History
In the spring of 1856, two men climbed
to a knoll in the Lemonweir Valley and
looked out over the land. Scattered
around them were a few log cabins
belonging to the first pioneers into this
wilderness known as Wisconsin. All
around them lay the natural meadows
which, until two years before, few white
men had seen.
These men were Robert E. Gillett and
his son, Robert A. Gillett, and they were
planning the city they wanted to lay
out on this site. As they planned, they
considered a name for the town they
visualized. There was no local history on
which to draw, for the valley had known
no Indian village, nor battlefield. The
only link between this area and the past
was a great Indian Chief, named Tomah.
The men had heard that Chief Tomah
was strong in character and had high
ideals. The story of his life appealed to
them; so, they would call the city they
were planning “Tomah.” In the year of
4
1856 enough
settlers
had come
to warrant
creating the
“Township of
Tomah.”
ROBERT GILLETT
1809-1861
Two years later Mr. Gillett saw his dream
come true. The village of Tomah was
incorporated, though its charter was not
granted until several years later. In that
same year of 1858 the long-awaited railroad
finally reached the newly incorporated
village.