Simon S. Blake

Simon S. Blake was born October 29, 1829, in Martinsburg, Bedford (Blair) Co., PA, and died March 5, 1904, in Richland Center, Richland Co., WI, at age 74. He was the son of Burdine Blake, Sr. of Lancaster Co., PA, and Mazey Ann Simpkins of Hagerstown, Washington Co., MD.

Mary Magdalena Ambrose was born April 30, 1836, near Ligonier, Westmoreland Co., PA, and died May 11, 1909, in Richland Center, Richland Co., WI, at age 73. She was the daughter of John Walker Ambrose of Ligonier Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA, and Salome Knable of Milford Twp., Bedford Co., PA.

Simon and Mary were married January 18, 1855, in Richmond (later Orion) Twp., Richland Co., WI. Certificate No. 1-62 at Register of Deeds, Richland Center, WI.

Simon S. Blake was born October 29, 1829, in Martinsburg, Bedford (Blair) Co., PA.

The 1830 U. S. Census shows Bordyne Blake (age 30 to 40) is living in Woodbury Twp., Bedford Co., PA. Living with him is his wife (age 30 to 40). Also living there are their children: 1 male under 5, 2 males 5 to 10, and one male 10 to 15, 1 female under 5 and 1 female 5 to 10. Also living there are a male age 60 to 70 and 1 female age 50 to 60.

Mary Magdalena Ambrose was born April 30, 1836, near Ligonier, Westmoreland Co., PA.

The 1840 U. S. Census shows Birdine Blake (age 40 to 50) is living in North Woodbury, Bedford Co., PA. Living with him is his wife (age 40 to 50). Also living there are their children: 2 males 5 to 10, and one male 10 to 15, and 1 male 15 to 20, 2 females 5 to 10, 1 female 10 to 15, and 1 female 15 to 20. James Blake (age 70 to 80) is living next door with his wife (age 50 to 60). Also in the household are: 1 male 10 to 15; 1 female 15 to 20, and 1 female 20 to 25.

The 1840 U. S. Census shows John Ambrose is living in Westmoreland Co., PA. Males: under 5=1, 5-9=1, 10-14=1, 40-49=1; Females: under 5=1, 5-9=2, 15-19=1; 30-39=1. George Ambrose, Susana Ambrose and William Ambrose are also listed as heads of households living nearby.

The 1850 U. S. Census taken on August 28, 1850, shows James Blake (age 28) born in Pennsylvania is a Blacksmith living in Martinsburg Borough, Blair Co., PA. Living with him is his wife Margrett Blake (age 23) born in Pennsylvania. Also living there are: John W. P. Blake (age 2) born in Pennsylvania; and Burdine Blake (age 5/12) born in Pennsylvania. Also in the household are: Simon Blake (age 20) born in Pennsylvania, a Blacksmith; and William Blake (age 26) born in Pennsylvania, a Blacksmith.

The 1850 U. S. Census taken on August 17, 1850, shows John W. Ambrose (age 52) born in Pennsylvania is a Farmer living in Ross Twp., Clinton Co., IN. Living with him are the following Ambrose members, all born in Pennsylvania: Sarah Ambrose (age 46); Jacob Ambrose (age 21), a Farmer; Mariah Ambrose (age 16); Mary Ambrose (age 15); Harrison Ambrose (age 10); Samual Ambrose (age 8); and Elizabeth Ambrose (age 4).

Simon and Mary were married January 18, 1855, in Richmond (later Orion) Twp., Richland Co., WI.

On November 10, 1855, Simon S. Blake of Blair County, Pennsylvania, was granted a Land Patent for 80 acres of land in the West 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of Section 17, T9N in Orion Twp. Leigh Larson note: This is the land that was foreclosed upon and sold at a Sheriff's Sale in 1858.

On November 10, 1855 Simon S. Blake of Blair County, Pennsylvania, was granted a Land Patent for 40 acres of land in the NE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 18 T9N in Orion Twp.

Richland County Observer, Richland Center, Richland Co., WI, January 2, 1858

By virtue of a decretal order made by the Circuit Court of Richland county, Wisconsin, at the November Term, on the 11th day of day of November, A. D. 1857, I shall, on Wednesday, the 20th day of January, A. D. 1858, at 10 o'clock, a. m., at the front door of the Court House, in the town of Richland, in said county and state, sell, at public auction, to the highest bidder, for cash, the following mortgaged premises, to wit: The west half of the north-west quarter of section seventeen (17), in town nine (9) north of range one (1) east, in the county of Richland and State of Wisconsin, or so much thereof to satisfy the sum of eighty-eight dollars and fifty-five cents, and interest thereon from the date of said decree, together with costs of said court and of this sale.

The above sale is adjourned, by the request of the parties, until the 24th day of February, 1858. Sale at the same hour and place.

Leigh Larson note: Arthur Cook in 1860 was a Farmer (age 39) born in Pennsylvania, with a wife and family, living in Marshall Twp., Richland Co., WI. He died December 15, 1890, in Richland Co., WI.

By 1860 the 80 acres of land in the West 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of Section 17, T9N in Orion Twp. was owned by Mary M. Blake. The original Land Patent was by someone else.

The 1860 U.S. Census taken on June 19, 1860, shows Simon S. Blake (age 30) born in Pennsylvania with real estate of $1,000 and personal estate of $140 is a Farmer and is living in Richmond Twp., Richland Co., WI . Living with him is Mary M. Blake (age 24) born in Pennsylvania. Also there are two children, both born in Wisconsin: Sylvester F. Blake (age 4); and Ida Blake (age 2).

Simon S. Blake spent recuperation time at the Harvey Army Hospital in Madison, WI, shown below. Cordelia Harvey, the widow of Wisconsin governor Louis P. Harvey, established the hospital in 1863. After the war, it was converted into the Soldier's Orphans Home, which provided shelter for 200-300 children at a time until it closed in 1874.

The 1870 U. S. Census taken on August 3, 1870, shows Simon Blake (age 41) born in Pennsylvania with real estate of $2,000 and personal estate of $556 is a Farmer and is living in Orion Twp., Richland Co., WI. Living with him is Mary Blake (age 34) born in Pennsylvania, who is Keeping House. Also there are five children, all born in Wisconsin: Sylvester Blake (age 14); Ida Blake (age 11); Viola Blake (age 9); Estella Blake (age 7); and Salme Blake (age 5).

The 1875 Wisconsin census for Richland County shows Simon S. Blake is Living in Orion Twp., Richland Co., WI, with a total of 2 Males, 6 Females.

Between 1860 and 1874 Simon Blake must have purchased the 80 acre Land Patent parcel from his brother Burdine Blake, located in the W 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of Section 18 T9N (80 acres).

By 1874, S. S. Blake owns three parcels of land in Orion Twp. totaling 200 acres for land: the W 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of Section 18 T9N (80 acres); the NE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 18 T9N (80 acres); the NE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 18 T9N (40 acres); and the West 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of Section 17, T9N (80 acres). This mortgage was satisfied on March 10, 1882.

On December 30, 1876, Simon Blake and Mary Blake, his wife, took out a Mortgage from A. W. Bickford in the amount of $900 for two parcels of land totaling 120 acres for land they already owned: The NE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 18 T9N (40 acres in Orion Twp.), and the West 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of Section 17, T9N (80 acres in Orion Twp.). This mortgage was satisfied on March 10, 1882.

The 1880 U. S. Census taken on June 1, 1880, shows Simon S. Blake (age 50) born in Pennsylvania of Virginia and Maryland-born parents is a farmer living in Orion Twp., Richland Co., WI. Living with him is his wife, Mary M. Blake (age 44) born in Pennsylvania of Pennsylvania-born parents. Also there are their children: Sylvester F. Blake (age 23) helping on the farm; Salome C. Blake (age 14); Cora J. Blake (age 9); Dora B. Blake (age 7); and Edna P. Blake (age 3). All children were born in Wisconsin. Simon was the census enumerator for Orion Twp. this year.

The high winds of Sunday last did some damage. S. S. Blake had an outbuilding and the well frame busted. Others suffered loss.

On March 7, 1882, Simon S. Blake and Mary M. Blake, his wife, sold by Warranty Deed to Sylvester F. Blake 80 acres of land for $350 described as: West 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of Section 18, T9N (Orion Twp.). This is the the 80 acre Land Patent parcel that Simon Blake bought from his brother Burdine Blake. The Mortgage of $400 of this date was between Sylvester F. Blake and Ida A. M. Blake, his wife, and Mr. W. Bickford of Richland Center, WI.

On March 7, 1882 Mary M. Blake sold by Warranty Deed to William Abbey 80 acres of land for $600 described as: West 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of Section 17, T9N (Orion Twp.). That same date William Abbey and Ida Abbey, his wife, took a Mortgage on this same parcel for the sum of $525 from: A. W. Bickford of Richland Center, WI. This mortgage was satisfied on June 11, 1884.

At the residence of the bride's parents in the town of Orion, March 18, 1883, by Rev. J. Medd. Mr. Elbion Ewing, of Forest, and Miss Mary Blake, of Orion.

On April 13, 1884, William Abbey and Ida E. Abbey his wife sold by Warranty Deed, 60 acres of land in the amount of $655 to Martina and Ferdinand Bender: The NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 (40 acres), and the East 1/2 of the SW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 (20 acres) of Section 17, T9N (Orion Twp.). This included 60 acres of an 80 acre parcel that Simon Blake owned in 1874.

On April 6, 1885, Simon S. Blake and Mary M. Blake, His Wife, sold 40 acres of land in the amount of $400 to C. Vandewarf in the NE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 18, T9N (Orion Twp.). The mortgage was for 8% per year. This is the Land Patent land from 1855.

On November 17, 1886, Ida A. Blake and Sylvester her husband deeded 40 acres of land to Luzern Pugh for the amount of $155: The SW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 18, T9N (Orion Twp.). Part of a parcel previously owned by George Halsey, Ida's father.

By 1895 S. S. Blake is again shown as owning 40 acres of land in the NE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 18, T9N (Orion Twp.). This is the Land Patent land from 1855 that was sold to C. Vandewarf in 1885.

The 1895 Wisconsin State Census dated June 20, 1895, shows Simon S. Blake is living in Orion Twp., Richland Co., WI. There are 2 Males and 2 Females, all born in the United States.

The 1900 U. S. Census taken on June 16, 1900, shows Simon S. Blake (age 70) born October 1829 in Pennsylvania to Virginia-born parents is a farm owner living in Orion Twp., Richland Co., WI. Living with him is his wife of 45 years, Mary M. Blake (age 64) born April 1836 in Pennsylvania to Pennsylvania-born parents. Eight of Mary's ten children are still living. Also living there is their unmarried daughter, Pearl Blake (age 23) born September 1876 in Wisconsin of Pennsylvania-born parents, who is a school teacher.

About 1900 or 1901 Simon and Mary Blake moved to the City of Richland Center, Richland Co., WI, where they lived the remainder of their days.

By 1903, S. S. Blake is still shown as owning 40 acres of land in the NE 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of Section 18, T9N (Orion Twp.). This is the Land Patent land from 1855 that was sold to C. Vandewarf in 1885.

Simon S. Blake died March 5, 1904, in the City of Richland Center, Richland Co., WI, at age 74. He is buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Orion Twp., Richland Co., WI.

The 1905 Wisconsin State Census taken on June 11, 1905, shows Mary M. Blake (age 69) born in Pennsylvania to Pennsylvania-born parents is a widowed Landlord owning her own home free of a mortgage and living in the City of Richland Center, Richland Co., WI. Living with her is her unmarried daughter, Pearl Blake (age 28) born in Wisconsin to Pennsylvania-born parents, who is a Groceries Clerk.

Mary Magdalena (Ambrose) Blake died May 11, 1909, in the City of Richland Center, Richland Co., WI, at age 73. She is buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Orion Twp., Richland Co., WI.

Iva (Abbey) Mayfield, Melva Mayfield, Mary (Ambrose) Blake and Ida (Blake) Abbey, about 1902

A daughter, Viola Mason, lived first in the West and then in the East and never got to be in a group picture.

Simon S. and Mary M. Blake are buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Orion Twp., Richland Co., WI. Also buried there are their infant sons: John Ambrose Blake and Grant Burdine Blake. Their granddaughter, Ruth Elizabeth Abbey, is also buried there.

Grave marker "MOTHER", presumably Mary Magdalena (Ambrose) Blake (partially submerged)

JOHN A. G. SON OF S. S. & M. M. BLAKE, DIED July 21, 1870, AGED 1 Yr 10 m's 14 d's

Possibly this grave contains both Grant Burdine Blake and John Ambrose Blake, both of whom died in infancy.

Simon S. Blake was born in Martinsburg, Bedford (later Blair) Co., PA Oct. 29, 1829, and died in Richland Center, WI March 5, 1904. Mary Magdalena Ambrose was born near Ligonier, Westmoreland Co., PA April 30, 1836 and died in Richland Center, WI May 10, 1909. They were married in the town of Orion, WI Jan. 18, 1855. Both are buried in the Oak Ridge cemetery there.

As a youth Simon's experiences were many and varied. Until he was fourteen he was in school or helped his father on the farm. Then he tried his hand at learning the trades of merchant tailor, blacksmith and ax-making, but finally engaged in teaching. When he was seventeen he tried to enlist in the service of the United States for the Mexican War. As he was under aged and his parents withheld their consent, he returned to ax-making until he was twenty one. In the fall of 1852 he visited relatives in Ironton, OH, then went on to Arkansas where he worked in the lumbering business for seven months. Returning to Pennsylvania he taught school for a four-month winter term.

It is not certain that Simon's brothers, Thomas and Charles, accompanied him to Richland County, WI when he went there to take up land in 1854, but it was not long before they, as well as his sisters' families, the Brennemans and Hamiltons, joined him. Land at $1.25 an acre enticed many from the east to settle in this part of the frontier. At this time the Ambroses arrived from Indiana. The land was still virgin forest so these first settlers established their homes in the same fashion their fathers had made homes in the forests of Pennsylvania by clearing the land, building log cabins and planting crops.

Simon entered 120 acres of land on Sections 17 and 18 of the town of Orion then went to work in the village as a clerk in a store. Quite possibly it was there he met Mary Ambrose, now a girl of nineteen, and he lost no time in proposing. They were married the following January. He left the store in the fall and taught a 3-month term of school at Pleasant Hill in the town of Eagle. The next spring they settled on his land on Oak Ridge and continued to live there until their latter years when they moved to the city of Richland Center.

They had three small children, Sylvester, Ida and Viola, when Simon responded to the call of Abraham Lincoln and enlisted on August 20, 1862 in the Wisconsin Volunteers 25th Regiment Infantry Company B for a term of three years. He was wounded at Decatur, GA on July 22, 1864 on Sherman's march to the sea. He used to tell his children how the ladies from the plantation mansion brought him food and water until he was taken from the battlefield to the field hospital. As his wound was serious he was sent from there to the Harvey General Hospital in Madison, WI and remained there until he received a disability discharge on March 20, 1865. Simon continued to receive monthly disability payments for his chest wound until his death.

Simon Blake was interested in public affairs and held several town offices. In politics he was a Republican, and Viola would often be his companion in attending political rallies. He was deeply religious and helped to establish the Methodist church on Oak Ridge. This log church is no longer in existence but nearby in the cemetery Simon and Mary Blake lie buried.

Note: John returned to Somerset Co. to get his bride, and remained there near her family. When Jacob KNABLE sold his farm in 1845, he had fifteen living children, and all of them and their families moved with him to Clinton Co., Indiana. There were 52 family members who made the trip, and John and Sally were among then with their eight children. In 1854, some of the KNABLE family, including John and Sally AMBROSE, moved on to Richland Co., Wisconsin, but three of their grown children stayed in Indiana. John moved to the northwestern part of the county and built a house large enough to be used as an inn. The town of Forrest was organized in 1854, but a year later split into two towns. One part kept the name of Forest, and the first town meeting was held at John Ambrose's home. In 1857, John was elected town chairman, which made him a member of the County Board of Supervisors. He was not reelected the following year.

Mary Magdalena Ambrose was nine years old when her parents moved from the old homestead near Ligonier, PA to Clinton Co., IN. They settled on land near Russiaville and remained there until 1854 when they migrated with their relatives, the Kanables, to Wisconsin.

Mary is remembered as a quiet, unassuming person busy with the care of raising a family of ten children, two of whom died in infancy. She seldom attended church as she was usually preparing dinner for the preacher who still had one, perhaps two, appointments yet to make. Their home was not a home of plenty, but they were hospitable and willing to share, a characteristic of most frontier people.

Taken from History of Crawford and Richland Counties, Wisconsin - Union Publishing Company - Springfield, IL - 1884

Rev. Thomas Mason, (deceased) one of the pioneer preachers of Richland county, was born in Pennsylvania in 1818. He commenced preaching in Richland Co., Ill., and was married there in 1847 to Almira Bradshaw, a native of Wayne Co., Ill. He continued preaching in Illinois until 1855, when he came to Richland Co., Wis., and settled on section 30, of town 12, range 1 east, in the present town of Henrietta. He immediately joined the Northwestern Conference, and was appointed to the West Branch circuit. In 1857 he went to Salem, La Crosse county, and preached one year, then to Mendota, where he remained two years, then to Augusta, in Eau Clair county remaining there two years, next to Galesville in Trempeleau county. He then enlisted as private in the 14th Wisconsin, company D, and went to the front. He was killed at the battle of Corinth. He had been appointed chaplain of his regiment, but had not taken the position at the time of his death. He left a wife and six children to mourn his loss. The children are --- Shadrach, Elijah, Sarah, Mahala, Maggie and James E. The two eldest sons, Shadrach and Elijah, were in the same regiment and company with their father. Shadrach was severely wounded in the same battle in which his father was killed. He was discharged on account of disability, and returned home. He soon re-enlisted and died in the service. Elijah served till the close of the war, and is now living in Illinois. Mrs. Mason is now the wife of Henry T Walser, a resident of Woodstock.

James Edward, son of Thomas and Almira (Bradshaw) Mason, was born in the town of Henrietta, Feb. 28, 1861. He attended the district school, and later, the seminary at Elroy, and the high school at Sextonville. At the age of twelve he entered the employ of William Bradshaw as clerk. He continued in the same employment, excepting the time spent in school, until 1881, when he purchased the stock and good will of William Bradshaw and has since been engaged in trade. He keeps a good stock of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, glass ware and crockery, notions, etc. He was married in 1881 to Viola, daughter of Simon S and Mary (Ambrose) Blake, who was born in the town of Orion. They have three children --- Ray and Roy, twins, and Chester.

In the Oak Ridge cemetery in the town of Orion a neglected grave bears two government markers evidently for the same person and the question is why? A bit of mystery creeps into the matter as the names on the two stones is spelled differently though there is no doubt but that the two spellings are both wrong.

On one stone, note the spelling, it says "P. B. Wellsher, Co. B. 33 Wisconsin Infantry."

On the other stone, and again note the spelling, it reads: "Philip Welcker, Co. B. 33 Wis. Infantry."

Noting the slight difference in the spelling of the last name we wondered if perhaps a government marker had been set up when it was discovered a mistake bad been made and a second stone ordered and set up upon the grave of the departed Civil War veteran. The matter interested us as to the correct spelling so we looked the name up in the official roster as published by the government. It did not help a bit for we found the name had been spelled differently upon both markers.

According to the roster there was only one person in Co. B. 33 Wis. Infantry who had a name at all similar to those on the markers. The government lists the name and again note the spelling, as Phillip B. Welcher. He enlisted August 14, 1862, at Boscobel and was mustered out of service August 20, 1865, serving a bit over three years. It might be of interest to note the first name; on one stone it is P. B., on another Philip and the government puts another letter in, making it Phillip.

The Oak Ridge cemetery is another one that is neglected and almost forgotten. However a part of the cemetery is kept up in a way; brush is cut, grass mowed and an effort made to keep the last resting place of old settlers in an orderly way. But for the most part berry bushes, poison ivy, weeds and tall grass run riot. The cemetery is quite an old one, the date of its coming into being is not known. Like many of the old time burying places, it was connected with a church. The church which stood on the site was a hewn log building erected in 1871. It is now gone, having been torn down and no trace of it left. Its site is now part of a hay field which also hides from the view of those who pass along the highway the little cemetery. An odd tree, a dead hickory, is used as a fence post on the south side of the cemetery. It was probably not very large when the church was built, not large now but quite a sight, one worth looking at. Flickers and woodpeckers have been at work on the tree for quite some time and have it carved to perfection.

One of the pioneers of the county, S. S. Blake, is buried in the Oak Ridge cemetery. He came to Richland county, in the spring of 1854 and entered land in the town of Orion and went to the village of Orion where he clerked in a store, later taught school. His farm was heavily wooded and in 1856 he started to clear the land; built a log house which stood for many years. It has now been torn down.

Mr. Blake was a veteran of the Civil War, a member of Co. B, 25th Wis. Infantry, enlisting on August 2, 1862. On the 22nd of July, 1864, he was seriously wounded in a battle at Decatur, Georgia. On March 20, 1865, he was discharged and sent home. Mr. Blake was married on January 18, 1855, to Mary Ambrose, who was also a native of Pennsylvania. She, too, is buried in the Oak Ridge cemetery not far from the hickory tree mentioned above.

Mr. Blake had been an officer of trust and honor in the town of Orion. He was for a time chairman of the town, and so, like many pioneers, his last resting place is in a neglected cemetery. He died on March 5, 1904, and was buried in the Oak Ridge cemetery March 7th. "Ashes to ashes" said the minister as the body was lowered into the grave.

Down on Oak Ridge there is a forgotten cemetery of which little is known. It is a small plot located near the Stibbe farm at the junction of two town roads, one coming up from Hoosier Hollow where it join the main ridge road. One would not notice the three or four tombstones standing or laying there. So obscure is it and so far forgotten that relatives of those buried there "had never heard about it" until told a number of years ago by the writer of this article of its location. A tall hickory tree stands as a marker for the spot.

"Jasper W., son of A. M. and M. A. Breneman, died,
Dec. 30, 1874, aged 4 months and 18 days."

The little boy was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Breneman who will be well remembered by older citizens of this area. Another child is buried in this little spot. A grandparent also sleeps away the years "where the cross roads meet." Strange how folks become separated, with two children buried on Oak Ridge, Mrs. Breneman and her son Mart, are down in the Indian Creek cemetery near the village of Orion, yet Mr. Breneman was laid to rest in the Richland Center cemetery where a flag flies over his grave on each Memorial Day. Anthony was a Civil War veteran. We knew him well.

I was born and reared on a farm owned by my grandparents, Francis and Katherine Suda, located in the township of Orion, Richland County, state of Wisconsin.

My mother, Theresa Suda, was divorced from her husband, my father, Frank Brunslich. They were married in 1896 and lived at Richland Center. My brother, Charles, was born about 1897 and died when only a few months old. He was buried in the Muscoda Catholic cemetery. He lies beside my mother. A headstone marks the graves which was erected in October, 1957.

Mother, when divorced, forsook her married name and used her maiden name, Suda, and of course I was always called George Suda, and never used the name Brunslich.

My father never contributed to my upkeep or paid any alimony to my mother. The grandparents took my mother and me, and gave us a good home and proper facilities.

The home in which we lived was a log-type house about twenty feet wide and thirty feet long, with an upstairs. For a kitchen, there was a lean-to about ten feet by twenty feet.

Considering modern facilities as of today, this home was very inconvenient, with no running water, heating plan, etc. I remember Grandma and Grandpa had a bed downstairs; mother and I slept upstairs. There was a small cellar under the house, where such items as potatoes and canned fruits were kept.

About 1903, Uncle Joe Suda married Antonia Parizek. A frame house was built just west of the log house for them. An old friend and part-relative, Joe Peska, was the carpenter, and I can remember the folks talking about him.

As I grew up and started to remember from childhood, my mother worked with housework, and helped with the minor chores, as feeding the chickens, milking cows, sewing for us and practically all of the relatives. She was very proficient in sewing — making dresses for her nieces, sister, and other apparel for us and possibly neighbors and friends.

On April 28, 1903, Uncle Joe Suda and Aunt Toni had their first arrivals: twin boys, Joe and Tony. Later on Vandy, Louis, Madeline, Agnes and Helen were born. Helen died very young and was possibly six or seven years old.

I started the Oak Ridge country school in 1905 when I was six years old. A Miss Kate Stafford was my first teacher.

The next year a Miss Belle Collard was my teacher for a year or two. She later married Jess Miller, a farmer near her home on what is county trunk "0" in Orion township. Miller has been State Senator for the past twenty years, representing Sauk, Richland and Columbia counties. He was also a prominent auctioneer in those parts. Up to this time, he is still State Senator. His home is in Richland Center.

My next teacher was Willard Manley, one of the better country school teachers in the country. He taught there from 1908 to 1912. At one time, fifty-four pupils attended. Usually school started about September 1st. Thanksgiving vacation and Christmas were always looked forward to. March was always a vacation period, due to the cows becoming fresh or calving, and the kids were needed on the farm to help with the calves.

Under Mr. Manley, I reserved a lot of knowledge from school work. He was a fine teacher and held the respect of his students, as well as the parents.

Mr. Manley was discharged by the school board in the spring of 1912 or thereabouts. A Miss Carrie Wheaton took his place, but she was later replaced by Lola Cornwall. A Mr. J. B. Logue was superintendent of schools in Richland County. He visited school about every year.

From memory I can recall these boys and girls: Stella and Pearl Rella; Earl, Bernard and Leon Smith; John and Louie Williams; Tom, Ike and Martha Thayer; Leo, Mary, Joe and Jim Manning; Glen Snyder; Glen, Hazel, Pearl, Effie, and Ed Radel; Charlie, Bernice, and Leon Fulfing; Ed and Mary Koss; William, Ben, Otto, and Mary Bomkamp; John, Henry and Frank Bomkamp; Albert, John Carl and Paul Leuscheird; Gertie and Ann Leuscheird; Willie and Alfonse Leuscheird; Elmer, Grace, Blanche, Herman and James Conhart; Stefla Landou; Gladys and Hazel Landon; Chet Bulesh; Walter Robingson; Mary and Agnes Komurka; Maggie, Joe, Mabel, Theodore, and George Rue; Austin Rue; Ed, Mary, Frances and Katie Suda; the Sherman's; McLanen's; and Charles Frye.

In reviewing the locality in which we lived, there were quite a few log houses and barns used up to about 1908. As mentioned, mother and I lived in a log house. The Alves Rue, Wes Rue, John Rue, Ed Sherman, Frank Shedivy, Frank Komurka, Sylvester Blake, Touschek, Simon Abbey and George Snyder homes were log, and a few afterwards were covered with siding.

The roads were wagon trails up to about 1915 when the autos started being used. In winter time, snow blocked the roads and many fences were out or gates opened to go through the fields to enable people to make their destination.

About 1904, when the new Oak Ridge School was built, the old school was moved to what was called the crossroads, about one-half mile from the new school. A cheese factory was opened by Schmidt Brothers of Byrds Creek, later of Blue River. These opened up dairying to this locality, and farmers hauled their whole milk here instead of separation or hauling to the Oak Creek factory.

The cheese factory was sort of a community center where farmers met every morning to sell their milk and secure whey for the hogs. Many arguments were in evidence with the patrons over butterfat tests, whey price per-hundred weight, and prices paid for cheese. Some of the cheese makers at the factory were Will and Carl Schmidt, Carl Matthews, Charlie Roberts, Joe Dalskey, Leo Manning, Frank Sherman and Sam Vogel.

Aunt Mary Manning died in December, 1907, and Grandma Suda in February, 1910. Amelia Suda, Uncle Frank's daughter, died in about 1906 of diphtheria. They lived on the ridge about three miles from the Oak Ridge school - east.

After Grandma Suda's death, Uncle Joe Suda traded farms with Uncle Frank Suda, who lived near Basswood. A transfer was made November 1, 1910. Mother, Grandpa Suda, and I lived here until July 29, 1912, and moved to Muscoda.

Recollections of my early boyhood were enjoyable as school was interesting; life on the farm gave me plenty to do and I could live among the birds and the bees. The woods were beautiful in the summer and fall, in those days a great portion of the country.

Now barren, were woods. Game was plentiful, such as rabbits, squirrels, coon, skunk, fox and some deer. Rabbit hunting was by far the greatest fall and winter sport. They were so plentiful that hunters from Milwaukee came to the Manning farm and shipped them back to the city in barrels. In those days, ferrets were used to secure rabbits, but later the state passed laws to eliminate this unsportsmanlike manner of securing game. I recall that game wardens came to the Manning farm and arrested a group of hunters and confiscated ferrets and guns and fined these men a good deal of money.

From a social standpoint, the folks on the Ridge entertained themselves with house dances, with music usually furnished by my Uncle Frank Komurka, who played an accordion. Our neighbor, Henry Sigrist, many times joined and played his fiddle in accompaniment. John Peska, who played base violin, also helped furnish music. These three usually put up a good tune at house parties. Young folks from around Oak Ridge, Hoosiun Hollow, and Ash Creek would come and join in the fun.

Card playing, such as euchre, was a very popular pastime, with some rival contests being fought over the kitchen tables at Mannings, Suda's, Komurka's and Sigrists. Only once did I ever see a man get euchred by holding the right and left bower and ace. This was James Miller playing against Willard Manley, the school teacher. Many of the fellows would walk two or three miles on cold winter nights to play cards, and snow was a foot or more deep. Some would hitch up a horse and cutter and make their trips that way. Games got so interesting that midnight was the usual time to terminate a most enjoyable evening.

Threshing time in the late summer and fall was another community affair. The farmers exchanged services. Women helped in cooking for the threshers. The usual thresher crew consisted of an engineer, water boy, separator man and weigher. Steam engines were of terrific sizes and grain separation too. We would prepare a week or two in advance for the threshers, hauling wood for the steam engine, preparing a place for the straw stack, and checking up on the food supply. Some of the men operating threshing machines and owning the outfits were Joe and Bill Yarrow, Bill Hillesheim, Henry Emshoff and Joe Conkle.

Another thing that I remember well were the gypsies that used to travel through our vicinity. They engaged mostly in horse trading, begging and stealing crops along the highways. On one occasion, a gypsy train passed by our farm home with fifty or more wagons, many horses, cats and dogs. The people traveling this gypsy caravan were dark skinned. The women wore colorful scarves and men bright shirts.

While still living on the farm, I was required to go to Muscoda for Catholic instructions. Usually, Leo Manning and I went together. We left about 9:00 a.m. on Saturdays during June, July and August, and got to Muscoda about noon. Mother usually gave me a quarter. This bought me a ring of baloney, crackers and a bottle of pop for lunch. About 4:00 p.m. we'd go back home, walking the six miles and getting home about 6:00 or 6:30 p.m. Very seldom did we get a ride. Our first auto ride was when coming home on Saturday. Someone with a Model T Ford with top, brass head lights and leather straps gave us a ride up to the crossroads. We were certainly excited about that, as we had it over some other kids who never had an auto ride.

What you have read so far were some of the recollections while living on the farm. Many amusing things happened, and as one looks back to years before July, 1912, they were growing years.

Although people never had autos, radios, television, movies, and other modern conveniences and gadgets, they entertained themselves or saw to it that entertainment was made. An enjoyable day was always the Fourth of July where a picnic was always held at Grandma and Grandpa Sudas. A beautiful dinner was always served and a keg of beer on tap kept up the spirits of the older folks.

We kids played games and picked cherries from the large number of cherry trees aside of the old log home. There were lots of fire-crackers to set off and hear them crack or go boom.

"That while in said service and in the line of his duty at Decatur in the State of Georgia on the 22nd day of July 1864 he received the following wound by the enemy, to wit: He was wounded by gun shot by the enemy, with Minne Ball. The Ball entering at the right hand side of the Back Bone, below the shoulder dropping through the Body lodging near the right breast betwixt the Bone and the Skin and extracted by Surgeon."

Raymond Lawton recalled on July 23, 2003 that Simon liked to take that "minnie Ball" with him when he went to town to get together with his friends, and carried it in his pocket. On one trip he found that the minnie ball he had was missing...he had a hole in his pocket and it had fallen out!

Simon S. Blake, a pioneer citizen of the town of Orion, died at his home in the third ward Saturday morning last, after an illness extending over several weeks. Death was caused by a general breaking down, deceased being nearly seventy-five years of age. Funeral services were held Monday morning, interment taking place at the Oak Ridge cemetery, in the town of Orion.

Mr. Blake was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Blair county. The early part of his life was spent in eastern states and he came to Richland county in the spring of 1854, entering on a 120 acre piece of land in the town of Orion. He was married the following year to Mary Ambrose and together they took up their residence on the land, where they lived for many years. Mr. Blake was a soldier in the civil war, having enlisted in the 25th Wisconsin in August, 1862, and served until the close of the war, being discharged March 20, 1865. He was severely wounded at Decatur, Ga., July 22nd, 1864, and to this wound is ascribed his ill health of recent years. He was a good citizen, an active church worker, and will be mourned by a long list of close friends. A wife and eight children, all grown to manhood and womanhood, survive him.

Simon S. Blake, one of the pioneer citizens of Richland county, died at his home in this city Saturday last after an illness of some time. Mr. Blake was born in Pennsylvania and at the age of seventeen enlisted in the service of the United States for the Mexican war. Owing to his being under age he was not taken into the army. He came to Richland county in 1854 and settled in the town of Orion, where he entered 120 acres of land on Oak Ridge. Mr. Blake was married in 1855 to Mary Ambrose who was a native of Pennsylvania. In August 1862 he enlisted in the 25th Wisconsin regiment, and going south spent the time in fighting for the union until 1864, when his company joined Sherman at Resaca, Ga. and fought their way on to Atlanta. He was severely wounded at Decatur, Ga., the 22nd of July 1864, and was sent to the hospital at Madison. In 1865 he was discharged from the service and returned home. Mr. Blake has been in poor health for some time and his death was not unexpected. The funeral services were held Monday morning and the body laid to rest in the Oak Ridge cemetery.

The funeral services were held at the Methodist church in this city. Six members of his old regiment, Co. B of the 25th Wisconsin infantry, acted as pallbearers.

Mary M. Ambrose was born in Pennsylvania April 30, 1836, and died in Richland Center, Wis., May 11, 1909. When a child her parents moved to Indiana, where they lived for several years and then moved to Wisconsin. She was united in marriage to Simon S. Blake January 18, 1855. They lived on a farm on Oak Ridge for about forty-five years and then moved to Richland Center, where they spent the remaining years of their life. To this union were born ten children, eight of whom are now living: Sylvester F. Blake and Mrs. Wm. Abbey, of Dodgeville, Wis., Mrs. J. E. Mason of Spokane, Wash., Mrs. Joe Davis of Boscobel, Mrs. Luzern Pugh of Ash Creek, Mrs. Chas. Lovell, of Muscoda, Mrs. Wallace Pratt and Miss Pearl Blake, of Richland Center. There are also thirty grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren living.

Mrs. Blake was a faithful wife and mother, beloved by her family and those who knew her. She lived a quiet, consistent Christian life and although her death is deeply mourned yet we are comforted in the thought that she has exchanged this life for a higher and better one.

She was laid to rest by the side of her husband on Oak Ridge, at which place the funeral service was held. The children were all present with the exception of Mrs. J. E. Mason, of Spokane, Wash.

The Death Certificate of Mary M. Blake: White Female, Born April 30, 1836, Age 73 Years 11 Days, Widowed, Born in Pennsylvania, Father was John W. Ambrose, born in Indiana; Mother was Salome Kanable, born in Pennsylvania. Mary was a farmer's wife. Date of Death was May 11, 1909, last seen alive at 1 PM by Gideon Benson, MD. Burial was at Oak Ridge Cemetery on May 14, 1909. The Undertaker was Pratt Bros. of Richland Center, Wis. The cause of death is listed as Lobar Pneumonia after an illness of nine days.

The Death Certificate of Simon S. Blake: White Male, White Race, Retired Farmer, Age 74 Years 4 Months and 6 Days, Father was Burdine Blake, Mother was Mazy Ann Blake, Simon born in Martinsburg, PA, Married to Mary M. Blake, Simon was born October 29, 1829 and died March 5, 1904, Died in Richland Center, Wis. where he also lived. Primary cause of death was a gunshot wound of right lung "also in my opinion affecting his liver". Secondary cause of death was Juandice of a severe type. He had been a soldier. Buried in Oak Ridge, Wis. with the undertaker or person conducting the burial was Fred Pratt. The physician was Geo. R. Mitchell, MD, who lived in Richland Center. Burial Permit dated March 9, 1904 Date of Certificate March 9, 1904 by Dr. Mitchell.

Taken from History of Crawford and Richland Counties, Wisconsin - Union Publishing Company - Springfield, IL - 1884

The town of Orion lies in the southern tier of towns the second from the east line of the county, and is bounded on the north by Richland; on the east by Buena Vista; on the south by Iowa county, from which it is separated by the Wisconsin river, and on the west by Eagle. It embraces the territory of congressional township 9 north, range 1 east, except the eastern tier of sections; and also that portion of township 8 north, range 1 east, which lies north of the Wisconsin river. The surface of the town is rather broken and inclined to be hilly; yet there are many fine farms here and an abundance of natural timber. A large part of the town is upon the rich bottom lands of the Wisconsin river, and no finer scenery, nor more fertile, fruitful land can be found. The census of 1880 gave the town a population of 733. There are 102 farms here in a good state of cultivation.

The first settlers within the limits now comprising the town of Orion were: John R Smith and his son-in-law, Thomas Mathews, the former a native of Kentucky, the later of Tennessee. They came from Grant county, in October, 1842, and claimed fraction No. 6, town 8, range 1 west, and fraction No. 5, town 8, range 1 east, entering the land two or three years later. After they had entered the land, they sold a half interest to Orrin E Barber, and laid out the village plat of the present village of Orion. The plat then laid upon fraction No. 5, town 8, range 1 east, and contained fourteen blocks of eight lots each. This was the initial step of founding the village. Its history is treated at length in the proper place.

R.J. Darnall, a native of Kentucky, came in 1843, and located in Orion, entering land on section 19. He engaged in mercantile trade and also improved his farm. In 1856 he removed to the town of Forest, and for some years kept a hotel. He now lives in Illinois.

William Thompson, a native of Kentucky, came here from Missouri, in 1846, and made a claim on sections 14 and 15. He did not prove up on this place, but entered land on section 2, where he erected a saw-mill. In 1858 he sold out and removed to Kansas. He now lives at Blue Rapids, Marshall Co., Kan., where he is engaged at farming.

William Mathews, a native of Illinois, came at about the same time as did Mr. Thompson. He entered land on section 32, where he lived for several years. He now lives in Missouri.

Green Mayfield, a native of Tennessee, came here from Iowa county in 1847, and made a claim on section 4, entering the land a few years later. He settled there in March, 1848, and still occupies the place.

David Mayfield, also a native of Tennessee, came from Grant county in June, 1847, and entered land on sections 3 and 10. He improved the farm and made this his home until 1883, when he sold out; he now lives at Richland Center.

Carlos Joslyn, a native of Vermont, came here from Mineral Point in 1847 and settled on the southeast quarter of section 9. In 1848 he sold this place and removed to the southwest quarter of section 10, remaining a resident of the town until 1853. He now lives with his son-in-law, L Renick, in the town of Henrietta.

W H Joslyn, a son of Carlos Joslyn, came here in 1848, and was a resident of the town until 1852. He now lives in Richland Center. He has held many positions of public trust and responsibility, and is a prominent man in county affairs.

In July, 1848, a party of Germans, consisting of Henry Sigrist and Henry and Frederick Scherman, came prospecting for land. After selecting land they returned and brought their families in August, of the same year. Henry Sigrist entered the south half of the southwest quarter of section 3. Henry Scherman selected land on sections 2 and 3, where he cleared a farm and lived until the time of his death. Frederick Scherman purchased land of Carlos Joslyn, on section 9, where he remained until the time of his death.

Walter Gage, a native of the State of New York, came here in 1849 and entered fraction No. 2, on section 34. He started a ferry there which, in 1850, he traded to James Law. Mr. Law erected a large frame house upon the land, which at that time was the largest house in the county. The place took the name of "Law's Ferry," and for years this was a landmark to all settlers in this region.

Levi Houts, a native of Indiana, came here in 1849 from Muscoda, and entered land on sections 3 and 10, town 9, range 1 west. He now lives on section 31, town 9, range 1 east.

John Mainwaring, a native of Wales, in company with his two sons, Daniel and John, came here from England, in 1849. Daniel died in April, 1850. The son, John, bought a claim from John Mathews on the southeast quarter of section 33, and entered the land. He lived there two years, then returned to England. In 1865 he came back and bought land on section 27, where he now lives. The father settled on John's land, on section 33, where he lived until 1865 when he went to live with his son, where he died in 1876.

Charles N Kneefe, a native of Germany, came here in 1849 and settled on sections 14 and 15, having entered the land previous to this time. He lived there for several years and is now a resident of Dane county.

Alanson Hurd, a native of the State of New York, came at about the same time and settled on the northwest quarter of section 3. He lived there a short time and then removed to the southeast quarter of section 10. He now lives in Vernon county.

Reason Barnes, a carpenter, by trade, came here in 1849, but in a short time removed to Boaz.

Dr. Jacob Brimer, a native of the State of New York, came here in 1851 and located on section 21. His home is now on section 2.

John Henry Demmer, a native of Germany, came here from Milwaukee in 1853 and purchased a claim of Alanson Hurd on section 3. He entered the land from the government and still makes it his home.

Peter Bobb, a native of Maryland, came here from Pennsylvania in 1854 and purchased land on section 32, where he still lives.

Hezekiah Jones, a native of Kentucky, came here from Indiana, in 1854. He selected land on section 10, where he still resides.

In the spring of 1854 Abram Miller, a native of Kentucky, came from Indiana and bought land of the Joslyns, on section 10. He still occupies the place.

Henry Wilson, a native of Butler Co., Ohio, came from Indiana in the spring of 1854 and bought land on section 9, where he still resides.

Frederick Schmidt came from Germany in 1854 and bought land on section 16, where he lived until the time of his death.

Simon S. Blake, a native of Pennsylvania, came at about the same time and entered 120 acres of land on sections 17 and 18. He erected a log house on the latter section, improved a farm and still lives here.

James Lewis, a native of Ohio, came in 1854 and located on section 7, where he still resides.

John Bobb, a native of Pennsylvania, came here in the spring of 1855 and bought land on section 32, where he cleared a farm and erected a neat house and barn. When the war broke out, he enlisted, and died in the service. The only child he left, a son, now lives in Nebraska.

John Hamilton, a native of Pennsylvania, came from there in the spring of 1855 and located in the village of Orion, where he still lives.

After this time the settlement became more rapid, and the vacant land in the town was soon taken by an enterprising class of pioneers who have all done their share toward developing the natural resources of the town. Many of these are noticed elsewhere, so it will be unnecessary to make further reference to them in this connection.

The first birth in the town of Orion, as well as the first in the eastern portion of the county, was that of Mary Mathews. She was born Nov. 13, 1843, and was a daughter of Thomas and Catharine Mathews. She married Sanford Miller, and remained in Orion for a number of years, then removed to the town of Forest, where she died in 1870. She left three children, two of whom are now living at Reedsburg.

The first child of German parentage born in the town, was Henry, a son of Henry and Caroline Sigrist, born April 24, 1849. He is now married, and is still a resident of the town.

The first marriage in the town was that of Joseph Parrish to Catharine McClellan, the ceremony being performed by J R Smith, a justice of the peace. They were a runaway couple from Muscoda. They lived in Orion for a time, then moved to Muscoda. The husband finally died in the town of Eagle, where he had been keeping a saloon.

One of the first deaths in the town was that of John Nipple, who died in about 1850. The remains were buried in the cemetery at Orion.

The first school in district No. 1 was taught by Mrs. David Mayfield, at her house, in 1851. Mrs. Alanson Hurd taught the next term of school. In 1853 a log house was erected on section 10. This school house was in use for several years, and was then replaced by a neat frame building.

The school house in district No. 4, which is located on section 8, was erected in 1858. David Wacker was one of the first teachers in this building.

The first school in district No. 5 was taught in 1858 by Simon S Blake, in a frame building erected during the same year on the eastern part of section 19. During the war the organization of the district was abandoned and the territory was attached to other districts. In 1865 the district was re-organized and a hewn log school house was erected, in which Sarah Gaston was the first teacher. In the winter of 1881-2 a new building was erected in which Julia Thompson taught the first school.

The first school in district No. 7 was taught by Lucita Law during the war. The district had purchased a building that had been erected for school purposes on section 34, but there were then but few settlers in the neighborhood, and they could not support a school, so the building was sold to district No. 7 to raise money to pay the teacher. The building was moved to the southwest quarter of section 32, where it was used for school purposes until 1880, when a neat frame building was erected a quarter of a mile east of the old site. Ada Bobb was the first teacher in the present house. Minnie Lawrence is the present teacher.

The first religious services in the northern part of the town were held in the old log school house on section 10, by Rev. Mr. Pryor, but no organization was effected at that time.

Rev. Josiah Burlingame preached in the same building and held protracted meetings in an early day. He organized a Methodist Episcopal class, among the first members of which were: Green Mayfield and wife; Alanson Hurd and wife; Charles Frye and wife and David Mayfield and wife. Charles Frye was chosen class leader. For a time the class met for worship in a building on section 4, which belonged to Green Mayfield, and later in the school house on section 8. Revs. Hall, Cook and Chase were among the pastors who served the class. During the war some of the members went into the service, while others moved away and, for a time, meetings were discontinued. Some years later Rev. Brakeman re-organized the class at a meeting held at the school house on section 8. The following were among the members who joined at that time: Simon S Blake and wife, Charles Bobb, Charles Frye and wife, Randolph Sandlin and wife, Andrew Crawford and wife and Andrew Shane and wife. Charles Bobb was chosen class leader. The class met for worship in the school house until 1871, when they erected a hewn log church edifice on the southeast quarter of section 7. Among the pastors who have filled the pulpit for the class are: Revs. Jackson, Smith, Crouch, Waldron, McGinley, Sackett, Burnett, Clifton and Med. The last named is the present pastor.

At an early day a Sabbath school of this denomination was organized at the school house on section 8, of which Charles Frye was the first superintendent. J W Shane is the present superintendent.

The first meetings of members of the German Evangelical Church were held at the house of Henry Sigrist, in about 1852. Rev. Riegel, from Sauk county, was the preacher. Rev. Schnake organized a class in the log school house, soon after it was built. Among the first members of the class were: Henry Sigrist and wife, Henry Scherman and wife, Charles Kneefe and wife, Fred Scherman and wife and William Scherman and wife. Henry Scherman was the first class leader. Meetings were afterward held in a vacant log house on section 3, which was purchased. In 1869 the frame building which they now occupy was erected on the old site. Rev. Nesh is the present pastor.

A Sabbath school was organized at an early day, of which Henry Scherman was the first superintendent and held the position for many years. Henry Flemme is the present superintendent. The school meets every Sunday, and has a large attendance.

There is also a cemetery under the management of this society, which is located near the church.

The German Lutheran Church was organized in 1857, at the Ash creek log school house, by Rev. Rolock. Among the first members were: Philip Daniel Berger and wife, Henry Demmer and wife, and Frederick Smith and wife. Several others joined soon after the organization was effected, and services were held in the school house for a number of years. A substantial log church, however, has been erected, in which services are now held.

In 1848 William Thompson erected a saw-mill on section 2. The power was derived from Ash creek, and the mill was equipped with an old fashioned "up and down saw." Machinery for grinding corn was soon added. It was a small affair, but was a great convenience to the settlers in those days. Caleb Merris, a resident of the town of Ithaca, once came to the mill to have some corn ground, and, on his return, he told the neighbors that it was the "smartest" mill he had ever seen. He said that "as soon as it got through with one kernel, it would go right to work on another." Mr. Thompson sold out in 1858 to Jacob Krouskop, who erected a carding mill, and in 1864 Jacob Brimer purchased the property.

The town of Orion was first called Richmond, the name being suggested by Thomas Mathews. In 1856 the name was changed to Orion.

The first election in the town of Richmond was held at the house of Mathew Alexander in the fall of 1848.

The town of Richmond was organized at a town meeting held at the house of Thomas Mathews in April, 1849, at which time the first officers of the town were elected. John R Smith, Myron Whitcomb and R J Darnall were chosen inspectors of the election. The following officers were elected: Supervisors, John R Smith, chairman, Adam Byrd and William Kincannon; clerk, John Nipple; collector, Stephen Finnell; assessor, Walter B Gage; superintendent of schools, Marvin White; justices of the peace, William Thompson, E H Dyer, B B Sutton and Mathew Alexander; constables, Nathaniel Green, William White and Daniel H Byrd; overseers of the highway, L B Palmer and William White.

At the annual town meeting held at the school house in district No. 1, on the 3d of April, 1883, W M Brimer, Abram Miller and Christopher Ford were chosen inspectors, and Levi Houts and William H Dooley clerks of the election. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Supervisors, W M Brimer, chairman, Herman Bremmer and Henry Emshoff; clerk, Levi Houts; treasurer, W H Dooley; assessor, John Emshoff; justices, W H Palmer and John Flamme; constables, Chris Berger, Lewis Miller and Thomas Owens; sealer, W H Palmer. At this meeting it was voted that a town house be erected, but no money was appropriated for the purpose.

The first settlers on the plat of the village were John R Smith and his son-in-law, Thomas Mathews; the former a native of Kentucky, the latter, of Tennessee. They came from Grant county in October, 1842, and claimed fraction No. 6, town 8, range 1 west; and fraction No. 5, town 8, range 1 east, entering the land a few years later. After they had entered the land they sold a half interest to Orrin E Barber, and they laid out the plat of the village of Richmond, now Orion. It was then located on fraction No. 5, town 8, range 1 east, and contained fourteen blocks of eight lots each. About one year later Mr. Barber sold his interest to Smith & Mathews, and shortly afterwards Thomas Mathews purchased his partner's interest and became sole proprietor. In the fall of 1842, Smith & Mathews started a ferry. The first boat was a platform on two canoes, and for some time the only business the ferry had was the transportation of hunters. When it was necessary to convey a team across the river, the horses were made to swim and the wagon was loaded on the boat.

In 1843 they built a flat boat, and a number of years later, when travel increased, a more expensive boat was built by Mr. Mathews, which was run by horse power. He continued to operate the ferry until the bridge was built, in 1870.

The first man to sell goods on the site of the village was Ephraim Dyer, who kept a small stock of groceries, notions and whisky; the latter being a staple article in those days. Mr. Dyer had in 1849 erected a one story frame building for the purpose --- the first store building in the village. He remained in trade about one year, when he sold his building and moved a small portion of his goods to Highland, Iowa county.

Molbry Ripley and Dr. D. L. Downs purchased the Dyer building. They made an addition to it and put in a large stock of general merchandise, including groceries, dry-goods, hardware, crockery, glassware, drugs, and, in fact, everything in general use in this region at that time. They continued in business for a number of years. Dr. Downs now resides in Richland Center, and is probate judge of Richland county. Mr. Ripley after leaving Orion engaged in trade at Boaz and died there.

The first building erected on the village plat was put up by Smith & Mathews in October, 1842. It was a log building about 16x18 feet in size and stood on fraction No. 6. Main street is now located over the site.

The first frame dwelling house in the village was erected by Thomas J Dayton in 1847-8. He opened the first hotel in the village and kept it for a number of years. The building is still standing, having been greatly improved by additions, and has been run as a hotel the most of the time since its erection. Jefferson Miller is the present proprietor.

The first blacksmith was John Nipple, who opened a shop in 1844. Thomas Mathews furnished him with a shop and the necessary tools. A few years later Nipple died and was succeeded by Thomas Palmer, who continued in business about two years, then sold out. Since that time there have been various parties here in this line, but at present the village is without a blacksmith.

About 1854 William Roush started a tin shop. He remained in business until the war broke out, when he enlisted, and later settled in Iowa.

The first school in the village was taught by Mary Melanthon (now Mrs. Joseph Elliott) in a log building erected for the purpose. The second school was taught by Levi Houts in the same building.

The first religious services in the village were held at the house of Thomas Mathews, as early as 1845. The first preacher was Moses Darnell, a Baptist clergyman from Grant county. He preached here but a few times and was followed by a Methodist preacher from Pedlar's Creek. The first organization was effected by the Methodists.

The inhabitants of Orion were at first supplied with mail from Muscoda until 1851, a messenger being employed to carry the mail and leave the same at Downs' & Ripley's store. In 1851 the post office was established with M Ripley as postmaster. The following have served as postmaster since that time: Messrs. Roush, Byrd, Sims, Miller, Clinginsmith and Dawson. The latter is the present postmaster.

The village was first named Richmond, but when application for the establishment of a post office was made it was found that there was another post office of that name in the State, and the name of Orion, which was suggested by Judge A B Slaughter, was adopted.

While the following personal sketches are not made up entirely of pioneers of this county, you will find among them some of the oldest settlers in the county.

Capt. John Smith was born in Kentucky, about 1790, and there grew to man's estate. While yet a young man he moved to Illinois. He there enlisted in the Black Hawk War and served as captain. He was married to Elizabeth Holliday, who was also a native of Kentucky. He worked at his trade, which was that of millwright, in Illinois until 1838, when he moved to Wisconsin and located in Iowa county, and there engaged in the lead mines, remaining there until 1841, then removed to Grant county, and settled in Muscoda, where he worked at his trade. He was employed on the first mill ever erected in Richland county, on Mill creek, to which county he came in 1842, remaining here till the time of his death, which occurred in 1851. He left a wife and two children --- Catharine, the wife of Thomas Mathews, and Benjamin M, who now lives in the town of Forest. Mrs. Smith afterwards married K J Darnall, and died in the town of Forest.

Thomas Mathews, son-in-law of J R Smith, and with him the pioneer settler of Orion, was born in Tennessee May 7, 1814. When he was three years of age, his parents moved to Illinois and settled in Montgomery county, where they remained but a short time, then removed to Morgan county, and thence to McDonough county. Thus, as will be seen, his younger days were spent in a new country, where the opportunities for acquiring an education were very limited, yet such as there were he improved, and, being naturally studious, improved his evenings, which he spent at home, and in that way acquired sufficient knowledge for practical purposes. He lived with his parents until 1836, then came to Wisconsin and worked in the lead mines in that part of Iowa now known as La Fayette county. He remained there two years, then to Platteville, Grant county, and engaged in mining one year, and from there to the Pickatonica diggings, Iowa county. In the year 1840 he was married to Catharine Smith, and moved to Muscoda. In company with J R Smith he took a contract to build a dam across Mill creek for Parish Mill. They continued to live at Muscoda till 1842, moving from there to Richland county, settling on the site of the present village of Orion, and built the first log cabin in the town. Their cabin, though an humble one, was where strangers ever found the 'latch string out,' and many procured food and shelter there. Mr. Mathews has been engaged in various enterprises. Among others he has kept a hotel for several years. He was the first white man to go up Pine river in a canoe as far as the natural bridge. He also, in company with J R Smith, cut the first road from the Wisconsin river to that place.

William Dooley was one of the first explorers of the Pine river valley. This was in the spring of 1845 and he was engaged at Galena by one Coles, to come to Richland county and assist in building a mill. At this time he was but eighteen years old, and was thus starting out in life, full of vim and energy and bent on securing if possible a fortune, or at least a competence. He was promised $18 per month for his services, and faithfully performed his part for one year, when to his dismay he found himself cheated out of every dollar so honestly earned. This was discouraging for a beginning, but with characteristic pluck he commenced work in the woods getting out lumber and rafting down the river. By this sort of perseverance and with commendable economy under adverse circumstances, he succeeded in accumulating enough money, so that in 1848 he was able financially to enter some land, and at once sought a location, making selection on section 32, town 9, range 1 east, now known as town of Orion. He continued at work in the lumber regions until 1852. When Mr. Dooley first landed in this section of country, it was indeed a wilderness, inhabited by Indians and wild beasts of the forest. A man's life was not always considered safe, particularly when offense had been given the "noble red man." On one occasion the Indians concluded to go to Muscoda, and stealing a "dugout" at Orion, crossed the river. The whites followed to the town and got into a quarrel with them which resulted in the killing of two Indians and wounding three others. The shooting was done by the McLoud boys from Richland Center. Mr. Dooley received information immediately concerning this unfortunate occurrence, and well knowing the nature of the Indian, was troubled as to the best course to pursue. Every settler except Dooley and Petty left their homes and went to Muscoda, remaining four or five days. These two parties, not knowing what moment a return might be made, or what time the Indians might proceed to wreak vengeance by destroying life and burning property, bringing desolation and disaster to the settlement, were not in a desirable situation, yet they "held the fort," and came out all right. In 1849 the Swinehart's, Hazeltine's, Hesler's, Hawkins and Waters brothers came, which made quite an addition to the settlement, making life more safe and pleasant. Mr. Dooley was married June 9, 1852, to Sarah, daughter of James and Lucinda (Calhoun) Laws, and settling on his land, devoted his time to clearing and farming. The same season he purchased more land adjoining, located on section 5, town 8, range 1 east, which had been previously entered by John Nipple. He now has a large, well improved farm, a commodious frame house, a large frame barn, and is in the full enjoyment of a nice home, honestly and fairly gained. He was born in Madison Co., Ky.., May 9, 1827. When he was six years old his parents removed to Missouri, where he remained until his eighteenth year, when he went to Galena and spent two months in mining, then came to this county as before stated. Mr. Dooley is a man much respected by the community, and his reputation for honesty and integrity is second to none. Mr. and Mrs. Dooley are the parents of eight children --- William Henry, Lucinda, Mary Ella, Adella A, Eldred S, Ida A, Lu Etta and Gilbert E. Mary Ella is now the wife of Patrick Fay, a teacher in the schools at Richland Center. All the other children are still living at home.

David Mayfield and wife, on the 20th day of June, 1845, located on the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 3, town 9 north, range 1 east. They had just removed from Platteville. The only neighbors they had on Ash creek at this time were William Thompson and family, but they had chosen this as their future home, and concluded to make the best of it. It being late in the season when they arrived in the county, they could not raise any crop but potatoes, but this was a very important crop to the pioneers, as it furnished them a goodly portion of their winter supply of food. In the fall of 1845 Green Mayfield and family, a brother of David Mayfield, arrived from Platteville and settled where he now resides but there was no further increase in the settlement until 1847 when the Joslin family arrived. Mr. Mayfield continued farming until 1883, when as he found himself advancing into old age he sold his farm of 164 acres for $2500, removed to Richland Center and retired from active life. David Mayfield was born near Nashville, Tenn., in August 1807. In 1811 the family removed to Indiana and one year later to Illinois where the mother died in 1818. The subject of this sketch then came to Wisconsin, and followed mining until 1834 then engaged in farming at Platteville. In 1837 he married Martha Arterbury, she died in 1841. He subsequently married Almira Woods and by this union five children have been born, two now living --- Rosa, now the wife of August Larson and Delia Mayfield, now in Nevada.

Green Mayfield a representative man and early settler of Richland county began his pioneer life in infancy, his parents having emigrated to Illinois while he was quite young and when that was a new country. Here they remained but five years when they again took a journey westward locating in that part of the territory of Michigan since embraced in the State of Wisconsin and in Grant county, where he grew to manhood. In 1832 when he was fourteen years old he enlisted in the service of the United States and served through the Black Hawk War, returned to his home at the close of that conflict and engaged in mining. He was joined in marriage with Maria Keister Aug. 9, 1841. She was born in Posey Co., Ind., Nov. 9, 1823. They settled near Pedlar's creek and engaged in mining a few months, then moved to Bee town at which point he followed the same business, his wife assisting. Mining here not proving a remunerative enterprise they soon moved and settled on a claim he had previously made near Platteville. Here they were unfortunate in that both were attacked with fever and ague, and it took all their earnings to pay the doctor's bills, and he at last sold out to close up. In July, 1846, he came to Richland county in company with his brother David, being pleased with this section of the country he concluded to make a settlement and returned for his wife. The great trouble with him was a lack of money, and he hardly knew which way to turn to make necessary arrangements, finally he went to a merchant with whom he was acquainted in Platteville told him he was going to Richland county and wanted enough supplies to last him until fall when he would pay him with venison and honey. The merchant knowing him to be an honest man provided him with the necessaries of life and they started for a new home in Richland county, using his brother's team to move a few household goods, their only possessions. Arriving at the ferry kept by Mr. Mathews he told him he did not have any money to pay his way over, "Never mind" said Mathews, "I will put emigrants across for nothing for we want this country settled." They then made their way to his brother David's where they spent the summer. He made a claim on section 4, did not immediately move to it, but made their home with this brother until the following March, when having erected a small log cabin they moved into it on their own place. Meanwhile he had been successful in his hunting expeditions, and had paid up his store bill, but as yet had no money with which to enter his land; therefore he continued hunting, killed large numbers of deer and bear, and for them found a ready market at Platteville, the saddles of venison bringing two dollars and a half and the pelts from fifty cents to one dollar. He tanned and dressed deer skins with which he made clothing throughout --- coat, pants, cap and moccasins. Many incidents of thrilling interest are remembered in connection with the early experience here of Mr. and Mrs. Mayfield. Starting out one day for the purpose of killing a deer, his dogs started a large bear which ran up a hill the canines in close pursuit. When on the summit the dogs caught and furiously attacked "old bruin," and in the fight both bear and dogs came rolling down the hill together. At the bottom foothold was again secured and the bear and dogs seemed bent on getting away. Finally they drew near where Mayfield was standing, and one of the dogs caught the bear by the ear, when he raised up embraced the dog and began to hug as only a bear can. Finally they fell to the ground, when Mr. Mayfield approached and with a knife, having a blade twelve inches long, stabbed the bear on the opposite side, when he released his hold and started away with the knife in his side. The gun was empty and there was no other way than to use a club, which weapon was used with good effect, and securing the knife cut his throat putting an end to his existence. This is one among the many similar adventures of this pioneer. In the course of a few years he had accumulated money enough to enter his land, when he devoted more time to clearing a farm. In August, 1862, he enlisted and joined company B, 25th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. The principal battle in which he was engaged was at Kinston, North Carolina. While he was in the service of his country, his wife, assisted by her two daughters and a small son carried on the farm raising good crops. He was discharged with the regiment in June, 1865, and returned home. His industrious family, had already planted the farm in corn, and in the fall he gathered 1500 bushels. For some years he did not have a team of his own and used his brother's. At the present time we find him with a well stocked farm, comfortable frame house, large frame barn and 445 acres of land, besides other claims. He has always been enterprising, and among the first and most influential in establishing schools and Churches. Mr. and Mrs. Mayfield both joined the M E Church at the time of its organization in Orion. They are the parents of three children --- Sarah M, now the wife of Jeff. Wilson, who lives in Crawford county; Maria A, now the wife of Joseph McMillen and Elijah G. The latter was born in the town of Orion, Jan. 16, 1853, and was married in 1875 to Dreatz Powells, and two years later settled on his present farm on section 9. They have three children --- Cyrus L, Miles and one not named at this date.

Frederick Sherman (deceased) a pioneer of Richland county, is a native of Germany, and was born upon the banks of the Rhine, May 11, 1812. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, spending his younger days in school. On attaining his majority he joined the army and served in the cavalry four years. He came to America in 1848; landed in New York and came directly to Milwaukee and was there married to Carolina Banner, who was also a native of Germany. He immediately started with his bride for their new home. He purchased eighty acres of land and entered another eighty on section 9, town 9, range 1 east, now known as Orion. Here they endured the hardships of pioneer life, and lived to clear a good farm and build a comfortable frame house. His death occurred in March, 1879. Mrs. Sherman died in 1856, leaving three children, two of whom are now living --- Louisa and Herman. He afterwards married Maria Rilling. She has one son --- August. Herman was born in the town of Orion, April 30, 1852. He received a common school education, and lived with his parents until 1870, when he enlisted in the 17th regiment, United States Infantry, and served on the frontier five years. He was in the campaign on the Big Horn river, in 1873. After his discharge from the service he returned home and resumed farming, and in 1876 was married to Leah Lewis, who was born in the town of Richland. He then settled upon his present farm, which is a portion of the old homestead. He has improved the place and built the frame house which they now occupy. They have one child --- Jennie.

Henry Schuerman was born in Germany, upon the banks of the Rhine, March 22, 1818. His younger days were spent in school, where he acquired a liberal education, after which he engaged in farming. He came to America in 1848, landed at New York and came directly to Richland county, thus becoming one of its pioneers. He entered a large tract of land there on sections 2 and 3, town 9, range 1, town of Orion. In the spring of 1849 he went to Watertown and was there married to Sabilla Jorris, also a native of Germany, and started immediately with his bride for his new home in the wilderness, where he had already commenced clearing. The nearest point at which they could obtain provisions was in Iowa county, and also the nearest mill. He was obliged to cross the river in going there, and sometimes the water would rise while he was upon the other side, and he would be obliged to wait several days before he could cross to return home. At times the neighborhood would become short of breadstuff and they were obliged to grate corn to make it into meal. Mr. Schuerman was an industrious man, and cleared a large farm. His pioneer log cabin, which was sixteen feet square, he remodeled by building an addition to it, and weather-boarding and painting it, so that it has the appearance of a frame house. It is probably the oldest building used for a dwelling, in the county. He built a frame barn, 40x60 feet, with a stone basement, and planted an orchard, and was one of the few successful fruit growers in the county. His death occurred April 26, 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Schuerman were the parents of six children --- Katie, Annie, Eliza, Emma, George and Henry. Mrs. Schuerman and her two sons now live at the homestead.

Henry Sigrist was a pioneer of Richland county, coming here in 1848. He entered land on section 3, town 9, range 1 east, in what is now the town of Orion. He built a log cabin 16x32 feet in which he lived till 1862, when he built the frame house in which he lives at present. He is a Prussian by birth, born Oct. 12, 1823. He attended school until fifteen years of age, when he engaged in a wholesale house to learn the business, serving two and a half years, at the end of which he received a certificate, showing him to be a proficient clerk. He then secured a situation in that capacity at a town 200 miles distant, where he was employed two years, then was employed upon a farm two years after which he entered an agricultural school, which was under control of the government. He studied there for two years. In 1848 he was married to Caroline Shulte, a native of Prussia, and immediately sailed for America, landed in New York and came directly to Milwaukee. Here Mrs. Sigrist was taken ill. He took care of her until she was convalescent and then started forth in search of a suitable place to locate. On reaching Richland county, he made a selection of land and returned to Milwaukee for his wife who was sufficiently recovered to bear the journey, and they started for their new home in a wagon, and reached their destination at the end of five days. They have lived to witness a great change in the country. What was then a wilderness, is now a cultivated and prosperous neighborhood, occupied by an industrious and thrifty class of people. A good school house and church are close at hand. He at first built a log cabin, 16x32 feet. Sept. 28, 1861, he enlisted in the 6th Wisconsin Battery and the spring of 1862 went to the front. He took part in many of the most important engagements of the war. Among them were: Jackson, Champion Hills, Port Gibson, siege of Vicksburg, Missionary Ridge, and Corinth. He was honorably discharged at the expiration of the time for which he enlisted. During his absence his wife had the frame house, in which they now live, built. Mr. and Mrs. Sigrist are the parents of six children --- Henry, Eugene, Emma, William, Ida and Bertha. Since coming to America Mr. Sigrist has learned the English language and by extensive reading in that, as well as his own language, is enabled to keep posted upon all subjects.

James Laws, for many years proprietor of the well known Laws' ferry, was born in North Carolina in 1801. When he was seventeen years old his parents removed to Illinois, and were early settlers in Richland Co., Ill. He was there married to Lucinda Calhoun, who was born in South Carolina and was a relative of John C Calhoun. Her parents moved to Kentucky when she was about one year old, and a few years later to Indiana, thence to Illinois. In 1845 Mr. Laws moved to Wisconsin and located in Iowa county, where he entered and improved land until 1849, when he traded it for the ferry he managed so long. His death occurred in April, 1865, while in Illinois on a visit. His wife died three years later at the home of her daughter, Mrs. William Dooley. They were the parents of eleven children, six now living --- Sarah, Henrietta, Ida, Gilbert L, Lucetta and Caroline.

John Mainwaring, one of the pioneers of Richland county, was born in the town of Swansea, Glamorganshire, South Wales, May 28, 1821. Here he attended the public schools until he was fourteen years of age, when his parents moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, where he was sent to an advanced school for some time. His father, who was a stone mason by trade, and master of the art, was engaged upon the Edinburgh, New Haven and Leith railroad, then in process of construction, as superintendent of the mason work, and the subject of this sketch was called from school to assist his father in his work. He was employed there for two years, when his parents moved to Caermarthen, South Wales, where his father, by the death of an uncle, had fallen heir to property, consisting of a stock of marble, a shop and tools, his uncle having been a marble engraver. The father carried on the marble business for a while, then, having a call from a railroad company, left the business in charge of his son, who continued it till he was twenty-five years of age. He then joined his father, who had taken a contract to construct a piece of railroad, which they completed in 1848. In the spring of 1849, in company with his father and brother Daniel, he left his native land and came to America, coming directly to Wisconsin and entering land on section 33, town 9, range 1 east, now the town of Orion. After remaining here two years, he returned to his native land and remained till 1861, being there employed as road master on the railroad that he helped to construct. In 1861 he started on his return to his western home, crossing the Atlantic in the noted steamer, Great Eastern, and making the trip in nine days. He left England May 1 and arrived in Orion on the 15th. He lived upon his land on section 33 until 1865, when he sold it and purchased 160 acres on section 27, upon which were about twenty acres of cleared land and a log cabin. He immediately began clearing and putting out fruit trees, and otherwise improving. He has been successful as a farmer, has purchased adjoining land, and now has 320 acres, of which 125 are cleared. He has erected a frame barn and a commodious stone house. He was married June 4, 1854, to Eliza Rees, who was born in Caermarthen, South Wales, Dec. 13, 1831. Nine children have been born to them --- John, Lillian, Edward, Mary, William, Thomas, Frank, George and Laura Eva. The older four children were born in England. Mr. Mainwaring is a man of intelligence, well educated, and well informed upon all subjects.

William Henry Dawson, the present postmaster of Orion, was a pioneer of the town of Eagle, where he settled in the woods in September, 1849, entering the northeast quarter of section 26. He was born in Switzerland Co., Ind., June 19, 1825. When he was four years of age his parents emigrated to Indiana and settled in Clinton county, where they were among the pioneers. Here his father purchased a tract of heavy timber land from the Government, with the intention of clearing a farm, but in one month after his arrival there he sickened and died, leaving a widow with five small children to maintain. She proved equal to the emergency, and, with the aid of her children, raised corn, wheat, oats and flax. The latter she spun and wove into cloth, selling what she did not need in her family. The subject of this sketch, as soon as he became old enough, assisted his mother in her laborious task. He took advantage of the time in winter by attending a subscription school, and acquired an education sufficient for the duties that have followed. His mother died when he was eighteen years of age. After that time he was engaged in the manufacture and sale of tobacco until the fall of 1849, when he was married to Sarah, daughter of William and Charlotte Miller. One week after marriage they started for their new home in Wisconsin with a pair of horses and wagon, taking with them household goods and provisions. They camped out by the way, and after arriving at their destination, lived in their wagon until a log cabin could be built. That being completed, he immediately commenced clearing a farm. The following winter, provisions being scarce, he took a job of chopping and splitting rails, and split 2000 for $10 and paid the whole sum for one-half of a hog, the whole hog weighing 200 pounds, obtained at Avoca, or the site where Avoca now stands. In July, 1861, he enlisted in the 11th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers, company D, and was mustered into the service as second lieutenant; went south and served nine months, then, on account of disability caused b