Page 520

DANE COUNTY TOWNS - BLACK EARTH..
building the first house within the present township
limits. It was a primitive structure, such as all of
us are more or less familiar with, and such as to-day
would seem impossible to class amnong what are
known as residences. But in those days a house was
valued more for the shelter it gave than for its comely
appearance.  It occupied a spot of ground just
south of the present residence of Mr. John Hill.
  Just previous to the building of Mr. Hayden's
house -about October, 1843-   Mr. Henry Wilson
arrived from New York, together with his family.
He found himself in a strange country, almost unin-
habited, and without any means of sheltering himself
from the storms of the coming winter. Something
must be done, and Mr. W. at once set about building ,
temporary abiding place. When completed it was more
a wigwam than anything else, being built of such
loose material as could be readily found, and covered
with the dry grass of the marshes, close at hand.
Here he wintered his family, cooking in the open air,
and getting along with inconveniences as only pioneers
can. This will explain the allusions often made to
Mr. Wilson's spending his first Wisconsin winter in
a hay stack. In the spring following, on the comple-
tion of Mir. II ayden's house spoken of, the family
were moved to it, and there remained until Mr. Wil-
son's return from Milwaukee and other points, where
he had gone to purchase such articles as were needed
in clearing the land which he had settled upon.
  A start once made, the valley was rapidly settled.
520