Bounded on the North by the town of Green Lake; on the East by Fond du Lac county; on the South by Dodge county; on the West by the town of Manchester. Passing up the valley of the Grand River, one mile from Markesan, is McCracken's mills-- mill built 1848, grist mill 1855, three stories high, two run of stone--capacity, seventy barrels flour in twenty-four hours--Mr. Austin McCracken, the builder and owner of these mills, and the lands adjacent, was one of the early settlers of the county, and from the appearance of a homestead opposite to his mills, and all the surroundings, one would well believe he never had regretted emigrating from his Eastern home and becoming a denizen of the State; doubtless like all pioneers in a new country, he has been through a various and trying experience, and is now reaping a rich reward for all his trials and privations.

From these mills to the village of Mackford, it is about one and a half miles, where we find a Post-office; two large Stone Buildings; one Variety store; one Blacksmith Shop; one Wagon Shop; one Carpenter Shop; two Cooper Shops; two Shoe Makers; one Tailor; District School.

The first saw mill built in the county, was erected at this place in 1843, by Mr. H. McDonald. Messrs. McDonald, Carhart and White erected in 1850, a four story stone grist mill, two runs of stone--capacity, 100 barrels flour in twenty-four hours. There are quite a number of dwellings; population of the village 150. Here was the first improvement of the water power of Grand River, by Mr. H. McDonald, who built the first house in town in 1836; subsequently broke up the first land and raised the first staples.

This town derives its name from the first part of McDonald's name, Mac., and a crossing place over the river. This Gent was sanguine of making a place at this point, and nothing but the ___ in the manger policy of some of his old neighbors prevented this place from becoming a place of business and importance--sociable, free, companionable, as well as gentlemanly, his future plans were frustrated, not only to his own detriment, but the disappointment of the speculators.

Land lying north of this river, openings; somewhat broken; gently rising; whilst lands north of the village of Markesan are handsome; gently rising; rather sandy soil; high land clay loam; farms in good cultivation. Leaving Mackford village south you rise a heavy hill for half a mile or more, covered with oaks; soil clay loam; thence the prairie as far as the eye can ___ cast, south and west; this prairie is not so uneven and swelling as most others in the county; taking your position upon the highest point, which may be two miles or more south of Markesan, you take in one of the most beautiful prairies that can be found in the northwest; swelling as pleasantly as the long heavy roll of the sea when left in a midsummer's calm after a storm, so wave after wave falling to the horizon for miles to the west and south; the north and west fringed with trees, here and there a glade, a homestead reposing as in a bower of beauty and fruitfulness, farm houses dotting the landscape, cultivated farms, the bountiful increase of the land in golden stacks, the zephyr or the more stirring winds of Heaven bowing before its invigorating and healthful influence, field on field of the ripening corn should make man bow himself, not only in joyful thanksgiving, but raise the voice in praise to the Creator of the universe for so rich a display of His beneficence, declaring love and sympathy for the wants of man, and that overruling Providence which has directed his wandering footsteps to so rich a heritage. Here the heart of man may rejoice in his destiny; here is a land to supply the wants of the body; hopes here are not futile; rich rewards await the labor of man's hand; here he may, in the language of the Prophet, "sit under his own vine and fig tree," none to molest or make him afraid; thankful as he should be for the rich provision of God's grace, he calls no man master; his labor, his toil, his success, his joys and his hopes are for himself, his family and friends; none to gainsay, he may go forth to his labor with the security of a general surrounded by his conquering army; everything contributes to this lord of the soil; God's providence sends showers of rain to ripen his growing harvest; the ships upon the sea, the merchant at his desk, the mechanic at his bench, the lawyer at the bar, and, yes, the ministers of the living God, all, all work to promote his comfort and enjoyment; his labor not only sustains the commercial world, but every avenue that the genius of man has discovered, either for profit or pleasure, or the wants of men, are all maintained by the tiller of the soil, and why then should not the farmer be proud of his occupation? Kings on their thrones are not waited upon with more alacrity to supply their wants. Heaven, earth and seas combine with man to supply his needs and wants, and may be to gratify a morbid appetite and luxurious taste.

The settlement and cultivation of this town have been much impeded by the demands of the land sharks. A great portion of the best lands was, till within a short period, held by greedy speculators, but they have let go their hold, and the soil of this beautiful township is being brought rapidly under cultivation.

The valley of the Grand River is from a half to a mile wide; it is bordered more or less with marsh and timber; marsh, on east side, borders the town in Fond du Lac county; passing through the town from east to west the valley is bounded mostly on the south by high lands, openings bordering on the prairie. A swale of timber land from Grand River to Lake Maria passes west of the prairie; soil clay loam. On section sixteen are about one hundred and fifty acres of marsh; on the west side is a marsh, one half of which is in the town of Manchester. Good water can be found all over the town, and as to location, from six to ninety feet. Soil on prairie from one and a half to two feet deep; very many good houses and barns.

Lake Emily lies upon the south bounds of this town; Lake Maria in the southwest part, covers about six hundred acres, one-half of which is in the town of Manchester. There is no known outlet to this lake, except at very high water, flowing over into the swale above mentioned. The fish in this lake were killed out in the hard winter of 1847 or 8. They were smothered, as is believed, as the lake was entirely frozen over and a heavy body of snow, four feet deep. In the spring winrows [sic] of fish were cast ashore, since which time there has been no fishing. Greatest depth thirty feet.

About three-fourths of this town is under cultivation. The inhabitants are Yankees, with the exception of a few of foreign birth.

There are places of public worship for the different denominations of Christians, at Alto, Whitewater and Markesan.

The greater portion of this town is prairie, lying south of the Grand River, extending east to the county line and south to the boundaries of the town and west to the swale of timber. Town organized in 1849. Seven votes at first town meeting. Present number of inhabitants in the town, including Markesan, about 1,800. Chairman Board of Supervisors, Mr. McDonald, L. Wooster and J. S. Toby, Assistants; Justices, James Field, S. B. Welch, S. Johnson and J. Chappel; Clerk, J. C. Matthews.