Search our Places Database

Day, Township of

Return To List of Locations | Back to Search

For more information on this location, please contact our research library.

Author:
Mary Forer

Location:
T. 26 N. - R. 4 E.

Founded:
1868

Formallized:
1881

Background:

Population: 1905-966,1920-966(present size twp) 2000-1,023.

Dating back to 1868, a small settlement existed in Township 26 North, Range 4 East known as the Campbell Settlement. The settlement was named after the Campbell brothers who moved to the area from Weeks mill on the Eau Claire River. These first settlers did not make much progress as farmers. After the Wisconsin Railroad ran its line north of Stevens Point in the early 1870s, new settlers began to arrive. These settlers were farmers from the southern part of the state and experienced in clearing land for farming. A few short years later, large farms began appearing in the area.

First Public Official:
Andrew Daul, Chairman

Biography:

Andrew Daul came to the Town of Day in 1878 and erected a saw mill in the Rozellville area. He was the son of Carl and Gertrude Daul of the Seymour, Wisconsin area in Outagamie County.

About The Post Office:

See Village of Rozellville

Railroad:

The Central Wisconsin Railroad was built in the 1890s between Chicago and Minneapolis. They owned land in the Rozellville area, but did not feel that it was financially feasible to build a line through the area. Another railroad was built through the town of McMillan. It had been suggested that this line go through Rozellville but was by-passed for the Connor Lumber Company, in what is now Stratford, and the timber owned by the McMillans. Later a spur was built by the Connor Lumber Co. extending east from Halder called the Marathon County Railway, and another spur that reached out to Rice Lake Flowage. This line passed within two miles of Rozellville, but Rozellville never did get the service of the railroads.

Churches:

The first masses offered in Rozellville were in 1881. Originally the Catholic church was a mission church of St. Mary's in Marathon City with Reverend J. Reisser holding services. Later it became a part of the Marshfield parish which was much closer in distance. See Rozellville for more information.

The Lutheran congregation also built a church in Sect. 4 where regular services were held by Reverend Thom from Marshfield.

Schools:

The first school was built of logs in 1882 or 1883 east of the Town of Day Cemetery. It soon became too small, and a new school was built two miles east and one half mile south of Rozellville. In 1919 this district was split into two schools, one of which was the Willis School located in Section 12. This school was eventually moved to the Town of Green Valley. The other school became the McKinley School built in 1921 and located in Section 13. This school continued until 1964.

The Riverside School was also built of logs in 1885 in what was known as Riverside, which was then the Town of Day and later became part of the Town of McMillan.

The Taft School was built in 1887 in Rozellville and later moved two miles south of its original location.

The Arthur School was located in Section 4, one mile north and one-fourth mile west of Rozellville.

The Garfield (District 1) School located in section 17 began a six month term on 11/1/1895. In 1949, the school was attached to the Stratford school system and the building was sold.

In 1900, St. Andrew's Parish started their own school in the old church building.

Business:

See Village of Rozellville

Industry:

See Village of Rozellville

Farming:

The early settlers did not make much progress as farmers. After the Wisconsin Railroad ran its line north of Stevens Point in the early 1870s, new settlers began to arrive. These settlers were farmers from the southern part of the state and experienced in clearing land for farming. A few short years later, large farms began appearing in the area. It was in this town that corn was first raised in large quantities and it was discovered that corn would be raised profitably in the County.