From History of Walworth County Wisconsin, Vol. 1, by Albert Clayton Beckwith, 
publ. 1912 - Page 50
 
THE FIRST SETTLER.  Whatever honor may be due to the memory of the first actual 
settler within the county, that is the unquestionable right of Christopher 
PAYNE, a man who - to compare the smaller with the greater - was much of the 
texture and quality of the famous frontiersmen of the post-Revolutionary 
period, and a not unworthy forerunner of the men of the pioneer years.  His 
priority of settlement, though it was by a few weeks only, is clear enough, and 
his easily admitted claim to such distinction may be regarded as yet stronger 
from his adventure in 1832.  As the great dispute, Judge GALE and Mr. SIMMONS, 
both high-minded men and good layers, were of opinion that Mr. BRINK was wholly 
in the right.  Had neither he nor Mr. PAYNE ever crossed the county line the 
first settlement could have been made early in 1836 and the site of Lake Geneva 
would not long have been overlooked nor unoccupied.  Before the end of 1837 
every town was more or less settled, though neither the towns nor the county 
had been officially named.  In earlier records, as at the land-office, these 
minor divisions are described as towns 1, 2, 3, 4, north of base line on the 
boundary of Illinois and Wisconsin, ranges 15, 16, 17, 18, east of meridian 
passing northward along the western line of Lafayette county.

Submitted By:  Carol
(carolann612@charter.net)