Solving a problem..
Most of the folks in the Jug Prairie Cemetery came from Ohio, looking for better land and starting anew. In the breaking years of statehood, there were hardships and sickness but they were proud of their accomplishments and found happiness in their lives.
For years after the first settlement which was made by W . W . McLaughlin (section 8N), in the fall of 1842, there was no regular cemetery and thus the remains of those who died were buried in various places.
Every time the people were summoned to bury one of their number they regretted that they had not a regular burying ground.
Finding the land...
In 1853 W . W . McLaughlin (section 8N), W . B. Patterson , Thomas King (section 24S), Stephen Smith (section 50N), sought out a parcel of land for a cemetery. They located the land, and on March 24th, 1853 reported their finding in a letter:
Brooklyn March 24th 1853
The undersigned a committee appointed to examine and report a piece of land suitable for a cemetery --- do report that in their judgment a piece of land on the south east corner of section (15) is a suitable piece for the purpose and that three acres of land would be sufficient for present purposes.
Wm. B. Patterson
W. William McLaughlin
Thomas King
Stephen Smith
Founding the 'assosiation'
Having located land, they gathered citizens of the community to choose a name and elect officers of their organization. On March 26th, 1853 they met in the Stone Schoolhouse in district 10, and named their organization the “Brooklyn Cemetery Assosiation”. In attendance were W . W . McLaughlin (section 8N), W . B. Patterson , Thomas King (plot 24S), Stephen Smith (plot 50N), H, M.Allen (section 12N), George Fletcher (plot 15S ), Andrew Bennett, Daniel Northrum (plot 1N), E. Collier (plot 45N), Otis Thompson (plot 12S), Jeremiah Anderson (plot 43N, 44N, ) and J . N . Patterson (plot 25N).
Brooklyn March 26th 1853
At a meeting of the freeholders and resident of the town of Brooklyn held at the school house in the district No 10 in said town pursuant for the purpose of organizing a cemetery assosiation to adjournment H.M. Allen was chosen chairman and W.B. Patterson has chosen Secretary of said meeting at which time WW. McLaughlin, H.M.Allen George Fletcher, WB Patterson, Thomas King, Andrew Bennett, Daniel Northrum, Stephen Smith, E. Collier, Otis Thompson, Jeremiah Anderson, James N. Patterson .
On motion of W.W. McLaughlin it was resolved that the name of the assosiation shall be called the Brooklyn Cemetery Assosiation.
On motion of W.W. McLaughlin it was determined that three trustees be appointed for the association H.M. Allen, W.W. McLaughlin, Steven Smith was duly elected trustees of said Assosiation, Stephen Smith holds his office for 3 years. H.M. Allen holds his office for two years. W.W. McLaughlin holds his office for one year.
On motion of W.W. McLaughlin the time for holding the annual meeting of this Assosiation Hereafter was fixed on the first Saturday of March at 1 p.m.
On motion of George Fletcher the report of the committee on the site for the cemetery was accepted without amendment. The trustees of said Assosiation appointed H.M. Allen president and W.P. Patterson secretary and Andrew Bennett
treasurer.
Procuring and holding lands to be used exclusively for a cemetery...
By the 29th of March, 1853 they met with Justice of the peace Sylvester Gray (plot 74N) and formed the “Brooklyn Cemetery Assosiation” [sic] for “for the purpose of procuring and holding lands to be used exclusively for a cemetery.”. Judge Gray created and witnessed the legal document .
State of Wisconsin
Green County
Town of Brooklyn
We the undersigned do herby certify, that on the 26th day of March 1853 at the school house in the school district No. 10 in said town County and State aforesaid W.W. McLaughlin, H.M. Allen, George Fletcher, Wm. B. Patterson, Thomas King, Andrew Bennet, Daniel Northrum, Stephen Smith, E. Collier, Otis Thompson, Jermiah Anderson, James N. Patterson residing in said county, met to form an assosiation[sic] for the purpose of procuring and holding lands to be used exclusively for a cemetery.
Whereupon by a note of the majority of said persons the undersigned H.M. Allen was duly elected chariman, and Wm. B. Patterson secretary of said meeting and the said persons did then and there determine tha tthe said assosiation[sic] shall be called the Brooklyn cemetery assosiation[sic], the annual meeting of said assosiation[sic] shall be held on the first saturday of March of each year that the number of the trustees to manage the affairs of the same shall be three, and the persons then and there elected serve Stephen Smith, H.M. Allen, W.W. McLaughlin as such trustees which having been classified by the undersigned according to the law W.W. McLaughlin is to hold his office as such trustee for one year H.M. Allen for two years Stephen Smith for three years.
Witness our hands this 29th day of March 1853
Signed and acknowledged before me this 29th day of March, 1853
(signed)
Sylvester Gray | Justice of the Peace
H.M. Allen | Chairman
Wm. B. Patterson | Secretary
Creating the rules and improving the grounds..
By April 30th, 1853, a meeting of the members of the Brooklyn Cemetery Association was held at the Stone School House for the purpose of creating the association by-laws.
This is interesting as at this time they had not yet bought the land.
H.M Allen presided over the meeting as the chairman and W.B Paterson was present as the secretary. The first order of business they successfully executed was to make a fence around the cemetery:
Brooklyn April 30th 1853
At a meeting of the members of the Brooklyn Cemetery association held at the stone school house in said town for the purpose of making by laws and other business that may come before the meeting. H.M Allen presided as chairman and W.B. Patterson was present as secretary.
On motion of Wm B Patterson the meeting resolved that the ground be fenced with a pine board fence with (white or bur) oak posts the fence 4 1/2 feet high with the posted 2 1/2 feet in the ground the posts 5 inches square athe butt and 2 by 5 at the top the bottom board 1 foot wide th other three 6 inches wide with a cap on top and in front of every post with a gate 10 feet long on the east side in the center and on 4 feet wide on the south side in the center said gates hung with iron hinges the posts are not exceed 8 feet apart the post for the ten foot gae 1 foot square the above motion carried by a large majority.
On motion of W.W. McLaughlin it was resolved that the ground be laid off with a broad aisle through the center from east to west the lots 16ft east and west and 20 ft north and south with the lots running north and south with a 4 ft aisle between the teirs of lots the motion carried
A motion of M.M McLaughlin the price of the lots was fixed at $1.50.
A motion of M.M McLaughlin the last motion was rescinded.
On motion of J N Patterson, the lots are to be surveyed and sold to the highest bidder at auction.
On motion of M.M McLaughlin the day of sale is to be on the 28th day of May and also for the letting of the job for the fence.
Buying the land..
In 1862, U.S. Congress passed legislation to establish a national network of colleges devoted to agriculture and mechanics. Known as the “land-grant” system, each state received an allotment of federal land to pay for its new school. The mission of these land-grant schools as set forth in the 1862 Act was to focus on the teaching of practical agriculture, science, military science, and engineering without excluding classical studies as a response to the industrial revolution. Wisconsin received 240,000 acres funding the University of Wisconsin.
The 40 acres of land that Patterson, McLaughlin, King, and Smith selected was part of that land grant. So on February 10th 1863, arrangements were made to purchase the land from the University of Wisconsin and on that day for the sum of $140.96, the deed to the property was written to the Brooklyn Cemetery Association:
The State of Wisconsin To whom these Presents shall come, Greeting:
Whereas, by several acts of Congress of the United States one hundred and fourty-five sections of the Public Lands of this State were granted to said state of Wisconsin for use and support of a University and said Grants were accepted for such use and we're as it appears by the reports and records of the commissioners of School and University lands, that full payment was made by
Brooklyn Cemetery Association
on the 10th day of February of A.D. 1863 according to the provisions of law for the following describe tract of land past of the land so granted to wit the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section fifteen(15) in the township number four(4) north of the range of no. nine(9) East containing 40 acres more or less according to government survey and situated in the county of Green and State of Wisconsin according to the official plats of the Survey of the lands returned to the office of the Secretary of State by the appraisers of such lands, as provided by law which said had been purchased in pursuance of law by the said Brooklyn Cemetery Association for the sum of $140.96.
Now know ye, That the State of Wisconsin in consideration of the premises, and in Conformity with several acts of the Legislature of the State of Wisconsin, in such case made and provided have bargained sold granted and conveyed and by these presents do bargain sell Grant and convey unto the said Brooklyn Cemetery Association and to their heirs and assigns the said tract above-described: To Have and to Hold the Same together with all RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES, IMMUNITIES AND APPURTENANCES of whatsoever nature thereunto belonging unto the said Brooklyn Cemetery Association and to their heirs and assigns forever.
In Testimony Whereof, We, James Lewis, Samuel D. Hastings,and Winfield Smith - Commissioners of the School and University Lands of the State of Wisconsin have caused these letters to be made patent and the Secretary of state has caused the Great Seal of the the said state to be hereunto affixed given under our hands at Madison this nineteenth day of February in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Signed
James T Lewis Secretary of State
Samuel D. Hastings State Treasurer
Winfield Smith Attorney General
Commissioners of School and University lands
So where was it?
This gave the Brooklyn Cemetery Association ownership of 40 acres in the south eastern corner of section 15 in the township of Brooklyn.
Four years later, in 1867 the association sold thirty-six and a half acres, to Otis Thompson (section 11S) for $100 on May 7, 1867 holding back three acres for the cemetery grounds. J. Hazeltine the Association president, L.D Sawin the treasurer, and B.S Axtell, Notary Public of Green County witnessed the transaction.
In the corner this 1873 plat map, you can see Albany Wisconsin in the lower left corner and the Village of Brooklyn in the upper right corner.
The red highlighted section 15 is enlarged to show the Thompson 40 acre lot, and in the lower right corner of that.....is the cemetery.
Whats in a name?
On December 7th, 1863 at 8 a.m, Patent 2150 was registered for the name “Brooklyn Cemetery Association” at the State of Wisconsin at the Green Country Registrar’s office.
The cemetery was originally known as “Brooklyn Cemetery” and also as the “Stone Schoolhouse Cemetery”, named for the stone school house that was adjacent to it.
The Stone Schoolhouse later became the Jug Prairie Schoolhouse. The name “Jug Prairie” derives from a remark by one of the early settlers who traveled one day to Rock County to trade.
So many of his neighbors asked him to take vinegar and molasses to Rock County that by the time he reached his destination he had over a dozen jugs in his wagon.
To the jokes of the bystanders, as he drove up to the store he replied, “Oh yes, I come from the Jug Prairie!” and in spite of the good people of the prairie wishing to change the name to “Temperance Prairie”, the name has stuck ever since.
What did the first people get when they bought a plot?
As early as 1857, the newly formed Brooklyn Cemetery Association began letting members of the community buy plots in the cemetery.
Among the first was George Fletcher (15S). He bought his plot on March 21st, 1857.
You can see that his receipt is signed by president W.W McLaughlin (8N) and the secretary G. Montgomery (23N).