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Unity, Village of

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Author:
Mary Moltzan

Location:
T. 27 N. - R. 2 E., Sec. 6 and 7, Township of Brighton

Founded:
1903

Formallized:
1906

Background:

A first incorporation in 1903 was declared invalid by the court and a second incorporation was formalized in 1906. Population: 1910-254 in Marathon Co, 2000-205 in Marathon Co.

Edmund Creed and Fritz Darlington first homesteaded in 1871. Creed's home was finished in January 1872 and Darlington's house near Creed's soon after. Their families soon followed.

First Public Official:
Alfred Cook

Post Office Established:
February 7, 1873

First Postmaster:
John Sterling

About The Post Office:

The original PO was in neighboring Clark County. It was transferred to Marathon County on April 20, 1874 from Brighton Township. Edmund Creed was appointed as the first postmaster, but according to his account, there was some discention because he was a Democrat. He refused the job, and John Sterling was appointed. There were attempts to get a PO but names chosen were already in use elsewhere in Wisconsin, and requests were refused. It is not known how the name Unity was finally decided upon.

Railroad:

The Wisconsin Central built tracks along the Marathon/Clark County line, completed in 1874. The village thus was split by both the railroad and the county line.

Churches:

1. Unity Methodist Church - organized in 1881. First church was destroyed by a tornado, and a new one was built in 1905.

2. Scandanavian Lutheran Church - built in 1901.

3. Church of Christ's Disciples - built in 1909.

These were all originally mission churches with no resident ministers.

Schools:

School #1 was a two story building built in 1910 with a four year high school course and three departments below the high school level. The original high school burned in 1890 and  was rebuilt and used until 1910. The high school was consolidated with Colby in 1954.

Industry:

Marathon County side--The Unity Manufacturing Co. operated a sawmill and cheese box manufacturing company.

Farming:

Unity was a thriving lumbering community until the Spaulding mill closed. Many people bought land that the railroads had for sale and agriculture became increasingly important, both east and west of the village, with the land being exceptionally productive.