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OLD SETTLER’S MEETING
(As reported in the Jefferson County Union, 27 March 1874)
E. P. May responded to the sentiment "Early Merchandising) and
stated that his father brought a stock of goods into this town in 1839. A small
shanty constituted the store building. People came from quite a distance to
trade. Remembered seeing Mrs. Cyrus Curtis of Palmyra, visiting the store on
horseback. When they first moved in, their household goods, were detained and
the neighbors kindly loaned them knives and forks enough to eat with. The goods
in the store were kept in a box, and when customers came in they were taken to
the box and a proper selection made. Mr. May eulogized the mercantile integrity
which has always characterized the merchants of this place, from its early
history down, and cited the fact that in the great panic of 1847* not a failure
occurred here, and all bills were met. He also spoke of himself and father, as
being the first discoverers of the noted iron mines of Mayville. Several tons
of the ore was taken to Michigan to be tested and from the iron thus obtained
was made the first stove manufactured from Wisconsin iron, which stove Mr. May
still has in his possession. In response to the sentiment "The first
blacksmith shop" Mr. R. C. Dodge was called upon. In the summer of 1836 he
left N.Y. and came to Milwaukee whence in company with Alvin Foster he came to
Hebron. Mr. Sargent was the pilot. The first house erected in Hebron was called
the American Hotel. A saw mill was erected the same summer and started a
blacksmith shop in August, 1836. The wolves ate the leather off the first pair
of bellows he used. In October of the same year J. W. Ostrander and Volney Foster, came to our settlement and together we cut a
road through the heavy timber to Master’s Rapids, now called Jefferson. We were
two days at the job. At that time no one was living in the town. Mr. Dwight
Foster and Mr. Pritchard came in November. The mill was built and commenced
sawing in February, 1837. During the winter went with D. Foster to Illinois,
after a grist of flour, and it was a poor article at that. I made a claim where
I now live in 1836. My family came February following. Three houses were then
erected. Blankets served the purpose of doors and windows.
At this stage of the proceedings Mrs. R. W. Manning presented to Mrs.
Dwight Foster a beautiful cake from the ladies of the Congregational Church, in
honor of her begin the oldest settler of this town now living. Mrs. Manning
prefaced the presentation by first offering a short cake, made and baked in an
old fashioned way. The cake of cakes was handsomely ornamented and
elicited much admiration as also did the womanly and feeling words with which
Mrs. Manning presented it. In respond to the toast "The Churches"
Rev. Mr. Montague of the Congregational society and Rev. Mr. Thomas of the M.E.
society dwelt with considerable interest upon the manner in which the seeds of
Christianity were first sowed in the wilderness. Mr. Montague read the names of
the first founders of the Congregational Church.
A preliminary meeting was held at the house of Phinneas
F. Morrison,
Rev. Mr.Thomas stated that the nucleus of the
present M.E. Church of Fort Atkinson was a class organized in 1840 at the
residence of Jessie Roberts north of the village, consisting of the following
persons: Jessie Roberts and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Adams, Mr. and Mrs. Carter, Mr.
and Mrs. Wade and two daughters, Mrs. Cran and F.J.
Roberts and wife.
The preaching was sometimes at Mr. Roberts, but more generally in the
village. At private houses, then in a cooper shop and subsequently in the
school house.
Prof. Q. C. Emory responded to the sentiment "Our schools". He
read from an essay of Mabel Phelps. The first regular school was taught in
1841. Mr. Emory spoke of the present prosperous state of our schools
contrasting the present and past, and he paid a just tribute to those pioneers
who laid the foundations of knowledge broad and deep, that those who came after
them might enjoy the fruit of their wisdom.
*NOTE: This should probably be 1857 instead of 1847.