Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1900-10-10
EARLY DAYS.
A Letter from BIrs. Dea. Daniel Brown
Telling of Early Day Times in
Wauwatosa and Vicinity.

Dear Sir: In the Sentinel of Septem-
Der 9th some one has told something of
the early settlers of Wauwatosa. AS
my brother. Z. NJ Riddle, was one who
had a part in the early times of that
place / have put down few items
about him, as well as the first mission
airy work done in the town of Wauwa
tosa. which / wish to add to its history.
l also read an article III the Evening
Wisconsin, but no one goes as far as
can in remembrance. | am now 81
years old.
Mrs. (DEA) DANIEL Brown.
My brother T. NJ. Riddle came to
Milwaukee the 18th day of November,
1875, boy of 10, born in Franklin
County, Mass He had walked most Of
the way from Ann Arbor to St. Joe,
Mich, and all of the way from Chicago
to where we were then living in what
is now Milwaukee. The next day,
Nov. 8, Mr.. Brown went with him out
as far as the river in what is now the
city of Wauwatosa. In coming back
they stopped at Mr.. Woodlands who
was the only white settler out of Mil
waukee town. The next week he went
out again and selected the next claim
west Of the County Farm NOW owned
by i. Schrubbe) The County Farm
was then claimed by H. Gregg.
Ny brother, T. Nj. Riddle, cleared his
farm and later went to the village, now
city of Wauwatosa to live, where he
opened store and was for number
of years postmaster. Many will re-
member him as an active member of
the Methodist Church in Wauwatosa.
| presume many did not know that
Byron Kilbourn gave him a bond for
any lot he chose to pick out if he would
build on it within two years We
urged aud Mr.. Brown helped him
select a lot near whore the bridge was
to be built. When the boom of '3G |
came ON he sold the lot to an eastern
man who had a store erected on the |
lot and SO fulfilled the bond, got the
lot and paid T. NJ. Riddle 5000 for the
bond, which helped him to begin on
his farm
lie had worked for Mr.. d. Brown |
from the time he came until the fall of
'36; had learned the use of tools so he
could help to build many useful things
for himself and others at that early
time
In the winter of AZ Rev. Hiram
Marsh came up from Galesburg, ILL.,,
where he had been employed as teacher
in an academy by Il colony that had
been formed in the state of New York
and settled there. He had been licensed |
to preach the gospel. lie said he
thought he could do more good going
from house to house preaching in those
new places. His horse got sick at
Prairieville(uow Waukesha) he came on
to Milwaukee.
MIR. Miter was holding meetings with |
the First Congregational Church there
At that time Mr.. Marsh came home
with Mr. Brown from the meeting las |
we were living at that time ON a farm
Milwaukee in the town of |
Wauwatosa). The next morning Mr.. |
Brown set out with his team with Mr.. |
NJ ,v, aud ,,,,ealF ,rs,;,x, y,n,tl, y;s;+;p
The neighbors in their log houses
As it was a cold day in January they
had log fires in their wide fire places
back logs, fore logs, SO much on fire as
would make city man now think of
his dollars.
The three or four families we visited
were glad to see us, joined with MS in
MIR. Marsh for seeking them
out and urging them to accept of the
Lords service.
The next day MIR. Brown took us out |
to- Wauwatosa village, on mp to Mr.. +. |
NJ. Riddles who had bought the next
claim west of the County Farm. After |
dinner he asked us all to pray for his |
success in finding out and gathering |
together all that had come from differ
emit parts of the country to serve the
] Lord of whatever name or deuomina- /
ton. My brother and wife, my sister
afterwards Mrs. Morgou), Mr. Brown /
and myself, llnelt in prayer, while my /
father ), Riddle sat by the fire and /
Avery hin held the five months old |
baby now Ellen Wilson of Appleton.
From there Mr.. Marsh went to Dea.
Gilbert's as there had been log school
house built in that ncighborhood. |
where he visited from house to nonse
all through the town of Wauwatosu
encouraging and perNuading all to
come together to worship and serve the /