Adams Township
| Extracted from the "History of Green County, Wisconsin" published by Union Publishing Company, Springfield, Ill. 1884; page 644: |
| The town of Adams embraces congressional township 3 north, range 6 east. It is bounded on the north by the town of York, on the east by Washington, on the south by Jordan, and on the west by Lafayette county. James BIGGS of Ohio, made the first settlement within the limits now comprising the town of Adams, coming here before the Black Hawk War and surveying and subdividing range 6. He discovered a rank growth of what is termed "lead-wed" or "lead plant" whose roots are said to extend forty feet below the surface. Gen BIGGS knew that a line of this weed on the surface was an indication of a fissure that might contain lead. In 1835, he settled here, but for several years, his family spent much of the time at "Hamilton Diggings." William BRAZEL, native of Illinois, came in 1837 and in 1840, moved into the town of Jordan, living there until 1849 when he sold out and moved to the town of Adams where he had previously entered land. Here he lived until his death in 1851. Jonas SHOOK settled in 1837 on section 24 . Shook's Prairie got its name from this pioneer settler. Richard GABRIEL, native of Ohio came in 1838 and settled on section 13 and then moved to the town of York. Other settlers were: sons of Robert BAILEY; Willam L, James H and David D coming in 1840 to section 23; Matthew CUNNINGHAM 1842; Michael CROTTY, 1842; Cutler WILKINS, 1843; Davis ROUB, 1844; Samuel KELLY, 1844; Martin MULLIN, 1844; Frank MULLIN 1844. Other early settlers were William MORRISON; R M JACKSON; Reuben HOLCOMB; David COVEY; George DEVOE; Russell ALLEN; Levi ALLEN; Uriah BAILEY; Oliver FULLER; Adam SHRAKE; Orville SPAULDING; Robert P GRINNELL. The first birth was Julia, daughter of Gen. James and Angeline BIGGS, born 1835. The first death was that of an infant daughter of William and Mary BRZEL in 1838. The first election in the town was held at the house of James H. BAILEY. Jonas SHOOK was the first postmaster of Willett. A post-office called "Walnut Springs" was established in 1848 with James BIGGS as postmaster. The office was on a route from Madison to Wiota. It was discontinued after a few years. Religions were Lutheran and Catholic. The Catholic church was erected on the southwest quarter of section 21, and there was a cemetery there also with the first burial being John GALLAGAN. |
(extracted from 1860 Federal Census for Green County, Wisconsin)
| NAME | AGE | SEX | MARITAL STATUS |
BORN | MONTH DIED |
OCCUPATION | CAUSE | NO.DAYS ILL |
| John M. CROOKS | 1 month | male | Wisconsin | October | fits | 3 weeks | ||
| Antone SWENSON | 7 years | male | Wisconsin | March | unknown | 8 days | ||
| Thomas BIGGS | 40 years | male | married | Ohio | May | farmer | dropsy | 2 months |
| Caroline BIGGS | 6 months | female | Wisconsin | October | unknown | 1 week | ||
| Wallace GRINNAL | 7 months | male | Wisconsin | March | consumption | 3 months | ||
| Dixon BAILEY | 60 years | male | married | Georgia | December | farmer | cancer | 6 months |
| Frances DIXON | 25 years | male | Illinois | September | farmer | typhoid fever | 6 weeks | |
| Merret OSBORN | 66 years | male | married | Connecticut | February | clothier | consumption | 6 days |
| Thomas BRYNE | 9 months | male | Wisconsin | January | unknown | 1 week | ||
| Mary RINE | 1 month | female | Wisconsin | September | unknown | 3 days | ||
| ??? RINE | 7 months | male | Wisconsin | April | kidney disease | 7 months | ||
| Margaret FITZGERALD | 3 years | female | Wisconsin | November | burned | sudden | ||
| Deborah E. SCOTT | 1 month | female | Wisconsin | Decemeber | unknown | 5 days | ||
| William McGUIRE | 73 years | male | married | Ireland | July | farmer | affection of liver | 2 weeks |
| Mary KELLEY | 59 years | female | married | Ohio | June | chronic rhematism | 6 years | |
| William McGUIRE | 86 years | male | married | Ireland | July | farmer | typhoid fever | 3 weeks |
Contributing editor: Donna Long Kjendlie
Copyright Jan. 2002