History of Reedsburg and the Upper Baraboo Valley, by Merton Edwin Krug, Publ. February 1929 by the author. Printed by Democrat Printing Company, Madison, Wis., Page 337-338

The village came into existence in 1855, when Jonas TOWER and others, namely R. DICKINSON, J. and E. TOUT, C. KEITH and Putnam FULLER acquired the village site and organized a firm with the idea of plotting a village. Within a short time, however, his partners all withdrew, and Jonas TOWER was left alone to prosecute his claim. Within a few years a number of buildings came into being, saw-mills, churches, schools, etc., and with the prosperity of the mines, the village grew. Ezra HAGAMAN put up the first frame house in the village on August 6, 1856, but soon sold to Mr. SANDGREN. The first store held in the village was by TOWER & Company, and was kept for the purpose of furnishing supplies to the men connected with the mines. The first private store was that of TOUT & FULLER. The following year, 1857, Benjamin PADDOCK opened one, which he conducted until about 1870. Later, in 1873 the BLAKESLEE store was established.

A postoffice was established at Ironton in 1855, or early in 1856, with N. H. AUSTIN postmaster. Benjamin PADDOCK succeeded AUSTIN and Peter CROOK, another name frequently associated with the story of Iron Mines, was also at one time postmaster. Submitted by Carol