The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-12-31


and Jail is continued today in the de-
tails of the early settlement Of ke-
nosha county.
The history is written by o. i.
Trenary, who was commissioned by
the board to prepare the booklet.
In 1884 what is now Kenosha county
had no white settlers. Mr.. Trenary
writes. Explorers were traversing the
region having come into the state
through Indian trails. The most not
ed of these was the Jambeau Trail
from the cabin of French trader,
Jacques Jambeau, who built small
log home west Of what is now RAJ
cine. This trail between Chicago and
Milwaukee entered Wisconsin near the
present route Of the st. Paul railroad,
ard was trodden to an average depth
of nearly foot. This trail followed
the line of the present Green Bay
road. 1t seems that nearly the entire
countryside was covered with heavy
timber in 1884 The early settlers.
especially those looking for places to
build cities, were attracted to the
mouths of the streams.
First Cabin in Somers.
Among the very first settlers in the
county was Jacob Montgomery and his
two sons, who occupied a log cabin
near Petrifying Springs, in Somers.
This was in 1885. In this same year
activities began in Pleasant Prairie
and the foundation Of the city Of Ke-
nosha was laid.
AT this time what is now Kenosha
county was included in Milwaukee
county. This took in the entire south
east corner of the state, the north
line running a few miles south of
Lake Winnebago, and the west line d.
vided the southern boundary of the
staie into two parts; the east being
Milwaukee county and the west Iowa
county.
Early in the year 1850 old Racine
county was divided and the southern
hale became Kenosha county. The VIII
is,ga of Southport (Pike River) had
tsAcn Incorporated by a special act of
legislature in 1841. When the coun-
ties we're divided in 1850 Southport
was incorporated as city and the
name changed to Kenosha.
A special election fox county Off
GERS was held April, 1850, with the fol-
lowing results: Member general as
sembly, Obed P. Hale; sheriff, Leon
ard Croker; clerk oE circuit court,
Oscar f. Dana; district attorney, ].
B. JiIson; register of deeds, William
L. Hinsdale; treasurer. George M.
Robinson; clerk board Of supervisors,
Thomas J. Rand, surveyor, John M.
Jones'; coroner, Daniel G. Burgess;
and Judge, Isaac N. stoddard.
The first city officers were mayor,
Michael Frank; clerk, Charles c..
sholes; aldermen. first ward, E. G..
Runals, ]. v. Aver and John English;
second ward, j. w. Kittredge, J. p.
Glover and George Bennett; third
ward, j. Parker, Edward Bailey and
J. v. Qaarles; marshal, Jacob Nc
Kinney; treasurer. John Noble; super
intendent of schools, Charles Glenn
ent justices of the peace, Hiram
futile, John L. Yates, John r. Sharp
stein and George Bennett; constables,
Hiram Holbrook, N. R. Allen and G..
w. Cole; assessors. Dennis Casey and
Thomas Wright.
Towns.
Brighton.-Tn the early 4O's num-
Der of settlers bought government
land at $125 an acre in the town of
Brighton-the Rhodeses, the teaches,
the 0'Briens, the Tighes, the Rileys,
the Shanleys, the Tobins, the McCor-
! macks. Among the very first of these,
after thirty-one days of sailing be-
| tween Liverpool and New York, were
Abraham and Thomas Rhodes, and
/ Aaron and William Leach, with their
families. The old 'shanty tree" still
stands on the farm now owned by
James Brooks. Under this tree was
built of green logs hut that first
sheltered the Rhodeses and the Leach
es--scme forty all told. Here a COM
mon kettle boiled the potatoes for all,
the portion of each family being tied
in a separate bag. Only one of this
party is now living-Mrs. John North,
of Missouri, daughter of Aaron
Leach. The Thomas Rhodes land is
now being farmed by the fourth gem
Grafton and the Abraham Rhodes tract
is occupied by the third generation of
Rhodoses.
Mr.. George F. Stanley, still living
and owner of the farm on which he
was born, was the first white child
born in the town-November 5, 1S4S.
Irish vs.. Germans.
Mr.. Hugh Riley donated the site on
which the st. Francis church now
stands Among the first to arrive were
the Irish, and the church organization
was named st. Patrick's. Soon Ger
mans came and mingled with them,
and While both used the same church,
The Germans insisted upon calling it
st. Boniface Society. There was a
good deal of pickering" to and fro
between these two elements, and the
Germans were often reminded that
"the Irish had so many pews in the
church and paid for them. However
q cyclone assisted towards harmony;
for when storm destroyed the church
in 1883, all agreed to call it "St.
Francis"
One of the most commendable
memorials of the town is the Soldiers
Monument near the Brighton church
ERECTED by the Citizens of Brigh-
ton in Recognition of the Patriotism
Shown BY All Who Answered, Our
Country's Call in the World War
191T-1919." Martin Hahn, killed in
action October Is, 1918, is the gold
star soldier. On the wess side of the
monument are listed the civil war vet.
Grams (67); on the other side are
IL IVY 1 VrT-