The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1904-01-15

This new country remained in its
primitive condition, with not a furrow
turned, fence built or an improvement
made until the early forties. VIM. Bliv-
en- seems to have been the first perma-
nent settler in 1912. The log house he
built that year was the only building be-
tween his place and Fulton. In 1845
Arnold Collins purchased land from the
government He lived on the land for
two years and built the first frame house
in 1843. The house he built is still
standing on the east side of the east Al
bion road and is now owned and occu-
pied by Mr.. Schmeling. This is the old
est frame building now standing within
the present city limits. A few log houses
were constructed about this time. No
municipality for this locality was yet
dreamed of. These few early settlers en-
gagged in farming.
The hardships of the pioneer were
many. The nearest market and mill was
Milwaukee and a week or ten days were
required for the Journey. 1t was dis.
couraging indeed for after drawing grain
to market the expenses of. the journey
were often more than the load of grain
sold for.
told of farmer who was offered so little
for his load of wheat that he emptied it
into the Milwaukee river rather than &C
cept the low price offered.
Samuel Clarke. who came from Eng
land in the forties, walked here from
Milwaukee. After selecting a quarter
section of land few miles north of Ed
gerCon, Mr. Clarke walked to Milwaukee
i l. IL - IL ri %Ho So Ho
had chosen. He is only one of the many
early settlers who made the same jour
ney to the government land office.
The settlement of Albion antedates
that of Edgerton. In 1852 DR.. Head of
Albion bought of New York speculator
a quarter of section of land lying with
in the present city limits on the west
side of Albion street for five dollars per
acre. From the surface clay, upon this
land he made the first red brick, for AL
bion Academy. Soon he made the dis
covory that immense beds of clay, suit
able for white brick, existed beneath the
surface. This industry resulted in the
erection of the first frame building on
Albion street which was built to accom-
modate laborers employed in the brick
yard. This enterprise fifty years ago
marked the beginning of ian industry
that has continued to flourish to this day.
Beyond this one resource and the wa
ter power in Saunders creek which turn
ed small saw mill, there was little in
the physical condition of this low and
marshy land to recommend this location
for the plating of village. From 1855
to '57 the village was plated into lots by
Adm j. and Il. A. Burdick, I'll. S. Swift,
II ~ d..
Edgerton probably owes its import
-ance and perhaps existence to the greed
and avarice of the land owners about
Fulton and Indian Ford. The exorbi-
tant price asked for land in those places
induced the railroad company to change
it's route and lay the line three miles fur
Their north, where it now runs. Enter
prising citizens in this city gladly donat
ed twenty three acres of land for depot
grounds and railroad purposes.
The possibility of a coming railroad
brought here a few settlers In the
dwelling from MELVILLE to Albion street.
Mr.. Roswell Robinson followed his ex-
ample by bringing the old lumber of
malt house at Fulton and erecting a
house on Main street. An old barn was
mONco iIOLu uitOu W q lOt LWO DlOChS
south Of the railroad track and served as
a tavern or hotel.
Other houses were built this year.
Most all of the pine lumber came from
Milwaukee to Whitewater, the terminus
of the railroad and was then teamed to
Edgerton. Oak timbers grew abundant
ly and the frames used in many of these
early buildings were oak made at the
saw mill owned by e. A. Burdick. Mr..
Burdick sawed the oak frame for the
first depot which was built in 1858.
When the depot was completed the wait
ing room was the only building used for
church services, elections and public
meetings.