by ETHEL J. ODEGARD 7 Farewell to an Old Homestead THE associated history for of any parcel of with ground one's that home has must been associated for many years with one's home must obviously be of greatest interest to the family concerned. There may be other persons, however, whose lives impinged in one way or another upon the activities of my family and who might also be interested. Thus a bit of personal history becomes a social document. In its broadest aspects, such a record relates to the legislative or governmental aspects of a particular section of the community. Viewed more narrowly, it has to do with the transactions pertaining to the ownership of the property from the very outset, the environment shared by neighbors, and the improvements and innovations undertaken in order to maintain the homestead. As every schoolchild soon learns, Wisconsin became a state in 1848. At that time, counties, townships, villages, and towns were laid out. It was not, however, until 1874 that Lincoln County became a separate legislative unit. The legislature of Wisconsin then passed an act for the division of the County of Marathon and the creation of the County of Lincoln, to be known as "Chapter 128, Laws of 1874, published and effective, March 31, 1874." The act further stated that the territory so detached was to remain a part of Marathon 146 AN OLD HOMESTEAD County . . . until October 1, 1874, and "until the County of Lincoln is organized as provided in said Act/' Following the spurt of county organization, the towns and villages took on greater importance, both politically and socially. Sometimes it happened that a village went along for a time under a name that later was changed to one which perhaps was considered to be more in keeping with the times, or otherwise more appropriate. This happened in the community in which I was born. The delightful name of Jenny was first attached to this village on the edge of the great northern pine-tree country.1 When in 1881 the Chicago , Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway came through, the more dignified name of one of its officials was adopted. Thus it has borne the name City of Merrill ever since.2 From this time on, the town itself became more complex. Additions were attached, streets laid out and named, wards and school districts decided upon. Areas of the community were designated. Merrill has an east side and a west side, divided by the beautiful, meandering Prairie River. The governmental organization of the particular site of my home, as it is listed on the tax rolls, reveals the beginnings of local history. As set forth in "Conveyance No. 17" in the Abstract of Title to this property, the entire area was "surveyed and mapped by order and direction of V. R. Willard." It is also recorded that the "Instrument [was] certified by G. R. Sturdevant as city engineer." This platting is dated May 12, 1881, and recorded six days later, in the Lincoln County courthouse. The particular parcel of land to which I refer is known as "Lot Number Eight of Block Six, of V. R. Willarďs Addition to Merrill." This description of the spot where I was born is not cast in poetic language. Far from it. Nevertheless, it is the place which is the locale of my story. One item of a personal recollection should be added. 1 Jenny Bull Falls. * lne name memorializes bherburn banborn Merrill. 147 Ethel J. Odegard While it is extremely unlikely that I ever saw the city engineer going about his work, I am quite certain that I saw his successor, Francis E. Matthews, walking through the streets of Merrill, carrying his surveyor's transit over his shoulder. My brother, the late Peter Odegard, succeeded Matthews as city engineer. As for Sturdevant, I am told by one who knew him well that he was a "tall, lanky, whitewhiskered man, very distinguished looking." I have no knowledge of the city officials who were responsible for the naming of the streets, nor of any arguments that took place at city council meetings. But I remember very well that I was always especially...