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Local History Index
The Town of Lisbon is a Township of approximately 30 square miles surrounding
the Village of Sussex. The Town is generally rural in nature with a 1999
population of over 9,000, but there are some fifty subdivisions and one mobile
home park (Willow Springs).
Compiled and Edited by Michael R.
Reilly
Last Revised
12/02/2010
History (Much of the
following is reprinted from "The History of Waukesha County,
1880", therefore the language and point-of-reference is from the year 1880.
Additional notes have been added to further explain the text.)
By
act of the Territorial Legislature, approved January 2, 1838, the land included
in the present towns of Lisbon, Pewaukee, Brookfield and Menomonee, was erected
into the Town of Lisbon [1838 - the Town of Lisbon is formed within the Milwaukee County
Territory along with the Towns of Summit to the west), Muskego (to
the southwest), and Mukwonago (to the south).
[Editor Note: Initially the first settlers called the area "Head
of Fox River"]
AN
ACT ESTABLISHING TOWNS
The following sections are taken from an act entitles, An Act
establishing the several towns in the County of Milwaukee."
Sec. 1.
Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of
Wisconsin,
Sec. 4.That the country included within the following limits, to wit: beginning
at the south east corner of town 7, north of Range twenty
east; thence west to the north west corner of town 7, north of Range 19 east;
thence north to the north west corner of town 8, north of Range 19 east, north
of Range 20 east; thence south to the place of beginning, be, and is hereby set
off into a separate town by the name of Lisbon, and the polls of Election
shall be opened at the House of Charles Skinner.
Sec. 37.
This Act shall be in force from and after the third day of March next, and all
Acts, and parts of Acts contravening any of the provisions of this Act, are
hereby repealed.
Source:
Milwaukee Sentinel, February 20, 1838
Proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners, of the county of Milwaukee, at their Session in April, A. D. 1838, fixing on the place of holding Elections and defining the Road Districts in said County and the Counties thereunto attached,
Ordered, That hereafter the Polls of Election in the several Towns in the county of Milwaukee and the counties thereunto attached, shall be
held at the following points and places, until otherwise ordered by this board.
In the town of Lisbon, at the dwelling-house now occupied by David Bonham, and also at the dwelling-house now occupied by J. De Wolf.
Source: Milwaukee Sentinel, April 17, 1838, page 4
December 20, 1839 - the Town of Lisbon (which was 12
miles by 12 miles square) is split into the towns of
Lisbon, Menomonee (Township 8, Range 20, East), Pewaukee and Brookfield (each 6 miles by 6 miles
square). This was approved by the Wisconsin Legislature, but not effective
until after March 1, 1840. Each of the other three original Towns (see
1838) divided themselves up in like manner, but all still part of
Milwaukee County.
NOTICE
ORDERED, that the Road Districts in the several towns in the
counties of Milwaukee, Washington, and Dodge be formed as follows:
Lisbon - East half of town 8 range 20, District No. 1; west half of the same,
District No. 2; east half of town 8 range 19, District No. 3; west half of the
same , District No. 4.
Source: Milwaukee Sentinel, February 4, 1840, page 4 of 4
1846 - the Town of Lisbon becomes part of the newly
created Waukesha County
when the 16 western most towns split from Milwaukee County. ]; the first
election to be held at the house of Charles Skinner. A Subsequent act, passed
March 9, 1839, established the town lines as they are now.
(Editor's note: A note on the word township: this
word is used in several different ways in this text and in land descriptions in
general. First and foremost it describes a six-mile square area laid out as part
of the Public Land Survey System, this is also known as a congressional township
because the land surveys were originally directed by congressional action, this
can also be described as a survey township. These have a numerical description
such as Township 7 North, Range 9 East. The word township is also used to
describe a unit of local government, a civil township. Here the name is
shortened to "town" and they are normally named as in the Town of
Vermont, the Town of Rome, or the Town of Orion. While these civil townships
often share the same geographic boundaries as a congressional township,
sometimes they include larger or smaller areas. To confuse the issue even
further, the word township is also used to describe the east - west line of
six-mile square blocks between to adjacent township lines.
source: http://libtext.library.wisc.edu/SurveyNotes/SurveyInfo.html
)
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The homes of the first settlers looked
something like this. Writing on the back of this photo identifies the
cabin as the first home of Andrew Lauder Davidson. Source: Recollections
from the Past: Sussex, Wisconsin, Presented by Farmers & Merchants
Bank, August 4, 1972 |
The town possesses many very
fine general features. All monotony is removed from the scenery by the endless
variety of hills and valleys, woodland and prairie.
The town possesses many very
fine general features. All monotony is removed from the scenery by the endless
variety of hills and valleys, woodland and prairie.
The soil is clay and limestone
marl, the substratum abounding in extensive beds of excellent limestone. It is
what would ordinarily be called a heavy soil, being not easy to till. Farmers
usually call this kind of land "white-oak land", as white-oak timber
grows particularly well upon it.
It is a steadfast, rich, and
fruitful soil beyond that of lighter soils. There are very many fine farms in
various parts of the town, and a general air of thrift, intelligence and
industry pervades everything in all sections.
There are several churches and
a number of schools in the town, all well attended and supported. The
dwelling-houses are brick, grout or frame, and usually in good repair. There
seems to be in this section quite a liking for grout houses, as grout, when
carefully prepared, makes thoroughly substantial walls and at a very much less
cost than any other material.
The inhabitants are
principally English, American and Scotch, with a sprinkling of Irish and
Germans.
To Thomas S. Redford, probably, belongs the
distinction of having been the first one to drive his stake in this town.
When he first came here, he accompanied the surveying party of Hudson (?),
Garret Vliet and John Brink, who surveyed through the town early in 1836. In May of this year, he collated the claim which he now occupies, on Section 25.
In June of 1836, P. Ray, James Hanford
and William Packard came out from Milwaukee and selected claims, and assisted T.
S. Redford in erecting his first shanty, this being a sort of headquarters for
all until each could get a cabin raised. Soon after, probably about the month of
August, John Weaver, Lucius Botsford, Thomas Rolf and
David Bonham came into the
town. They at once made claims and proceeded with all dispatch to erect houses
for their families, for they were all, but one, family men. Having got their
houses up and ready during this fall and winter, they then went into the city of
Milwaukee, where the women and children were staying, and brought them out
before the snow was off the ground in the spring. A. A. Redford came in at this
time also. These four women were the first in the town, as also were
their children the first of the small folks.
Democratic Nominations
At a
meeting of the Democratic party, convened at the Court House in the
town of Milwaukee, pursuant to public notice, on the 29th day of
March...
On
motion, the following persons were appointed a Committee of
Vigilance:
Mr.
Bonham, Head of Fox River (Note: name of residence)
Source:
Milwaukee Advertiser, April 1, 1837, page 2 of 4.
--------
David Bonham -
the town's first business man, and the first business in the town.
Editor: April 1, 1837 David
Bonham is advertising in a Milwaukee newspaper that his
Public House (tavern) was open at "Head of Fox River"
[later
Town of Lisbon]. The Head of the Fox River encompassed
an area on the eastern edge of the Lisbon township and that which
was
Willow Springs, later Lannon, then Village of Menomonee Falls.
The
subscriber would inform the travelling public that he has opened a
house of entertainment on range 19 town 8 section 36 the north-west
quarter. It is on the Oconomowoc trail, at the head of Fox River, on the
direct route to the Upper Rapids on the Rock River, where he will be
happy to accommodate those may be disposed to give him a call.
David
Bonham
April 4,
1837
Source:
Milwaukee Advertiser, Milwaukee Advertiser, April 15, 1837
"Oconomeewoc
Village" instead of "Public House" heading in the May 13,
1837 edition.
In the spring and summer of 1837, James
Weaver, who now lives at Sussex; George Elliott, Edward Smith,
Nathan Peso and
Samuel Dougherty came with their families and settled here, making for
themselves permanent homes.
The first one removed from the little
community by death, was Stephen Bonham, a little son of D. Bonham, who died
in October, 1837, and was buried on his father's farm.
Lisbon had its first representative
of a new generation in the person of Ruth Weaver, daughter of James Weaver, born
November, 1837.
As early as 1838, Mrs. John Weaver began a
school in her own home, a small log house. This served the purpose of kitchen,
parlor, dining, sleeping and school room. Here, after she had attended to the
duties of a mother, in waiting upon her family of little ones, she would storm
the citadel of ignorance with A, B, and C. sometimes teaching as many as twenty
pupils, many of whom had to come long distances.
On the third day of June, 1839, the first
nuptials were solemnized at the marriage of Lucius Botsford and Miss Lucinda
Denny, Elder Griffin being the officiating clergyman. [Editor's Note: Miss Denny
was the daughter of Joseph Addison Denny and Phebe Henshaw, born April 3, 1806.
She was also a step-daughter Lucinda Henshaw Denny Daugherty, wife of Samuel
Daugherty.].
Rev. Frink was the first preacher,
and held the first service at the home of John Weaver, about 1838. Elder Griffin
also began holding services in this section soon after.
The first schoolhouse was erected as
early as 1841, and, some of the oldest settlers say, as early as 1839. It was
built of stone, by Mr. George Elliott, and occupied the site of the present
school building of District No. 1, on Section 35. In this building were held the
first Sabbath meetings and Sunday schools; also public meetings. The town then
comprised one district. From the report of Commissioners of Schools in 1842, it
appears that there were 110 scholars in the town, 69 males and 41 females, with
one male teacher and two female teachers, and $148.40 was raised by tax and
$26.60 by subscription to defray the expense. Phineas Bissell was the first male
teacher.
District No. 2 was organized in 1842, and
comprised the southwest corner of the town. Among the teachers were Henry
William Rodeman, Henry Clakins, Miss Small (now Mrs. Robert Rodgers) and Miss
Julia Griswold (now Mrs. Austin Wheeler, of Pewaukee). The present schoolhouse
of District No. 2 was built about 1853. About 1839 or 1840, Rice Gale came in
and put up a blacksmith shop on Section 35, near the house of D. Bonham. Mr.
Gale was followed by Mr. Nottingham, who built one nearby.
During the year 1841 and the year
following, there was quite an influx of settlers, among whom may be mentioned,
Robert James and Archibald Rodgers, John Small, Alexander Harris and a Mr.
Moyes, all said to have come from Scotland; Thompson Richmond, George
Cairncross, J. Reed, Thomas Bloor and family, John Muir, Henry Sears, Harrison
and Henry Phillips, Ira D. Goodwin, Ira and Mark Rowell, Dr. John A. Willard,
John Thompson, E. B. Quiner, and Elisha Pearl, and many other persons came
during the following year. From this time forward the increase in population was
steady, if not rapid.
According to the town records, the first
election was held April 5, 1842, at the stone schoolhouse on Section 35,
when Samuel Dougherty was chosen Moderator, and David Bonham, and Lucius
Botsford, Side Supervisors. David Bonham was also elected Clerk; James Weaver,
Treasurer; R. Blount, Assessor; George Comstock, Collector; D. Bonham, Ed Smith
and School Commissioners; E. W. Fowler and Thomas Redford, Constables; John
Weaver, Sealer of Weights and Measures; A. A. Redford, Samuel Dougherty, D.
Bonham and William Weaver, Overseers of Highways; A. A. Redford, William B.
Caldwell and William Weaver, Fence Viewers. The whole number of votes did not
exceed twenty.
The earliest recorded assessment was
made in the town of Lisbon, in 1843, when 4,920 acres were assessed: Value,
$12,848.20; personal property, value, $1997; county tax, $101.61; town tax,
$105. Total tax, $206.61.
About 1840, Levi Russell started a little
store and shoe shop in his log house on Section 35. This point at that time was
the most important place in the town; but after the nucleus nothing was added,
unless the church and graveyard in the vicinity are mentioned.
The first field plowed in the town
is said to have been on Section 36. In 1837, E. Smith, James Weaver, John Weaver
and George Elliott sowed a patch of turnips a little east of Sussex, on the
ground where now stands the feed mill, and the next winter turnips were used for
apples.
The first plow is said to have been
brought in by D. Bonham. At that time, the settlers went to Milwaukee to get
their plows sharpened and repaired, which had to be done very frequently, for on
much of the land grew what was called red root brush, and the ground, being
literally filled with these tough roots, was very had to break.
The first sawmill was built a short
distance north of the village of Sussex, by James Weaver, George Elliott, Edward
Smith and Cooley Frarey, in the winter of 1842. It was designed to run by water,
with an undershot wheel, but, owing to the nature of the bed of the stream, they
would not confine the water. An engine was therefore purchased and moved out
from the city, at an expense of about $1,200. It had not been set up a very long
time before the boiler burst, while under the charge of Thomas Weaver. This
difficulty was overcome, and the work went on for several years, but not in a
profitable manner. The mill has been long abandoned, and nothing now remains.
The brewery, which now
stands about one-half mile north of the mill, on the road from Sussex,
was first built by Stephen Stone [Note: according to Fred Keller,
c. 1846 started by Stone and soon sold to Ephram (Boots) of Maple and
Main {then South St.} (Sts.)]. In 1862, Mr. Boots became the sole owner.
Twelve years after, in 1874, Mr. Boots had the misfortune to lose the
old brewery by fire. In 1875, it was rebuilt as it is now (c. 1880).
James Weaver was the first Postmaster,
and had the office at his home on the old farm on Section 35.
Subsequently, he resigned in favor of his son, Thomas Weaver, from whom,
in 1849, the office was transferred to Sussex, and Richard Cooling
became Postmaster. Mr. Cooling held it for two years, when it passed
into the hands of William Weaver, where it remained until 1861, when Mr.
Cooling again came into possession of the office, and held it until
1878; he then resigned in favor of his son-in-law, Mr. Templeton, who
has had charge of it since {Note: c. 1886. Mr. Templeton was the
postmaster at Sussex when the Soo Line was built through East Sussex and
when he moved over to his new home. He wanted to move the post office
over, too, but Sussex protested that it was too far out of the way. Mr.
Templeton had grown to be a power in local politics then, so he had a
new post office established, had it named Templeton and had the railroad
change the station name from East Sussex to Templeton
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Sussex in 1864
South of Main St. (left to right): C.
Cooling, J. Pettard, R. Russell, T. Campbell (Wagon & Blacksmith shops), J.
Hickmot with R. Weaver (dealer in New York and Wisconsin hops) store and J.
Brown in front, J. Andrews with C. Cooling (blacksmith and carriage factory) and
R. Cooling (store and P.O.) in front, J. & C. Russell, W. Weaver, A.
Davidson, J. E. Brown (carpenter and joiner).
North of Main St. (left to right): E.
Champeney, parsonage, Town lot, R. Weaver, store, Jno. Reeve, C. E. Craven, Jas.
Elliott, Episcopal Church (St. Alban's), E. Boots, H. Boots, E. Boots, Jr.
brewery, saloon, R. Cooling, J. Russell, W. Medhurst, Jas. Weaver, J. Russell,
J. Stone, school.
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F. Otis, who came in 1837,
built the first frame shell; but Sherman Botsford erected the first
really substantial frame house built in the town. About 1850, the project of
a (Lisbon) plank road (now County Hwy K or Lisbon Road) was started by
many of the leading men of the town and county, the road to run from Milwaukee
to Hartland, with a branch to run to the southern part of Lisbon and Merton. It
was almost a total failure, so far as the interests of the majority of the
farmers were concerned, for many of them lost all they put in, if any, escaped
without a loss. The road, according to estimates, cost about $60,000.
The first lime was
burned in a small kiln, built as early as 1848 or 1849, by Messrs. Smith
& Elliott, on the farm now owned by Richard Craven. The old kiln of Thomas
Weaver was built by B. Storms, who lived near it and ran it for several years.
He sold to Mr. Weaver in 1853. Mr. Weaver rebuilt the following year and did a
thriving business for twelve years or more.
The stone quarry of Mr.
Davidson, Section 23, was opened about 1840, and the quarry of William Graves
was opened about 1842. The stone taken from these is of excellent quality.
(Religion in the town)
The Episcopal Church Parish
was organized in 1842, and was composed principally of English settlers. The
congregation met and worshipped in the barn of James Weaver, and occasionally at
the schoolhouse of District No. 1, until able to erect a church. The parish
remained under the pastoral care of the clergy of Nashotah Mission, until the
7th of March, 1847, when Rev. William Armstrong took charge of it. At the
organization of the parish, there were five families. The parsonage was erected
in the spring of 1849. Rev. George A. Whitney is the present Rector (in c.
1880). The church has been much improved lately (before 1880) in appearance by
the addition of a fine tower and bell, and the introduction of new chancel
furniture and stained windows.
In June, 1841, a number of the
people, principally Congregationalists, united and formed a society called Congregational, Rev. O. F. Curtis, from Prairieville (later Waukesha),
assisting. This was the first regularly organized society in the town. Just at
this time, the Rev. Spencer Baker came and conducted the first regular service.
He was then engaged to preach during the year. Although barely able to live, the
minister fared as well as any, at a time when none fared sumptuously, Mr. Baker
remained there three years. The school-house was used by the Congregationalists
until the erection of the Union Church. The Methodists united with the
Congregational society in furnishing the money and materials for building this
church, with the understanding that they were to have the use of it on alternate
Sundays. They finally united, forming what is now known as the Bible Christian
Society.
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Portion of a 1846 map of Wisconsin
Territory |
The Lisbon United Presbyterian
society's church is located near the center of the town, on Section 21. The
society was organized August 30, 1847, by Rev. James R. Bonner, of the Associate
Reformed Presbyterian Church, and was called the Associate Reformed Congregation
of Lisbon, until 1858, when it took the name by which it is now known.
The first members (of
the Associate Reformed Congregation
of Lisbon) were Robert Rodgers, Archibald Rodgers, John Muir, John Brown,
Thomas Chalmers, John Gilmore, James Welch, Ann C. Gilmore, Agnes Templeton,
Margaret Rogers, Elizabeth W. Booth, Margaret Muir, and William Small. They only
had preaching occasionally from this time until January 4, 1851, when the Rev.
G. W. Gowdie became pastor and remained with them nearly three years. On April
1, 1878, the Rev. T. E. Turner, the present pastor (c. 1880), took charge. The
congregation now numbers forty-eight (c. 1880), there being five of the original
members among them.
Lisbon Mutual Insurance Company -
More to come...
Source: The History of Waukesha County,
1880; "Sussex's timeline starts with blacksmith", by Fred
Keller, Sussex Sun, Tuesday, September 14, 1999, Page 2 B.
First Lisbon Turkey Shoot Was Held in Lisbon, and Without Beer
Although the beer for the event went astray, what was probably the first
turkey-shoot in Waukesha county was a great success. It was held at Lisbon in
1839.
Turkeys for the "shoot" were obtained by David Bonham, one of the township's
first settlers. Men came from far and near and everyone enjoyed himself.
The blame for the missing beer lies on the poor roads of those days. Among
his other preparations, Bonham had gone to Milwaukee with Thomas Redford,
Lisbon's first settler, for beer. Rattling back home over the rough roads, the
beer was so shaken up it burst out the bung in the keg.
Whatever the turkey-shooters drank that day, it wasn't Milwaukee beer.
[Editor's note: It would seem that Bonham may be still in the "public house"
business if he was one of those to obtain the beer.]
Bride Changes Her Mind
From the earliest recorded history up to the present day, poets and bards
have claimed that love has been driving man to his death. And it was love that
caused the first of Lisbon's three suicides during the town's early years.
Intending to get married, a John Brown, rented a farm for five years. In
1848, bought furniture, and made all preparations to set up housekeeping. When
everything was set, Miss Melville, his young bride, changed her mind at the last
minute and put the wedding off.
Brown was so affected, says a history book, "the he hanged himself without
delay."
Jerry Stone, who swallowed a dose of strychnine in some beer, was the town's
second suicide in 1866. While temporarily insane, James McDonald cut his throat
in 1869 for the third suicide.
Noted For Good Soil
A very pretty township, with its hills, valleys, woods, and prairies, Lisbon
was noted for having good soil for farming. The pioneer farmers called it
"white-oak land" because this type of timber grew particularly well on it. It
was known as a heavy soil.
There seemed to be a particular liking for grout houses by the first
settlers, although brick and frame houses were also erected. Grout was a type of
thin mortar or plaster and cement used then.
Thomas S. Redford, Lisbon's first settler, accompanied a surveying party when
he first arrived in the area. After he had settled there in May of 1836, John
Weaver, Lucius Botsford, Thomas Rolf, and David Bonham arrived in August.
During the winter they erected cabins and brought their families out from
Milwaukee before the snows left the ground the following spring. Their wives and
children were the first in the township.
Elections in 1842
Biggest influx of settlers was during 1841. Most of these settlers were
either English, Scotch, or Americans, plus a sprinkling of Germans.
First elections in the town were held in 1842 with Samuel
Dougherty chosen as moderator and David Bonham, clerk. Bonham was elected
Chairman of the Board.
The earliest recorded assessment, in 1843, saw 4,920 acres
valued at $12, 848.20. The total town and county tax amounted to only $206.
Mrs. John Weaver began the first school in her small log
cabin, which also served as kitchen, [parlor, dining and sleeping room, in 1838.
The first school building, made of stone, was put up by either in 1839 or '41 by
George Elliot.
According to a school commission report of 1842, there were
110 students at that time - 69 boys and 41 girls. The teaching staff consisted
of two women and one man.
The town's first plow was brought in by Bonham. Because of a
red-root brush with tough roots that grew there, farmers were often required to
go to Milwaukee to get their plows sharpened or repaired.
Brewery Burned in 1874
In the winter of 1842, the first sawmill was built near Sussex
by James Weaver. The town also had a brewery, built by Stephen Stone. It burned
down in 1874, but was rebuilt the next year.
Around 1850, a plank road project to run from Milwaukee to
Hartland with a branch from Lisbon to Merton was started by the town's leading
men. Unfortunately it was a total failure.
Church organization started in 1841 when a Congregational;
society was formed. The Episcopal church followed the next year and the
Presbyterians organized in 1847.
Besides brewing, a stone quarry, lime kiln, and insurance
company were started at various periods during the early years.
The pretty village of Sussex' first resident was Richard
Cooling, who came in June of 1843. Shortly after him, men by the name of Fray,
Smith, Brown, Champeny, Sims, Stone and Weaver settled there.
Cooling opened the first blacksmith job and William Brown the
first store. Farmers in the area started a Union store in 1854 which Cooling
soon acquired. A school was organized in 1849.
Source: Waukesha Daily Freeman, Waukesha, Wisconsin, August 16,
1948, page 10.
The Town of Lisbon Gazette is the official publication
though all legal notices, minutes of Board meetings and other information are published
in the Sussex Sun. The Town is at Town
of Lisbon
 | Lisbon - Lisbon Avenue
began as a wooden plank road (in the era before paved roads) built by
the Lisbon and Milwaukee Plank Road Company from Milwaukee to the Town
of Lisbon (official town website) in Waukesha County around Sussex,
west of Menominee Falls. The Town of Lisbon was in turn named after
Lisbon, Portugal (the country's capital and largest port city) SOURCE:
Milwaukee Streets: The Stories Behind Their Names" By Carl
Baehr] [Note: The name Lisbon more likely came from an early
settler from a town or city called Lisbon or New Lisbon in New York, Connecticut,
New Hampshire, Maine, Ohio or Illinois.]
Plank roads are basically just what the name
implies. The first construction step was the clearing and grubbing. In
flat land the trees, stumps, roots, and other obstructions were removed
from the width of road.
After the roadway was cleared, it was graded for a
width of 24 feet between ditches. The center of the road was raised six
inches higher than the sides with a gradual inclination to the ditches.
Before the actual grading was done, the roadway was ploughed to a depth
of eight to twelve inches and thoroughly dragged to pulverize the earth.
The stringers, upon which the planks were laid,
consisted of white oak boards, one and one-half inches thick, eight
inches wide, and not less than twelve feet long. They were laid in
trenches so that the upper surface of the stringer was level with the
earthen road bed. The outside stringer was set one and one-half inches
lower than the other, and eight feet in width was allowed between the
two, though in portions of the road near Milwaukee the stringers were
laid 12 feet apart. The space between stringers was filled with earth to
one-half inch above the surface of the stringer.
The one remaining step was the placing of the actual
planks. They consisted of oak boards three inches wide and eight feet
long. They were placed on top of the stringers and pounded down with a
heavy maul until they rested on the stringer. The planks were not nailed
down or fastened in any other manner. This proved a disadvantage when
the road was engulfed by high water, as the planks would float away. It
was done because nails or similar objects would work loose and injure
horses' hooves. -- SOURCE
First turkey shoot held in
Lisbon … without beer
by Fred H.
Keller
Posted: Nov. 16,
2010, Retrospect, Living Sussex Sun
The Sussex-Lisbon Historical Society has
an original copy of the "1880 Illustrated
History of Waukesha County." There is a
Lisbon section that tells of the first
turkey shoot being held in Lisbon and this
festival of pioneers failed to get the
biggest item that was needed for the event -
beer. It was not because of design but a
failure of transportation.
Although the beer for the event went
astray what was probably the first turkey
shoot in Waukesha County was a great
success. It was held in 1839, just three
years after the first pioneer came into the
township, Thomas Richard on May 15, 1836.
Turkeys for the event, called a "shoot"
were obtained by David Bonham (1809-1870).
Bonham would serve as the first Lisbon Town
Chairman in 1842 and also served on the
Wisconsin Territorial Legislature and as a
Waukesha County Supervisor. However, he
killed a man at where today is Wanaki Park
in 1845. He was sentenced to be hung but got
a pardon and left Lisbon after the pardon
for northwest Missouri … but that is whole
different story.
Men came from far and near to the Lisbon
shoot and it is reported that everyone
enjoyed themselves.
The blame for the missing beer lies in
the poor rutted roads of 1839. Bonham, among
his many preparations for the shoot, had
gone to Milwaukee with Thomas Redford for
beer. As they rattled back to Lisbon over
the primitive roads, the beer was so shaken
up it exploded out of the lung in the keg.
Whatever the turkey shooters drank that day,
it wasn't Milwaukee's finest.
The 1880 Waukesha history book also said
the county, and Lisbon, were noted for good
soils. In Lisbon, with its hills, woods and
valleys, it was noted for fertile ground
good for farming. The original main crop was
wheat for the Milwaukee flour mills. Then
barley became important for the Milwaukee
breweries. Raising hops, the ingredient that
gives the tang to beer, was a successful
venture for farmers in Sussex-Lisbon. And in
time, wheat and hops were wiped out and non-growable
because of diseases or bugs that afflicted
the crops. The failure of these two crops
helped to turn Lisbon into a dairy economy.
In time, Lisbon would have two cheese
factories and also two butter creameries.
The pioneer farmers which were
practically all early settlers were
subsistent farmers to begin with and then
they branched out to be able to sell their
grain, hay, meat, milk and other products to
a hungry industrialized Milwaukee and
Chicago.
The pioneers noted that their Lisbon land
claims were "White Oak Land" because this
type of timber grew particularly well on
their claims.
Next week I will write more on mining
found in the 1880 history book, an industry
that was the start of Sussex-Lisbon from
1836-1880.
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