Southern Wisconsin's first public school building, erected in Somers Township in 1836, was held in the Longwell home with a Miss Brizee as the teacher. In 1846 the Pike River school district was formed. A new school building was constructed and opened in 1849. Mr. Hugh Longwell, the first settler of Somers (Pike), made a claim in March 1835 and settled where he resided with his family until his death.