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Knowlton, Township of

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Author:
Mary Forer

Location:
T. 26 N. - R. 7 E.

Formallized:
February 12, 1859

Background:

Population: 1920-840, 2000-1688.

The settlement in this town was one of the earliest in Marathon County. There was a tavern built in 1849 located in what was later the Village of Knowlton. (See Village of Knowlton for more information.)

The township was created by the Marathon County Board  and consisted of Township 26, Range 8 and the southern and western sections of Range 9, and all of Range 7 lying east of the Wisconsin River. On July 15, 1862, the Marathon County Board ordered that Section 26, Ranges 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and the part of 7 that is west of the Wisconsin River be set off from the Town of Mosinee and attached to the Town of Knowlton.

The name of the Town of Knowlton derives from the hotel and stage stop, the Knowlton House, originally owned and operated by Col. Knowlton. The hotel, built in the early 1800s, also sometimes housed the Knowlton Post Office.

First Public Official:
C. Washburn

About The Post Office:

See Villages of Knowlton, Ashley, and Dancy

Railroad:

The Wisconsin Valley Railroad extension was completed from Grand Rapids to Wausau in the fall of 1874 with the depot located in Knowlton.

Churches:

The first mass in the Knowlton area was celebrated in 1858 by a missionary priest who also served Wausau and Marathon City. In 1875, the first church building was erected on one acre of land donated by Leonard Guenther, owner of the Knowlton House, in the Village of Knowlton.

A Methodist congregation was organized in 1900 by Rev. Burton Richardson and services were held in the schoolhouse. In January 1905, half an acre was purchased from Wendell Stark for a church site. The same year, a chapel was built.

Schools:

1. Knowlton School, School District #1 was in Section 2.

2. Victor School, Joint School District #1 was in Section 4.

3. Kosciusko School, Joint School District #1

4. Dancy School, Joint School District #2 was in Section 31.

5. Crawford School, School District #3 was in Section 9.

Business:

See Villages of Knowlton, Dancy

Industry:

See Villages of Knowlton, Dancy