Brodtville is an unincorporated settlement north of Blake's Prairie where many of the Harris family settled. There was some debate about naming the settlement Harrisville, but the Brodt family prevailed.
BRODTVILLE - 1991
The first settlers came to Brodtville on February 11, 1847 from the eastern part of the United States by teams of oxen, bringing with them only the bare necessities of life. The area of Brodtville was chosen by them over the more productive prairie land to the south because of the large number of trees in the area. The settlers were very poor and mostly of English descent.
Starting a new life in this unsettled country was not easy. Log cabins were built from the surrounding trees. The cracks between the logs were filled with a mixture of mud and moss. The roof was shingled with homemade shingles and the floors covered with rough hewn boards. Clearing the land for crops and grubbing out the stumps with the aid of oxen and a grub hoe was a slow and difficult task.
The only means Brodtville Settlers had of making a living was from the land. They were either engaged in farming or lumbering. The farming equipment was very meager, consisting of a shovel plow, rake, scythe, and flail. One of the main crops in the area was wheat. There was also some oats, corn and flax grown. When a farmer needed some of the wheat made into flour, he would place one sack of wheat ahead of him on his horse and the other behind him. After the wheat was ground into flour at the mill, he would return it the same way.
The principle markets for their products were in Wyalusing, Prairie du Chien, and Mineral Point. When the longer distances were involved, families would join together to make the trip. This could take as long as a week. The average price received was their wheat was $1.25 per bushel.
Much of the clothing was made from home grown flax. The light for their cabins was provided by candles, but if they had no candles, they would burn a rag in grease, although this made a bad odor.
The first store and post office was operated by Mrs. John Day. Mail was received about twice a week. Other businesses that sprang up and flourished here were a blacksmith shop, cheese factory, and creamery.
These early settlers soon realized that they needed a school to educate their children, and a place to worship. In 1851 they built a school house of logs that could also be used as a church. The early school had about 20 students ranging in age from 4 to 20 years of age. The first teacher in the school was Angeline Palmer who was married and had two children. She would ride a horse to school with her two children, one in front of her and one in back of her. Her main text books were from McGuffey. When discipline needed to be enforced, the teacher would send a boy out to cut a long switch for the spanking. The school house served their spiritual needs well on Sunday for the services were well attended.
1912
Students at Brodtville School
ADA and BERNIECE - back row
third and fourth from right
This building was also the center of the social life of the community. The people had a close feeling toward each other spending a great deal of time working and playing together. In the years that followed, the people of the community would build four different schools on that same location. Many dances and card parties were held in the multi-purpose school. It was also appropriate that they should establish a cemetery just north of the school.
The school was closed in 1959 and the students transported to other schools. The school still stands and is used for community activities. Many of the "Old Timers" are brought back to the Brodtville Cemetery to be buried. Some of them have their funeral services from this building, other families have a lunch or dinner here to eulogize the person who has gone, and meet again with old friends.
Original Harris land in Brodtville
Brodtville consisted of predominately small farms in the early years, but these farms have now been bought up by a few farmers who operate large dairies. With the use of commercial fertilizers, strip cropping and crop rotations, these once eroding hillsides have been made into productive farms. Most of the businesses that were once here no longer operate, but the close feeling of Brodtville people toward each other still exists no matter where they now reside.
1991
Modern buildings on original
Harris Farm
The last of the four school houses still stands and although the outside needs paint, the inside of the building remains well kept. It is equipped with card tables, chairs and with a piano to accompany the singing that is still done there.
Source: Viola Yost Gilkes of Prairie du Chien, was born in 1915 and wrote the history of Brodtville when she was in the seventh grade in 1926.