Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-03-08

The town of Hillsboro is located in
the extreme northeastern corner of Yer
non county, and is bounded on the
North b. Monroe county, on the east by
Junesu county, on the south by the
town OF Greenwood, and on the west by
the tow of Forest. 1t comprises town
ship IA, range / east, which contains 36
full sections besides six parts OF Sec
tions, the northern line of which varies
quarter of mile from being straight
east and west line, which was occasioned
| by the correction made in the original
surevy. The exact number of acres 10
the town is %, 583 76 The town was
the name of Hill, one Of whom, Valen-
tina B. Hill, made the first claim, and
also the first improvement in the town.
The surface of the town is composed of
narrow ridges and valleys, both of which
form good farming lands. Pure springs
of clear cold water are found through
out the town. These produce streams
of sufficient magnitude to afford fine
mill privileges. Three branches of the
Baraboo river flow through the town.
The south and most important branch
| is formed of two streams, one of which
has it's source in the springs and brooks
OF the western portion of the town. The
other streams flow north from the town
of Greenwood. These unite near the
center of section IS, flow northearterly
and leave the town from section %.
uniting with the north branch near
Union Center, Juneau county. This
branch of the Baraboo affords fine
water power. The middle branch has
it's source in the springs in the north
west part of the town. This stream
affords fine water power on section s,
and flows in southeasterly course,
leaving the town from section "a, and
soon after unites with the south fork
The north stream flows through what is
known as tho Mulch settlement. It
leaves the town from section IL.
The first efforts toward the settle
ment of this town were made by Valen
tia B. Hill, who located on the south
east quarter of section IA, in 1850. He
also claimed forty acres on the south
west quarter of section ID, forty acres
on the northeast quarter of section %
His making claims on different sections
is accounted for by the fact OF the land
not having been surveyed. In May
1851, BE began making improvements,
and in August OF the same year, moved
his family to the place. Several other
| e. hot hat
is generally conceded that Mr.. Hill
made tie first claim and broke the first
land in the town Before coming to
Vernon county Mr.. Hill operated the
first saw mill at Baraboo, and after set
Ting in Hillsboro township he turned
his attention to farming. There were
several claims made during the year of
| 1851. Charles Fritchie, German, set
tied on section l during that year
Some three years later he sold to VIM
Mulch and left the county. The same
year Ambrose B. Cole settled on sec
tions ! and II. He died in the Union
army during the rebellion. VIM, and
Alonzo Hill, brothers of V. B. Hill, the
first to settle in the town, made claims
in 1851. They settled with their fsmi
lies on section "a. Ichabod B., another
brother of the Hills. and a single man,
came at the same time but made no
claim. He served in the 25th Missouri
volunteers during the rebellion. At
the close of the war he went to Kansas
where he died. Albert Field also made
claim in the fall of 1851, on the north
west quarter of section 35, where he
settled in 1852. N. W. Davis settled
on sections 81 and "a, about 1854. He
sold out in 1860, and moved west Set
Elements were made very rapidly from
this date on. John Fox settled on Sec
tion 81 in 1855; Joseph Manhart came
to Hillsboro in the summer of 1855 and
settled on the southeast quarter of sec
ton 26; Stewart Forbes settled on Sec
ton in the fall of 1865; Froland Wiley
settled in the fall of the same year;
Charles Landrum, who built the first
store in the plat of the village of Hills
boro and was the second postmaster at
that place settled in the spring Of 1854.
James M. Hansbucy, first postmaster,
brother of Mrs. Landrum, removed to
Ohio. John Berry settled on section
II in 1856; o A. Shout, stage driver.
came to the village about 1856, and
drove stage from Hillsboro to Mansion
Patrick Healy settled on section % in
1856; Moses Kimball Jeffries settled on
section II in 1856; Christian Engler
settled on section 20 in 1857, Henry
Hsyf1eich locs ed on section 80 in 1855;
Henry Link on section SO; J Ell. Thomp
son on Section 25; VIM. F. INLAND and
p. w. Frost on section "a; A. r. Gid
on section 81.
The first marriage in the town was
Frolsnd Wiley and Caroline M. Hill, a
daughter Of V. B. Hill, the first settler.
They were married at the home of the
bride, March 8, 1856. The ceremony
was performed by Daniel Kimbal, Esq
TIE first birth in the town Was Andrew
Mack, son of James and Cornelia Mack,
born Sept. 10, 1852 The first death
was that of Mrs. Smith, who died in
October. 1855. She was buried on Sec
ton l, where she died. The first school
was taught on the present village plat
of Hillsboro. The first religious service
was held in the house of Elisha d Doug
las on section IA, by Rev. Joseph Han
lin, OF the Free Will Baptist denomina-
ton.
The town of Hillsboro was organized
in 1856. The first election was held at
the house of Albert Field, April 3, of
that year. Ell. FL. Knox, Joseph M.
Martin and Albert Field we're chosen in
spectors of election. 1t was voted to
elect two assessors and two constables;
also that fund be raised for contin-
gent expenses, of 500 for the ensuing
year, and the same amount for the i'm
provement of highways. Joseph M.
Martin was elected chairman of the
board and Albert Field and FL FL. Knox
members of the side board; Daniel Kim
ball, town clerk; Edward Klopheisch
and Daniel Kimball, justices of the
peace; Johr s. Shreve and James s
Carley, constables. The total number
of votes cast at this election was 81.
Hillsboro has always been fully up to
other towns of the county IN educational
matters. School house after school
house has been added for convenience
of the scholars of the town aud there
are now number of fine educational
pIaoaa NJ LEARNING