Village of Browntown
The “mill-town” area of Browntown has been an important local place since 1840. In 1846, William BROWN, Henson IRION and John WOOD purchased land near Skinner Creek. They were attracted by, “the excellent water privilege” there and began building a saw mill the same year. In 1847 they built a dam and finished the saw mill. They also put up a corn mill or “corn cracker”.
The first dwelling house was built by Brown in 1846 and in the fall of 1848 he erected another building which is still occupied as a dwelling. For many years this point was known as Brown, Irion and Wood’s Mill. By 1875 the mill had disappeared and another mill was erected by Mr. TOBIAS.
A telegram from Milwaukee announce the news that on July 15, 1880 a contract to build a railway from Monroe to Gratiot was given to O’Hara Brothers of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This was the beginning of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Co. extension from Monroe to Mineral Point know today as the “Tri County Trail”.
While the railroad was being built in 1881, old pioneer William BROWN made daily visits to watch the progress of the work. A bewhiskered character with a colorful personality, Brown was nicknamed “Old Grizzly”. Each day he told the workers just how to lay the track. The railroad men asked him his name, and decided to call the depot Brown(s)town, in his honor.
The Village of Browntown was originally laid out platted by James DALE in 1881. Browntown was incorporated April 22, 1890. At present the Village of Browntown has a population of 262 and consists of over one hundred dwellings and numerous businesses over one square mile in area.
Extracted from the book “Our Part of America Browntown, Cadiz, Jordan 1890-1990”. Copies are available at the Browntown Museum or Village Hall for a nominal fee. A copy of the book is available at the Research Center for viewing.
The first dwelling house was built by Brown in 1846 and in the fall of 1848 he erected another building which is still occupied as a dwelling. For many years this point was known as Brown, Irion and Wood’s Mill. By 1875 the mill had disappeared and another mill was erected by Mr. TOBIAS.
A telegram from Milwaukee announce the news that on July 15, 1880 a contract to build a railway from Monroe to Gratiot was given to O’Hara Brothers of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This was the beginning of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Co. extension from Monroe to Mineral Point know today as the “Tri County Trail”.
While the railroad was being built in 1881, old pioneer William BROWN made daily visits to watch the progress of the work. A bewhiskered character with a colorful personality, Brown was nicknamed “Old Grizzly”. Each day he told the workers just how to lay the track. The railroad men asked him his name, and decided to call the depot Brown(s)town, in his honor.
The Village of Browntown was originally laid out platted by James DALE in 1881. Browntown was incorporated April 22, 1890. At present the Village of Browntown has a population of 262 and consists of over one hundred dwellings and numerous businesses over one square mile in area.
Extracted from the book “Our Part of America Browntown, Cadiz, Jordan 1890-1990”. Copies are available at the Browntown Museum or Village Hall for a nominal fee. A copy of the book is available at the Research Center for viewing.
In 1884 the business of the village was represented as follows:
- General merchandise - Diven & Frisley
- Groceries and drugs - James DALE
- Groceries, hardware, boots and shoes - Dawson & Tomlinson
- Blacksmiths - Erickson & Meighen
- Steam saw mill and lumber dealer - Samuel KELLY
- Grist mill - Sutherland, Ball & Jackson
- Hotel - James WHITE
- Billiard Hall - Joseph STOVER
- Physician - J. H. STEALY
- Postmaster - Henry FRISLEY
Other settlers included William VAN HORN.
Extracted from the "History of Green County, Wisconsin" published by Union Publishing Company, Springfield, Ill. 1884; page 749
