Land
Patent Records
1847 Wisconsin Territorial Census:
Rosendale, including
Eldorado and north half of Springvale
Waupun, including south
half of Springvale
1860
Census (Partial)
Civil War Veterans Credited to the Town of
Springvale
This town--Township 15 north, or Range 15 east--is purely an
agricultural district, being without railroads, villages, water-powers or manufacturing
interests. By an act of the Legislature approved March 11, 1848, it was made a separate
town, and the first election was held at Abel Willard's house. The name was suggested
either by Squire Dana Lamb or Warren Whiting--on account of the numerous vales and springs
within its limits. The first land was entered in 1844, on Section 35, by John A. Allen,
but the first settler was William Cheeney, who located on Wedge's Prairie, Section 33, in
April 1845; very soon after, Chester Hazen located in the town, and was the second
settler. Alban Harroun, James Post, W. H. H. Dodd, E. B. Parsons, Rev. Dana Lamb, Squire
Dana Lamb and several others are claimed as the first settlers by both Rosendale and
Springvale, because, doubtless, the latter for two years formed a part of the former.
The first religious services were held at William Cheeney's house,
in November, 1845.
The first post office was Rosendale, Squire Dana Lamb, Postmaster,
established in May, 1846, in Rosendale. The first office in Springvale proper was Pulaski,
established February 26, 1847, William Cheeney, Postmaster.
The first marriage was Mr. E. Smith to Miss Sallie Warren; second,
F. Schofield to Calista C. Bemis; both in November, 1846.
The first birth was H. Sydney, son of John and Melissa Hazen, in
September, 1847.
The first religious (M. E.) class was formed June 3, 1846, by Rev.
W. G. Miller, at William Cheeney's house, consisting of William Cheeney, leader, Abigail
Cheeney, D. S. Cowles, Ann Cowles and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Moore.
The first death was Phoebe, wife of John Yates and daughter of Amos
Prouty, died March 14, 1848.
The first school was taught by Mrs. H. N. Jewett in a shanty on
Section 18.
The first cheese factory was built by Chester Hazen at Ladoga.
Rev. Dana Lamb was the first minister in Springvale. He desired to
name the town Aynee, the Indian Name for Rock River, a branch of which rises in this town,
but failed to have his views indorsed.
The Methodists erected a church edifice in Section 2, in the town of
Waupun, in 1868, which is used largely by members living in Springvale. It cost $1,800.
The Trustees were J. M. Hawkins, William Cheeney, W. S. Randall, G. G. Randall, W. M.
Stearns.
The Baptist society never built a church in Springvale.
The Universalist society was organized in 1849, but has never
erected a church edifice. It was organized by Rev. Joseph Ward, and has twenty members.
The Catholics held their first services in 1847 at J. O. Riley's
house, Father Haley, of Watertown, officiating, and for three years thereafter services
were continued by different priests at Mr. Riley's residence. In 1858, the church
building, costing $1,500, was erected on Section 17, and has been supplied by priests from
Fond du Lac, Ripon, or Waupun, since that time.
The Chairmen and Clerks of Springvale have been as follows: 1848,
Warren Whiting and Charles D. Beers; 1849, Warren Whiting and A. C. Whiting; 1850, Warren
Whiting and A. C. Whiting; 1851, H. I. Ackerman and Charles D. Beers; 1852, A. C. Whiting
and James T. Elliott; 1853, A. C. Whiting and Joseph Scribner; 1854, A. C. Whiting and
Edward Ensign; 1855, W. B. Disbrow and Edward Ensign; 1856, W. B. Disbrow and Edward
Ensign; 1857, Edward Ensign and F. M. Wheeler; 1858, W. B. Disbrow, J. B. Spencer; 1859,
W. B. Disbrow and J. B. Spencer; 1860, G. F. Wheeler and Edward Ensign; 1861, Warren
Whiting and Edward Ensign; 1862, A. C. Whiting and Edward Ensign; 1863, J. B. Spencer and
Edward Ensign; 1864, J. B. Spencer and Edward Ensign; 1865, F. M. Wheeler and Edward
Ensign; 1866, F. M. Wheeler and Edward Ensign; 1867, James H. Schofield and C. H. Seymour;
1868, James H. Schofield and C. H. Seymour; 1869, S. Wilkinson and C. H. Seymour; 1870, S.
Wilkinson and C. H. Seymour; 1871, S. Wilkinson and G. W. Sizer; 1872, S. Wilkinson and C.
H. Seymour; 1873, T. K. Gillett and Frank Bowe; 1874, T. K. Gillett and Frank Bowe; 1875,
F. M. Wheeler and Frank Bowe; 1876, T. K. Gillett and Frank Bowe; 1877, A. C. Whiting and
Frank Bowe; 1878, F. M. Wheeler and Frank Bowe; 1879, T. K. Gillett and D. E. Whiting.
History of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin,
Western Historical Company, Chicago: 1880*
*Like many similar publications of the period, Western's
1880 history relies heavily on interviews with early residents conducted many years later.
Narratives were subject to selective, sometimes creative recollection, and the resulting
work should be appreciated for the historical publication that it is but viewed with a
critical eye as a history. We caution viewers to verify the data contained in these early
stories.
