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History: Brighton Twp., Marathon Co., Wis. (1913)

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----Source: History of Marathon County Wisconsin and Representative Citizens, by Louis Marchetti, 1913, pg. 553 -  554.

----Township of Brighton, Marathon Co., Wisconsin 1913 History

TOWN OF BRIGHTON.

This town was organized in the year 1874. The settlement dates back to the building of the Wisconsin Central, when the first homesteaders went into that town, referred to in chapter on "Early Settlements." As a rule, they were American born, many of them veterans of the Civil war. The Gennan emigration came somewhat later, but in the years 1879 and 1880 there was already a good sprinkling of German farmers in that town. August Bruesewitz, William Martin, and August Luepke being among the first to move in, and they reside upon their splendid farms to this day.

The first chairman of the town was J. H. Cook, who removed to Appleton in 1883. The town is well settled now, as appears from the census reports of 1910. There are four school districts, each with one good, modern, up-to-date schoolhouse.

Two small saw mills exist in the town, one owned by the Upham Manufacturing Company, of Marshfield, and one owned by Anderson Brothers, which are still operating.

There is one cheese factory in the town. One German Lutheran church exists, whose history dates back to 1878.

The members, being then twelve voting members, undoubtedly included nearly the entire German settlement. The congregation was organized by Rev. W. C. Schilling in October, 1878, and a small frame structure was erected in 1881, which gave way to the present fine, large brick edifice, which was erected in 1910. The congregation consists at preseint of 46 voting members and 180 communicating members. It also supports a parochial school, where the resident minister teaches the children the doctrines of Christianity. The first minister was Rev. W. C. Schilling, who remained with the congregation until 1880, followed by Rev. J. Schuetty, who remained four years and who was succeeded by Rev. F. Siebrandt, who remained until 1893; from 1893 ^ 1899 Rev. J. Todt had charge, and from 1899 to 1909 Rev. A. F. Imm attended to the spiritual wants of the society. He was succeeded by Rev. K. E. J. Schmidt, who remained three years, and since November 4, 191 2, the congregation has been in charge of the present resident minister. Rev. A. F. Ziehlsdorff.

It may seem a little curious that there is neither cheese factory nor creamery in this town, but that is easily explained by the fact that the settlement is so near the railroad line and the milk is taken to the factories at the stations along the railroad.