The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1868-02-20
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Early Settle inens of the town Bristol.

present. Io"u VI DIiSloI, udleS DacK 10 TIC
year 1886, when Nm r. Higgins made
the first land claim. The first farm opened
in the 10 WI, was by Rollin futile, who in.
the spring of 1886, commenced working
his land. claim, by plowing. the prairie aud
planting and sowing At the time Mr.
Tuttle moved on to his claim, there were
but few families in the region; there were a
few on the Lake Shore. During the first
four months after Mr.. Tuttle took up bis
abode on his land, Mrs futile saw no FEM
ale neighbor or stranger. VIM. Etheredge,
Joel Walker, Geo. Nixon, i. Epson and
prehaps some others moved into the town
in 1886. In 1897 there were larger num-
Der of families, who moved into the town,
among which were Levi Grant A. r.
WILDER, G. G. Getting, Charles Jennings.
Mr.. William Tuttle was the first white
child born in the township. The first death
which occurred in the town, was the dsugh
ter Of Mr.. Eliza Phillips, aged about years,
she was buried the 28th of July 1887. Rev.
Abner Barlow preached his funeral sermon
the words: 'But say unto you brethren
the time is short" This was the first ser
mon preached in the town. On the 9th of
October 1887 Rev. Mr.. Barlow preached al
persons. This was the first regular Sab,
bath Eseryice held in the town; at that time
an appointment was made for regular
preaching on the sabbath every two weeks.
Arrangement was also made for holding
prayer meetings alternately at the houses
of A. B Jackson, L. Grant and s. S. Fow
Ter.
On the 7th of March 1888 Rev. O. F. Cur
tbs from Southport (Kenoshal preached at
the houseof A. B. jackson, and formed a
Methodist Society, or class; This vas the
first religious organization in the town
ship. The next minister who preached in
Bristol was Rev. Salmon Stebbins; The
same year Rev. Mr. Cad 'ell, a Congrega-
t;onalist, preeched at the house of S S Fow-
Ter. The first school taught in the town
was in 1888 by S. S; Fowler, who erect
cd building for school purposes as a pri-
vate enterprise with the intention Of ulti-
mately having it grow into an academical
institution of learning This school in the
course of few years became of considera-
Gle Importance, and attracted students from
neighboripg towns. The failure of Mr.
Fowler's health, arrested the progress Of the
school.
In July 1887 Rev Jason Lothrop survey
ed the road running from Southport to Gen
eva, This was the first road surveyed, run
west from Southport. Mr.. S. S. Fowler
and A. 3. Jackson were the chain bearers
from the Lake to tie 0 Plain, at which
place Gen. Bullen from Salem wittssii a party
of men met the surveyor, and assisted II
running qhe road west to GeDeva.o'
In December 1887, a meeting was held
at the house of A. B. jackson, at which a
petition was drawn up for mail route
from Southport (Kenosha) to Geneva. Al
this meeting a vote was taken to name the
town, the vote was taken by ballot, ma
iority voted to call the town Bristol. A
post Office bearing the name Of the town
was soon after established, and commenced
business in 1889. A. g. jackson was APP
| ~ LDl1 tha off fpT
some years, subsequently Rollin futile was
appointed Postmaster and kept the office
at the house of Mr.. jackson.
In December 1889 at a meeting at the
house of S. S. Fowler, the Bristol Lyceum
was organized; Salmon Epson held the
position of President of the Lyceum, H. A..
Newbury Vice Pres and A. B. Jackson Sec
rotary This Lyceum was continued DUR
ing the winter seasons for several years,
and furnished the means for instructive en-
tertainmont for the early settlers. The
first town meeting held in the town was at
the house of A. r. WILDER. The first meet
ing house erected in the town, was the church
edifice known as Wesley Chaple on Walkers
Prairie The first distinct school house
was at Noxons Corners, long known as the
''red school house, S. S. Fowler, built
the first frame house and the first frame
barn, Mr.. Fowler and Mr.. Getting, built
saw mill the anne year. Mr. Fowler
planted the first nursery; set out the first
peach and apple orchard; he brought the
seeds from Northford, Con. The apple or
chard is now in good condition and thriv-
ing. Mrs. S. S. Fowler was the first fem
ale teacher in the town. A. B. jackson
built the first tavern, and also opened the
first store.
The first town meeting held after organi-
cation of the town. was on the first Tues
day of April 1912, at the school house near
Kingmans P. Judson was chosen moder-
ator; L. Grant, Sec'y, John D. Benedict,
Ira Pierce and S. f. Tarbell Supervisors,
the former chairman. Levi Grant Town
Clerk; d. Williams Treasurer; Joel Walker
S. Epson, Assessors; RoIin futile, CoIlec-
tor; Rollin futile, G, Dayton and j Burt
Constables; F. j. Jackson, seaIer of weights
and measures W. R. Higgins, VIM. Knight
NJ. Tourtlott, Fence Viewers Serene Fow
Ter, P. Judson and Ira Pierce, school com
missioners.
The second annual town meeting for the
town, was held at the house of Northrop
jackson, April 4th 1843: at that meeting
1t was voted to raise $50, to purchase three
lots in different parts of the town for bur-
lal purposes-north, west and SOUTH The
committee appointed to locate these lots,
were J.. Grant, E Phillips and R. Bonner
for tho