Waushara County, Wisconsin
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Town of Marion
History & Miscellaneous Information

Last updated December 31, 2008
 

History

From the Portait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin - Acme Publishing Co. 1890

Of the six towns of the southern tier in Waushara County, Marion is the fourth from the western border, lying immediately east of the line dividing the county into its east and west halves. It is bounded on the north by the town of Mount Morris, on the east by the town of Warren, on the south by Green Lake and Marquette Counties, and on the west by the town of Dakota. Fish Lake lies mostly in sections 5 and 6 on the northern border, extending a short distance into the town of Mount Morris. Just north of Fish Lake, in section5, 6, and 8, is Wolf, or Silver, Lake, which is attracting attention as a probably summer resort in the near future. A small lake lies in the contiguous corners of sections 16, 17, 20 and 21, just west of the center of the town. Spring Lake covers a small part of sections 23 and 26. Several other small bodies are in the different parts of the town. The southwestern part is swampy. Good farms abound in all directions. The Marion granite outcropping is elsewhere referred to.

September 24, 1849, Isaac and William Warwick, two brothers who had just been discharged from the Mexican War, made a claim to a piece of land now section 2 in the town of Marion. They built an 8X10 log shanty and became the first settlers in Waushara County. In the fall, taking two yokes of oxen, Isaac made a trip to Steven's Point and secured lumber for the erection of a more substantial house.

This settlement was made on the Indian lands, and though they were ordered to leave by both the Indians and the Indian Agent, they in various ways appeased their wrath and remained and became the nucleus of the present settlement of Waushara. S. A. and T.F.  Metcalf came in 1849 and 1850 respectively.

The first child born in the town was Emerson Leach; and a child was born at D.C.Hills' about the same time. The first marriage was that of Jane Augusta Parker, of Marion, to E.C. Hobart, of Oshkosh, by Bishop Kemper, of Milwaukee. The first death was that of old Mr. Hollister, who was killed by the caving in of a well in June, 1850. The first public house was kept by A.P. Fuller, at Spring Lake. The first school was taught in a log school house on land now owned by John Leach, by Adelia Holcomb, in the winter of 1850-51. Elder Milliken, of Saxville, was an early exhorter and preacher.

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