of Dodge county, is three miles long and two wide. It
is of an oval form, and discharges its waters into the Crawfish
river, through Beaver Dam creek.
FOX LAKE, P. V., see Waushara.
FOX LAKE, Town, (formerly Waushara), in county of Dodge, being
north half of town 12, and town 13 N., range of 13 E.; centrally
located, 14 miles northwest from Juneau. The population in 1850
was 856. It has 6 school districts.
FOX, River, of Illinois, (Pishtaka), rises in the north part of
Waukesha county, and running south through the counties of
Waukesha, Racine, and Kenosha, into the State of Illinois,
discharges its waters into the Illinois river at Ottawa, Lasalle
county.
FOX, River, of Green Bay, (Neenah), rises near the middle of the
town of Randolph, being in the northeast corner township of
Columbia county, runs southwesterly to the Portage, where
its course is turned to the northeast, passing through extensive
marshes, covered with wild rice. It enters on the west
side of Lake Winnebago, at Oshkosh, and forms the outlet of
the same lake, which it leaves on either side of Doty's island,
Menasha on the north, and Neenah on the south. Below the
lake it has a succession of rapids as far down as Depere, 7
miles above its outlet, into Green Bay.
FRANKLIN, Town, in county of Milwaukee, being town 5 N., of
range 21 E.; centrally located, 12 miles southwest from
Milwaukee. The population in 1850 was 1,246. It has nine
school districts.
FRANKLIN, P. T., Milwaukee county, in town of same name, on
section 7, town 5 N., of range 21 E., 12 miles southwest to
Milwaukee, and 80 miles east from Madison. It is beautiully
located, 2 miles south of the Milwaukee and Janesville plank
road, and three miles northeast from Muskego lake. Population
60; with 17 dwellings, 2 stores, and 2 hotels.
FRANCIS CREEK, P. 0., in Manitowoc county.
FREDONIA, Town, in county of Washington, being town 12 N.,
of range 21 E.; centrally located, 9 miles northwest from
Ozaukee. The population in 1850 was 672. It has 9 school
districts.
FREDONIA, P. 0., in county of Washington, being town 12 N., of
range 21 E.; centrally located, 9 miles northwest from Ozaukee.
FREEDOM, P. O., in Sauk county.
FREEDOM, Town, in county of Outgamie, being all of said county,
not included in the Oneida Reservation, in towns 22 and 23
N., of range 18 and 19 E; centrally located, 15 miles north
east from Grand Clhute. It has two school districts.
FREEDOM, Town, in county of Sauk, located west from Baraboo. It
has 5 school districts.
FREMONT, P. V., in Waupacca county, being on section 25, town
21 N., of range 13 E.; it is 11 miles southwest from Mukwa.
Population 50; 12 dwellings, 2 sto,es, and 1 hotel. It is
situated on the left bank of the Wolf river; is a steam boat
landing, and the only feasible crossing on the river in the
route from Menasha to Plover Portage.
FRENCH, Creek, in Columbia county, a small tributary of the Fox
or Neenah river, from the east, in Port Hope.
FRENCH, Creek, a branch from the east of Little Platte river, in the
towns of Paris and Smeltzer.
FRIENDSHIP, Town, in county of Fond du Lac, being town 16 N.,
of range 17 E. The population is 415. It has 5 school districts.
FRIENDSHIP, P.O., in county of Fond du Lac, being town 16 N.,
of range 17 E; centrally located, 6 miles north from Fond
du Lac city.
FELTON, P. V., in town of same name, Rock county, on section
7, town 4 N., of range 12 E.
FULTON, Town, in county of Rock, being town 4 N., of range 12
E.; centrally located, 10 miles north from Janesville. The
population in 1850 was 1828. It has 7 school districts.
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