Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1923-11-01

of Prescott Brigham I am indebted to
his granddaughter, Mrs Lydia Haw
kins, of Postville, Iowa Mrs. Haw-
kins was for many years a resident of
Sumpter, Cowles' Pocket, having re
ceived its name from her fathers fam
lily. One brother of Mrs Hawkins also
resides in Postville, one sister in Pas
sadena, California, and one in western
Nbraska.- These are all who are left
of Prescott Brigham's descendants.
Mr. Brigham was born in Worcester,
Massachusetts, in 1870, and grew to
manhood in that place. He owned for
ty acres of land there but spent much
of his time driving a five horse team,
which carried merchandise between
Worcester and Boston, making two
trips weekly.
In 1907, he was united in marriage
to Miss Hannah Ryder of Worcester
Five years later a son, Ebenezer Prs
colt, was born to them, and in another
FIVE years a daughter, Martha, who
later married T, B. Cowles of Sumpter.
In 1888, the Brigham family emigrat-
Fed to Blue Mounds, where his brother
FPiSnezer Brigham resided and in
June 1910, they came to Sank Prairie.
Here Prescott Brigham purchased the
farm and built the house now owned
and occnpied by William Jenewein,
oituated on the East Baraboo road,
near Kern's corners.
He was very enterprising, genial
md popular man and Mrs. Brigham
was a true pioneer woman, ever ready,
to lend a kindly, helping hand where
resistance was needed. Physicians
we're scarce and roads impossible
much Of the time and many sick fam
lily called them blessed
Following the Old life in Massachu-
setts, he drove a stage coach from
Baraboo to Madison and that was Sank
County's first stage line
Politically, Mr. Brigham ranked
among the foremost OF his day keen
of mind obligfng, a natural leader
among men. At the first election in
the town Of Sumpter, then Kingston-
Reid at the home Of John Hoover,
Kings corners, Prescott Brigham was
elected Town Clerk, March II. 1914,
in Sank Prafrie's precinct at the home
of Samuel Shaw, he was elected Pro-
bate Judge. The Judges OF election
were LYMAN CrossTnan, Prescott Brig
ham ana Daniel Baxter. TIE cOnn4ies
OF Sank and Dane were at that time
united for judicial purposes. At anoth
er election held September %, 1914,
Prescott Brigham, John Russell and
Levi MoUre WERE elected County Com
missiouers. Mr.. Brigham was reflect
ed to that Office.
In 1876, dissatisfa ction arose over
the location of the county seat then at
Prairie du Sac, the deeds not being
satisfactory 4 netting was held to
discuss the matter. Prairie du Sac
finally offered to draw up new deed.
Some man who was opposed to hav-
ing it located there, moved for the
matter be laid on the table
nresent and one supplementary
brother moved that the matter be laid
under the table permanently. The
motion was carried and an invest1gat-
ing committee was appointed to de-
y1ai,a II CHI
have the future Of Sank county Gn
view. This committee reported fav-
orally upon Baraboo. There being no
money in the treasury, Prescott Brig
ham. who was one Of the twelve COM
nniss7oners appointed on the dav OF
the Land sale purchased, as a private
individual, the quarter section of land
where the city of Boraboo now is 10
located. Subsequently he decided it to
Sank County Tt was sold for $4,000
and wooden Jail and court house
erected with the proceeds.
One Of the first men incarcerafed
in the iail tore up the floor and crawled
ont. The curt house burned July 4,
1857.
Mr.. B. CHAM asked the privilege of
naming the county seat Adams in con-
sideration of his friend, John 0rfn-
NAMED Adam until the post office
manned Adams until the Post office
was established in 1847, when another
WISCONSIN post office called Adams
necessitated the change of names and
Barabooo was decided upon.
The first order for money d.awn on
Sank County was paid to CHARLES Hart
for $27 for helping to locate the
county seat.
In 1850 a post Office called the Bluff
Post Office was established at New !