New Berlin in Waukesha County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Cheney-Faulkner Cooper Home

Built 1840

Photographed by Paul F, August 13, 2010

1. Cheney-Faulkner Cooper Home Marker

Inscription. In this house the First Free Will Baptist Church in Wis. was organized on July 11, 1840. Here also, prior to 1843, was opened the first school in this area. Rev. Rufus Cheney directed the founding of both church and school. Both met here until 1945. Thomas Faulkner, his son-in-law, was elected county surveyor 1857. Milton Cooper was a noted orchardist.

Erected 1956 by Waukesha County Historical Society. (Marker Number 21-02.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1958.

Location. 42° 56.341′ N, 88° 9.508′ W. Marker is in New Berlin, Wisconsin, in Waukesha County. It is on County Route Y half a mile north of Interstate 43, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5810 S Racine Avenue, New Berlin WI 53146, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Wisconsin and in Greater Milwaukee.

It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Childhood Home of Wisconsin Governor Julius P. Heil (1876-1949) (approx. 0.3 miles away); Linnie Lac (approx. ¾ mile away); Park Arthur (approx. 1.4 miles away); Janesville Plank Road Tollgate (approx. 2½ miles away); Muskego Beach Amusement Park

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(approx. 2½ miles away); "Do I Smell Pizza-Burgers?" (approx. 2½ miles away); "Cornfalfa" Farms (approx. 2.6 miles away); Historic Muskego Centre Park (approx. 2.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Berlin.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Freewill Baptist Church (was approx. 0.4 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Regarding Cheney-Faulkner Cooper Home. Home is located well off the road and is a private residence.

Additional commentary.
1. Additional History about the Cheney-Faulkner Cooper Home
This home in New Berlin, in an area once called Prospect Hill, was built in 1840 by Reverend Rufus Cheney who arrived from Antrium, N.H. in 1837.

Walnut trees on the property were sawed nearby in Linnie Lac at Wedges Sawmill and used for building.

The house was quite large for that time with a cellar, attic, two big rooms with fireplaces back to back, a small kitchen, a bake oven built into the chimney, and three bedrooms.

There was an Indian reservation across the road, so the Native Americans often came for trading or

Photographed by Paul F, August 13, 2010

2. Cheney-Faulkner Cooper Home Marker

Marker as seen from the road, partially obscured by overgrowth.

handouts. Since at this time there was no church for the reverend to serve, he set up the first Freewill Baptist Church in his parlor on July 11,1840. The school for Prospect Hill also began here.

When Cheney's wife died, he married Lydia Moore, mother-in-law of Thomas Faulkner.

Thomas Faulkner married Rufus Cheney's daughter, Nancy. A financial arrangement was made between Thomas and the Cheneys, to have both families live there until Cheney's' death. Then it would belong to the Faulkners.

Thomas was a farmer, surveyor, teacher, and cabinet maker.

During the years Thomas and his family lived here, he started an orchard on 39 acres and it grew to 450 trees by the time the property was sold.

In 119 years only two families lived in this house. Governor Julius Heil, who lived nearby, stopped by often.

In 1927 Milton and Neoda Cooper bought the farm from Rufus Faulkner and raised their six children. The house was damaged by fire in 1964.

In 1997 the house was declared a City of New Berlin Historical landmark. It was cited twice by the U.S. Department of Interiors Historic Sites Survey. You can still see this house standing on Racine Avenue just below Prospect Hill.

— Submitted August 10, 2012, by Linda Hansen of Waukesha, Wisconsin.

Cheney-Faulkner Cooper Home as it looked in 1958 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Linda Hansen, circa 1958

3. Cheney-Faulkner Cooper Home as it looked in 1958

Note the original, 1956 Historical Marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 16, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,576 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 16, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. 3. submitted on August 10, 2012, by Linda Hansen of Waukesha, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.