History: Dodgeville District, Loyal, Clark Co., Wisconsin

Contact: Stan
Email: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Henninger, Stitts, Hills, Welsh

----Source: Greenwood Public Library, original copy owned by Jean Rolstad

Dodgeville District, Written by Mrs. Oswald (Lottie) Henninger (19 Mar 1897 - 23 Feb 1972)

In the spring of 1864, three brothers-in-law , Wm. Hills, Henry Sitts, and Abram Smith and a friend, Wm. Welsh of Iron Ridge, Dodge County, Wisconsin set out to explore new territories, leaving their wives and children behind. They traveled by train to Tomah, hiked through forests, until they came to Black River Falls, then to Neillsville and on to Loyal , They decided on a section that was grown with virgin hardwoods and some pine and proceeded to walk to Eau Claire, Wisconsin and staked their claims - Mr. Sitts had the northwest 1/4 of Section 11, Mr. Hills the northwest 1/4 of Section 10, Mr. Smith the southwest quarter of Section 11, and Mr. Welsh the southeast quarter of Section 10. In the fall of 1864, the families came to Loyal, going to Sparta by train, and traveling by ox-drawn wagons the rest of the way. They cleared the land and built their first homes. As the families grew, a log schoolhouse was built, and in about 1890, a frame school was built and another new school was built in about 1914.

Lottie (Smith) Henninger and her husband, Oswald, are both buried in the Pine Grove "Dodgeville" Cemetery.
 

(Additional Notes provided by Betty Comstock)

 I was interested where the Dodgeville school was located. We lived in the school district when my parents moved from Greenwood to a farm in Loyal Township(purchased the Ehlert farm, in section 12 of the township). It was a country school district, with a closed building, so we went to Loyal Public School. It was consolidated into Loyal sometime, but don't know when. I looked on this site at the early description of location, it surprised me. I thought it was further east on Hwy 98. Of course this is from childhood memories and not necessarily correct!

I did some more reading on the site and found the history of Dodgeville and the consolidation to Loyal. At the time of consolidation, I remember some people in the district thought is was a waste to not open and use the Dodgeville School. Found the information provided regarding original site and my recollection of its location. I found in the 1920 Loyal Township plat that shows the school in section 12(my recollection.) As we moved to another farm, I lost track of the Dodgeville School. When I went to high school I well remember going to the white building(moved Dodgeville School) for some class. Can't remember the class, but do remember that we walked 30-40 feet in the open winter air!

Thanks for all this history and being able to refresh my memories.