
Glenwood Township,
St. Croix County, Wisconsin
Source: History of the Saint Croix Valley, 1909
transcribed & submitted by Cathy Danielson
Glenwood Township
Glenwood township is the youngest of the twenty-one townships in St. Croix county. It was set off from Emerald in 1885 and embraces township 30, range 15. Like Forest, it was originally a region of pine and hardwood, and has now been cleared for agricultural purposes. It is crossed by two railroads and well drained by streams that flow eastward into the Menomonie. H. J. Baldwin was chairman of the first board of supervisors.
The township is bounded by Dunn county and Forest, Emerald and Springfield townships, and has two villages, Glenwood and Downing.
The township has an area of 21,993 acres with an average valuation of $15.17. There are 300 horses, valued at $1,500; 1,950 neat cattle, valued at $27,300; 200 sheep and lambs, valued at $600; 120 swine, valued at $600. The total valuation of real estate is $338,700; of personal property, $51,200; making a total of $389,900. Following is the acreage devoted to the various crops in Glenwood township in 1908: Wheat, 10; corn, 40; oats, 385; barley, 145; rye, 10; flaxseed, 10; potatoes, 25; sugar beets, 10; cultivated hay, 405.
Biographies
William Steven
William Steven was born in Scotland, March 6, 1850, son of William and Ann (Craig) Steven. His father came to this country when young William was a boy, and remained for a time in New Jersey, afterward locating in St. Paul, in 1871, passing away at Glenwood in 1898.
William received his education in Scotland and in New Jersey. He then worked at market gardening and carpenter work in St. Paul until 1873, when he came to St. Croix county and toiled at farming in Star Prairie until 1884. He was a hard worker and saving of his money, and in 1884 he was enabled to purchase 160 acres of land in Glenwood township. He improved the farm, and made many alterations, bringing the place to a high stage of cultivation. He now owns 200 acres of rich land, about 160 acres of which is under the plow. He does general farming and also has large crops of sugar beets, which have proven a successful venture.
In 1878 Mr. Steven was married to Ellen Boardman, who came of the pioneer family of that name, of whom mention will be found in the sketch of Grant C. Boardman, which appears in this work. This union has been blessed with the following children: Margaret C., born March 30, 1880; James J., born February 18, 1884; Thomas S., born September 10, 1885; John B., born August 9, 1888; William, born March 14, 1891; Herman M., born November 14, 1893; Robert R., born January 6, 1896; Isabella, born May 31, 1898, and Mary, born October 13, 1900.
Mr. Steven votes the Republican ticket, and is at present ably serving as chairman of Glenwood township, in which capacity he is giving general satisfaction. He belongs to the Masonic order, and is one of the successful farmers of this vicinity. His honor and integrity are above reproach, and his opinions are always regarded with respect.
Mrs. Steven is a woman of many accomplishments, and the sons and daughters are all a credit to the training of their parents. The family attends the Methodist church at Glenwood, Wis.
St. Croix County, Wisconsin
Glenwood Village
Glenwood village has a population of 905; the First Bank of Glenwood, with a paid-in capital of $5,000; one newspaper, the "Tribune"; one shoemaker, one photograph gallery, two meat markets, three dealers in agricultural implements, one tailor, a dealer in lumber, a restaurant, where confections are sold; one baker, who sells confectionery; one harness shop, one dentist, one drug store, two blacksmith shops, Light and Power Company, one undertaker and dealer in furniture, two saloons, two millinery stores, a creamery, one dealer in cement, one dealer in flour and feed, two general stores, two hotels, one jewelry store and telephone service.