OVERVIEW OF FAIRWATER CHRONOLOGY

1844-45: The first settlers begin arriving in the town of Metomen, including Colonel Mansfield, Daniel Eggleston, Jacob Carter,  S. H. French, Robert Jenkinson, and Matthew Wilson in the area north of the Grand River.

1846: The first post offices in Metomen are established, one called Mansfield, the other called Grand River, both located just north of the future site of Fairwater.

1847: Dakin & Lathrop build a flour mill on the Grand River below the dam in what would shortly become Fairwater. The dam apparently was built in the year previous to power a sawmill.

1848: The postoffices north of the developing village of Fairwater are consolidated in the village, with William Plocker appointed postmaster. Plocker begins construction of his inn just south of the village.

1856: The Free Will Baptist Church building, first church structure in Metomen, is built in Fairwater to serve a congregation established in 1850.

1856: The Milwaukee-Horicon Railroad is completed in Metomen, passing through Bungtown, shortly to become Brandon.

1859: The Reverend Johann Strieter, a traveling Lutheran missionary and circuit rider, begins preaching in Fairwater.

1860: The First Regular Baptist Church building is constructed to serve a congregation organized in 1850, the same year the Free Will Baptist congregation was established.

1861: Twenty men from Fairwater and its immediate area enlist during the first year of the War of the Rebellion.

1862: Six men from Fairwater and its immediate area enlist during the second year of the war.

1863: The Free Will Baptists construct a parsonage. An additional Fairwater area man enlists in the Union army. Henry Martin of Alto is killed in the fighting, George Carter of Fairwater is badly wounded, and Thomas Leach of Fairwater is killed while fighting Quantrill in Kansas.

1864: Five additional men from the Fairwater area enlist in the army.

1865: Henry Pangburn, a solider on disability leave, dies the morning after arriving home in Fairwater.

1872: The First Evangelical Lutheran Church is organized on June 21 and a church is built the same year.

1876: The temperance people of Fairwater and vicinity organize Lodge No. 111, of  I. O. of the Good Templars on February 9.

1882: The railroad reaches Fairwater as part of the construction of the Markesan spur of the C., M. & St. P. Railroad, laying the groundwork for the development of "Jim Town," a new commercial area that will compete with the established commercial district in "Bill town." Mining is very active at the granite quarry at Utley.

1892-93: The flour mill burns to the ground shortly after Gottlieb Stelter sells the property to John Laper.

1896: Daehn's Opera House is constructed in Bill Town.

1897: New additions to the Lutheran church are made at both ends of the building. A tower and balcony are added on to the south end, a bell is purchased and room to accommodate the pulpit, altar and organ are added on to the north end. A partial basement is also added to the building.

1899-1900: Fire destroys the eastern half of downtown Jim Town. W. A. Bonesteel purchases the first automobile in Fairwater.

1903: The Fairwater State Bank is organized, and a bank building is constructed in Jim Town. A new Free Will Baptist church building is constructed next to the cemetery. The Fairwater Register newspaper begins publication and advertises that C. C. Cease is operating the new hotel in Jim Town.

1910: The Fairwater Creamery, operating on Main Street, is organized. A new public school building is opened with 60 students.

1912: Jesse Laper erects the first electric light plant in Metomen on October 22 on the site of the former flour mill.

1913: A canning factory is constructed by William Sink and C. Yunker and begins operation under the name of the Fair Water Canning Factory.

1916: The first automobile agency in the village is started by Jesse Laper on Main Street next to the river. It is later sold to Alex Laper.

1917: Ella Card is appointed railroad station manager for the village. The Fairwater Hemp Company plant is built by Towne and John Miller and Herman and Walter Beilke. It is shortly followed by a second plant, the Badger Hemp Co. owned by W. R. Abercrombie and Jesse Laper.

1921: The village incorporates as a village. W. R. Abercrombie is elected the first village president. Jesse Laper builds the Laper Dance Pavilion.

1922: The Fairwater Creamery builds a modern creamery building on the site of the old plant on Main Street. After a series of disastrous fires in the village, J. W. Laper, B. H. Card, and P. H. Sommer are appointed to organize a fire department.

1931: Both of the village's hemp plants close due to foreign competition.

1934: The Ripon State Bank purchases the Fairwater bank. Elmer Zellmer becomes the village's postmaster and will serve in that capacity for 27 years until retiring in 1961.

1940: The Fairwater canning company is purchased by the American Stores Company and Howard Blodgett becomes manager. A village park is constructed on the grounds of the old stockyard next to the depot.

1941: The Fairwater Civic Center is constructed. Daehn's Opera House, no longer needed, is demolished. The Free Will Baptist church adjacent to the Fairwater Cemetery is demolished.

1942-45: Thirty-Seven men from the Fairwater area enlist in response to the start of World War II. Three will be killed in action:Harold Henslin, Roy Born and Ervin Link.

1945: Reverend O. C. Bliese retires as pastor of the Lutheran Church after 18 years in that position.

1948: The Lutheran Church purchases the old Village Hall for use as Sunday School space.

1949: A village library begins operation in the old Village Hall with Cirena Lenz serving as librarian. The last German-language service in the Lutheran Church is held on Good Friday.

1957-58: The 85-year-old Lutheran Church building is demolished and replaced by a modern church building.

1960: A new, two-room classroom wing is added to the public school.

1961: The Fairwater School District is merged with the Brandon School district.

1968: The Lutheran Church demolishes its 63-year-old parsonage and replaces it with a new parsonage.

1975: The 53-year-old Fairwater Creamery building is demolished and not replaced.

1977: The Fairwater Public School building, now part of the Markesan School district, is closed.

Chronology Overview
Settlement, 1844-1860
Civil War, 1861-65
Post-Civil War, 1866-1900
Twentieth Century, 1901-1975