Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1846-01-20
DELAY

This town was cigistened ssDcla van. - az
Ter the we'll known temperance relormer.
Edward c. Delavan Of the State Of N. Ys,k
and was first organized BY an act Of the Leg
stature passed March 6-ls39.
This town is situated 10 miles west &c
Racine, and As miles Sos,h-wes Of Mil
waukic.
Delavan Prairie, Oh tho western mart oc
lslkhom Prairie, covers nearly one third Of
this town. The soil is probably ao4 ssarpas-
scd in the Territory. Turtle Lake, is site,
ated in the NJ w. part Of the town. end
covers about l5eO acres. Delavsn Lake =
situated in the Southern part ofshs town end
covers about 900 acres.
This Lake was called Tar,lu Lake BY tho
original Surveyors, bu. as here was smother
Lake ia the town of the same name, Il WAS
dropped BY the first settlers. From the facs
Of Samuel Phoenix having sedn rcsJ largo
Swan upon the Lake, it was called Swsn
Lake, but having ascertained that thoro b
another Lake by that name in the Territory
il was altered 10 "Dslavan Lake." and Is
50 called By most Of ,hc inhabitants Of that
town a, the present time.
Turtle Crelk, heads in TuIile Lake, runs
in Souiher'y direction nearly to the VIII
lage, thence half through the .own Of Dari.
en-, whence il takes a soulherly course aud
emp;;es into Rock River al Beloi:.
Deavan Creek is the outlet OF Delagan
lake and forms a junction with Turtle creek
near the village of Delavan.
In lS3S, Il dam VS. thrown across this
Creek about three fouiths of a mile below
the Lake. by Samuel and Henry Phoenix,
and saw mill erected. The dam raised
the water about feet over the whole sur.
face of Delayan lake.
The same proprietors also commenced the
erection ola Touring mill near the Village,
the same year, but suspended operations
until after the land sale in February 1889.
1t was again resumed, and finally completed
i'll $50. at a cos; of about So 900.
The Touring mill contains two run Of
stones, and is three stories high. Sometime
in 1913 the mills and waterpower passe in.
to the hands of G. Croswell, who is UNDER
stood 10 be the present proprietor.
Some two years since Mr.. Croswcll mado
dam across Turtle Creek about 20 rods
above its junction with Dolevan Creek, and
by digging race 60 rods long, carried tho
waters of Turtle into Delayan creek short
stance ebove the Touring mill, thereby
adding very much 10 the waterpower at that
place.
In The Spring and Summer Of 1910, Mr..
Edward Norris commenced and erected tho
store now occupied by MIR. Caleb Croswe,l
and during the same time the present Del
AVIAN House was erected by Israel Stowell.
In July lsll, Col Henry Phoenix caused
to be laid out and Surveyed on Section IL,
the Village of Delavan.
The Village at the present time has six
Blacksmths, 2 Whcelwrighs, . Saddle end
Harness makers, Sash maker, 8 Carpcn-
tiers and Joiners, tanning Mill shop, two
Painters,2 Cabinet makers,0 Boot 81 Shoe
makers, 2 Tailors,3 Physcians,5 Lawyers,
2 Land Surveyors, 6 Dry Goods Stores, z
Groceries, Tavern, Plough Factory, 8
Ministers of The Gospel-l Babtis, 2 Pres
bylerian, | Methodist, and one Episcopali-
ans Meeting houses, ) regularly organ
lied Churches. 43 Dwelling houses, 63
families and about four bundled inhabi'
itants.