This site represents an ongoing effort to collect information related to the early history of the town of Metomen and the village of Fairwater. The following information is made available from a work in progress:

1847 Wisconsin Territorial Census
1850 Federal Census
1860 Federal Census
Federal Land Sales Records
Roster of Civil War Veterans

Metomen is situated in the centre of the west tier of towns in Fond du Lac County, and is in Range 14, east, Town 15, and is bounded north by the town of Ripon, east by Springvale, south by Alto, and west by Green Lake, in Green Lake County.

The town was organized and named in the fall of 1845. Frank Bowman, who lived on section three, just across the line in Alto, but owned the five forties lying directly opposite in this town, was the person who christened the town, he proposing the name of Metomen, which is of Indian origin, signifying "corn ground," and it was adopted by the settlers.

G. M. West, Metomen, Springvale, Alto
and Waupun, During the War, 1867

This is called the richest town in Fond du Lac county, cities not included. This reputation is sustained by the taxes paid in 1879 by Metomen, which were about $300 in excess of those in any other town.

The town as a whole is a rich, undulating prairie, scarcely one-twentieth of its area being timber.

Its elevation, its gradually rolling surface and deep, warm soil combine to render it attractive and productive. Other portions of the township claim equal fertility. Much of the land is higher than any of the surrounding country - in, in fact, a watershed from which the streams flow southeasterly, northerly, and westerly. The East Branch of the Rock River rises in Metomen. The Grand River, in the southwest corner, affords mill privileges at Fairwater. Wells upon the high prairie are not deep, but furnish exhaustless water supply.

The land has been well adapted to wheat-raising, but, lately, attention has been profitably turned to stock-raising, particularly of sheep; and wool is becoming a leading export. For general farming purposes, Metomen is excelled by few in the State.

History of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin,
Western Historical Company, Chicago: 1880

If you have information to share, please contact Bob Schuster by email at rmschust@facstaff.wisc.edu or at 6020 Kristi Circle, Monona, Wisconsin 53716 (608) 221-1421.

Map of Fairwater, ca. 1885
(Courtesy, Arlene Erdman)

The Lutheran church in Fairwater, ca. 1925; Dr. Buckland's home and office is in the foreground

Sketch of Almon Osborn's farm in the vicinity of Reeds Corners

Section of the Fairwater Register, 1903.