SETTLEMENT

This history begins with the year 1832, at which date John T. De LaRonde, a native of France, and an attache of the Hudson Bay Company, came to the Lemonweir Valley—Ca-na-man-woi-Sipe, which means a child, or affluent. In the Summer of 1834, he established a trading-post, for the Winter, near the head of the river, and in 1837, built a trading-post at To-konnee village, where Mauston is now situated, a small village of five or six wigwams, named after its chief, a mixed-blood of Winnebago and Menomonee origin, though his people were called Winnebagoes.

In the Winter of 1840, De La Ronde made up a quantity of square timber near his trading-post, taking his mill-site just where Mauston now stands. He was the first one to take square timber from the Lemonweir Valley, and also the first who undertook to construct a wagon-road from Portage to the Lemonweir and thence to La Crosse. This labor was begun the year of his arrival, 1840.

Previous to the treaty of Fort Winnebago, in the Fall of 1836, by which the Winnebago tribe of Indians ceded all of their lauds lying south of the Lemonweir River and east of the Wisconsin to the General Government, the territory now embraced within the limits of Juneau and Adams counties was only known to trappers and Indian traders. After the treaty, Sauk and other counties west of the Wisconsin, began to be settled, but the country north remained a wilderness for some years; and not until the lumbering interests began to call operators into the valleys of the Baraboo, Lemonweir and Wisconsin, were any permanent settlements made.

By the treaty of Lake Poygan, in 1848, the Menomonee Indians ceded their lands lying west of the Wolf River and south of the Waupaca. The political history of this section dates back to the organization of Adams County, which formerly included Juneau. Adams County was established in 1848, by act of the Territorial Legislature and attached to Sauk County. It then included the country lying between ranges 2 and 7, embracing the present counties of Juneau and Adams and covering an area of fifteen hundred and sixty-six square miles. At that date the settlements were confined to the towns of New Haven and Dell Prairie, east of the Wisconsin, and the Lemonweir Valley on the west.

Up to the year 1851, the lumbermen were the pioneer settlers west of the Wisconsin. In 1849, the boundaries of the county west of the Wisconsin were changed—Sauk County borrowing, by act of Legislature, all of Township 14 and the south half of Township 15, from Range 1 east to the Wisconsin. In 1853, Adams County was organized for judicial purposes and attached to the Third Judicial Circuit ; but later, during the same session, the Seventh Judicial Circuit was established, which included Adams. The boundaries of 1848 were restored, and the county seat located at Quincy.

No important change in the political history occurred until 1855, when Mauston, desiring to become the county seat, secured the passage of a bill through the Legislature, submitting the question of a division of the county on the line of the Wisconsin River, and the creation of a new county under the name of Juneau. The proposition of division was carried by vote of the people, and New Lisbon, by a little judicious influence, secured the passage of an act formally organizing the county and locating the county seat at that place, the act to take effect January 1, 1857. Mauston suffered her defeat for two years only, and then secured the passage of a bill submitting the question of removal of the county seat. A vote was taken at the general election in November, 1859. The returns showed 1,022 votes for removal and 1,522 against. New Lisbon polling 570 votes more than at the State canvass during the same year. The returns were protested by Hon. John Turner, of Mauston, one of the Board of Canvassers for that village, on the ground that over 500 votes had been cast fraudulently. From this time until 1864, the matter was in litigation, and was finally decided by the Supreme Court, Judge Pane delivering the opinion in favor of Mauston. Vide State ex rel., Field vs. Avery, 17 Wisconsin, 694-695. New Lisbon, in 1867, succeeded in again submitting the question of removal to the people; but this time the vote was declared to be a tie, when, failing to secure a majority, the rival town gave up the fight.

The first permanent settlement made in the county was in the month of October, or November, in the year 1838. At this date, Amasa Wilson, C. B. Smith and R. V. Allen made a location in company, and built a shanty at the Dells Eddy for the purpose of getting out square timber for the lower river market. The shanty stood upon the rise of ground at the foot of the Dells where the house of Mr. Allen now stands, and where he has continued to live since the date of his first settlement. Mr. Allen can justly claim the honor of being the first and oldest permanent resident in Juneau County. These parties continued to get out timber until the end of the next Winter, when, by that time, the supply was about exhausted. The timber was rafted, run out of the river and sold at Galena. Mr. Allen continued to make his home at the Dells Eddy, and turned his attention to piloting rafts through the Dells in high stages of water. His house was for some years the only sign of civilization between Point Bausse and Fort Winnebago (Portage City), except Grignon's Trading Post—a distance of seventyfive miles by the river—and became a very convenient stopping place for the raftsmen.

One of the earliest settlers, for even a temporary purpose, was Provonsal, the father of Frank Provonsal, killed a few years since by Bill Dandy, an Indian. The elder Provonsal built and for some years occupied a trading post near the bank of the Wisconsin, about two miles above the Pete-en Well rock, in the present town of Armenia. About the year 1836, he built and occupied a trading post on the Lemonweir, near the present residence of Peter Arntz, in the town of Kildare. During ten or twelve years previous to his death Frank Provonsal lived with his family at Pete-en Well Rock, at which place he owned and run the ferry across the Wisconsin River.

After the settlement of Allen, Smith and Wilson in Lyndon, at the foot of the Dells, in 1838, Charles Clemence was the next settler, locating in the town in 1850. Ephraim Kingsbury arrived in 1852, but remained only about one year, when he sold out to Lyman Dickens and located in the town of New Lisbon. In 1854, Charles Leach, Cornelius Collins and David Truell made locations, and from this time the town settled rapidly and became quite a successful farming region. Some of these early settlers became quite prominent in county politics. Mr. Leach served one term as Treasurer. He subsequently removed to New Lisbon and engaged in mercantile pursuits, remaining there until his death. Mr. Truell was elected Register of Deeds, holding the office for two years; in 1877, he served a term in the Legislature. He still resides on his farm at Lyndon.

Lyndon was organized at the annual meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Juneau County, November 1857, and was formerly included in the town of Kildare. The lumbering facilities afforded by the Lemonweir Valley called the first settlers to Kildare. Henry Carpenter, of Portage, and one Randall were engaged in logging on the river as early as 1848 and commenced the erection of a saw-mill on the river in 1849, in the present town of Kildare. They completed the mill and improvements in 1850, and, after running it one season, sold out their claim to Jacob Rodgers, who operated the mill until the scarcity of pine timber compelled him to abandon the lumber business some years after. Peter Arntz located in the town in the year 1852, building a steam saw-mill on the Lemonweir. about two miles from its mouth. He also abandoned the business for the same reason a few years after. Previous to the settlement of Mr. Arntz, Frank Webster and George Walker made claims and located on the Wisconsin, at the foot of the Big Dells. Jacob Rodgers was at one time quite prominently identified with the political interests of the county, and was elected Treasurer for one term. He removed to New Lisbon, but some years since changed his residence to Iowa, near Dubuque.

No permanent settlement was made in the town of Seven Mile Creek until 1851, although William Green made a temporary location in 1849. The only settlers in the town, as now organized, were William Taylor, Chauncey B. Strong, David Henry, Adam Stultz and Alonzo Andrews.

When the boundaries of Adams County were changed, in 1849, Sauk County included all of Township 14 and the south half of Township 15, extending from the west line of the present county of Juneau to the Wisconsin River. This strip of country, nine miles in width, north and south, at that date contained nearly all the settlements of the Lemonweir Valley. It was attached to Sauk County until the session of 1853, when the original boundary line of Adams and Sauk counties was restored. The first election of officers was held at Delton, Sauk County, in 1851. Chauncey B. Strong was chosen Justice of the Peace, and was the first Justice serving in the valley, in what was afterward Juneau County. It was at that time that the town of Lemonweir included the whole of the southern part of the present county of Juneau. From 1851 to 1854 the valley of the Lemonweir was settled quite rapidly. Among the early comers after 1851 were L. E. Saxton, C. W. Fosbinder, James Heavey, a Mr. McEntee. Patrick Smith, Robert Doyle, Patrick Moylan, John Furgerson, David Hughes, M. Mulloney, Thomas Hyde, John and Michael Powers, James Welch, Nicholas Brown. The majority of these located in the present town of Seven Mill Creek, the remainder within the towns of Lyndon and Summit, since organized.

The next election held in this district of the county was at the Stewart settlement. Fosbinder and Heavey were chosen members of the Town Board. Mr. Taylor was elected Assessor. His assessment district at this date included the present towns of Kildare, Summit, Lemonweir, Seven Mile Creek and a part of Lindina. The only main road leading to this section of the valley was the old road cut by the early logmen on the Lemonweir. This road crossed the Wisconsin at Newport and followed along the valleys, avoiding the swamps and other natural obstructions, but as the settlements increased good roads on the most direct routes were opened. A State road was laid out, leading west through the county, through the village of Mauston and New Lisbon, thence to La Crosse and the Mississippi Valley. The old Troy coach soon made its appearance and continued its regular trips until superseded by the Milwaukee & La Crosse Railroad, in 1857.

The town of Seven Mill Creek was organized by the Board of Supervisors of Adams County, November 16, 1655.

The town of Summit was organized November 15, 1855, and the first town meeting held at the house of Alexander Noble. Elias Kingsbury, C. Blish and Mr. Noble came in 1852 or 1853; Philo Sterling, J. B. and H. F. Potter in 1851; Peter Sterling in 1855; H. D. and E. T. Boyington in 1856. At the first town meeting after the organization, L. E. Saxton was chosen Chairman of the Board, and J. B. Potter, Clerk.

Tlie first school was established in 1855, in the "Potter District" —afterward known as "District No. 3." Miss Sterling, a daughter of Peter Sterling, now Mrs. Charles Huff, of Wonewoc, was the first teacher. The wages paid her were $1 per week, she boarding herself.

The writer here acknowledges obligations for assistance rendered in the compilation of this work to Hon. John T. Kingston, of Necedah, Mr. George Willard, of Wonewoc, and Mr. Amasa Wilson, of New Lisbon.

PRESS

The first newspaper of Juneau County was established in 1856, under the name of the New Lisbon Republican. R. B. Rice was its editor and proprietor; but its existence was only temporary, giving place to the Juneau County Argus in 1857, the leading Democratic journal of hie county. The Argus was established in 1857, by James H. Wells, but the following year it passed into the hands of Edward Miller, who published it until 1862, when it was purchased by its present proprietor, Mr. M. F. Carney. The Mauston Star was founded in 1857, by D. McBride. The following year McBride sold out to B. E. Stevens and Hon. John Turner. Mr. Turner subsequently became sole proprietor, and the Star continued under his management until September 1, 1878, at which date the present proprietors, Messrs. J. F. Sprague & Son, bought him out. The Elroy Union appeared in 1873, but lived only a short time, failing to be a financial success to its owners, Messrs. Richards and Powers. The Elroy Head Light was established in 1874, by Messrs. Stokey & Carn. It existed under different managements until May, 1876, at which time it was succeeded by the Elroy Plain Talker, E. C. Ribbey, editor and proprietor. The Wonewoc Reporter, the only independent journal of the county, was organized in 1876, and is now published by Hon. T. K. Dunn.

PHYSICAL FEATURES

Juneau County is bounded on the north by Wood County, east by the Wisconsin River, south by Sauk, and west by Vernon, Monroe and Jackson counties. It lies in the heart of the State. It extends forty-two miles from north to south, and at its narrowest point east and west, fourteen and one-half miles, with a total area of eight hundred and fifty square miles. Throughout the whole area, except the quartzite bluff at Necedah and points of limestone in the southwest portion, the lower sandstone is the surface rock. The soil for the most part is a loose sand, derived directly from the disintegration of the lower sandstone, but showing many marshes (some of large size), and an occasional prairie. Except on the marshes, it is nearly everywhere covered with stunted oaks, and toward the extreme north with Jack pines. It presents the character of a level plain not worn into ravines, nor yet rising abruptly; the entire surface is heavily drift covered, with a gradual rise to the north and west, attaining an altitude of four hundred feet, on the southern edge, and along the Lemonweir about three hundred feet. Dotting the central plain and rising abruptly from the level portions are isolated mounds, or castellated peaks of rocks, "outliers," chiefly constructed of Potsdam sandstone, that constitute the most marked characteristic, except the quartzite mound of Necedah. None of these exceed a height of three hundred feet, and but few two hundred feet; they register a denudation of fully five hundred feet. The large outliers show more or less vegetation, the smaller, which are thirty and one hundred feet in height, often are of bare rock. There are also archean (Huronian) and Lower Magnesian limestone cappings in the south portion. The high ground that bounds the plain on the west, enters Juneau County on the west side of Township 16, Range 2 east (Fountain), carrying on the county line a capping of Lower Magnesian limestone. It trends it way southeastward across Plymouth, Lindina, Wonewoc and summit, then veering more to the east, crossing the townships of Seven Mile Creek and Lyndon, where it is cut through by the Dalles of the Wisconsin. The Lemonweir and the Yellow are the principal rivers, the former crossing diagonally, entering at the middle of the west side and reaching the Wisconsin at Section 24, Township 15, Range 5 east. The latter entering the extreme eastern border and joining the Wisconsin after running nearly parallel with it at Township 15, Range 4 east. These rivers have archean and sandstone sections; the former in the Yellow exceedingly rocky and much broken by rapids and falls. The sandstone sections are comparatively sluggish and without rock rapids. The upper portions extend into the pineries and much logging is done at times of high water. They are also very valuable for water-powers.
History of Northern Wisconsin 1881

The MAUSTON STAR
Mauston, Wisconsin
28 February 1907

EARLY HISTORY
Relative to Juneau County in Early Days

But Few Settlers Here in 1850 -- First State Roads Established -- Names of Commissioners.

Few settlers came to this county previous to 1850, but they had written to their friends in the East and were expecting them, and wanted roads.

As the ligislature at that time did all business, such as laying out roads, organizing towns, school districts, etc., the people applied there to have some roads.

By an act passed by the legislature and approved Feb. 9, 1850, C. J. Marsh, R. V. Allen and Daniel Comfort were appointed commissioners to lay out and establish a state road from Hamilton, Marquette county through the Menominee purchase to the Narrows of the Dells on the Wisconsin river. That road got the people as far as the old Dells bridge of Skyler Gates.

Another act passed and approved on the same day, applied to this county, and was in three sections affecting three state roads.

Section 1. Clark Whitney, Andrew Dunn, and Harris Searles were appointed commissioners to lay out and establish a state road from Wyocena in Columbia County and Winnebago. Portage on the east side of the Wisconsin river, by the Elbow in the Dells on the Wisconsin river, thence to the upper mills on the Lemonware, thence to Prairie La Crosse on the Mississippi.

Section 2. Harris Searles, Robert Campbell, and Thomas Weston, were appointed commissioners to lay out a state road from Prairie La Crosse on the Mississippi river to Shanrette on the Wisconsin.

Section 3. Jacob Spaulding, James Perry, and Harris Searles, were appointed commissioners to lay out and establish a state road from the Falls of Black river in Crawford county to the upper mills on the Lemonware in Adams county.

The upper mills referred to above were later known as Scott & Buckley mills in town of Clearfield. This road mentioned in first section is the first state road to go through the county and the present Mauston and New Lisbon road. Jackson county is now the part of Crawford above referred to.

The Mauston (Wis.) Chronicle
25 April 1907

EARLY COUNTY HISTORY
The Organization of the County of Juneau
A List of the Towns of Which This county Consisted in 1857; Their Territory and Boundries - Some Names Changed

Germantown, with its present boundries, was detached from Waucedah on March 22, 1855, by an order of the county board of Adams county and on Nov. 15, 1855, Summit with its present boundries was taken from the town of Lemonweir and on Nov. 16, Seven Mile Creek with its present boundries was also detached from the town of Lemonweir. This action left Lemonweir but a small territory consisting of township 14 in ranges 5 and 6 and was the present town of Lyndon and part of Kildare.

There can no record be found of the organization of Kildare, but as it was on March 3, 1857, the above described Lemonweir, it is safe to conclude that it was organized at a session of the board of supervisors in 1855 or '56. The present town of Lemonweir also has no records of its organization but when the county of Juneau was organized in 1857, Lemonweir consiste4d of township 15, in range 4, except the two west tiers of sections, and had been taken from the town of Lindina. This was undoubtedly done at the session of the board of Adams county in 1855 or '56.

The Adams county board on Nov. 16, 1855, organized the town of Fountain, detaching town 16 and 17, range 2, from New Lisbon for that purpose.

At the session of the Adams county board on Nov. 15, 1856, the town of Necedah was divided and all north of town 18, west of the Wisconsin river was organized as the town of Armenia.

All territory of Adams county had now become organized into towns separate and distinct, on each side of the Wisconsin river, except Necedah, which had a large territory on the east side of the river. This was the situation at the organization of Juneau county in 1857, at which date Necedah lost all east of the Wisconsin river.

On Feb. 3, 1857, the election was held in the several towns of Juneau county and the board of canvassers met and there were present one from each of the towns of Plymouth, Lindina, Fountain, New Lisbon, Seven Mile Creek, Linden, Lemonweir and Waucedah. As the returns had not been received from Summit and Necedah special messengers were seat for them.

The town of Wonewoc was organized from the town of Plymouth on Nov. 12, 1856, with its present boundries, but as the act did not take effect until April 1, 1857, it could not have a representation.

On Feb. 11, 1857, the board again met, decided the election and there was present a representative from Plymouth, Fountain, Summit, Lisbon, Lemonweir, Seven Mile Creek, Waucedah, Germantown, Necedah, Lyndon and Lindina. In the proceedings the name of Linden is changed to Lyndon and that of New Lisbon to Lisbon, although nothing appears to show who or what made the change. Subsequent proceedings show that everything was very indefinite at that time and perhaps the name of New Lisbon was changed by the board on March 2, 1857, when they met in special session to transact business and it was overlooked and not entered in the minutes. But the town of Kildare was what was by the clerk, named Linden and afterward, Lyndon.

On march 2, 1857, the county board met on call of the county clerk, pursuant to a request of the board, and after organization several towns were changed to take effect April 1, 1857. Orange, with its present limits was taken from Fountain and Clearfield, with its present boundaries, from Lisbon. This latter change, however, was to take effect April 1, 1858. It was also ordered that the two tiers of sections in town 15 on range 4, on west side be detached from Lindina and annexed to Lemonweir to take effect April 1, 1858.

A committee was then appointed to proceed to Adams county to ascertain the names and boundaries of the several towns, the report thereof shows that on March 2, 1957 they were as follows: Wonewoc, Summit, Seven Mile Creek, Plymouth, Lisbon, Lindina, Fountain, Orange, Clearfield and Germantown, with boundries as now. Kildare, all of town 14, range 5 and 6. Waucedah, town 15, range 5 and south half of town 15, range 4. Necedah, all of town 18. Armenia, all of towns 19 and 20.

J. T. Hanson

(spelling as per news article)

(Transcribed and submitted by Diana Heser Morse)