Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-22

he was native Of New York, but came
here from Green Lake county, Wiscon.
sin, locating on section IA In 1858 be
moved to Msrion county, Missouri, and
died there in 1870. James Foreman. q
nEtivs OF Psnnsylvanis, came in 1855.
dc bought village lots in Kickapoo and
built log house. He died there in
1857. o. O. Fortney is q native of
Norway. He came from Madison comfy
IN 1900, and first located on section Is,
town ii, range 4 west. He lived there
about one year, then moved 10 section
III, OF the same town. In 1882 he
moved to section 2, where he died in
1883. James Msibep, by birth, was
Scctchmsn. He came here from Grant
| county In 1854, bought land on section
8, town IL, range 3. He died January
10, 1857. Francis Dupee came from
Grant county in 1856. He enlisted in
the army and died il the service His
son Henry also died in the service.
Henry CGmrins located on section 10.
town ii, range 3 west, in 1855. He was
q native OF Maryland, bat came here
from Ohio. George Spurrier was from
Jefferson county, Ohio. He came here
IN 1896 and entered eighty sores of land
on section IA. town IL, range 8 John
CROOK, native Of England, was set.
tier OF 1857. He located on section "a.
town IL, range 4. In 1870 bs moved to
the town OF Frarklin Reuben A'ex.
Ander was from Indiana. He located
on section III, town IL, feage s, in 1857.
among the settler of 1855 was q .chs-
riah Smith. ns.ive of Ohio, but who
came from Indiana and located on sec.
tion IL, town IL, range 5. His brother.
william A Smith. came the same v. ar.
and settled on the same section. He
died IN 1880. Reuben Drake. a native
nj New Jersey, came the same year from
Indiana and settled on section ~, town
II, range 8. John Gribble, q native
OF pennsylvania, came from Indiana in
1908 and located on section So, town II.
range 8. In 1871 be moved to Viola
where he died in 1875 William Pnob
was q settler Of 1856, locating near
Readstown.
kickapoo town was organized in
1903 The fret election was held at
Orin Wisel's house. May 20 Of that wear.
No record OF the first town officers can
De given, except that Robert Wilson was
the first justice Of the cesoe.
In 1855 Daniel Read had plated the
village Of Readstown. Mr.. Read built
the first house upon the site Of thu nro.
spectivs village in 1848. 1t was of
round logs and located on the east side
OF the river. Before the villsee was
plated quite settlement had been
made, and the first store opened by
VIM. Il. Austin, early in the year 1854
The citizens Of the village were without
mail facilities until 1857, when an Office
was established with Hiram Austin ss
the first postmaster. Grin Wisel opened
the tirst blacksmith shop in the place
and continued to work ct his trade until
1861. Albert Bliss, who was the secord
merchant in the place, opened the first
hotel In 1856. 1t was q connections
frame building and considered an honor
to the village.
The little collection of houses known
as Kickapoo village was laid ont by JOS
Wood on land owned by Robert Wilson.
IN 1857. Knox 4 st. John opened the
nrst store In 1857; they kept a general
stock. They continued about a wear
and closed out. Then came Samuel
Green, who moved stock into the same
building log house long since torn
down. Robert Wilson kept the first
hotel: He began to keep travellers when
ne tirst came to the county. 10 1857 he
built frame hotel, called the jackson
House," named in honor of "Old Kick.
ory." A postofics was established at
Ibis point in 1883 Robert Wilson was
the first postmaster. He served over
eighteen years. In 1883 A. q. Cusb-
man and Frank DAYTON erected a saw
mill on the east bank of the Kickapoo
river, it's power, however being derived
from Elk creek.
The first school at Rsadstowr was
taught by Mrs. Bound in q small build.
ing erected for other purposes, in 1884.
but during that year frame building
was erected for school PURPOSES, and the
nrst school taught therein ives by Jsmima
Wilson.
The first marriage in the Town ia not
positively known. In 1866 Abpsr Han.
COCK was united 10 marriage with Irens,
daughter Of John Harrison. Grin WiseI.
justice OF the peace, ofiicieted on the
occasion, the ceremony being performed
at the house OF Thomas Gillingham, at
Assdstown. The first birth is also nm
known. or at least we have NO record of !
it. An early birth was that of Elsie.
dang liter OF II. B. and Emeline (Deanl
Hopkins. born July %, 1855.