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Bergen, Township of

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Author:
Mary Forer

Location:
T. 26 N. - R. 6 E.

Founded:
1849

Formallized:
January 10, 1870

Background:

Population: 1920-627, 2000-615.

The Town of Bergen was created on January 10, 1870 and originally consisted of Township 26 North, Ranges 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and that part of range 7 lying west of the Wisconsin River. There were many changes throughout the years. Townships Spencer, McMillan, Day and Green Valley were all formed from the western portion of the Town of Bergen including Ranges 2, 3, 4, and 5. Range 7 eventually became part of the Town of Knowlton. Bergen reached its present size in 1913.

Native American settlers, most likely Chippewas, were in this area until the reservation system was established. The only settlement in the town was the saw mill of John Week, which was one of the oldest established mills in the county on the Big Eau Plein River. It was a large mill where millions of feet of white pine were annually manufactured. This mill was located in Section 13 of Township 26, Range 5 East later to become the Town of Green Valley. There were few settlers. The Campbell Settlement was named after two Campbell brothers, Rozell and Beach, who had come to the area from Week's Mill. The Campbell Settlement area was first in the Town of Bergen but became part of the Town of Day when boundaries changed.

The origin of the township's name is believed to have come from a local settler by the last name of Bergen.

See Town of Day

First Public Official:
John Week, First Chairman and County Board Rep.

Biography:

>
John Weeks purchased a saw mill from his brother, Andrew Weeks, in 1851. It was located in Section 13. John Weeks succeeded in getting a road to his mill from Dancy, then called Hutchington, the nearest railroad station on the Wisconsin Valley Railroad. John enlarged the mill and also ran a shingle mill. Both mills burned in 1881 and were not rebuilt. He then purchased Owen Clark water power in Stevens Point.

He was one of the first Scandinavians arriving in the United States as early as 1839. He died in Stevens Point on June 14, 1891.

Churches:

The Norwegian Lutheran Church and cemetery located in Section 26 of the Town of Bergen, was visited by Rev. O.T. Boe of Wausau.

German Lutheran Church was visited by Rev. Wagner of Junction City.

A Methodist church was visited by Rev. Scott of Brokaw.

See Village of Moon

Schools:

Bergen School, School District #5 was in Section 27. The building was later used for Bergen Town Hall.

Bean's Eddy School, Joint School District #14 was in Section 12. This school only appears on the 1930 Marathon County Plat Map.

Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Section 4 also had a school.

Industry:

John Week's Sawmill and Shingle Mill

See Settlement of Moon