Token Creek in Dane County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Token Creek

Photographed By William J. Toman, September 12, 2010

1. Token Creek Marker

Inscription. Attracted by abundant water, early Indian inhabitants erected effigy mounds in the area. George Spaulding was the first white settler in 1841. The Town of Windsor's first election was held in 1847 at Charles Lawrence's Prairie House Inn. A post office was established in that year but discontinued in 1902.

The name Token was derived from Tokaunee, a minor Indian chief. Completed in 1844, the Fort Winnebago Road from Madison passed through Token Creek. Guided by the landmark Big Hill, homesteaders and lumbermen journeyed through on their way to northern pineries.

Token Creek had a school, Congregational church, two mills and an early fish hatchery. Veterans of five wars, including the Revolutionary War, rest in the cemetery.

Until destroyed by fire in 1881, the Token Creek Tavern was the area's social center. Under the glow of tallow candles, couples danced to the fiddle music of Marcus Wheeler, father of poetess Ella Wheeler Wilcox. Token Creek declined after the railroads bypassed it.

Erected 1984 by Dane County Historical Society. (Marker Number 21.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Entertainment

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• Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin, Dane County Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1841.

Location. 43° 11.791′ N, 89° 17.628′ W. Marker is in Token Creek, Wisconsin, in Dane County. Marker is on Portage Road, 0.2 miles north of Windsor Road (Wisconsin Highway 19), on the right when traveling north. The marker is in a wayside next to the creek just south of the Token Creek Preserve. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: De Forest WI 53532, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Token Creek Sedge Meadow Trail (approx. 1½ miles away); Maureen Mengelt Memorial (approx. 2.2 miles away); First Rural Free Delivery in Wisconsin (approx. 3 miles away); Site of the First Well in DeForest (approx. 3.9 miles away); Our Bell (approx. 4.1 miles away); The De Forest Depot (approx. 4.2 miles away); De Forest Centennial (approx. 4.2 miles away); Georgia O'Keeffe (approx. 4.3 miles away).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This is a marker for Ella Wheeler Wilcox, as mentioned in the Token Creek marker.

Photographed By William J. Toman, September 12, 2010

2. Token Creek Marker

Looking north on Portage Road toward the creek and the Token Creek Preserve.

Photographed By William J. Toman, September 12, 2010

3. Big Hill

This landmark, across Portage Road from the marker and as seen here from south of Highway 19, must be the Big Hill referenced in the marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 14, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 2,374 times since then and 109 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 14, 2010, by William J. Toman of Green Lake, Wisconsin. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.