The territory of Highland comprised all of what is now known as the Town of Scott,
Clayton, and Haney east of the Kickapoo River. In the fall of 1858, the territory was
divided up and the name of Highland was dropped; the Town of Scott was created. The
land was fertile, rich with oak trees and enough game as to be a nuisance...including an
abundance of bears. The land is rough with the main ridge running an indirect course north
and south with spurs to the east and west. The main road, nearly the same today, from
Boscobel to Reedstown, was cut from the forest by the Army in 1832 in it's pursuit of
Blackhawk's band of Native Americans. Afterwards used by early settlers including
Tompkins Green, who made his own road on a northeast spur in 1854, to become the first
settler on what is still known as Irish Ridge. He was accompanied by his sister Lydia's
husband, Henry Hill. Henry left after a short time.
In the fall of 1854, three more families
moved into the area where Tompkins had until now been living alone. These families were
Gilbert, Lucas, and Rore...all three families left after a few years and Tompkins stayed. Lola
and Kenneth Greene ( a great grandson of Tompkins), own and live on a part of that original
homestead. This writer also lived on a part of it in 1939 and 1940.
In 1826, Robert Duncan was born in Westmoreland Co., Pennsylvania. When quite
young he removed to Ohio with his parents, Robert Duncan (born in Scotland) and
Sarah____?_____ (born in Pennsylvania). In 1844 Robert went to Ellenboro, Grant Co.,
Wisconsin. This is about six miles from the Whig Methodist Church and also from the
home of Pluma Ann Jones, who was to become his wife in1852. Pluma and Robert would
purchase in 1854, 80 acres of land on section 21 of the Town of Scott. They made their
homestead there and later purchased 40 acres more from Walter Blandon. On their
homestead they raised their family: Obed Adelbert, Charles Albert, Chauncey William,
Laura Alcena, Ella Marie (she later married William, a son of Tompkins Green), and a son,
Robert W., he died age 1 year.
Robert Sr. served several terms on the County Board of Supervisors and 9 months as a
Corporal of the Voluntary Wisconsin 47th, Company G, during the Civil War in 1865.
They remained on their homestead until they died, Robert in 1901 and Pluma in 1905.
Both are buried at the Mount Zion Methodist Cemetery (on section 16), Town of Scott.
Tompkins, was born in 1829 in New York to William Green Jr. and Minerva
McCumber. In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1854 he married a redheaded Irish Lady by name
of Elizabeth McGrath, daughter of Rebecca Hines and Patrick McGrath, both born in
Galway County, Ireland. She came to USA at age 14. With their family growing and
building nearby on the ridge, the name quickly became "Irish Ridge". Their issue was:
Frank...dy., Adah...dy., Clara, Emma, Rebecca, Mary, Lintner, George, Henry, and William
Tompkins (he married Ella Marie Duncan, mentioned above). Tompkins also served as a
Private with the Wisconsin Volunteers 47th, company G in 1865 of the Civil War. Duty for
the 47th was in Tennessee, and they were mustered out in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Tompkins and Elizabeth, along with 2 of their children who died young, are buried at the
Union Steele-Greene Cemetery on Irish ridge...a very short distance from the road and
homestead that Tompkins made years before. Elizabeth died in 1901, Tompkins in 1905.
The Territory of Highland, as they knew it is much the same today...but
many of the oak trees have been replaced by hard maples...the bears are starting to make a
comeback, game is still abundant, and the land is as fertile for crops and raising a family as
it was in the 1800s. The Town of Scott...full of history... a fall ride for the colors on it's
twisting roads...go there and reflect on these two Pioneer families during the dawn of
homesteading in Crawford County, Wisconsin.
Compiled and written by a great grandson of Pluma and Robert, Elizabeth and Tompkins...
John William Greene, in the year of 1995.
Sources
Bible pages from Audrey Greene Bos; interviews with Lola and Kenny Greene and also
Lola Greene Moran; LDS files; WI State Historical Soc. Library; "Roster of WI Vol. War
of Rebellion" [1886]; "Comm. Hist. of Grant, Rock, Green, & Lafayette Counties" [1901];
personal knowledge and best of all...many hours spent walking the land with Ella Duncan
and William Green's youngest son, Neil Duncan Greene... my father.
