Hist ug 2016

Historical

2016

Union Grove

Published by the

A look back at the area’s history

History Seekers work to keep the past alive Page 2

HISTORICAL UNION GROVE • 2016

By Tracy Ouellette EDITOR

he History Seekers of the Union Grove Area have a mission – to preserve the area’s history and pass that knowledge on to future generations.

“Union Grove has always relied on several life long citizens to keep the stories of our community and to share with the younger generations their memories of growing up in our small town,” History Seekers member Marjorie Martin said.

In the last several years a core group of interested locals came together to organize the History Seekers, which group includes the Town of Dover, Paris. Raymond and Yorkville, Martin said.

“We hold about six events or meetings a year. These dates include an annual potluck in February, a membership roll call in May and other gatherings of historic interest or location,” she continued.

This year has been a busy one for the club.

“We chose to recognize the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Racine Kenosha County Teacher’s College,” Martin explained.

The college is currently the home of the Union Grove and Yorkville municipalities on the corner of highways 11 and 45 in Union Grove.

“The History Seeker’s RKCTC committee spent months doing research, collecting photos and interviewing alumni of the college,” Martin said. “The day of the open house we met people who returned to the school from all over Southeastern Wisconsin and several surrounding states.”

Martin said several families who’s siblings all attended the “model school” within the college returned to celebrate the anniversary and shared many fond memories.

“Our second ‘big event’ was our first try at a cemetery walk,” Martin said. “The Union Grove Memorial Cemetery is the final resting place for local families going back four or five generations. This committee chose a dozen men and women who acted out a story of this early settlement.”

The History Seekers also had a booth at the Home and Garden Show this spring, a float in the Fourth of July Parade, the Kansasville Fire Department breakfast, the Southeastern Wisconsin Antique Power and Collectibles Fall Harvest Days and at the Half Point Encampment at Old Settler’s Park in Union Grove.

“We try to share out stories and listen to others,” Martin said.

“The History Seekers are a nosey bunch” is a quote from Ruby Alswager who was a charter lifetime member of the History Seekers, Martin said.

“We enjoy collecting history and sharing what we know.”

Above: Kathy Ehlen demonstrates wool spinning into yarn at the Education Day of the Half Point Re-enactment in Union Grove.

Left: Quest speaker Jessica Michna portrays “Cordelia Harvey” at a History Seekers event cosponsored with the Graham Public Library.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS Historical Union Grove

THE MISSION

The History Seekers of the Union Grove Area is a non-profit, educational organization whose mission is to promote an understanding of the history of Union Grove, and surrounding areas by collecting, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting its collection for the benefit of present and future generations.

For more information, call (262) 994-3344 or find them on Facebook.

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Horses haul milk over snow-covered roads around 1936 on Main Street in Union Grove. The horses are facing south, just past the railroad tracks and were probably waiting for the morning train to arrive. The train, known as the “milk train” made numerous stops along its route, picking up milk from the farmers. Paul Foster took this photo and gave it to the American Legion Auxiliary for its heritage photo collection.

History in the making

By Tracy Ouellette EDITOR

While not much is known about the man who founded Union Grove, there are some facts about John E. Dunham that were unearthed in historical documents when community members were researching the village’s origins for the 1988 sesquicentennial celebration.

In the December 1986 edition of Focus on Racine County History, Mary K. Nichols compiled an article about Dunham and how the village built up.

Nichols quoted Stella G. Moe, one of Union Grove’s noted historians, as writing “So little is known about John Dunham that he seems like a myth” in 1940.

The article said Dunham brought his wife and children to Union Grove in 1838 where he settled an 80-acre claim on the east side of what would become Main Street. The family built a home and barn on the land that would later be the location of the Hotel Shepard.

Dunham was reportedly a bit of a loner and didn’t mingle much with the flood of settlers who staked their claims just south of the Union Grove area along the BurlingtonRacine Trail.

According to “A History of Union Grove,” which was taken from the community history files of the Union Grove American Legion Auxiliary and published Oct. 11, 1979, settlers were coming from the east coast to start a new life.

People from New England began moving in during the early 1840s and they are credited with naming the area Union Grove

because of the large grove of burr oak trees which grew in abundance and for the oneroom school which was called Union School that was at what is now the intersection of highways 11 and 45.

Because of its close proximity to Racine, taking a day to travel there with a fully loaded grain wagon, farming was the area’s mainstay. Tradesmen were also highly interested in settling in Union Grove because of its location on the old Indian trail, which ran along what is now Highway 11.

Erastmus Cadwell set up the first blacksmith shop in Union Grove, which was near what is now the west entrance to the Racine County Fairgrounds. William Reid built a small cabin and general store next to Cadwell’s blacksmith shop, supplying local farmers and travelers. The first inn was build by a Mr. Beer on the north side of the trail near what is now 1400 15th Avenue.

It wasn’t long before the village was in need of a school to teach all the children who came to settle in the area with their parents. It was 1846 when a log building was constructed to house the school and also serve as a community building and a church.

This was the Union School the village was named after. The first post office was established in 1846 as well.

The Congregational Church left the schoolhouse four years later to build its first church on the corner of Highway 11 and Union Street.

Then the Racine, Janesville and Mississippi Railroad line into Union Grove was charted in 1852, local land prices shot

Page 3

SUBMITTED PHOTO Historical Union Grove

HOW UNION GROVE CAME TO BE

up from $6 to $45 an acre. At this time an association was formed to purchase land and develop the community around the new railroad. Dr. Ammon P. Adams was named the president of the Union Grove Land Co. in 1853. He and 11 others bought 160 acres of land just west of Main Street and north of 13th Avenue. After the purchase, they began laying out the village proper, which had 24 blocks.

It was June 19, 1856, when the first steam engine train came to Union Grove. It was part of the Racine, Janesville and Mississippi line.

It is said the train’s arrival was the “straw that broke the camel’s back” for John Dunham, the original settler, who left Union Grove when the trains arrived.

A section of Dunham’s farm was bought by a man named P.P. Taylor for a new store to serve the railroad employees.

Reid, who owned the existing general store, decided the best way to compete with this new store was to take his show on the road, so to speak. He put his store on skids

See HISTORY, Page 4

Historical Union Grove 2016

A look back at the area’s history Published by Southern Lakes Newspapers LLC 1102 Ann St., Delavan, WI 53115 • (262) 728-3411 Editor:....................................................................... Tracy Ouellette Creative/Production Manager: ................................... Sue Z. Lange Advertising Director: ........................................... Vicki Vanderwerff For advertising opportunities, call (262) 763-3330.

On the cover:

Rural mailmen Cuthbert Price, Joe Whittley and William Sheard in front of two buildings (left) that were destroyed in a 1916 fire in Union Grove. The building on the far right survived the fire.

Photo credit: The historical photos in this publication are courtesy of the Graham Public Library in Union Grove and the Waterford Public Library’s Local History Digital Collection, which can be found online at digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.WaterfordLocHist.

Page 4

HISTORICAL UNION GROVE • 2016

• History

(Continued from Page 3)

during the winter of 1857 and had a team of oxen pull it so it was opposite Taylor’s store on Main Street.

Union Grove was incorporated in 1893 with a population of 493 people.

By 1906, the Racine and Union Grove areas were considered thriving communities.

This first-person account of vising the area appeared in the July 5, 1906, Union Grove Enterprise: “Early Recollections of a Racine County Pioneer. 4220 Berkeley Ave., Chicago, Ill., June 19, 1906. By L.O. Whitman.

“To J.S. Blakey: As president of the old settlers’ organization of Racine County, I submit to you a few words of interest I feel in the organization. Having been a charter member of the Society, and for many years a regular attendant at the annual gatherings, it is natural that I should keep in touch with its successful continuance. From a small beginning it has forged ahead and become a flourishing and well-managed institution.

Its growth has brought to my mind many pleasant reminiscences.

“When I came to Racine in May 1836, then in my sixteenth year, there were but five or six small cottages, nestling in the timber at the mouth of the Root River, and but two white habitations between there and Rock River. The intervening area was a vast plain of oak openings and surface undulations, and no underbrush; the annual fall fires sweeping through and devouring everything except the standing timber, leaving a clean surface, where during the season flowers, the whole surface was blooming with many varieties of variegated flowers, showing nature in all her loveliness. I have often wished that I could see it once more as it was then.

“At the time I passed through Union Grove, late in May 1836, many varieties

SUBMITTED PHOTO Historical Union Grove

Students from the Union Grove Public School pose for their annual school portrait in 1912.

of flowers were in full bloom, and I can assure you it was a beautiful landscape. My mind since then has been much absorbed in meditating on the general appearance of the country and it’s primeval state and wonderful transformations since. Instead of a wilderness waste as it was then, it has been transformed into a progressive, well cultivated, and thickly-settled with industrious and enterprising citizens, far advanced in civilization with towns, cities, and villages, scattered throughout the country. Even the beautiful Belle City has since risen from a mole-hole, as it was then, to one of the most beautiful cities in the whole land containing a population of 35,000, and I believe now ranks as the second city in the State. All of these advancements, too, have come under

Tip Top Foods in 1979 on Vine St.

my observation, leaving me the only one of the early pioneers left.

“I had intended to attend this year’s gathering, but uncontrollable circumstances will prevent my doing so, but I can assure you, you have my heart and hand in your deliberations.”

ON FIRE

The Eagle Hotel burned to the ground in 1915. The Union Grove Enterprise printed this account of the fire on April 1, 1915: “Union Grove citizens were awakened from their peaceful slumbers shortly after midnight last Thursday evening, March 25th, by the continuous ringing of the municipal fire-bell.

“A lurid glare, increasing in intensity

as it mounted upwards toward the zenith accompanied by a dense volume of smoke emanating from the northwest, pointed the way to the scene of disaster, which proved to be the Eagle Hotel, the large two-story building north of the C.M.&St.P.R.R., owned and operated by H.P. Hanson, and one of the oldest and most historic relics of the pioneer days of Union Grove.

“The fire was discovered by Price Minton as he was coming in from the north on his way home from a basket-ball game he had been attending in Ives Grove, and gave the alarm. At that time the east end of the building was in flames. The volunteer fire department in command of Fire Chief Coling was on the ground promptly with the fire apparatus and soon had three lines of hose laid. The water supply form the local waterworks system was quickly gotten in action and a good pressure maintained throughout the fire.”

Fire struck the village again in 1916, when multiple buildings burned in a blaze that engulfed an area of Main Street. Locals battled the blaze from about 2 or 3 a.m. until daybreak. It was estimated that the damage to the 11 buildings involved in the fire was about $50,000. It wasn’t long before the village recovered and new buildings dotted the landscape.

The Graham Public Library has an extensive historical section where more can be learned. Visit them at 1215 Main St.,

Union Grove.

This brief history of Union Grove’s origins was compiled using the aforementioned publications, the Old Settler’s Inn Commemorative Placement Series No. 3 written by The Writing Consortium in Racine for the N. Landreman Family – owners of the inn; and various newspaper articles.

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Page 5

• Union Grove TIMELINE This timeline is courtesy of the Greater Union Grove Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information, visit www. uniongrovechamber.org.

COURTESY OF THE WAT

ERFORD PUBLIC LIBR

ARY’S LOCAL HISTOR Y DIGITAL COLLECTIO

N Historical Union Grov e

1838: John E. Dunham came from the

east in search of a new home and settled in southeast Wisconsin. He purchased 80 acres and built the first house and barn. It was located where the Chartier Hotel used to stand at 1003 Main Street.

The village got its name from Governor Dodge who combined the school’s name with grove for the beautiful grove of burr oak trees on the west side of Highway 45.

1844: The first church of Union

Grove was organized six years after the Sunday school started. On June 1, 1893, Rev. Frank Dexter and his wife, Rev. Mabel Dexter served the Union Grove Congregational Church.

1846: The first schoolhouse was built

called Union School because it brought together several outlying school districts.

1882: The first brick school was

constructed with the west wing added in the 1890’s. In the 1920’s the building became Union Grove’s Masonic Temple.

1900: Four Year high school had 13 graduates with a faculty of 3.

1902: On July 14, Old Settlers Society incorporated and purchased a 12-acre park.

Weiler’s Saloon.

1903: State Bank of Union Grove

Box stoves were discarded from the elementary school and pot-bellied upright, coal burning stoves were installed.

incorporated and erected a building on the east side of Main Street.

1904: On June 24, Fire destroyed

1905:

See TIMELINE, Page 8

CAL LIBRARY’S LO ORD PUBLIC THE WATERF ical Union Grove ECTION Histor COURTESY OF LL CO L ITA HISTORY DIG

FILE PHOTO Historical

Union Grove

Commercial Hotel, Myers Opera House and

Above: Belle Callender is seen here with her students of the Threadwell School in 1898. The school was located on Highway 20. Below left: This is a formal portrait of Frank and Belle Callender Foster on their wedding day in 1901. Below right: The Tom Whitcher home on the northeast corner of Main and Eighth streets in 1905. Pictured on the left are Helen Powles, Elizabeth Powles and Gram Whitcher Powles. In the car are Dorothy and Frances Powles with Tom Whitcher standing next to them.

Page 6

stitch

HISTORICAL UNION GROVE • 2016

A

IN TIME

BY

Jennifer Eisenbart

STAFF WRITER

nion Grove resident Donna Stigler has been sewing for a long time – a very long time.

When she was in junior high school, she helped make her sister’s wedding dress.

And she made her own clothes through home economics and 4-H. “I made my kids’ clothes when they were little,” Stigler said. “It was cool.”

When she was 19 or 20, Stigler recalls, she sat down to make her first quilt. She remembers red, white and blue stripes on one side, and a blue background with white and red stars on the other.

“I made them for my kids’ bunk beds,” Stigler recalled.

Now, some 40 years later, Stigler has made too many quilts to count. For the last nine years, she and her mother, Virginia Minor, have been making quilts

U

for the residents of Wisconsin Veterans Home in Union Grove. Stigler estimates that she and her mother have made hundreds of quilts.

“I try to get one out every other week or so,” Stigler explained. “Sometimes I get two out in a week.”

Stigler tracks her work with photos of every quilt, assembled in order in a small photo album.

“I’ve got to get busy,” Stigler joked.

There are still empty spots in her photo album.

Getting started Stigler’s twin sister, Dyanne Rogall, works in finance at the veterans home, and first contacted her sister with the quilt idea.

“She thought it would be a wonderful idea that each member that came in, instead of having a white blanket on their bed, they would have a quilt,” Stigler said.

Proud to be a part of serving Union Grove’s past and future.

Union Grove resident uses talents, donations for veterans’ quilts

Still working at that point, Stigler would turn out a quilt whenever she had the chance. She would often try to use the colors of the flag, though it varied depending on what fabric was available.

She’d work with whatever pattern intrigued her, and she didn’t take pictures of her earlier works.

About four or five years ago, Rogall came to Stigler asking for just a little bit more. She needed 34 quilts in a month, hoping to match one with each resident in the new Gates Hall.

Stigler didn’t quite make her deadline that time.

“It took us 10 weeks,” she said. But the quilts were done, and sent via her sister to be handed out to the residents. “(Dyanne) gives them away,” Stigler said. “She always says we make her look good.”

The variety of the patterns – and the colors – are limitless. Stigler finds quilt patterns in several different places, and

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she will often try out different designs when she sees them in quilting magazines.

She’s also been known to design her own.

And while many of the quilts are red, white, and blue to match the patriotic nature of the vets home, Stigler has been known to go with colors often associated with women.

“Some pinks and purples, some flowers,” Stigler said. “If a wife and husband come in, I try to coordinate the quilts.”

The quilts become the property of the veterans and stay with their families after their death.

What started as a hobby – something fun to fill the time – has turned into a much larger project. Stigler said she has made more than 400 quilts, “probably close to 500 now.”

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Page 7

JENNIFER EISENBART Historical Union Grove

Donna Stigler works on finishing the edging for a quilt she has in progress.

20 years, mainly at the summer chicken barbeque. When she was there in 2015, she asked if the Lions Club would be willing to help out with the cost involved.

The Lions made the donation to Stigler’s mother, Virginia, late last year, to the tune of $1,200.

Darrell Graf, a member of the Union Grove Lions club, said, “and we wanted to keep them going. It was money out of

their pockets.”

“That’s quite a lot,” Stigler said. “My mom and I bought a lot of supplies.”

Supplies are also donated. Stigler said there is a group that ends up donating fabric – so far enough to make the majority of the quilts.

“We don’t advertise for it,” she said. “If we want fabric, we go to the fabric store and get it.”

The majority of the cost of the quilts to Stigler and her mother comes from the thread used by the longarm machine that does the quilting – and for the batting used inside the quilts.

But before the donations – before others began helping out – Stigler would invest her own money. She jokes that she makes the quilts to “stay out of trouble,” but really, it is a deep-seated feeling of

patriotism.

“I come from a long line of military family,” Stigler said. “My dad was in the service, five of my brothers were in the service, and both my kids.”

In her mind, it’s her way of paying back those who have served the country.

“I come by it honestly,” Stigler said.

“My feeling is they gave up a lot. If this is all I have to give up, so be it.”

JENNIFER EISENBART Historical Union Grove

SUBMITTED PHOTO Historical Union Grove

Above: This small patch is being inserted into the quilts that the Lions Club in Union Grove helped donate toward.

At left: This quilt is completed on the longarm machine, with the pattern of the quilting being added to put the final product together.

Page 8

HISTORICAL UNION GROVE • 2016

• Timeline

(Continued from Page 5)

1906: The Union Grove Telephone

Company contracted with the Wisconsin Telephone Company for long distance service to each patron.

1907: On Aug. 27, Alby Blacksmith Shop was established.

1908: Sept. 1, National Mutual Benefit Colony was chartered.

1910: Meeter’s Kraut Factory was built in

Union Grove. G.R. “Bob” Cornell was plant manager. In addition to sauerkraut, pickles and tomatoes were processed at various times at the factory.

1918: Menzo J. Bixby – first Union Grove

boy to die in World War I.

1919:

Southern Wisconsin Home for the Feeble-Minded opened. It became an expansive community with buildings later placed on State and National Register of Historic Buildings.1919: On Dec. 31, Post 171, American Legion was chartered.

1923: Union Grove library moved to a small

office building formerly occupied by the Dardis Lumber Co. located at the corner of 10th and Main.

1925: The Union Grove Methodist Church

was originally located in Church Street north of the railroad tracks. The building was moved to its present location at the corner of State Street and 12th Avenue.

1920: Enrollment in teacher training was 34.

1925: The Union Grove Graded School, on 1922: Teachers’ Training School burned.

14th Avenue was erected. Roy Lehman

was the principal and upper grades instructor.

1926: Roberts and Jensen Ford Garage,

erected in 1926, was located on Mill Avenue, just east of the Hotel Shepherd.

1927: Floyd Coling built a big hall.

1928: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hackett came

to Union Grove and began publication of the U.G. Sun.

See TIMELINE, Page 9

1914: The Union Grove Lumber and Coal

Co., with Merritt Anderson as manager and John Huck, secretary, served the Union Grove area with quality coal and building materials of all kinds from lumber to fencing, beginning this year.

1915: On Jan. 7, Union Grove Lumber and Coal Co. was incorporated.

1916: During the early morning hours of

Friday, March 24, a disastrous fire broke out. The fire engulfed eleven of the most important and centrally located business institutions on the west side of Main Street.

This was one of the largest, most disastrous fires that Union Grove has ever witnessed.

1917: Racine-Kenosha Joint County

Training School for Teachers was established in Union Grove. Arthur J. Smith was principal and Blanche E. Roberts was the supervising teacher. The school building was completed.

COURTESY OF THE WATERFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY’S LOCAL HISTORY DIGITAL COLLECTION Historical Union Grove

A steam powered threshing machine and engine are seen here in Union Grove sometime in the 1920s or 1930s. Also in the picture are Paul, Frank and Mae Foster.

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1930: Martin’s Garage was established.

1931: Book rental fees for the Racine Public

COURTESY OF THE

WATERFORD PUB LIC

LIBRARY’S LOCAL

HISTORY DIGITAL

Library rose to $1,500 for the year.

1932: Dr. John W. Owen came to Union

Grove in 1932 to practice dentistry. His first office was on the second floor of Hauper’s Drug Store on the west side of Main Street.1932: Permanent village library opened in the Parkway Hall on November 3.

Page 9

COLLECTION Historic

al Union Grove

Union Grove Fire Department fights a fire in 1938 two mi les north of Union Grov e on Highway 45.

1933: The first library board was organized on July 8, with John Bowers as president; Wesley Shepard, Secretary-treasurer; William Roberts and Edward H. Swantz, directors.

1934: Attorney H.H. Brown came to Union

Grove in August. He purchased the law practice and home of Attorney O.R. Moyle.

The Office was located in the second story of the “Kemp” building at 1114 Main Street.

1936: Ernie Swantz purchased the hardware store in the 1100 block of Main Street. The store had been formerly operated by Peter Dunkirk. Swantz handled wood heating stoves, kerosene and a complete line of hardware. Drought reduced crop yields and farm income that year.

have any clerical help in the office and there was only one custodian.

1937: Dr. and Mrs. Owen Purchased the

1941: When war was declared on Dec. 8,

Callender residence at 1201 Main Street and moved his office and their home to that site for their dentist office.

1938: The elementary grade school didn’t

1949:

Union Grove Lions Club chartered.

appointed to distribute ration books. At headquarters the books were explained as to the number of “points” allowed for each person in sugar, meat, fat, oils; four pounds per person was allowed for well fed Americans.

fall.

1942:

1950: Since the 1924 School District built a

The Rescue Squad was formed with Dr. T.H. Wooley serving as the first captain.

1943:

TO Historic FILE PHO

Sgt. Elmer Hansen was killed in action in World War II.

1943: In September, the purchase of a

Rescue Squad truck was made possible by donations from interested parties, the American Legion and the Village Fire Department.

rove

al Union G

HISTOR

1942: On July 8, a group of women were

Union Grove began to settle down to the business of fighting the war. The village was organized for civilian

unds John Edm ber cham (from left), mmerce o of c in Union president Dwight e Grov ; hairman Dawson, c mber’s h c of the a ittee; m civic com litor, o Vernon M Village e v ro G n Unio sident Board pre sell and Rus street Alswager, dent superinten as are shown w h ne they watc ing be s n ig s street the installed in ing ll ta s In . e villag which the signs, d to te a n o d were by the e g la il v e th are Elmer chamber, eft) and Holtdorf (l coln.

George Lin

COURTESY OF THE

defense and any emergency.

1945: The Red Cross begins asking for

supplies. The Red Cross says, “There are over ten thousand men and women from Racine County serving in the war and Union Grove must not fail the Red Cross.”

1946: This year brought a drive for used

clothing for European war refugees. C.W. Price resigns from the mail route after fortyone years. Sugar rationing is still on.

1948: The showroom of Martin’s

1949: Willie Markisen became captain of the Rescue Squad.

1949: Addition to High School added in the school at the 14th Avenue location there were three classrooms and a multi-purpose room added.

1954: Union Grove was hit by a tornado.

1955: Fourteenth Avenue school adds four

classrooms along State Street. Elementary grade school enrollment was up to 335.

1957:

Fourteenth Avenue school adds two classrooms and a supply room.

1958: Fourteenth Avenue school adds two classrooms and an office.

1958: Dial telephone service starts in Union

Grove.

Today: Union Grove is a thriving

community at the Heart of Racine County, which includes Union Grove, Yorkville, Raymond, Kansasville and Dover

Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge was enlarged to accommodate the post World War II new car sales.

WATERFORD PUB LIC

LIBRARY’S LOCAL

Y DIGITAL COLLECTI ON Historical Union Lyman Skewes Grove (from left), James Martin, Clarence Hansen, William Sa vage, and William Philps clean-up at thirty-six school on Highway 45 in Un ca 1930s. ion Grove, cir-

l Union Grove

FILE PHOTO Historica

the in the 1940s. Many of Main Street appeared ay. e’s ov tod e Gr us ion in ll Un sti w ho are is s This ilding village’s historical bu

Page 10

HISTORICAL UNION GROVE • 2016

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259166

Proud to be a part of Union Grove history since 1869 Daniels Family Funeral Homes & Crematory “Always at your Service”

Since the founding of Rhode Funeral Home in 1869 we have been dedicated to providing personalized, professional and compassionate services to help lighten your burden and support you through the difficult times that follow the loss of a loved one. We believe that our commitment to families is firmly rooted in our proud history as a family owned business.

First the Rhode family, then the Polnasek family, and now the Daniels family.

Our professional staff has years of training and experience supporting families in their time of need. We are proud to guide you through the creation of a service that reflects the individuality of your loved one’s life journey and will assist you in taking the first steps toward healing and recovery.

Rhode Furniture and Undertaking Co. circa 1869

Our facilities have been designed to offer a warm, comfortable family orientated environment. Our facilities accommodate all of types funeral and memorials, large and small, public or private. We also have our own crematory and will ensure that your loved one receives the care and respect they deserve.

At the Daniels Family Funeral Homes & Crematory you can trust in our commitment to place your wishes first and foremost at all times.

• Services • Burials • Memorials • Shipping • Cremations • Prearrangements • Specific Requests • Religious Needs Veteran, Social Security and Insurance Benefits honored

Q Daniels Family Q

FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATORY Schuette-Daniels

Current Polansek-Daniels Funeral Home

625 Brown’s Lake Dr., Burlington, Wis.

(262) 763-3434

www.danielsfamilyfuneral.com

Polnasek-Daniels

908 11th Ave., Union Grove, Wis.

(262) 878-2011

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HISTORICAL UNION GROVE • 2016

A first-person account

Page 11

This eye-witness account of Union Grove from more than 150 years ago was written by Simeon Ramsden to his nephew in England. The nephew later immigrated to the United States, bringing the letter with him. The Ramsden home was on the corner of highway 11 and 45.

The letter is part of the Graham Public Library’s historical collection. ~ Union Grove, Feb. 22, 1861 Dear Nephew, I take the opportunity of writing a few lines hoping they will find you in good health as they leave me and my family at present. Thanks be to God for that.

There has been a disorder prevalent in this section of the country called the putrid sore throat which has taken off a great many young people from 12 to 16 years of age. I have sold our farm, and have bought 4 lots in the Village.

John has been engaged this winter in teaching school at 25 dollars per month.

We have generally two terms, 4 months in winter and 4 in summer. I do not recollect that I ever gave you an account of the School System in this country.

When the wild land is surveyed by the Government Surveyors every 16th section is applied a School Fund. A section is a square mile and when the land is taken up by settlers, the school land is sold and the money is put into a fund. 36 square miles is called a township and every township has a school Superintendent whose office is to examine Teachers in regard to learning and to give certificate, which qualifies for one year to a common school in that township and the township is divided into school districts, and each district is governed by a board of 3 persons, a Clerk, Treasurer and Director.

And in each school district is a Library and Librarian and the scholars or their parents have the privilege to take out a book, and return it in two weeks. And all the children over 4 years and under 20 can go to the school.

Beside the land that is put in the school fund, every township raises a tax every year that is equal to the amount taken from the school. The winter term is in general taught by men, and the summer by women.

I received a letter from our Jonathan a week or two ago, and he wanted me to write that if you knew of any labor men coming to America that it would be a good chance for them at Trempealeau, Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, where he is living. Jonathan wrote he had sent you 2 or 3 newspapers and he wished to know if you had rec’d. them or not.

My youngest, Abigail, is very (desirous) to have you send us your daguerreotype.

We have had quite an exciting time last fall in our Presidential election. We elected honest old Abe Lincoln. After his inauguration I intend to send you a paper.

Elizabeth Drinkwater died 3 years ago last September, she left a little girl 6 years old. I had intended writing sooner but I had lost the address.

You may give my respects to all inquiring friends. I want you to write a good long letter, and send all particulars in regard to family affairs – how they are getting on.

So I remain your Affectionate Uncle. ~ Simeon Ramsden

SUBMITTED PHOTO Historical Union Grove

Raymond Community Church, 8217 W. Highway G in Franksville, celebrated its 175th anniversary last year. It is one of Racine County’s oldest rural congregations. Sunday services are at 10:45 a.m. All are welcome.

Raymond Community Church celebrates 175th anniversary One of Racine County’s oldest rural congregations, Raymond Community Church, celebrated its 175th anniversary on March 12, 2015.

A service that included a video presentation of history up to the present time and rededication of the building and members took place on March 22, 2015.

“We have a saying in our church that God is still speaking,” said Rev. Manda Stack at the time of the anniversary. “Our job is to listen and respond. We believe that God was speaking when early settlers gathered in March 1840 to form the church that is today known as Raymond Community Church, United Church of Christ.”

History of Raymond Community Church In 1840, a small group of pioneers met in the Walter W. Shumway home in the Town of Raymond, then called Mt. Pleasant, and organized the Mt. Pleasant Congregational Church, adopting the Articles of Faith and Covenant of the Aubridge Church of Massachusetts.

These Christian pioneers were Amarylla and Walter W. Shumway, Susan and Leonard Upham, and Betsy and Daniel McPherson.

The church’s name changed to Raymond Congregational in honor of one of its members, Alvin Raymond, son of Elisha Raymond, earliest settler in the Town of Raymond. The name was then changed to Raymond United Church of Christ upon the merger of the Congregational Christian and the Evangelical and Reformed Churches to become the United Church of Christ.

Daniel McPherson, a farmer and member of the group, was ordained to the ministry on Dec. 9, 1840, and was the first minister of the new church. Sunday school and Bible classes were organized in May 1841.

Prior to May 13, 1848, when the Raymond church opened, meetings were held first in homes and later in the Raymond School on 5-Mile Road.

A high point in the history of the little congregation was a revival, which was held over a period of 50 days in 1870.

One hundred people were either converted to the faith or reconsecrated.

As time marched on, founders of the church passed away and their sons and daughters took over the work. An old-time member said, “Our church has lived through many experiences. There have been times when it seemed almost impossible to keep on, that the church would have to accept the fate which took so many of the little country churches and caused them to close.”

The original church building, which for

118 years served the members of Raymond Congregational Church, officially closed Aug. 31, 1958, when the Rev. John C. Hollowell led members of the church in a Litany of Retirement.

On Sunday, Sept. 7, 1958, a new church building was formally dedicated on its present 4-acre site donated to the church

by Mrs. John Schmid. A new sanctuary was added and formally dedicated on Sept. 8, 2002. To learn more, visit raymondchurchucc.org.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Historical Union Grove

The altar at Raymond Community Church is dressed up for the Lenten season.

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HISTORICAL UNION GROVE • 2016

Getting Started William W. Martin always had a love for vehicles. He often worked on cars late into the night out in his parent’s garage. So no one was surprised when on April 1, 1930, William W. and Hilda E. Martin began a new venture they called Martin’s Garage. On strike from the Allen-A Hosiery Company, Bill received $17 per week from the Full Fashioned Hosiery Workers Union. Together, William W. and Hilda decided to forego the strike pay and rent a building on the corner of 14th Avenue and Main Street in Union Grove. Henry Barnes was the landlord. Orland Hayes, the previous renter, stayed on as their mechanic.

The Depression years saw young William and Hilda constructing, renting, and selling utility wagons, while pumping gas seven days a week, just to stay in business. These were hard times for a young couple with small children and a new business.

The post-war economic boom enabled Martin’s to purchase the building at 1401 Main Street in 1946. The old showroom was enlarged to accommodate several decades of not only increased vehicle size, but more new car sales too!

In 1975, all operations were moved to their present location. In 2005, Martin’s celebrated 75 years in business by completing an exterior “facelift,” adding a service drive, and customer lounge.

In 1963, after waiting many years, finally adding the Jeep franchise in 2011 to round out the Chrysler Corporation line up and solidify a long and successful relationship.

In 1998, the local Ford dealership was purchased and Martin Ford Sales began its operation at the corner of Highway 45 and Highway C, north of Union Grove. The Martin Family has always enjoyed serving the community and was very proud to be able to offer sales and service to Ford customers too!

Looking Ahead

Through the years, the Martin Family philosophy has always focused on serving the customer beyond their expectations. Whether it was the way we handled their vehicle purchase, offered advise on a car repair or provided them with a clean facility and a hot cup of coffee, the customer’s best interest always comes first.

Today, when you visit either Martin’s Chrysler Dodge Jeep & Ram or Martin Ford Sales you can be sure to be greeted by a professional with the same commitment to customer satisfaction as our founders.

We are proud of our commitment to our customers and community and pledge to continue in service to them both for many generations to come.

1422 Main Street Union Grove, WI 53182

(262) 878-1226

www.martinsgarage.com 259738