History of Clark County, Wisconsin (1918)

DANIEL MACK and his brother settled in Loyal Township on the eastern border of Clark County, midway from north to south. Originally it was covered with timber, and considerable hardwood still remains. The soil is a gently rolling deep black loam, with clay subsoil, admirably adapted to the raising of all the crops customary in this climate, especially hay. Loyal Township was first settled in 1857. In the early fifties Erastus and Daniel Mack set out from Canada with a view of locating in Wisconsin. From Sheboygan they went to Oshkosh, where, while attending an auction sale one evening, they met William Welsh, with whom, some years later, they were associated. Continuing their way, the Mack Brothers reached Steven's Point, where they joined a railroad surveying party. The survey extended through the present town of Loyal, and the brothers were so well impressed with the locality that in 1857 they located here. In the next year, 1858, Daniel went back to Canada after the families of both, and returned with them, landing first at Milwaukee, then going by rail to Prairie du Chien, thence by boat to La Crosse, and thence ox team to their new home in the wilderness. After the Macks came three brothers Ed, Jerrod and Sam Smith. Ed. Smith cleared about thirty acres of land, when he lost his wife, and then moved westward. Of the other brothers, all traces have been lost.

Then came the Honeywells, Kings and others, who settled south of the Macks. The Honeywells, however, soon left there and located in what is now Greenwood, later going on to Minnesota. In 1861 William Hallock and Eben Borden arrived. The first school was taught by Priscilla King, who afterward married one of the Smiths. There were eight pupils in attendance at that first school. In accordance with the educational laws of those days the people had to pay out of their own pockets the cost of conducting a school for six months before aid could be obtained from the state. In those early days the markets were Portage City, La Crosse and Prairie du Chien. In going to Portage City the pioneers went by way of Weston's Rapids, and thence to Steven's Point, a two weeks' trip with ox teams. Erastus Mack, who wished to improve the highway conditions, circulated a petition which resulted in the establishment of The 26 Road (the road running along Section 26), from McMann's Corners, twelve miles east. This road was laid out in 1859 by a Dr. Baxter. After this work was accomplished, Mr. Mack went to a town meeting at Weston's Rapids and asked for an appropriation of 100 to improve it. It was objected to, but Mack said, "Gentlemen, I stay right here till I get that money," and his perseverance was rewarded.

The first white child born, in what is now the town of Royal, was Addie Mack, who later married John Corzett of the town of York. The first death was that of a child of Daniel Mack. Lumbering was carried on along Black River, which gave the pioneers an opportunity to earn money with which to buy provisions and stock while clearing their farms.

[Mack Family File, gedcom] by Fay Martin