Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-07-27
EARLr HIs1ORY o. JErFERsoN lows
Writer Depicts the Rise and Decline Of
SprinsyiIIe Village

Writers are telling Of the various in
cidents of their respective localities
Perhaps a few lines from the early
pages of history may be interesting.
The first settlement made in the town
of jefferson was by John Graham in
July, 1916, accompanied by his three
sons, one of whom still lives here.
They moved from Illinois, which place
they left in April Leaving the family
in Grant county,. Mr.. Graham and JEFF
ferson DeFrees came on to Vernon
county. 1t seems that the only settlers
here then were Messrs. Rice and Nc
Culloch. Mr.. Graham having found
land, brought his family, erected log
cabin and thus began the settlement
and history of Springville, town of JEFF
ferson. In the fall William McMichael,
son-in-law of Mr.. Graham, arrived and
took up his home in the wilds of Yer
non, Their unnamed town. Among the
earlier settlers may be mentioned Isaac
| Spencer, Charles Waters, Edmund
Strang, William Spencer, Samuel Brice,
John Flick and many others whose his
| tory is interviewer in the early history
and settlement Of Springville.
| The first mill Was erected by John
| Graham and sons in lS48. Tie first
store was opened and run by Henry
| Waters in 1854. The first blacksmith
shop was opened here by William Smith
and Seth Hamilton in 1855. Mr.. Smith
worked upon the Mississippi river for
some time, then in 1858 again resumed
his shop here, finally going to Nebras-
ka n j. Slack was one of the earlier
settlers. Then John Flick and family
settled here. He erected the log house
that is still standing near the old stone
mill His remains lie buried on the
bill just north of the stone mill. The
first marriage here was that of Solo
mon Flick and Mary Graham in 1850 or
| 81. The first death was William l. :,
son of William and Eleanor McMichael.
The next death was ThOs. Graham.
The first blacksmith shop was operated
| in 1913. But the first stone coal was
burned by William Smith in 1860, OBJ
tanning same in Milwaukee. The first
school was taught by Henry Waters in
1649, but the first schoolhous built
was in 1850, just north of where the
village now stands. The early records
are mostly traditional, no history being
kept until about the time of the arrival
of j. r. Savage. Religious societies
were early organized. The first to or
game were Methodist Episcopal peo-
| pie in 1850, by Rev. Perdun at the home
Of Isaac Spencer. Then in 1859 the
! United Brethren organized a society.
| Today we have two Lutheran, a Metho-
dist Episcopal and Adventist societies
| in the town. BY traditions we find
that Ira Wissell erected grist mill in
| 1852, on what is now called South Bad
AK, just below or maybe on the lands
formerly owned by the late James ST.
die. A sawmill was erected by one DAN
iel Cox in 1852, on what is now known
as the North Bad AK, Just below ESQ
fea. I he first steam sawmill was
erected in 1865, by VIM. H. Officer,
who went from here to Austin, Mime
sofa, where he and sons Eaton and
| William w. ran a grist mill. The first
regular store was operated by James
r. Savage and the old building is still
standing 1t is the one in which Hon.
p Bouffleur, now of Viroqua, laid the
| foundation of his fortune. Berry &
Graham and Barthoff & Conant had
stores here until the last named sold to
Mr. Bouffleur. Mr.. Bouffieur built the
hotel that has passed through so many
hands until now it is occupied by fam
lily as a residence. At one time fan
ming mills and furniture were manu-
featured here and John Goldrick, who
lost his eyesight, manufactured brooms.
Then going into the northern part of
the town of Jefferson, where William
Frazier resided, we find hin raising
cane and manufacturing sugar. Thus
you can see that the people at the set
Element of this section were industri-
GUS, and if the county seat of Vernon
had been located here, as was antiei-
pate0, we of today would see a large
and flourisAing city standing where on
~ empty houses are. Up to within a
few years we have had mills, shops and
factories At one time hourishing
cheese factory was in operation here,
upheld by a large patronage. At one
time in our history three stores, post
office, two blacksmith and wagon shops,
harness shop and sawmil were in oper-
alton here. But today, oh, who dare
write the history of the downfall of the
once prosperous village! Methinks the
sadness that comes from reflection
would restrain us from attempting the
task. The old mill, whose career was
known far and wide, is silent: its
wheels go no more. There is no one to
sell you any goods, for there are no
goods to sell. Still, we are blessed by
the thought we have the old spring
that used to furnish motive power for
the mill--one of Gods best gifts. No
store, no postoffice; but we have two
shops. Mr.. Stigen, who recently pur-
chased land east of the village, has
erected shop on the farm and does
work for the public. Then, also, Tru-
man Kendall does work for neighbors.
Now as to the early settlers. There
are only few remaining. Lamecii
Graham and wife, John German and
Mrs, Adam Doerr are still among the
spared ones. William Smith we learned
is still among the living. There are a
few who We're youngsters then, who
still reside here and have reeolections
of the early settlers. There is MIR. Ell
lis Reed and his estimahle wife who
came here when this country was com
paratively young, who carved out their
home. reared their family and now are
enjoying quiet old age in the home of
their early getting.
rAvF.s~xy -,