Pleasant Ridge, Grant County, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pleasant Ridge, Wisconsin
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 Pleasant Ridge, Grant County, Wisconsin
Location in Wisconsin
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| Country | United States |
| State | Wisconsin |
| County | Grant |
| Elevation | 1,014 ft (309 m) |
Pleasant Ridge was once a small community in the Town of Beetown, Grant County, Wisconsin. Around 1850, it was started by a family of African Americans who had been freed from slavery. This rural community became a special place for many formerly enslaved people and their families. However, its population slowly decreased in the 20th century. The last African-American resident passed away in 1959.
Contents
History of Pleasant Ridge
Founding the Community
In 1848, Charles Shepard and his family were freed from slavery. This happened after their former owner, Sarah Edmonds, passed away and set them free in her will. Charles, his wife Caroline, their three children (Harriet, John, and Mary), his brother Isaac, and Sarah Brown (who would later marry Isaac) traveled to Wisconsin. They came with William Horner, Sarah Edmonds's nephew.
William Horner hoped to find wealth in Wisconsin's lead mining industry. But when he arrived, he found that the lead industry was slowing down. Instead, he bought a large amount of farmland in Grant County. The Shepard family worked for Horner for several years. They saved enough money to buy 200 acres of land from him. This land became the beginning of the Pleasant Ridge community. In the 1850s, more African Americans who had escaped slavery from states like Tennessee, Missouri, and Arkansas came to live near the Shepards.
Pleasant Ridge During the Civil War
Many men from Pleasant Ridge joined the American Civil War. This began in 1863 when the Union Army started allowing African American men to serve as soldiers. Charles Shepard joined the army and sadly died during the Siege of Vicksburg. His son, John, also served in the Union Army. He died from an illness near the end of the war while returning home to Wisconsin. At least eight African-American veterans came back to Pleasant Ridge after the war. Some of them became farm owners.
Growth of the Community
After the Civil War, more African Americans moved to Pleasant Ridge. Some European American families also settled in the area. The community grew to between 100 and 200 residents. The population was almost equally split between Black and White families.
In 1873, the residents built Grant County District School #5. This was an early integrated public school, meaning both Black and White students learned together. The school also had both Black and White teachers. The community also established a cemetery in 1883. They built the United Brethren Church in 1884. A community hall was added in 1898. In 1906, the women of Pleasant Ridge formed a group called the Autumn Leaf Society. This group organized community dances and celebrations, including a yearly barbecue in August.
Decline of Pleasant Ridge
By 1895, African American residents in Pleasant Ridge owned almost 700 acres of farmland. However, in the 20th century, the number of people living there started to go down. Pleasant Ridge was a small, rural place, so there were not many job opportunities. Many younger residents moved to bigger cities or other states. They wanted to find more education and career choices. Ollie Green Lewis, a descendant of the Shepard family, was the last African-American resident. She passed away in Pleasant Ridge in February 1959.
Pleasant Ridge Today
Today, only the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery remains at the original site. A historical marker was put there in 1994 by the Wisconsin chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. This marker helps people remember the community's history. The United Brethren Church building, which was part of the community, was rebuilt at the Old World Wisconsin open-air museum in Eagle, Wisconsin.
