Town History, Links, Photos and Biographies
(SORRY - MOST LINKS ARE CURRENTLY DEAD, TO BE FIXED SOON)
BIG SPRING, by Archie R. Crothers - a personal account of Big Spring history, written in 1965
NEW HAVEN ALIAS BIG SPRING, by Solon Wesley Pierce - a four-part article from the Adams County Press from July 1886
Interpretation of "NEW HAVEN ALIAS BIG SPRING", by Kenneth Crothers - explains locations, clarifies and corrects.
1976 New Haven Plat Map (Ken's appendix 1)
1900 New Haven Plat Map (Ken's appendix 2)
1900 map of Big Spring lots (Ken's appendix 3)
Big Spring History - link to an account from the Adams County Press in the 1870's. (located about half way down the page)
Big Spring Congregational Church article & photo
1998 Dells Events article on Adams Sesquicentennial w/ early New Haven history
1914 Historical Account of Adams County, Big Spring by Maybelle Douglas
The Early Days of Briggsville by Helene Bloss , helped by Carla Lovesy, Marie Beyer and Katherine Green. (Might take 3 0r 4 minutes to download)
The Big Spring School District, written by Luke M. Vliet in 1954. (Includes other info too)
Adams County WiGen Web site - searchable site, one of the best genealogy and history resources available for Adams County.
Big Spring Cemetery - from the Adams WiGen website, includes transcripts and photos of most older tombstones. (Click link at bottom of 1st page to get to 2nd page)
New Haven/Big Spring census link - from the Adams WiGen website, includes data from 1855, 1860 and 1870 for New Haven or Big Spring.
Wisconsin Survey Records - link to original maps and survey notes from 1851 land survey in New Haven. Search under T14N, R7E, then select section number or click on "Plat Map"
New Past Press - publisher of many local histories, located in Friendship, WI. Books may be ordered from their site through this link.
Old photo of Big Spring dam and mill
Old photo of first post office
1925 photo of Badger Valley School, teacher and students
Ellen and Socrates Best, Fort Smith Arkansas, Civil War
Big Spring dam and mill, Pierce Hotel, graves of Robert and Rebecca Ramsey and John Best
Robert and Rebecca Ramsey, Wallace and Henrietta Ramsey
Best Valley School, 1898 and 1916
Wisc. 10th Vol. Infantry Regiment Reunion held in Kilbourne in 1911, Best Valley School 1904
Kilbourn Illustrated Events article on Jared Walsworth and other early settlers
Kilbourn Illustrated Events article on early New Haven settlers
Letters between Sarah Best (mother of Socrates) and her sister Eliza Borton Doughty, between 1837 and 1873, with notes by researcher Steven M. Best
Letters between Ellen Best (first wife of Socrates) and her sisters, with notes by researcher Steven M. Best.