My mother gave me a clear account of many of the details as she lived from birth till she was in her teens there.

Mother moved to the Lyons farm when she was three. Her girlhood home is no longer standing but many older residents remember the buildings that stood just North of the road that goes from the Lyons bridge toward the Phiel Hill. Henery Holderman came with his parents to Valton county about 1867. They stayed in a house just East of Wencil Rott's two story house till a place could be located. Between the Rott brothers farms along the road has stood an old house that was moved from its original foundation just South of Al Jackson's buildings and below the road. Charley Gibbons, the father of Ezra, William, Henry and Janie (Gibbons) Hutchens, was perhaps the first to live in this house.

The Al Jackson farm has been in the family of James Mortimer ever since it was settled. Houses they have lived in have been located in three different places, all within a few rods of each other. The original home was a log house and barn attached that was built a little ways North of the present residence.

On the farm East of the James Mortimer farm was built a fine residence that still had a glimmer of its ancient glory. John Mortimer, the one who wrote the letter reproduced in chapter 5, settled this farm. While they lived there, John's daughter Martha started through the woods to take a short cut to see Janie Gibbons. She was going to invite Janie to a birthday party. She got to near the place the men were clearing out the timber. The men saw her and shouted for her to run, but the tree had her number. She was 8 years old.

On the ridge west of Mortimer Valley where Ronald Mortimer now lives is one of the oldest houses in the Country. This farm was settled by Sam Cannon and the farm that Jasper Shore farmed, just West of Al Jackson's, was the old James Cannon farm. Ira Cannon was an early occupant of the farm the Harry Jordan's have owned for many years. Sam and Jim Cannon were brothers. Two or three farms have been left out of this account of Mortimer Valley. The reason: Not much is known at the present about the original owners.

I've been told that there was once a house between Keith and Ralph Mortimers. It was on the knoll below the road--west side and when Elijah Hollingshead moved to Valton, he lived in this house. Where Keith Mortimer lives there was a house that Josephus Good lived in. A son lived East of there on a side hill. Josephus lived on the Wencil Rott place before coming to the Keith Mortimer farm. When Anna Mortimer was a girl, Simon Davis, then an old man, lived on the Keith Mortimer farm.

Louis Hutchens, the father of William Hutchens settled just East of Leo Thompson's house on the farm East of Valton. Then he moved to Valton, living in a little log house located where Rev. Elmer now lives. His neighbor across the street, North, was my Grandfather John Murdock.

The farm that Will Mortimer owned for many years was, before that, owned by Nathan Harvey. He taught the White Oak School when my father went to school there. Caleb Harvey, the original owner, was the one who built a grist mill. See chapter 2.

Luke and Eliza Hall, colored folks, lived up the Valley South from Valton on the farm owned by John Mortimer, who was fatally burned while out burning cornstalks. Perhaps the first one to live on this house was San Davisson, The farm bordering Valton on the East was owned many years ago by Cy Cox who was a blacksmith. When I was a boy the farm was owned by the Petersons, one of their boys married Ethel Hutchens.

The Chamness Hill was named after Mr. and Mrs. William Chamness who lived in the house across the ravine from the Hill Road. Later Marvin and Ethel Peterson lived there and then Arthur and Mary Bibeaut. In the woods farther up the narrow Valley I can remember attending a pleasant picnic put on by the Sunday School of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. The tall pine tree standing in the Valley below the road used to have another pine to keep it company. It was set out many years ago by Tommy Hutchens, father of Ira Hutchens and Grandfather of Melan Hutchens.

The Ben Small farm that can only by reached from a pasture road leading from the foot of Chamness Hill was owned by Sam Thompson and he and his family lived there for a while after 1901. Before that time, when Dr. John Thompson sold his mill at Valton, he bought four forties and lives where Fred and Mabel Hutchens lived for many years. The barn on this place is thought to be one of the oldest in the community. The barn on the William Mortimer place may share the same honors also.

The above description has made a circle around Valton. Some places have been left out due only to the fact that I don't have information on the earliest residences of those places.

As far as I am able to determine, the oldest house in Valton is the one where Alvin Stanley now lives. Carl and Ole olson once lived there and carried on their trade of shoemaking. William Hollingshead lived there around 1874. Phineas Bundy, a blind man moved there after the Olson's left. Then Caleb Harvey lived there next. Stanley's have lived there now for many years.

On this same block and South of the Stanley house there used to be two residences. One was just across the road from Levi Goods house. Simon Small and his family lived there. Between this house and the Stanley house lived the Si Hockett family. Later it was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Joiner. Their nephew, George Synder, was county supernatant for years and is mentioned on pages 40-41. He did not live in this house as stated, but lived with his parents in Plum Valley.

The house on the hill west of town known as the Noah Mortimer residence, in the past years is not the oldest one to be built there. Perhaps the first house to be built there was built by Alonzo Mc Coon. The first resident of that farm. He kept a store and post office in his home. The next occupant was Charles Spaulding. Ephrim Small moved the house farther back and built the present house now occupied by Anna Mortimer. When Noah Mortimer bought the place, he used the original house for the pigs.

The house just west of the Big store was built in 1902 by Louis Lee. Jim Hutchens bought the house from Lee. Others who lived there after this were Roy and Bernice Mortimer and the Arthur Bruce family. The owners of the Big Store are named on page 8.

The Ole Jacobson store across the street has had a interesting history. The one that is there now is not the original structure however, Wilson Mortimer built the original building, also the two story, and used it for the store, selling hardware. Then Moses Hutchens bought it and kept store for a number of years for a man in Wonewoc named Funk.

Those who kept the store lived on the second floor. (I have been told that the second story was used as a hall). When Moses Hutchens was using the building it burned. Melvin Huffman then built the present structure that is being used by Ole Jacobson. This building has also been used for a blacksmith shop, foundry and garage. Heywood Frazier bought the building from Melvin Huffman.

The building just East of the Jacobson store was Valton's Post Office for many years, till July 15, 1915. Wilson Mortimer at the same time used it for a grocery store. (I have no information on the earliest owner and builder of this store.)

The house where Mary Landsinger lives now was built by John Murdock, about 1884. He lived there until he moved to the farm in 1888. Wilson Mortimer bought the property and built on an addition to the house.

Now we'll take you to the corner of the block across the street South of the Jacobson store. There used to be a store on this corner also that was owned by Mose Hutchens. Then when Ezra Gibbons owned it. He sold furniture. Mrs. Phineas Bundy owned the property in 1774. This store was later moved to the spot you may see it now, facing the road next to Susie Mortimer's house. Susie's house or a part of it was moved from the Oaks (Friendswood) where it had seen service as a grocery and Post Office. Willian Mitchell did the moving.

When my mother was a girl, there was a log house just East of Susie's house where Mr. and Mrs. Greene lived. Noah Mortimer married there daughter, Winnie. Elijah Hollingshead lived there next, then Louis Hutchens. He was Ella Carpenter's father. All of this happened before 1888. John Locke was the next and perhaps the last occupant. He was a blacksmith. My Grandfather bought a workbench from him.

Where Rev. Elmer lives, there once was a store. Sam Thompson rented this building of Moses Hutchens who had built the building. He put in a good stock of hardware and also some jewelry and cutlery. Sam also mended watches and clocks. This was for two years after 1899. Then the Wonewoc Telephone Company installed a pay phone. The Thompson family then lived in the Rhiney Hendricks house. After two years they moved to the Ben Small home. When I was a boy, this store was used as a repair shop by William Mitchell. In recent years Thompsons came to live in this house and had a little shop in the front. Elisha Hollingshead had also owned this property.

The Levi Good property was owned by Phineas Bundy in 1874. Around 1888 Mrs. Rebetz lived there with one child. Her husband worked away somewhere but would send her money. Finally he came back and set up a shoe shop where he made and repaired shoes. Frank Jones built the Levi Good house. Joe Rebetz bought it from him.

East of Levi Good's house used to be the scene of a great deal of activity. Jones and Mortimer's had a Sorghum Mill that produced 4000 gallons of syrup a season. There also was a saw mill and a grist mill owned by John Thompson. Just South of the spot where the creamery stood there was once a log house where Marion Frazier, Diza Davis and others have lived. East of this house Asa Stuck's house stood. Steve Ern ran a grist mill and lived there before Stuck.

The Mary Small house had a interesting history. Dave Thompson bought a house that used to stand on the ridge, North of the house where Harry Bradley lived for a few years before moving to Ironton. This house was cut in two parts. One was moved only to the site of the Bradley buildings. The other half was moved to Valton and is now part of the Mary Small house. Dave Thompson lived here while he ran the grist mill at Valton.

Ray Berberich house was first owned or occupied by Mr. Miller. William Gibbons then owned it for many years till Ray Berberich bought it. The building just West has already been mentioned as the meeting place of the Dunkard Brethren. A hall just East of the Gibbons home was once used as a Post Office and Mr. Gibbons was Postmaster. Bill sold a few things also. Dr. Slack lived there when he was at Valton. In recent years it was used as a dance hall. Berberich used it for a garage for several years before tearing it down. Near this building (or it might have been the same building) was the old Valton school. That was moved from the spot where the new brick school now stands. Willian Gibbons used it for a stable.

Eddie Small's house was built by Will Chamness near the Hendericks blacksmith shop. Later Chamness moved it to it's present location. He repaired watches there. Mrs. Mary Rebetz lived there next. Then Mary Thompson. Her daughter was Mary Gardner who was one of the last owners. Oscar Thompson, not Chamness, may have built this.

Across the street, the new house owned and built by Rev. Guy Hahn was an enlargement of a house moved there from the lot where Roy Gibeaut used to live. Before that the house stood West of the road where you turn into Archie Shore's driveway. Before building this house over, Rev. Hahn leveled the old house Charley and Minnie Good lived in for years. This house was once moved here by Wilson Mortimer's sister May. She moved it from the place near where Rhiney Hendericks house now stands. While it stood there the following people lived in it: Enoch Horine, Simon Davis, Moses Hutchens and Roy Carpenter.

On the other side of the block where the Wesleyan parsonage stands there was a hoop mill once. Jim Lee bought the lot and built the house. Sam Thompson bought it and finally sold it to the Church for a parsonage about 1917 or 1918.

The Frank Beier home was originally located on the old Arthur Bunker place, just South of Elmer Henderson's buildings. Heywood Frazier moved it to its present location and made it his home for a number of years.

The house where Mrs. Fred Mortimer lives was the home of John Deerholt when my mother was a girl. Others who lived there were : Milton Smith, Motensons, Jim Jackson (Al's father), Bill Mayo, Mel Stoutenger and Mrs. Fred Mortimer. When the Deerholts lived there Mr. Deerholt had a blacksmith shop on the corner of the block East of Rev. Hahn's home.

Where Glenn Mortimer lives there once was a log house and Eli Horton was the first to live there. It burned down when Thomas Page owned it. William Shore bought it from Page. I'm not informed about who built the house. The Ezra Shore's lived in the house till the Glenn Mortimer's moved in there.

Where the Friends Church stands today once stood a residence till 1890. The Friends held their meetings in this house.

August Landsinger's house is the only one standing today, but it was the middle house when there was three standing in a row. Percy Miller lived in the West house. Mr. Craig occupied the East house. The last named building was torn down when Anna Mortimer was a girl in school. In 1874, E. A. Miller owned the center house.

The residence of William Gibeaut was built by Will Ballentine Sr.. He bought the property from John Murdock. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt lived here when they kept the Big Store.

This Ballentine house also has been the home of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Horton (parents of Dell Mortimer), Mr. and Mrs. Pratt and Minnie and Oscar Shore.

The house Lyle Dietz and family now occupy was originally built by Levi Frazier (grandfather of Tom Cannon). When the Frost family from the South lived in Valton one winter they made this their home. Mr. Frost was a evangelistic singer. We enjoyed listening to the children talk the was people do in the South. Leo Thompsons lived here in recent years.

Dave Miller once lived where Wilson and Dell Mortimer later lived for many years. It is the farm North of the Friends Church. Dave Miller and wife use to live in the house where Alvin Stanley lives now.

Clifford Day's home was once known as the Will Chamness place. Mr. Chamness owned the acres around it also.

Roy Carpenter built the house that he lived in with his family for many years. Everet Mortimer lives there now.

More information in on hand on the August Landsinger house. Lester Clemens may have been the first to live there. He owned the farm also. Craig's may have lived in the house East of this. The house on the left side was occupied for some time by the United Brethren minister named Rev. Wood. Perhaps Cass Wells were the first to live in the house just West of August Landsinger. John Fink bought it from them. Oscar Shore and family lived in August's house a few years.

Settlers in Mortimer Valley: Mortimer Valley is not a large valley but quite a number of Mortimer's have lived there in the past and up to the present. The farm where Millie and Arthur Hutchens have lived for a number of years was originally known as the Simeon Mortimer place. Sam Mortimer lived West of Simeon on the hill. Their buildings were East and south of the road leading from Ronald Mortimer's farm to Harry Jordan's. Later Sam bought out Frank Thomas who owned the place that later became know as Dave Mortimer and Oliver Mortimer farm. Harold Mortimer lived there now. Others notes on the Mortimer's who settled in this Valley are else where in this history.

The farm where Archie and Ida Shore live was owned many years ago by Mr and Mrs Clayton. Mrs. Clayton was the mother of Dave, George and Mary (Benson) Miller. Bert and Susie Mortimer had this farm when I was a Boy. They were building the barn when the carpenters, the Retzloff brothers, fell off the lower side and landed on a stone pile. They were seriously hurt, but lived to work again at the same kind of work.

The buildings at the foot of the hill North of Archie Shore farm was once owned by William Bradley. The house that used to be above the road was there Mr. Bradley's father lived. One of the last occupants of this house was the Ezra Shore family.

The Hans Thompson family, Norwegians, lived across the Valley North from Leo Thompson's farm. There are two sets of buildings there. The place above the road where Ervin Bradley used to live and known earlier as the Jimmy Stanley home was next door neighbors to the Thompsons. Hans could not talk English very good but could sing very well in meetings at the Church.

Not much have been said about the early reads. The roads used to go West from the two above places along the hill to the Lyons place now owned by Joe Stittleburg. A map of 1880 showing the roads in the town of Woodland does not show the road now used going from Valton to Cazenovia. There used to be a road from Dolph Mortimers going South over the hill towards Valton. This road had so many disadvantages of travel and upkeep that it was abandoned even though it made a nice short cut to town from Mortimer Valley.

The Miller addition was so named because one or more Millers owned it. E. A. Miller owned 13 lots of this addition. William Craig had the lot near August Landsinger's house. The two lots on the West side, part of which is owned by Mrs. Fred Mortimer, was owned by Elisha Hollingshead in 1874. The land now owned by Glenn Mortimer, was owned by Lester Greene. Ben Burdick owned the lots now known as the property of the Friends Church and Mrs. Oscar Shore.

Block no. 1 now owned partly by Ray Berberich was then owned by Caleb Harvey, North-West Corner-A. Mullenix, North-East corner (The back side of the block) was all owned by Dr. Thompson. John Thompson also owned the South-East corner of the block West of block no. 2.

In block no. 2, the front side, North-West half owned by Mrs. P. Bundy. The North-East half was owned by M. T. Green. Phineas Bundy then owned the lots where Levi Good resided for many years.

Blocks no. 3 and 4 now owned by Alvin Stanley was owned in 1874 by William Hollingshead.

Lester Clemens owned most of blocks 5 and 6 except the lots taken out for the school.

The west side of block 7 was owned by Mrs. C. J. Wells. John Murdock owned the rest of the block. Ole Jacobeans store is now on Mrs. Wells property. John Murdock then owned blocks no. 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. These blocks are on the North and West side of Valton. The owner of Block no. 15 is unknown in 1874. J. V. Mullenix owned it two years after this. John Mortimer owned blocks no. 9 and 16.

Block 8 was owned by A. Benson-West half and William Hutchens-East half. The owners in 1878 were A. B. Stuck and George James respectively. This block is now owned by Hendericks, Hahn, Beiers etc. In 1876 Philemon Jackson had about two lots on the West side of the lots owned by John Thompson. E. W. Blakslee bought block 14 from John Murdock.

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