HISTORY OF WOOD COUNTY



early eighties, after which 0. W. Sanders bought it and continued its operation
until the timber in the vicinity was all cut.
   In 1878 R. Connor built a planing-mill to run in connection with the sawmill,
but which burned down about two years later. The line of the Wisconsin Central
Railroad, built through this region in September, 1871, made it a good point
for
the lumbering business. The road erected a station and established a telegraph
and express office.
   A post office was petitioned for by the Connor Brothers soon after their
arrival
here and was established in June, 1873, John Connor being the first postmaster.
He was succeeded in June, 1874, by his brother Robert, who remained postmaster
for about 30 years, also conducting a store until he went to Indianapolis
some 17
or 18 years ago. Then Joseph N. Gates, a clerk in the employ of the Connors,
had the office for four years. He was succeeded in it by R. A. Connor, who
served
for a longer period-from eight to twelve years-after which Geo. E. Grob,
took
it some nine years ago and is still serving, having also been appointed recently
for
another four year term. The office has been one of the third grade since
July,
1920, and has three rural routes.
   One of the earliest settlers in Auburndale was Delos R. Coon, who is still
living
in the village. Mr. Coon came in the' fall of 1878, moving into the house
in which
he now lives. About two years later he opened a general store, which he conducted
for six years and then sold to Robert Connor, who was at that time and for
a num-
ber of years the most prominent man' in the settlement.
   The first store on the site of the village, however, was kept by a man
named
Prigger, who had a little place in which he did only a cash business. It
was located
in the west end of the village and was conducted by him for eight or ten
years,
at the end of which time he sold to Otto Frederick. The latter subsequently
sold
to Joseph Berdan, who conducted his store until about four years ago.  The
Connor store was the second one established and that of Mr. Coon the, third.
While Mr. Coon was operating his store a man named Sorenson arrived, who
set
up a blacksmith shop, Mr. Coon selling him a building for the purpose.
   The first child born in Auburndale was Elizabeth, daughter of John Connor,'
in April, 1873. The first death was that of John Wilson, killed by the falling
of
a tree. The first couple married in the village were J. D. Vomb and Miss
Mollie
Johnson, on March 20, 1875, Justice Phelps officiating.
   The site of Auburndale was surveyed and platted for the Phillips Construc-
tion Company, a Wisconsin corporation, with E. B. Phillips president. The
sur-
veyor was Charles H. Pratt, and it was recorded March 16, 1877. The plat
was
described in general terms as "a subdivision of a part of ten acres
on the west side
of the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 22, Town 25
north,
Range 4 east," the town and range giving corresponding to Auburndale
Township.
A more exact and detailed description of the site reads as follows: "Commencing
at quarter post and running west on quarter line on Section 21; thence south
on
quarter line one mile to center of Section 28; thence east on quarter line
two miles
to center of Section 26; thence north on quarter line one mile to center
of Section
23; thence west on quarter line one-half mile to quarter post of the place
of begin-
ning; containing an area of two miles, and sub-divisions southwest Section
23,



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