Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-22
klcKAPOO TOWN PIONEERS.
Chronology OF the Uid Settlers md the
First Events Transpiring In the Crgan-
ization of the Township Readstow.
Is An Old Village ana Was Plated In
1855.

Is An Ola village ana Was Plated In
1855.
kickapoo is among the southern tie,
OF towns OF Vernon county, and com.
prises portion of four congressional
townships -towaships ii and IL, range
. west, and townships IL and IL, range
west OF the fourth principal meridian.
Inc surfa % ia very much broken, having
within its boundary q number of large
bills. At an early day there was large
amount OF heavy timber Of which there
is still standing large quantity. CON-
sisting OF white oak rock maple, bass
wo:d and 9th II varieties. Thousands
OF railroad ties have been annually OBJ
tanned from the timber in this town.
The large game, such as deer. elk and
bear, existed in great numbers during
the first decade OF the settlement of the
country, but they are nov unknown.
3 nall game yet abounds.
The kickapoo river runs through the
town. Its two branches the east and
the west forks make confluence ON
section 4 The river is fed by msny
sm'll streams which enter into and Lelp
swell the volume OF water. The smaller
streams are made up from the many
clear and sparkling springs that exist in
vario Is parts Ut the county.
The soil is generally rich and produc-
tive where tillable, and is well suited to
indigenous as we'll as native grass, which
makes the town an excellent one for
stock. Those who have, in the past,
engaged in stock raising. Gave been
informally successful. Some msp'e
sugar, OF an excellent quality, is annu.
all made by the enterprising citizens.
The first settler in the town OF Kicka-
poo wa' Daniel Read, who came here in
ls49. He was native of Tioga county,
N. Y, but hai lived several years in St
Joseph county, Michigan. He came to
Vernon county in i846 or 1S47, settled
near Liberty Pole, in the town Of Frank
lin, and opened up q farm. On his
arrival in Kickapoo he built a saw mill
on Reads creek. as 1t liz now called. He
died here in 1852. Orrin Wisel came
with Mr.. Read, or about the same time.
He was blacksmith by trade, and
opened the first shop in the town. The
hrst farm IN this town was ooened by
Philip Schneider, who located here in
lS49. He was native OF Bavaria and
had lived near Viroqus the previous two
years. He settled in the Kick ipoo val
ley on section S. town IL, range west,
end still resides on ths old Homestead.
Archibald and Daniel Day, natives Of
Kentucky, came in 1851. The former
settled on the southeast quarter OF the
northeast quarter of section 8, to xn IL,
range 3 west. He died there in 1875.
Daniel entered land on 80 ,tions II and
10, of the same town and range. He sold
In 1855 to Seth Edison. Daniel died
abous 1857 Henry B. Hopkins,
native OF Connecticut, came here rom
Grant county, Wisconsin, in 1853, and
entered land on section IA, town IL,
range 3 west, where he still lives. Abel
y. Cushman, from Vermont, came here
in 1858, and erected & saw mill on the
cast fork OF the Kickapoo, He was
pioneer in Jefferson county, Wisconsin,
having lived there for several years
prior to his removal to this county.
The mill is now operated by his son
James. David Rarrll, native of Scot
land, came during the winter Of 1859 4.
and entered land on section as, town Ia.
range 8 west. r. T. Carey was from
the Nutmeg state. He came to Vernon
county, in 1854, and entees portion
of section 10, town II, range 8 west
He settled on this land tbs following
year, and there made his home until
1888, when he sold out and left the
town. Samuel Baldwin vas settler OF
1854. He was from New York. On his
arrival in Vernon county, ne made choice
of land on section ., town IL, range 8
west, where he located and lived some
years and then removed to Richlsnd
county. In 1883 he went to Kansas.
Daniel Hill, a native of Illinois. by pro-
fession a physician, same in 1858, and
located on the northeast qu ,rter OF seq
ton 26. He was afterwards convicted
of horse stealing, served term in the
penitentiary. and then removed to the
town, but fnall " removed to Kansas
The Keystone state furnished settler
in 1853 in the person Of Peter Neeley.
He settled or section !, town IL, range
s, lived there eight or nine years, then
returned to Pennsylvania, where he died
a few years later. Francis Lswton, a
native of New York, also came in 1864.
from Jefferson county, Wisconsin, and
in company with A. 9. Oushman, built a
saw mill. In 1858 he sold out and
went to Rockton, where he built grist
mill. John Grubbs was another of the
pioneers of 1853. He located on the
northeast quarter OF section SO. Abrs-
ham Benn, from England, came in 1855
and located OF section /. He enlisted
in the Union army during the war and
died in the service. Some of the fam
lily yet reside IN the town. John Harri-
son and Henry ,Glasburp, originally
from Illinois, cane from Viroaua in
1s49 The year following they built a
saw mill on the west fork OF the Kicka-
poo. About the time of the war they
sold out and left the town. William
Austin settled in Readstown in 1864
He was something of pettifogger and
quite musician. Two Of his daughters
were good musicians and occasionally
gave public concerts. Mr.. Austin left
the county during war times. George
Miller came in 1853, lived in Readstown
a few years, then left his family and re-
turned to Illinois, from whence he came.
Gilbert Herrick, native OF New York
state, came from Viro Iua in 1853. He
vas a carpenter by trade and worked
at the business together with farming
He made his home in Resdstown until
his death, which occurred in 1919 His
widow survived him but few months
In 1854 Daniel b. Hale came to Reads
town. He is a nephew OF MIR. Read and
is yet a resident Of the village. James
McSharry, native OF Ireland came
from Galens, Illinois, in 1853. He
entered land on section SO, own IL,
rscge 4, where ne located anu remained
three years, then went to section Z, town
Il, range 3, where be lived until 1882,
when he removed to Rising Sun, where
he died on Easter Sunday, 1881. Robert
Wilson, native OF Pennsylvania, came
10 1852 from Richlsnd county and en-
tered land on sections 35 and SO, town
IL, range west. He built 9 house on
section 35. Lorenzo Hill was from