Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-01

First Events, Etc
GENOA vas organized in the spring of
1870, portion of it being taken from
shs town OF Wheatland. Ii is boundal
on the north by the towns of B.roen
and Harmony, on the east by the towns
OF Harmony and Sterling, on the south
ny Wheatland town, ard on the west
oy the Mississippi river. It is eeyep
miles IN dlstar c. north and soutb and
six miles from east to west, and com
prlses territory embraced within con.
gresslonal townships IL and Is. ranges
D and west. 1t contains an area ot
about $4,000 acres. The town is nicely
watered by two branches of the Bad Ak
river; the north branch entering the
town on section 36, passing through a
corner OF this section into section m ~
town II, where it unites with the other
branch which enters the town on section
II, runs northwest through sections II.
.. and IL, where it makes a junction
with the north branch. From section
II, the main stream courses through
sections IL, IA, Is and Is and there
unltes with the Mississippi river. There
are many spring brooks arising along
the bluffs of the Bad Ak river, which
are tributaries to this stream. The gen.
eral surface of the town is extremely
rolling, the vall' " and table lands be.
ing the best farming lands
The first Sc tier was VIM. Tibb;tss
who entered 100 acres of land on section
~ In 1850 He YVES followed the Same
year By Elias Shislsr, who entered 100
sHres OF land on the same section. John
Ott entered forty acres OF land on seq
ton IA in 1853 Ferdinand Guscatte
settled where Genoa now stands in 1876. |
and engat ed in the manufacture Of
wagons. William Stephenson came !.
1856 and purchased eighty acres of
land OF section II Charles Brown |
came the same year and entered forty |
acres OF land on section 90. John Fop
per came Ia 1857 and settled on section
2e, of which he purchased eighty acres,
MsJ N. w. Hamilton was one of the
settlers OF 1858. He was the first school
treasurer of the town and held the office
for eleven years. Among others WI,
settled in this town at later date were
James M Bailey, James Stevenson, W.
ID Knower and Elijah Powell. Mr.
Bailey first settled pear Vircqua, in
lo49. He was chosen undersheriff and
the following election was elected the
second sheriff of the county. He moved
to the town of Genoa as late as 1877.
settling on section 10. w. III Kuower
came to Vernon county in 1855, taught
school until 1865, when he settled Oh
his farm in the town Of Genoa, on sec
lions l, and IL. Elijah Powell came
10 this town the same year and pur-
chased 100 acres of land on section 4
The first couple married was David
Hastings and Miss Kelsie, in 1856. The
irst birth was j. w, son of Samuel and
Martha Ke'sie, in 1854 The first school
was taught in 1866 in log house, after
ward used for hotel. The fret religious
services were held at the residence of
samuel Kelsie, by Rev. Delap, in 1856
The first school house was built in 1860,
IN section %, where the village of Ge-
loa now stands The ffst school was
,aught by Sarah Bacus, in 1856. The
1rst death in the town was David Hast
ngs, In 1856. The first election of
What Is known as the town Of Genoa
vas held April 7, 1860, at the village
school house of Genoa. The first Off
,ers were:
Chairman-E. Page.
Masker ' 'iii'
Clerk-William Burlock,
Ifeasurer-JohnG reenman
Assessor Willis Masker
The first school in the town of Genoa
vas taught by Sarah A. Bacus, in 1855,
IN section % Genoa postoffice was
established in 1854, on section 90, on
'he site of the village of Genoa. The
irst postmaster was Jacob Kelsie, who
vas, after time succeeded by James
Romance postoffice was es-
'ablished in 1854, on section 6 The
irst postmaster was John Tewalt. He
vas succeeded by William Fox.
The village of Genoa was laid out and
plated by Joseph Monti, on section %,
IL VIC fOnL VI 1OOf, anu WIS QTbt nHHloC
Bad Ak, after the only river IN the town
If Genoa. For time it was thought
he name Bad Ak quite appropriate as
he people were for years kept in fear
~ the bad characters that constantly !
infested their vicinity, from off The Mis-
'ippi river, as it was quite a steamboat
anding for steamers plying up and
Town the river. However, in 1868, the
people thought the name had a ten
iency to keep the town from being set
led by the better class of people, and
hence they changed the name. The
original plat of the village contained q {
blocks. Block II was donated to the
public for public uses by Joseph Mont, {
md afterward became the public square
The first house wss erected by David
hastings in 1853 The first store was
opened by Joseph Mont, IN 1854. A
wagon shop was put in operation at
his time; also blacksmith shop run
" Ferdinand Guscetti A hotel was
rected in 1854 by Sylvester Dupi The
irst saw mill was built by William Off
/