“The History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin”, published: Chicago:  
Western Historical Company.   1879.


JONAS FOLTS (deceased); born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., March 12, 
1808; the early part of his life was spent in Herkimer and Oneida Cos.; 
he was educated at Fairfield Academy, and married Miss Sallie Bartlett, 
of Oneida Co., N. Y., Oct. 23, 1836; they lived in New York until the 
spring of 1836, when they came to Milwaukee, built a house and lived in 
it until some time during the summer, then moved to the town of 
Summit, Waukesha Co., Wis., which was their residence until 1841, 
when they returned to New York and remained two years; returning to 
Wisconsin in the spring of 1843, settled on the farm which was their 
residence until the death of Mr. Folts, June 24, 1876, and where Mrs. 
Folts continues to reside.  Mr. Folts was a member of the Milwaukee 
Land and Claim Company.  This company had claims at different points 
from the lakes to the Mississippi, and Mr. Folts’ name will be found 
among the early records in a number of different counties.  In 1836, in 
company with S. C. Leavitt, he made a trip down Bark River, putting in 
their canoes in the river at Summit and going down to the mouth of 
Whitewater Creek, and up that creek to where is now the village of Cold 
Spring.  The only place where the waters were vexed and their canoes 
glided unchallenged, was at Hebron, or where Hebron now is;; for there 
was a dam being built, of which Mr. Folts was a part owner, as a 
member of the company that was building it.  Ill health induced Mr. 
Folts to make a trip to the seaboard in 1845, where he spent most of the 
season; returning in the fall, was elected Register of Deeds for Jefferson 
Co., and moved to Jefferson in January, 1846; in addition to performing 
his duties as Register, he was Deputy Clerk of the Circuit Court, John E. 
Holmes being Clerk; Deputy Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, Harvey 
Foster holding the office of Clerk of the Board; Deputy Sheriff and 
Jailer, Royal Tyler being Sheriff; in 1847, was elected member of the 
Convention that framed the Constitution of the State of Wisconsin, and 
served during the session; he was then elected Chairman and Town 
Clerk of his town; he was elected Town Clerk a number of years, and to 
him the town of Hebron is largely indebted for an admirable system of 
records; he was Chairman or Assessor at different times during his 
residence in Hebron, always performing his duties methodically and 
with exactness.  Mr. Folts, before leaving for the West in 1835, secured a 
letter of recommendation from the leading citizens of Oneida and 
Herkimer Cos.; among the names in the latter county is that of Francis E. 
Spinner, since Treasurer of the United States, whose autograph is 
familiar to everyone that has ever had or handled a greenback; the 
signature of April, 1835, is the same as it was thirty-five years later, 
excepting the first letter “F;” the change since made has not added to its 
legibility, if it has become a “line of beauty.”  In 1868, Mr. Folts was 
elected a member of the Wisconsin Assembly, and served during the 
session.  For the last twenty years of his life, he suffered much pain, 
owing to a fall which unfitted him for active employment; but he ever 
took an active interest in the events of the day, and was a promoter of all 
public interests.  It was mostly his influence that caused the fine brick 
schoolhouse to be erected, near his residence.  Although the heaviest tax-
payer in the district, and no children to be schooled, he consented to take 
office in order that the district might have a good building.  He furnished 
the plan and superintended its construction.   The growing youth, for 
years to come, should revere the memory of Mr. Folts for his efforts in 
furnishing them the facilities in obtaining a common-school education.  
Mr. Folts left surviving him a widow and four daughters – Emeline E., 
wife of Mark Curtis; Martha M., wife of A. B. Warner; Henrietta R., 
widow of L. W. Wooster (deceased); Amaret J., wife of Charles King.  
Mr. Folts, in religion, was a Universalist; in politics, a Democrat.


Submitted by:  Linda Pingel  (LPingel@worldnet.att.net)