witop usbio



From History of Reedsburg and the Upper Baraboo Valley, by Merton Edwin Krug, Publ. February 1929 by the author. Printed by Democrat Printing Company, Madison, Wis., Page 324-325

Village of North Freedom

What was probably the first white man's habitation in what is now the village of North Freedom, was the building reared by Mr. John Hackett, son of Samuel Hackett, in the summer of 1856. Be that as it may, the founding of the village proper dates from 1867 when G. W. Bloom and Mr. Kimball built their sawmill. This mill was, shortly after its erection destroyed by fire, but it was again rebuilt, and the growth of the village was, thereafter, very rapid.

In May 1871, Mr. Bloom acquired twenty-seven acres of land which the following year he had surveyed and platted. Mr. Bloom was an enthusiastic promoter, with Col. Strong, S. V. R. Ableman, the Mackeys, and other in getting the railroad through the Baraboo Valley. The following year, 1873, other additions were made to the village plat, and it was W. C. T. Newell who surveyed and platted the village of North Freedom as it is today. In October 1893 it was incorporated.

The village of North Freedom has three churches: The German Baptist, Methodist and German Lutheran.

The first school was established about 1849-50. J. R. Guile was the first teacher. Previous to this, a private school had been taught. The first devotionals were held in the home of Mr. Hirsinger, in the fall of 1847, conducted by Reverend James Waddell. The first death in the township occurred July 16th, 1848, that of Elizabeth Harrison.

Return to Sauk County Biographies