Racine County, Wisconsin
Raymond Settlement History
HISTORY OF RACINE AND KENOSHA COUNTIES WISCONSIN (1879) page 303; Submitted by Diana Heser Morse
RAYMOND SETTLEMENT
On the 20th of June, 1836, Seneca Raymond, son of Elisha Raymond, Sr., landed at Racine. He came on a vessel from Oswego, with his own and his father's family, and at once joined his father in the present town of Raymond.
Nelson Bentley also arrived and settled in Raymond in June 1836. he drove a double team and wagon all the way from Manlius, N.Y. He and Seneca Raymond left Manlius on the same day, and both arrived at Racine on the same day, one coming by water from Oswego, and the other by his own conveyance, each making the journey in precisely six weeks.
In the summer of 1836 Mr. Raymond, Sr., built a capacious two-story log house on his claim. A stone chimney was built in the house from the ground floor, and it gives one a happy feeling to know of such comfort in a wilderness, as was afforded in that house by the great old-fashioned fire-place with which it was provided.
Timothy Sands, Orson Bump, Reuben Rogers, John Rogers, Joseph Drake and John Brewer settled in Raymond in 1836; Caleb J. True, Niles Bentley, William O. Mills, John Jones and Zachariah Sands in 1837; Walter Shumway and Leonard Upham in 1838, and Thomas E. Parmalee and Daniel McPherson in 1839.
On the 12th of May, 1838, Mr. Loring Weber came into Raymond. He and his family remained at the house of Mr. Raymond six weeks after their arrival. Mr. Weber made his claim in May, 1838, and continued to occupy it as his homestead for many years. He built the first frame house in the town with oak lumber which he procured at the Rapids.
Among the other early settlers were Philetus Crandall, who settled in 1840, and Christian, Frederick and William Schwartz, who settled in 1837.
Reynolds Scofield, George Scofield, Charles Scofield and Dr. John E. Scofield also settled in Raymond in 1837. Dr. John E. Scofield was the first physician who located in the town.
In September, 1839, James T. Elliot settled in Raymond, Peter Reynolds in 1838, and William Elliot in 1840.
Like the early settlers in other parts of the county, those of Raymond were subjected to dangers and inconveniences. They had to grind corn in their pepper-mills for their bread, and suckers, rice and codfish were staple commodities. Some, however, brought supplies with them to meet emergencies. Seneca Raymond brought twenty bushels of potatoes with him, planted them on the 4th of July, 1836, and had a good crop of 150 bushels. At one time, also, Mr. Weber and Elisha Raymond, Sr., went south and brought into the settlement thirty head of cattle and fifteen hogs. In 1941, Mr. Raymond raised 3m000 bushels of grain on 100 acres of land.
The Indians were troublesome. The Raymond settlement was not far distant from Jambeau's trading-post, and the Indians, with their thieving propensities and meddlesome dispositions, annoyed the settlers.
On one occasion, Mr. Alvin Raymond fell asleep in the field where he had been cutting grass. He had his rifle by his side, and was suddenly awakened. Thirteen ponies with two or three Indians astride of each pony was the sight which et his eyes as he awoke. He grasped his rifle, and, upon their inquiring if he had a squaw or wigwam, they all went directly to Mr. Elisha Raymond's house. Charles Raymond, son of Alvin Raymond, at the age of three years could speak the Indian language.
The first religious society in Raymond was the Congregationalist. Mr. Loring Weber assisted in building the first meeting house.
The first marriage in Raymond was that of Miss Eliza Raymond to Willard Flint, which was celebrated on the 27th day of May, 1838.
The town of Raymond was first called "Black Hawk" by act of the Legislature in 1846, but at the same session an act was subsequently
passed re-organizing the town and giving it the name or Raymond, for the pioneer who had so sturdily established and maintained his settlement in the town.
The Racine Journal News (Racine, Wis.) Tuesday Afternoon, 28 Sept. 1915, page 3; submitted by Diana Heser Morse
Raymond Center Right Up To Date
Buildings Are Substantial and It Is Enterprising Center, Historical Place
Raymond Center is a bright spot on the face of the earth. It has only 200 people, but it is an up-to-date and progressive place. Its buildings are substantial and good, and its business methods are surprisingly in tune with the great age in which we live.
Allen Hay, the general storekeeper, enjoys a large trade, and N. P. Hanson supplies the district with shoes, Charles Mogenson, the village blacksmith, has been in business for years and is well and favorably known all over the county. He also conducts a garage, a new enterprise for the village, and one which nets its owner a neat profit, as many automobile tourists pass through Raymond Center.
In 1836 Seneca Raymond came with his father from Oswego, N.Y., and settled in the town which now bears his name. Nelson Bentley drove from New York, arriving at the village in 1836. In 1837 the senior Raymond erected a two-story house which was one of the finest in the state for many years. Around its fireside many pioneer settlers of Wisconsin used to gather on cold winter evenings to swap "yarns" of their travels to the wilds, and enjoy the hospitality of their genial host.
Other early settlers were Timothy Sands, Orson Bump, Reuben Rogers, John Rogers, Joseph Drake, John Brewer, Caleb True, William Mills, Walater Shumway, Lenard Upham, Thomas Parmalee and Daniel McPherson.
Indians were troublesome in those times. Mr. Raymond was once awakened by the shouts of 13 Indians. He prepared to defend his home, but was delighted to find that the "red skins" were on a friendly mission. They were accordingly given on of the big dinners for which the Raymonds were famous. Raymond Center is justly proud of its early history as well as of its present day prosperity.
The Congregational church was the first one to be organized at the Center, while Miss Eliza Raymond and Willard Flint were the first young couple to be united in marriage.
