The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1904-01-29

themselves in preserving places of his
toric value and ip keeping in the memo
ry many heroic deeds of our pioneer
countrymen, The women's clubs are
doing much work along the same lines.
And this evening we are assembled IN
this same spirit, to take an inventory of
our possessions, past and present, IN our
home city of Edgerton. 1t is fitting then
that we pay tribute to the men and the
women who braved the hardships and
difficulties of new country 10 laying the
foundation of our prosperous little city.
[ take pleasure in bringing to mind so
far as [ can the pioneer families OF Ed
gerton and something of their manner of
living in pioneer days.
I find the first to settle within what is
now our city limits was VIM. Bllven,
wife and child. They came from Allie
ghaney Co., N. Y, in 1912, took up gov
eminent land and built log house, In
which they lived in the extreme north
east corner of our city. Mr.. and Mrs.
Bliven were Seventh Day Baptists.
They raised large family amid hard
ships and privations we may believe.
For water to drink they took barrel on
a stone boat drawn by oxen and went to
Alden Burdick's (now known as the Thos.
Atwood farm.) Water for washing and
other purposes they drew from Mud
Lake also with an OK team. Rather
slow method of drawing water even with
the most speedy OK team as compared to
turning splgot.
In 1843 Mr.. Arnold Collins came from
New York with his wife and five chill
dren. They took up government land
and built the first frame house whose
history you know. A son, Milo Collins,
is now a resident of our city. This fam
lily were also Seventh Day Baptlsts. We
believe it took seven days of religion to
keep faith and heart strong. Bread with
pumpkin butter was not sufficient.
A man from the Emerald Isle" named
Thomas Quigiey, owned farm purchas-
ed from the government IN 1913. 1t
comprised the land on which the r. r.
depot now stands. In 1858 John Fassett
came from Pennsylvania with his wife
and two sons, Sherman and Porter. Mr..
Fassett's brother Schuyler accompanied
them. BY the way this gentleman was
the third postmaster, and am told that
in those early days he found it quite a
task to keep his silk hat smooth, nor
could he take trolley or limited express
to Milwaukee to purchase new one.
John Fassett was practical man. lie
took up one hundred and sixty acres of
government land including that ground
now sacred TO many of us because it is
the resting place of our loved ones.
In AZ Mr.. Alden Burdlck had come
from New York state and bought large
tract of government land on which he
made his home with his wife and his
grown children. In 1851 his youngest
son Austin left the home farm and came
with his bride and made home in log
house on the site that j. B Toy nton's
home now is. This log cabin was warm
ed, in winter from logs burning in an
open fire place, in front of which the
meals we're cooked until 1852 the advent
of the new method of cooking, when
Austin Burdick purchased an iron cook
stove in Beloit.
For meat they caught fish in the
streams or killed game, and Xmas, 1851,
Mr.. Burdlck killed three deer on the
slope of the hill behind the house Lew
Towne lives in; he killed one by the
Catholic church later. We are proud to
speak of Mr.. and Mrs. Burdick as the
representative pioneer family. Having
lived longer in close touch with the life
and activities of Edgerton than any cou-
pie the writer has know ledge of.
In 1852 Daniel Coon the first carpen-
ter came to town. His wife and daugh.
tiers were prominent members of the viii
lage society. At this time Robert Attic
sey then living in England, received a
letter from his father who was here. tell
ing him of the good prospects In this
new country. Mr.. Attlesey decided to
try his fortunes here and came as all did
in those days by sailing vessel. He was
eleven weeks and three days on the
ocean and sixty-four of the passengers
died on the voyage.
Roswell Robinson came in SO also
with his wife and three sons. Grant is
a resident now. Ferdinand Davis, who
sold the first stock of goods, came ct this
time. He had wife and two sous, Per-
cy and Evan, The SONS were sent to
Milton College to complete their aduca
ton, begun In the village schools. Mr..
Davis and wife we're from New Jersey.
In 1853 they went to California where he
died leaving considerable wealth in silver
mines. They were Seventh Day Baptist
people, as were our mayors parents, Mr..
and Mrs Daniel Doty, who came west in
~. MT. DoGy owned a saw Mill at new
vile. While living there in 1852 Mr..
Geo. Doty was born. They moved to
Edgerton in '53. George and Will Doty
and sister in GAINESVILLE are all that are
left of large family. :
Mr.. VIM. @. Banks came here in '53
and bought grain; returned in '55 for
Mrs. Banks. They built the house that
Ashe has lived in ever since that time.
Certainly she is one of a few who have
lived here forty EIGHT consecutive years.
Mr.. VIM, Hall who was the first post
master as we'll as the first photographer,
came to Fulton depot in 1853. He built
the building now owned and occupied
by Mrs. Edwards. VIM. Hall had tie
,postofice in the front, little store in
the back rooms and his family lived in
the rooms over. There Frank Hall was
born, with the distinction of being the
first child born in the village. Many
came in the winter of 1854, among them
Jas. Hill, carpenter, whose wife and
three daughters were prominent in So
ciety 10 later years. James Cordner, a
contractor and builder, 0 d. Peck, the
1onot onant xrbo livoI sc;to h;c IN; 70