--=======19CF851======= Content-Type: text/plain; x-avg-checked=avg-ok-6B9DF1C; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Ms. Hogle, A definitive source you may wish to consult to determine which Wood County township your ancestor may have lived in is the 1923 "History of Wood County." Chapter VIII of that book, entitled "County and Town Organization," on pages 60-68, provide excruciating detail on when the various townships were formed and the exact legal descriptions of the territory of which those townships were comprised, from the time that Wood County was established in 1856. You should also find the chapter on the history of Marshfield to be useful. Our library has electronically published this book and it is available at the following URL on our website: http://www.scls.lib.wi.us/mcm/wood_county/index.html The "Atlas of historical county boundaries. Wisconsin" by John H. Long, editor, compiled by Gordon DenBoer, confirms that at the time of the 1860 census, the county boundaries of present-day northwest Wood County, Wisconsin were the same then as they are today. However, one should not presume that, because someone said they came from "Marshfield," that a "Marshfield" existed at that time (as in this case it didn't), or indeed that they were even in Wood County (even if the death record says so--it is safe to say that death record data is always information from an informant and not from the subject:). Consider that, according to the "Population Abstract of the United States," the ENTIRE populations of these counties in 1860 were only: Marathon: 2892 Wood: 2425 (of which 1484 were in the combined towns of Grand Rapids and Centralia, which eventually became Wisconsin Rapids in the opposite corner of the county) Clark: 789 Given present-day Marshfield's proximity to both Marathon and Clark counties, I would recommend they definitely be checked as well. Good luck! At 06:25 PM 2/26/02 EST, Gama2Mac@aol.com wrote: >In a message dated 2/26/02 7:12:19 AM Central Standard Time, >WIWOOD-D-request@rootsweb.com writes: >> The southern part of Wood County was settled first. Marshfield was founded >> circa 1872 and did not have its own post office until 1873--that's why it >> is not found on the 1860 or 1870 census. Centralia, Dexter, Grand Rapids, >> Hemlock, Rudolph and Saratoga were listed on the 1860 census--I'm gradually >> getting those transcribed for the Wood Co pages so you might find your >> relatives there--or in Marathon Co to the north?? >Thanks to all who answered my inquiry. >Prior to Marshfield becoming a town in 1872, people who lived in that area >must have had some sort of address or town affiliation. What is the best bet >for where it would be? Would it have been Marathon County or Wood County? >What town might have been the closest? I read every line of the 1860 census >records and didn't find either of the families I am looking for. I didn't >find them in 1870 either, but I may have been looking in the wrong place. >All I have to go on is a death record that says he was born in Marshfield, >Wood, WI and family history that says that is where the couple met. >I am grasping at straws I suppose, but that is what we do best I think. >Jo Hogle Don Litzer Head of Adult Services McMillan Memorial Library 490 E. Grand Avenue Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494 (715) 423-1040 "Happiness = Reality - Expectations" --=======19CF851=======--