HISTORY OF REEDSBURG AND THE UPPER BARABOO VALLEY

1856. The family of Newman Peck came this year. Mr. Peck was a native of Connecticut; there he married Sarah Cone and a large family of children were born in the East. Among them were Francis N., who married Eliza Janette Montgomery, daughter of William and Caroline (Lovell) Montgomery, Dellona pioneers, and was for many years an Excelsior farmer; and Achsah, who married Lyman Montgomery. The children of Francis and Caroline Peck were: Carrie E.; Kate M., who married Chas. W. Randall; Agnes J.; Tracy L.; Earl G.; Grace L.; and Ruby. The children of Lyman and Achsah Montgomery are mentioned in connection with the Montgomery chronicle, history of Dellona.

The family of Hugh O'Connor also settled here in 1856. Mr. O'Connor was a native of Ireland, his wife of Germany, her name being Julia Wener. The local representatives of this family are: George, married Wild Rose; Ned, married Margaret Ellen Metcalf; James, married Bernice Swetland and resides in Winfield; Hugh; Mate, wife of W. L. Kelley, Winfield; Mina (Mrs. Sanford, milliner of Reedsburg; Ida; Nellie, married Arthur Kelley, Reedsburg.

Other settlers of '56 were Mr. and Mrs. Higgins Harrison, and A. J. Flickner. Of the families of '57 we can mention those of J. Briton, Thos. Chambers, Chas. Hengsler, and William J. Gemmill.

The latter, who was a native of Hopewell, York County, Penn., born in 1828, son of William and Frances (Blaine) Gemmill. In 1835 his parents moved to Indiana and it was here that William J. resided until 1853. That year he went to California in the gold rush and spent three years, after which he returned to his Hoosier home. In February 1856, he married Miss C. E. Case, and within a few months came to Baraboo where he remained until coming to Excelsior. The Gemmill children were: Ambrose J., Emmet, William, Walter. The latter married Gertrude Reed and resides in Reedsburg.

Among the families coming the following year - 1858 - were those of J. Marsh, and C. Schale; J. Livesly, and A. Foster. Mr. Foster and his son, T. J. Foster, planted an immense orchard, possibly the largest of its day in the state of Wisconsin, it containing 2100 trees.

It has not been possible to learn of more settlers than these, who came in the vanguard of Excelsior pioneers, but among the settlers of a later period we would mention the Shultis, Henry and Malinda (Silvernail) Shultis, the father and mother, descendants of Dutch forbearers, and Catherine, Margaret, Betsy Ann, William, Melvina, Enoch, Abram, Jacob and Agnes, their children - who came in '78. We would mention Milton Armstrong and his wife, Sarah Ann Snoad, daughter of William and Frances (Smith) Snoad - 1868; Adam Fay, Prussia emigrant of 1871; Louis Goedecke, another German immigrant, native of Brunswick, Germany, who came to the United States in 1853, thence to Waupun and in 1871 to Ableman.

We would mention Israel Green and his wife, Mary Jane Starks, daughter of General A. W. Starks who came in '59, and their children, Charles, John Starks, Maggie, Amie, Sarah, Annie. Also John D. Sanford, son of Abram and Priscilla (Hambly) Sanford, a settler of 1875 - and his wife, Ellen Dyson, daughter of John Dyson and Lydia Denton - their children, Lillie, Walter, Edna. And Edward Richardson, son of Edward R. and Lorinda Phillips, native of Brookfield, Worcester County, Mass. - a grandson of John E. Phillips, Revolutionary patriot, whose death ended a life of more than 104 years; and near relative of Wendell Phillips, famous abolitionist. Mr. Richardson's wife was Addie Pierce, daughter of W. S. and Mary A.

Chas. S. Turner and his wife, Angie Ball, daughter of Stephen and Abigail BALL, who settled here in 1866, were other settlers of the later period, as was Edwin S. Pierce. Mr. Pierce, son of James and Gerusha (Gilson) Pierce, was a native of Schaghticoke, New York. He married in Boston, Zarina Tarbox, daughter of Benjamin Tarbox and Rachael Smith - came to Sauk County in 1879.

Then there were the Hambletons - Stephen D., son of Aaron and Sophia (Briggs) Hambleton - his wife, Mary A. Taylor, daughter of James and Nancy Taylor, who he married in New York - and their children, Rachael, Addie and Myra; and Augusta Wilson, Stephen D. Hambleton's second wife. The first wife died in Dellona where the family settled in '69. Mr. Hambleton moved to Excelsior in '75, when he married the daughter of Warren Wilson. A. B. Lamoreaux was a settler of 1879, native of Ohio, son of Andrew and Electa (Colton) Lamoreaux. When four years of age his parents moved to Illinois, in 1855 to Baraboo and it was there that in 1873 he married Elizabeth Hirschinger, daughter of Michael and Melinda Hirschinger.

Edmund Gardner settled in '66, son of Isaac Gardner. In 1871 he married Janette Winnie, daughter of Cornelius and Mary. Menzo Winnie, son of Cornelius and Mary, settled on a farm in Excelsior in 1866; his wife was Percis, daughter of Henry and Maria Gardner.

Then there was Christopher Stackmann, 1868; Abram Silvernail, 1879; Adam Schuester, '61; Ehrenrich Bender, 1868.

In telling the story of the founding of this village, it will be necessary to recall certain facts relative to the life of Stephen Van Renssalear Ableman, its founder. This gentleman was born Dec. 25, 1809, in the town of Bethlehem, Albany County, N.Y., and was the son of Christian G. Ableman and Regina Kanier, the father a native of Prussia, Germany, the mother of Clayverack, Columbia County, N.Y., her parents having come to that place from Bordeaux, France. When Stephen was eleven years of age, his parents moved to Albany, and he was enrolled in the Lancasterian School. In 1825 he enlisted as a drummer in the National Guard, with which he remained four years. He was next chosen ensign and served as such for three years, at the close of which he was elected captain of his company. In 1838 he was commissioned colonel of the 240th regiment, New York State Militia, and was ever after known as Col. Ableman.

In 1831 he married Elizabeth Bolt Jarvis of Connecticut, who bore him two children, a son who was drowned in the Bay of San Francisco, and a daughter already mentioned as the wife of C. F. Watson. Mrs. Ableman died in 1860.

After his marriage S. V. R. Ableman engaged as a carpenter in Albany, and immediately became prominent in municipal affairs in that city. In 1843 he was elected alderman, was subsequently re-elected. Always a man of ambition he was early instilled with a desire to brave the hardships of the frontier, and on the 17th day of June, 1845, arrived with his family at Milwaukee. Here he established the first planing mill of that place. While residing in Milwaukee, in 1848, he made his first visit to Sauk County and laid claim to a valuable property at the confluence of Narrows Creek and the Baraboo river at Ablemans. Two years later he sold his Milwaukee interests and moved his family to Baraboo, and established temporary residence there. This was in the year of 1850.

Immediately began the improvement of the present village site. Col. Ableman soon erected a log cabin, and when it was completed his family came from Baraboo. As soon as the log house was finished he engaged in hauling lumber from Baraboo for the erection of a frame house. While this was under construction six carpenters dwelt in the log abode with him and his family.

In 1865 Col. Ableman married Mary, the widow of Captain Adam Gilmore. Her maiden name was Watson, and she was a sister of his daughter's husband.

Other early settlers of Ableman were Maj. Charles H. Williams, who erected a house a few rods from Mr. Ableman's, E. C. Watson, who became Mr. Ableman's son-in-law, John Moistard, William Wademan, Stephen Pearl and Peter Manthey. The last named erected the first dwelling west of the river in the present village site.

The first marriage in the village was that of William Wademan and Miss Hannah Moistard.

The first sawmill in the village was established by Col. Ableman as early as 1857, and was a few rods above the confluence of the Narrows Creek with the river. He added to his mill and continued its operation until 1875, when he sold to Alexander McDonald, who in turn sold to E. W. Gilmore and N. W. Dean. In 1864 M. B. Waltz erected the first house which was entitled to recognition as a hotel. Next came the Charter House, built by Col. Ableman, and conducted by Mr. and Mrs. Watson. The Charter House took its name from the circumstance that within its walls a memorable feast was held in 1870, in honor of the approach of the railroad, which was soon to pass through the Narrows. Col. Ableman had been instrumental in securing the charter for the Baraboo Valley Air Line Railway Company, which began the work, so the hostelry was fittingly named.

The first district school at Ableman was taught in 1856-1857 by Miss Maria Welton, and was located in the log cabin erected by Mr. Ableman when he first came to the village site.

While the greater part of the village are now Lutheran in faith, there was in early times a popular inclination toward Methodism. A Methodist congregation was organized in the eastern part of the town in October 1851, and although it no longer exists, it has not been very many years disembodied. H. G. Jones was especially prominent in its early existence, and his house was the place of organization. C. P. Sanford was the officiating preacher. Among the early members were Jacob Van Loon, Evan Van Loon, H. G. Jones, Mary Jones, G. J. Jones, Mary E. Jones and John Sanborn. In the summer of 1861 Father Teal, a Protestant Methodist made efforts to build a church and his efforts were crowned with success. An edifice was speedily erected and dedicated that year. This was known as the Ebenezer Church.

We would also mention in connection wtih Methodism in Excelsior the Excelsior Chapel.

The earliest German settlers of the community seem to have been Baptists, for about 1862 they organized a German Baptist Church. This congregation was organized at the house of Mr. Stackmann, and some of the early members were Charles, Henry and William Manthey, August Marquart, Fred Luepke, Jacob Schmeltzer, M. Rindfleisch, Christ Graetzka, Jacob Felske, Adam Oegel and others. This church was originally formed in conjunction with the congregation of the German Baptist Church of North Freedom, but now Ableman and North Freedom each have churches of this domination.

The St. John's Angelical Lutheran Church of Ableman and Excelsior dates from 1872. At that time Rev. Christoph Kessler, pastor of the Zion Lutheran Church of Westfield, began to hold services in Ableman, at various private homes, which he continued until the end of his pastorate in 1878. The congregation, made up of early German immigrant families who had settled in and around Ableman and on Narrows Prairie during the 1860's was organized at an unknown date. The earliest record dates from 1877. Some of the early members were:

Louis Bartenbach, Wilhelm Bartenbach, Freidrich Schulte, Christoff Meyer, Johann Brunnhoefer, Jacob Pfaff, Adam Schoester, Wilhelm Runge, Heinrich Rehr, Ehrenreich Bender, Heinrich Meyer, Friedrich Milke, Valentine Schneider, Christoph Weslemann, Christoph Behn, Albert Schenke, Heinrich Busch, Karl Schenke, and Christoph Frambs.

In 1878 Rev. Kessler moved away, but by 1879 he had relocated in Sauk County, in the township of Greenfield, and from his residence there came to serve the Ableman congregation, and was its pastor until 1889. During his absence the pulpit was filled by Rev. Brueckner. In 1882 the present church was erected at a cost of $2,000. The church is still in use.

Since 1889 the church has been presided over by the Rev. Fred Pope. Rev. Fred Pope was formerly of the St. John's Lutheran Church of Baraboo, and served the Ableman church from that city until 1903, when the congregation built a fine parsonage on an adjoining lot, and invited him to become its resident pastor. Accordingly he moved his family to Ableman where they still reside, Rev. Pope in the forty-first year of his local pastorate. This a remarkable record; no minister in the county has occupied one pulpit for a greater period.

At the present time the members of the church are considering the erection of a new church edifice, and the Ladies' Aid Society, which was organized in 1807, has the fine sum of $7,000 on hand to be used for that purpose. Officer and elders of the church are: Gottlieb Rohde, Herman Driefke, William Gall, Sr., Herman Vertien, William Bartenbach, August Lange, and John Ninneman.

Excelsior

The town of Excelsior was organized in December, 1857, and took it's name from a suggestion made by S. V. R. Ableman. The literary interpretation of the word "excelsior" implies the highest type of excellence, and the word is the motto of the state of New York. Col. Abelman was a New Yorker. That is how Excelsior happened to be Excelsior. The name was first applied to the colonel of this village, but was adopted as a township name in '57. In 1870 when the railroad came through the valley the high officails, in appreciation fof the earnest support of the project given by Mr. Ableman, named the station in his honor.

The first election in the town of Excelsior was held in the Red School House on April6, 1858, and the following officers were elected: A. W. Starks, Chairman; F. N. Peck and H. F. Smith, Supervisors; Wm. C. Cady, Clerk; Otis Ryder, Superintendent of Schools; John Weidman, Treasurer; Joseph Pimbley, Assessor; Benjamin Holt and Newman Peck, Justices of the Peace; John Weidman, M. B. Waltz and Wm. T. Hudson, Constables. The inspectors at that election were John Johnson, Newman Peck and George S. Handy.

Hon. A. W. Starks. William Canfield wrote extensively of this Excelsior pioneer in his history of 1872, and we make extractions therefrom.

"Argalus Waldo Starks was born March 10, 1804, at Williamsburg, Mass. His father was Moses Starks, an ax-maker. He was of English descent, but far back, General Stark of Revolutionary War notoriety, was his ancestor (and probably his grandfather). And history speaks well of Starks, Continental General, whose glory centers around a number of battles, particularly the Battle of Bennington, at the opening of which Gen. Starks made his famous remark: "We will conquer today, or tonight Mollie Starks will be a widow."

Hon. A. W. Starks resided in New York state until 1850, and was there, like Col. Ableman, a man of influence and wide associations. He was three times married: first, in 1828 to Mary Ann Filkins, and was left a widower ten years later; second, in 1839, to Margaret R. Worthman, sister of the late James Worthman of Baraboo. This wife came with him to Excelsior in 1850, and died in 1864. Late that fall Gen. Starks married his third wife, Catherine Schwartz. His death occurred June 28,1870.

During his lifetime the General was an outstanding citizen of the county, and his friendship for Col. Ableman was immense, founded on a common understanding. They were both military men by natural instinct, fond of practical joking, and ardent democrats. An incident concerning them and their democratic rally in 1852 has become proverbial. As Canfield relates it:

"In 1852 A. W. Starks called a democratic caucus, no one attending but Col. Ableman, Robert Young and himself. There was then no paper in Sauk county, but the next number of the Milwaukee News contained an account of a large, enthusiastic and respectable meeting. Col. Ableman, with the paper in his hand, meets the General with a large smile on his face and says: "Gen., how could you?" Said Gen. Starks, "Col., here is the simple truth, as I will prove to you." Says Ableman, "Do so!" The General is ready, "You are large aren't you? Yes. Bob is enthusiastic? Yes. I am respectable." Col. Ableman laughed: "Ha! Ha! Gen., that will do for this time!" This meeting was held under a tree."

Freedom, the most southeastern of the ten square township, covered in this work, was first settled by white men in 1846, when R. N. Kingsley made a settlement on Section 2. He was followed by Samuel D. Sleutz, who settled on section 7 that same year. Rev. James Waddell was probably the next settler. He entered the south half of the northeast quarter of section 12, and other adjacent lands on February 11th, 1847. Samuel Hackett who came in 1848 was one of the earliest permanent settlers. He was born in the State of New Jersey in 1805, and after his marriage moved to Canada. Later he returned to this country and in 1839 located in Illinois. His wife was Dency Terry. Coming to Baraboo, he remained for some time, then came to Freedom, where he acquired land on the present site of the village of North Freedom. He died in 1873. He and his wife were the parents of a numerous family: Mary Jane, George, Julia May, Timothy, John, Joel, Hannah E., Dency M., Frank, William J., Parshall T., Sarah, Wesley, and Jacob, only a few of whom grew to maturity. Timothy Hackett married Fannie J. Moulton, a native of Illinois, and had two children: Wesley married Inez Burt; and Major N. B. Hackett who married Anna Luckensmeyer. Frank Hackett, a soldier in Co. F, 3d W.V.C., lifelong farmer of Freedom, married first Pauline Wiggins, and second Miss Elizabeth Loomis. Her father, Jerome Loomis, was also an early settler of Freedom. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hackett had these children: George W. Joseph F., Samuel J., Joshua T., Mary Ann, John M., Jacob A., Martha E., Laura, Arthur J. and Ethel.

Another early settler of this township was William Sproul. This gentleman was a native of Ohio, and his pilgrimage to the western frontier was by way of Indiana, reaching Sauk County in September 1848, locating in Bear Creek. The following spring, 1849, he purchased land in Freedom upon which he lived for many years. His wife was Mary Statser, a native of Switzerland. They had several children: James, John W., Mary J., and Alice. James was a member of Company A, 19th W.V.I., during the Civil War. He was present at the capture of Richmond, and the first flag raised in the rebel capital was that of his regiment.

George Nippert was another settler of 1849. He was the founder of a large local progeny. We would mention, also the Hill brothers who founded what is still known as the Hill Settlement, although they did not come until some time later.

The Nelson family of which John F. Nelson was a representative came to Freedom in 1852, from Illinois. John F. was a member of Company F, 3d W.V.C.serving throughout the war. His wife was Ellen A. Delapp, a native of New York. John Wiggins, carpenter and lumber dealer for many years in North Freedom, we would mention also. He came to Sauk County as early as 1851. The Zimmerly family came about the same time. Jacob Zimmerly, a son, for many years of local residence, was a member of Co. K, 45th W.V.I. He married Caroline Schellenberger. They had several children: Mary A., Charles R., John A., Alfred S, Louisa P., and John R.

Another widely known early family were the Trumbulls. This family came from Montgomery County, New York to Jefferson County, Wisconsin, 1852, and to Freedom the following year. Edward N. Trumbull who was 9 years of age when his parents came to Sauk County, grew to manhood and spent his entire life in the community. He was a member of Co. K, 6th W.V.I., and served throughout the entire Civil War. On May 26th 1867 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Waddell. She was the daughter of James and Betsy (Coverstone) Waddell, and may be called the "First Lady of the Town". (It will do at this point to make especial mention of Mrs. Trumbull, pioneer woman, lifelong resident of Freedom, still living, at the age of 80 years, active, beloved by the people of the town). Mary Waddell Trumbull was born May 17, 1848, the first white child born in the Town of Freedom.

Of the settlers of 1855, we are able to make mention of a number. W. C. T. Newell was one of these. He was a native of Tompkins County, New York, and came to Dubuque, Iowa, in 1854, to Freedom the following year. In 1856 he married Temperance Waddell. This lady was a native of Indiana, and was a sister of Mary Waddell Trumbull. The Newell children were: Mary, Clarissa, Alice A., Eliza E., George A., and Herbert.

Joseph Lamport was another settler of 1855, a native of West Penard, Somersetshire, England. In 1819 the family immigrated to America. In 1833 our subject came to Milwaukee, when that place was a mere frontier settlement, and there he resided until 1855. He will be remembered for his association wtih Mr. Delapp in the sawmill at Freedom. His wife's maiden name was Marietta L. Demuth, and she was a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Lamport had nine children: Priscilla E., George T., Mary J., Hattie A., James A., Clark, Clara (these two were twins), Ella J. and Grant. George T. was a member of the 3d W.V.C. during the Civil War. S. D. Slientz was another settler that year.

The Shellenberger family which came to this vicinity in 1856 was one of the earliest of the German families. There were in this family a number of children, one of whom was August F. He married Miss Evelyn Hersinger, a native of the county. Adolph Shellenberger is another name associated with the early German settlers of the town. Another family was that of John Seils. He was born in Pommern, Prussia, where the early life of John Seils was spent. He married his wife, Mina Milke, in Germany. They came to Freedom in 1868. Their children were: Mina, Augusta, Matilda, Hannah, Lena, Theresa, and Theodore. Other German families were John P. Bierlen and Henry Maertski.

J. L. Girton, for many years an implement dealer of North Freedom was born in Lincolnshire, England and came with his parents to America in 1850, locating in New York. From there the family went to Michigan, thence to Walworth County, Wisconsin, and in 1856 came to Sauk County. L. G. Girton married Miss Mary E. Powell, a native of Lockport, New York.

G. W. Bloom, prominent citizen of Freedom for many years, came to Sauk County in 1850, to Baraboo in 1855, and to Freedom in 1860. He was a native of Bradford County, Pennsylvania. He will be remembered as the man who, with Mr. E. Kimball, in 1867 built a mill in the village of North Freedom. Mrs. Bloom was Harriet Wilkinson, a native of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Bloom had five children: Deborah J., Selinda D., who married Charles W. Clark, William H., James E., and Hattie F.

Gustave Scharnke, a native of Prussia, Germany, came with his parents to Sauk County in 1863. In 1876 he took possession of the sawmill, and in 1878 built the first grist mill to the township. The family of John Quandt came from Mecklenburg, Germany in 1867. His wife's maiden name was Louisa Prien.

E. Maxham, a native of Oswego County, New York, came to Wisconsin in 1846, to Baraboo in '56 and Freedom in '68. He was a prominent farmer of his time. The family of R. G. Carpenter came from Madison County, New York to Wisconsin as early as 1842, but did not come to Sauk County until 1866. His wife's maiden name was Jane Head. There were three children in this family: Rollin B., Oscar D., and Washington G.

What was probably the first white man's habitation in what is now the village of North Freedom, was the building reared by Mr. John Hackett, son of Samuel Hackett, in the summer of 1856. Be that as it may, the founding of the village proper dates from 1867 when G. W. Bloom and Mr. Kimball built their sawmill. This mill was, shortly after its erection destroyed by fire, but it was again rebuilt, and the growth of the village was, thereafter, very rapid.

In May 1871, Mr. Bloom acquired twenty-seven acres of land which the following year he had surveyed and platted. Mr. Bloom was an enthusiastic promoter, with Col. Strong, S. V. R. Ableman, the Mackeys, and other in getting the railroad through the Baraboo Valley. The following year, 1873, other additions were made to the village plat, and it was W. C. T. Newell who surveyed and platted the village of North Freedom as it is today. In October 1893 it was incorporated.

The village of North Freedom has three churches: The German Baptist, Methodist and German Lutheran.

The first school was established about 1849-50. J. R. Guile was the first teacher. Previous to this, a private school had been taught. The first devotionals were held in the home of Mr. Hirsinger, in the fall of 1847, conducted by Reverend James Waddell. The first death in the township occurred July 16th, 1848, that of Elizabeth Harrison.

This Post of that great national organization dedicated to charity and other acts of benevolence, was organized in January of the year 1889, as an auxilliary. Mrs. Ida Lawton, one of the most active organizers, was chosen president. The charter members, numbering thirty, were:

Mrs. Emma Whetmore, Mrs. Jerusha Smith, Mrs. Mary Dwinnell, Mrs. Sarah A. Spahr, Mrs. Mary Blachly, Mrs. Lillian Fisk, Mrs. Sarah Baldwin, Mrs. Mary Trumble, Mrs. Polly Wiggins, Mrs. Martha Carpenter, Mrs. Nellie Allen, Mrs. Ida Lawton, Mrs. Ida Erswell, Mrs. Angie Nelson, Mrs. Proscilla Maxham, Mrs. Ann Hackett, Mrs. Marilla Rice, Mrs. Cordelia Fisk, Mrs. Mary J. O'Dell, Miss Alma Atwood, Miss Eva Wiggins, Miss Bessie Hoffman, Mrs. Mary Hackett, Mrs. Ann Chambers, Mrs. Janette Pettyes, Mrs. Milissa Nippert, Mrs. Amanda Ashley. Mrs. Julia Gray, Miss Maud Sweatland.

Mrs. Lawton was re-elected president for the year 1890. The presidents, since then, have been: Mrs. Jerusha Smith, 1891, Mrs. Polly Wiggins, '92, Mrs. Mary Dwinnel, '93, Mrs. Ann Hackett, '94, Mrs. Mary Blachly, '95, Mrs. Ida Lawton, '96-'97, Mrs. Polly Wiggins '98-'99, Mrs. Martha Carpenter, 1900, Mrs. Mattie North, '01, Mrs. Jerusha Smith, '02-'03, Mrs. Polly Wiggins, '04-'05, Mrs. Janette Pettyes, '06-'07, Luna Hackett, '08, Ann McCoy, '09, Clara Hackett, '10, Mary Patterson, '11-'12, Mrs. Polly Wiggins, '13, Clara Hackett, '14-'15, Mrs. Mary Patterson, '16-'17, Edith Dickie, '18-'19, Johanna Johnson, '20-'21-'22, Mrs. Ida Lawton, '23, Edith Dickie, '24, Libbie Westhaver, '25-'26-'27'28.

With Mrs. Westhaver, President, the present officers are:Mrs. Anna Hackett, Sr. Vice President, Mrs Elizabeth Hill, Jr., Vice President, Mrs. Martha Northrup, Chaplain, Mrs. Mable Scott, Secretary, Mrs. Mable Buxton, Treasurer, Mrs. Mable Schmidt, Conductor, Mrs. Grace Hewitt, Assistant Conductor, Mrs. Louise Page, Guard, Mrs. Dell Young, Assistant Guard, Mrs Edna Rist, Organist, Mrs. Jennie Schorer, Patriotic Instructor.

The flag bearers are No. 1, Alma Angle, No. 2 Mrs. Minnie Voss; No. 3, Mrs. Laura Bonnell; No. 4, Mrs. Sophia Sinke.

The Bank of North Freedom of which R. B. Dickie is the President, was organized on the 4th day of May, 1902, with H. G. Merritt, President; Wm. A. Waven, Cashier; and August F. Fisher, Director. These three men were the original incorporators, and the bank was capitalized at $25,000.00. It was soon discovered, however, that the figure was too high and on July 6th, 1903, the articles of incorporation were amended to reduce the Bank Capital Stock to $10,000.00

Like many small banks, it had trouble in getting started, and on March 28th, 1906 it was voluntarily put into the hands of the Commissioner of Banking. Fortunately for the community, the difficulties which caused the closing of the bank were soon satisfactorily adjusted and overcome, and on Aprl 17, 1906, it resumed operations, under the management of a new board of Directors, which consisted of the following members:

R. B. Dickie, President and Director, John Barker, Vice-President and Director, T. L. Knauss, Cashier and Director, W. C. Hahn, Assistant Cahier. Conrad Egerer, Director, J. T. Lawton, Director, William Dickie, Director, E. B. McCoy, Director. January 14, 1907, Mr. Hahn was elected Cashier and continued in that capacity until his death which occurred December 22, 1925. Since the date of reorganization the bank has grown steadily, until it has become one of the most stable financial institutions in the northwestern part of the county. The bank now has resources of approximately $500,000.00. On May 2, 1924, the capital was increased to $25,000.00, at which figure it stands today.

The officers today are: R. B. Dickie, President and Director, R. S. Lange, Vice-President and Director, W. F. Greenhalgh, Cashier, Mary Moll, Assistant Cashier. Directors are: William Dickie, Conrad Egerer, E. L. Egerer, P. D. Stackman and R. M. Spaulding

Data furnished by the Bank of North Freedom