Lancaster in Grant County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Pleasant Ridge
Photographed by Greta Schassler, October 25, 2025
1. Pleasant Ridge Marker
Inscription.
Pleasant Ridge. . In 1850, pioneer African-American families began arriving in this area when Charles and Caroline Shepard and Isaac and Sarah Shepard arrived from Fauquier County, Virginia. The Shepards came with William Horner, the great-nephew of their former owner, Sarah Edmonds, who had freed her former slaves in her will. Later the Shepards purchased land from Horner for $1.50 per acre, becoming the first African-American landowners in this integrated farming community called Pleasant Ridge. The community grew to include over 50 African-Americans, who were joined by German, English and Irish farmers. Together these Pleasant Ridge farmers built a log school in 1873 and a log United Brethren Church in 1884. In 1898, the younger generation of African-Americans built a community hall where they hosted an annual community barbecue. The African-American cemetery, one mile west on Slabtown Road, is one of the few remnants of this remarkable community.
In 1850, pioneer African-American families began arriving in this area when Charles and Caroline Shepard and Isaac and Sarah Shepard arrived from Fauquier County, Virginia. The Shepards came with William Horner, the great-nephew of their former owner, Sarah Edmonds, who had freed her former slaves in her will. Later the Shepards purchased land from Horner for $1.50 per acre, becoming the first African-American landowners in this integrated farming community called Pleasant Ridge. The community grew to include over 50 African-Americans, who were joined by German, English and Irish farmers. Together these Pleasant Ridge farmers built a log school in 1873 and a log United Brethren Church in 1884. In 1898, the younger generation of African-Americans built a community hall where they hosted an annual community barbecue. The African-American cemetery, one mile west on Slabtown Road, is one of the few remnants of this remarkable community.
Erected 1998 by Grant County Historical Society. (Marker Number 394.)
N, 90° 47.706′ W. Marker is in Lancaster, Wisconsin, in Grant County. It is at the intersection of Slabtown Road and Wisconsin Highway 35/81, on the right when traveling west on Slabtown Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lancaster WI 53813, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest, on the Great Lakes, in the Corn Belt, in the Driftless Area Bluff Country, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Another marker is no longer nearby. Denniston House (was approx. 12.7 miles away but has been permanently removed).
Photographed by Gordon Govier, October 3, 2009
2. Pleasant Ridge Marker
Photographed by Gordon Govier, October 3, 2009
3. Pleasant Ridge Community Cemetery
Credits. This page was last revised on October 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 11, 2009, by Gordon Govier of Fitchburg, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 3,793 times since then and 71 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on October 25, 2025, by Greta Schassler of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 2, 3. submitted on October 11, 2009, by Gordon Govier of Fitchburg, Wisconsin. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
