091 Paris Past and Present 129 · KCLS Digital Archive

Valentine
SNIPPETS of SALEM
91 - Paris, Past and

Present
Contents:
An overall history of Paris Township including maps, images and
stories of the early development of the communities in that township.
This is a copy of a book held by the Community Library at Salem and
copies have been made so as to provide for the possibility of OCR
search and to protect the information should the original book be lost.
As time permits, images in this book will be scanned and placed on
the digital archive so that the quality of the images can be viewed by
those without the original, physical book in their hands. Search
SOS91 for these images.

0-129 pages

NOTE:
The materials herein were contributed by those of the area who wished that the
history they have experienced be saved for the future generations. These may
represent private documents as well as previously published articles and
obituaries and images from their saved collections.
Researchers should also refer to the Digital archives at the SALEM
COMMUNITY LIBRARY for more images in this collection or digital images of
items photocopied in this booklet..
Compiled 06/2008 by L S Valentine Copyright©Valentine2008

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PARIS TOWN OFFICERS
CHAIRMAN
Chauncey Kellogg- 1842
Hans French • 1843
A Northway - 1844
John Whitney - 1845
James Hall - 1846
Grove Willis - 1847-48
Zinae Rich - 1849-50
George Blackman- 1851
James Russell - 1852-55
Franklin Newell - 1856-57
James Russell - 1858-59
John Price - 1860
H. A. Newbury- 1861
Homer Adams - 1862
Henry Newbury - 1863
Wm. Lynch - 1864

Daniel Marsh - 1865
George Hale- 1867-69
Daniel Marsh - 1870
Nickolas Spartz - 1871-73
Henry B Iackman - 1874-76
Nickolas Spartz- 1877-78
Henry Biehn - 1879
H. G. Blackmon- 1880
Daniel Jones- 1881
Henry Biehn, Sr. - 1882-83
Nicolas Spartz- 1884-85
Richard Price, Jr. - 1886-88
Daniel Jones - 1889-90
Micheal - 1891-92
Herman Swantz - 1893-94
Wm. Gunter - 1895

Henry Biehn - 1896
Wm. Gunter- 1897-98
George Kreuscher - 1899-1900
Jacob Kreuscher, Jr. - 1901
L. C. Williams- 1902-03
George Kreuscher - 1904-07
John Spartz - 1908-10
Jacob Kreuscher - 1911-12
John Spartz- 1913-17
Richard Price - 1918-20
John Spartz - 1921-33
Milton Meredith • 1934-40
John Holloway- 1941-56
Leonard Mich - 1957-66
Warren Holloway - 1967-72
August Zirbel· 1973-78 *

ClERK
Hiram Ball - 1842
Elisha Baker- 1842-45
John Crounse - 1846
James Russell - 1847-48
Elisha Baker- 1849
Wm. Washburn- 1850
Elisha Baker- 1851
Samuel Rice- 1852
Alonzo Tymeson- 1853-54
George Anderson- 1855
Daniel Marsh- 1856-57
George Anderson - 1858-61
Daniel Marsh - 1862-63
Thomas Lucus - 1864

John Jones - 1856-66
J. G. Pierce - 1867
0. P. Hale- 1868-69
Daniel M. Jones- 1870-71
John Evans- 1872
Peter Hannan- 1873-75
Daniel M. Jones- 1876
Daniel Toner- 1877-79
G. W. Grosby- 1880
Jacob Kreuscher, Jr. - 1881-86
Daniel Jones- 1887-88
L. C. Williams - 1889-90
Jacob Kreuscher · 1891-93
L. C. Williams- 1894-95

Jacob Kreuscher- 1896-97
L. C. Williams - 1898-99
John Stollenwerk - 1900-01
Russell Jones - 1902
John Stollenwerk- 1903-05
William Roberts - 1906-07
Charles Sumpter- 1908-09
Edward Swantz - 1910-11
Oscar Stollenwerk- 1911-20
Milton Meredith- 1921-33
Wm. R. Kreuscher- 1934-60
Bernice Drissel - 1961-72
Sandy Wisnefski - 1973-78 *

TREASURER

George Manny - 1842
Abel Phillips- 1842-43
George Pierce - 1844-45
A. Northwa:y - 1846-48
Wm. Washburn - 1849
D. W. Cleveland- 1850-51
Patrick Lane - 1852-53
Daniel Marsh - 1854
John Price - 1855
James Russell - 1856
Henry Newbury- 1857
Joseph Huck - 1858
Henry Newbury- 1859-60
Daniel Marsh - 1861
James Coburn • 1862-63
Wm. Harding - 1864
Royal Humphrey- 1865-67
Nickolas Spartz - 1868-69
Henry Blackmon- 1870
Richard Price- 1871
Michael Hensgen - 1872-73
Henry Schnell- 1874-75

William Freitag· 1876-77
W. Craney - 1878
Phillip Horning- 1879
W. J. Ryan - 1880
R. D. Dunning- 1881-82
Richard Price- 1883
Joseph Huck - 1884-85
Joseph Thomas - 1886-87
Jacob Haney - 1888
George Price - 1889-90
Charles Crane - 1891
Henry Bfehn - 1893
Wm. E. Heidersdorf - 1894
John Stollenwerk- 1895-96
John Spartz- 1897-98
Michael Terry- 1899-1900
Wm. Crane· 1901-02
Hermon Swantz - 1903-04
George Fonk- 1905
Harvey Gunter - 1906-07
Jacob Drissel - 1908-09

(CONTINUED ON INSIDE BACK COVER)

Charles Fonk · 1910-11
John Neu- 1912-13
Jacob Schnell- 1914-15
Wm. R. Kreuscher- 1916-17
John Holloway- 1918-19
Nickolas Willkomm- 1920-21
Wm. Price- 1922-23
Harold Heidersdorf - 1924-25
Nickolas Frederick - 1926-27
Camilla Fonk - 1928-29
Arthur Price- 1930-31
Alvin Reidenbach - 1931-33
Mrs. Eli Frederick - 1934-35
Clayton Gunter - 1936-37
Frances Price - 1938
Orville Price- 1939-40
Casper Pfieffer - 1940-41
Leonard Mich - 1942-54
Jacob Schlitz- 1955-75
Rita Arnold- 1976-78 *

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PARIS
Past And Present
A History of the Town of Paris, Kenosha County., Wisconsin
Collected, compiled, and sponsored by
PARIS HISTORICAL COMMITTEE

"Agnes Muhlenbeck - Co-chairperson
• Helen Price- Co-chairperson
• Lorraine Reidenbach- Co-chairperson

" Ruth and Roswell Griffiths
Anne ancVPaul Burgess
Della Poisl
Selma andliHorace Fowler
"'Lorraine Frederick
'Oveda Wisnefski
~Edna Thorn
Harold Heidersdorf
Gladys Kruescher
Blanche Meredith
lHelen Miller
Marjorie Hewitt
Roy and Myra Kruescher
Doris Colombe
Evelyn Myers
Marie Hansen
Mary Johnson, Editor

Partially funded by the American Revolution Bicentennial Committee and the Town of Paris

1978

*I*

,~·,;:,:_.;

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

In order to achieve a more smooth-reading text in this book, many items and much information supplied
by various members of the committee have been blended together. The original source of information has
been identified in the text but in most cases not the person who "dug up" that information for use in this
book. For that reason we want to identify here the contributors of various accounts and others who helped
in the complilation of material herein.
Information in the section on schools- Paris Corners, Ruth and Roswell Griffiths; Jefferson- Shirley
Poisl; Newbury- Selma and Horace Fowler and Paul and Anna Burgess; Hawthorne- Alice Price; Three
Oaks-Lorraine Reidenbach; Marsh-Mary Johnson; Rosebud- Gladys and Dale Kreuscher; Oak ViewBlanche Meredith and Della Poisl; Des Plaines View- Agnes Muhlenbeck; St. John's- Lorraine Frederick;
Paris Consolidated- Marjorie Hewitt and Helen Miller; Sylvania- lorraine Reidenbach.
In the section on churches- St. John's- Lorraine Frederick; Paris Corners Methodist and BaptistHelen Price; Plank Road Congregational- Anna and Paul Burgess and Horace and Selma Fowler; Paris
Lutheran- Evelyn Myers; Kelloggs Corners Methodist- Lorraine Reidenbach; Congregational of ParisMary Johnson.
Older residents whose recollections were tape recorded by Lorraine Reidenbach and used where appropriate included Harold Heidersdorf, 80; Edna Thom, 83; Henry and Evelene Richter, 82; Roy Kreuscher, 78;
Myra Kreuscher, 75; Marie Williams Hansen, 76; Fred Michaels, 90; Rosie Shaefer, 91; Ella Sorenson, 90;
Alice Shelton, 90; Roy Holmes, 83; Paul Grewe, 80.
Items on organizations in the township were drawn from longer articles submitted by Doris Colombe for
Extension Homemaker clubs; by Roy Kreuscher for Paris Mutual Fire Insurance Company; by Karen
Noonan, for Paris Ridgerunners Snowmobile Club; by Helen Price for Farm Bureau; by Marilyn Zirbel for
Recreation Council; by Agnes Muhlenbeck, for 4-H. The section on Town Government was researched and
written by Lorraine Reidenbach and Della Poisl.
Scrapbooks made by Ruby Gunter, Dorothy Gunter Holloway, Clara Newbury Burgess, and Emily Fowler
provided valuable source material and pictures.
We are grateful to Rockford Map Publishers for permission to use the 1975 plat of Paris township that
appears in the People of Paris section.
We acknowledge with gratitude the loan of pictures from many residents. Some were duplicates and
others were not used because of lack of space, but, we do appreciate the cooperation of all those who
them in.
our thanks go to Orlando lnfusino for assistance in the typing of manuscript copy and to the
Kenosha County Historical Museum for their interest and help with research for this book.

Mary Johnson, Editor

*II*

-------

---· ----

,--~---

FOREWORD

In 1976 Kenosha County Extension Homemakers scheduled programs on local history for May as part
of the Bicentennial observance. The four Paris clubs decided to meet together to share their findings.
Interest in the reports, meager as they were, prompted a decision to work together to produce a creditable and more comprehensive history of the township. Interested members, formed a committee
willing to work at collecting, compiling, writing, and publishing a booklet. A canvass of town residents
indicated an interest in owning such a book.
Much information was drawn from old records still extant, but many such records have been destroyed
or lie hidden in attics or other places not known to us and were not made available to us for this
writing. Older residents were interviewed; old scrapbooks and abstracts were studied. Interesting facts
and anecdotes were written up, •compiled,. edited. Some family histories and reminiscences were
turned in to serve as source material.
A real effort was made to achieve accuracy by cross-checking various sources. If, however, you, the
reader, know of errors of fact or can add to the story, you can still make a contribution by writing to
the committee. Your letter will be filed and saved along with the original-articles that formed the basis
for this book. Send in the history of your family, your farm, your favorite organization- or write
down that story that has passed through your family for generations. If you own property in Paris, we
suggest that you re-read your abstract to find interesting facts we have missed, or even to learn the
names of people who lived where you now live, so that you can look for their names in this history.
Perhaps ten years from now, Paris can observe a 150th anniversary with a supplement or revised edition.
In any case materials collected at this time can form a valuable resource for future historians of the
Town of Paris.

*Ill*

PREFACE

PARIS: PAST AND PRESENT was selected by the Book Committee for the title of our township
history from a number of suggestions turned in. The design for the front cover was submitted by
Laurie Reidenbach in a contest open to all seventh and eighth graders living in the township. Laurie's
design, incorporating the title superimposed on a reproduction of an early plat of the township, was
awarded first place by the judges- Phyllis Northway, Kenosha County Extension Home Economist,
and John Fleischer, head of the art department at Central High School.
The cover design map can be used to help the reader of this history figure out just where it all
happened. To help you "get your bearings" note the principal landmarks. The double line across the
top of the map is now County Highway KR; the double line across the bottom is 60th Street, also
known as Highway K and, earlier, as the Plank Road. Burlington Road, also known as Highway 142
(formerly No. 43), is easily traced running southeasterly from Section 18 across the township to
Section 24. Highway 45 (once No. 75) running north-to-south along the east side of the west tier of
sections, shows the old curve in the highway which formerly went around the hill in Section 32. (A
quick eye can detect traces of the old roadbed in the side of the hill to the east of the pavement even
yet, especially when one is heading south on 45.) This map also shows old Highway N before it was
straightened in Section 29. (The old iron bridge still spans the Des Plaines River some distance south
of the present roadbed.)
In many articles which are copied directly from something written years ago there are references to
"the old Jones' place," "Mr. Wood's .farm," etc. Following such descriptions, wherever possible, the
section number or present day description is included in parentheses. Consulting the map on the
cover will help the reader "pinpoint the scene of the action".
A number in parentheses following a statement is used to indicate a source of information as it is
listed in the Bibliography at the end of the book.

*IV*

TABLE OF

COl\TEl\T~

II
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PAGE

FORWARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ill
PREFACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . · · · · · · · · · · · · · ......... IV
PROLOGUE TO PARIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Prehistoric Paris, Mastodon, Indians, Henn Collection and Early Wisconsin History
PEOPLE OF PARIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Pioneers, 1835-1850, Census of 1850, Directory Lists from 1875 and 1919 Plat
Map of 1975
BUSINESSES AND SETTLEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Paris Corners (Tar Corners). Chapin (Jugville, Parisville), Scattered Sites

,.,

CHURCHES AND CEMETERIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Kellogg's Corners Methodist, Congregational Church of Paris, Plank Road
Congregational, Primitive Methodist, Freewill Baptist, Paris Corners Methodist,
St. John the Baptist Catholic, Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran
SCHOOLS OF PARIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Paris Corners, Jefferson, Newbury, Hawthorne, Paris Center, Three Oaks, Marsh,
Rosebud, Oakview, Des Plaines View, Sylvania, Whitley, Ravinia, Paris
Consolidated, St. John's
TOWN GOVERNMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
1842 - 1978, Roads and Bridges
COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Recreations, Education, Service Groups
POST SCRIPTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
A Potpourri of interesting information about Paris and its people.
BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

.............

*v*

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PROLOGUE TO PARIS
6000 B. C. to 1838 A. D.
What was happening arouod here one hundred years ago? Two hundred years ago? How about 8000
years ago?
Celebration of the nation's Bicentennial birthday in 1976 stimulated an interest in local history. Research and a pooling of available information reveals that "the past" for Paris extends back to prehistoric times... thousands of years before this area was called Paris.
Probably as early as 6000 B. C. Paleo man and the hairy elephant (mastodon) lived in this area.
Archeological finds in the township indicate their presence here that long ago. Following are accounts
that link Paris to those pre-historic times.
ICE AGE ANIMAL REMAINS
FOUND IN PARIS TOWNSHIP

(Sept. 5, 1964)

·'

Recent discovery of bone fragments from an ice age mammal, found on
the Frank Schaefer Farm, Highway E, Paris Township, was reported by Phil
Sander. The find is believed to be important to Wisconsin's Post-Glacial
history.
Bone fragments were unearthed by a trenching machine laying in a tile line
through Schaefer's field. Digging at a depth of approximately four and one
half feet, the trencher struck what first appeared to be a stone. Upon examination it was found to be skeletal material.
Sander .said he believes the twelve inch piece to be part of the humerus
. (shoulder to elbow) of a mastodon, and that a complete bone length would
probably average about 36" to 40" long. Also recovered were fragments of
ivory from the tusk.
During the trenching work, the operators encountered a spring. Near the
spring the bone was brought to the surface. Being suspended in wet soil and
peat helped to preserve the remains. Upon exposure to air and drying out
the material cracks and breaks into fragments. Great care will be taken to
dry the remains gradually. Later they will be coated with a thin!application
of shellac.
According to Miss Carrie Cropley, curator of the Kenosha Historical
Museum, two previous reports of mammoth bones have been recorded in
Kenosha County,
An attempt to determine the age of the Schaefer find will be made using
radiocarbon tests. Fragments of bone and peat will be arranged for tests by
Dr. Robert Black, professor of Glacial Geology, University of Wisconsin.
Sander, a student of paleontology, predicts that the elephantlike creature
will be found to have perished in the marsh soil 7,000 to 10,000 years ago.
The quadruped, larger than the present Indian and African elephants,
measures about twelve feet high and twelve to fifteen feet in length. The
mammoth and a close relative, the mastodon, both roamed the edge of the
receding ice glaciers in the Midwest area until climatic or unknown conditions caused both species to become extinct.

*1*

'i&e&t>t('"

1 --w,.,..-.,-£~

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No immediate plans have been made to recover additional skeletal r-emains. Contacts have been made with the University of Wisconsin and the
Milwaukee Museum. It is hoped a complete skeleton is buried at the
Schaefer Site.
Joseph G. Emielity, assistant curator of the Milwaukee museum, will
study the bone fragments to determine whether the animal is a mammoth
or mastodon. He plans to visit the locality in order to und~rstand the
occurrence of an Ice Age animal in this locality.

Above- Bone fragments, thought to be from an elephant-like
Ice Age animal, unearthed during trenching operations.
Right- Frank Schaefer, holding bones unearthed on his farm
in Section 10 of Paris Township. Photographed by Phil Sander

TOOTH OF ICE- AGE ANIMAL
FOUND BY ERWIN PRICE
IN PARIS TOWNSHIP
In October of 1964 Ken Dearolf, director of the Kenosha Museum, prepared an exhibit of ice-age animals for the museum. Included in the
exhibit was the bone material from the Schaefer farm, Sec. 11, Paris Town·
ship, which had been identified and prepared by Phil Sander.
Also included was a mastodon tooth, given to the museum by Erwin
·
Price, of Paris (about 1956).
In November of 1964 Sander visited the Price farm in Section 20 and
learned from Erwin the approximate location where the tooth .was found.
A Drainage ditch had been dug to drain water into the Des Plaines River.
The bottom lands have always been a wetlands. In ditching, mounding
of dirt occurred on both sides of the ditch. The tooth was found on the
west side in. the process of moving earth.

*2*

----\IV

(Spring, 1978)
~c::~irAr.P.nt follow-up on these stories, Sander stated, "Dr. Robert Black of the University of Wisconsin,

. has left the university and the tests were never made. I will write the university and ask if
were made on bone material from the Schaefer farm. I have not heard from Joseph Emielity,
Milwaukee Museum. I think he has retired".
also stated that the mastodon bones referred to by Carrie Cropley were found in Bristol Townand in Somers Townsliip. A large leg bone and others, such as ribs and vertebrae, are at the Kenosha
Historical Society.
RARE ARROWHEADS LINK PARIS TO PALEO MAN

Two spear points from the extensive collection of the late Merrill Henn, long time resident of Paris
are thought to have been used by Paleo man. A boyhood interest in collecting arrowheads
on the family farm {NE% Sec. 11) led Henn into a lifetime hobby and study of Indian artifacts.
David Wasion, a Kenosha resident and qualified archeologist, believes there is a link between the rare
arrowheads found by Merrill Henn in Sec. 11 and the mastodon bones found in adjoining Sec. 10.
In 1976 Wasion excavated a camping site, believed to be 10,000 years old, in southeast Kenosha
county. Following is a "scenario" in which he pictures the mastodon, a Paleo Indian,· and the spear
point- not "pure fantasy" but an imaginative approach to what was happening around here many
years ago.

MASTODONS AND PALEO MAN
By Dave Wasion

A cool breeze swept through his thick black hair as he crouched, quietly
watching the great hairy elephant browsing in the cool wet swamp just
below him. Never in his wildest imagination could he know that a space
age young man some 9,000 years later would find the projectile point he
had fashioned from stone on the ridge overlooking the swamp where he
had lost it. Nor could he have guessed that the same young man's neighbor
would find part of the skeletal remains (bone fragments} of one of the great
elephants he was accustomed to seeing and hunting. The bones of the long
extinct animal were found in a plowed field, near a drainage ditch, where
the swamp had stood for thousands Of years, before the coming of the
white man.
The Hunter- Paleo man, who lived approximately 11,000 B.C.
to 6,000 B.C.
The Great Hairy Elephant- a mastodon. Up to sometime
around 6,000 B.C.
The Young Man- Mr. Merrill Henn
His Neighbor- Mr. Frank $chaefer
Location- Merrill Henn farm, Frank Schaefer farm, Paris
township, (Sees. 10 and 11 ), Kenosha County,
Wisconsin

*3*

The Setting- A reconstruction of early man and his environment
in Paris Township, based on factual, scientific
evidence discoverd on the Merrill Henn and Frank
Schaefer farms and surrounding area.
NOTE: Merrill Henn has two spear points from the Paleo Indian
era., registered with the Wisconsin Archeological
Society, No. S. F. 2007. Henn was first introduced to
this kind of work through the help of Mary D. Bradford,
whose father homesteaded the farm owned by Henn.
He has worked with the late Charles E. Brown, who was
Director of the State Historical Museum in Madison
in the identification of his sizable collection of Indian
artifacts.
Merrill Hen'n's collection contains, besides the two rare specimens, many arrowheads and other artifacts that were used by Indians that inhabited the Paris area up to the time of the coming of the
white man .

•
Above .,- Mounted Arrowheads from the Merrill Henn collection.
Photographed by Jack Klein

MOUNTED ARROWHEADS AND ARTIFACTS
from the Merrill Henn Collection

In 1932 Henn drew a map of his farm and began cataloguing every artifact found on the farm, giving
each one an identifying number and indicating on the map as closely as possible where it had been
found. His "finds" were so numerous that he needed three successive maps on which to record them
during the eighteen years that he actively continued the project.
Merrill Henn's mapping activities extended beyond his home farm. His archeological map of Kenosha
County notes the location of campsites, village sites, mounds, effigy mo!Jnds, graves, implement
caches, and trails. The Paris portion of his map shows two probable trails, two mounds, and a possible village or campsite.

*4*

I
I

I
I
I

Camp site or Village site
Mound

-·---

.....

Chicago-Milwaukee Trail

East Branch, ChicagoMilwaukee Trail
River

Map of probable l(ldian Trails and Campsites in Paris Township
Taken from Merffll Henn's Archeological Map of Kenosha County

In the spring of 1977 during a taped interview with lorraine Reidenbach, Mr. Henn said:
The town of Paris has been occupied by one Indian tribe or another since
the time of the mastodon. Artifacts have been found in our township
proving this fact.
The mastodon bone found on the Frank Schaefer farm dates back many
years ago to the Ice Age. A detailed archeological report of that was made
by Phil Sander, local geologist and archeologist.
The two trails or branches of the Des Plaines trail crossed Paris in two
places. Nearly all Indian trails, if not all, were made by large animals
such as the buffalo. The east trail followed the route of Highway 142
(Burlington Road) east to a short distance west of MB, then north on the
high ridge into Racine county. The Chicago-Milwaukee trail ~ntered the
township on the south side and followed the Des Plaines river northward
to Section 8 where it veered off to the northeast and then followed the
south fork of the Root River into Racine county.
There was a camp site on the John Spartz farm {Sec. 4) on the east side of
the river, just west of the Des Plaines trail. Indians and large animals were
here at the time the first white settlers came.

......... ~ .....,

The first tribes were Nomads that followed the game and good hunting.
Later groups became more permanent residents. Mary D. Bradford mentioned the presence of Indians in her Memoirs and John Sparts remembered
seeing them on a camp site on the Spartz farm .
Much information on Indian culture can be gained from the artifacts. All
have different characteristics.

*5*

Phil Sander states, "The old survey maps show a trail near the present Highway 45- the Chicago
Milwaukee Trail. This seems like a probable location- high and in wooded areas. There probably
was a minor trail from Henn's site to the Wagner site in Section 20".
"Henn reported a trail on the west bank of the south fork of the Root River, passing through Paris
Township. This does not show on the early survey map, but could have connected with the Henn
site and the Wagner site".
A reproduction of an early plat of Paris, with the probable location of trails as superimposed by
Sander, follows:

~·

lndtan trail followed west bank of Des Plaines River passing thru
Paris Township.

cl)
-

Spring

.L Camp site

.,AMound~

Mammoth bones

Chicago- Milwaukee Trail according to old Survey Maps
Probable Trail reported by Merrill Henn

*6*
~

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Sander also reports that in 1961 the late Milton Meredith (Sec. 20) told him that there was an "old
trail on the Meredith farm"; that the old records (deeds) "mentioned so many rods from the old
Indian trail"; and that many points and axes had been found on that farm.

{Editor's Note: A concentrated effort to locate such a record has been made without success. Any
property owner in sections 19 or 30 is asked to study the abstract of title for his land to see whether
such a reference appears in the land description and, if so, to report it to a member of the book
committee. The information will be filed with materials used in compiling this history.)
Two Indian "Trail Trees" Still Growing in Paris
Two present day reminders of the Indians who traveled across the township still stand in Paris township- two Indian "trail marker" or directional trees. One is growing on the Edgar Weber farm in
section 22 and a second is located in section 30. Both are pictured below.

·'

Trail Tree in Section 30

Trail Tree in Section 22

Photographed by Lorraine Reidenbach

Phil Sander, of Kenosha, writing for the Wisconsin Archeologist, says that at one time those trees
were quite common throughout the Midwest and that those remaining are a reminder of America's
first road signs. Indians did a great deal of traveling- from summer to winter campsites and to hunting and fishing grounds. They devised a system of trail markers, including the trail tree. A sapling that
stood along a trail was bent in the general direction of the trail with the tip being buried in the ground
or tied dow~ by vines. As the tree grew the tip would die off and the trunk assumed a bent condition,
becoming a living road sign that could easily be recognized by the Indians. Today people seeing
the tree might notice its odd shape without realizing its purpose and past history.
Very little has been written about the Indians who left behind the archeological traces that attracted
the attention of Merrill Henn and other latter-day residents. However, a treaty, signed September
26, 1833 at Chicago between the United States government and the Chippewas, Ottawas, and
Pottawattamies, indicates that the area now included in Paris township was claimed and peopled by
those tribes.

*'*

Mary D. Bradford Wrote About Early Indians

Mary D. Bradford, well-known Kenosha educator who was born in Paris and lived her early years here,
in her Memoirs and in Pioneers, 0 Pioneers, tells us that when the first settlers came a few Indians
remained in southeastern Wisconsin, hating to give up their hunting and fishing grounds. These
Indians were without leadership and most of them seemed inclined to friendliness with the white
settlers, especially when treated fairly. They were quite harmless, she wrote, except when drunkdrunk on whiskey sold to them illegally by some unprincipaled white man. These otherwise friendly
people then became ferocious and were to be feared.
Indians still roamed the area when Mary D. Bradford's mother came to Paris in 1843 as a bride. She
and her husband, Andrew Davison, often told their children about the Chippewa Indians who had an
encampment not far from their home (N E %, Sec. 11 }. Andrew had lent his gun to one of the
Indians namedWaupecat. Once he came when the father was away from home. The young wife was
afraid to refuse the use of the gun and just as scared of what he might do after he got it. She did lend
him the gun and everything went well. Mrs. Davison told her children she soon ceased to be alarmed
by the visits from the Indians who sometimes brought game for which she gave them salt pork in
exchange.
Williams' descendants also recall that stories handed down through generations of the family told of
Indians coming to the Williams' home (east of the Des Plaines in Section 28}, asking for food, eating
with their hands, and laughing at the use of spoons.

Older Residents Recall Stories about Indians
Other accounts of Indians in Paris were recalled by several older residents of the area when interviewed
by Lorraine Reidenbach during 1976-77. In repeating stories about Indians of Paris that she had
heard during her lifetime, Ann Griffiths, of Bristol, mentioned a tree on the Kidera property on Highway
NN (Section 31) from which dead indians were hung, with a ceremonial dance following. She also
mentioned that in the woods just north (Section 30) there were mounds where Indians had been buried.
Phil Sander, Kenosha archeologist and history buff, checked out what appears to be a true Indian moun,<!!
on land near Red Oaks Tavern. Descendants of Lewis Williams, who once owned the land, say that they
had heard about the Indian mound.
Farther north in Section 7 (now the Paul Hrupka farm), Henry Richter pointed out the location of
former mounds, becoming less and less distinguishable as the land is tilled and retilled for crops. Legend has it that an Indian chief was buried with his horse in that area. Mr: Richter stated that he had
been told about the mounds years ago by Herbert Gunter. It is worthy of note that the area mentioned
possessed many features that would make it right for an Indian camp- a high ridge of land, probably
wooded, a lookout point, and a source of water.
Many Indian Artifacts Found in Township
At the site of an Indian camp in Section 20, (see Sander map above), on land once owned by the Wagner family and referred to by Sander as the Wagner site, many arrow points were found - "probably
two bushel at least".
Roy Kruescher has a collection of Indian artifacts found on his farm on Highway MB north of
Burlington Road (Hy. 142). Arrow points were found by Leo Funk on his farm east of the Des
Plaines, on land on both sides of Highways in Sections 8 and 9.
Many other Paris residents have found arrowheads in varying numbers.

"
*8*

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French and English Claimed Wisconsin
Earliest recorded history of Wisconsin credits Jean Nicolet, a Frenchman, with being the first white
man to set foot on Wisconsin soil. Arriving at Red Bank on Green Bay in 1634, he traversed the area
and named it "Ouisconsin", the French version of an Indian word meaning "gathering of the waters".
Other French explorers, traders, and missionaries followed, and France asserted control over all the
area north and west of the Ohio River.
In 1761 France ceded her rights in the area to England. Neither the French nor the English attempted
to settle the area. They did, however, maintain forts and outposts to protect those who carried on a
lucrative trade with the Indians. Following the Revolutionary War, England ceded the Northwest to
the colonies.
Ordinance of 1787 Fosters Settlement in Northwest
The colonies enacted legislation to provide for the orderly settlement and government of the Northwest Territory. The Ordinance of 1787 provided for the methodical survey and division of the area
and for the sale of land to individuals. Gradually areas increased in population and states were formed
-Ohio in 1803; Indiana, 1816; Illinois, 1818.
)

Wisconsin was a part of the Michigan Territory and Lewis Cass was governor when troops were sent to
erect and occupy Fort Howard at Green Bay and Fort Crawford at Prairie du Chien. Three territorial
counties were set up- Michilimackinac, Crawford, and Brown, the latter including all southeastern
Wisconsin. County courts were established and offices were filled by appointment of the governor.
Although there were small settlements of white mer at Green Bay and Prairie du Chien, Indians held
undistrubed possession of the southeastern quarter of the state and there were no white settlers.

·"
Black Hawk Defeated in 1832
By treaties with various Indian tribes the United States government gradually increased its claims in
Wisconsin, After the defeat of Black Hawk in 1832, Indians gave up their claims to southeastern
Wisconsin. Terms of the settlement in 1833 stipulated that Indians would be gone from the area by
1836, but in the meantime the government survey of lands could be started.
Wisconsin Land Survey Begun 1832
By a treaty with the Indians in 1829 the United States government had acquiredeight million acres of
land in southwestern Wisconsin's lead mining region. In 1831 a mound of earth six feet square at the
base and six feet high had been erected at the point where the 4th Principal Meridian (North-south
line) intersected the east-west line (base line that formed the northern boundary of the State of Illinois).
That marker served as the Point of Beginning for tl;le survey of all Wisconsin lands, beginning with the
southwestern area late in 1832.
Following the plan set up in 1785 and reaffirmed in the Ordinance of 1787, the area was divided into
townships six miles square along lines measured off to the east or west of the Principal Meridian and
to the north of the Illinois border. Townships were then divided into six mile-aquare "sections". Each
section could be further divided into quarter-sections, etc.
Plan for Government Survey of Wisconsin Territory land

"'"

Thus it was that soon after the settlement of 1833, following the Black Hawk War, the survey of lands
in southeastern Wisconsin was begun, Because it was in the second row of townships north of the
Illinois border and in the 21st row of townships east of the 4th principal meridian, the land that was to
become Paris was designated Township 2 North, Range21 East, or T 2N, R 21 E as it appears across
the top of the map on the cover of this booklet.
·

*9*

Plan for Government Survey of Wisconsin Territory Land

-4TH PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN

l-J . .:. . 1 Section.
·

(1 mile square)
640 Acres

T3N
R 1W

T3N
R2E

Town 2 North
Range 3 West

T2N
R1E

T1N

Town 1 North
Range 2 West
Wisconsin-Illinois Border

R2E

T1N
R3E
Base Line

'\.,.
POINT OF BEGINNING

The survey of land in what is now Kenosha County was completed February J, 1836 (4). In the spring ,.
of 1835 the Green Bay Trail, between Chicago and Milwaukee and on north, was surveyed and marked
out, following a path which had been used for many years by Indians and white fur traders. ( 7 ).
Land offices were first established only at Green Bay and Mineral Point, but in 1836 the southern portion of the Green Bay Land District was separated off to form the Milwaukee Land District. A few
of the earliest buyers had found the land they wanted and "established a claim" by making improvements before the land was actually offered for sale. Others went to the Land Office to find out what
was available, went out to inspect the property, and returned to the Office to buy. Many buyers made
the trip to Milwaukee, walking both ways, as did Mary D. Bradford's father, Andrew Davison. ( 5 )
In the earliest transactions the land was purchased for $1.25 and acre.

* 10 *

THE PEOPLE OF PARIS
PIONEERS- 1835 to 1850

Paris Township was named by Seth Butler Myrick in honor of his native town in Oneida County, New
York. He is generally credited with being the first to settle in the township, but exactly when he came
to Wisconsin and "staked his claim" - the southwest quarter of Section 35 - is not known. One
source states that he came in 1835, while Wisconsin was still a part of the Michigan Territory. (8)
Myrick's home county adjoined Oswego County from which a number of people emigrated in 1835,
under the auspices of the Western Emigration Company, of Hannibal, N.Y. That group settled at
Pike Creek, which later became Southport and, later still, Kenosha. (4) While the settlers at Pike Creek
were busy creating a frontier town, others went inland to stake their claims. Thus it is not unlikely
that Myrick was one of those referred to by Lyman as those who may have been "already on the
ground" in Paris when, on July 4, 1836, Wisconsin became a Territory. (9)
We do know that Myrick was established and he and his family were living on his claim, when Henry
A. Newbury brought his family to the area in 1838. A history of Paris township states that while their
house was being built on the southeast quarter of the same section, the Myricks shared their cabin with
the Newburys- "a bench through the middle of the room dividing it into two homes". (10)
In the first election held in the precincts, April 2, ,1839, Myrick was elected Pathmaster, one of three
for the Southport precinc.t; (4)
MALARKY AND HARRIS AMONG EARLIEST SETTLERS

Patrick Malarkey, who settled in the northeast quarter of Sec. 36, was another of the earliest settlers.
Lyman, when listing settlers in the county in 1836, states, "Paris mayhave had already on the ground
Patrick Malarky and a few others". (9) Myrick and Malarky, along with James Harris who claimed the
northeast quarter of Sec. 31, were the only settlers to receive grants from the government in 1838,
before the land was offered at a public land sale in 1839. {11)
Various sources named others who came into Paris in those early years. After naming families that
came into the town of Somers in 1837, one list continues "into Paris Patrick Malarky, Frederick Weeks,
James Clark, Frederick McGinn, Rufus Marsten, and S. B. Myrick (4). Lyman states that several farms
were opened in 1837 in the Paris area. Besides Myrick and Harris his list of settlers who came in 1837
and 1838 includes Captain Linsley, F. M. Weeks, Jacob Myers, James N. Marsh, Rufus Marstin, Z. P.
Rich, E. D. Dunning, John Craney, H. A. Newbury, Patrick Murray, Francis Chambers, Jake Miller,
and Francis McGinn. (9) Hammond Marsh, the Northways, Fulsom and Coffin are also listed among
the earliest settlers. (4)

OVER HALF OF All TOWN LAND TRANSFERRED IN 1839

Most of the names listed above appear on records in the office of the Kenosha County Register of
Deeds as havJng received their land grants in 1839, a year when over half of all the land in Paris
Township was transferred from the federal government to private ownership. (11) Many were already living on the land they bought; others bought intending to bring their families at a later date.
Still others purchased the land as an investment and sold later without having lived in the area.

*11*

On March 12, 1839 the government transferred by pre-emption to the following: Rufus Allen,
Timothy Buckley, Jr., Christopher C. Cadwell, Ebenezer Smith Cadwell, John Callahan, Alva
Cleveland, Jared Collar, Eliphalet Cramer, Charles Dayton, Ebenezer D. Dunning, Harvey Durkee,
Thomas Dyer, William Foster, Charles M. Fowler, Sereno Fowler, Stephen Gale, John Nelson
Gardner, Cornelius M. Gulick Henry Gulick, Andrew Hannon, Austin Kellogg, Chauncey Kellogg,
Seth Kellogg, Nelson Landon, Patrick lane, William lay, Fred lovell, Abba,Maria Lovett, Canfield
Marsh, Ham-mon Marsh, Timothy Mullarkey, Henry Newbury, A. D. Northway, Erastus Otis, Henry
S. Putnam,. Zania P. Rich, George Smith, Oreb Smith, William Dunning Strong, Henry H. Tarbell,
Royal B. Towslee, Thomas Trilley, J. Wadsworth, Francis M. Weeks, and Allen Wightman.
Some of these earliest buyers returned yet that year to buy more land. Others who bought land in
1839 included: In May- Ezra Buswell, Richard P. Hart, Henry B. Towslee; in June- Elisha Baker,
Patrick Berry, Daniel Coglan (Coughlin). Eleanor Green, James Martin, Ansel Munn, William B. Tobey;
in August- Lydia Brooks, George Folsom, George Pierce, Peter Reas; in September- John Craney,
Andrew J. Davison, leroy H. Marsh, Charles Rhoades; In October- Julius Maltby, Frances Metcalf;
in November - James Lane.
After the "boom" buying of 1839, only three new buyers were listed as receiving land in the Paris
area in 1840- William Coffin, John Sennore, and Emma Way.
Transfers in 1841 included Wilson Bennett, Jr., Justus P. Bishop, John Cotton, Dorothy Smith
Hilton, John Hunt, Charles Jobson, James Martin, Andrew Nelson, Abel Russel Phillips, Daniel
Stevens, Jonathan Vaughn, Jonathan Whitney.

SECOND LAND BUYING "BOOM" AFTER TOWN WAS ORGANIZED
After the Town of Paris was'cfrganized on Apri11, 1842, there was a second smaller "boom" in land
buying with the following new names appearing on the records: Harvey Birchard, Asa Fox Bush,
Chester Bush, Ezra Buswell, Hannah Butterworth, Margaret Butterworth, William Butterworth, John
Byng, Patrick Callahan, Richard Davis, John Eddy, David Evans, Horace Fleming, George Haigh,
George Jackson, Evan Meredith, William Meredith, James Nield, lewis Williams.

•'

New buyers in 1843 were John Bell, Ezra Brown, levi Grant, Andrew Mullarkey, Thomas Ryan,
Amaziah Stebbins.
In 1844- Oliver S. Chapman, David Evans, William Starr, Andrew B. Jackson, Edward Meredith,
Joseph Layco*ck, Rufus Mason, William Starr.
In 1845- Charles Baier, Volney French, Jehiel Hitchco*ck, William Holmes, Thomas Martin,
Patrick N.ugin, Nicholas Thomas, Sylvester Walker.
In 1846- Henry D. Adams, Homer Adams, James Christie, William B. Dennison, William Fifield,
Stephen Goldsworthy, James Mayers, Peter Petre, John Pixley, Julia Rivers, Hubbard Sleeper,
William Thiri (Terry), Ephraim Treadwill, Samuel Triggs.
In 1847- Matthais Mutter, Peter Mutter, JohnPowles, William Seymour.
In 1848- John Burgess, John M. Cary, Daniel Holbrook, Nicholas Zerrn.
By 1849- the only remaining land was Section 16, which was reserved as the school section, and
parts of sections 10,11, 14, and 15 - marshy and river bottom land. These were claimed by Charles
P. Ehle, Horace W. Johnson, and David McHuron in 1849, and by linus Moody in 1850.

* 12 *
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'··'-'•

GRAPH SHOWING SEQUENCE OF SETTLEMENT
in PARIS TOWNSHIP, 1838- 1850

·-

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Three pre-emptions in 1838

~~~~~ Pre-emptions in 1839

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Pre-emptions in 1840 through 1842

Pre-emptions in 1843 through 1850

Graph based on records .in Kenosha County Register
of Deeds Office, BEFORE 1850 volume

* 13 *

•

HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS IN PARIS IN 1850
Taken from 1850 Census on file in Kenosha County Historical Museum

Adams, W. W.
Appers, Susan
Aspen, Jacob
.Aspland, Isaac
Bailey, Norman
Baker, Elisha
Baker, William
Banker, Dan
Bastament, Michael
Bell, John
Bishop, J. P.
Blackman, George
Blanden, William
Boyer, Charles
Bullamore, James
Bush, A. F.
Buswell, Edmund
Buswell, Ezra
Buswell, George
Buswell, Moses
Butterworth, Henry
Butterworth, John
Cadwill, James
Cardwell, Richard
Castle, Hastings
Clark, James
Cleveland, A.
Coghlan (Coughlin), Dan
Craney, John
Davis, Richard
Dewey, J. M.
Dunning, E. D.
Dutton', Lyman
Egbert, William
Fallahover, Michael
Fasen, John
Ferris, William
Blacksmith
Fleming, James
Fonk, Phillip
Fox, W.
Fredenburgh, James

Gardner, Harmon
Goldsworthy, John .
Goldsworthy, Richard
Goldsworthy, Stephen
Graots (Gratz), John
Gray, James
Gregory, D. W.
Gulick, C.
Gulick, Henry
Hale, 0. P.
Hannon, Andrew
Hitchco*ck, Jehial
Hughes, Catherine
Hunn, D. L.
Hunt, Thomas
Jacobs, E.
Johnson, Nemiah
Jones, W.
Kearns, Patrick
Laco*ck, Joseph
lane, Patrick
lee, Joseph
lee, Richard
Meth. clergyman
Lucus, John
Lyeum, Frederick
Lynch, William
Marsh, Hammon
Marsh, James
Marsh, Luman
Martin, Thomas
McCarty, Martin
McEiowney, Patrick
McGinn, Patrick
Meredith, William
Morton, James
Montague, George
Montague, John
Mouarfan, Peter
Murgatroid, Wtlliam
Mutter, Peter
Murry, Patrick

Myers, Andrew
Myers, Jacob, Jr.
Myrick, Seth. B.
Nelson, Andrew
Newberry, Henry
Northway, Albert
Northway, Asa
Nye, Nathan
Palmer, Reuhe
Petne, Peter
Pierce, George
Pomeroy, E.
Powls, John
Reed, P. J.
Rice, S. T.
Rich, Zina
Radde, William
Russel, James
Ryan, Thomas
Sage, Chauncey
St. John, Manley
Scott, Samuel
Sleeper, Hubbard
Sletz, Matthias
Smith, Hiram
Stevenson, Peter
Terry, William
Thorn, John
Thomas, Peter
Toner, Michael
Trigg, Samuel
Tymeson, Thomas
Vancott, Benjamin
Vaughn, Sophia
Wagener, Henry
· Washburn, William
Wentworth, J. B.
Williams, Lewis Jr.
Williams, Lewis Sr.
Williams, William
Willis, Grove
Wegener, Henry

Extracted from 1850 Census by Lorraine Reidenbach
*AI phabetized for convenience.

* 14 *
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Late in 1850 Section 16 (the school section) was divided into sixteen forty-acre lots and sold by the
State of Wisconsin. Buyers included Josiah Bond, Will Ferris, William Jones, Richard Lewis, William
Meredith, John Piper, Alexander Potts, Lewis Williams, Jr., Amos F. Wood, and Samuel Wood.
PIONEER CERTIFICATES AWARDED

Many residents of Paris (and elsewhere) are proud possessors of Pioneer Certificates, because they are
descendants of those settlers who were living here in 1850 or before. These certificates are awarded by
the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society to those who can present proof that their ancestors lived in
Wisconsin by 1850. Land records, census records, obituaries, county histories, etc. are considered
acceptable proof. The applicant must live in Wisconsin at the present time. Those who think they
qualify and are interested can obtain an application from Mrs. Carl (Lois) Stein, Jr., S. E. Regional
Director of the Society, 4902- 52nd Street, Kenosha, Wis., 53142. Cost, $1.50.
Most of the first owners settled on the land they bought, improving it, raising families, and helping to
develop a community. Others lived elsewhere and rented out the land or sold 1t to incoming settlers
from eastern states and from Europe. Families not included in the list of first owners who are said to
have arrived in the Paris area in the 1850-1860 decade or earlier include Bullamore, Heidersdorf,
Drissel, Steinbach, Frederick, Bufton, Biehn, Quackenbush, Gibbs, Kreuscher, Reidenbach, Pfeiffer,
Griffiths, Jones, Powell, Meyer, Greenwald, and Burgess. Some of these settled on land that later became the west tier of Somers or the south tier of Yorkville townships, but was included in Paris
Township when it was organized in 1842; others bought, leased, or rented land from those who had
arrived earlier; still others ''hired out" or followed a trade.

·'

RESIDENTS OF PARIS- 1875
Who was living in Paris one hundred years ago? City and County Residence and Business Directory.
( 13), published in 1875, lists the following for the Town of Paris. Nationality origins are indicated.
Even newcomers in Paris, after consulting the section map of Paris, can figure out who nearest neighbors would have been, where to go to take shoes for repair, to engage a carpenter, or to get horses
shod.
Adams, Frank B., sec. 7, Am.
Bowers, John, sec. 7, Hoi.
Adams, Homer, sec. 5, Am.
Bowers, Peter, sec. 7, Hoi.
Appers, George, sec. 26, Ger.
Brown, Earl, sec. 2, Am.
Appers, Jacob, sec. 23, Ger.
Bufton, Wm., sec. 18, W.
Bailey, Alex. P., sec 13, Am.
Bullamore, Henry, sec. 23, E.
Bailey, Norman, sec. 13, Am.
Bullamore, James, sec. 23, E.
Barnes, Jacob, sec. 5, Ger.
Byers, Augustus, sec. 19, Ger.
Barret, Patrick, sec. 31, I.
Byers, John, sec. 19, Ger.
Baath, Alex., sec. 32, Am.
Carl, Jacob, sec. 16, Ger.
Bembow, John, sec. 22, W.
Carpenter, Jessy, sec. 35, Am.
Biehn, Fred., sec. 4, Ger.
Caughlin, Daniel, sec. I, I.
Biehn, George, sec. 12, Ger.
-Cheeseman, Wm., sec. 3, Am.
Biehn, Henry, sec. 12, Ger.
Christian, Peter, sec. 35, D.
Biehn, Henry, Jr., sec. 12, Ger.
Conrad, Diedrick, sec. 31, Ger.
Bishop, Justus, sec. 33, Am.
Cooper, H. G., sec. 24, E.
Bishop, Minor M., sec. 33, Am.
Crain, William, sec. 17, E.
Blackman, Geo. S., sec. 22, Am.
Craney, James, sec. 25, I.
'Blackman, Henry, sec. 22, Am.
Craney, Jeremiah, sec. 25, I.
Blackman, 'Horace G., sec. 22, Am.
Craney, John, sec. 25, I.
Bohannan, John, sec. 30, Am.
Craney, Wm., sec. 25, I.
Bondford, Thomas, sec. 33, W.
Crosby, G. W., sec. 23, Am.
Bore, Mathias, sec. 18, Ger.
Dane, Myron, sec. 29, Am.

* 15 *

Daniels, Jacob, sec. 33, Hoi.
Davidson, C., sec. 11, Am.
Davis, Jason, sec. 1, Am.
Davis, Richard, sec. 29, W.
Degroot, Peter, sec. 9, Hoi.
Deiddler, August, sec. 12, Ger.
Donyk, Charles, sec. 29, G.
Dunkirk, James, sec. 6, Hoi.
Dunning, Brayton, sec. 18, Am.
Dunning, tbenezer D., sec. 20, Am.
Dutton, Lyman, sec. 32, Am.
Ead, William, sec. 3, E.
Edgoose, John, sec. 9, Am.
Edwards, Wm., sec. 17, E.
Engbort, John, sec. 5, Ger.
Evens, John, sec. 33, W.
Everetts, Gilbert, sec. 6, Am.
Fonk, John, sec. 14, Ger.
Fonk, Mathias, sec. 16, Ger.
Fonk, Michael, sec. 16, Ger.
Fonk, Nicholas, sec. 9, Ger.
Fonk, Peter, sec. 9, Ger.
Fonk, Phillip, sec. 9, Ger.
Fonk, Phillip, Jr., sec. 21, Ger.
Fowler, Charles M., sec. 33, Am.
Frederick, Theodore, sec. 13, Ger.
Freithe, August, sec. 8, Ger.
Freithe, Wm., sec. 4, Ger.
Frick, Theodore, sec. 11, Ger.
Gonskey, Michael, sec. 20, Ger.
Goldworthy, Steven, sec. 6, E.
Gratz, John, sec. 15, Ger.
Gray, James H., sec. 24, I.
Gray, Wm., sec. 24, I.
Griffiths, Wm., sec. 17, W.
Gulick, Abram, sec. 34, Am.
Gulick, C. M., sec. 36, Am.
Gulick, Gilbert H., sec. 36, Am.
Gunter, Wm., sec. 8, E.
Gunter, Wm., sec. 20, Am.
Harrey, Jacob, sec. 2, Am.
Haney, John, sec. 1, Am.
Hannan, John, sec. 25, I.
Hannan, Peter, sec. 25, 1.
Hansger, John, sec. 10, Ger.
Hansger, John, Jr., sec. 10, Ger.
Hansger, Michael, sec. 9, Ger.
Heiaigh, Enoch, sec. 2, Am.
Heiaigh, John, sec. 2, Am.
Henderson, John, sec. 1, I.
Henn, Phillip, sec. 22, Ger.
Hinderholt, Joseph, sec. 21, Ger.
Hinderholt, Mathias, sec. 21, Ger.
Hinderholt, Nicholas, sec. 21, Ger.
Hitchens, Edward, sec. 2, Am.

Honold, sec. 14, Ger.
Honold, Phillip, sec. 14, Ger.
Horn, Adam, sec. 2, Ger.
Horning, Phillip, sec. 23, G.
Huck, George, sec. 12, Ger.
Huck, Joseph, Sl;lC. 12, Ger.
Jacobson, Jacob C., sec. 24, D.
Johnson, Warren, sec. 22, Am.
Jones, Daniel W., sec. 7, E.
Jones, James, sec. 21, W.
Jones, John, sec. 17, E.
Jones, John M., sec. 7, E.
Jones, Richard, sec. 18, E.
Kelly, James, sec. 27, I.
Kelly, Mrs. John, sec. 26, I.
Kelly, Thomas, sec. 26, I.
Kelly, Wm., sec. 26, I.
Kernes, Patrick, sec. 26, I.
Kreascher, Chas., sec. 11, Ger.
Kreascher, Chas., Jr., sec. 14, Ger.
Kreascher, Jacob, sec. 14, Ger.
Lahrmon, Herman, sec. 23, Ger.
Lee, Mrs. L., sec. 2, Am.
Leonard, John, sec. 24, I.
Lewis, Thomas, sec. 18, Am.
Litzenburg, Charles, sec. 5, Ger.
Lucas, Joseph, sec. 14, W.
Ludwig, Barney, sec. 18, G.
Ludwig, Peter, sec. 18, Ger.
Magill, George, sec. 26, I.
Mantz, Adam, sec. 31, Ger.
Maroney, John, sec. 11, I.
Maroney, Thomas, sec. 11, I.
Marsh, Daniel, sec. 35, Am.
Marsh, H., sec. 32, Am.
Martin,---, sec. 36, Ger.
Martin, James, sec. 1, Ger.
Martin, Mrs. T., sec. 11, I.
Meredith, Edward, sec. 30, W.
Meredith, Wm., sec. 30, W.
Middlecamp, Henry, sec. 12, Ger.
Middlecamp, Wm., teacher, sec. 12, G.
Minto, Edward, sec. 18, E.
Misch, John, sec. 15, Ger.
Mitheinghan, Chas., sec. 6, E.
Moir, George, sec. 17, S.
Motley, James, sec. 4, E.
Mulach, Jacob, sec. 7, Ger.
Murghtryd, John, sec. 18, E.
Murghtryd, Mosos, sec. 7, E.
Murghtryd, RicharG!, sec. 7, E.
Murray, Patrick, sec. 26, I.
Myers, Francis G., sec. 4, Ger.
Myers, Jacob, sec. 12, Ger.
Myers, John, sec. 25, Ger.

* 16 *

(;

.?J;.

N
~

'·.·~·

; ,,.;~.'/'''

<~"'

.-:_,

.,,
\

Skewes, Sam'l H., sec. 5, E.
Smith, Benjamin, sec. 7, E.
Sonday, Murrins, sec. 5, Hoi.
Spartz, Jacob, sec. 28, Ger.
Spartz, John P., sec. 36, Ger.
Spartz, Matthias, sec. 36, Ger.
Spartz, Matthias, sec. 17, Ger.
Spartz; Nicholas, sec. 4, Ger.
Spartz, Peter, sec. 36, Ger.
Spartz, Valentine, sec. 36, Ger.
Staffels, Frank, sec. 16, Ger.
Stollenwerk, H., sec. 15, Ger.
Terry, Frank, sec. 10, Ger.
Terry, Mathias, sec. 3, Ger.
Terry, Nicholas, sec. 3, Ger.
Terry, Wm., sec. 9, Ger.
Terry, Wm., sec. 10, Ger.
Tetzloff, Louis, sec. 31, Ger.
Thayer, L. W., sec. 34, Am.
Thom, Mathias, sec. 18, G.
Toner, Charles, sec. 26, Am,
Toner, Daniel, sec. 27, I.
Tymeson, Henry, sec. 35, Am.
Ulyk, Vaston, sec. 9, Hoi.
Vandermoon, Albert, sec. 12, G.
Vandermoon, Wm., sec. 12, G.
Wagner, Henry, sec. 18, Am.
Weber, Wm., sec. 2, Ger.
White, Michael, sec. 35, I.
Williams, Daniel, sec. 34, W.
Williams, Lewis, sec. 29, W.
Williams, Wm., sec. 28, W.
Wilson, Charles, sec. 1, Am.
Windish, John A., sec. 26, G.
Windish, P., constable, sec. 26, G.

Myers, Theodore, sec. 25, Ger.
Myers, Valentine, sec. 33, Ger.
Myrick, Giles J., sec. 24, Am.
Myrick, J. J., sec. 24, Am.
Myrick, Mead10., sec. 35, Am.
Nayr, Julius, sec. 35, Ger.
Nelson, George, sec. 33, D.
Newbury, H. A:, sec. 35, Am.
Newton, James, sec. 26, I.
Oldenberg, Fred, sec. 1, Ger.
Oldenberg, John, sec 1, G.
Pierce, Floyd W., sec. 14, Am.
Pierce, Joshua 0., sec. 14, Am.
Pierce, R. Carlton;sec. 36, Am.
Pfeiffer, John P., sec. 15, G.
Poier, Charles, sec. 4, Ger.
Powell, Charles, sec. 18, E.
Price, George, sec. 27, Am.
Price, Richard, sec. 9, Am.
Price, Richard, sec. 27, Am.
Price, Thomas, sec. 9, Am.
Puffer, Louis, sec. 22, Hoi.
Reader, Charles, sec. 28, E.
Reidenbach, Phillip, sec. 13, G.
Reiplinger, Mrs. J., sec. 3, G.
Rice, Fred, sec. 25, Am.
Riggs, James, sec. 20, E.
Ryan, Thomas, sec. 21, I.
Savage, Wm., sec. 30, E.
Schiltz, Adam, sec. 21, Ger.
Schiltz, Jacob, sec. 21, Ger.
Schnell, Henry, sec. 12, Ger.
Schroeder, Aug., sec. 20, Ger.
Schwantz, Herman, sec. 6, Ger.
Sheen, James, sec. 30, I.

Editor's Note: We recognize that some of the names in the above columns are different than those
used today; however, we chose to use the original spelling.
BAPTIST CHURCH OF PARIS

Society organized and Church built in 1868. Services held every Sunday at 2:30p.m., and every
alternate Wednesday at 7 o'clock p,m,, Prayer meetings every alternate Wednesday evening at 7 o'clock
in the Church. Sunday School immediately preceding services, every Sunday. No. of Scholars 50. No.
of Teachers, 5. No. of volumes in library, 50, No. members of Church, 30.
Rev. Samuel Jalliffe, Pastor
J. D. Goldsworthy, W. Griffiths, C. Powell, Trustees
. C. Powell, Superintendent of S. Schools
G. Goldsworthy, Librarian, S. School
J. Dixon, Treasurer

* 17 *
·-~--~-~----------~·~"·~~··"··-

BRISTOL AND PARIS CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

Organized in 1850. Services held every Sabbath at 10:30 a.m. during the Summer, and 11 a.m. in
the winter, and 7 p.m. -Prayer meetings every Wednesday evening at the church during the Summer,
at 7 o'clock, and during the winter at the same hour at the house of some member, Number of members, 75. Sabbath School is held every Sabbath in the church at 12. Number of Scholars, 140. Number of Teachers, 10. Number of Volumes in Library, 400.
Rev'd Thomas Gillespie, Pastor
Theodore Jones, Mead 0. Myrick, Deacons
J. D. Fowler, W. Marsh, L. W. Thayer, A. Gulic, A. Beath, Trustees
M. 0. Myrick, Superintendent Sabbath School
G. H. Gulic, Secretary Sabbath School
L. W. Thayer, Treasurer and Librarian
GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH

Society organized and Church erected in the year 1866. No. of members, 28. Services are held
every third Sunday in each month at 10 o'clock a.m.
Rev. Christian Popp, Pastor
Fred. Biehn, P. Reidenbach, Jacob Myers, Trustees
ST. JOHN'S CATHOLIC CHURCH

Services, every Sabbath and Holy days during the Summer, at 10 o'clock a.m. No services during
the winter months. No pastor at present.
John Pfeiffer, John Terry,- Peterson, Trustees

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Distr.
Distr.
Distr.
Distr.
Distr.
Distr.
Distr.
Distr.
Distr.
Distr.

No. 1
No. 2
No. 3
No.. 4
No. 5
No. 6
No. 7
No. 8
No. 10
No. 11

Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.
Sec.

27
4
16
29
12
17
25
23
35
32

No. of Scholars, 18
No. of Scholars, 30
No. of Scholars, 23
No. of Scholars, 36
No. of Scholars, 35
No. of Scholars, 19
No. of Scholars, 30
No. of Scholars, 23
No. of Scholars, 26
No. of Scholars, 26

* 18 *

Mary J. Ring, Teacher
Sarah Slater, Teacher
W. Hannahs, Teacher
G. Thayer, Teacher
W. "Middlecamp, Teacher
Clara Upson, Teacher
G. S. Strong, Teacher
Miss L. B. Patten, Teacher
Jas. Ozanne, Teacher
M. 0. Myrick, Teacher

CENTURY FARM-HOME AWARDS

Beginning in Wisconsin's Centennial Year, 1948, farms or homes owned continuously by a family for
one hundred years have been recognized at a special program at the Wisconsin State Fair. Persons
listed below have received Century Farm-Home certificates for Paris township farms, according to a
·
list in the County Agricultural Office.
Name

Year Settled

Biehn, Walter W.
Meyer, Florence C. (Mrs.)
Henn, Mr. and Mrs. Edward J.
Mueller, Henry P. and Elizabeth
Hansen, Marie E.
Myers, Everett
Poisl, Della
Frederick, Marie C.
Kirk, Orilla Alice May Bailey
George B. Price

Year Awarded

1853
1854
1854
1852
1842
1870
1842
1871
1859
1873

1953
1961
1963
1964
1971
1971
1971
1973
1974
1975

To receive a certificate a land owner must establish that he/she is a blood relative of the original owner,
and offer proof that ownership of the property has been in the family for 100 years. Application
forms for the certificate can be obtained through the Kenosha County Agricultural Office .

...
CENTURY FAMILY CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE

Persons who live in Kenosha County whose ancestors lived in the county before 1878 may apply for a
Century Family Certificate from the Kenosha County Historical Society, 6300 3rd Avenue, Kenosha,
Wisconsin, 53140. Cost, $1.00.
RESIDENTS OF PARIS- 191~
An old book, Prairie Farmer's Directory of Kenosha and Racine Counties, Wisconsin, (14), published
in 1919, is the source for the following list of farmers (owner or tenant) living in Paris township at
that time. Although the book gives additional information in each listing, we are including here onlv
Name of the owner, tenant, or renter, wife;s maiden name, section in which farm was located, and
year the farmer came to Kenosha County. In many cases this was the year he was born.

SJiv

Allen, James (Mary Hamman) Sec. 32, 1914
Anderson, Chris (Trena Hansen) Sec. 23, 1897
Aschauer, Sr., Herman (Sophia Tischendorf) Sec. 6, 1906
Bailey, Jay (Anna Doerginger) Sec. 13, 1855
Bailey, LeRoy (Etta Bush) Sec. 13, 1874
Biehn, Fred (Matilda Schulz) Sec. 4, 1871
Biehn, Henry (Frances Heidersdorf) Sec. 12, 1870
Bower, Frank (Agnes Neu) Sec. 12, 1~16
Bruch, Adam (Mary Jagjkowski) Sec. 20, 1900
Bullis, Arthur (Clara E. Eddy) Sec. 7, 1904

* 19 *

Burgeson, Henry (Helen Carlson) Sec. 26, 1913
Burgess, Elbert H. (Clara A. Newbury) Sec. 34, 1874
Campbell, Richard (Lena H. Gurlick) Sec. 34-3, 1905
Christensen, Mrs. Hanna) Sec 35, 1909
Christenson, Peter (Carrie Hanson) Sec. 11, 1909
Coughlin, Mrs. Margaret Sec. 1, 1866
Crane, Charles (Mamie Shanley) Sec. 16-17, 1877
Dam,l,.eo (Jacobina M. Spruyt) Sec. 36, 1913
Davis, Lewis (Margaret Ludwig) Sec. 29, 1850
Doksus Bros., Dominic-August Sec. 16-21, 1918
Drinkwater, Charley {Margaret Meyers) Sec. 3, 1899
Drissell, Jacob (Catherine Fonk) Sec. 25, 1871
Dubik, Martin (Anna Knopp) Sec. 27,34, 1916
Erickson, Lewis (Anna Jorgenson) Sec. 5, 1904
· Everett, Charles Sec. 26, 35, 1891
Fonk, Charles (Camille Biehn) Sec. 16, 9, 1883
Fonk, George (Josephine Rieter) Sec. 23, 14, 1876
Fonk, Jacob {Ella Rasmussen) Sec. 16, 1888
Fonk, leo (Catherine May) Sec. 21, 22, 1894
Fonk, Matthew G., Sec. 8, 9, 16, 1891
Fonk, M. J. (Marie Stahl) Sec. 16, 1874
Fonk, Nicholas J. (lizzie Fettes) Sec. 25, 1882
Fonk, Val (Lillian Terry) Sec. 26, 14, 1876
Frederick Bros., Nicholas and Eli Sec. 11, 1885
Fredericksen, Otto (Anna Nelson) Sec. 32, 1902
Fredrick, John (Elizabeth Seitz} Sec. 24, 1875
Fredrick, Matt Sec. 13, 1889
Fredrick, Mike (Catherine Terry) Sec. 10, 1870
Fredrick, Nicholas J. (Eva Karpen) Sec. 24, 1868
Gitzlaff, Henry (Minnie Kutzke) Sec. 5, 1884
Gitzlaff, William (Lena Lentz) Sec. 32, 1875
Goldberg, Abe (Clara Bluemanthal) Sec. 33, 32, 1918
Gorgensen, Christ (Sigrid Ogren) Sec. 25, 1905
Gould, George (Ruth E. Wiilerton) Sec. 35, 1919
Gratz, Michael (Emma Eppers) Sec. 24, 1859
Gratz, Nicholas F. Sec. 23, 1896
Green, Andrew P. (Cecelia Peterson) Sec. 15, 14, 1909
Grewenow, Henry {Emma Gitzlaff) Sec. 33, 1886
Griffith, Isaac (Minnie V. Price) Sec. 18, 1864
Gunter Bros., Charley and Edward Sec. 17, 8, 18, 1860
Gunter, Harvey (Effie M. Price) Sec. 9, 8, 16, 1877
Gunter, Herbert (loretta Price) Sec. 8, 18, 1869
Hackbart, Julius (Matilda Otto) Sec. 36, 1871
Haney, Jacob J. (Lottie Hunter} Sec. 1, 1876
Haney, Peter J. Sec. 1, 1877
Hansen, Fred (Albertine Jensen) Sec. 19, 1908
Hanson, Emil (Martha Hunter) Sec. 10, 1912
Heidersdorf, William (Alice Murray) Sec. 24, 1856
Henn, Edward (Clara Bohm) Sec. 11, 1886
Hensgen, Edward Sec. 9, 1889
Hensgen, John M. Sec 15, 1875
Hensgen, Matt (Regina lotz) Sec. 9, 1872
Hensgen, Mike (Mary Fox) Sec. 9, 1883
Hoegsted, Arthur (Rose Krumrick) Sec. 11, 1891
Hoegsted, Bernard (Astrid Peterson) Sec. 8, 1899
Holloway Bros., John and Charley Sec. 22, 15, 14, ·1884

*20 *

·~~ .................

•'

~ '•:>

Holtz, Henry (Elizabeth Wilson) Sec. 30, 1915
Horn, Hubert (Helen Schneider) Sec. 2, 1893
Janik, Thomas (Mary Pikna) Sec. 20, 1915
Johnson, Albin (Mary Larson) Sec. 36, 1903
Jones, John Sec. 17, 1869
Kempf, Frank (Mary Swethafel) Sec. 36, 1913
Kearns Bros., George and Harry Sec. 25, 1885
Klobucnick, Leo Sec. 20, 1915
Klug, Charley (Sadie Kling) Sec. 30, 1914
Knop, Paul H. (Elsie Radtke) Sec. 5, 1912
Kraak, Samuel (Wilhelmina Dellmen) Sec. 36, 1889
Kreuscher, Erwin (Emma Myers) Sec. 12, 1890
Kreuscher, Jacob (Catherine Biehn) Sec. 13, 14, 12, 1885
Kreuscher, William (Laura Prange) Sec. 13, 1888
Kuhn, Charles (Frances Heger) Sec. 2, 1918
Kutzke, Gus (Carrie Nelson} Sec. 6, 1889
Larson, Fred (Ida Olson) Sec. 36, J907
Larson, James (Ledna Jensen) Sec. 25, 1890
Larson, John (Minnie Sorenson) Sec. 3, 1908
Lentz, Frank Sec. 36, 1889
Maurer, Charles (Elizabeth Broesch) Sec. 23, 1911
Maurice, Mrs. Helen Sec. 34, 1895
Meredith, Edward (Cora DeBell) Sec. 19, 20, 1865
Meredith, John Sec. 30, 1854
Meyer, John V. (Magdalena Fox) Sec. 31, 1883
Meyer, Peter Sec. 31, 32, 1888
Mich, John P. (Lucy Fonk) Sec. 15, 16, 1876
Michaels, Fred (Ida Schultz) Sec. 7, 1918
Modder, James (Elizabeth Vellenga) Sec. 35, 1917
Muhlenback, Albert (Minnie Lentz} Sec. 27, 21, 1882
Muhlenbeck, Ferdnand (Addie Evans) Sec. 33, 1879
Muhlenbeck, Ferdnand Sr. (Anna Hoppe) Sec. 30, 1882
Mutter, Frank M. Sec. 2, 1883
Myers, Jacob (Minnie Hetzel) Sec. 1, 1868
Myers, Peter (Elizabeth Herman) Sec. 12, 1872
Nelson, George (Caroline Nelson) Sec. 5, 1906
Neu, Mrs. Isabelle Sec. 16, 1882
Neu, John F. (Lena Fonk) Sec. 16, 15, 1883
Nevorski, Stanley (Rosie) Sec. 31, 1915
Olsen, Nels P. (Marie Anderson) Sec. 10, 1918
Paasch, William (Hanna Dau) Sec. 36, 1884
Pederson, Terkel (Anna Johanna) Sec. 28, 1903
Pfeiffer, Henry (Mary Bauer) Sec. 15, 10, 1874
Pfeiffer, Hubert (Mary Eisenbarth) Sec. 2, 4, 1872
Prange, Edwin H. (Ellen Nielsen) Sec. 12, 1892
Price, Charles W. (Hattie M. Bufton) Sec. 27, 1877
Price, Fred (Edith Muhlenback) Sec. 28 33 1885
Price, George (Elizabeth Powells) Sec.
1B54
Price, louis (Ella Bullis} Sec. 28, 1874
Price, Richard Sec. 27, 1850
Price, William (Bell Gunter) Sec. 27, 1873
Rasmussen, Nels P. (Annie M. Jansen) Sec. 8, 9, 10, 1910
Reidenbach, Mrs. Carrie, Sec. 13, 1877
.
· Richter, Henry Sr. (Catherine Markus) Sec. 7, 1912
Richter, Henry Sec. 7, 1912
Schlitz, Frank Sec. 24, 1875

2l,

* 21

Schlitz, Jacob {Mary Mich) Sec. 20, 21, 1877
Schlitz, Jacob E. (Hanna Jensen} Sec. 24, 1872
Schlitz, Joseph (Mary Fonk} Sec. 20, 21, 1864
Schlitz, Matt, Sec. 15, 22, 1861
Schmidt, Nicholas (Elizabeth Schneider) Sec. 26, 1894
Schneider, Peter, Sec. 25, 1899
Schnell, Jacob L. (Emma Freitag) Sec. 12, 1874
Schrank, Mrs. Adolph, Sec. 7, 1908
Simon, Jacob (Bertha T. Peterson) Sec. 4, 1901
Sparks, Mrs. Mary, Sec. 4, 1849
Spitzer, Gust (Edith Tiefert) Sec. 25,1918
Steffen, Louis (Emma Bohn) Sec. 32, 1900
Steffen, William (Martha Bohn) Sec. 31, 1885
Steinbach, Joseph (Nina Dixon) Sec. 35, 1909
Stollenwerk, John H. (Josephine Fonk) Sec. 21,1874
Stollenwerk, Joseph M. (Anna Peters) Sec. 22, 5, 8, 1870
Stollenwerk, Oscar (Anna Miller) Sec. 15, 1885
Streich, Herman (Lena Zimmerman) Sec. 36, 1905
Streuli, Mrs. Martha, Sec. 17, 1904
Streuli, William (Edna Kling) Sec. 7, 1914
Swantz, Ernest (Hazel Keylock) Sec. 6, 1891
Swantz, Herbert (Emma Erb) Sec. 6, 1916
Swantz, William, Sec. 5, 1889
Tank, Carl (Minnie Schiefelbein) Sec. 20, 1869
Tank, Fred, Sec. 20, 30, 1881
Terry, Frank (Frances Fonk) Sec. 3, 10, 1878
Terry, Henry (Louise Fonk} Sec. 3, 1885
Terry, John (Louise Thomas) Sec. 3,_10, 1862
Terry, Robert (Anna Hipsch) Sec. 3, 10, 1894
Tetzlaff, Frank (Eva Ingraham) Sec. 28, 1877
Thom, Jacob A. (Lillian Ludwig) Sec. 19, 18, 20, 1879
Thom, Peter J. (Appolonia Schuetz) Sec. 19, 20, 1869
Thomas, Milan (Appollonia Wyk) Sec. 25, 1893
Waugh, Clinton and Morris Rasmussen) Sec. 25, 1904
Weber, John (Annie Winke) Sec. 22, 1905
Weiland, Theodore (Mary Windish) Sec. 23, 1909
Weis, Christ (Catherine Ehlen} Sec. 19, 1886
Wendorg, William {Elsie Zumack) Sec. 3, 1917
White, Casper (Anna Still) Sec. 23, 1899
Williams, James (Minnie Schmidt) Sec. 18, 1899
Williams, Lewis (Mary Crane) Sec. 29, 30, 1886
Williams, William (Alice Watkins) Sec. 28, 29, 30, 1866
Willkoumm, Nicholas (Josephine Neu) Sec. 14, 1905
Windish, Elmer, Sec. 26, 1851
Zach, Herman (Louisa Prange) Sec. 31, 1899
Zdanowitz, John (Apolona Wooloman} Sec, 25, 1918
Zentgraf Bros., Jacob, Fred, and Oscar, Sec. 7, 1919
Ziemke, Frank (Ida Gall) Sec. 30, 1908
Editor's Note: We recognize that some of the names in the above columns are different than those
used today; however, we chose to use the original spelling.
In 1919 there were 171 farms in Paris Township and almost all of them had a name. An advertisem*nt
for the Kenosha News in the 1919 Directory shows that "Kenosha's Oldest Daily Newspaper" cost $5.00
per year in advance.

•22

RESIDENTS OF PARIS- 1975
Reproduced below is a plat of Paris Township which appeared in an ATLAS AND PLAT BOOK,
KENOSHA COUNTY, WISCONSIN, dated 1975.

T 2 N- R.21 E.

'.]\)

-f--

*23*

··~tillfiB('~-jtJL._:~;JtJii~CJC:Jti'l!lfth~·: _; Q

BUSINESSES AND SETTLEMENTS IN PARIS TOWNSHIP
Paris township is and always has been predominantly agricultural. No cluster of businesses and homes
has attained village stature; no village plat is on file in the office of the Kenosha County Register of
Deeds for any planned community. However, from time to time various artisans and tradesmen have
offered their services or merchandise from their homes or stores in scattered locations around the township, and the names Paris Corners, Tar Corners, Star Corners, Chapin, Parisville, and Jugville are all
names that appear on old records and clippings.
EARLY TAVERNS SERVE TRAVELERS

Among the earliest businesses in the town were the taverns-taverns of the type referred to by Mary D.
Bradford when she wrote: The word "tavern" in the early times was applied to houses where travelers
could find food and shelter; it was the hotel of pioneer days. (6)
Seemingly one of the earliest taverns was Van Cott House, which is said to have been built in the 1830's,
according to a marker pictured on a snapshot reproduced here. The marker was placed on Art
Fonk's lawn {Sec. 23 and 14) by the Kenosha
News and a picture at the time of Wisconsin's Centennial celebration.
According to a letter once written by William C.
Crosby (born 1865), of Kenosha, relating to the
history of Horning {Hawthorne) School, "The
Crosby Brothers bought the Van Cott farm in
1867... VanCott bought the farm in 1830 (sic),
and it was run as the Van Cott House where
farmers from the west stayed over night when
delivering wheat to Kenosha in oxen-drawn wag. ons. My folks sold the farm in 1883 to George
Fonk's father."

·"

Records show that at one time David Van Cott
owned some of the land presently owned by
Art Fonk. In 1850 he sold 11 acres of land in
the northwest quarter of Sec. 23, which was
separated from the rest bf the section by Burlington Road. (22)
Centennial Marker
at site of Van Cott House

DUTTON'S TAVERN SERVED PlANK ROAD TRAVElERS
".i\}

Dutton's Tavern, located in Sec. 32 on the north side of the old Plank Road (60th Street), was operated
by Lyman Dutton, who purchased land in Section 32 in 1847 (11 ). An old clipping on file at the Historical Museum has this to say of Dutton's: It's popularity may be inferred from this advertisem*nt in
the Kenosha Telegraph orJanuary 17, 1851, "Farmers Exchange Fair after the old English style, for
the purchase, sale, and exhibition of any article of Agriculture or manufacture will be held at Dutton's
Tavern on the last Tuesday of February. In 1850 it was the place of the first annual meeting of the
Kenosha County Agricultural Society. (17). GeorgeS. Blackman, of Paris, was elected treasurer of this
group (4).
<!'

* 25 *

Just how long Dutton's remained in business as a tavern is not known, but it is thought that it later became a creamery (18). For many years after the building was no longer used as a tavern, the remnants
of an old watering trough to the west of the building served as a reminder of its former use.

Dutton's Tavern served many travelers along the old Plank Road (60th Street). Today, without its
second story, it is the Bernard Jackley home.
Editor's Note: There has been some speculation that Dutton's might have been the tavern put out of
business when J. M. Kellogg closed one road going through his land and opened another in order to
carry traffic more directly to his own establishment. It seems more likely that the tavern so affected
was one operated by Peter {or Uriah} Woods in the north half of Section 2 of Bristol Township.
"Peter Wood's was located where Julius Remus now lives (more recently Albert Knox and presently
Ronald Martin), and the house back from the road south of the Newbury school was formerly the
ballroom of the Wood tavern". (19) The road that Mr. Kellogg discontinued may have been part of
an old Racine-Wilmot road that angled southwesterly across Paris and Bristol townships from Section
1 in Paris to the present Wilmot Road. This road was discontinued very early as roads following or
paralleling section lines were laid out.

MANY TRADESMEN WORKED FROM THEIR HOMES

Henry Newbury, carpenter, who, in 1838, brought his family and settled in Section 35, built many of
the early structures in the area, including the Bristol-Paris Congregational Church on the Plank Road.
Andrew Davison, shoemaker, operated his business from his home in Section 11. His daughter, Mary
D. Bradford, in her Memoirs tells that when her father built their second home in 1848, "A shop was
located upstairs where father could carry on his work ... At first those wishing to visit this shop had to
walk through the kitchen to reach the stairway .. .later an outside stairway was built. The shop became the club house of the neighborhood'. (5)
An 1875 county directory listed several tradesmen who operated from scattered locations and usually
farmed along with offering their services to the residents of the area. They included Jessy Carpenter,
carpenter, Sec. 11; H. G. Blackman, cheese factory, Sec. 22; Phillip Horning, blacksmith and feed mill
owner, Sec. 23; and John Murghtryd, mason, Sec. 17 ( 13).

*26 *

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SEVERAL TRADESMEN SETTLE AT PARIS CORNERS
Of all the place names used for "settlements" in Paris township, Paris Corners is probably the only one
familiar to most present-day residents. In the public land sales of 1839 most of the land in the two
west tiers of sections was taken up. By 1842 all land adjoining present Highway 45 had been transferred from the federal government to private owners (11 ).
The Centennial Edition of the Union Grove Sun, issued June 22, 1939, carried a story from a little
book written by Miss Stella G. Moe, giving the personal recollections of her father, Stiles Moe, mentioned above, including an account of the trip to Wisconsin from Ohio. Describing the trip northward
from Chicago, he said, "In the morning we started for the Wisconsin line going out by the Lincoln Park
road. We passed old Fort Dearborn, and camped once between Chicago and Southport (Kenosha).
These were the heaviest rides of the trip. We reached Southport, October 16, 1844. It was just a little
place about as large as Kansasville today. When we got as far as Tar (Paris) Corners, it was dark and we
dared not go farther that night as it was very easy to get lost on the prairies. There was but one house
there, occupied by an old bachelor, named Stevens". (20)
Very soon after the time described by Mr. Moe, land in the area of the present intersection of Burlington Road and Highway 45 was divided off into smaller plots and sold to tradesmen who built their
homes and operated their businesses from that location.
PARIS CORNERS NICKNAMED "TAR CORNERS"

·'

According to an account on file at the Kenosha County Historical Museum "Paris was called Tar Corners up to about 1875 and by some of the old settlers even much later than that". (16) Behind that
name lies a story.
One of the early settlers in the area "stole everything he could lay his hands on- wheat, pigs, anything". One night after being accused of the thefts by Mr. Marsh, he went to Marsh's pasture and cut
off the manes and hair from the tails of the best team of horses. Farmers in the area called a meeting
and decided to tar and feather the thief. Dressed like Indians (there were still some Pottawatomis
living between Southport and Racine), they waylaid the thief after he left "a saloon in the woods run
by a man by the name of Rich". The tar and feathers were applied plentifully and he was released and
"was never seen in that locality again".
Editor's Note: Pinpointing the location of Mr. Rich's "saloon in the woods" has been difficult. However, Zania P. Rich owned the northwest quarter of Section 19 from 1839 until 1853. This would indicate that the saloon was probably somewhere near the home of Charles Butland on Highway 45, a
short distance south of Paris Corners...

PARIS .CORNERS BURYING GROUNDS ESTABLISHED 1854
Sometime before 1854 a building north of the intersection and on the east side of the road, a home at
first, had become a schoolhouse (the first schoolhouse in the town according to some reports). When
9/1 Oths acre was bought in 1854 for the Paris Corners Burying Ground from Content Judson, the
description excluded from within the measurement an area four rods square which was schoolhouse
property. (11) Trustees were John Price, G. E. Montague, Jehia Hitchco*ck, Evan Meredith, E. D. Dunning, Frederick Quackenbush, William Jones, and Daniel Williams.

* 27 *

fiRST STORE AT PARIS CORNERS IN 1854

In 1854 Richard Jones bought land and settled in Section 17. He is said to have had the first store in
the township (9) and served as postmaster during the Civil War. William Griffiths, a blacksmith, came
at the same time and bought land adjoining Jones' land on the east. Griffiths' land abutted the road
leading to Union Grove (Highway 45) and Jones settled a little farther west, adjacent to the Burlington
·
-Kenosha Road (Highway 142).
In 1869 Jones' brother, James, and a nephew, John Jones, came with their families and located in the
area. A granddaughter of the latter, Ann Griffiths, of Bristol, has written an essay, Paris As I Remember Hearing It From My Mother, from which the following description of Paris Corners is drawn.
On the northwest corner was Ned Minton's blacksmith shop, and above it a hall where meetings were
held. The Minton family lived in a house just north of the shop, and beyond them the William Bufton
family. Mr. Bufton was a shoemaker and later on moved to Wilmot. Farther north was Griffiths' barn.
Across the road from the barn was the church (the schoolhouse had been moved farther north by the
time being described) and, to the south of it, the Griffiths' blacksmith shop and home. (This house
stood where Grewe's store was built, after the house burned in 1917). South of them Miss Griffiths
thinks there was a little red house to which her grandfather moved his family after living a while with
his uncle.
A little south; of the corner on the west side, the Charles Powell family lived. Thomas Lewis lived
west of the corner on the farm later owned by James Sheen, Mrs. Keuper, and James Williams, succesively.
There was a house to the southwest of the intersection, occupied by Old Otto, a rag peddler. In 1875
John Jones bought the house and twenty acres from Matt Thom and moved his family there.
Belle Williams Moe and her husband owned a farm east of the corner on the north side of the road.
East of the corner on the south side were the Mohrs (spelled Moore and Moir on early records), three
Scottish brothers-George, John, and Peter- and their sister, Nellie.

ROADSIDE WATERING TANK AT THOM'S
Matt Thorn who lived south from the corner had a water tank beside the road at which travelers could
stop and water their horses. Fed by a spring or flowing well, these tanks were fairly common sights
and farmers who had them received $5.00 credit on their real estate taxes.

TORNADO HITS PARIS- 1883

One memorable event related by Miss Griffiths, and corroborated by an article in the Kenosha Telegraph
of May 25, 1883, was a tornado that hit in the county. The item relates "Minton's blacksmith shop at
Paris was wrecked. Mr. Griffiths, a blacksmith at Paris Corners, was driving on the road when the tornado overtook him and lifted horses and wagon bodily from the ground". Miss Griffiths tells that the
Jones family went to their cellar. After the storm had passed, they found that some of the rafters from
Powell's barn across the road had blown through their front window.
At the time, carpenters were working on the roof of Matt Thorn's new home (now the Charles Butland
home}. From the structure on top (known in the East as a widow's walk) they had a "ringside seat".
They watched the cloud dip down, pick up a chunk of slough as one might pull up a handful! of grass,
then drop it farther on.

* 28 *
'

TAR CORNERS CREAMERY- 1892
In 1892 a group organized under the title Tar Corners Creamery purchased land from Lewis Williams,
Jr. Officers were William Crane, president; Matt Thorn, treasurer; and L. C. Williams, secretary. Charles
Crane was the buttermaker and ran the business. John Babco*ck also worked there as a butter maker.
This business is thought to have continued into the 1900's.

·"
Parris Corners Creamery - Information on the back of the picture states that this building stood
on the southeast corner of the intersection at Paris Corners. A Mr. Klusmeyer is thought to be the
butter maker pictured. Harvey Gunter was a butter maker there also.

William Crane's General Store~ Besides being a general store this building served as a postoffice in
the days before rural delivery. People came from miles around to get their mail there. (An old 1887
Atlas lists a post office at Paris.) Earlier the building had been owned by the Powell family and
presently (1977) is part of Ed and Cathy's Tin Cup, formerly Michael's Tavern.

* 29 *

FRED MICHAELS LOCATES AT PARIS CORNERS

In 1917 Fred Michaels moved to Paris Corners, renting a house owned by Mr. Sheen. In 1935 he
bought the corner place where there had been a store run by Mr. Crane. He remodeled it and made an
upper apartment. The house he first rented was moved away, and Fred purchased this land and built
a garage on the spot. The well which was there before is inside the building. In 1929, after the milk
train was discontinued in the area, Fred bought a truck, insulated it to keep the milk cool, and hauled
his own and other farmers' milk to Chicago. Leonard, Fred's son, ran a tavern in the building on the
southwest corner. That tavern is now Ed and Kathy's Tin Cup.

PAUL GREWE'S COUNTRY STORE OPENS- 1927
Paul Grewe came to Paris Corners in 1927 from Kenosha, locating on the northwest corner of the intersection. He sold gasoline (7 gallons for a dollar} from pumps he pumped by hand. He employed
Marie Williams (Hansen} as general clerk. Her duties included making sandwiches and coffee for sale
to travelers who stopped in. Ice cream cones and pop were big sellers.
After operating from the northwest corner for a year or two, Paul moved to the southeast corner and
then finally purchased one-half acre on the northeast. He and his brother built the store which he
operated until 1945, when he sold to Ed Kocol. Kocol in turn was succeeded by Mr. and Mrs.
Strasheim, who operated it for a short time before selling it. At the present time it is used as a dwelling.

The Country Store was built on the east side of Highway 45, just north of
Highway 43, in the 1930's by Paul Grewe

* 30 *

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BOOSTER CLUB VISITS RECALLED
Many residents of the area recall with pleasure the visits of the Booster Club to Paris Corners. Kenosha
merchants, traveling through the county in a good-will caravan, always included Paris Corners in their
itinerary.
Many residents of the area recall with pleasure the visits fo the Booster Club to Paris Corners.

The Booster Club Carl!!van and the group that greeted them at Paris Corners on October 9, 1940

Jugville-Parisville-Star Corners-Chapin

·"
Jugville, Parisville, Star Comers, Chapin, and Heidersdorf's Corner seem to have been names, at one
time or another, for a cluster of homes and businesses at the intersection of the Racine and SouthportBurlington roads (Highways 142 and MB north).
Lyman wrote that George McCarty kept the first tavern in Paris at Jugville. (9) A search of the records
shows that in 1844 James Hannan conveyed to George McCarter two acres of land on the northeast
corner of that intersection in Section 24. Two years later Stephen Goldsworthy acquired the property.
(11) Records of the Town Clerk of that period show that in 1852 there was a decision to hold the
next meeting at Jugville; in the following year minutes relate "the meeting was held at Goldsworthy's".
By 1858 James Robson had acquired the property. Town clerk's records show that a liquor license
was issued for the Jugville Hotel kept by James Robson and that it was decided to have the town
meeting of 1859 at Jugville.
Evidently it was about this time that the name Jugville was replaced by Parisville. An 1861 plat map
shows a blacksmith shop and the Paris ·Hotel located at the intersection. J. Robson was listed as owner of the two-acre plot on the northeast corner of the intersection.
Edna Heidersdorf Thorn, born in 1894, wrote the following:

r-{:_

In the 1850's there was a hotel on the northeast corner of the Burlington
Road and Racine Road (now Hwys: 142 and MB, Sec. 24). The hotel
furnished lodging for travelers between Kenosha and Burlington, for
farmers hauling the'ir wheat to the Kenosha port, and for travelers going
to' or comingirom Racine. It was, known as the Parisville Hotel or
Tavern.

* 31 *

..,

STAR CREAMERY BUllT- 1888
A creamery was built on the corner in 1888 by Kenosha County Star Creamery Company. It changed
hands seven times during the following twenty-two years, and the name sometimes changed as the
owners changed. In 1902 it became Piper-Thomas and Co.; in 1904, Paris Creamery Co.; in 1906,
Kenosha Creamery Co.; and in 1908, Star Creamery, as it was known untJI it discontinued in the
1920's. William E. Heidersdorf and Nicholas P. Willkomm bought the creamery in 1909, with Willkomm selling his share to Louis Fenske, of Somers, the following year. About 1912 the creamery
burned to the ground and was re-built. It was finally shut down when prices for milk for bottling became too high in Southern Wisconsin to make the manufacture of butter profitable. (Note: This
building was moved back a short distance from the road, remodeled, and is now a part of Harold
Heidersdorf's home).

'So,~

Star Creamery in f}arly 1900's
At the far end is the Ice House. Living quarters on second floor.

HEIDERSDORF STORE OPENS 1893
In 1892 William Heidersdorf started a small hardware in an unused horsebarn, a short distance east of
the corner. Besides hardware items he sold McCormick binders, and sold and erected windmills. In
1901 he buiit a new store, close to the highway, which still stands. It was a general store in which he
sold groceries, dry goods, some menswear, household utensils, hardware, and many other items. He
also sold farm machinery, buggies, etc. He ran the store until 1926, when his son Harold Heidersdorf,
took over, selling only farm implements, hardware, and other farm supplies until it closed in 1953.
An interesting list of items sold to one customer in 1910 includes:
Oatmeal
~ lb. Bake Powder
3 lb. Mince Meat
Yeast
Lemons
3 boxes sardines
Box Cocoa
2~ lb. Cheese
Spices
(

Corn starch
2 lb. cookies
2% lb. rope
1 pair shoes
91b ham
Candy
Sweat Pad for Horse
8~ yds~ calico

$.25
.15
.25
.05
.10
.25
.22

.32
.10

Total

* 32 *

$.09
.18

.35
2.00
1.05
.05
.40

.40
$6.81

'' v.-....

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Other items offered for sale and their prices were:
Corduroy coat
3-1/8 lb. bacon
Shirt
Overalls
1 lb. coffee
4 boxes raisins
1 milk can
200 lbs. flour
Plow Boy tobacco

$3.50
.49
.45
.50
.16
.40
2.10
4.80
· .40

Pencil box
Common nails-1 lb.
Horse collar
Cash for sleigh
Clothes pins
Knitting needle
Thread
Sugar 1 lb.

$ .05
.05
3.25
16.00

.05
.10
.05
.05

Alice, the wife of William, worked in the store. At times she drove a horse and buggy to Kenosha and
then went by train to Chicago, where she shopped for cotton dress materials at Marshall Fields. Many
older residents of Paris remember going to the Heidersdorf Store for their supplies. Harold tells that
the men would sit on nail kegs around the pot-bellied stove and talk. He also remembers that the TNT,
blasting powder, and gun powder that was sold in the store came to Somers by rail in a separate car.

POSTAL SERVICE AT CHAPIN
Edna Thom's account continues:
At the beginning of the twentieth century there was no Rural Free Delivery
of mail to eastern Paris Township. There was a post office in the general
store run by Heidersdorf, who was also the Postmaster. It was known as
Chapin, Wisconsin. Farmers picked up their mail there and brought in
mail they wanted to send. A young man on horseback took the outgoing
mail to Somers and brought the incoming mail.

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Cancellation stamp used at Chapin Post Office is still
treasured by descendants of Wilfiam Heidersdorf.

*33

~-·_j

TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SET UP

According to Harold Heidersdorf, the first telephone line in eastern Paris Township was a single wire
strung 4-% miles by William E. Heidersdorf from his store to the railroad station in Somers, so that
could be called from the freight depot when his shipments of merchandise arrived.
The Heidersdorf-Kreuscher Telephone Company was formed when Jacob and George Kreuscher
to get telephones connected to Heidersdorf's line. Gradually more farmers wanted telephone service
and eventually lines were strung along most roads in Eastern Paris and Western Somers townships..
These lines all ran to a switch board in the home of George and Carrie Reidenbach (Sec. 31, on Hwy
1-94 south of Hwy. E., now the home of Marlin Biehn). The switchboard was in the living room of
the farm home, where Carrie Reidenbach, or any other member of the family, would operate the lines,,
This company was later known as the Paris-Somers Telephone Company (a stock company).
Roy Kreuscher remembers that there were up to 110 people in the company. There would be from 5
to 15 parties on a line. To get the operator, or Central, one had to ring one long ring. He also recalls
that he and Alvin Reidenbach worked on the telephone lines, doing the common repair work, fixing
broken cords, etc. He had spurs and a safety belt to use in climbing the poles. George Reidenbach
was manager of the company and at one time Jacob Kreuscher was president.

CHICKEN BROODERS BUllTIN PARIS

Another business in the Chapin area was operated by George Kreuscher from his chicken farm, located
on present H.ighway MB north of Burlington Road. Kreuscher, who lived in Paris all of his life, built
and sold brooders which "astonish the poultry world", according to an advertisem*nt in the May, 1904
issue of the Reliable Poultry Journal.

BUSINESSES ESTABLISHED. IN OTHER AREAS

In later years, as in the earliest years, not all businesses operated from Paris Corners (Tar Corners) or
Chapin {Jugville, Parisville, Star Corners).
One such business was located in Section 4 on the west side of present Highway D north of the junction of D and Highway A. In 1888 the Paris Butter and Cheese Manufacturing Company bought onehalf acre of land from Joseph and Emma Thomas. The articles of organization and incorporation
listed stock of $1800 and 10 stockholders as follows: William Drinkwater, Nick Spartz, John Terri,
Jacob Haney, R. .rG. Peters, Joseph Thomas, Henry Steffen, Michael Hensgen, Christ Schwan, Frank
Terry, Nick Terry, and Fred Pistern.
Records show that in 1895 the corporation sold the property to Frank J. Thorn, and in 1902 he conveyed the property back to Joseph Thomas.
PARIS MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY

1873-1978

One business in Paris Township celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1973- the Paris Mutual Fire Insurance Company. At that time Mrs. James Fonk researched the records and wrote a detailed history from
which the following interesting facts were taken.

* 34 *

····-~""""'''""""'~~-~=·-"'·"~---------------~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~------

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Twenty-six men signed the Articles of Association which were adopted on July 12, 1873. Mrs. Fonk
noted that not all names were spelled the same on the original listing as in the treasurer's book. In the
list that follows both spellings are given if there is a difference.
Henry A. Newberry
F. G. Myers
John H. Windish
William Gray
Michel White
M. 0. Myrick
Michel Hansgen
Thomas Ryen (Ryan)
Frank Tirrey (Terry)

s·-

John Henderson
Huberd Stolenworth
Jacob Kreusher, Jr.
William Tirrey (Terry)
Henry Blackman
Daniel Marsch
Horace Blackman
lyman Dutton
John Edgrose (Edgoose)

Mathies Funk (Fonk)
John Funk (Fonk)
John Tirrey (Terry)
Nick Tirrey (Terry)
Homer Adams
Charls Byer
(Charles Boyer)
John Hensgen
Patrick Kirns (Kearns)

The company commenced business on August 18, 1873 with each of the fifty-two members contributing $1.00 each to finance operations for the year. After the initial $1.00 membership fee was paid,
each member paid only 75 cents to renew insurance coverage. If any fires or lightning damage occurred
during a year and the amount of payments exceeded the cash on hand in the treasury, each member
was assessed to make up the balance. Annual meetings were held in the homes of members, with $2.00
being paid for the use of the home.
Growth and increased valuation over the years is indicated by the increase in activity, to-wit:

Receipts

1873
1894
1923

$ 52.00
1007.40
2538.75

Expenditures Balance

47.47
876.00
1364.85

4~53
130.80
1165.90

Losses for the year 1923 totaled $1038.40 and included payment of $922 to Herman Jack (Zack) for
the loss of a barn and its contents; $70.25 to Alex Propop for repairing a barn; $40 to Joe M. Stollenwerk for a heifer; $6. 15 to Margaret Haney for damage on a house.
Other expenses for the year included the payment of $3.00 each to Richard Cambell, Mike Frederick,
N. A. Spartz, and John Holloway as directors;
When higher property values and greater losses began to pose a threat to the organization, the Mutual,
on March 12, 1940 applied for re-insurance with the Wisconsin Town Mutual Re-Insurance Company.
This decision has contributed to the success of the company.
The 1953 financial Statement showed receipts of $18,592.02 (including the 1952 balance of
10,094.26} and disbursem*nts of $5,871.40, leaving a balance of $12,720.22.
The report for the centennial year showed 141 members and a cash balance of $76,663.76. The Board
of Directors at that time included Roy Kreuscher, president; Dan Rawson, vice-president; Earl
Stollenwerk, secretary-treasurer; and Gibby Weiss, Walter Biehn and Matt Frederick, directors.
While Town Mutual Insurance companies appear to be slowly fading from the scene, Paris Mutual Fire
Insurance Company appears to be in a healthy state.

* 35 *

------------------------------- - - - - - - PRESENT DAY BUSINESSES IN PARIS
Nearly all present day commercial establishments in Paris township are located along the 1-94 Service
or along Highway 45. Brief descriptions of businesses operating in the town follow:
Along 1-94
HIGHWAY SERVICE GARAGE was started by John and Frank Franta! in Somers in 1930 but moved
to their present location in 1946. After years of towing service and car and tractor repair, the garage
now specializes in electrical work and small engines.
MIDWEST EQUIPMENT SALES, INC. at Highway N sells screening, crushing, and conveying equipment all over the United States and in foreign countries.
BOBBY NELSON'S CHEESE MARKET, started in 1952, provides a gourmet food line to many repeat
customers, both local and out-of-state.
STAR BAR AND GRILL, began operating from their corner in 1939 from a small building that had
been the Schlitz garage. When Highway 142 (then Highway 43) was widened, Mr. and Mrs. Nick
Rodis, the owners, relocated farther back on their property. The photo below shows that structure,
but they have since enlarged the building. The business is now run by son, George Rodis, and son-inlaw, Steve Savas.

,-,'

Star Bar and Grill after relocating for the widening of Highway 43 (142). The building
has since been enlarged.

WISCONSIN LAWN SPRINKLER CORPORATION has been in Paris Township for sixteen years. Bud
and Judy Leanna are the proprietors. They install both residential and commercial equipment and
work in several states.
MOTEL INTERSTATE at the junction of 1-94 and 142 is managed by Peter Brantman, for his parents,
Robert and Beatrice Brantman, who have owned the motel for three years.
EASTERDAY MOTEL, located north of Highway 142 on the seniice road, has been owned since 1977
by Clarence Robbins and Ron Easterday.
STUCKEY'S, at the intersection of the service road and Highway E, is a gift shop, sandwich bar, and
gas station. This business is one of a chain of 300 stores and has been in this location about 15 years.
THE LARGEST CHEESE MARKET IN THE WORLD, began in Paris in 1947. Mario Ventura, the
owner, now sells varieties of cheese, both American and imported. The market includes a restaurant,
a bakery, cheese factory exhibit, and a small theater. -1-94 makes this location just south of 142 an
especially good one.

*36 *

GENE'S STANDARD SERVICE, with 24-hour towing service and complete gas service, is owned by
Gene Seitz, who has been in business on the Service Road south of 142, since 1964. He was previously
located elsewhere in Paris.
Along Highway 45
SUNDAY'S VANS, at Paris Corners, has been in Paris only a short time. They do customized painting
and interiors of vans.
BONG MOTEL, south of Paris Corners, was named for the Wisconsin air ace who was killed in World
War II. It is owned by Tony Lamping.
GEORGE'S SERVICE STATION, is owned by George Markiewicz, who does farm tractor, truck, and
car repair work. George bought the business, located just east of 45 on 142, from Harvey Fadel in
1960 and built his home nearby in 1962.
JOE'S PLACE, on the southeast corner of Highways 142 and 45, has been owned by Joe Menarek since
1973. At the present time it is leased to Mike Hoffman.
THE TIN CUP, a tavern on the southwest corner of the intersection at Paris Corners, is owned by Ed
and Kathy Fonk. The building had been owned by Fred Michaels from 1935 until 1976. Following
extensive remodeling in the tavern and the two apartments, it was re-opened under the new owners in
February of 1977. Pictures of the building in earlier stages of its long history appear on foregoing
pages of book.
LOR-JON'S RED OAKS TAVERN, on Highway 45 at NN, was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. John Lorge
in 1972. They cater especially to local trade and are noted for Friday Night's ham sandwiches and fish.
BRISTOL MOTEL, just south of Red Oaks, has been owned by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lierman since April
of 1976. Most of their customers come from Highway 45.
Other locations
KENOSHA PACKING COMPANY & BIRCHWOOD MEATS & PROVISIONS, located on Highway MB
between Highways 142 and N. In 1944 Frank Vignieri bought a 40-acre farm in Paris and moved the
Kenosha Packing Company to that location. Here he carried on the business'until 1947 when a branch
was opened in Kenosha, enlarged in 1951. later the killing plant was moved to Hebron, Illinois. In
1965 Birchwood, a sister company, was incorporated. A larger plant was constructed in 1970; this is
now a boned beef facility. Boxed beef is shipped to many parts of the United States. The company is
the largest in Paris and operates under the leadership of the Vignieri brothers, Charles and Frank, Jr.
and their brother-in-law, Tony Miserelli.
·
GREATLAKES DRAGSTRIP, located on Highway KR east of Highway 45, is one of the ten outstanding dragstrips in the country, attracting the top dragsters of the United States. Opened in 1955 by
three partners, it is now owned by Dick Metzger. The facility covers 107 acres.

* 37 *

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CHURCHES AND CEMETERIES OF PARIS TOWNSHIP
Paris Corners United Methodist and St. John the Baptist Catholic are the only churches in Paris township at the present time. However, residents of our town also have been, and still are, active in
churches in the surrounding area - Somers, Pleasant Prairie, Kenosha, Bristol, Brighton, and in Racine
County.
Two of the earliest churches in the area that became Paris township when it organized in 1842, were
located in Sections that no longer are a part of Paris.

KELLOGG'S CORNERS METHODIST FIRST IN WISCONSIN

Kellogg's Corners was once a community in the northwestern corner of the present Town of Somers.
It was at Kellogg's Corners that families met together in the spring of 1837 for a prayer meeting and
Sunday School, just after their arrival in the area, having come overland with oxteams and covered
wagons from Connecticut. This first group grew and built a church, completed in 1840, which was
acknowledged as the first Methodist church in the state of Wisconsin. (7) Records show that in the
1850's, Sylvania Methodist Church, as it was known, had 262 members compared to 89 for the
Methodist church in Kenosha. (22) Paris families made up part of the congregation that worshipped
there until services were discontinued in 1910.

n'is

Methodist Church built at Kellogg's Corners, completed 1840

In 1941, on the 104th anniversary of the first service, descendants of those first worshippers met
for a reunion on the site and dedicated a large boulder that was one of the ori.ginal corner-stones of
the church foundation.
·

* 39 *

Cornerstone boulder from Methodist Church at Kellogg's Comers,
marking the site of the building completed in 1840.

ROOTS OF UNION GROVE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN PARIS
In the summer of 1836, I. G. Northway and his brother-in-law, Jared Collar, came from Madison
County, New York and located on farms in what later became Paris township. (Collar took up land
in Section 10 of Paris and Northway in a section of the lower tier of Yorkville township that was included in Paris when it was organized in 1842.) They joined with other families that came into the
area in organizing a Sunday School in June, 1838. The group met weekly (except during severe winter weather), alternating between the Northway and Collar homes.
On September 8, 1844, the father of Mrs. Isaac Northway, Rev. C.C. Cadwell, organized the group
that had maintained the Sunday School for six years as the Congregational Church of Paris, naming
it for the nearest post office in the area. Five of the original fourteen members of the church were
from the Sunday School group. Meetings were "held alternately at the Salisbury and White schoolhouses, in Paris and Union Grove" {4). (Salisbury school was District No. 2, later known as the
Jefferson school.) In 1852 a building was constructed on the Burlington and Racine Road (Highway 11); in 1864 that building was moved into Union Grove and the name was changed to the Congregational Church of Union Grove.

BRISTOl-PARIS CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, PLANK ROAD

Somecof the earliest settlers in what became Paris township settled on land in the southeast part of
the town along what became the Plank Road, running between Beloit and Southport. Religious
meetings were held in homes as early as 1837. Under the leadership of Rev. Cadwell, a church
society was formed. Included in a list of persons uniting with the church in January 1851 were
Hammon Marsh, Katherine Marsh, Chas. M. and Emily Fowler, Misses Anna, Ellen, Jennie, and
Emily Fowler, Justice P. Bishop, Miss Lucinda Tibbals, Mrs. Maria Dutton, Mrs. Jedida Reed.

* 40 *

Justus Bishop donated one acre of land on the north side of the Plank Road (Sec. 34) and money
was raised for building a church. This was accomplished in the summer of 1853 and a public dedication was held on December 27th.

·~is

Bristol-Paris Congregational Church and Cemetery
Plank Road (Highway K or 60th Street)
In 1835 a nine-room parsonage was built on the south side of the Plank Road on a ten-acre site that
had been donated by Samuei·Burnell. It burned to the ground on June 3, 1921 and was never rebuilt.

Parsonage for Bristol-Paris Congregational Church
1855-7921
After almost eighty years of service, the church closed its services in 1927. On January 14, 1930
the church held its final annual meeting, voted funds of over $500 to the local cemetery association,
and during the following summer the building was torn down. (21)

* 41 *

PARIS-BRISTOL CEMETERY

In 1853, the same year that the church was built, land was secured for a cemetery adjoining the
church building. Miss Emily Fowler was the first person buried there. Today the cemetery is the
only reminder of the congregation that once flourished, and many of the early constituents of the
church are buried there. (21)

Bristol-Paris Church and Cemetery
Note the addition of an entry to the church

PARIS CORNERS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
In the early days there were two churches in the Paris Corners neighborhood, Paris Freewill Baptist
•'
and Bethany Primitive Methodist. The two were separate at first, but it is thought that the two
groups must have merged to become a Methodist Episcopal Church, so the history of the two groups
is treated together here.
BETHANY PRIMITIVE METHODIST
Old records show that in 1845 Paris was included in the Yorkville circuit of the Wesleyan Methodist
Association along with English Settlement, Beaumont, Caledonia, and Brighton. Other locations
throughout Racine and Kenosha counties were also preaching points. At this time there were no
church buildings, so preaching was done in schools and homes by local preachers.
A "Plan" was drawn up at a quarterly meeting of involved churches. Collections were taken quarterly to pay "horse hire", the only payment to these local preachers. Because plans were made for the
complete circuit, being elected to attend quarterly meetins was an important responsibility.

In a paper written for a meeting of the Kenosha County Historical Society in 1934, Russell Jones
told of the old Bethany church, which was later used as a residence by members of the Jones family (16).
An old newspaper clipping is one valuable source for information concerning Bethany. Part of the
article which appeared after the one-time church building burned follows:
Union Grove, Wis. Jan. 5 - The first fire call of the year came late
Saturday night, shortly after midnight, when word was phoned that the
storage house at the Fred Michaels farm, otherwise known as the D. N.
Jones place, was on fire ...

* 42 *
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Originally a Church
The destruction of this building removes one of the oldest landmarks
of this part of the country. Not many are aware that for over 70
years this was known as "Bethany" and that it was originally a church.
But to those who remember, the mention of "Bethany" will bring
many dear and tender recollections.
It was along in 1853 or 1854 that one Thomas Lester, an old time
circuit rider of the Primitive or Wesleyan Methodist Church, built this
little frame structure on what was the old Murgatroyd farm, and held
services there at regular times. Mr. Lester, whose farm home was near
by, rode the circuit comprising much of the present Racine and
Kenosha counties. This little church was immediately called the
Bethany Church and to it came the Methodist families for miles around, by ox team and on horseback. John Goldsworthy was one of
the strong supporters of the church and also acted as preacher quite
frequently.
Little Church Is Closed
After settlements sprang up here and there, churches were established
at these points and Bethany was closed and finally offered for sale by
the church conference.
The newspaper article explains further that John M. Jones purchased the building, moved it across
the road to his own farm, and converted it into a dwelling. At the time it burned it was being used
as a storage building.
Note: On July 13, 1853, a parcel of land in the northeast corner of the northeast quarter of Sec.
7 was conveyed to the First Wesleyan Methodist Society by William Murgatroyd. (11)
In 1860 the Wesleyan Methodist Church severed its ties with the mother church in England and ·
affiliated with the Bible Christian Church which was a Canadian denomination that extended into
Wisconsin. This denomination kept no records.
It is not known just when Bethany congregation disbanded and the building ceased to be used as a
church.

BETHANY CHURCH CEMETERY

For a few years there was a cemetery near the Bethany Church, but it was abandoned and plowed
·
over, according to a paper by Russell Jones. (16)
PARIS FREEWILL BAPTIST SOCIETY
1849 (1866)
On November 16, 1849 in the Town of Paris, Racine County, four men appointed by the Pike Grove
Church met with Paris settlers at the schoolho!Jse in Paris for the purpose of organizing a Freewill
Baptist Society. After singing and prayer they chose a moderator and clerk for the day and then
questioned the group as to "their union and fellowship with each other." After mature deliberation
the council came to the.conclusionthat "itwould be for the Glory of God and the advancement of
His cause that a church be organized." Eleven men and women adopted the Covenant of the
church. Hegular meetmgs were held during the next years. At times members were dropped until
they had "a change of heart" and others were added. Baptism was by immersion, at one time done
on April 14th, probably at Eagle Lake.

* 43 *

On May 14, 1850 a treasurer was elected and each member was assessed a cent a week to be paid as
often as every three months. In September, 1850 they voted to "endeavor to raise fifty dollars for
the support of preaching." During 1851 some members were expelled for conduct not in accord
with teachings. This resulted in a low time, but early in 1852 the attendance was good and minutes
show· the church was encouraged. Members were sometimes dropped for non-attendance. In 1852
meetings were first held in the schoolhouse, apparently having been convened in members' homes
before that time. Minutes for March 8, 1866 show: Freewill Elder E. J.' Kerwill called the meeting
to order. Moses Buswell, appointed secretary. Trustees were Moses Buswell, E. D. Dunning, Harlow
Gibbs, Win. G. Griffiths, and John M. Jones. Signed Lewis Williams, Jr., witness.
On June 2, 1866 William Judson and wife Julia conveyed a parcel of land to the above mentioned
trustees. The new building was erected behind the schoolhouse and some time later the school
building was moved to a site about a quarter of a mile farther north. The church was completed so
that on April 2, 1868 it was recorded "Met in our new church. Covenant meeting opened by singing and prayer. Rev. Lathan our pastor. Six members present."

r
~~

Paris Corners Methodist Church and Cemetery - 1868-1954
There are no records for the next ten years but it is thought that it must have been about this time
that the Bethany Methodist Church was dissolved and the two congregations united and organized
as a Methodist Episcopal church, utilizing the building erected by the former Freewill Baptist congregation.
PARIS CORNERS METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
F!ecords show that from 1879 to 1886 ministers came to Paris Corners church from Burlington Union
Methodist Church which was located at the Burlington Road (Highway 142) and the County Line.
In 1887 Union Grove and Paris became a joint charge. By that time names we recognize were
Powell, Jones, Sheen, Gunter, and several Price families. On September 30, 1900 twenty-six joined
the church and seventeen of them were named Price.
During the 20th century there were periods when the church was served by students from Garrett
Biblical Seminary and there were times when it was a joint charge with Union Grove.

* 44 *
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Items of interest are:
1904 - Janitor paid $25.
1905- Thanksgiving and Christmas suppers were served. First mention. of the Christmas
supper with oysters at $1.40 per gallon.
On June 10 motions were made to remodel the church. A motion was made to "put
floor and si lis il} the center aisle, use old seats if we cannot afford new ones, center
doors to be put in if money can be raised. Moved Georgia pine be used for floors:'
. The building committee was Richard Price, Herbert Gunter, Isaac Griffiths. Harvey
Gunter was appointed to raise money west of the river and Effie Gunter was to raise
it east of the river.
1907 - A two day Farmers Institute.
Income through these years $100 to $150, expenses $35 to $100 per year. No mention of pastor's salary.
Socials at homes were held often.
1907-1910 Wood cost $3 to $5 per cord.
1911 -William Sheen was paid $3 for horse and buggy for preacher.
Paid 12 cents per gallon for kerosene.
Candy and nuts were purchased each year for children at Christmas.
1913- Bought 10 gallons of oysters for Christmas supper.
1914- Price Bros. shingled the church, $89.20; lumber, $50.45.
$1 paid for picking up shingles.
1916- First mention of [adTes Aid. They paid $114.16 into church treasury.
1917 - Minister was paid $25. a month. Members were paying from $20 to $1 to
pastor's salary.
}•

About 1922 members began having cars, so the horse sheds east and south of the church were torn
down.

PARIS OORNERS METHODIST CHURCH -1868-1954

* 45 *
i.
I

In the late 1940's members began to think of remodeling and putting a basem*nt urider the building.
There was need for parking space but no land could be purchased. When members found that they
could build a new church for about the same cost as remodeling, they chose to build a new one.
Frances and Willis Griffiths donated the land for the present site. (This land is part of 80 acres
taken up from the government by George Foisome in 1839 that was deeded to William Griffiths in
1854.
. In 1952 work was begun on the new building and it was occupied in the fall of 1953. Much of the
work was dqne by members. Also in 1952 the church was incorporated with the names of Ray
Parsons, Frank Erickson and Roswell Griffiths appearing on the papers.

Paris Corners United Methodist Church, Consecrated May, 1954
Located west of Highway 45 on Highway 142.

When New Hope Larger Parish was formed in 1973, Paris joined with Raymond and Union Grove
Chruches of Christ and lves Grove, Yorkville and Union Grove Methodist churches in that organization.
Pastors through the . vears have been: Rev. J. V. Trenery, 1890-91; Rev. Thomas Potter, 1892; Rev.
Sanford, 1893; Rev.;Eagar Symons, 1894-96; Rev. John Wills, 1897-99; Rev. W. W. Wilson, 1900-03;
Rev. John Neff, 1904-05; Rev. Willard Perry, 1906-08; Rev. Miller, 1909-11; Rev. John Schneider,
1912-13; RElV. T. P, Hilbourn, 1914; Rev. James Shaw, 1915; Rev. Joseph Rosemurgy, 1916; Rev.
Hindman, 1917; Rev, William Rollins, 1918-19; Rev. H. C. Burrows, 1920; Rev. Trester Oosterhaus,
1921-22; Rev. John Ellis, 1923-25; Rev. Joseph Steen, 1926-27; Rev. Ernest Kistler, 1928-31; Rev.
J. Edwards, 1932-35; Rev. Mark Chamberlain, 1936=39; Rev. Joseph Cheek, 1940-44; Rev. Stanford
Strosahl, 1945-47; Rev. Rodney Shaw, 1947-49; Rev. David Smith, 1950-53; Rev. Loren Lewis,
1955-56; Rev. Verner Faik, 1956-57; Rev. Wood Whitlock, 1957-59; Rev. Frank Kuhlman, 1958-61;
Rev. Bryan Wilbur, 1961-62; Rev. Jerry Davis, 1962-64; Rev. Bill Ester, 1965-66; Rev. Wesley Sharpe,
1967-71; Rev. Francis St. Amant, 1971-73; Rev. David Mangun, 1973-(New Hope Larger Parish).
PARIS CORNERS CEMETERY 1846

Earliest records show that the Paris Comers Burial Grounds was in use as early as 1846 when Louise
Dunning and Mary, wife of Stephen Goldsworthy, were buried there. Other records are an 1849
map of the cemetery showing plots and the area four rods square at the south side of the cemetery
for the school.

* 46 *
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The cholera epidemic of 1850 took the lives of Thomas Williams, Sarah, wife of Lew Williams, Sr.,
Wm. Meredith, and Johnny Gray, all buried within eleven days of each other. Other well-known
names are Davis, Dixon, Taylor, Bohanen.
Stones show many dates before the date of 1854, when a deed was given by Content Judson for 9/10
acre for the amount of $100. On June 2, 1866 Content Judson's son, Wm. Judson and his wife
Julia, conveyed a parcel of land to the Paris Corners Burial Ground for $10. Trustees were Wm.
Griffiths, Richard Jones, Harlo Giobs, and James Gray. A stipulation of the conveyance was that the
grounds must be kept in good order and fenced.

The only minister buried here is Rev. Tait, born in Scotland in 1806, died 1872.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CONGREGATION OF PARIS 1850 (1851)

Around 1850 a small colony of Catholics settled in the town of Paris and occasionally held services
in a log house about five miles from the site of the present church.
An abstract dated November 3, 1855 states that Nicholas and Mary Mich and Mathias and Margaret
Gill gave two acres of land and mentions that there was a church standing on the property.

An interesting story has been told that a church that had been built at Kellogg's Corners was moved
to the present site by the Germans of the congregation in a dispute with the Irish members over its
location. The Irish left the congregation, holding.services in an old house on Highway N or traveling to Sturtevant or, later on, to Kenosha. Hence, when a church was built in 1859, at a cost of
$2500, the congregation was composed almost completely of Germans. Nick Terry hauled the bell
for the church, the same one still being in use in the present building.

St. John's- 1859·1912

The 1859 building was heated by a stove placed in the partial basem*nt with a grate over it. Before
Mass started, the priest was often seen climbing down a ladder to fire up the stove, which was the
type that held logs. There were plain glass windows and candles were placed along the sides of the
church for lighting. Members paid pew rent as well as stable rent to have their horses kept in stalls
on the northside of the building.
From 1859 to 1870 there was no resident priest, St. John's being served ·by the resident priests from
Brighton. They included the Reverent Fathers M. Beiter, N. Hanklofer, J. M. Albers, M. Heis, Jos.
Salzmann. H. Reinhart, and Gernbouer. In 1870 a parsonage was built with the first residents being
Revs. Reindl, Zimmer, Voissem, Guillaume, and Welter (1870-1878). Following them were the
Reverend Fathers Jacobs, Smedding, Wenning, Gorthause, Anastasuis, lsidor, Vogg, Weyer, Klein,
Lette, Vogg, and Mueller. In 1895 Father N. L. Frieman became pastor, served for five years and
was followed by Reverends Panoch, Nickel, Malone, Goral, Peil, Lofty, Moder, Klisser, and Hermes.
At the turn of the century the following names were prominent in the congregation: Frederick, Fonk,
Gratz, Crane, Horn, Haney, Mich, Maurice, Nugent, Neu, Hensgen, Spartz, Stoffel, Schlitz, Stollenwerk, Pfeiffer, Zimmer, Terry, Weiler, Drissel.
Around 1905 additional land was acquired across the road from the church and new sheds were built
for the horses of the growing congregation. In order to finance this project a church picnic was held
in Charles Crane's woods and seven hundred dollars taken in.
·
NEW CHURCH BUILT IN 1912
under the direction of Rev. Anthony Erz, who served Paris from 1Q11 to 1919, the present church
was built in 1912, with much of the work being done by the parishoners. The stained glass windows,
which were donated by some of the families, were imported from Germany. Described in the
Kenosha News of November 12, 1912 as one of the most modern Catholic churches in this section
of the state, it cost $18,000.

St. John's Church and School, a 1959 View

* 48 *

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The first year that the new church existed there was an exceptionally large First Holy Communion
Class that induded Lawrence Frederick, Lorenzo Maurice, Chester Fonk, Margaret Frederick, Arelia
Pfeiffer, Magdalene Schlitz, Rosalia Schlitz, Raymond Stollenwork, Leonard Mich, Bertha Drissel,
and Bernard Miller.
During the fall and winter of 1920 a choir composed of mixed voices was formed. This choir was
composed of Violet Fonk, Magdalene Schlitz, Stella Drissel, Bertha Drissel, Pauline Mich, Glenna
Crane, Oveda Crane, Jcie Neu, Nick Gratz, Raymond Stollenwerk, Leonard Mich, Harold Frederick
and Clarence Fonk. Each Sunday each choir member contributed a nickel to a fund that was used
for a choir outing once a year.
The church was decorated during the pastorate of Father E. J. Rodenkirch, 1919-1924, who was
followed by Revs. Lehwald, Feider, O'Keefe, Whalen, Wamser, Hoeller, Brielmaier, Murphy,
Koehring, between 1924 and 1951.
During the pastorate of Rev. Hugh Wish, who came to St. John's in 1951, many projects were
planned and carried through successfully. Renovation of the church hall, installation of a new heating plant, equipping a convenient kitchen, building a new three-room school, renovating the rectory,
installing oil furnaces in the convent and rectory-ali were part of an energetic building program.
These were followed by numerous projects in preparation for the celebration of the church's centennial in 1959.
Father Wish was transferred in 1959 and succeeded by Father Schumann, who remained with the
congregation until 1967.

·'

The year 1961 saw the laying of new linoleum in the sanctuary and the purchase of additional land,
bringing the total to eight acres.
A golden jubilee Mass, celebrated in 1962 commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of the building of
the pre£ent church building. In those fifty years between October, 1912 and October, 1962, 883
children and adults were baptized, 199 couples exchanged marriage vows, and 192 parishioners were
buried from the church. In the years since, numerous remodelling, repairing, and renovating projects
in the church, the school, and the convent have been completed.
Presently serving St. John's congregation is Rev. Eugene T. Kreuzer, who came to St. John's in 1971
after 19 years as associate pastor at St. Anthony's in Milwaukee. The congregation lists 193 family
members and a school enrollment of 110.
Many from St. John's congregation have entered the religious life. Rev. Vincent Thomas was the
first, ordained in 1928; Rev. Joseph Stag!, 1935; Rev. Conrad Fleiss, 1902; Norman Frederick, 1961.
Sister M. Vincentia (Pfeiffer), Sister M. Marion (Hasenberg), Sister M. Bartholomew (Frederick),
Sister M. Carolyn (Lorraine), Sister M. Laurene {Frederick), Sister M. Generose (Willkomm), and
Sister M. Janice (Gratz).

ST. JOHN'S CEMETERY

From the early years St. John's has had a cemetery on land adjoining the church. The first recorded
deaths were Anna Horning in 1866 and Nicholas Mich in 1867. Rev. Peter J. Voissem died on July
14, 1874, while pastor at St. John's, and was buried in the cemetery. Fr. B. Smeddinck was buried
there also in 1881. A beautiful tombstone was erected in his memory.
During the pastorate of Father Erz, the east end of the cemetery was plotted and the older section
leveled. The unused portion of the cemetery served as a playground for the school children. Many
pioneer families of Paris township, early supporters of St. John's parish, lie in this cemetery.

* 49 *
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IMMANUEL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 1859 (1866}

The congregation was organized November 20, 1859 at which time a constitution was drawn up and
adopted. The members of the congregation held all their services in the Three Oaks School until
1866 when it was decided to build a house of worship. Property had been purchased in the northeast corner of Sec. 11 (southwest corner of intersection of MB and A) Jn 1863.

•

Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church
Built in 1866, this church served a congregation that had been meeting in Three
Oaks schoolhouse. The church closed ln
1951 and was later tom down.
From 1859 to 1887 the congregation was served by ministers who traveled regularly from Freidens
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenosha to conduct services for the Paris congregation. These pastors were: Revs. Braemer, Christian Popp, William Streisguth, and E. Dornfeld.
·
During 1887 a parsonage was built and a resident pastor was installed. From 1887 to 1916 the parishes of Bristol and Paris were combined and were served by the same pastor who lived in the Paris
parsonage. These pastors were: John Glaeser, 1887-1889; J. H. Koch, 1890-1891; Frederick
Schwefel, 1892-1897; George Adascheck, 1898; Henry Gieschen, 1899-1900; Edward Bartke, 19011902; J. M. Maisch, 1905-1906; G. H. Voss, 1907-1916.
During the later part of 1916 the Bristol and Paris congregations were separated, the latter joined
with that of the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church at South Raymond, Racine County, and the
parsonage was rented out, there being no more resident pastors. Pastors who served the two congregations during this period were: Revs. E. F. Grunwald, 1917-1918; Hugo,Koch, 1918-1920;
August Lossner, 1920-1941, Schmelling, 1941-1945; William Wiedenmeyer, 1945.

*50*

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Beginning in May, 1939 the two churches published a monthly church bulletin, "The Messenger",
which was edited by Rev. August Lossner.
All services were conducted in German in both churches until 1907. After that time English predominated.
This church closed in 1957 and was torn down.
IMMANUEl EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CEMETERY

On June 23, 1863 the congregation bought two acres of land from Karl Kreuscher for the sum of
$75.00, one acre to be used for the church building and one acre for cemetery purposes.
The site was dedicated and it was deCided to bury the bodies in the cemetery after the old custom
followed in Germany, burying the bodies in rows with those that were married to be buried in one
row, unmarried adults in another row, and children in another row. The northeast quarter of the
cemetery was laid out in numbered lots with members of the church drawing numbers for lots for
their individual use.
A committee of six, appointed to measure out the cemetery and the lots, included August Freitag,
Henry Schnell, Jacob Kreuscher, Herman Swanz, Peter Kreuscher, and Karl Herrman. On July 14,
1863 these men met and laid out the cemetery according to the prepared plan.

·'

A FAMILY BURIAL PLOT ON N

Mrs. Marne Weiland and Mrs. Celia Haney remember a very small cemetery, perhaps private, on the Nolan farm in Sec. 26 which is now
owned by Robert Gerou. Mrs. Weiland's homestead was directly across
the road on the farm now occupied by Art Drissel. She could see several small wooden headstones and one taller one with a rounded top.
On the tall marker these words were carved:
What you are today, I was.
What I am today, you will be.
Remember me and pray for me.
It is unknown who placed these graves here and when the markers disappeared. They did not belong to the Nolan family.

BURIAL PLOT AT PARISVILLE

In 1848 acreage in the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 23 was reserved as a burying
ground. This site is in the area of what later became known as Chapin. Early atlases indicate a
cemetery near the corner, but there is no information as to when it was abandoned.

*51 *

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SCHOOL HISTORY OF PARIS TOWNSHIP
In 1837 the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature passed a bill providing for organizing, regulating, and perfecting schools. From the beginning it was clear that local units ofgovernment were encouraged, even
required, to provide for free public education.
Whether there were any schools operating in the town of Paris before the town was organized in 1842
is not really known, since earliest records ha\le been lost. In any case what is known of the history of
the various districts indicates that during the period from 1842 to 1863 various neighborhoods organized into school districts in order to provide for public education of the children.
When the town was first organized in 1842, three Commissioners of Common Schools were elected:
Z. P. Rich, Henry Newbury, and Wilson Bennett, Jr. When Mr. Newbury resigned, Grove Willis was
appointed to take his place. One duty· of the commissioners was to apportion the school money and
report at the town election.
In 1843 a town tax of one hundred dollars was voted for the support of schools; in 1844, two hundred
dollars; in 1846, one hundred fifty dollars; in 1847, three hundred fifty.
TOWN SUPERINTENDENT REPLACES COMMISSIONERS

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Legislation that became effective in 1849 replaced the town commissioners of schools with a Town
Superintendent of Schools. His duties included the apportioning of the school moneys, collecting
school statistics and transmitting them to the county clerk, and making an annual report to the state
superintendent of schools. He examined and licensed teachers and annulled certificates, supervised instruction, and advised teachers and district boards in regard to courses of study and discipline.
Dr. Ammon P. Adams was appointed the first Town Superintendent of Schools in Paris and held that
post most, if not all, of the time until the supervision of schools came under a County Superintendent
in 1862. Dr. Adams was an educated man, who was interested in the schools, and is credited with doing
much for the improvement of education in the township.
UMALETEACHERSUWANTED

In the early days the school year was divided into two terms: a winter term, usually beginning some
time in November and running for four months, and a summer term, running for three or four months.
At first school patrons wanted a "male teacher" for the winter term and a female teacher for the summer term. Presumably this was because a man could better handle the big boys who attended the winter term but were needed to help with farm work so did not attend the summer term. At that time
female teachers were paid one-third to one-half as much per month as male teachers. Beginning with
the Civil War period, male teachers became scarcer and teaching in the rural schools became more and
more predominantly a woman's job.
The purchase of firewood was one item of business at every annual meeting up until the 1900's. How
much to buy, how much to pay, who would supply it were matters for discussion year after year. Sometimes a motion to "leave it up to the board" shortened the meetings or made tirne for other item.s of
business. Later schools bought new stoves and began using coal.
.The annual budget varied through the years, reflecting the general prosperity of the times, the number
of pupils enrolled, the number of months school was held, and other factors such as the supply of
teachers or the level of esteem in which a particular teacher was held. ·

*53*

-•)• -.:,.;:,} t"y--

i>'

OFFICE OF COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT CREATED, 1861
In 1861, a law was passed creating the office of County Superintendent of Schools, and it was hoped
that the supervision by a professionally trained man would benefit the schools. Two county superin·
tendents remembered by many were J. J. Kerwin and Roy Ihlenfeldt. teachers of the 1920's remembered Mr. Kerwin from his visits to the schoolroom when they were children; later he came to visit and
judge their teaching ability. "Many a teacher and pupil quaked in their shoes when suddenly and silently
Mr. Kerwin, a huge formidable man, appeared in the schoolroom doorway", wrote one teacher of that
period. He served as superintendent until 1926, when succeeded by Roy Ihlenfeldt, who served until
1936. Two women held the position in later years- Marion Fuhrer and Margaret Deihl Gustafson.
SCHOOL WAS A SOCIAL CENTER
In most districts of Paris the school was a social center. Everyone in the district (not just families with
children in school) was invited to the Christmas program and drawn into the excitement of the season.
Everyon~ was invited to come to the end-of-school picnic held in the woods or pasture of some nearby
farm.
Most schools organized Parent-Teacher Associations. The monthly meetings were social occasions with
informative and entertaining programs following the business sessions. Study programs were carried
through with members of the group taking turns in leading the discussions. Projects for the betterment
of the schools were carried o.ut,'inciuding the purchase of needed equipment not provided for in the
annual budget and the planting of shrubs and flowers to beautify the school grounds. Sponsorship of
recreational activities came from the P.T.A.-drama groups and dartballleagues for adults and softball
leagues for youth.
It is little wonder then that many residents of Paris, even though they had worked to bring about con,,
solidation as a means of improving education, felt a bit wistful at seeing the end of the one-room
schools. In the words of Edna Heidersdorf Thorn, written for a program dedicating the new school,
"Those of us who have attended the little district schools have many fond memories of them. Who can
blame us if we feel a little sad at their passing?"
The following pages of this chapter are dedicated to those fond memories.

Mrs. lawrence (Oveda) Wisnefski grew up in the Paris Center school district and attended classes there.
Her description of school days at Paris Center, typical of the situation in many schools of the early
1900's follows:
I would like to take you back to the year 1910 when I began school.
want you to enjoy with me some of the memories l have of Iife in that
little school at that time. The original desks were double seaters, in
which two pupils sat together,. and had a double top that folded down
or came up to take care of two pupils. We were able to sit with a
chosen partner only as long as the two of us could get away with our
talking or laughing without disturbing the rest of the schooJ. When this
happened we were seated with someone of a quieter nature, whether
the desk fit or not. These double seaters were later replaced by single
adjustable seats. Unless the teacher was a strict disciplinarian, spitballs
would fly past our heads and sometimes there was even a direct hit.

*54*

-,~i''\7'"""'"~--_..,.,<•,n~,c=.-,.c-,'"··~=-:-•-<'· ~·•"""O'c--,_-<~

There was no County Nurse at this time, so health problems arose. It
was not uncommon to develop a case of pediculosis. Our mothers then
gave us a dosage of lard and kerosene and many combings with a fine
tooth comb to get any eggs. If we were seated near certain children in
school, we'd develop a re-infection. If you ever scratched through a
bout with-pediculosis, you will understand what I mean.
Girls wore long braids, unless they had curly hair and had pipestem
curls. Ribbons were usually worn in the hair. Girls with long braids
sometimes had the ends of the braids stuck in the inkwell that was
part of the desk behind them. Boys delighted in doing this, and it
wasn't washable ink, either. That had not been invented at this time.
Our sanitary facilities consisted of two outhouses-one for boys, one
for girls, with a wood screen built around them to give a resemblance
of privacy, in case the door was accidentally opened. If anyone got
sick to his stomach and didn't quite make the hole that was another
matter. This took some of our precious water and quite a few pages
from the Sears Roebuck catalogue. In winter time no one ventured
the hundred feet to the outhouse, unless it was really necessary. In
summer it was "the pause that refreshes" and a good way to break up
the day. The outhouse was a sort of haven for the girls, because no
boy ever dared enter that sacred precinct. In the modern world two
fingers held up in a V meant "peace"; in 1910, two fingers held up
meant "Please may I go to the outhouse". If we were really in a
hurry, we could snap our fingers and shake our hands very vigorously.
So you see even the meaning of motions can change.
We had no wei\ at our school. Two of the older boys, or sometimes
even girls, were allowed to go the quarter mile to Mattie Fonk's farm
and get a pail of water. Did we have a covered pail? Oh, no. Ours was
an open pail, but, so what! If a little dirt got in the pail, we drank it
and were glad to get it. When I started school, we had just a pail and a
dipper to drink out of. Everyone drank out of the same dipper. Then
as we modernized a little, we had a stone crock that had a faucet. Each
o"f us had a co\\a~sib\e metal cu~ that had a cover which we kept in our
desk. \ guess it was a little more sanitar'l than the dipper, but it didn't
get washed very often. At least we had our own germs then.

'~./\1

All of the waste water was hoarded and used to wash blackboards. In
case of necessity, a small amount of the precious fluid was .allocated for
washing our hands. I have a ver'l vivid memory of a day I was allowed
to wash my hands. There was a small identation in the schoolyard
which, in the spring of the year, filled with water. The noontime pasttime was jumping across this puddle to see if we could make it. It
was a snap for the big boys and girls with long legs. But-God endowed
me with short legs and arms. This handicap enabled me to sit right in
the middle of the puddle. My hands and face were very dirty, because
the water was very dirty. Whether or not the teacher knew my posterior was wet and dirty, I don't know. She brought me in, took some of
our precious water and cleaned my face and hands. My posterior was
dried out by the ~rocess called "sitting on it" until school was out. M'/
'Z.est 'or "~udd\e \um~\n~· \lanished \.hat da'l and, at T2, \ st\\\ ha\le no
desire to jump a puddle.

*55*

We had lamps with reflectors behind them in brackets on the walls. Did
we ever light them? Never in the daytime. If we had a program, which
was usually a Christmas program, the lamps were lit. But the kerosene
lasted a long time in these lamps. There was never a total eclipse of the
sun, so there was no need to light the lamps.
Did we have a telephone? No. A lot of the homes did not have telephones at that time. It was not until later that most of the homes had
telephones on party lines with twelve to fourteen patrons on each line.
"listening In" was like a local newspaper and was later replaced by
radio and television.
We had a library. The state allotted a certain amount of money each
year to each school district based on the number of school age children
in that district. The teacher usually picked out the number of books to
match the allocation of money. Anyone who liked to read, as I did,
read and re-read these books many times.
The windows had shades. Anyone who was lucky enough to sit on the
south side of the building in the winter time had the benefit of the sun,
until someone decided the sun was shining in his eyes, and down went
the shade. Anyone who sat on the north side of the room near a window felt a draft. The windows were ill-fitting and didn't really stop the
cold north wind, just slowed it down.
The room was heated by a jacketed stove that heated the building pretty
well. I have a distant recollection of cold feet. They usually got cold
when winter began and stayed that way until spring. The firepot in the
stove was banked at night. Coal was the fuel used. A heap of coal was
put in the stove at night, allowed to burn enough to burn the gas off,
the damper turned to "off" and ashes put on the top to hold the fire until morning. It could be revived in the morning with the coals that were
slowly burning all night.
~'

Of course, the children of those days wore clothing in keeping with the
weather. With the first icy blast of winter, girls and boys alike put on
long underwear. This was usually wool or part wool. The first warm
days of spring it itched. But you had better wait for warm weather
before taking off that long underwear or shedding it meant a good cold.
In winter we wore woolen petticoats and dresses. Over these woolen
dresses the girls always wore neat little white aprons that covered a good
deal of the dress. These white aprons were a necessity, because the
woolen dresses were not washable. The girls wore long black stockings
and high shoes, either laced or buttoned. We wore leggings in winter,
buttoned around our legs, because we all walked to school. Stocking
caps, mittens and knit scarfs completed our winter attire.
The boys wore felt boots that came up on their legs with a sort of short
over shoe over the top. A mackinaw, a stocking cap, and mittens completed their costume. lfthey wore caps, they were usually fur-lined
with ear laps.
If it was raining hard or if there was a blizzard, our fathers might come
to school and pick us up. Otherwise we put our backs to the wind, ran
backward if necessary, and came to school or scooted home as fast as we
could. We didn't seem to have a great deal Of sickness, either. Maybe
we were a hardier breed than the youngsters of today who scarcely know
what their legs are for.
*56*

-r''·

'!i''

What were we taught? Well a little differently than today. Great emphasis was put on reading, spelling, and arithmetic (we hadn't discovered
math yet). Some of our work was done on a slate. After the work was
corrected in classs, the slate was erased and it was ready for the next
class. The middle grades had more language, writing, arithmetic problems, and spelling. Seventh and eighth grades had physiology, civics,
history, and agriculture added to their other topics. Friday afternoons
we usually had a spelldown and sometimes the younger children outspelled the older ones. One of the advantages of the one-room school
was that the lower grades learned by listening to the older pupils.
The children all played together- the older children with the younger
ones. There was no snobbery. Everyone was accepted by everyone
else, rich and poor alike. Drop the Handkerchief, Red Rover, Stoop Tag,
Fox and Goose, and Baseball are a few of the games that come to my
mind. There was a creek near the school and in the winter time we
would bring our ice skates to school and skate on the frozen creek.
The number of children in attendance varied. In winter, after the farm
work was finished, the older boys would come to school. When I
started school, in the winter there were boys fifteen years older than I
was. Then when spri~g came, they dropped c0ut to work on the farm.
Now we come to. the teacher. She was, without a doubt, a very versatile person. Primarily she taught, but she was also janitor, music
teacher, art teacher, psychiatrist, nurse, doctor, gym teacher, and,
supposedly, a person of exemplary behavior and a part of the community in which she taught. With all of these skills you would expect a
teacher to be handsomely paid. Not so. I interviewed Ella Sorenson,
who is 91 years old now, and she told me she was paid $35 per month
in summer and $40 per month in winter. The five extra dollars were
for her janitorial services in tending the fires. She taught here in 1910.
John J. Kerwin is the only Superintendent of Schools I can remember.
He was a large, jovial, pleasant man that visited the school once a year.
In my first years of school he visited the school once a year. Later on
a_Visiting Teache~~as add_~c!to assist l:!iiTI_:_~n ordf}_r to gr~_d___l.latf}_~~ had
to pass a written examination made out by the school superintendent
and sent to the teacher. This test was written at our own school at
first. Then later on several schools went to one place to write these
tests. Graduation was held at Paddock Lake Old Settler's Pavilion in
June.
My memories of School District No. 3 are vivid and pleasant. What bad
m_emories I had have been forgotten long ago and I look back on "the
good old days".

*57*

PARIS CORNERS SCHOOL
District No. 4
School District No. 4 at Paris Corners had the first schoolhouse in the town of Paris, according to a
history of the district written by William G. Roberts, of Union Grove, and delivered by him at the last
Parent-Teachers meeting of the school. A lease for a parcel in Section 17, signed March 18, 1843,
lends credence to that claim. By its terms Asa Bush, John Byre, and Alva Cleveland leased 24 rods of
ground beginning 44 rods north of the southwest corner (of the northwest quarter), east 6 rods, north
4 rods, west 6 rods, then south 4 rods back to the point of beginning.
Mr. Roberts was born on a farm near Paris Corners and attended the school as a boy. The history of.
the district that follows was taken from his account.
The first schoolhouse at Paris Corners was located in front of the Methodist Episcopal Church. (At
the time of Mr. Roberts' talk this church stood just south of the Paris Corners cemetery.) It was literally a house by ·the side of the road, having been originally built as a home. The building was small
and faced the north with a door on the northwest corner; the outside was banked to the windows with
dirt in order to keep the building warm in winter.
Some of the first teachers were Gray Bradford {1850), Margaret Fredenburg, Mrs. Hulda Giding (1855),
Sam McClellan, Ester Ann Case, Milo Haven, John E. Goldsworthy, and Ann Price.
Some of the scholars in that first school were John and Matt Thorn, Ed and Tom Jones, Arthur and
Sarah Price, Mary and Winifred Griffiths, John and Moses Murgatroyd, and Pat Galvin.
A new schoolhouse was built somewhere between 1850 and 1860. The old one was sold to Richard
Jones, who moved it down to the corner.
About 1866 the district purchased an acre of land farther north from William Judson for $100, a lot
of money for an acre of land in those days. This was considered to be a large site, since many school
grounds were one-quarter to one-half acre. A committee of William Griffiths, E. J. Keivel, and
Richard Jones was appointed to move the school building and place it on a good foundation.

Pupils at Paris Corners School1913-14
Front row, left to right-Roswell Griffiths, Grace Sumpter,
Geraldine Crane, Alma Shrank, Herbert Streuli, Neva Crane,
Margaret Tetzlaff, Margaret Sheen and Willa Sheen.
Back row, left to right-Clara Streuli, Bernard Ehlen, Dorothy
Gunter, James Sheen, Ruby Gunter, Alice Sumpter, Teacher
Mable Larsen, --··· Shrank, Alfred Shrank, Thelma Sheen,
John Shrank, Esmond Crane and Willis Griffiths.
*58*

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At the annual school meeting held September 26, 1870, William Eade, Jr. was empowered to get one
hundred trees, or as many as necessary for ornamenting the school grounds and to get them planted
in proper time for the benefit of the trees. At the same meeting William Griffiths was appointed to
put a pump in the well and put it in good condition.
Items of business acted upon at the annual meetings through the years included the following:
1872- voted to hold the annual meeting the last Monday in August
thereafter;
1877 - voted for school to begin the second Monday in November;
1879- voted to build a six-foot addition on the south end of the
schoolhouse;
1883- annual meeting held on July 2 and school began on the
Monday in November;
1887 - school began on the second Monday in October;
1888 - voted to reseat the schoolhouse with patent seats;
1890- voted to build a wood shed;
1891 -voted to shingle and paint the schoolhouse, put shutters on
windows, and have eight months of school;
1908- a new heating plant, card cases, and other equipment were
installed;
1914- drilled a new well;
1919- voted to have nine months school;
1925- school opened on August 30th, a much earlier opening day
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*59*

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Some of the school officers through these years were J. D. Goldsworthy, Alva Cleveland, Richard Jones,
William Eade, William Griffiths, D. M. Jones, William Gunter, Charles Powell, Gomer Roberts, Charles
Powell, Charles Meredith, William Sh-een,-ancfRichard Murgatroyd.
Others who served on the board during a later period were Herbert Gunter, Isaac Griffiths, Henry
Flichter, Ruby Gunter, Mrs. Isaac Griffiths, and Charles Sumpter.
Among later teachers at Paris Corners, and the number of years they taught, were Elizabeth Claybaugh
(4), Helen Griffin (3), Louis Thorn (3), Minnie Price Griffiths (2Yz), Lois Goldsworthy (2), Mable
larsen (2), Cordelia Erb (2), Amy Bennett Hack (2), Nina Mansfield (2). Others who remained only
one term, included Myrtle Emmerton, lone Smith, Miss Curran, Rose Leiting, Grace Miller, Mable
Nyholm, Edna Brinkman, Julie Whelen, Bernice Cox, Nellie Bice (Callendar), Alice Price, Evelyn
Kelly, Fannie Pringle, Uvina Bailey, Bell Brooks, Frances Thomas, Margarita Boehm, Emeline Bishop,
Edith Murdock, Erma Carey, Rosella Shaley, Nellie Minnis, Carrie Faden, Sara Norris, Frank Swinson,
Miss Toner, Nellie Williams, Jennie Frizbie, J. B. Edwards, Addie Parker, and Miss Sovereign.
After consolidation the school building was purchased and remodelled and became the home of the
John Sekey family
THOMAS JEFFERSON SCHOOL
Joint District No. 2, Paris and Yorkville
Earliest records of District No. 2 have not been preserved. They were found in the attic of a house in
the district as it was being torn down, but they were in very bad condition and were destroyed.
It is probable that the district was organized and classes held in a home in the district prior to August
29, 1843. On that date John Rigney deeded a parcel of! land in Section 4, Town of Paris, to the trustees of School District No. 2. The land transferred was located in the northeast corner of Section 4,
on the south .side of the county line road (presently known as KR), about two miles east of present
Highway 45. The district included land that was later to become a part of Yorkville township, Racine
county and was known as Salisbury.

Jefferson School
An early 1900's class with their teacher.

Records that were saved show that in the early 1900's the school waswithout a teacher, so pupils were
transported to the school at Kellogg's Corners. Both E. C. Salisbury and G. Myers are known to have
served as treasurers of the district before 1867. School board members that should be recognized for
long-time service on the school board are Charles Drinkwater, 30 years-11 as clerk and 19 as treasurer;
William Freitag, 24 years as treasurer; William Cheeseman, 21 years as clerk; Nick Spartz, 21 years as
director; Gerry Peters, 15 years as treasurer. Others who served five or more years on the board in-·
eluded Mike Frederick, Jake Simon, Jim Drinkwater, John Baker, F. G. Myers and Lester Biehn.

* 60 *

Jessie Hempel taught at Jefferson school for seven years, the longest tenure of any of its teachers.
Others were Alice Price, 1912-1917; Irene Hankinson, 1908-1912; Mary Barrett, 1941-44; lone Smith,
1935-37; and Mildred McFarland. Among those who served the school for shorter periods of time
were Mary Davison, Nancy Murgatroyd, Alice Murray, Katie Leach, William G. Roberts, Fannie Pringle,
Jennie Bristol, Lois Swants, Leona Swantz, Stella Drissel, Marian Killen, Mary Luke and Rose Tocklin.
At the end of the 1945-46 term Jefferson school was closed and pupils from the district were transported to other schools in .the new consolidated district while the new school was being built. Board
members at that time were Irving Drinkwater, Arno Neuhaus, and William Schultz.

When the school was sold at auction, it was bought by Laura Drinkwater, who had it moved to her
property a short distance east of its original location. It was used as a dwelling for a few years, stood
empty for a while, and was finally burned. Mr. and Mrs. Anton Osilius built a home on the site of the
old school.
NEWBURY SCHOOL
Joint School District No. 10, Towns of Bristol and Paris

The first school meeting in District No. 10 was held at the house of H. A. Newbury, February 3, 1843,
according to records at the Historical Museum. (10)
In 1922, when he was aneighth grade pupil at Newbury School, Horace Fowler wrote a history of the
school and the district from which the following facts are taken. He reported that much of the history
was given by Mr. Gilbert Gulick, who came to the community with his parents in 1837 as a six-year
old boy.

- '

The first schoolhouse was built in 1844 and was located east of Peter Wood's house (Section 2, Bristol)
near two large oak trees. It was built by Henry Newbury and cost $175. It measured 20 by 20 feet,
was neither lathed nor plastered, and had four high windows. Desks were plactid against the wall and
the children, sitting on long planks, faced the wall.
This building was not warm enough to hold school when the weather was cold, so the boys and girls
who wanted to go to school in the winter were obliged to go to a little schoolhouse on Geneva Road.
Later this first building was moved to Mr. Newbury's farm (SW% Sec. 35) and was located on a knoll
just east of the later building. Because the building was too small, it was sold to Mr. Myrick for $25
and used as a blacksmith shop.
The first teacher was Miss Winsor, of Southport, now Kenosha. Others were Julia Marsh, William L.
Marsh, and Pamelia Marsh, who was teaching there when the Civil War broke out.
A new schoolhouse was built in 1863, part on Seth Myrick's land and part on Newbury's land (Sec. 35).
When this second school was built the district was enlarged and extended west to the Muhlenbeck
Road (nowD) and east to the Schnuckle Road (128th Ave.).

After consolidation the schoolhouse was remodelled into a home and is owned by Art Johnson.

'"'- t

Newbury School Built in 1863
North Side of Plank Road

* 61 *

HAWTHORNE SCHOOL
District No. 8, Paris Town ship

On February 15, 1847 Abel R. Phillips and his wife, Rachel, conveyed one-half acre of land in the
northeast quarter of Sec. 23 to School District No. 8 of the Town of Paris. according to a deed recorded on that date. Earliest available district records date back only to 1860, but it would seem safe to
assume that the district was organized and a building constructed before 1850.
Following are the minutes of the annual meeting held on September 27, 1866:

The legal voters of the district met at the school house on this Monday
evening according to notice previously given. A. M. Titus Was chosen
chairman and J. A. Pierce, clerk pro tem. Henry Blackman was unanimously elected district treasurer for one year to fill a vacancy. John
J. Myrick was elected director for the term of three years. It was
voted to raise one hundred dollars on the taxable property of this district for the ensuing year. It was also voted that the school shall be
taught for four months during the ensuing winter and three months
during the coming summer and within the present school year. it
was also voted that the district board furnish the wood for the school
on the best possible terms. On motion the meeting was adjourned
Signed, J. A. Pierce, District Clerk
Expenditures for the school year, 1865-66
Services of male teacher
$170.00
Fuel
35.00
c Other purposes
8. 70
Total Expenditures for year

$213.70

In 1867 Libbie Merrick taught the summer term, commencing on May 13, for twenty dollars per
month; Florence Parker taught the winter term, beginning on November 25, for thirty dollars per
month.
In 1885 the town board issued an order changing the boundary line between Districts No. 7 and No.
8. Some of the property in No.8 was added to No.7.
NAME ADOPTED IN 1924

The name, Hawthorne School, was adopted at a special meeting held on December 1, 1924. It was
chosen because of the wild hawthorne shrubs that abounded in the school yard and vicinity. Formerly it had been called Horning School, after the Horning family, who lived near the school.
On a December morning shortly before Christmas in 1926, a fire of unknown origin broke out in the
school. It seemed at first that it would not be possible to save the building. However, plenty of help
arrived and the fire was put out. Considerable damage was done to the building and its contents. The
teacher, Mrs. Bertha Heidersdorf, held the school Christmas program at her home. The school building was repaired and re-opened in January.
The following served as school district clerk, 1865-1946: John A Pierce, 1865-1871; Horace Blackman, 1871-1874; Henry Blackman, 1874-1882; Hugh Cooper, 1882-1883; John Fonk, 1883-1889;_
C. E. Heidersdorf, 1889-1898; H. L. Bullamore, 1898-1899; M. W. Holloway, 1899-1910; George
Fonk, 1910-1921; Edna L Thom, 1921-1943; Bertha Heidersdorf, 1943-1946.

* 62 *

I
i

Some of those who served as board members other than clerk were: Graves Crosby, John J. Myrick,
William Gray, Jacob Kreuscher, Fred Rice, Alexander Gray, Phillip Horning, Sr., Fred Sax, William E.
Heidersdorf, George Kreuscher, John Holloway, Nick Frederick, and N. P. Willkomm.
Board members at the time of consolidation were Bertha Heidersdorf, John Holloway, and N. P.
Willkomm.
Some of the teachers at District No.8 before 1900 were Libbie Merrick, Florence Parker, George Spence,
Emma Briggs, James Petrie, A. S. Carpenter, Fred Cull, William Middlecamp, Julia Torrey, Will Lieber,
Sarah Gallagher, Nellie Barter, Alice Heidersdorf, and Alice Cook. William Middlecamp became county
superintendent of schools.
Teachers at the school after 1900 were Frank Schnuckel, Charles Murphy, Frank Powell, Clara Carter,
Elizabeth Werve, Daisy Dowse, Pearle Faden, Mary Dexter, Edna Heidersdorf, Elsie Streuli, Bertha
Drissel, Ruth Danielson, Beatrice Buechner, Estelle Barrows, Mary Stepanik, and Margaret Quinn. Mrs.
Danielson taught a record fourteen consecutive years at Hawthorne and was hired for the staff of
Paris Consolidated.

)

HAWTHORNE SCHOOL
Stood on north side of Burlington Road west of MB north

The appearance of the school grounds and building remained much the same through the years. Many
who attended the school can remember when the coons made their winter quarters over the school
room. It was not too unusual to see one stick its nose through a hole in the ceiling. The boys would
reach bread up to them. A new foundation was built in 1931, putting an end to the animals using the
building for shelter.
Edna Heidersdorf Thorn served as clerk for 22 years, longer than anyone else in that office in the district. She attended the school as a child, she taught there, and her children attended the school.
. Facts for the foregoing article were drawn from a history of the district which she wrote.

* 63 *

'%_: _ _ , ,

--~~~~=

PARIS CENTER SCHOOL

District No. 3
School District No. 3 of Paris township included parts of sections 15, 21, 22, 8, 9, and 17 and all of
Section 16. It was generally known as Paris Center, because it was close to the geographic center of
the town. (The present Consolidated School located a short distance to the south of old Paris Center
is about as close to the geographic center of the town as one could get,)
School first was held in the district in the home of Moses Buswell about 1848 with Mary Buswell Burgess as the first teacher. The building that housed the first school stood on land now owned by Ray
Ehlen, but it has been torn down.
Just when the first schoolhouse was built is not known but an old church record mentions having a
meeting in 1852 at the school. It was located in the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 16,
on a site still distinguishable at the southwest corner of the junction of Highway 142 and D.
The first schoolhouse was a one-story no"basem*nt wood framed building, twenty feet wide and thirty
feet long. Later an entry with a bell tower was added and a woodshed was built. A 1926 description
of the school states," A jacketed furnace furnished the heat. About one acre of grounds,% acre being
playgound. Three soft maple trees, 15 feet high and 2% feet around" stood on the grounds.
Many residents of the district were Catholic and sent their children to St. John's school in the years
that it operated (continuously after 1911). This resulted in a smaller enrollment at Paris Center.

Paris Center School- Back row, from left, Gotlieb Richter, Blanche Gunter, Martin Green and
Lewis Rasmussen. Middle row, Sophie Richter, Robert Fonk, Verna Gunter, Clayton Gunter
and Elizabeth Schlitz. Botton row, Roy Fonk, Andrew Green and Earl Fonk.

* 64 *

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-~'~·£,;;;,~S<,£x~~~~~<>&r

&!"

Because of small enrollment in 1919, the school was closed and the children transported to Paris Corners School. Later it was re-opened only to close again in 1939. From that time on the children of
the district were tuitioned and transported to Hawthorne, Oak View or Paris Corners schools.
There are no records but teachers who are remembered as having taught at Paris Center are Mary Buswell Burgess, Sarah Murray Shanley (during the Civil War}, Rosella Shanley(before 1900), Molly
Derbershire (early 1900's), Edythe Snyder, Ella Sorenson (1909-10)' Isabelle Born, Florence Pittlekow,
Elizabeth Allen (Mrs. Ambrose Schlitz), Eva Huck (Sheen), Thelma Sheen, Frances Murphy, Lucille
McKee, Gladys Wendt, Hazel Quirk, and Rose Rush (the latter six in the 1920's).
Some of those who are remembered as having served on the school board include Joe Stollenwerk,
Mattie Fonk, Leo Fonk, Harvey Gunter, Charley Fonk, and Mrs. Lawrence Wisnefski.

Other families who lived in the district were Jacob Schlitz, Joseph Schlitz, John Stollenwerk, Andrew
Green, John Mich, Oscar Stollenwerk, Henry Pfeiffer, John Neu, Matt Neu, Frank Stoffel, Eva Fonk,
·
and Charles Crane.
After consolidation, the school building was sold at public auction to Ed Schaefer, who moved it to
Racine County and remodelled it into a residence (Don Nelson, physical education teacher at Paris
Consolidated, 1975-78, lived in this house as a boy). Contents of the school were turned over to the
Consolidated district. The school bell was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Wisnefski and used
to call the men in to the dinner from the fields. Later it was stolen from their premises.
THREE OAKS SCHOOL
District No. 5, Paris Township

)

School District -No. 5 in Paris was organized sometime before 1850. School was first held in the home
of a settler named MacShuler, who lived one mile south of Highway E on MB. The large unplastered
living room, with a piece of blackboard at one end, served as the classroom. Pupils sat on benches and
had desks that were long sloping boards with a place to hold ink bottles, Margaret Gould, who lived
near by, was one of the first teachers. (5)

··~

In the summer of 1851 a public school house was built, facing south on the east and west road between
sections 12 and 13 (Highway E). It stood in a grove of Burr Oak trees, from which came the name,
Three Oaks.
The school house was built by Mr. Scott and his son. The logs for the building were cut from the roadside of Mr. Scott's farm which was about a mile away. Mary D. Bradford's father, Andrew Davison,
hauled the logs to the school site using oxen.
The one-room frame structure had high windows with a blackboard across the entire end of the room
opposite the door. On a small platform in front of the blackboard was the teacher's desk. There were
three rows of desks, with the middle row designed for smaller children. In the two outside rows sat
the older children-boys on one side, girls on the other. Near the door was a bench for the water pail.
Among the earliest families in the schocl were Gregory, Vaughn, Willis, Lease, Allen, Fleming, Baker,
Bailey, Hale, Stove, and McHuron.
Cyrus Brande, the teacher for 1854-55 was the first to send home report cards to parents. It consisted of a form that included four items: Punctuality, Obedience, Diligence, and Scholarship. When
Mary Davison (Bradford) started school there in 1858, she was only two years old. It was not because
the parents wanted it that way, but rather because home conditions made it necessary for an older
sister to stay home with her or take her along to school.
In 1861 men teachers were scarce because of the Civil War, so a woman teacher, Helen Perkins, was
hired for the winter. She had been educated in Delaware, Ohio and came to stay with her father in
Paris. She used a "new" system for teaching reading, using the phonetic method.

* 65 *

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________________

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_.........."'"'"_,

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School attendance was not compulsory in the early years. Discipline was a problem for the
along with the difficulties of working with children of various language backgrounds. E
Welsh, and Irish children had an advantage over those from German, Holland Dutch, French
Bohemian families who settled in the area. A whip across the shoulders or a ferule on an
hand were not uncommon punishments.

Three Oaks School
Located on Highway E, East of MB

Built in 1851
In the 1870's expenses were low and included: building a new outhouse at $8.00, cleaning the schoolhouse, white washing, window lights, and teachers' salaries at about $225 for a year. Wood was used
for heating until 1888, when coal was first purchased. Major repairs in 1894 included a new floor and
the addition of a new entry. By 1910 teachers were getting a salary of $35.00 per month.

P.T.A. PROVIDES EXTRAS
P. T. A., first mentioned in 1934, performed many services for the school -among them the making
of curtains, having plays, serving as monthly school visiting committees. After the school was wired
for electricity in 1936 (cost, $32.75), the P. T. A. bought a hot plate for use at the school and, later,
an electric clock. Baseballs, bats, a radio, and first aid supplies were some of the "specials" provided.
P. T. A. fund-raising events included a dance at the Town Hall in 1939. With admission at 15 cents per
person, the group netted $10.40. The following year a Hard Times Dance and Pie Social was held.
A patriotic spirit was reflected in P. T. A. activities during,the war years. Members joined the Red Cross,
knitted laprobes for soldiers, and conducted used clothing drives in 1945 and 1946.

MANY TEACHERS SERVED THREE OAKS
As was common in other schools of the time a man was usually hired to teach the winter term and a
woman for the summer term. Among the teachers who taught at Three Oaks during the period
from 1851 to 1900 were Woolsey Washburn, Frances Bennett, Henry Pettit, Sarah Spades, Carrie
Rector, Cyrus Brande, Marcia Hollbrook, Eliphalet Pope, Ann Jordan, Joseph Geary, Edwin Cooley,
Helen Perkins, John Downey, Ida Davison, Ellen Barter, Mary Sniffin, Henry Tinkham, James Oliver,
George Spence, Charles Woodworth, Sarah Strong, George Jorden, Anna Gray, Carrie Burgess,
Horace Woodworth, William Middlecamp, Maggie Craney, Fannie Gould, Henry Flett, Minnie LeGivven, Clara Upson, Robert Pollock, Leelia Porter, James Ozanne, William Lee, James Murrey, Sarah
Devlin, W. Leiber, Anna Gallagher, George Flett, Alice Murry, M. Powers, Myra Yates, Gertie Cook,
Jennie Fellows, Minnie Fink, Alberta Worsley, Victoria Carpenter, Jennie Smith, and Mamie Lou
Bishop.

* 66 *

The latter, Mamie Lou Bishop, taught at Three Oaks in 1893, 1894 and then returned to teach there
from 1896 to 1900.
In the period from 1901 to consolidation and the closing of the school in 1949, there were fewer teachers because many of them stayed for more than one term. They were Ida Bishop, Edith Price, Ida
Peck, Mildred Button, Gertrude McNamara, Anna Hansen, Laura Fox, Gretta Tillotson, Edna Bush,
Ella Gnadt, Marie Martin, Evelyn Smith, Anna Foristal, Stella Drissel, Helen Graiwiki, Lula Whitley,
Mary Stallman, Gladys Lee, Caroline Mich, Margaret Smith, Lylia Kime, Margurite Owens, Evelyn Bullamore, Dorothy Schlax, Elizabeth Gilles, Betty Spies, and Estelle Barrows.
·
j,

The school building was sold at public auction November 11, 1950 and has been remodeled into a
home.

.•

Miss Bishop and one of the groups she taught at
Three Oaks Schoof

MARSH SCHOOL

Joint District No. 12, Paris and Bristol
The history of Marsh School, Joint District No. 12, Paris and Bristol, is preserved in a tattered and
yellowed original clerk's record, covering the entire history of the school from 1850·to 1947 when consolidation took place. ·
The new district was formed, including the north half cif Sections 5 and 6 and the northwest quarter of
Section 4 in the town of Bristol along with all ·of. sections 31 and 32 and the west half of section 33 in
the Town of Paris. The first meeting was held on May 4, 1850.
Business of the first session and adjourned sessions that followed included the election of Hammon
Marsh as director, Lyman Dutton as clerk, and P. J. Reed as treasurer; paying Hammon Marsh $5.00
for the use of a room in his house to be used fqr'school; and setting a school term of three and onehalf months.
Hammon Marsh gave a plot of land, eight rods by ten, on the east side of present Highway 45 a short
distance north of 60th Street. At a meeting on June 1, 1850 it was "voted to build a School House and
have it ready for School for the first day of November next" and to raise $250 to build said schoolhouse.

* 67 *

.-'1

At a special meeting held March 24, 1851 provisions were made for erecting two "out buildings 4 feet·
in width and six feet in length ... with a good shingle roof, seats to have three holes each." Specifications were set-up for the fence to be built around the school grounds and for another to be built from
the northeast corner of the schoolhouse to the east line fence, separating the girls' toilet from the boys'
accommodations.
The first annual report of the clerk, dated September 1, 1851, showed that fourteen children from the
Town of Bristol and twenty-two from Paris made up the total attendance of 36 for the eight months.
W. L. Marsh received $18.75 per month for his four months of teaching the winter term; Jane Udall,
$8.00 per month for the four-month summer session.
lENGTH OF SCHOOL TERM VARIED

Financial problems could have accounted for the fact that in 1854-55 there seems to have been only
three months of school. However, two terms were taught in 1855-56 and 1856-67. From 1857 to
1866 only one term was taught and only the first two terms had men teachers. Following the close of
the Civil War, the pattern reverted to two sessions, but only three sessions out of twenty-two during the
eleven year period had male teachers. The school year of 1876-77 was the last one for which two different teachers were hired.
Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the District on September 28, 1863 indicate that after the regular
business was transacted, there was some fun. "A motion was made by W. L. Marsh to adjourn to a
·
cider mill nearby, which was very quickly seconded and unanimously carried."

SECOND SCHOOLHOUSE BUILT IN 1894
At the annual meeting of July 2, 1894 on a motion made by J. N. 1\Jleyers and seconded by J. Gitzlaff,
it was voted to build a new school, 24 x 32 by 12 feet high. Wells Curtiss contracted to furnish ali
materials and labor for $550~
·

Marsh School, 7904-1905
Second row, left to right-Gocia DeMaillie, Rose Steffen, and Alma Gitzlaff; First row, left to rightElla Gitzlaff, Dora Zach, Walter Haag, Mary Meyer, Lena Gitzlaff, Walter Gitzlaff, Leo Meyer, and
the teacher, Miss Mayme Bacon (Benson).

*
--..

·~.

~·

--.~·---·--·-

,~-----------

------------~~----'"

In 1913 the district voted for nine months of school and stayed at that figure thereafter.
Interesting items of business in the minutes of annual meetings included (1) buying a new stove in
1915 and changing to coal for fuel; (2) having a well dug in 1922 for which $134.90 was paid; (3) buying a used piano for $100 in 1926; (4) adopting the free textbook system in 1930.
Teachers at Marsh school since 1900 and the number of years they taught there are: Mae Frisbie, 5;
Mary Bacon (Benson), 2; -Effie Price (Gunter), 1; Mary O'Hare, 1; Miss Hunt, 1; Edith Murdoch, 2;
Lois Grey, 2; Eleanor Jones (Meredith), 3; Mary Meyers (Fox), 1; Patra Hansen (Jensen), 1; Mary Windish (Wieland), 1; Amy Wickham (Pofahl), 1; Mary Jones (Lamb), 5; Enola Minnis (Barthel), 1; Margaret Powell (Gilmore), 1; Mayme Mitchell, 1; Mrs. Lucy J. Sherman, 1; Mabel Muhlenbeck (Strueli), 2;
Mrs. Claire Tumpack, 1; Mrs. Agnes Muhlenbeck, 5; Gertrude Neilsen, 1; Mabel Jacobsen, 2; Marian
•Killian, 4; Mrs. Naegeli, 1; Lorraine Richards (Parker), 1; Mrs. Anna Punzel, 5.
School board members who served the district for more than ten years include W. L. Marsh, 46 years
. as treasurer, 1859-1905; John V. Meyers, 31 years as treasurer, 1914-1945; A. A. Burgess, 28 years as
clerk, 1877-1905; Martha Steffen, 26 years as clerk, 1915-1944; Will Kutzke, 23 years as director, 1922
-1945; D. Conrad, 15 years as director, 1876-1891; Carl Bohn, 13 years as director, 1891-1904; Alexander Beath, 13 years as director between 1860 and 1875.
Members of the last board before consolidation brought the dissolution of Marsh School District were
Will Kutzke, director; Dike Johnson, clerk; John V. Meyers, treasurer.
The schoolhouse was converted into a residence and is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Klemko.

)

Marsh School, 1931-32
Lawrence Meyers, Le~ter Grewenow, Milton Gitzlaff, Leonard Zirbel, Donald Steffen,
Mildred Steffen, Erwin Kohnke, Pete Selear, L!lcille Burns, Ruth Kohnke, Willis Steffen,
Dorothy Meyers, Josephine Selear, Marcella Kohnke, Marjorie Meyers, Cecil Burns, Dale
Helen Zirbel, Jacob Selear, Mildred Zirbel, Andy Se/ear, Eleanor Meyers, Mad-·
J.:J,-Jr.Rum .. A{!nes /W(.Ifl/enbeck, teacher.

* 69 *

-- -- ,:JI

ROSEBUD SCHOOL
District No. 7

On April 4, 1856 land was deeded by Andrew Hannon and his wife to school district no. 7, generally
known as Rosebud School. The site, in the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of Section 25,
is still recognizable on the northeast corner of UE and N.
No records were available of meetings before 1868. At a meeting on October 5 of that year it was voted to raise $25 by special tax for repairing the schoolhouse and $130 for school expenses for the year.
Plans were made for a four-month winter term, starting Dec. 1st, with a male teacher and a three-month
summer term, starting May 1st, with a female teacher.
Action taken in 1873 called for raising $250 for building a new school. It was to be 22' x 28' with two
windows on each side. The old schoolhouse was sold for $14.00 and the old stove for $1.05.
Improvements and repairs were made from time to time, always by action at the annual meeting. Construction in 1865 included a woodhouse, 10'x12'x6', and a board fence between the outhouses.
Until 1913 wood was used to heat the school, An average of four cords of wood was needed per year at
an average cost of $5 per cord. Beginning in 1913 coal was used with an average of 4 tons per year at
$1.25 per ton.
During the influenza epedemic of 1918, school was closed for one month.
In '1935 due to the small enrollment Rosebud School was closed and the students were transported to
District No. 1. The last recorded meetings for District No.7 were in 1943.

'¥-...
·-- ..
......,_,,.....,

...._.,,..,._,_,.,_
--~-

•

Pupils: Mabel Bergesen, Stella Drissel (Beihn), Lorraine Thomas
(Dowse), Bernadene Fonk (Schultz), Isabelle Drissel (Frederick),
Bertha Drissel (Heidersdorf), Marie Thomas, CIFJment Thomas,
Bernard Drissel, William Thomas.

* 70 *

OAKVIEW SCHOOL
Joint School District No. 6, Paris and Brighton

Earliest records for Joint District No. 6 were not available, but it is thought to have been created in the
mid-1800's, with a schooL being built on a one-acre plot of land that lies along the east side of present
Highway 45 at the juncture of Highway JB. Douglas Dunning conveyed one-half acre from the southwest corner of Section 20, and Lewis Williams, Jr., a like amount from the northwest corner of Section
29.
According to family stories, men of the neighborhood built the schoolhouse, as was common in those
early days. The entrance was located in the north end of the building at first, but later an entry hall
was added on the south to accommodate outdoor clothing, a wood box, and a water bucket. Water
w.as carried to the school from a nearby spring on the Dunning farm. A large coal and wood stove, enclosed in a metal jacket, heated the building.
Families who settled in the area and sent their children to this school included, besides Dunning and
Williams, Davis, Meredith, Thom, Coburn, Gibbs, Bohanan, Boles, McGuire, and Head. Records for
1899, the earliest available, listed fourteen pupils in attendance, nine of them being named either Ludwig or Thom. Very little is known about the period before 1899; Lewis Williams served three terms
on the board; Charles Gibbs, John Bohanan, and Harlow Gibbs made up the school board in 1863; J.
H. Coburn served several years as treasurer; and Lewis Davis was treasurer, 1870-73. Teachers during
'that early time included Carrie Burgess and Nellie Williams.
Teachers at Oakview from 1899-1904 were Ethel Jackson, Nellie Myrick, Jeanette Powell, Mae Haddicon, and Edna Forman .. During this period school was held from October to February, then from
March to the end of June. For 138 days of school a teacher received $175.00. Superintendents of
Schools during 'this time were William Griffiths, 1900-01, and G. W. Taylor, 1902.
In 1908 L. C. Williams leased to the school district a 66' x 132' strip adjoining the school grounds on
the south, to enlarge the site.
Although no records were found for the period from 1904-1922. the followinq are remembered as having taught at Oakview: Laura Eppers, Theresa Fox, Greta Tillotson (1906-07, Louise Thorn, a former
student (1914-15), and Ida Uhlenberg~ Board members recalled as serving during that time were Mrs.
L. C. Williams, Ed Meredith Ill, and Charles Tank, and later on, Milton Meredith, Fred Tank, and L. C.
Williams.· During this same period 8th grade graduation was held at the Old Settlers Pavilion at Paddock
Lake.
·

"'-}
~
Oak View School
Located on the east side of Highway 45
at the Juncture with Highway JB.

* 71 *

Beginning in 1922 teachers at Oakview were Blanche Davis, Theress Thorn (a former pupil), Winifred
Benedict, Grace Hardie, Della Williams, Mary Crane, Isabelle Keuper (1931-33, daughter of a former
teacher at the school, Nellie Williams). Estelle Shepard, Clare Ahrendt, Winifred Larsen, and Elsie
Thorne. Salaries during this time averaged $90 to $100 per month.
Children from Paris Center School were transported to Oakview frorn 1934 to 1944. In 1945 Oak View
pupils were transported to Paris Corners School and later to Marsh, which they were attending at the
time of the consolidation.
Former students at Oak View remember it with affection. In the words of a former pupil, "The school
ground was so beautiful in spring and summer, with lilacs and roses growing along the fence. Pretty
maples and oaks in the schoolyard. Nice and shady! Really pretty! A good place to be educated; so
sorry to see this era end".
Robert Strampp, Sr. bought the building, and acreage, and in 1948, after moving it a few feet to the
south, remodeled the building into a residence. The AI Muhlenbeck family now lives there.

A 1908 Class at Oakview School
Back row, left to right-Louis Thom, Olivia Thom, Teacher Laura Eppers,
Emil Bohn.
Middle row, left to right-Therese Thom, Margaret Williams, Newton
Meredith, Judson Williams, Milton Meredith.
Front row, left to right-Clayton Meredith, Evelyn Meredith, Louis Williams
DES PLAINES VIEW SCHOOL
District No. 1

Records show that on December 29, 1863 eighty square rods of land in the northeast quarter of Section 28 was sold by William and Mary Griffiths for $20 "for the purpose cif a school site and no other".
It is not known just when the first school was constructed, but Dan Williams was among the petitioners
for the school to be built.
Before the organization of district 1, children of the area were sent to the "section school", probably
Paris Center. Two of the earliest teachers were Miss Margaret Murray and, later, James Murray. John
Bembow paid 38 cents for school tax, according to one early record.

* 72 *

In 1882 the school burned in a fire caused by an overheated stove, and a new one was built during the
following summer. Dan Towene, Dan Williams, and Richard Price made up the school board, and Lizzie Gagen was the teacher.
Nellie Williams (Keuper) taught at District No. 1 (1885-87), being paid $25.00 per month for the winter term and $18.00 per month for the summer term. Among her pupils was a 23-year-old Danish
immigrant who wanted to learn English. Alma Cook (Biehn) was the teacher for the 1896-97 term.
The name Des Plaines View was given to the school in 1919 by the teacher, Margaret Bice (Grabinski),
and a resident of the district, Frances Price. It replaced the name Price School, by which it had generally been known.
Items of business brought before the voters at the annual meetings from year to year included the purchase of a coal scuttle in 1917 for 50 cents, a new blackboard in 1919 for $3.60, a water cooler in·
1913 for $2.80, and new seats in 1917 for $68.20.
·
Repairs and improvements were made as needed and included: (1) buying and having installed a heating and ventilating system in 1908 ($93.12); (2) having the inside of the school painted in 1909 ($21.40);
(3) having the roof shingled in 1910.
A study of salaries paid to teachers by the district provides an interesting reflection of the cycle of hard
times and prosperity, low enrollments and high. For the seven years from 1906-07 through 1912-13,
the average salary was $33.29 per month; from 1913-14 through 1919-20, $56.00 per month. In 192021 the monthly salary went over the hundred dollar mark for the first time. Because of the low enrollment (only seven), children were transported to other schools for the 1921-22 term. From the 1922. 23 term through the 1930-31 term, the average salary was $106.00. The ten years from 1931-32 to
1940-41 reflected the Depression-$86 was the average monthly salary. However, in the last five years
before consolidation the average had climbed to $115 per month.

Des Plaines View School
Built in 1882 after fire destroyed an earlier building, this building served District No. 1, Town of
Paris and is now part of a duplex home on Highway N.

* 73 *

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. Teachers at Des Plaines View between 1906 and 1923 included Miss Quin, Mary Spattz, Petra Hansen,
Miss Pacy, Miss McKenna, Stella Price, Miss Irving, Alma Hansen, Vada White, Miss Waglia, Alice Price,
Edna Drum, Margaret Bice, Mary Jones, Marie Williams, and Blanche Davies. (All of the foregoing
taught for one year, except Mary Spartz, who was there for two years, and Marie Williams and Blanche
Davies, who shared a year, because of the illness of the former).
·
From 1923 through 1946 the teachers and the number of years they taught were: Bernadine Fonk (4);
Doris McKerlie (1 ); Grace Kreuger (3); Una Gould (2); Louise Lauer (3); Harold Middleton (3);
Barbara Powell Rondeau (1 ); Marion Marsh (4); Alice Bornhuetter (2). The latter was hired by the
Consolidated school district to teach first and second grade and continued in the district for several
years following her marriage (Soer). Margaret Bice Grabinsky, mentioned above, became principal of
the new school.
During the years for which records were available (1882-1945) Frank Tetzlaff served 25 years as director; J. H. Stollenwerk, 19 as clerk; Fred Muhlenbeck, 14 as treasurer; Mrs. Paul Belchner, 11 as clerk.
Frances Price, Tom Price, lewis Price, Will Price, George Price, Sr., Mrs. Fred Price, Arne Peterson,
Mrs. Earl Quirk, Agees Muhlenbeck, and Ruth Griffiths each served less than 10 years. The latter three
made up the board at the time of consolidation.

After consolidation'the building was sold and has been incorporated as part of a duplex residence on
Highway N, now occupied by the Virgil Gentz and Gene Falkenstern families .
~,

..._;;·i,-;

'
,,

"Some of the kids that used to go to Des Plaines View School . ...
Arlene Hansen, Earl Quirk, Ollie Quirk, Robert Hansen, Wayne Griffiths, Beverly
Griffiths, Bruce Muhlenbeck.

* 74 *

....:.:.%!

~--~~~.., ....}~o,;,'>.-,<~-"-~-~.oo.• ~:.~-·· - · · · - - -

SYLVANIA SCHOOL AT KELLOGGS CORNERS
Jt. District No. 14
Pike, Mr. Pleasant, Yorkville, and Paris Townships
Sylvania was the name given to a school district that was formed on May 18, 1844 at a meeting held at
the home of Chauncey Kellogg. land in the present Paris township that was included in the new district was Section 1, the east half of Section 2, all of Section 36, and the east half of Section 36. 0. P.
Hale and M. C. Buswell were School Commissioners of Paris at the time.
According to a brief history of the district in a book by Minnie Ozanne, "the first school building, constructed of logs and timbers hewn from the woods nearby, was built about a quarter of a mile south of
the Corners. After a time this building was sold and moved to the Daniel Coughlin farm. A new site
near the Methodist Church was purchased, and a new building was erected." That building still
stan.cis, on the south side of Highway KR a short distance east of 1-94.
in a description of the school in early days, Ozanne says, "The water system at the Sylvania School was
'The Old Oaken Bucket, the Moss Covered Bucket that hung in the well' at the rear of the A. T. Gould
home. How we children loved to 'go for water' and stop at the blacksmith shop to and from, and watch
the sturdy smith as he pumped the rude bellows, or put a shoe on the farmer's horse." A well was
drilled at the school in the 1930's by William Brittle.
Average attendance at the school was 35 to 40 pupils, Most of the children walked to and from school,
carrying their lunches in syrup or tobacco pails.
When attendance dropped to seven or eight pupils, the distriCt voted to transport the pupils to Sturte. vant. After four years, voters decided to close the school and pupils attended the school nearest to them
in their township.
Among the early teachers at Sylvania were Adeline Wilson, M. P. Barry (who received $28 per month for
three months), Miss Perkins, Esther R. Shepard, E. W. Malone, Mary E. Spence, Hellen Allan, Marinda
Gager, Lorin Gould, Lavinia Go!dworthy, Will H. Spencer,. David Powderly, Mary Burgess, Robert
Pollock, Alice Murray Heidersdorf, and Nancy Murgatroyd. Later teachers were Laura Foster Barrows
and Ella Sorensen.

Sylvania School at Ke!loggs Corners
Located east of /-94 on Highway KR,
now painted red, was white with red trim
when this picture was taken.

* 75 *

Families of the district included the Kelloggs, Meyers, Heidersdorf, Burgess, Buckleys, Fosters, Holmes,
lelong, Couglins, Haneys, Goulds, Martins, and Davises.
Among those who are remembered as having served on the school board are William Coughlin, Stanley
Coughlin (tr~asurer for over 30 years),Frank Heidersdorf, Henry Heidersdorf (52 years as treasurer and
clerk), and Christian Heidersdorf.
Although it was painted white for most of the years since it was built, it is now painted red.

WHITLEY AND RAVINIA SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Childr.en of families living in the ~orthwest corner of the township have attended school outside the
township as part of joint districts with Brighton or Yorkville townships.
Joint School District No. 9, Brighton and Paris, known generally as Whitley, included parts of Sections
7 and 18 of Paris. The school building was located in the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of
Section 12, Brighton, and stood on the east side of present 224th Avenue between 9th Street and the
county line road.
,

Joint School District No. 11, known as Ravinia (also Minton or Huletts Corner school), included Sections 5 and 6 of Paris. The building still stands on the northwest corner of the intersection of Highways 45 and KR, and has been used for a number of years by the Boy Scouts .
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School District Boundaries within Paris Township
at the time of school consolidation.

* 76 *

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1.
2.
3.
4.

Des Plaines View
Thomas Jefferson
Paris Center
Paris Corners
5. Three Oaks
6. Oak View
7. Rosebud
8. Hawthorne
9. Whitley
10. Newbury
11. Ravinia
12 Marsh
14. Sylvania

PARIS CONSOLIDATED GRADE SCHOOL
Now Joint District No. 1, Paris and Bristol Townships
Beginning in 1944 residents of Paris township began working toward a consolidated district as a solution for school problems. Informational meetings, petitions, public hearings, unmet deadlines and
other frustrations extended over a two-year period. Finally, an order by the State Superintendent,
dated March 26, 1946, dissolved the old districts, effective on July 1st. A new district of slightly over
36 sections was set up, including almost all of Paris township and small parts of Bristol and Yorkville
and excluding small areas of the northeast and northwest corners of the township. (Later boundary
changes have resulted in a district that now embraces all of Paris township except Sections 5 and 6,
and includes the north half of Sections 1 through 6 of Bristol township except a few areas.)
Tbe first· annual meeting of the new district was held on July 8, 1946. Milton Meredith was elected
clerk; Paul Burgess, treasurer and Eugene Drissel, director. Financial reports from the districts being
phased out showed funds on hand totalling $7027.67. On July 22 the new board presented a budget
of $13,693.75. Further business in that session included action to place $5000 for a building fund
on the tax roll and to transport children living
more than two miles from their school.

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The board decided to operate five schools and
hired teachers as follows: Jefferson, Mabel
Braun; Three Oaks, Estelle Barrows; DesPiaines,
Vera Nappe; Marsh, Anna Mae Punzel; and
Newbury, Marion Marsh.

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TUES., MARCH 25
I Note

Three Old Schools Sold at Auction
(

the Time of [gr:h Sale)

An auction on March 25, 1947 brought $610
for Paris Center from Ed Schaefer, $520 for
Rosebud from Frank Vignieri, and $620 for
Oakview from Mrs. R. G. Strampp. At the
annual meeting on July 14 it was decided to
place all proceeds from the sale of school property in the Building Fund.

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Paris Center School
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A committee of citizens was selected to consult with members of the board in planning a
new building. It was composed of Joe Kiesler,
Horace Fowler, Fred Gillmore, Oscar Anderson,
Mrs. lawrence Wisnefski, and Mrs. W. C.
Mitchell. At the special meeting, held March
18, 1948, a site selection committee was named
and included Mrs. Howard Biehn, Roy Kruescher, Oveda Wisnefski, George Price, and Harold
Heidersdorf.

Oakview School .
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A 1947 Sale Bill

In August it was decided to levy $11,000 for the erection of the new school building, and in September
Frank McCormack agreed to sell ten acres in Section 21 for $2000. The site, on the east side of Highway D ( 176th Ave.) just south of Highway 43 (now 142 or Burlington Road), is located very near the
geographical center of the township. At a special meeting on November 4 a proposal to borrow
$104,000 was passed by a vote of 111 to 105, after an earlier application for a loan of $110,000 had
.been turned down.

* 11 *

SCHOOL BUllTIN 1949

Early in 1949 the land was purchased, Lawrence Monberg was hired as architect, and Camosy Construction was selected General Contractor as low bidder at $58,324. John Zinane was awarded the heating
contract and Josephson and Thomey, plumbing.
In July Lester Dix was hired to transport the children for-$5500. With the building not quite ready for
occupancy in September, the board decided to operate four of the old schools until it was completed.
Children were transported to the four schools according to the four graded classrooms to which they
would later be assigned. Then during the break for Teachers' Convention, residents of the district assisted in moving equipment into the new building.
On Sunday, October 30, 1949 a dedication program and open house was held. The Kenosha News repoqed that "1300 visitors from two states placed their stamp of approval on Kenosha county's first
consolidated rural school". The building included four classrooms, a school cafeteria, an office, and a
boiler room.

Paris Consolidated Grade School, 1949- 1957

At the Dedication Program on Sunday, October 30, 1949, George Price served as Master of Ceremonies
which included" A History of the New School", by Mrs. Dike Johnson; Recognition of Families having
three genert,1tions attend Paris Township Schools; and vocal numbers by Peter Sprindis, accompanied by
Evelene Richter. Mr. Roy Ihlenfeldt, a Supervisor with the State Department of Public Instruction and
former Kenosha County Superintendent of Schools, delivered the dedication address. Following remarks by George Price, Milton Meredith, clerk of the school district, presented the Key to Mrs. Margaret
•
Grabinsky, principal of the new school.
A Dedication Program Committee was made up of representatives from each of the Paris school districts that were included in the consolidated district, as follows: Mrs. George Price, general chairman;
Mrs. Horace Fowler, Newbury; Mrs. Orville Price, DesPiaines View; Mrs. Ted Miller, Marsh; Mrs. Gordon Myers, Three Oaks; Mrs. Lester Biehn and Mrs. Dick Hansen, Jefferson; Mrs. Milton Meredith, Oak
View; Mrs. lawrence Wisnefski, Paris Center; Mrs. Russell Rowe, Paris Corners; Mrs. Oscar Anderson,
Hawthorne; Mrs. Ed Remus, Rosebud.
During 1950 the board adopted a policy of allowing community groups to use the building for meetings
at a reasonable fee, and Three Oaks school was sold at pubLic auction to Norman Bailey.

* 78 *
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Also in 1950 a committee for school grounds improvement was appointed and included Mary Johnson,
Wilma Gillmore, Selma Fowler, Roscoe Torrey, and George Price. With the help of Oscar Anderson a
comprehensive plan was drawn up and, in March of 1951, presented to the Board. Trees and shrubs,
paid for by P. T. A. and other contributions, were set in place in the spring.
Action taken in 1950 to initiate a five-member school board, resulted in the election of three new members in 1951-Helen Price, Paul Burgess, and Fred Gillmore-to serve along with carry-over members,
Milton Meredith and Agnes Muhlenbeck.

HOT LUNCH PROGRAM BEGAN IN 195'1
From the beginning of the new district, many parents began working toward a hot lunch program in
the school. P. T. A. members urged the board to equip the kitchen· and carried on fund-raising projects
to he'lp with the purchase of equipment. In August, 1951 Mrs. Nick (Sophie) Jackley was hired as
cook, and two mothers came in each day on a volunteer basis to assist her. Mrs. Ted (Helen) Miller
served as the first chairman of the P. T. A. hot lunch committee which set up schedules and accepted
donations of canned goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, and money. At times members met at the
school to can produce to be used in the meals. Later on, state regulations required that the operation
of the hot lunch program be placed under the direct supervision of the school board. (Mrs. Jackley continued as head cook until 1964; in 1965 Mrs. Ed Remus, presently head cook, was hired for the job)
The year 1951 also saw the awarding of a contract to Willard Steinbach for the construction of a ball
diamond. A Recreation Board was appointed in 1953 and charged with the job of developing a recreation program that would be. open to everyone within the township or school district with funds being
allocated from the budget to carry on the work.
In 1953 the need for a full-time janitor was recognized and Milton Meredith was hired, being replaced
on the school board by Lawrence Zirbel. Mrs. Clarence Hauser became the first school secretary at
Paris, working on a part-time basis.
In 1954 Margaret Grabinsky, who had served Paris Consolidated from its beginning as a teach~r-princi
pal, was succeeded by James Whisler, who continued in that post until illness prompted his resignation
in 1964. Katherine Beaster served as acting principal during Mr. Whisler's illness. Following two-short
term principals, William Rathsack was hired in 1965 and continued as administrator-principal until
1973. He was succeeded by Conrad Chaffee, currently serving in that capacity.

ENROLlMENT GROWS
Increased enrollment at Paris Consolidated brought with it oversize classes. As early as 1953 the growing need for additional classrooms was discussed. Architects were hired, and in 1956 plans were
approved for a two-level, two-classroom and basem*nt addition on the south end of the building. An
open house for inspection of the addition was held on April 7, 1957. In 1960 a similar addition extended the building still farther south, with the enrollment at 203 pupils.

Paris Consolidated School
Located on 176th Avenue (Highway D)·
South of Burlington Road
-~-<1

* 79 *

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I

Late in 1964 members of the board met with architect Robert Kueny to discuss a· third addition. The
most favored alternative called for another extension to the south which would entail moving the ball
diamond. At a special meeting on April 7, 1965 it was decided that the diamond would be relocated
and lighted, with the job to be completed by June 1. On August 16 a plan was approved that called
for a two-story structure. A gym, an office, and four classrooms on the first floor were finished off in
the first phase of the project. Later the second floor classrooms and, finally, a spacious library were
completed in 1969.
When .the office of County Superintendent of Schools was abolished and the Kenosha County School
Library books were put up for sale, Paris joined with Brighton to submit a bid for the collection. The
bid was accepted in 1967 and the books were divided between the two schools. Paris school's share of
the books were stored in the unfinished library until that area was finished off in 1969. Mary Johnson,
who joined the Paris faculty as part-time reading specialist that year, also served as part-time librarian
until 1970. Carol Knudsen, present librarian, joined the staff at that time.
FIRST PRE-SCHOOL ROUND-UP IN 1952
In April of 1952 a Pre-school Round-up was held at the school with P. T. A. funds paying a doctor and
members making up the volunteer staff for a physical check-up of children who would be entering
first grade.
Then, in 1953, a two-weeks pre-school session of half days was held with the idea of introducing incoming first graders to school and to each other. P. T. A. members staffed the sessions which were repeated in succeeding years until 1957. At that time both the clinic and pre-school session came under
board supervision, and Mrs. Beaster, regular first grade teacher, was hired for the two-week half-day
sessions.
The availability of federal funds for special educational projects under ESEA Title I prompted the summer sessions of 1966, 1967, and 1968. Remedial reading was offered the first two summers and Remedial Math in 1968.
Beginning in 1971, Title--! funds were used for August pre-school sessions to develop auditory, visual, ,
and movement skills of children found, through testing, to be less ready for school. Many mothers of ~
the district volunteered to attend training sessions and assist in giving individual help to pupils selected
for the program. Paris children who would be entering St. John's school were included in the spring
testing program and the August sessions, and mothers and staff from St. John's helped in the program.
After Title I funds were discontinued, the August pre-school sessions were continued through August,
1975. With the beginning of school that year, Paris welcomed its first kindergarten classes.
The 1977-78 tax levy for total instructional and operational expenses was $406,999.25 with a 9.52
mi~l rate.
STAFF AT PARIS HAS INCREASED
Over the years the staff at Paris Consolidated has grown from the one teacher-principal, three classroom teachers, one part-time janitor, and one paid cook to one full-time administrator-principal/twelve
regular classroom teachers, two special education classroom teachers, one full-time physical education
teacher, eight part-time specialists, two custodians, three cooks and one full time secretary. The include:
Mr. Conrad Chaffee, Administrator-Principal
Mrs. Carrie Higgins, Vice-Principal & Learning Disabilities Specialist
Mrs.
Mrs.
* Mrs.
Mrs.

Barbara Stein, Kindergarten
Susan Hanson, Grade 1
Olene Wienke, Grade 2
Claire Rasmussen, Grades 2, 3

* Mrs. Donna Barhyte, Music
Mrs. Elaine Anderson, Art
Mrs. Carol Knudsen, Librarian
Mrs. Mary Fasciotti, Remedial Reading

* 80 *

\X(

*tMrs. Judy Boomsma, Grade 3
* Mrs. Olive Pflueger, Grade 4
Mrs. Barbara Niemi, Grade 5
Mrs. Kendall Gentz, Grade 6
* Miss Marie Mattioli, Grade 7
Mr. Clinton Bennet, Grade 7
* Mrs. Juanita Gorden, Grade 8
*tMr. Ralph Myers, Grade 8
Mrs. Patsy Barnett, Sp. Ed. Primary
Miss Janis Howard, Sp. Ed. Upper
Mr. Paul Kurutz, Physical Education

* Mrs. June Menge, Psychologist
Mrs. Mary Schuerman, Speech Therapy
ivlr. John Bunic, Band
Mr. Darrell Baumler, Guidance Counselor
Mrs. Jeff Thompson, Secretary
Mrs. Carrie Remus, Cook
Mrs. Mildred Jackley, Cook
Mrs. Ruth Jackley, Cook
Mr. Walter Everett, Custodian

* indicates those who have taught at Paris Consolidated for ten or more years. Katherine Beaster, who
retired in 1969 also attained that status and was honored at a retirement party by residents of the
district.

t indicates former pupils at Paris who returned there to teach. Carol Nielsen (Smith) and Lila Muhlen-

beck, former teachers at Paris, were also pupils there •
BOARD MEMBERS LISTED

Present members of the school board and the number of years each has served are: Orville Price, 19;
Marylin Zirbel, 14; Clarence Hauser, 8; Nick Arnold, 4; and Penny Myers, 3.
r

Others who have served·in past years include: Helen Price, 21; Wallace Myers, 12; Paul Burgess, 10;
Agnes Muhlenbeck, 9; Milton Meredith, 7; Wayne Coughlin, 6; Willard Steinbach, 6; Alice Anderson, 6;
William Colombe, 6; Lawrence Zirbel, 6; Helen Turner, 3; Roscoe Torrey, 3; Lyle Nielsen, 3; Eugene
Drissel, 3; and Fred Gillmore, 1.
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST SCHOOL
In the year 1877 members of the congregation of St. John the Baptist Church of Paris erected a building and established a parochial school, under the direction of Father T. Welter. The school was staffed
by Franciscan Sisters from Manitowoc for a period of years until being recalled to their Mother House.
Secular teachers were then engaged, but maintaining the school became too great a financial burden on
the limited number of families, and for a while there was no school at St. John's.
In 1894 the school was re-opened with the upper story of the school serving as a convent for the Sisters
of St. Francis of Assissi (St. Francis, Wisconsin), who came to staff it. This was a one-room school-all
grades with about thirty pupils. Sisters Maria Barbian and M. Raymond were at St. John's, 1894-1895.
The latter said of the school, "At that time Paris was an ideal country parish: Young growin,g families,
hard working farmers, helpful children, all enjoyed life immensely. The daily evening gathering of families ;at homer card games, pioneer stories and jokes permeated the parish during the nineties. Faith and
trust in God's Providence and neighborly charity reigned supreme."
During this time some of the children whose homes were too great a distance from school boarded with
the Sisters in their residence above the school. One si.de of the house was reserved for the girls, the
other side for the boys, with the Sisters always present to preserve strict discipline. In 1900 it again became necessary to close the school.
Under the direction of Rev. Anthony Erz (1911-1919), the present church was built in 1912, and the
school was re-opened. The .first three years lay teachers were employed and boarded with the priest.
Mary Simon, a lay teacher, was at St. John's for two years. She was followed by Anna Schmidt, who
married Edward Peters, a local boy.

After a new parsonage was built in 1914, the old parsonage was moved and annexed to the school
building, to provide for a two-classroom school and housing for the nuns. The upper floor of the
schoolhouse also had rooms for the use of boarding students. In 1915 Sisters returned to staff the
. school.

* 8t *

In 1924 school did not open until October, awaiting the completion of the new brick schoolhouse,
costing $11,500. It was built next to the Sisters home, and the latter was enlarged and renovated.
During 1927 the building was wired for electricity; in 1944 the school got its first sanitary facilities.
NEWTHREE·ROOM SCHOOL BUILT
In 1951, during the pastorate of Rev. Hugh Wish, a new three-room school was built adjoining the
church, with parishioners doing much of the construction and decorating themselves. Then the old
school was renovated into a comfortable and attractive Sisters' home. A new well replaced a smaller
one and supplies the school as well as other buildings quite adequately. A hot lunch program was also
begun at that time.

·St. John's Church and Schoof- A 1959 View

Providing bus service to St. John's became the next objective of Father Wish. When a parish meeting
rejected the idea, hEi'and his mother paid for a bus and he served as bus driver most of the time. Voluntary offerings and money-making projects made possible the purchase of a new bus and, later on,
a second one. (Presently St. John's children are transported by the Thomas bus service.)
THREE CLASSROOMS ADDED
Growing enroolment at the school prompted the partitioning off of a temporary classroom in the basem*nt in 1962 and planning was begun for an addition. Plans were approved in March of 1963 and construction started in April. Three new classrooms, a boiler room, store room, and lavatories . were completed for the opening of school on September 11. The staff included Sr. Ann Joseph, Sr. Celestine,
Sr. Alfred Ann, Mrs. Lawrence Wisnefski, and Karen Wisnefski. In 1965 the playground and parking
area were blacktopped.
In recent years St. John's pupils have had physical education activities in the gym at Paris Consolidated,
through an arrangement between the Paris Consolidated board and the Parish School board.
The 1976-77 faculty at St. John's, and the number of years each has been at St. John's, includes Sr.
Patricia (2), Carol Person (3), Sr. Mary Giles (8), Sr. Arlene (5), Sr. Ann Margaret (5).

*
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Other Sisters who taught at St. John's five years or more were Sr. Lea (7), Sr. Andrew (7), Sr.
Virginia (6), Sr. Loretta (6). Lay teachers at St. John's have been Oveda Wisnefski, Karen Wisnefski
(Noonan), Darlene Behrend, Mrs. David Beitzel, Geoffrey Miller, Marietta Frederick, Mrs. John Aderman, Mrs. William Spear, Carol Paul, James Shirley, and Sharon Engleman.

TEACHERS BORN IN PARIS TOWNSHIP
Bullis, Ella
Crane, Oveda (Wisnefski)
Davison, Mary (Bradford)
Drissel, Bertha (Heidersdorf)
Drissel, Stella (Biehn)
Fonk, Bernadine (Schultz)
Fonk, Dorothy (Hall)
Fonk, Elwyn
Fonk, Jeanette (Griffin)
Fonk, Violet (Loewen)
Frederick, Antoinette
Frederick, Carol ( Fliess)
Frederick, Elizabeth (Sr. Bartholemew)
Frederick, lorraine (Sr. Carolyn)
Frederick, Marietta (Spears)
Frederick, Marietta (Sr. Laurene)
Gratz, Marion
Grewenow, Agnes (Muhlenbeck}
Grewenow, Lester
Griffiths, Joan ( Borzynski)
Griffiths, Phyllis (Prochacka)
Hasenberg, Mary {Sr. Marion)
Heidersdorf, Edna (Thom)
Heidersdorf, Sidney
James, Helen (Smith)
Knigge, Phillip
Kreuscher, Gayle (Pingitore)
Lang, linda (Kmetz)
Mich, Caroline (Reiter)
Mich, Pauline (Ludwig)
Muhlenbeck, Lila
Muhlenbeck, Mabel (Streuli)
Murray, Alice (Heidersdorf)
Murray, James
Murray, Maggie (McCann)
Murray, Rose (McCarthy)
Murray, Sarah (Shanley)

'"'-

"'·

* 83 *

Myers, Ralph
Nielsen, Carol (Smith)
Peterson, Cordelia (Erb)
Pfeiffer, Aurelia (Sr. Viventia)
Poisl, David
Price, Edith (Westlake)
Price, Effie (Gunter)
Price, Florence (Eddy)
Price, Frances (Cookson)
Price, Minnie (Griffith~)
Price, Patricia (Brings)
Price, Sarah (Wagner)
Price, Stella (A ichardson l
Reidenback, Kenneth
Richter, Ward
Roberts, Blanche
Schaefer, Mary (Thompson)
Shanley, Mary (Crane)
Spartz, Lizzie
Sprindis, Jean (Grimes)
Stadler, Bill
Stollenwerk, Lorene
Stollenwerk, Richard
Sumpter, Alice (Phelps)
Swantz, Leona (Osenga)
Thom, Alice {Price)
Thorn, Louise
Thorn, Mary (Mother Ramona)
Thom, Theresa
Weis, Constance (Erdman)
Williams, Della (Poisl)
Williams, Margaret (Martin)
Williams, Marie (Hansen)
Wi!ikomm, Mary Ann (Sr. Generose)
Windish, Mary (Weiland)
Wisnefski, Colette (Peterson)
Wisnefski, Karen (Noonan)

TOWN GOVERNMENT
Who called the meeting to order and where did the early residents meet to organize the Town of Paris?
Former President Gerald Ford's great-great-grandfather, John V. Ayer, called the meeting to order (See rl:zti
Item No. 1, last chapter this book). The home of Chauncey Kellogg, where the meeting was held, still
stands in the southwest corner of Mt. Pleasant township, Racine County.

CHAUNCEY KELLOGG'S HOME
The two-story section of this house was originally the
Kellogg home, where the Town of Paris was organized in
1842. Today it stands on the northeast corner of the intersection of /-94 and K R.

In 1842, when the meeting was held, Wisconsin was still a territory, Kenosha County had not yet been
divided off from Racine County, and parts of present-day Somers, Yorkville, and Mt. Pleasant townships were included in the township being organized.
TOWN CLERK'S RECORDS, 1842-1978, PRESERVED

The Town of Paris is fortunate in still having the complete, well-preserved, official records of the Town
spanning a period of 135 years, 1842-1978. The following account is taken from those records
includes reproductions of some of those pages. Spelling appears as it was written in the official rec\~an

account at tne first meeting.
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The record reads:
April 5, 1842
The Citizens of the Town of Paris met at the House of Chauncey Kellogg in said
Town for the purpose of Electing Town officers for the ensueing Year and to
transact all other business necessary. The meeting being called to order by John
V. Ayer.
Chauncey Kellogg was called to the Chair and Hiram Ball was chosen Clerk.
The meeting then voted that there should be three assessors & three constables
·chosen.
The Meeting then voted that all Town offices. be allowed at the rate of one
dollar per day for all the time he is actually employed in doing Town business,
except those that the Law established their fees.
Voted that all Town officers be Elected by Ballot.
Voted that the Supervisors of the Town shall examine the Town Clerk's
charges and allow him such fee for his services as they shall think proper.
The Meeting then voted that all the Justices of the Peace in said Town resign
their Commissions.
.,
(Government of the region originally included in Racine county had been provided for in legislation
that was passed December 6, 1836, creating a dual form of county-township government. Justices of
the Peace had been commissioned under those provisions.) (4)·
The Meeting then voted that the by laws of said Town shall be as follows Viz.
No Boar Hog to run at large over three Months Old and no Bulls to run at large
over one year old.
The meeting then voted that there shall be a special Town meeting on the same
day that the General Election is held and at the same place and that the polls
be opened at nine o clock in the morning.
The meeting then voted that the General Election and Special Town Meeting be
held at the House of baniel W. Stevens in said Town.
Voted that the next annual Town Meeting be held at the House of James Clark
in said Town.
The meeting voted that there shall be a committee of three Persons Chosen to
give notice of Town Caucuses and that Hains French, Seth H. Kellogg and John
Brewer be said committee.
The votes being counted it was ascertained that the following Persons were duly
elected.
For Supervisors-Hains French, William Coffin, Moses 0. Bennett
For Commissioners of Highways-Abram Boroker, Daniel W. Stevens,
leander G. Northway
For Town Clerk-Elisha Baker
For Commissioners of Com. Schools-Zinae P. Rich, Henry A. Newberry,
Wilson Bennett, Jr.

* 87 *

,&,;~

For Collector-John Brewer, Jr.
For Treasurer-George C. Manny
For Assessors-Abel Phillips, Jonathan W. Whitney, George DeLong
For Constables--,-Daniel Brewer, Rufus Marston, Julian·River
For Sealer of Weights and Measures-James N. Marsh
.
For Overseers of Highways-John Wentworth, Henry Newberry, Ornon
Collar, James Fleming
For Viewers of Fences-James Fleming, Jared Coller, Rufus Marston, Wm.
Strong
For Justice of the Peace-Chauncey Kellogg, John Brewer, Jr., A. J. Northway, Zinae P. Rich, George Pierce
The meeting then adjourned, sine die.
(Signed) Hiram Ball, Clerk
(Signed) Chauncey Kellogg, Moderator

,..

Following the election each of the new officers signed an oath of office similar to the one that follows:
Wiskonsan Territory
Racine County SS
I Elisha Baker do solemnly swear that I will support the
Constitution of the United States and faithfully and im~ ·
partially discharge the duties of the office of Town Clerk
so help me God.
(Signed) Elisha Baker
Subscribed and Sworn before
me this 8th day of April, 1842
(Signed)
Sam Hale Jr.
Justice Peace

It is noteworth that on pages that followed, the presently-accepted spelling of Wisconsin is used. Although the organic act setting up the Territory used the present-day form, Governor Doty and some of
his followers persisted in uSing Wiskonsan. The legislature that convened Jan. 6, 1845 thought the
matter to be of sufficient importance to warrant a joint resolution. (4)
At a meeting held at Chauncey Kellogg's home on April 14, 1842 the Commissioners of Highways divided the town into five road districts. They then met
with officials of surrounding towns to decide what to do about roads outlining
the township. On May 2nd it was agreed that the east end of present highway
K (60th Street) should be maintained by Paris with the west end becoming the
responsibility of Bristol. New roads were established and many routes were
discontinued, because the commissioners found them to be useless and unnecessary. In each of the road districts there was an Overseer charged with keeping the roads in repair. This he was to do with the help of the settlers who received "tax credit" for the hours they spent scraping, leveling, or improving
existing roads or opening new roads. As more farms were establisHed, more
roads were needed, and the areas were divided into smaller road districts.

*88*

,...

·V"\

LIVESTOCK MARKS REGISTERED WITH TOWN

. Identifying marks, or brands, were registered in the town records in an entry dated April 13, 1842.
This was done so that when animals strayed from their owner's property they could be identified.
This practice was continued for a number of years. Part of one page of such "markes" is reproduced
below.

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In 1849 it was voted that all neat cattle, horses and sheep shall be permitted to run at large at all seasons of the year and no actions at law shall be sustained for damages done by any of the aforesaid
animals "unless the damage so done shall be done in an enclosure surrounded by a good and lawful
fence". The latter was considered to be a "fence of good materials four and a half feet high built in
a proper and workmanlike manner and such as good husbandmen commonly keep". It was voted
that the Fence Viewer's decision was final in regard to sufficiency of any fence.
Further it was decided that "no hogs shall run at large and an owner refusing to confine them shall pay
25 cents for each hog for each day they shall run at large. All penalties that shall be recovered in violation of any of the By Laws of this Town shall be added to the School Fund:' As the town grew, the
need for additional fence viewers increased.
On the fir~t Tuesday of April, 1843, the second annual town meeting was held at the James Clarke
home. (Since there was no town hall, the annual meetings were held in the homes of residents with
two dollars being paid for this use.) Voters decided to raise by tax $100 for school and $200 for Town
expenses. New town officers were elected.

SUPPORT OF THE POOR BEGUN 1844
At the annual town meeting, held April 7, 1844, the usual business was conducted, and, under the heading of new business, $40 was voted for the Support of the Poor. The amount set aside for this purpose
increased yearly until, in 1850, it was raised to $460.

::;;

Many pages in the official records refer to the care of the town poor-the paupers. It was a hard time
for many of the settlers who came to Paris. Cold weather, food shortages, and sickness played a part in
this story. Most town paupers were old men who had worked for area farmers, drifting from farm to
farm until too old or sick to earn a living. They were then placed with a family willing to care for them
at the lowest rate, by bid. Board, room, clothes, and medical care were provided.
Records show $2.15 per week was paid to J. Thomas, as the lowest bidder, for providing room, board,
and clothes washing; $3.50 was paid for a cord of firewood for a man that was old and weak; $10, for ,
rent of a house for a pauper; $6.75 to Dr. Adams for the care of a sick man; $4.50 for the cost of a
• ·
coffin; and $7.23 for provisions.
The town continued Support for the Poor until 1935. Reproduced below is a check for such support.

No. ____27__62__ _

TOWN OF PAR IS
KENOSHA COUNTY. WISCONSIN

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192

TO THE TREASURER:

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PAYM~T

OF CLAIM

NO.~

OUT OF ANY MONEY BELONGING T<.-

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r1JND, NOT OTHERWISE APPROPRIATED.

AMOUNT LEVIED FOR THIS FUND, $ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
AMOUNT REMAINING IN THIS FUND
AFTER DEDUCTING THIS ORDER. $.

/e) )1~6~,:~

CHAIRMAN

PLEASE PAY AND CHARGE TO THE ACCOUNT OF THE ABOVE NAMED TOWN.
-~-

CLERK--

------------------------TREASURER
tt.Nif:DECKllf COIIPANl. fiF&.!JTATIONtRS. lli!LWAIJK£E 164938

* 90 *
"""''"~'"?'l'<:li""iil('i.·

----------~---------·

----------

VOTERS OF 1864
Page 36 of the Town Clerk's Record carries the names of those who voted on April 1, 1845

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* 91 *

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Three important items of business were placed before voters at the annual meeting held on April 6,
1847. Paris voters stood 81 For and 113 Against accepting the State Constitution and reflected the
feelings of the rest of the Territory. A tally of 49 For and 66 Against was registered concerning the
issuance of a license for Ardent Spirits. Suffrage was granted to Colored Persons: 80 For and 69
Against.
Note: After the voters of the territory rejected the State Constitution that was offered in 1847, a
second convention met in Madison in December. Their labors were rewarded when the people ratified
their document in March of 1848, and on May 29, Wisconsin became a state.
In 1849 it was voted that the house built on the school section (Sec. 16) be sold to Richard lewis at
its first cost. Voters also favored prosecuting any violation of the Ardent Spirits license.
KENOSHA COUNTY SET OFF FROM RACINE-1850

On May 11, 1850 minutes of the town meeting were signed "Paris Township, Kenosha County" for the
first time. (On Jan. 26, 1850 the legislature passed a bill dividing Kenosha County from Racine County.
On Feb., 11 another bill changed the name of Southport to Kenosha.) The usual business of electing
officers, laying out roads and raising money was conducted.

In 1851 a committee recommended that the town purchase suitable grounds, not to exceed three, for
public burying. A committee was appointed to select suitable grounds and determine the cost of fencing in such plots. However, there is no further mention of such a purchase. During this year the Town
purchased a suitable desk in which to place Town papers for safekeeping.
Also in 1851 a special Town Meeting was called in order to authorize the raising of money to replace a
bridge that was washed away. (Several houses in the Town were blown down. A Kenosha newspaper. ·
listed it as the greatest rainstorm in the area since its settlement and mentioned Paris as being hit hardest.)
As early as the meeting of 1854 there were those who favored building a Town House (hall) to be located as near the center of the town as convenient. However, at the town meeting of 1855 a motion to
raise $400 to build a hall was defeated. The census of June 14, 1855 listed 634 white males, 494 females, 1 colored male, 2 insane, with 509 of these being of foreign birth.

In 1856, after a discussion of some school matters, the following was recorded:
The Board would recommend that the Superintendent be required to make an
annual report to the Town at the annual Town Meeting of the condition of the
several schools together with such other facts relative to our schools as .may be
of general interest to the town.
We look upon our free schools as the great safeguard of a republic and the
future hopes and confidence of the people depend upon the intelligence of the
children.
They are to be our future Legislators and our ministers of Justice and religion.
We cannot, then, too carefully guard their education or fail to be deeply interested in their scientific and moral training.
1

* 92 *
~~r~"2-;;;.~

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--=-·m='-r5F7F%755537'f-""'>""-•"""'~-xv--<_.,,~aswa-

The minutes for 1857 carried this reminder of the times:
Having past through a year of great financial depression-and whilst other
towns have been obliged to ask relief of the Supervisors and even of the State:
-we congratulate our fellow citizens in their being able to meet promptly
their public dues.
We believe much is due to our collector for the courteous and prompt manner
which he evinced in the discharge of his duties, as well as to the great exertions
and sacrifice with which the people met their tax bills.
The amount of money received and collected by the Treasurer the past year
. . . . $4457.28.

LIQUOR LICENSE ISSUED TO JUGVIllE HOTEL-1858

The Clerk's Record lists 198 voters who attended the annual town meeting at the home of Nathan Judson, and decided to approve the issuance of a liquor license to James Robson at Jugville Hotel, a house
of public entertainment. (Sec. 24). The license would allow him to sell intoxicating liquors in quantities of less than one Gallon. He presented bond to the treasury of $10.00.
Somewhat ironically another item of business at the same meeting was a report from Town Chairman
Newell, concerning County Board business:
Another large item of expense to the County is that of Justices and Constable
fees. Quarrelling, litigation and drunkeness draw heavily upon the quiet, the
peaceful and the sober.
The drinking saloons and the gambling halls of the city of Kenosha, the spirit of
strife and the incentives to crime which they beget, and the great loss of kindness and universal brotherhood consequently trodden under foot, add largely
to our bills and greatly call upon the sober, industrious, and the frugal to contribute to their support from their own hard earnings. And until something can
be done to diminish the sources of crime and strife, who {can} hope his tax bills
to be lessened?

CIVIL WAR ACTIVITIES OCCUPY PARIS RESIDENTS

In April of 1861 the Civil War began. Although there is no mention of this fact in the official record
until 1864, the residents of Paris became involved, from a distance. Two examples of this involvement
were the Paris Home Guards and the Soldiers' Aid Society, organized in the Three Oaks School area.
In late June of 1862, ladies of the area met to make a flag for the "Guards", all young men of about
eighteen years of age. At other times the Society met to make bandages or to scrape lint to be used in
Soldiers' Hospital in dressing wounds (as absorbent cotton is now used). Every month a box of hospital supplies was sent to Soldiers' hospitals, along with delicacies like jams and jellies for the sick
soldiers.

"~
*93 *

)

Town records relate that on Jan. 11, 1864
The undersigned twelve qualified voters of the town of Paris do request that a
Special town meeting be held in said town for the purpose of voting a tax on
the taxable property of said town of twenty eight hundred dollars to pay a
bounty of two hundred dollars to each of the fourteen volunteers to fill the quota
in the last call of the President of the United States for three hundred thousand
volunteers. Signed: A. P. Adams, Homer Adams, Jacob Barnes, Sam Triggs,
James Russell, H. A. Newbury, A. Gulick, G. W. Gulick, J. P. Bishop, Marcus
Linsley, F. Newell, H. Marsh.
The requested special meeting was held Jan. 28, 1864 and voters approved the assessment, 85 to 45.
The total amount of bounty paid out by the town in that and subsequent assessments was $12,785.
The Civil War ended April 9, 1865. In her Memoirs,Mary D. Bradford wrote:
The news of Lee's surrender reached our farm neighborhood (in Paris) in the
early evening of April 10, and a great bonfire was built by my brothers in the
road to celebrate it. Attracted by the shouting. and the blaze, a crowd of
neighboring young people soon gathered. . . travelers along the road were
obliged to rein out and guide their frightened horses by the fire. Stopping to
complain or chide, they got the news, and, forgetting their ire hurried on to
carry to other neighborhoods the joyful tidings that the war was over.

s, ~ .

CIVIL WAR.SOLDIERS' :MONUMENT, PAlUS.TOWNSliiP, DEDICATED IN THE SPRING OF 1866
1-'ollowiJJg nre the nnmes on the monument: B. W, Pahno1·, M. B<Jhaunnn, J. Gray, Ct~pt. J. F. Lindsley, Scrgt.
1\I. H. Cobum, F. ·A. Tinkham, N. Gloss or Klas, F. B. Taylor, Corp. ,J, H. Ellsworth, N. Johnson, 1,V. Lieber, P.
Krcu~<'hcr, lW. Hvn•ge, M. ·w. Hnle, J. Dunkirk, G. E. 1\fo••t:~:.rnc, G. N01·t.hwny, 0. J~iec, f!,•rgt, :r. 'ron~r, n. Wagner,
ll. S. Woo<!, 8, V:m ()ott, J, B\'nns, \V. Guntm·, }'l'anklin Teny, Thco. 1<'t·euericks, Lieut. Geo. Hale, Geo. Boh:uman,

Located;on Highway 142, next to the tow'ri:,t~~s was the first monument to soldiers of the Civil War
paid for by appropriation of a Town Board to be erectedin the state Qf Wisconsin. Names on the
monument are those of Paris men who died fighting in the Civil War.
*94 *

"'·~·;""

-'-....""·-·,

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-.~··~'"

SOLDIERS' MONUMENT ERECTED 1867

In the Spring of 1866, townspeople voted to erect a monument in memory of the deceased soldiers,
the cost not to exceed $500. In 1867 the Board contracted with E. W. Childs to erect the monument, to be set up in February. After looking at sites and bargaining for prices, the Board paid Hubert Stollenwerk $50 for one-half acre in the southeast quarter of Section 16, where the monument
now stands. The following year the grounds were landscaped and fenced at a cost of $150. This
was the first monument to soldiers of the Civil War paid for by appropriation of a Town Board to
be erected in the State of Wisconsin (24).
In the years from 1869 to 1876 the usual town business was transacted without any outstanding
issues being raised and without any mention of the nation's centennial.
In 1877 the issue of building a Town House or Town Hall was again raised. Annual town meetings
had been held in homes with owners being paid a fee that had increased from the $2.00 paid in
early years to $20.00. However, a motion to build was lost. Support for the Poor and road and
bridge repair required a sizable share of total appropriations in the years that followed. In 1886 the
town board organized a Board of Health, naming W. Gunter to serve as Health Officer. H. A. Newbury was elected to fill a new post, Weed Commissioner, with his efforts to be directed against
Canada Thistles.
VOTE TO BUILD TOWN HALL-1890
In the Spring of 1890 efforts were renewed toward building a town hall. A petition for a Special
Meeting to vote on the question of raising the money was duly filed. Supervisors, C. M. Jones, A.
A. Burgess, and H. Swantz qualified as inspectors and L. C. Williams and Michael Hensgen, as clerks
of the election which was held on May 6 at the T. Kearns farm. Out of the 34 votes which were
'cast, 31 favored and 3 opposed building the town hall. Those voting included Chas. Meredith,
Michel Hensgen, Herman Swantz, A. A. Burgess, L. C. Williams, John Pfeiffer, Jacob Haney, Mathias
Thorn, Peter Thorn, Giles Myrick, Joseph Thomas, Ger. Jenkins, Joseph Hinterholtz, L. M. Thayer,
Hubert Stollenwerk, Mathew Fonk, Daniel Williams, Geo. Price, Nicholas Hermass, Wm. Gunter, D.
Conrad, Isaac Griffiths, T. Griffiths, Adam Windish, Nicholas Spartz, Henry Schnell, Henry Biehn,
Jr., Theodore Fredrek, Jr., Wm. M. Holloway, W. E. Heidersdorf, John Fonk, Richard Price, James
Jones, W. W. Holloway, Thomas Kearns.

""·"...._

Paris Town Hall, Located on Highway 742 east of Highway D

Built in 1890

* 95 *

-~-~-j

On Dec. 2, 1890 the Board of Audit met and allowed the following:
Erwin Conwell
Chas. Rodes
John Dixon
A. Christensen
John Stoffels
E. Conwell
M. W. Holloway
E. M. Treat

Building Town Hall
Town Hall Furniture
Town Hall Stoves & Furn.
Town Hall lamps & oil
Town Lot Fence
Building Town Hall-Sept.
Bdg. Material-Dec. 4
Insuring Town Hall-Dec. 6

$226.00
11.00
34.75
5.10
. 11.70
320.00
19.75
10.13

<:.::>

The new Town Hall was first used for an audit meeting on March 31, 1891.
On April 7, 1891 the Annual Town Meeting was held in the Town Hall. At the same time a Judicial Election was held to vote for an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. The first to vote in
the new town hall was August Voigt.
The new town hall brought with it new expenses. In 1893, $1.00 was allowed for having it cleaned
and $2.00, for a cord of wood for heating it. Three years later $35 was allowed for the purchase
of a fire proof safe.
(>

EFFORT TO MOVE MONUMENT REJECTED 1899
In 1899 those attending the annual meeting heard of a plan to move the Civil War Monument to a
"more suitable site." A resolution had been introduced before the County Board, asking that the
county help purchase a site for the monument. Voters unanimously adopted a resolution of their
own:
Whereas, a resolution was introduced before the County Board asking that
the county help purchase a site for the soldiers monument Resolved:
That we, the voters of the Town of Paris hereby commend the action of
the country members in voting against said resolution, and that a copy of
these resolutions be forwarded to the Telegraph-Courier and Kenosha Union
for publication and incorporated in the town records.
The actual decision was left to the discretion of the incoming town board which turned down county help for purchasing a site.
Also in 1899 the town purchased six new two-wheel graders.

An Early Road Grader
Notation on the back of the picture states: Roads then were
rounded up-higher in the middle than the sides-for drainage.

* 96 *
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"·'

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_At the turn of the century there were no great controversial issues facing people of the town. These
were peaceful quiet years with neighborliness and good will abounding. Farmers helped each other
with threshing and silo filling, and women had feathering parties.
Town business consisted of voting to have $75 in the gravel fund and paying 10 cents a load for
gravel. The school budget was $1,728.00. T. Griffiths was paid $35 to repair the monument. Many
repairs were needed on the town hall and grounds.
In 1906 a new desk for the clerk's use was purchased. In 1907 Tom and Richard Price, T. Peterson, W. J. Williams, and F. Muhlenbeck spoke in favor of straightening the road in Section 29
(present Highway N); L. C. Williams and Ed Gunter opposed the work. The board voted against the
project.
Widening of the turnpike, now Highway 45, was carried out in 1910.
Sheds for six or eight horses were constructed at the Town Hall by Mike Stollenwerk and Jacob
Schlitz in 1913.
Further work was done on the Union Grove-Bristol road in 1914-15.
A few entries in town records mark the World War I years-the purchase of a flag for $2.50 and a
pole for $3.30.
In 1919 voters approved the straightening of present Highway 45 and the purchase of another road
grader.
PARIS WOMEN VOTE FIRST TIME IN 1921

In 1921 women across the nation gained the right to vote. Of the total of 135 votes cast, 25 were
women and included Mary Williams, Mary Crane, Edna Thorn, Alice Heidersdorf, Cora Meredith, C.
Fonk, Marg. Horn, Catherine Frederick, Ella Price, Dina Bullis, Eva Frederick, lena Campbell, Minnie
Griffiths, Mary Pfeiffer, loretta Gunter, Josephine Stollenwerk, lizzie Spartz, Francis Biehn, lena
Nau, Isabella Neu, Anna Stollenwerk, Christian Tetzloff, Clara Burgess, Evelyn Kreuscher, and Ruby
Bice. Not until 1926 did a woman's name appear in the minutes. Mrs. Minnie Griffiths and Miss Evelyn Kreuscher were ballot clerks and Mrs. Stella Biehn was clerk of the election. Mrs. Charles Fonk
was elected Town Treasurer in 1927, the first woman to hold an elective town office.
In 1929 hydrophobia was prevalent and all dogs were quarantined for 90 days. Traveling library expense for the year was $183.00. Because of the heavy snows in 1930, town money was paid to men
for opening roads. Because of the hard times that hit the area, the time for payment of taxes was extended from February to June. In the years that followed many bills were paid for the support of the
unemployed and the paupers of long standing. It was a time of drought and depression.
WORLD WAR I MARKER ADDED TO MONUMENT -1935

In 1935 voters approved the placing of a marker on the Civil War Monument near the Town Hall, honoring World War I Veterans. Mr. Griffith did the work for $300. In the same year the board signed a
contract with the Union Grove Fire Department for fire protection. At a cost of $30 the Town Hall
was wired for electricity. The first electric bill was $1.02. Smallpox vaccination of young people, preschool to age 21, was approved. A donation of $50 was made to the program of the Recreation Council for night ball games at a location on Highway MB, south of Highway 142.
Record snows in 1936 once more brought payments to men of the area for opening roads. As it was,
many families were isolated for one to two weeks. In that year Paris entered into a contract with the .
Bristol Fire Department.

* 97 *

In 1942, with the United States atwar, Town Chairman John Holloway reported at the annual meeting
that no new roads would be built for the duration.
An Honor Roll, to honor servicemen, was approved in 1944, to be paid for out of town general funds,
and 1946 Gold Star Mothers were presented flowers purchased at town expense. The Honor Roll was
completed in 1950, being added to the Monument.

ZONING ORDINANCES PASSED-1958

In 1957 the board planned zoning ordinances for the town with the result that building permits were
required beginning in 1958. William Kreuscher acted as building inspector. A minimum lot size of one
acre and a minimum house size of 800 feet were established in 1963, with building permits costing
$10.00 and a charge of $3.00 for each inspection.

BEER DRINKING ORDINANCE ENACTED IN 1965
One of the most controversial issues to arise within the township involved laws that had been passed at
the state level allowing beer drinking by 18-year-olds in taverns. In 1965 Warren Holloway moved to
~dopt a resolution calling for a Special Referendum Election on raising the beer drinking age to 21. As
a result of the referendum. the Town Board adopted an ordinance prohibiting the sale of or furnishing
fermented malt beverages to any person under the age of 21 within the township.
In the same year an ordinance establishing voter registration was enacted.
On September 18, 1967, it was decided to hold elections at the Paris Consolidated School, rather than
at the Town Hall.
Discussion of a new dump site stirred up some dissatisfaction, but resulted in a contract, signed in 1968,
with lnfusino Brothers furnishing a site on Highway K. In the same year pay for poll workers was
,
raised from $20.00 to $23.00 per day. A sign ordinance was adopted.
'
After 1969 the Town Hall is not mentioned as a meeting place for transacting town business. In 1971
the Paris Ridgerunners Snowmobile Club cleaned and painted the hall and received permission to use it
for their meetings.

ELECTRIC COMPANY PLANS AROUSE TOWNSPEOPLE-1973.
In the closing days of 1972 people of Paris got the w~:>rd that the Wisconsin Electric Power Company
was considering Paris township as a site for a nuclear power plant. Matt and Jim Frederick were among
the first to learn of this plan. However, within a few days other residents had been contacted for permission to conduct test bores on their land, with $50 being offered for each hole. People in the northeast section of the town became concerned over the reports and turned to the town board for information.
Members of the Board at the time were Chairman Warren Holloway, Supervisors Paul Kolnik and
August Zirbel, and Clerk Bernice Drissel. Through their efforts a public meeting with representatives
of the power company was announced for January 8, 1973. Paris residents, two hundred strong, turned out for the meeting. Otis Koske, representing the power company, revealed that Paris was one of
four sites being considered for a 5 utility venture. If Paris was seiected the company planned to pipe
water from lake Michigan to huge cooling ponds on the site. Boundaries for the complex would be
Highway Don the west, Racine-Kenosha county line on the north, and 1-94 on the east. After Mr ..
Keske's presentation, many questions were asked. Before the meeting was adjourned, residents asked
for a meeting with the board to discuss what could be done to keep the· power plant construction out
of Paris. A meeting was scheduled for the following week.

* 98 *
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·----.

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------~-

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·---

·Before that, however, interested residents met on January 14th in the basem*nt of St. John's church.
The Paris Township Preservation Committee was formed.
At a meeting with the Board on January 15th it was decided that they could do very little without
some indication that a majority of residents of the town felt the nuclear plant would be undesirable .
. The first official job of the Preservation Committee was the circulation of petitions throughout the
town. A total of 610 signatures was obtained.

On Saturday, February 10, special town meeting was held for the purpose of voting on the referendum asking the board to take a legal stand in opposition to the power plant. The resolution passed by
·
a vote of 250 to 40.
later that month Father Kreuzer, of St. John's church, accompanied a group that took a 22-foot long
petition, bearing the 610 signatures, to the power company.
For a number of weeks members of the Preservation Committee and others who were interested met to
plan a course of action. Donations to help pay expenses incurred in the fight were augmented by the
proceeds of a Rummage and Harvest Sale.
•
Commercially printed signs were prominently displayed. One of these along 1-94 read: Paris Township NOT FOR SALE to Wisconsin Elec. Power Co. Residents picketed meetings of the power campany held in Milwaukee and

par• 1i
,.
IS . ownshtp

Kenosha.
In May at a meeting of the County
Board a resolution welcoming the
power company to Kenosha County
was read. Many residents spoke out
against it and the resolution was
sent back to committee, and was not

N0 T
FOR SALE
.

::v::~twh;chext,ndedtotwenty
months was ended w1th an announcement by the Power Company in July
of 1974 that Paris would not be the
site of its planned nuclear power
·
plant.

tn Wis. Elec. Powr~r Co.

Thanks to the efforts of the Preservation Committee and others who were willing to work at it, the
people of Paris were heard and the threat of re-location turned aside.
Members of the Committee of 12 and others who worked on the project and deserve the heartfelt thanks
of the community for their efforts include: Robert Kueny, Father Kreuzer, James and Sylvia Frederick,
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Christ, Jim and Irene Olson, John and Patti DeVincentis, Mr. and Mrs. Franklin
Schaefer, Ella Lang, Matt Frederick, Harold Heidersdorf, Delmar and Lorraine Reidenbach, Mr. and Mrs.
William Poisl, Roy and Myra Kreuscher, Helen Poppee, Mrs. Jake Maurer, Mike Zinan, Regina Goodhall,
Ruth Krause, Mrs. Wallace Myers, Everett Myers, John, Joe and Margaret Werr, Frank and Freida Hob-·
schied, Lorin and Irene Myers, Marvin and Penny Myers, Jim M~urer, Ernest Peyron, and members of the
town board.
Other town business carried on during 1974 included a discussion of holding tanks and passage of an
ordinance regulating same. In .the same year members of the P. T. A. at Paris Consolidated school took
the town census, tabulating a population of 1707 in the Town of Paris.
County-wide assessment became the object of much discussion, since Kenosha County was the only
county in the state to adopt the system. When the County Board officially adopted the system, Paris
became the first township to be re-assessed.

* 99 *
''""'-"'' , . ~"

-~-

":70'· . . ~"''''""')

On September 15, 1975 a motion was made to disconnect the electric service at the Town Hall. Town
meetings, committee meetings, and elections had been held at the school for some time.
The nation's Bi-Centennial year was recognized and celebrated in Paris as·well as the rest of the country.
The town clerk contacted 4-H clubs relative to entering floats in Bicentennial parades in the surrounding·
area. Four clubs responded by entering floats in addition to working on the countywide presentation ·
of Heritage Days, which was held at Central High School. The management at Great Lakes Dragway
asked for and received a permit to set off fireworks on July 3rd and 4th. And the Town Board voted
to donate $400 toward the expense of publishing a History of Paris Township, being put together as a
project under the sponsorship of Homemakers Clubs of Paris. Plans for refurbishing and re-dedicating
the monument at the Town Hall were mentioned.
1976 saw a ·permit granted! Roscoe Torrey for the erection of the first pre-fab home in the township.
Jacob Schlitz resigned as Town Treasurer, after serving for 23 years. Rita Arnold assumed the duties
of that job.
The possibility of organizing a Fire Department in the township occupied members ofthe Town Board
and the Zoning Board at several meetings. The possibility of buying land with this in mind led to a
motion at the town meeting. that the town buy a parcel of 12 to 13 acres at $1,000 per acre from Fred
Michaels. (Sec. 18). The motion was seconded, but during the discussion that followed the motion the
opinion was.voiced that the board should try to find land next to the present town hall. On a ballot
vote the motion to buy was carried 43 to 7. Bill Colombe then moved that 10 to 20 acres within one
mile of the present town hall be located for purchase as future town hall-fire station site. That motion
passed unanimously.
Thus ends the record of 135 years of problems met and of planning and progress accomplished by the
people of the Town of Paris working ~ogether through their chosen officials.
ROADS AND BRIDGES

When settlers first began coming into the Wisconsin Territory, they. often followed trails of the buff'alo ~··
and Indians.
·
When the Town of Paris was organized in 1842, one of the principal jobs that town officers had to assume was responsiblity for roads. The town was divided into road districts, each placed under the
supervisor of a Patlimaster elected ir the town meetings. Each of the men was expected to work on
the roads and, in turn, received credit against his taxes for that service. It was the job of the Pathmaster
in each district to see to it that each man did his share of the work and to keep a record of the number
of hours each worked.
Both the present Highway 45 and Highway K•(60th Street) were probably laid out before the town was
organized, under provisions f.or the road districts within .Racine County of which this area was a part.
Town records carry no report of the survey or setting aside of these two roads. However, the record
does account for all other roads now existing, and, in fact, describes roads that were discontinued.
A study of reports on roads in the town records, conducted by Lorraine Reidenbach and Della Poisl,
resulted in the map reproduced on the opposite page.
Roy Kreuscher remembers grading roads in the area. Often six to eight teams of horses would be used
on the grader. Workers would plow the outside. of the road; making a ditch and mounding up the earth
in the middle, thus providing drainage. This was followed by grading. In later years sand and gravel
were brought in and put on the roads to give a harder surface. Buying gravel pits for town use was among the many expenses for building and repairing roads which accounted for much of the town budget each year.

* 100*
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Minutes of town meetings also tell of the construction of bridges over the O'Piairte River and lesser
waterways of the town.

--,,
Bridge over the DesPiaines, Sec. 29
Used before N was straightened

Early Bridge over the DesP!aines
Burlington Road, Section 17

BURLINGTON ROAD
State Highway 142
Burlington Road,. which cuts through Paris township from Section 24 northwesterly to Section 18, was
built in 1842. Before that time it was a trail. The Telegraph, a Southport newspaper, reported on June
7, 1842:
.

- ·

*102•

Interesting Facts About The Highways Of Kenosha County
Have you ever wondered about how the highways received the letters they have? There is a reason as
you will see. The roads in Paris township involved are-

K
KR MB UE JB NN -

Kenosha Road
Kenosha-Racine County line
Meredith (Paris Town Chairman)
Bacon (Bristol Town Chairman)
Urban Eppers (Brighton Town Chairman)
James Brooks (County Board)
Extension of N

Other county roads and how they got their namesT
W
EA
EE
HH
ML
AH
WG
JF
JS

BB
SA
HM
EM

KD EW
EZ
JR
PH
Jl
CJ
FR

Town Hall of Pleasant Prairie
Road going to Wilmot
Elaine Angelo (Highway Dept. Office)
Extension of E
Howard Herzog (one time Highway Commissioner)
Marge Larsen (Employee of University Ext. Office)
Arthur Hartnell (one time Salem Town Chairman)
William Gleason (one time Bristol Town Chairman)
Joe Fox (one time Salem Town Chairman)
Jackson (Bristol Town Chairman)
Smith (Salem Town Chairman)
Crossing of C. T. H. B.
Salvation Army
Harriet Marlatt Highway Dept. Office
Elizabeth
. L k
a es
.
- T wm
Mane
Kerkman (Wheatland Town Chairman)
Dean (Randall Town Chairman)
Eleanor Wagner
Ernie Zanders (Tavern Owner on 39th Ave.)
Jay Rhodes (Somers Town Chairman)
Peter Harris (on County Board Highway Com.)
Julius Ingwersen (Highway Com.)
Clarence Jackson (on County Board)
Fred Rasch (one time Randall Town Chairman)

"" ......~ ...

* 103 *

PARIS

TOW~SHIP

RECREATION

The earliest days of recreation in Paris Township go to baseball. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Belchner made available at their farm South of Hwy. N (now 38th St.) a hardball diamond. This was for games played on
Sunday afternoons. At least once a year, and sometimes twice, a picnic would be held in conjunction
with the game. Lou Steffen would stay by the gate and charge people to get in which also included the
meal. After some good games, a portable platform would be set up and some of the talented neighbors
would play their instruments and then the dancing would go on until in the morning.
As the changes of baseball came about, the Belchners (through their love of the game) made available a
part of their farm adjoining the road for a softball diamond. This, according to Elmer, became the Paris
Township Diamond. Elmer, their son, said everyone pitched in to take care of the diamond. The Electric Compnay donated the poles and placed them in the ground. Willard (Bud) Steinbach maintained
the lights, always had a spare bulb in his truck to replace any that burned out. Some money came from
the Township, but players and spectators alike donated when the hat was passed to pay for the lights.
The lights were turned on by George Price who lived across from the diamond. He, too, always had interest in the recreation.
At this diamond both men and women played scheduled games. There never was a dull time when the
games were in progress.

,,'l>

l
Marsh School Ball Teams- We played in a league that had its diamond in
Paul Belschner's woods. We wore white pants and orange tops made from
feed sacks that were dyed. "Marsh" was embriodered on the back in black.
This diamond stayed there until the Belchners moved away from Paris Township.
The diamond moved to the Holloway property which was located across from the present Kenosha
Packing Co. plant on MB.
·
Here again, work was done by the players and they and the spectators donated coins for the maintenance. Some of you would know the Famous Paris Farm Bureau Team and the following they had. At
this diamond, the Paris Happy Workers built a pop stand and the club members and leaders manned the
building and made their money to have their various functions. This building later was moved to the
diamond at the Paris School, and is a present storage shed.
In 1952 the diamond was moved to a site at the Paris Consolidated School.

j*
!

[J4

105

On February 24, 1953 the board of Paris Consolidated School Board appointed a Recreation Board.
George Price served on this committee from the beginning until 1971, always with an interest in the
young people. The early activities of the Paris Recreation Board were to have teams available for residents of the Paris School District. At one point, 8 teams were made up to play in the cub league and
the parents served as managers and young people were umpires.
For a few years the Recreation Board even headed the Halloween Party; having the games at Paris
School and dancing for the teens at St. John's. This later was taken over by the Paris PTA, but the
dancing was discontinued.
In June of 1965 the Diamond was moved to the South of the School, reaching the Southern most part.
of the property. New lights were installed, and the cost to the taxpayers was $7,750.00. Bob Kueny
did the architecture work, and the use of Mercury Vapor lights was new for ball diamonds.
At the present time, it includes beside the baseball teams, supervised recreation for adults in the gym of
basketball and volleyball. It takes about $700.00 per year to operate the expenses of the baseba~l
games; including softballs, umpiring, bases and caretaking of the diamond and gym~
The Recreation Board is still a committee of the Paris School Board, and members are Paul Luedtke,
Dennis Remus and August Zirbel.
4-H IN PARIS TOWNSHIP

In 1920, Mrs. L. S. Fowler founded the Bristol Challenge Club.
Paris members were Elenore and Paul Burgess, George B. Price, Robert Johnson, and Nellie Kraak.
This was the oldest 4-H Club in Kenosha County and perhaps the state.
The Willing Workers Club was led by Mrs. Eva Sheen of Paris Corners.
In 1927, Roswell Griffiths, a member of this club, was one of four 4-Her's to represent our state at the
National Camp· at Washington, D. C.
Mrs. Charles Everett organized the Marsh Marvels Club in 1933.
Bernard Jackley and Mary Meredith were two of her leaders.
Another early club was the Bristol Kan-Du led by Caroline Meyers with Orville Price as president and
Ella Bullis as secretary. The membership was made up of Bristol and Paris boys and girls.
In 1937, Mrs. Charles Everett started the Paris Happy Workers with Orville Price and Ella Bullis as her
co-workers and Milton Meredith as craft leader. In 1938 she turned the leadership over to Orville
Price, but continued to be sewing leader. Mrs. Everett gave twenty-five years of service to 4-H.
About 1950 the southwest portion of Paris Township felt the need for a club, so under the sponsorship of the Marsh School Mother's Club, the second Marsh Marvels group ~as formed with Mrs. Helen
Miller as general leader and Mrs. Mary Johnson as co-worker. Meetings were held in the Johnson's
basem*nt.
A few years later this.club joined the Paris Happy Workers.

* 106 *
',._ .;~,·~

--....

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'·'>· •

PARIS TOWNSHIP 4H INFORMATION

Paris Happy Workers (1937) Mrs. Charles Everett, General Leader
(1978) Mrs. Marvin Myers and Mrs. Maryanne Berg Assistant General Leaders
leader years
28

25
25
22

20
20
18
16

15
14
14
13
13
12
12
12
11

10
10
10

Dike Johnson
Marylin Zirbel
Mrs. Orville Price
Bernard Jackley
Orville Price (1947 had 7 years as a leader)
George Price
August Zirbel
Mrs. Dike Johnson
Arnulf Nilsen
Milton Meredith
Mrs. Bernard Jackley
Mrs. Milton Meredith
Mrs. Ted Miller
Robert Muhlenbeck
Shirley Stollenwerk
Catherine Muhlenbeck
Mrs. Horace Fowler
Mrs. Charles Everett
Betty Muhlenbeck
Mrs. Calvin Hewitt

Paris Northern Stars ( 1965) Mrs. Beverly Geibel, General Leader
(1978) Russell Schmeckel, General Leader
16
15
14
14

Beverly Geibel
Monica Schmeckel
Harold Ling
Russell Schmeckel

Paris Corners (1970) Walter Glas, General Leader
(1978) Mrs. Caryl Glas, General Leader
16
15

Walter Glas
Caryl Glas

Paris Swingin Live Wires (1972) Mrs. Nancy Kersting and Mrs. Willard Steinbach, Ass't General Leaders
(1978) Mrs. Nancy Kersting and Mrs. Jane Arbet, Assistant General Leaders
14
12
12
10

Mrs. Leonard Placzkowski
Marilyn Steinbach
Etta Torrey
Darlene Zeihen

Paris Helping Hands (1972) Mrs. Robert Myers, General Leader (existed 2 years)
1926 to 1939 4H Clubs which existed
Willing Workers Club, Can Du Club, Paris Peppers Club, Triangle 4H Club,
Paris Happy Workers Club (organized in 1937)

-·-------

* information

researched from records of the Kenosha County University Extension Office.

* 107 *

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]

EXTENSION HOMEMAKER CLUBS

I
II

I
1

The history of homemaker clubs in Paris Township goes back to 1926, the year Mr. E. V. Ryall came
to Kenosha County to work as a County Agricultural Extension Agent. Along with helping the farmers
m Paris Township, he took time to bring help to the homemakers. Extension Specialists from the University of Wisconsin in Madison came to the Kenosha Extension Office, and Mr. Ryall brought them
o-ut to homes in the county. Mrs. Henry Richter, Mrs. Juiius larson, Frances Price and 'Mrs. Roscoe
Torrey were hostesses to meetings held in Paris. Mrs. Torrey also recalls going to several meetings at
the Berryville School. She and several nei9hbors went with Mrs. Louis Fowler in Mrs. Fowler's Model
T. She was unable to back the car, so whenever any backing up was done, Mrs. Torrey took the
wheel. Galdys Meloche, Gladys Stillman and Edna Hoffman taught the ladies of Paris much about
cooking and sewing. These meetings went on for several years.
In 1935 the W.P.A. was founded. Some of the Paris ladies were taught many handicraft projects during the next years by people employed through this project.
Kenosha County got their first Extension Home Economist in about 1944. This was Irene Schulist,
who shared her time with Racine County.
In 1946 Miss Glee Hemmingway took over Miss Schulist's job as full time home agent. At this time the
Kenosha County homemaker clubs were officially organized. A Paris resident, Mrs. Orville Price, was
the first county president. Many new c!ubs were started, and they were divided into centers. Clubs
sent their representatives to the center meetings to gather the information. -Paris clubs met at the
Jorgensen home in Bristol.
The Paris clubs have continued to grow under several other home agents- Doris Eckstein, Charlotte
Jaeger and Phyllis Northway.
At the present time there are four Paris clubs. Des Plaines is probably the oldest club. These women
have stayed together as a group since the days when Mr. Ryall got the meetings started.
The Newberry Club also started at about this time with about 7- 8 members. They've changed their
name to the Jolly Janes and share their membership with Bristol residents. At the present time only 4
members live in Paris.
Paris Corners Homemakers Club was organized in 1951. Fran Holst was the first president, and they
started with about 12 members.
The Hawthorne Club was organized in 1954 with about 11 members. Mrs. Warren Kreuscher was their
first president.
Sources
Mrs. Orville Price
Mrs. Roy Kreuscher
Mrs. Henry Richter
Mrs. Elwin leet
Mr. & Mrs, E. V, Ryall
Mrs. Roscoe Torrey
Mrs. George Price
Mrs. Lawrence Wisnefski
Mrs. Robert Frederick
Mrs. Richard Weston
Mrs. Ed Remus

* 108 *

~---·-

Paris members have been very active county wide.
Mrs. Dale (Gladys) Kreuscher, Pres., Kenosha County Homemakers
Mrs. Steve (Sue) Savas, Christmas Fair Chairman, held at Central High School
Mrs. Delmar (lorraine) Reidenbach, Chairman, Christmas Art Show, held at Central
High School
These 3 are from Hawthorne Club. Many other Paris women have also been county officers.
1977
1977
1977

PARIS RIDGERUNNERS

This snowmobile club was organized on November 10, 1970 to promote better relations between snowmobilers and nonsmowmobilers and to create safety oriented activities for its members.
A design, by Theresa Schmeckel, was used for patches and decals worn by the members.
Special services performed by this group include: painting the old Paris town hall making it usable for
meetings; cutting weeds around the historical monument; donating blood for several Paris residents;
and helping during snow emergencies.
The club is registered with the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department. It also belongs to the statewide
organization known as the Association of Wisconsin Snowmobile Clubs and the Kenosha County Alliance of Snowmobile Clubs.
PARIS FARM BUREAU

Orville Price was invited to the organizational meeting of the Kenosha County Farm Bureau in 1943
and he was elected secretary-treasurer. later he bought the first insurance policy sold in Kenosha
County.
Soon after this township units were organized. For several years the Paris unit met in the Hawthorne
School. Couples remembered_ as active in these smaller units are Richard Rowes, Oscar Andersons,
and Henry Muellers.
KIWANIS- 4H LEADERS OF THE MONTH

October, 1969
Febn-!ary, 1970
April, 1970
April, 1971
June, 1971
January, 1973
April, 1973
August, 1974
February, 1975
October, 1975
February, 1976
April, 1976
October, 1976
December, 1976

Wally Glas
Harold ling
Mrs. Earl Stollenwerk ·
Mrs. August Zirbel
Mrs. Orville Price
Mrs. Allan Geibel
Mr. & Mrs. Ted Palmen
Mrs. Willard Steinbach
Mrs. Ray Kevek
Bernard Schlagel
Mrs. Jane Arbet
Donna Virgili
Lorraine Reidenbach
Dan Weis

,...--.,-~,..

* 109 *

Paris Corners
Paris Northern Stars
Paris Happy Workers
Paris Happy Workers
Paris Happy Workers
Paris Northern Stars
Paris Swingin livewires
Paris Swingin Livewires
(now of Paris Happy Workers)
(was Paris Happy Workers)
Paris Swingin livewires
Paris Happy Workers
Paris Happy Workers
Paris Corners

5 years:
Gerald Berg - Paris Happy Workers
Mary Berg - Paris Happy Workers
laydene Fleiss - Paris Northern Stars
lewis Ressel - Paris Northern Stars
Gail Zirbel- Paris Happy Workers

11 years:
Catherine Muhlenbeck- Paris Happy Workers
Robert Muhlenbeck- Paris Happy Workers
Marilyn Steinbach- Paris Swingin Livewires
Shirley Stollenwerk - Paris Happy Workers
Etta Torrey - Paris Swingin Livewires

6 years:
13 years:
Jane Arbet- Paris Swingin Livewires
Barbara Bolton - Paris Corners
Marlene Curtiss - Paris Happy Workers
Nancy Kersting- Paris Swingin livewires
Doris Palmen - Paris Swingin Uvewires
Theodore Palmen - Paris Swingin Livewires
Earl Stollenwerk - Paris Happy Workers
7 years:
Noelle De Muynck- Paris Northern Stars
Alice Hrupka- Paris Corners
Paul Hrupka- Paris Corners
Irene Myers- Paris Happy Workers
Lynn Torrey- Paris Corners
Donna Virgili - Paris Happy Workers
8 years:
Lorin Myers- Paris Happy Workers
Lorraine Reidenbach - Paris Happy Workers
9 years:

Russell Schmeckel - Paris Northern Stars
14 years
Caryl Glas- Paris Corners
Monica Schmeckel - Paris Northern Stars

16 years:
Walter Glas- Paris Corners
17 years:
August Zirbel - Paris Happy Workers
21 years:
Bernard Jackley - Paris Happy Workers
· 24 years:
Marylin Zirbel - Paris Happy Workers

;;·

Betty Muhlenbeck- Paris Happy Workers
Darlene Zeihen- Paris Swingin Uvewires

HERITAGE DAYS-1976- County wide 4-H celebration- lorraine Reidenbach, Chairman. Paris
clubs played an important part in this event of arts and crafts, fashions, and foods of the past.

* 110 *
i

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POST SCRIPTS
FEATHERING- WORK WITH FUN
Each fall there were feathering bees. My mother and many of the neighbors raised chickens and geese
in the spring so they could sell them in the fall and use the money for winter clothes and a few of the
little extras if there was anything left over. Sometimes the money was for a Christmas gift. There were
about six or seven families involved with this. Everyone helped each other feather the poultry. We
would go from house to house and do each family's up. This all had to be done in just a few days before Thanksgiving and Christmas. A few weeks before Thanksgiving a live stock or poultry dealer would
come out from Racine and buy up our poultry and check how many were available. He furnished much
of the fowl to the Racine meat markets. He would say when to bring the dressed poultry to his place
of business. This way the city people had farm fresh meat for the holidays. What wasn't purchased for
Thanksgiving was gotten for Christmas. After butchering and feathering the poultry it was cooled down
in water and made ready for the trip to· Racine with the horse and buggy. Early morning delivery was
usual. Later on we used trucks to haul them.
The Williams, Prices, Mulhlenbecks, Petersens, and more were in the feathering group. They would work
hard to get it all done in one day at a particular house. Everyone had a great time in spite of the work.
The people joked with each other and played little tricks on each other like throwing feathers when no
one was looking. The feattiering was done in a garage or old shed. The men did the killing and the
women the feathering, holding the fowl on their lap to do some of the pin feathers.
A big dinner and supper was served to the crowd of workers. We'd have two kinds of fowl and two
kinds of pies and cakes besides. Potatoes, gravy, cabbage salad, vegetable, home made bread and butter
and coffee.
All this was work and not vary glamorous at that.
have been a sight when the messy job was done.

We were dressed in our work clothes and must

All these feathers we got from the job were put to good use. They were cleaned and then went into
feather ticks for the beds and into pillows and etc. Some were sold also.

A CENTURY OLD LOVE LETTER
Paris Dec. 25, 1878
Dear Sarah:
This-has been a long and lonely Christmas for me; I have been thinking of you all day,
and have determined, ere I sleep, to write you those words which I cannot find courage
to speak.
You must be aware of the fact that you have for years occupied a high position in my
estimation; in you was centered the innocent love of my boyhood. There it yet remains, and if ever my actions evinced a preference for another, it was only in moments
of doubt, for I assure you, you were ever first in my heart. You have, I think, given me
reason to believe that my confidence is not misplaced.

--~--....,.,

To you, I owe much; your kindly words of counsel are written in rny heart, and have
ever exerted a powerful influence in sustaining me, in the dark hours of temptation.
Now Sarah, in return, will you not accept myself as your protection through life, partaking of the sorrow and sharing the joys which are in store for me. If you will, I shall
have realized the Prize which I have long hoped for- prayed for.

* 111 *

My circ*mstances have ever had a tendency to deter me from sharing toward you,
civilities, which I would be perfectly at ease in bestowing on others, more humble than
yourself.
Of my pienniary circ*mstances you are well aware. In this respect, I am unfortunate
indeed, I might have done better, I'll admit, and shall offer no apology; I can only add
that of my errors I am thoroughly convinced, and if Fate does not frown on my efforts,
I shall, ere long, be able·to make a fair start at ieast. Should your answer be favorable,
I trust, my bouyant hopes and the advice of one so competent to advise as yourself,
may predict for me a more prosperous future. While I deem this matter of vast importance, I conceive that I would be doing you extreme injustice, were I to believe for a
moment, that such considerations, would materially influence your choice in marriage,
so far are they from influencing my own, that I must confess I have many times, regretted that you were not as humble as myself.
To accept of my proposition, is to ask you from a home of affluence where you are
surrounded with every desired comfort. I have no right to ask you to make this
sacrifice, yet I have resolved to make bold, and if you can eschange this for the affection of a tender and sympathizing heart you will make me the happiest of men. If you
assent, God grant that you may never have occasion to blush for me or to regret your
faith, and that the affections which prompt my action this evening, may never falter,
but continue to grow, and blossom on the Eternal Day. If you are adverse, I can only
entertain the highest respect for you.ever in the ·future and treasure recollection of the
hours passed in your company, as the purest and happiest of my life.
Answer me, Sarah, at such time and in such manner as suits your convenience, and if
Fate deerers that you cannot be mine may we dwell together yet, in that Happier
Home-- - for which end, I shall never cease to pray. Ever Sarah,
Your affectionate,
J.H. Murray

''
Note- Sarah did answer yes, she married James Henry Murray and they had five children. John Craney
Murray, James Patrick Murray, Hannah Irene Murray, Sarah Alice Murray-Shelton (who lives in
Kenosha is 90 years old and plays in the Bristol band, she has five children) and Arthur Jerome Murray.
Patrick Murray came to Paris in 1837-38- he married Bridget McGinn, daughter of Francis McGinn
who came in or around 1837-38. Patrick Murray was the father of James Henry Murray who wrote
this letter.

VETERANS BURIED IN PARIS CEMETERIES

Paris Corners Cemetery
Civil War: Melangthon Bohanan, Anson Case,.William Gunter, Jr., Joel Jepson, Norman Johnson,
William Wells
World War One: Frank Erickson, Milton Meredith, Willard Williams

* 112 *
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St. John's Cemetery
Civil War: Theodore Frederick, Mathias Hengsgen, Jacob Schlitz
Spanish American War: George Hamilton
World War One: Edward Ahrens, George Begg, James Holmes, Charles Maurice,
Philip McCain, Michael Pietluck, John Staricha
World War Two: Gerald Biehn, Benny Bohatkiewicz, Charles Larabee
Peacetime Veteran: Henry Kurowski

Bristol - Paris Cemetery
Civil War: Horace Blackman, George Carey, William Coburn, James Gray, John Gray,
Gilbert Gulich, George Leonard, J. F. Linsley, D. B. Moe, James Moe,
Floyd Packman, Frederick Taylor, Benjamin Wood
Spanish American War: Laura Blackman Young
World War One: John Grohs, Lyman Horton, Wilhelm Lentz, Jurgis Litinskas,
Edwin Muhlenbeck, Albert Otto, Frederick Redlin
Hammond Renesselear was dis-interred and re-buried in West Virginia
World War Two: Charles Barthel, Leo Gizlaff, Raymond Grohs, Milton Hein, William
Lord, Floyd Packman, Ernest Pohlman
Korean Conflict: Henry Johnson, Dale Nau
Peacetime Veteran: Lewis Rehm

Paris lutheran Cemetery
Korean Conflict: Ralph Permann

RECOLLECTIONS OF PARIS TOWNSHIP
by Marie Williams Hansen - 4th generation

descendant of lewis Williams "1" • 1842 •
Section 28
I was born at the turn of the century July 7th, 1901, on the original farm homesteaded
in 1842 by Lewis Williams Sr. My grandfather was William Williams who lived on the
homestead. My father, W. J. Williams, was born on this homestead as was I and my two
sisters Bernadene and Della.
As a little girl I remember my father telling me about my grandfather William. He
often walked to Racine and back in one day on business. At the age of five I started
school. I attended the little country school, as did my father before me which was a
short distance to the east of our place. The land the school house stood on was part of
the original Williams land. It was on Hy. N. The school was District No. 1 and was

* 1 t3 *

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called the Price District for quite'some time, as there were 3 families of Price's in this
district. They were Thomas, George, and Richard, all of their children attended this
little one room school. Later on it was named Des Plaines in honor of the river which
flowed from north to south about a mile or so to the west of the school. This was a
frame building with three tall windows on each side, so we had plenty of light to study.
It was very cold in winter, especially in the morning. It was nearly noon when it became warm enough to be comfortable at all as the floor was still cold. There was no
basem*nt in which to put a furnace, so the building was heated by wood and/or coal
by a big stove, which had a jacket around it. The teachers allowed us to sit around it.
In the mornings when we were wet.and cold we got to do our studies around the
stove. My sisters and I walked through the cold and snow, in those days we did not
have waterproof overshoes or leggings, so we had to try and dry them out before
school was out, as we had to walk home through the same kind of weather. There
were no busses then to bring the children to and from school. Once in a while a
parent would bring their children to school if the weather was really bad, but that
was quite rare.
Our school had an entry way where we left our caps, mittens, scarves and coats. Our
lunch pails which were %gal. Karo syrup pails were brought in near the stove in the
winter or else our sandwiches and etc. would be frozen by lunch time. Often we
carried nothing but chili sauce sandwiches. Other times we had grape or apple jelly or
apple butter on them. My mother and I would go to the late Geo. Price's grandmother
about a mile east down the road to purchase butter. It was such good fresh churned
butter in a stone crock. We would bring along our own% gal crock. This crock of
butter had to be kept in the basem*nt to keep cold when we got home. Mrs. Price made
and sold butter to us and others in the neighborhood.
Of course we had no hot lunch in those days and only cold water to drink which was
brought to school in an 8 gal. milk can part of the time. The other times 2 children
went with a pail and carried the water from one of the Price farms. It was a long way
to go, and so when we returned to school, much having been spilled out. A dipper was
used by all to obtain a drink. Later on the school board bought an earthen container
with a faucet near the bottom. This was a more sanitary method of getting a drink of
water. About 1920 or so hot potato soup or hot cocoa which was cooked on an old
oil stove in the entry way was cooked and served. The children took turns in bringing
the milk, potatoes, onions, and cocoa. The teacher did the cooking, with a little help
from some of the older girls. The students still brought their own sandwiches and etc.
as always.
We had no gymnasium in those days, nor did we need one, as we had so much fun
playing "Pullaway," "Thornaway," and "Ante Over," and skating on a near by pond
in the winter.
We really had some very pleasant get togethers in the form of box socials, Christmas
programs and plays, one of which I recall vividly was staged in Fred Price's (new)
barn. This is Orville Price's barn today. Young and old took part in it and all in costume.
There were no electric lights in the country schools or farms until 1936 when Pres.
F. D. Roosevelt enacted the Rural Electrification Act. What a great day that was as
before this we had to put our milk, butter and meat in the basem*nt to try and keep
it cool in the terribly hot summer days. Even the milk sometimes became sour by
nite, as it was not pastuerized. So in that case it was sour milk pancakes for breakfast next morning, which was very often. With the coming of electricity we got our
first refrigerator which was a real treat. We also got an electric pump and water
which was piped to the house and barn. Before that we had a windmill and then a
gas engine which was hard to start and keep going, to produce water.

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Our entertainment in the winter was Rook card parties which were held almost
every week. A fine lunch of coffee, cake, sandwiches and jello was served in whose
home the party was held. There was always a big crowd. Most everyone drove
there or walked there as the cars in those days were not much good in the winter.
They would not start or the radiator would freeze up as there was no anti-freeze.
We used alcohol but that would evaporate rather fast, so the horse and buggy or
sleigh was much more reliable. Of course there was a picnic in the woods on the
Dan Williams farm (across the street from Geo. Price home) on the last day of
school. We even had a store bought ice cream from a little store in Bristol that was
owned and operated by Dave Griffith. Usually this was pot-luck everyone bringing
a dish to pass.

All the neighbors took their milk to Bowman Dairy in Bristol until 1936 when it
closed. As children - my sisters Della and Bernadene hauled milk to the dairy
during the summer, driving a spirited team of horses. Two neighbor's milk was
also hauled as the farmers took turns in delivering the milk. They traveled the
back roads. After unloading the milk we were rewarded with a 5 cent ice cream
cone at the store in Bristol. Ice cream was a real treat.

When I was a child at Christmas time all the Methodist people drove with horses and
sleighs to the Paris Cornerns Meth. Church to participate in an elaborate Christmas
program, big tall tree and all, which had some store bought decorations and some
homemade ones of popcorn and crepe paper and etc. After the program we all
went upstairs to an oyster supper which also included boiled ham, homemade dinner
rolls, jello, homemade pies and cakes and coffee. The oysters were cooked in a big
wash boiler over a wood stove. The church was also heated with wood and lighted
by kerosene lamps which were in brackets and fastened to the walls. There was a
long shed attached to the church in which we put our horses. It was enclosed on
all three sides so the wind did not get to our rather tired and sweaty horses. We
put horse blankets on them for more protection. It was very late when we returned
home, but, we all were very happy, even though it was bitter cold out and often
times much snow. We would be chilled to the bones upon our arrival home. It
was then we appreciated the feather beds that were used to keep us warm in winter.
We were always glad when the fire in the living room was still going when we came
home as we had no furnace at that time.
We cooked on a cook stove or range in those early years and it was always my job
to carry in the wood after school and dry it in the oven so it would start easily the
next morning. Shortly before World War 1 several of the neighbors installed carbide lights and gas stoves. That was really great to cook with gas (a miracle)especially in the summer time. It was much faster and cooler than a wood range.
Then during the vyar we could no longer get carbide, which with water and kerosene
produced gas. So we went back to the kerosene and gasoline lamps for quite a long
time.

Each fall there were feathering bees, as all the neighbors raised much poultry, as that
brought a few extra dollars which was usually spent for warm winter clothes and a
few extras if there was money left which was very rare. There were about six or
seven families involv~d with this. Everyone helped each other feather the poultry.
This all had to be done in just a few days before Thanksgiving and Christmas. They
would work hard to get it all done but they all had a great time in spite of the work.
They made it a social time as well as work. The people joked with each other and
played little tricks on each other like throwing feathers when no one was looking.

* 115 *

The men did the killing and the women feathering, holding the birds on their lap. A
big dinner and supper was served which included two kinds of fowl and two kinds of
pies and cakes, potatoes, gravy, cabbage salad, vegetable, homemade bread and butter
and coffee. About two weeks or so before Thanksgiving a live stock dealer from
near Racine came around with a horse and light weight wagon to buy poultry for
the holidays and check how many were available. He furnished much of the fowl to
the Racine meat markets. He would say when to bring the dressed poultry from the
farm. What wasn't bought at Thanksgiving were killed and feathered for the Christmas holiday. After the butchering and feathering the poultry was cooled and made
'ready for an early morning delivery to the Racine dealer. Later trucks were used as
it was quite a ways with a horse and buggy.

II
I

I
I'
!

People were friendly and helpful in those days of my childhood. Neighbors spent a
lot of time together. We often had house parties which included dancing to a one
or two man band, which was accordian music. This was great fun for the young and
the old. At twelve o'clock the hostess served a nice lunch and then more dancing.
I call them the good old days as was happy, kind and good. "It was just like one
happy family. These same people helped each other with silo filling and threshing
with the old steam engine. At that time the grain was cut and shocked. When it
was dry it was stacked in oblong or round stacks as it was some times late summer
by the time all the farmers were done. The women gave all the help dinner and
supper. The men washed up outside, as they were so dirty, dusty and sweaty. We
carried pails of water which was put in tubs and they washed in a big wash basin
set on a bench. Th~ towels were placed on the clothes line or on a chair. My
mother like all the other women would put on a special dinner with plenty of everything to eat. We set up the wash of hands out under the big oak tree in the front
lawn.
Every farmer butchered and cured his own pork.· That was done in early spring
and again in the fall. As for fresh meat, that was supplied by a butcher from Union
Grove by the name of Bill Bufton, an uncle of the late Geo. B. Price of Paris. He
came around the whole neighborhood each Saturday in the summer. He drove a
horse and a small wagon behind. The wagon had a covered ice box on the back. In
there was fresh beef, roast pork, bologna, and wieners. The meat was sold by the
pound. This fresh meat was a welcome change from salt or smoked pork that we
had all during the week. My mother would get a piece of beef and usually some
bologna and wieners.
Those of us who cared to learn piano were given the chance by a very talented and
lovely young lady by the name of Evelene Kreuscher. She drove a horse and buggy
from house to house and gave piano lessons from April until earlyfall. Then we
had a recital at her home or in Somers Town Hall. She was loved and admired by
many and is still living in Paris and until recently was still teaching piano. H'er name
was changed to Richter over 50 years ago, Her husband Henry is a fine and charming man and was a good farmer. They have one son who is a Veterinarian and
research doctor. Music lessons were 50 cents per hour at first and then it went to
60 cents. She also played at many funerals and weddings. (My two daughters took
lessons from her also.)
In 1916 a Teacher's Training School was started in the near by village of Union
Grove. We had no school of our own. We occupied two rooms in the Union Grove
High School and took one class over the Kueiper Drug Store and our practice teaching in the grade school near by. There was a lot of walking every day going back
and forth to these classes. We had no dormitory so the students rented a bedroom
and cooked their own meals on an oil stove in the hallway all of which was upstairs.
No inside toilet and bath, as it was getting started and was out in the country,
Union Grove being a small village. The County Board of Racine and Kenosha County got together and built a lovely brick school on the corner of Hy. 11 and 45. A

*
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1t 6

Dormitory was built later. John Spartz from our town of Paris was chairman of the
town and also Chairman of the County Board. He had much to do with getting that
much needed school built. Education improved a great deal in many ways.
The first girls graduated from there in 1918 from the 2 year course. Those who had
a High School diploma graduated in one year which took place in 1917 in a big hall
down in the village of Union Grove. My roommate and classmates were Stella and
Bertha Drissel who later married Howard Beihn and Harold Heidersdorf. After this
training 1 taught in a ljttle one room school in Slades Corners, at Hannan School on
Hy. K., and for a few months at my home school Des Plaines. While speaking of
Des Plaines I might add that we boarded the teacher at our house. She would always have the south bedroom and would just fit in with our family. In the morning she walked to school just as we did. My father was also on the school board.
In those days the teachers had to do their own janitor work, but the children
usually offered to help which made life a little easier as many times we had to
teach all 8 grades even though sometimes there was only 1 or 2 in a class. No
trouble with discipline as in those days children had more respect and love for their
teacher and showed it in many ways. For instance if we couldn't get home on weekends someone would invite the teacher to come home with them for supper and stay
all night or until Monday morning. Wages for the teachers were first beginning to
get better. We would receive $60.00 per month and then it went to $75.00 then
$90.00. This was around 1920-21. Before that it was as low as $28.00 per month
in early 1900. Boarding out in the neighborhood was $3.00 then and later $5.00
per week.
Getting to Kenosha was a problem in the winter. We used to take a horse and buggy
to Woodworth. We put the horse in a barn owned by Frank Roberts who had a
large farm and ran the feed store in Woodworth. At 8 a.m. the Northwest train pulled in from the west and we got on our way to the big city of kenosha. It left
Kenosha at 4 o'clock going back west to Harvard, Illinois, and Genoa City. The
train was taken off many years ago, 1939. Bowman Dairy was no longer in opera-.
tion and using the trains for shipping milk and the automobiles were much more in
use.
In the 1920's a few neighbors and friends formed a little musical ensemble and played for school and church doings now and then, but mostly for fun. I played the
piano of course. Before Kenosha had a radio station we played over the radio
station at Camp Lake in Kenosha County. We thought we were really something.
We usually practiced at my parents home. In the group were my father W. J.
Williams who played the violin and the cornet, my sister who played the violin also
and Frances Price, Isaac and Roswell Griffith and my uncle Lewis Williams. My
father also played in his own little band and was quite well known. He played
with Frank Mutter who was from the north side of our town. Music was very much
a part of my life and my father's.

My father also told me the story about the Indians near our home. My grandmother
would feed the Indians at her back door. She gave them spoons to eat with and
they didn't know what they were for. They would eat with their hands all in the
bowl at one time. They just would stand and laugh <!nd giggle at the spoons.
were friendly and never bothered or hurt them. These Indians lived in a Tittle
of trees on the Williams land on Hwy. D and N. He also told of a few
just north of there on D. by the Howard Muhlenbeck farm. (The house
torn down now.) There is a gulley there where they camped. Near Erwin
farm.

t 17

This is my story in 1977- I'm almost 76 years old. I had a very good childhood
and many many happy memories. I married Carl Hansen. I met him when I was
selling stockings and mens hose. I'd ride my horse over the river to the Williams
farm, my cousins, where he and his brother Pete were farming. We had five children,
Robert, Arlene, Lorraine, Edward, and Gary. In 1949 we moved back to the
Williams homestead, with our children. I took care of my invalid mother and my
father. He lived to be 94 years old and mymother 87. All the Williams descendants
are buried at Paris Corners Methodist cemetery.
1 own the original homestead where the buildings are, 80 acres and my sister Della
owns the south 80 acres. The rest of the land was sold. I live in Kenosha now but
my farm is Home. In the summer I drive out often to spend time there. Six generations have lived there since 1842.
POLIO HITS OUR TOWN
In 1950 Mr. and Mrs. Roy Stollenwerk passed away of Polio. This was in September
and came unexpected. Their son was raised by Mr. and Mrs. Nick Weiss of Paris Union Grove.
1951 - Mrs. Fred Mico passed away from polio.
1952 - Jacob (Butch) Schlitz contacted polio. He had two kinds, spinal and bulbar.
Butch fought hard against the disease and won. He spent a lot of time with doctors
and hospitals and he made a come back. He held the position of Town Treasurer
for 21 years. He resigned in 1976 to devote more time as a De Kalb salesman.
It was a scary time in our town. In 1963 we had a Polio (oral) vaccine and a clinic
was held at the Paris School for all the people to getthe drops on a sugar cube.
There was a good turnout.
BITS OF INTEREST

Mrs. Charles Crane was appointed the first County P.T.A. Council president by Mrs. G. N. Tremperc'
in September 1922.
The first officers of the township of Paris were elected at the home of Chauncey Kellogg in April
1842.
Mr. and Mrs. Fliess, who are ninety plus, are the oldest members of St. John's Catholic Church.
Paris Corners Methodist Church claims Mrs. Charles Everett and Mrs. Anna Aker, who are eighty
plus, as its oldest members.
A county wide traveling library was established in 1924 with a grant of three thousand dollars.
Eighty boxes of books, each containing thirty-five to forty books, were delivered to the schools by
motorcycle and side car. Paris students anticipated the arrival of each new box.
The Silver Anniversary Class of 1972 held its commencement at Dominican College, Racine. An
unusual feature was the awarding of degrees to Mrs. Orville Price and her daughter, Sarah.
At one time much of the social life in Paris centered around activities in the schools. In the early
1930's dart ball leagues were formed in many districts for the adults. A light lunch was usually
served:
Before Kenosha County had Extension Homemaker's Clubs, groups of women met in the ho'mes.
George Price taught crafts such as weaving hot pad holders, doilies, and rugs. An authentic loom
was kept in someones home for a certain length of time and those wishing to make rugs came in
the morning, in the afternoon, or in the evening, according to the time assigned. Some of these
rugs are still in use in Paris Township homes.

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118

,.-------------------------~---~~~-~~"~'"'~~~~~~~
Paris Class of 1950-The first class to graduate from Paris Consolidated School included George Lentz,
Max Morris, Roger Muhlenbeck, Sidney Muhlenbeck, Lorin Myers, Kathryn Steinbach, and Audrey
Price. Mrs. Margaret Grabinsky, the principal, also taught 7th and 8th grades.
Spaghetti Suppers - Many residents of the area attend the P. T. A. Spaghetti Supper at Paris Consolidated each year. This event has been the organization's principal fund raising event since the
first one was held on March 26, 1955. Prices then were $1.00 adults and 50 cents for children.
Descendants of William Thiry (Terry) who came to America in 1847 still have a muzzle loading
shotgun which he purchased in England enroute to U.S. - 3 month voyage.
Broken windows and earth shaking was the startling experience at the time of the Pleasant Prairie
Powder Mill explosion. After much telephoning we found out what happened and the next morning Herbert Gunter took his surrey and team of horses, picking up neighbors on the way to view
the damage. A large section of the iron railroad track, 3 to 4 feet long, was picked up as they
turned onto the Plank Road, Now Hwy. K. It is kept as a family memento.

FIRST CHILD BORN IN ST. CATHERINE'S HOSPITAL
IS RESIDENT OF PARIS TOWNSHIP

Following is an account of the birth of Catherine Frederick, first child born in St. Catherine's Hospital, Kenosha, (Dec. 28, 1917) as Catherine remembers hearing it told to her repeatedly by her
parents, John and Elizabeth Frederick, lifetime residents of Paris Township.
My parents had seven children-Matthew, Raymond, William, Bernard, Norman,
Gertrude, and Marcella-all born at home. I had to be different.
In those days the doctor could drive out from Kenosha only as far as Reidenbach's Corners (now the intersection if Highways 142 and 192). At this point
someone had to meet him with a sleigh and bring him the rest of the distance
to our home (a short distance north of Burlington Road on Kilbourn Road
(now 1-94).
Upon checking mother, the doctor knew she needed to go to a hospital. A
hospital had been opened by a Dr. Murphy and a group of doctors in what
had been at one time the Pennoyer Water Care Sanitarium, and was staffed
with nuns from Ireland-the same order that now staffs St. Catherine's.

I put in may appearance on December 28th, tiny and in need of an incubator.
Attending nuns lined a shoe box with cotton to serve as a makeshift incubator.
On January 1st I was baptized at the hospital by Rev. Anthony Erz, pastor
of St. John's. My godparents were my mother's brother, Henry Seitz, and
my dad's sister, Mary Kernen. I was named Catherine Mary, Catherine at
the doctor's request as a namesake of the hospital.
I was at the hospital two weeks and six days. The bill totaled $54.50: 2
weeks and 6 days at $15.00, $43.00; delivery, $3.50; dressings, $3.00; baby
care and wash, $5.00. (Miss Frederick has the yellowed statement.) In those
days the hospitals bought eggs, chickens, potatoes, and whatever they could use
from the farmers. So my dad paid off $24.00 of the bill with potatoes, leaving
$30.50 to be paid in cash.
My trip home was a memorable one, they say. It was very cold with lots of
snow, drifted high, to get through. No limousine-just a sleigh pulled by two
horses. With my father, his brother and his wife (Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas
Frederick), my mother and me. I still have a little kerosene burner stove which
was placed in the sleigh to keep the passengers warm.

t 19

PRESIDENT FORD'S

CONN~CTION

Paris has the unique distinction of having had Former President Gerald R. Ford's great-greatmaternal grandfather, John V. Ayer, call the first town meeting to order.
Mrs. lois Stein, local genealogist at the Kenosha County Historical Museum and director of the
Southeastern Wisconsin Region of the Wisconsin State Genealogy Society did the research work on
President Ford's family in Kenosha. In an article in the Kenosha News of July 30, 1875 she states
that the Ayer family was in Kenosha and that John Ayer was buried at Greenridge Cemetery in
1854. The 1850 census of Kenosha County lists John V. Ayer, born in Massachusetts, age 38.
It is believed he came to the county with his brother Elbridge. (The latter bought the east half of
the northeast fractional quarter of Section 4 in 1839.)
PARIS TOWNSHIP AND THE COUNTY FAIR

The Kenosha News, August 7, 1978, printed the fact that on October 10, 1958, a group of Kenosha
County farmers held an agricultural exhibit in a field in Paris Township.
This was the beginning of the Kenosha County Fair, which since 1936 has been continuously held
at Wilmot, Wisconsin.
When the fair association incorporated with the state, George B. Price b.ecame its first vice-president.
At the time of his death on August 8, 1976, he was president of the fair and had also acted as
master of ceremonies for the free acts for many years.
In 1977 the Kiwanis Club of Western Kenosha County established the "George Price Memorial
Trophy" to honor a person for outstanding service to the fair. The first recipient was Marlin
Schnurr of Wilmot, who was the first president and manager. He received this trophy in August
1978.
GHOST CHASERS?

No history of the town of Paris would be complete without an account of the time the "Ghost
Chasers" came to Paris. Here is the story as I recall it.
One warm summer evening during the summer of 1974, my husband Pat
Noonan and I were working at Red Oak's Tavern on the corner of 45 and NN.
I was working in the kitchen making a pizza, when I heard Pat talking to 2
couples that had come in. They wanted to know what was in the woods down
the road (NN). He told them that as far as he knew, there wasn't too much of
anything, other than a pond. When Pat asked why, they said they would explain as soon as he set them up something strong for them to drink. The
couples then proceeded to tell us a strange story about seeing some ghosts and
hearing voices. They seemed to be half scared to death. Pat and I looked at
each other, nodded and said, "Sure you did"! The couples didn't stay long
and when we went to leave that night. I gave the back seat a quick. look, just
checking, of course.
We never heard anymore about it until September of the same year. At that
time my sister, Gail, and her husband, Virg Gentz, and Pat and I were running
Red Oak's while the owners John and lorraine large were gone to Europe.
Friday, September 13th, was coming up and a Chicago Radio Station had
picked up the ghost story from Nancy Riveria the young lady that was in the
tavern earlier that summer. She had told Richard Crowe, a well-known
Chicagoan, that conducts tours to haunted places in Chicago, about her find.
Two WCFL disc jockeys told the world about it and announced they would
conduct a Friday the 13th outing in search of ghosts.

120

On Tuesday, the 10th of September the serious ghost chasers were in to the
tavern for food and drinks. With them it was not a matter of whether there
are ghosts, but just a matter of whether they were in this location.
By Friday night the whole situation had been blown into catastrophic proportions. What was suppose to be a small group including, Dick and Doug of
WCFL and Bob Collins of WGN, turned into IOO's of persons from Milwaukee,
Chicago, Madison, Racine and Kenosha. Cars lined Hwy NN a mile in either
direction of the site. Hordes of "ghost chasers" milled about walking back
and forth, some made strange cries while others chased imaginary afflictions.
Meanwhile, back at Red Oaks' we decided to capitalize on the many visitors to
the area. Virg decided we ought to at least have a drink to correspond with the
situation. A "Ghost Chaser Special" was the name appropriately given to the
mysterious; white, frothy, concoction we came up with. We didn't keep count,
but many were consumed by satisfied customers.
At midnight two sheriff's squads dispersed the crowd by the pond. Many came
to the tavern including the Radio celebrities complete with cameras and tape
recorders. They interviewed many local customers. Most, however, agreed
that they didn't think too much of the ghosts.
·
The story behind the ghosts was that in the 1930's a Chicago gangster used an
old house in the area for a weekend drinking spot. Legend has it that a rival
gang found the site and shot several of the gangsters to death. The next day
their bodies were supposedly tossed into the pond by farmers who found the
bodies. These were supposedly the ghosts that were running around.
No one from Paris had ever heard this story before. Needless to say, Paris,
Wisconsin was in the news. All the papers in this area printed the story with
big headlines. United-Press-lnternation (U.P.I.) picked up the story and on
Sunday, September 15th, the Los Angelos Register and Arkansas Gazette
carried the story of the "Ghost Chasers" dateline Paris, Wisconsin

** An authority concluded it was Swamp Gas!

121

BIBLIOGRAPHY
(1)

(2)

(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)

(10)
( 11)
( 12)

(13)
( 14)
(15)
(16)
(17)
( 18)

(19)
(20)

(21)

(22)

(23)
(24)

"Ice Age Animal Remains Found in Paris Township"
NOTES, dated Sept. 5, 1964
Sander, Phil.
"Tooth of Ice Age Animal Found in P,aris Township by Erwin Price"
NOTES, dated Nov. 1, 1964
"A 'Trail Marker Tree' at Twin Lakes," An article in Wisconsin
Sander, Phil.
Archeologist, Vol. 46, No.3, Sept. 1965
The History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin. Chicago:
Butterfield, C. M.
Western Historical Company, 1879
Bradford, Mary Davison Memories of Mary D. Bradford. Evansville, Wisconsin: The Antes
Press, 1932
Bradford, Mary Davison Pioneers! 0 Pioneers! Evansville, Wisconsin: The Antes Press
My Memoirs Kenosha, Wisconsin: Sharpe Publishing Co., 1948
Ozanne, Minnie
"Plank Road Church, Built 68 Years Ago, Has Interesting History"
Shepard, Mrs. George
from Kenosha Herald, July 8, 1921
History of Kenosha
Lyman, Frank
Chicago, Ill.: S. J. Clark, Pub., 1916
Burgess, Clara Newbury "A Short History of Paris Township" in Manuscripts Old and New,
Vol. 1 Kenosha County Historical Museum.
Kenosha County Land Transfers, Before 1850 Volume. Office of the Kenosha County
Register of Deeds
For Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Kenosha County Historical
Census of 1850
Museum
Camp. City and County Residence and Business Directory of
Milmine, George R.
Kenosha, Wis., Kenosha, Wis.: Webster and Harrison's Estab., 1875
Prairie Farmer's
Directory of Kenosha and Racine Counties, Wis.
Chicago: Prairie Farmer Pub. Co., 1919
Atlas & Plat Book
Of Kenosha County, Wis., 1975, Rockford, Ill.: Rockford Map
Publishers, Inc., 1975
Manuscripts Old & New Volume 2 Kenosha County Historical Museum
Bradford, Mary D.
Book of Remembrance of Anniversaries. Vol. II Kenosha County
Historical Museum
Burgess, Clara Newbury A History of the Plank Road, Kenosha County
An original manuscript.
Fowler, Horace
A History of Joint School District No. 10, an original manuscript
written in 1922
"Congregational Sunday School Celebrates Its One Hundredth
Birthday This Year"- Union Grove Sun Centennial Edition,
June 22, 1938
Shepard, Mrs. George
"Plank Road Church, BuWt 68 Years Ago, Has Interesting History"
Clipping from Kenosha Herald, July 8, 1921. Emily Fowler's
Scrapbook.
Kenosha County Land Transfers, 1851-1919. Office of the
Kenosha County Register of Deeds
Wilson, Elizabeth
History of Methodism in Southeastern Wisconsin 1938
Trenary, 0. L.
Souvenier-Kenosha County Court House. 1925
Sander, Phil.

122

'·i

.................................

~~i~:~8~~?~~~~~~~~~~~~~·~-~~···~-. -~-~-------~-..--M-~M~~~~--~--------------~--~---------------.-.

-, .

~,~

----,
ASSESSOR
Abel Phillips- 1842
John Whitney- 1842-43
George Delong- 1842
A. Northway - 1843
Wm. Adington · 1843
Francis Weels - 1844-45
James Marsh - 1844-45
Ezra Brown- 1844
Asa Bush - 1845-46
Samuel Rice· 1846
John Craney - 1846
A. Dates- 1847-48
Seff Kellogg- 1847-48
John Bohannon - 1847-48
Obed Hale- 1849
Samuel Scott · 1850-51
Chauncey Sage - 1852
John Price - 1853
S. S. Bradford- 1854
Wm. Baker- 1854
George Baker· 1854
Samuel Rice - 1855

A. P. Davidson - 1856
Wm. Lynch- 18G7
John Lucus - 1858-62
M. C. Buswell - 1863
Richard Lewis- 1864
J. Huck - 1865
Daniel Marsh - 1866
John Bohanon- 1867
Homer Adams • 1868
F. G. Myers- 1869
John Bohanon- 1870-74
Joseph Huck - 1875-76
Henry Schnell - 1877
Michael Hensgen - 1878
John Evans - 1879
Wm. Gunter Jr. - 1880-83
W. W. Meredith - 1884
Wm. Gunter Jr. • 1885-88
Wm. E. Heidersdorf- 1889-90
Phillip Fonk • 1891=92
Charles Crane · 1893

Wm. Gunter · 1894
Phillip Fonk- 1895-97
C. E. Heidersdorf - 1898-99
Phillip Fonk- 1900-01
Henry Biehn - 1902
George Price - 1903
W. J. Williams- 1904-05
John Stollenwerk - 1906
Hermon Swantz - 1907
W. J. Williams- 1908-09
Jacob Schlitz· 1910-11
W. J. Williams- 1912-13
Charles Sumpter - 1914-17
Harvey Gunter· 1918
John Spartz- 1919-20
Henry Biehn - 1921
Richard Campbell - 1922
Nickolas Willkomm- 1923--60
Lewis Frederick- 1961-68
Alonzo Knudsen • 1969-70
Walter Biehn- 1971-72
County Wide

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
William Coffin- 1842
Moses Bennett· 1842
Hiram Ball - 1843
Ezra Buswell - 1843-44
George Folsom - 1844
John Wentworth- 1845
Samuel Scott· 1845-46
Abel Phillips- 1846
E. C. Salisbury- 1847
Ezra Buswell - 1847-48
C. Sage - 1848
Ezra Buswell • 1849-50
L. Northway • 1849-50
Z. P. Rich- 1851
E. D. Dunning· 1851
Homer Adams - 1852
Wm. lynch · 1852-56
James Fredenburg- 1853-55
John Price - 1856
Edward Meredith - 1857
P. M. Dewey • 1857
John Myrrick - 1858-59
lewis Williams, Jr. - 1858-59
Homer Adams- 1860-61
Wm. Henderson- 1860
lewis Williams, Jr.- 1861
Moses Buswell - 1862
Henry Newbury - 1862
Homer Adams - 1863
Lewis Williams, Jr.- 1863-64
Joseph Juck- 1864
Henry Blackmon· 1865
Francis Myers - 1865-67
Marcus Tinsley- 1866
Daniel Marsh · 1868
John Bohanon · 1868
James Coburn - 1869
Stephen Goldsworthy - 1869

Nickolas Spartz- 1870
Charles Kruescher - 1870
Homer Adams- 1871
G. Myers· 1871
Henry Biehn • 1872
James Craney- 1872-73
John Evans - 1872
John Edgoose- 1874
John Pfeiffer· 1874
Hubert Stollenwerk - 1875
Richard Price - 1875
Herman Swantz • 1876
Henry Biehn - 1876-77
Wm. Crane- 1877-79
Jacob Kreuscher- 1878
Wm. Freitag- 1879
Mathias Fonk - 1880
James Craney- 1880
Richard Price Jr. - 1881
Hubert Stollenwerk - 1881
Matt Terry- 1882
Hermon Swantz • 1882-83
Gomer Roberts· 1883-84-85
Joseph Thomas - 1884
James Degan - 1885-86
Adam Horn - 1886--87
Wm. Freitag - 1887-88
Theo. Frederick- 1888
Henry Biehn- 1889
H. H. Burgess- 1889-90
Daniel Williams- 1891-92
George McGill - 1891-92
Gomer Roberts - 1893
George Price - 1893-94
Wm. Coughlin - 1894-95
August Schreiber- 1895
Phillip Windish- 1896
John Terry - 1897-98
Charles Crane - 1897-98

){}..)

George Price - 1899
Phillip Henn- 1899-1900
William Williams· 1900-01
H. B. Jones- 1901-03
John Spartz- 1902-03
Nickolas Terry- 1904-05
Thomas Nolan - 1904-05
M. S. Schlitz - 1906
Charles Crane- 1906-08
Wm. Terry- 1907
Phillip Henn- 1908-10
Harvey Gunter- 1909
Thomas Nolan- 1910-11
Wm. H. Evans- 1911
Edward Henn - 1912
Albert Thorn· 1912-13
M. J. Fonk- 1914-17
Edward Gunter- 1914-21
Albert Thorn · 1918-19
Jacob Schnell- 1920
John Stollenwerk - 1921
Val Fonk- 1922·23
Henry Richter- 1922
Edward Gunter- 1923-29
Arthur Price - 1924-27
Mike Frederick - 1928-33
Charles Crane - 1934-36
John Holloway · 1934-40
leo Fonk • 1937-60
Nickolas Frederick - 1941-60
Paul Kolnik- 1961-78 "
Walter Biehn - 1961-64
Warren Holloway- 1963--66
Chester Davis- 1967-70
August Zirbel- 1971-78·*
Mike Wisnefski • 1973-78 *

091 Paris Past and Present 129 · KCLS Digital Archive · KCLS Digital Archive (2024)

References