Patrick Toland (1801 – January 1858) was an Irish American immigrant, farmer, Democratic politician, and Wisconsin pioneer.
[2] The immediate area where he settled was peopled by many emigrants from Ireland, and the Township was named Erin.
It was incorporated in January 1846, and the first town meeting was held at Toland's house in April of that year.
A historian of the convention describes Toland as, "highly respected for pleasant demeanor and strong native common sense.
"[4] He was a county supervisor for Erin for the 1847-48 term[5] He was elected to the Assembly for the 1849 session of the 2nd Wisconsin Legislature from the 4th Washington County assembly district (the Towns of Erin, Polk and Richfield), succeeding fellow Democrat Densmore Maxon; and would be succeeded in 1850 by Henry Weil, another Democrat.