(From the "History of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin" published by the Western Historical Company, Chicago, IL. - 1880)

RIPON

Although a rich and important town, Ripon has little history of interest not to befound in the history of the Wisconsin Phalanx and the city of Ripon. The firstsettlement and all important events took place within the limits of the city ofRipon. As to who made the first settlement of that portion of the town outside ofthe city is not undisputed, though D. P. Mapes, Dr. Spalding and A. Loper wereamong the first. This is a magnificent town as to location and soil, Green LakePrairie, on which it largely lies, being unsurpassed in Wisconsin. The originalmarsh land, what there was, is now productive meadow or pasture, and the oakopenings have been turned into wheat fields. Rush Lake touches the north side ofthe town, but destroys the value of but little land.

By an act approved January 23, 1845, the present towns of Ripon and Rosendalewere erected into the town of Ceresco, the first election being held in April of thatyear, at the house of Lester Rounds. The next year, the town was reduced, by theorganization of Rosendale, to its present dimensions - Township 16 north, Range14 east.

The Sheboygan & Fond du Lac Railway crosses the town from east to west; theChicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul from north to south, and the Oshkosh &Mississippi crosses Sections 1, 11, 12, 14 and 15, extending northeast from RiponCity.

At Arcade, a mile west of Ripon City, is a fine water-power, which drives theArcade Flouring-Mills, owned by J. N. Foster and W. F. and S. Crawford. Themill is equipped, also, with steam machinery, for use during low water, and is oneof the most modern and prosperous custom mills in the county.

Ripon Farmers Fire Insurance Company. - This comprises the towns of Riponand Metomen, in Fond du Lac County, and Green Lake and Brooklyn, in GreenLake County. It was organized, under the State law, in 1874, and began issuingpolicies June 6, of that year, with a capital of $200,000. The charter members, ororiginal incorporators, were Edwin Reynolds, C. W. Foster, P. Cole, E. Babcock,H. Willard, H. S. Hollenbeck, W. 0. Hargrave, James Henderson, WilliamPalmiter, Mrs. Jane Frazier, N. Van Camp, S. T. Wilsie. Robert Sheldon, J. M.Bonnell, E. P. West, A. G. Kellogg, F. Bessett, M. Barnum, John Niver, A.Osborn, H. B. Reed, J. H. Jlurlbut, A. R. Hargrave, William Ralston, JosiahBatson, J. W. Allen and J. E. Mason. The first Directors were J. Niver, R.Sheldon, J. H. Hurlbut, H. B. Reed, A. Osborn, J. Batson, J. W. Allen, J. E. Masonand E. P. West. First officers: J. H. Hurlbut, President; R. Sheldon, VicePresident; John Niver, Treasurer; E. P. West, Secretary. Present officers are: R.Sheldon, President; H. B. Reed, Vice President; J. M. Cuykendall, Treasurer, andE. P. West, Secretary. The number of policies now in force is about five hundred,insuring $725,000 of property. For five years, the total cost for losses and allexpenses was 6 1/2 mills in the dollar.

The offices of Chairman and Town Clerk have been filled in Ripon by thefollowing: 1845(Ceresco), Morris Farmin and Uriel Farmnin; 1846, LesterRounds and William Starr; 1847, J. M. Clark and William Starr: 1848, D. P.Mapes and William Starr; 1849, William Starr and James Stewart; 1850, WilliamStarr and Stephen Bates; 1851, Warren Chase and Stephen Bates; 1852, E. A.Newton and Samuel Sumner; 1853, T. B. Robbins and Samuel Sumner; 1854, A.B. Beardsley and Samuel Sumner; 1855, A. B. Beardsley and C. J. Allen; 1856,D. P. Mapes and J. V. Fitch. 1857 (Ripon), H. H. Mead and H. S. Town, and alsoAbram Thomas and H. S. Town; 1858, Abram Thomas and S. M. Brown; 1859,Abram Thomas and Ferdinand Richter; 1860, Abram Thomas and FerdinandRichter; 1861, T. B. Robbins and H. E. Stilwell; 1862, T. B. Robbins and H. E.Stilwell; 1863, T. B. Robbins and H. E. Stilwell; 1864, T. B. Robbins and H. E.Stilwell; 1865, William Light and H. E. Stilwell; 1866, William Light and H. E.Stilwell; 1867, H. H. Dixon and H. E. Stilwell; 1868, A. A. Loper and H. E.Stilwell; 1869, A. A. Loper and H. E. Stilwell; 1870, A. A. Loper and H. E.Stilwell; 1871, A. A. Loper and H. E. Stilwell; 1872, A. A. Loper and H. E.Stilwell; 1873, A. A. Loper and H. E. Stilwell; 1874, A. A. Loper and I. F.Stickle; 1875, E. P. West and I. F. Stickle, W. M. Ralston; 1876, E. P. West andW. M. Ralston; 1877, W. M. Ralston and J. M. Bonnell; 1878, W. M. Ralston, A.R. Hargrave and J. M. Bonnell; 1879, E. Babcock and J. M. Bonnell.