Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-04-26
WEBSTER Town PIONEERS.
The First settlement of WehHter was
made in 1s55-The First School wac
taught in Is5s-First White child born
in Is55-Other early events. ete.


erty. and on the west by the town OF
Viroqua. The town is square in size.
comprising SO sections. There is only
one stream OF any Importance within
its limits, with the exception Of lhe
main branch of the Kickspoo river,
which flows through the eastern half OF
sec ion 36. The west branch OF the
Kickapoo river enters the town on Sec
ton q, and takes southernly course
through sections 5, T, Is, 10, 30, 2a and
30, leaving the town on the southwestern
part of section 30. Besides the stream
mentioned, there are VARIOUS tributaries
which form network. OF water courses
throughout the town, making the land
valuable for both stock and agricultural
purposes. Ths surface of the territory
is very rolling, and along the banks Of
both branches OF the Kickapoo river.
the bluffs greatly resemble those on the
Mississippi.
In 1852 two brothers, r. p. and A
W. Gillett, came into the present bound
airy OF this town and entered land On
section ID. William lobe came tho
same year. In 1853 John Snider came
into the town, entered land on section
10. After Snider came ths FOLLOWING
settlers, all of whom are now decaeaod
John Graham located forty acres on
section 10; Lemuel Joseph settled on
section %; John Richardson, on section
81; Sol Richardson, on section IL. and
John Pottson on section o. Tsssc
Glenn and his son Isaiah came from
Ohio to Webster town in 1853 Tho
former died here in 1862. Mordsc.i
Adams is native Of Morgan county.
Ohio, and came to Vernon county in
1853, and to this town in 1856 James
Allen Is native of Athens county, Ohio.
where he was born in 1907. he came
to this town in 1854 and purchased
eighty acres OF land on section 4. He
vas the first chairman OF the board ~
supervisors, and held that honorable
position for six years. Joshua Sslby
was bachelor from the good state Of
Maryland In 1859 he married. James
Oliver came IN 1854 and settled forty
acres OF land on section S William
Stamford located on section az, in 1864,
and Westley Potts settled on section II
Jesse Az pleman settled here in 1855
John Lyons Is native OF Columbiaua
county. Ohio. and 1851 came to Vernon
county. He located 100 acres of land
IN this town. Isaiah Glenn, one OF the
honoreG pioneer settlers of this town,
was born in Columbiana county, Ohio.
in 1882, and in 1854 accompanied his
parents to Vernon comfy. He pre-
empted eighty acres of land, which he
sold in 1865 When he located in Web
ster town there were only three families
living within it's borders, and Mr.. Glenn
taught the first school, Mr.. Glenn's
father, Isaac, was born in Ohio in 1906,
and was fifty -sis years of age at the
time of his death.
On the 7th day OF April, in the year
1856, band OF hardy pic neers and early
settlers gathered together at the house
of Sol Richardson to perfect the organi-
cation OF new town. It was called
Webster, after the great American
statesman. The general affairs of the
town have surely been conducted in
! manner creditable to the name of that
illuetrious man, as is fully substsntiated
by the general prosperity Of the settlers
and thrifty appearance of the land at
the present time. After officers of
election were appointed and approved
the following were selected by the
thirty five voting, to first conduct the
affairs of the new town:
Chairman-James Allen,
Clerk--John Richardson
side Board--Jas. Oliver, VIM. HUNTINGTON
Assessor and Treasurer-Isaac Glenn.
The first white child born in the town
was to Il. 2. Gillette and wife, in 1856.
The first couple married in the town of
Webster was r. P. Gillett to Rsbecca
Smith, in 1854. The first religious SER
vices were held at the village of Ava
lsnche, by Rev. Munion, in 1854. The
first white person who died in the town
was Edward Post, in 1856. The first
school in the town was taught by Isaiah
Glenn, in log building on csction 8,
in 1855. This building had been erected
for dwelling house. The first school
house was built of loge and erected on
section Is, in 1857. The first election
was held at the house OF John Richard
SOD, on section 81, in 1856. The first
postoffice established in the town was
at Avalanche, in 1868, and Robert WEIGH
was the first postmaster.
The number OF school buildings in
tho town is six. They are mostly of
wood and their aggregate vslue is about
81 900. The school population of the
towE number 442.
Mount Zion church, located on section
26, was organized in 1869 by Rev. d. K.
Young, with membership of forty per-
sons. Soon after the organization the
congregation went to work and secured
the funds necessary to the erection of
new structure, 20x30 feet in size, and at
cost of about $500 The Advent
church was organized in 1867, on section
Is, by Rev. Huff
The village o; AA-sianche is situated
in the extreme western part of the town.
1t was laid out and plated in fourteen
blocks or squares on the center of Sec
ton IS, by Cyrus F. Gillett, in 1854
The village takes its singular name from
the formation of the earth Immediately
east OF the place, which resembles q
gigantic landslide or avalanche suddenly
stopped in its destructive .way. The
first store in the village wa opened by
it's founder, @. F. Gillett, the same year
1t was laid out. In 1858, wagon
maker, William Cummings, first COM
menced working at his trade in the en-
bryo village. The first saw mill in the
village was operated by R. P. and A. w.
Gillett, in building on the west branch
of the Kickapoo river, which had been
built in 1852 The school house was
erected in 1855 and Miss Stricken was
the name OF the first teacher. In 1854
the Rev. Mr.. Munion came into the
neighborhood and preached the first
sermon at the residence OF Cyrus F.
GiIlett. The first Touring mill in Ava
lanche was erected in 1860. by Busbee
& Piper, with three runs Of buhrs on
the mill race to the west of the village.
Thos. Dewitt, a well known farmer of
Webster town, came to Vernon county,
in 1857. He first located in Viroqua,
and remained there till 1860, when he
removed to this town. Hans Larson,
who located here in 1860, was born in
Norway in 1884. He emigrated to the
United States in 1857, and in 1860
entered forty acres of land on section