Lancaster in Grant County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Pleasant Ridge

Photographed by Gordon Govier, October 3, 2009

1. Pleasant Ridge Marker

Inscription. In 1848, William Horner of Warren County, Virginia, and his former slaves, the Shepard family, hitched a team of oxen to wagons and ventured west to Wisconsin. They arrived at this point, later to be known as Pleasant Ridge.

The Shepards bought land from Mr. Horner for $1.50 an acre, making them the first recorded African-American family to live in the area. The beginnings of a community of over 100 free or escaped slaves, Pleasant Ridge at one point had a church and a school. Now the one acre-cemetery is all that remains.

Erected 1994 by Wisconsin Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1848.

Location. 42° 49.849′ N, 90° 48.788′ W. Marker is in Lancaster, Wisconsin, in Grant County. It is on Slabtown Road one mile west of Wisconsin Highway 35/81, on the right when traveling west. 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.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named Pleasant Ridge (approx. one mile away); Nelson Dewey

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(approx. 5.3 miles away); The First Civil War Monument (approx. 5.4 miles away); Village of Potosi (approx. 11.1 miles away); The Old Military Road (approx. 11.1 miles away); Village of Cassville (approx. 12.2 miles away); The Cassville Veterans Memorial (approx. 12.2 miles away); Historic Cassville Ferry (approx. 12.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lancaster.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Denniston House (was approx. 12.1 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Pleasant Ridge Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Gordon Govier, October 3, 2009

2. Pleasant Ridge Cemetery

Credits. This page was last revised on February 11, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 11, 2009, by Gordon Govier of Fitchburg, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,874 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 11, 2009, by Gordon Govier of Fitchburg, Wisconsin. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.