Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-04-05
PIONEERS OF STARK TOWN,


Star.
Stark is bounded on the north by the
town OF Whitestown, on the east by
Union. on the south by Richlapd coun-
to-, and on the west by the town of
Webster. Its territory comprises town
ship ID, range 2 west. The Kickapoo
river flows through the town, entering
it's domain on section 3, and leaves from
section 81, into the town of Webster
This stream furnishes good water power
on section 20, which is well utilizad.
The Kickapoo has several small tribu-
taries taking their rise 10 different parts
of the town. Among these are jug
greek and Webster creek. The former
c6mes in from the town of Union and
unites on section 8; the latter enters
from Whitestown and makes a copfiu-
ence with the main stream on section
Bear creek also flows from Union town
and empties into the river proper on
section 30, where another fine water
power is obtainable. Otter creek, an
other little creek, Bows from the town
of Webster and joins the river on sec
ton 30. These sire ANS are spring
brooks, of the purest water ard are per
fectly clear; many of them contain fish.
While the topography of this town, in
common with that of the entire county
is quite broken and billy, yet it is as
good farming section as Vernon coun-
ty affords.
The earliest settlement in the town of
Stark was made in 1858, by the follow
ing: Chauncv w. Lawton, who came
from Kickspoo Center and settled on
section 20. John Anderson, native of
Scotland, came in the spring of the year
and entered land on section 20, which
included the water power. Among the
few that came during 1854 was P. ORR
son, who entered land on section 90, for
his father, and on section IL for him
self. He remained on his land about
ten years and moved into the town of
Webster, whore he purchased mill.
Jessie Orrison, father of p. Orrison,
came in 1854, from Perry county, Ohio,
and located on section 90, where he re-
manned till the time of his death, in
1862; his wife died in 1880. Every
locke, native OF Virginia, settled in
The town, on the northeast quarter of
section Sc. in 1854, where he resided
until 1857, and removed to Missouri,
where he was afterward killed by his
son, who led baad of confederate guer-
illas.
In 1856, Henry Smith, of Ohio, set
tied on section 10. Eli McVey settled
in the town in 1854, on land near Rock
ton. John B. Lease came in from
Greene county in 1856, and located on
the northwest quarter of section Sc,
where he lived until 1877, when he sold
out and moved to Turner county, Da-
kota. Peter Smith, of New Jersey,
came in 1865, from near viroqua, and
settled on section 8, where he remained
until his death, in June, 1880. Benja-
N in Bahr and Adam Bryan also settled
in 1856, the former on section 2, and the
latter on section 3, where they i'm
proved their lands and remained till
1875. when they sold out and moved to
Iowa. Thomas De Jear came from
New York to Waukesha county, but
soon removed to section 20, in Stark
He arrived some time during the spring
or summer of 1855, having entered land
in 1853. He erected saw mill and
little later built grist mill. He died
in 1877. George Waits was another
settler of 1856 He settled on section
2, where he cleared up farm. He re-
NAMED there until 1861. when he sold
ont and moved to Michigan, and later
he removed to Laport, Iowa, where he
engaged in the mercantile business
Elliot Benson, a native of Massachu-
sets, came from Greene county, in 1855,
and settled or section 35, where be re-
manned until 1879, when he moved
west. David Simons. of Ohio, settled
on the northwest quarter of section 26,
in 1856. He remained five or six years
and moved to Nebrs "a, and later re.
moved to Oregon. E. Dalton, of Mary
land, came in 1855 and settled on sec
ton 5.
Among the settlers of 1856 were:
Joseph r Bean, E. Potter, Joseph Par
ker and John Barga. Joseph r Bean
came from Virginia and locate d in I'LL
nois, and in 1856 came to the southeast
quarter of section "a. Afterward he
moved to Union town, where he died in
1868. Il. Potter moved from Vermont
to Grant county, and from there to this
county IL 1856. He located on section
"a. Joseph Parker was a native of
Kentucky, who came from Illinois and
settled on section 35. John Barge. a
German. came in the summer of 1856
and settled on section II George and
William White, who were natives of
England, settled on the northeast quar-
ter of section 26. where they made some
improvements. II the fall of 1857 they
went to the Black River region. George
was Mormon preacher, and is said to
have been very able man. Samuel
W. Gray, native of New York state,
came from Grant county in the fall of
1857, aud settled on the northeast quar-.
ter of section 26
One of the earliest marriages in the
town was Henry Mailer and Mary Bshr,
in the winter of 1856 6 They were
married at Viroqua, snd their home was
on section 2. He died several years ago.
His widow married again aud moved to
Lsporte, Iowa. Oscar, son of E and
Ly dis Dalton, was one of the first chill
dren, if not the first, born in the town
His birth occurred June 20, 1856
The town OF Stark WAS set off from
the town of Uuion in November, 1858,
and the first election for town officers
held at the b 4se OF Morrison Wilson,
in April. 1859. No records ere pre-
served of the first town meetings, hence
the first officers are niece ssarily omitted.
In school district No l the first
school was upon the subscription plan,
and was taught in 1860, by Mrs. Jesse
Orrison, in her sons ho1se. In 1861 a
log building was erected OF the line of
sections Is and II. Laura Evans was
the first teacher employed in this build
iny. This building was burned in 1864
d strict No was provided with a
school in 1857, which was located on
the southeast quarter of section 5 THIS
was log baiIding. Mary C'auson was
the first teacher. The first school in
district No 8 was built N 1857. This
was log house located on the north
west quarter of section 30 Matilda
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