elected to the second; the members of the first, in almost every county, declining a re-election. The member of the second convention, Daniel G. Fenton, represented the counties of Chippewa and Crawford. Legislatures. (1.) Senate.-Third district, D. G. Fenton, 1848; James Fisher, 1849; James Fisher, 1850; Hiram A. Wright, 1851; Hiram A. Wright, 1852. Nineteenth district, Benjamin Allen, 1853; Benjamin Allen, 1854; William J. Gibson, 1855; William J. Gibson, 1856. Thirtieth district, William T. Price, 1857; William H. Tucker, 1858; William H. Tucker, 1859; B. E. Hutchinson, 1860; B. E. Hutchinson, 1861; N. S. Cate, 1862; William S. Purdy, 1863; William Ketcham, 1864; William Ketcham, 1865; Benjamin Bull, 1866. Thirty-first district, J. W. Ranney, 1867; J. W. Ranney, 1868; C. M. Butt, 1869; C. M. Butt, 1870; Angus Cameron, 1871. Fourth district, William Nelson, 1872; William Nelson, 1873; A. E. Bleekman, 1874; A. E. Bleekman, 1875; J. Henry Tate, 1876; J. Henry Tate, 1877; George W. Swain, 1878; George W. Swain, 1879; O. B. Thomas, 1880; O. B. Thomas, 1881; Van S Bennett, 1882; Van S. Bennett, 1883. (2.) Assembly.-William T. Sterling, 1848; James O'Neill, 1849; William T. Sterling, 1850; William F. Price, 1851; Andrew Briggs, 1852; Hiram A. Wright, 1853; William F. Terhune, 1854; James Fisher, 1855; Andrew Briggs, 1856; Buel E. Hutchinson, 1857; James R. Savage, 1858; Thomas W. Tower, 1859; William C. McMichael, 1860; Daniel H. Johnson, 1861; Ole Johnson, and Jeremiah M. Rusk, 1862; James H. Layne and Daniel B. Priest, 1863; William H. Officer and Albert Bliss, 1864; William H. Officer and James Berry, 1865; Newton F. Carpenter and Alexander Woods, 1866; John W. Greenman and Albert Bliss, 1867; Henry Chase and Daniel B. Priest, 1868; John M. McLeez and Van S. Bennett, 1869; Reuben May and Van S. Bennett, 1870; Joseph W. Hoyt and Henry A. Chase, 1871; Reuben May and Henry A. Chase, 1872; Peter Jerman and J. Henry Tate, 1873; William Frazier and Edgar Eno, 1874; Ole Anderson and James E. Newell, 1875; John Stevenson and Timothy S. Jordan, 1876; Peter J. Dale and Henry H. Wyatt, 1877; Christian Ellefson and Allen Rusk, 1878; Jacob Eckhardt, Jr., and Roger Williams, 1879; Jacob Eckhardt, Jr., and David C. Yakey, 1880; T. O. Juve and Allen Rusk, 1881; T. O. Juve and Thomas J. Shear, 1882; Christian Ellefson and Marshall C. Nichols, 1883. George W. Jones, elected Oct. 10, 1836; James D. Doty, elected Sept. 10, 1838; James D. Doty, elected Aug. 5, 1840; * Henry Dodge, elected Sept 27, 1841; Henry Dodge, elected Sept. 25, 1843; Morgan L. Martin, elected Sept. 22, 1845; John H. Tweedy, elected Sept. 6, 1847. By the constitution adopted when the territory became a State, in 1848, two representatives in Congress were provided for by dividing the State into two congressional districts. The first district was composed of the counties of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Jefferson, Racine, Walworth, Rock and Green. The second district was composed of Washington, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Calumet, Brown, Winnebago, Fond du Lac, Marquette, Sauk, Portage, Columbia, Dodge, Dane, Iowa, Lafayette, Grant, Richland, Crawford, Chippewa, St. Croix and La Pointe. As what is now Vernon county was then a part of Crawford, of course the people therein were in the second district. Under this authority, an election was held May 8, 1848, and William Pitt Lynde was elected member of Congress for the Doty afterward resigned, he having been appointed Governor of the Territory by President Tyler, Sept. 13, 1841. 2d Dist -XXXVIIth " first district; Mason C. Darling, of Fond du Lac, 2d Dist.-XXXVth 6th Dist.-XXXVIIIth 1857-59-C. C. Washburn; 1859-61-C. C. Washburn; 1861-63-Luther Hanchett* W. D. McIndoe; 1863-65-W. D. McIndoe; 1865-67-W. D. McIndoe; 6th Dist.-XLth 1867-69--C. C. Washburn; 6th Dist.-XLIst "" 1869-71-C. C. Washburn; 6th Dist.-XLIId 1871-73-Jeremiah M. Rusk; 7th Dist.-XLIIId 1873-75-Jeremiah M. Rusk; 7th Dist.-XLIVth 1875-77-Jeremiah M. Rusk; 7th Dist.--XLVth 1877-79-H. L. Humphrey; 7th Dist.-XLVIth 1879-81-H. L. Humphrey; 7th Dist.-XLVIIth 1881-83-H. L. Humphrey; 7th Dist.-XLVIIIth 1883-85-G. M. Woodward; 66 *Died November 24. 1862. CHAPTER XIII. COUNTY GOVERNMENT. James M. Bailey; register of deeds, Jacob Higgins; district attorney, Lorenzo A. Pierce; coroner, Clement Spaulding; surveyor, Samuel McMichael; assemblyman, Andrew Briggs. The records were signed by O. Wisel, clerk of board, and W. F. Terhune, deputy. Unlike many of the western States, Wiscon- | County clerk, William C. McMichael; sheriff, sin's system of county government has always been that of either the board of supervisors or commissioners. This system was brought to its present state of perfection when the territory became a State, but this system was in vogue years prior to this, the territorial counties being governed by the same system. In the winter of 1850-1 the Legislature passed an act creating the county of Bad Ax. It was set off from Crawford county, and organization of the territory so set off was authorized. The first election was held in April, 1851, at which county officers were elected. It is to be presumed that the first meeting of the board of supervisors was held shortly after the April election; but the records do not throw any light upon it. According to the record the first meeting of the board of supervisors was held on the 11th of November, 1851, at Viroqua. The only business transacted was to canvass the votes cast at the November election of 1851. The following officers were declared elected: On the 11th of November, 1851, the next meeting of the board of supervisors was held at the house of Moses Decker. At this time taxes were levied; the whole valuation of the county being $32,897. One month later another meeting of the board was held, at which the following bills against the county were allowed: W. F. Terhune, services as deputy clerk, $24.86; Orrin Wisel, services as clerk, $5.57; Oliver Langdon justice of the peace, $3.87; James M. Bailey, deputy sheriff, $16.22; Westfall Decker, assisting sheriff in arrest, $2; Rufus Gillett, sheriff, $25.61; L. A. Pierce, district attorney, $39— donated to county; Abraham Cyfert, $4.50; Abraham Stiles, supervisor, $9.70; Moses Decker, services of his son Thomas, 75 cents; Eldad Inman, constable, $3; Peter La Morse, supervisor, $3. It was ordered that the office of the clerk of circuit court be kept at the house of William F. Terhune until further notice. At this time the entire county was organized as one civil town. From the records, it would appear that the board of town trustees also composed the board of county supervisors, and frequently the board would meet as town trustees, then organize themselves into the board of supervisors and proceed to the transaction of county business. The records do not disclose the names of the members, but from the bills allowed it would appear that Abraham Stiles and Peter La Morse were members of the board in 1851. On the 29th of March, 1853, the board of supervisors divided the county into four townships named respectively: Bergen, Jefferson, Bad Ax and Kickapoo. Up to this time the whole county had constituted one township. This matter is treated at length in another chapter. This increased the board of supervisors to four, each civil town being entitled to one representative in the county board. In the spring of 1853, the name of Thomas J. De Frees appears signing the records as chairman of the board, although it is not disclosed when he was chosen as such. A regular meeting of the board was held on the 3d of May, 1853, at which Andrew Briggs was chosen chairman of the board upon motion of William H. Austin. The minutes of this meeting were signed by Andrew Briggs, chair William C. McMichael succeeded Orrin Wisel man, W. H. Austin and Orin Caulkins. as clerk. At a meeting of the board of supervisors held on the 31st of July, 1852, it was ordered that the clerk of the board "post up notices for letting the contract for building a room for the county offices to be kept in; also for painting the outside of the court house, with lime mortar, and further, that the 14th of August, next, be set for hearing proposals." In August the contract for building was let to Orrin Wisel, for $65; that of painting the outside of the court house with "lime mortar" was let to Moses Decker for $7.50. At the same session the record states that "Thomas J. De Frees be, and is hereby appointed a commissioner, to survey and sub-divide into a town plat, the land which was donated by Moses Decker, Solomon Decker and Isaac Decker to Bad Ax county." On the 12th of November, 1852, the board examined the assessment rolls and ascertained that the aggregate valuation of real and personal property in the county was $64,432. At this session Edmund Strong presented his resignation as county treasurer and John Longley was appointed to fill the vacancy. On the 29th of November, 1853, the county board divided the town of Bad Ax, and created that of Farwell. At the same session they granted Orrin Wisel a license to keep and maintain a toll bridge for ten years across the Kickapoo river, on section 8, township 11, range 3. The toll rates were fixed as follows: Footman, three cents; horse and rider, ten cents; each additional horse, mule or ass, five cents; two horses and wagon, twenty-five cents; horse and buggy, fifteen cents; yoke of oxen and wagon, thirtyfive cents; for each additional yoke of cattle, ten cents. At the regular May session, 1854, the board organized by the election of Andrew Briggs as chairman for the ensuing year. The board was composed of Andrew Briggs, town of Bad Ax; Isaac Spencer, Jefferson; T. J. De Frees, Viroqua; Benjamin Hill, Kickapoo, and John Warner, Bergen. One of the official acts at this session was the changing the name of the town of Farwell to that of Viroqua. The board also expressed themselves in favor of building a court house for the county during 1854, and suggested 30x38 feet, two stories high as the size. T. J. De Frees drew plans and specifications for the building and proposals were advertised for. At the July session, 1854, the proposal of Samuel McMichael to build the court house for $2,100 was accepted. A special session of the board was held on the 9th of March, 1855, at which the town of Viroqua was divided, and the towns of Forest and Hillsborough were created. A petition from the citizens of township 13 north, of range 1 east, to be set off as a civil town, was rejected. On the 13th of November, 1855, the board of supervisors of "Bad Ax" county convened in annual session, and organized by the election of William H. Goode as,chairman for the ensuing year. The board was composed of the following named gentlemen representing the various towns in the county. Andrew Briggs, Bad Ax; W. H. Goode, Viroqua; Isaac Spencer, Jefferson; William H. Austin, Kickapoo; Joseph N. Martin, Hillsborough; John M. McLees, Bergen. At this session, the former resolution of the board creating the town of Forest was repealed, and the town of Union was created embracing the territory of township 13, ranges 1 and 2 west. Forest was again created embracing the territory of township 14, ranges 1 and 2 west. At the same session the towns of Webster, Christiana, Greenwood and Harmony were created. Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of township 12, range 5, were detached from the town of Bad Ax and annexed to Jefferson. At the March session, 1856, James W. Chaney succeeded Andrew Briggs as supervisor from the town of Bad Ax. On the 5th of September, 1856, the board of supervisors convened for the regular fall term. William A. Bullard was elected chairman for the ensuing year. The record states that the board was composed of the following gentle men: W. A. Bullard, Viroqua; James M. Bailey, Bad Ax; J. R. Savage, Jefferson; Edmund Klopfleisch, Hillsborough; Uriah Gregory, Greenwood; Ransom Bennett, Harmony; E. Bursett, Christiana; O. Wisel, Kickapoo; J. Allen, Webster; G. White, Forest; Josiah Newburn, Union; R. Bennett, Bergen. At this session the board ordered that the old court house be "advertised for sale, and sold to the highest bidder." Samuel McMichael was appointed county surveyor to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William F. Beavers. There seems to have been quite a change in the the personnel of the board at the November term, 1856: Engelbrit Bjorseth appeared from Christiana; Giles White from Forest; and R. S. McMichael from Harmony : For the first time the question of what should be done with the county poor came to the notice of the board at the November term, 1856, and it was declared that all distinction be abolished between county and town poor. Three county superintendents of the poor were elected, who were to hold their offices three years. They were Isaac Williams, Robert Adams and T. J. DeFrees. It was also ordered that a tax of two mills on the dollar, amounting to $1876.76 be levied for the purpose of purchasing a poor farm and erecting suitable buildings. At the December session, 1856, one new supervisor took his seat-James Marker, from Jefferson, The superintendents of poor were authorized to purchase a poor farm. It was to be improved, and cost not more than $5,000. At the March session,in 1857, R. S. McMichael was chosen chairman of the board to fill the vacancy occasioned by the removal of William A. Bullard, the former chairman, from the town of Viroqua, which he had been elected to represent. At the same time two petitions were presented for the division of the town of Bad Ax and the creation of two new civil towns; one was from William S. Purdy et. al.; the other from E. B. Houghton, et. al. The chairman appointed Aaron White, of Viroqua, J. R. Savage, of Jefferson, and James Allen, of Webster, a committee to investigate, and they reported in favor of granting the Purdy petition. Accordingly the new town of Sterling was created and ordered organized. The boundaries of the towns of Bad Ax, Jefferson and Viroqua, were all changed somewhat; the new civil towns of Wheatland, Whitestown and Masterson were created, and the name of the town of Bad Ax was changed to "Lockhaven," at the same session. Wheatland, White and Masterson (now Clinton) was organized at the same session. The regular fall session of the board of supervisors, for 1857, convened at Viroqua on the 24th of August. The organization of the board was effected by the election of Aaron White, of Viroqua, as chairman for the ensuing year. The following named gentleman constituted the board: Aaron White, Viroqua; James Berry, Jefferson; R. S. McMichael, Harmony; J.W.Chaney, Bergen; Adam Carlisle, Wheatland; James Allen, Webster; W. H. Austin, Kickapoo; A. B. Donaldson, Sterling; Nelson Cady, Lock Haven; Charles A. Hunt, Masterton; David Wilt, Christiana; Giles White, Whitestown; Jacob Noffseniger, Forest; George Sheldon, Hillsborough; Uriah Gregory, Greenwood; Josiah Newburn, Union. Among the first acts of the board at this session was to change the name of the town of Lock Haven to Franklin. Later in the session the name of the town of Masterton was changed to Clinton. On the 26th of August, 1857, the board authorized the county clerk to advertise for plans and specifications for a jail, which was to cost not more than $4,000 and not less that $1,500. A bounty of $3 was offered for every wolf killed within the county. At the annual meeting of the board in November, 1857, Joel T. Shaw presented his credentials and took his seat as member from the town of Wheatland. At the same session a petition for the division of the town of Kickapoo, from Chancey W. Lawton and others, was laid upon the table. The towns of Hamburg and Coon were created at the same session. In December, 1857, the new town of Liberty was created, the territory being set off from the town of Viroqua. At the same time the board ordered that the court house be insured for at least $1,500. At the June session, in 1858, the board met on the 7th and proceeded to organize for the ensuing year, by the election of Alson Keeler, of Viroqua, as chairman. The following members elect appeared and qualified, as supervisors from their respective towns: Levi Pierson, of Hillsborough; C. A. Hunt, of Clinton; Allen Rusk, of Liberty; George Spurrier, of Kickapoo; Alson Keeler, of Viroqua; Jones P. Sawyer, of Franklin; W. T. McConnell, of Jefferson; C. G. Allen, of Sterling; O. Chaney, of Hamburg; Levi Shorey, of Bergen. A set of rules were adopted at this session, many of which are still in force, having been adopted in each successive year, since that time. The committee, which drafted them, was composed of Adam Carlisle, C. A. Hunt and Uriah Gregory. Nothing having been done regarding the building of a jail for the county, since their former resolution regarding it, the board on the second day of the session resolved that a jail be built at a cost of $1,500. An effort was made to raise the amount to $2,500, but the motion was out-voted. W. T. McConnell, Charles A. Hunt and A. Keeler, were appointed a commit tee to attend to building the jail. The sum of $500 was appropriated for the purpose of building a fire proof vault for the safe keeping of the county records. |