The village of Argyle in southern Lafayette County will be celebrating its 175th anniversary with three days of events next month.
Argyle is a part of Wisconsin’s rich mining history. The settlement cropped up in 1844 at a ford on the Pecatonica River, which was along the “Lead Road” leading from one lead-mining settlement to another.
According to the village’s online history page, the settlement was named Argyle by blacksmith Allan Wright, in honor of the Duke of Argyll. Wright was a Scottish immigrant and eventually became the first village postmaster. Necessary businesses quickly became part of Argyle with the construction of a saw mill in 1850, a flour mill in 1852 and a hotel in 1853. The flow of the Pecatonica River provided the power for the saw mill and flour mill. It also provided a route for transportation downstream.
The landscape in those early days was mainly prairie and although there was a saw mill in Argyle, lumber of vast quantities was difficult to find, unlike in the thick forests of northern Wisconsin. Buildings for commercial use were originally made of limestone. While early settlement in Wisconsin was tied to lead mining, the California Gold Rush of 1849 and then subsequent mining opportunities eventually caused the departure of many of the original settlers. Meanwhile, European immigrants were arriving on the east coast of the United States at a rapid pace in order to escape feudal land administration and find areas productive to farm. These immigrants, of many different ethnicities, began to settle in southern Wisconsin, having found the state’s soil — Antigo Silt Loam and other mixtures of productive soil consistencies — excellent for many types of subsistence and cash crops.
A list of early settlers of note includes William S. Hamilton, Robert Threadgold, Allen Mitchell, Andrew Arnot, Joseph Eldred, John Z. Saxton, James Seymour Waddington, Allanson Partridge, James Sardeson, Henry J. Hendrickson, David Covey, Ole Nelson, Gulbrand Vinger, William Campbell, Lars A. Rossing, Martin Rude and George Gaskill. These settlers were land agents, cobblers, homesteaders, smiths, millers, businessmen, weavers and miners. They often served in local government. setting the course for the entire community.
In the mid-1850s, settlers could buy land in the area from the government for about 75 cents per acre. A Methodist church was chartered in Argyle in 1857.
Argyle was not without growing pains as there was a prohibition movement in the village during its early years that led to laws making Argyle a “dry” municipality. This often put prominent citizens at odds with some hotel owners upset by the inability to serve alcohol to travelers.
Argyle was the boyhood home of Wisconsin Congressman and Governor Robert “Fighting Bob” LaFollette. Born in 1855, LaFollette’s father died in 1862 and his mother married Saxton, already mentioned as a prominent local citizen, who was a wealthy store owner. Unfortunately, Saxton was also hard of hearing and a strict disciplinarian. LaFollette’s upbringing was often unpleasant. As a young man, La Follette left Argyle to attend the University of Wisconsin while managing his biological father’s family farm at Primrose. The home where LaFollette grew up is a Wisconsin historical site restored by Historic Argyle Inc. LaFollette spent 25 years serving Wisconsin in both the House of Representatives and the United States Senate and is considered one of the finest political statesmen in our nation’s history. By the 1880s, Argyle’s population had increased to about 500 people and the village was quite “metropolitan” by Wisconsin standards with a variety of general stores, carpenters, livestock brokers, blacksmiths and people skilled in many trades. Argyle was a center of commerce for farming and a stop for traveling businessmen and those heading farther west. The Freeport, Dodgeville and Northern Railroad Company put together 57 miles of rail lines passing through Woodford, Argyle, Blanchardville and Hollandale — among other communities — in 1888. This led to further expansion in Argyle with warehouses, a livestock exchange, shipping and a regional thriving creamery and cheesemaking industry. A Lutheran church was chartered in 1881 and the area had churches of several denominations. A local high school was constructed in the village in 1883 with the first graduating class of three students receiving their diplomas in 1886. Argyle endured the changes of the 20th century and remains a key crossroads community on Wisconsin 81 and Wis. 78. Its current population, according to the census bureau, is 822.
The 175th Celebration of Argyle is set for July 26 through 29 with a local tractor pull, antique tractor show, a run/walk, family events at the fire department, car show, cemetery walk, an all-community church service and parade. All of our local communities are steeped in history that has become interwoven over time. Marking milestones in our history helps us remember the struggles of those who came before us, cared for the land and handed down something valuable to a new generation.
— Matt Johnson is publisher of the Monroe Times. His column is published Wednesdays.
