Mount Vernon
by Dr. W. J. Donald, 1877
The following description of Mt. Vernon was written by Dr. W. J. Donald and included in the book titled, "History of Madison, Dane County and Surroundings," published by WM. J. Park & Co. in 1877. Dr. Donald wrote;
"This village, of about one hundred inhabitants, is situated on the middle branch of the Sugar river, nineteen miles southwest of Madison. The location is a pleasant one, the greater part being on the East bank of the river, while on the west side, some high rocks and hills add to the picturesqueness of the scenery. On one of these rocks grew an old pine tree that was an ancient landmark to the early settlers, and a noted object of interest to visitors because of its marked distinction from all surroundings. It was blown down by a wind-storm on the evening of January 1, 1876.
The surrounding country, though rolling, is productive, and well adapted to the raising of stock and dairy purposes, and inhabited by a thrifty class of farmers, mostly of German and Norwegian origin.
The health of the place is excellent, with a remarkable exemption from epidemics, particularly scarlet fever, and cases of ague are rare.
Two religious societies are here represented, Baptist and Methodist. The Baptists have a good church edifice. The Methodists hold service in the school-house, a good stone building.
The never failing Sugar river affords two excellent water powers, with only one, as yet, improved. Its distance from Madison and other villages makes it a good point for business of all kinds; not one, in truth, can be said to be overdone. Those in business here have been, in most every instance, successful, and have continued residents of the place for many years. Mr. John Jones, proprietor of the flouring mill, learned his business here, and afterward became partner, and again eight years ago, proprietor, while he now rents the mill to C. W. Karn. Mr. I. G. Brader, Sr., who keeps an excellent general store, has been in business, with a little exception, for the past eighteen years, and has held the office of postmaster continuously since 1856. Mr. C. C. Allen furnishes a good hotel, and lately erected new buildings for the better accommodation of the traveling public.
Dr. William J. Donald, after a year's respite from business, is at his post again, as in the past eleven years. Mr. W. W. Abbott, blacksmith, and C. J. Lewis, builder and carpenter, have been residents of the place for the past twenty-five years, and in active business. Among others doing business and generally prospering may be mentioned: Foye and Rea, masons; W. W. Miner, boots and shoes; M. F. Van Norman, live stock buyer; Andrew Peterson, blacksmith; Erick Erickson, shoemaker; P. E. Call, saddler; F. A. Fix, hotel and saloon; George Wade, butcher; C. H. Lewis, carpenter; A. C. Brader, clerk; I. G. and A. C. Brader were in the mercantile business until two years ago. I. G. Brader, Jr., removed to Iowa, but has recently returned, and built himself a residence, and expects to resume business soon."