History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 10

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1922
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1767

USA > Wisconsin > Barron County > History of Barron County Wisconsin > Part 10

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Maria Young, 40, housekeeper, Pennsylvania. Ida Young, 14, at home, Wisconsin. James Young, 10, at home, Wisconsin. Miomi Young, 5, Wiscon- sin. Jane Young, 3, Wisconsin. George Young, 1, Wisconsin. Simon Tucker, 40, farmer, Kentucky. Susan Tucker, 35, housekeeper, Pennsylvania. Chester Tucker, 9, Wisconsin. Anna Tucker, 8, Wisconsin. Viola Tucker, 6, Wisconsin. Mary Tucker, 3, Wisconsin. Thomas Tucker, 2, Wisconsin. Mary Harmon, 85, Pennsylvania. Jesse Harmon, 78, farmer, Pennsylvania. Julia Harmon, 73, housekeeper, Pennsylvania. Jacob Harmon, 23, farm laborer, Wisconsin. Daniel Harmon, 19, farm laborer, Wisconsin. Simon Harmon, 13, at home, Wisconsin. Clara Harmon, 12, at home, Wisconsin.

William Miller, 40, farmer, Pennsylvania. Susan Miller, 32, housekeeper, Wisconsin. Flora Miller, 14, at home, Wisconsin. Horace Miller, 12, at home, Wisconsin. Harry Miller, 8, Wisconsin. Luther Miller, 6, Wisconsin. Almira Miller, four months, Wisconsin. Lyman Miller, 16, housekeeper, Wisconsin. Mary Miller, 14, at home, Wisconsin. Douglas Miller, 9, Wisconsin. Levi Miller, 7, Wisconsin. William Miller, 4, Wisconsin. And. Miller, 72, farmer, Pennsylvania. Lillian Miller, 63, housekeeper, Pennsylvania. Maria Miller, 33, at home, Ohio. Alexander Miller, 34, farm laborer, Kentucky. Andrew Miller, 28, farm laborer, Ohio. Evelyne Skinner, 18, housekeeper, Wisconsin. Ezra Mitts, 54, farmer, Kentucky. Elmira Mitts, 49, housekeeper, Illinois. Zenas Mitts, 20, at home, Wisconsin. Sarah Mitts, 12, at home, Wis- consin. Chas. Mitts, 9, Wisconsin. William Smith, 27, farmer, England. Henry Whitman, 27, farmer, Indiana. Elias Dawson, 40, farmer, Indiana. Elizabeth Dawson, 29, at home, Indiana. Jno. Dawson, 12, at home, Indiana. Nancy Dawson, 8, Indiana. Francis Dawson, 7, Indiana. Rosalie Dawson, 4,

. Indiana. William Dawson, 2, Indiana. K. Whitman, 56, farmer, Tennessee. Cassa Whitman, 25, housekeeper, Indiana. Sarah Whitman, 7, Indiana. Win- nie Whitman, 2, Wisconsin. Isaac Whitman, 32, farmer, Indiana. Sarah Whitman, 29, housekeeper, Indiana. Austin Skinner, 46, farmer, Connecticut. Cordelia Skinner, 42, housekeeper, New York. Elbertz Skinner, 18, farm laborer, Pennsylvania. Elra Skinner, 15, at home, Wisconsin. William Skin- ner, 13, at home, Wisconsin. May Skinner, 11, at home, Wisconsin. Carrie Skinner, 8, Wisconsin. Ernst Skinner, 6, Wisconsin. Alice Skinner, 3, Wis- consin. Clemantz Skinner, nine months, Wisconsin.

Jno. Quaderer, 42, farmer, Austria. Jno. Garrett, 37, farm laborer, Canada. Henry Ashlen, 26, logger, Canada. Peter Ynapnap, 21, logger, Switzerland. James Vaniette, 50, cook, Kentucky. George Ingtertz, 42, logger, Pennsylvania. Issac Hickey, 30, logger, Canada. Rich Burby, 30, logger,

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HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

Canada. S. P. Barker, 37, overseer in camp, Maine. Jno. Cavanaugh, 28, bookkeeper in camp, Ireland. Edward Dingly, 28, logger, Wisconsin. Ole Evanson, 24, logger, Norway. Jno. Hasta, 26, cook, Norway. Geo. Anderson, 26, blacksmith, Norway. George Mathews, 22, logger, Canada. A. C. Knutson, 18, cook, Norway. A. J. Barry, 45, boss in camp, Maine. George Barry, 20, logger, Maine. Jno. Long, 22, logger, Nova Scotia. Martin Crewell, 35, logger, New Hampshire. Andrew Nelson, 22, cook, Norway. Peter Hern, 22, logger, New Brunswick. Bateso LaRock, 22, logger, Wisconsin. Jno. Owen, 30, logger, Wisconsin. Jno. Colwell, 35, Indian trader, New York. Wm. Recraff, 45, teamster, Canada. James Barry, 23, logger, New Brunswick. David Seeley, 24, logger, Canada. A. B. Nelson, 25, cook, Norway.

Edward LaBrie, 35, teamster, Canada. Josephine LaBrie, 26, housekeeper, Canada. Edward LaBrie, 9, Canada. George LaBrie, 6, Missouri. Iris Meron, 32, carpenter, Canada. Sarah Meron, 24, housekeeper, Canada. Harris Meron, 2, Wisconsin. Francis LaBrie, 42, farmer, Canada. Eliza LaBrie, 31, house- keeper, Ireland. Alex LaBrie, 11, at home, Minnesota. Ellen LaBrie, 5, Min- nesota. Louis LaBrie, 2, Wisconsin. George Corno, 29, farmer, Canada. Alice Corno, 29, housekeeper, Canada. Anna Corno, 7, Canada. Onesina Corno, 5, Canada. Thomas Corno, 2, Wisconsin. Charles Mishoe, 43, farm laborer, Canada. Armina Mishoe, 23, housekeeper, Canada. John LaBrie, 52, farmer, Canada. Gertrude LaBrie, 45, housekeeper, Canada. Delpha LaBrie, 19, at home, Canada. Selina LaBrie, 15, at home, Minnesota. Melina LaBrie, 13, at home, Canada. Edward LaBrie, 11, at home, Canada. Henry LaBrie, 6, Missouri. Pauline LaBrie, 1, Wisconsin. Jno. LaBrie, 26, farmer, Canada. Sarah LaBrie, 24, housekeeper, Missouri. Iris LaBrie, 1. Wisconsin.

Henry DeMers, 50, farmer, Canada. Olive DeMers, 42, housekeeper, Canada. Sevil DeMers, 26, farm laborer, Canada. Octavis DeMers, 19, at home, Canada. Zoella DeMers, 17, at home, Canada. Selima DeMers, 15, at home, Canada. Thomas DeMers, 12, at home, Canada. Adella DeMers, 9, Canada. Eliza DeMers, 20, house work, Canada. Andrew Venitz, 27, farmer, Canada. Gozette Venitz, 23, housekeeper, Canada. George Venitz, 3, Canada. Aldridge Venitz, 1, Canada. George Robargi, 45, farmer, Canada. Gozette Robargi, 42, housekeeper, Canada. Louisa Robargi, 18, at home, Canada. Onezemi Robargi, 16, at home, Canada. Alexander Robargi, 13, at home, Canada. Selina Robargi, 11, at home, Canada. Peter Robargi, 9, Canada. George Robargi, 6, Canada. Laura Robargi, 5, Canada. Mary Robargi, three months, Wisconsin. Louis Robargi, 37, farmer, Canada. Eleanor Robargi, 27, housekeeper, Canada. Sylphia Robargi, 6, Canada. Cloe Robargi, 4, Canada. Joe Robargi, 2, Canada. Louis Nado, 40, merchant, Canada. Peter LeFortz, 60, logger, Canada. Amelia LeFortz, 60, housekeeper, Canada. Levi LeFortz, 36, clerk, Canada. Adolph LeFortz, 29, carpenter, Canada. Louisa LeFortz, 18, at home, Canada. Bertha Kelsie, 19, teacher, Canada. Daniel Rarilla, 40, farmer, Canada. Cezari Rarilla, 32, housekeeper, Canada. Deliah Rarilla, 10, at home, Canada. George Rarilla, 1, Wisconsin. Alex Beaton, 31, farmer, Canada. Eliza Beaton, 21, housekeeper, Canada. Thomas Beaton, 1, Wisconsin. Tusand Gabore, 30, farmer, Canada. Eliza Gabore, 25, house- keeper, Wisconsin. Peter Gabore, 6, Wisconsin. Mary Gabore, 1, Wisconsin. Prosper Forest, 35, farmer, Canada. Lucy Forest, 33, housekeeper, Canada. Prosper Forest, 12, at home, Canada. Esaid Forest, 10, at home, Canada. Eugene Forest, 8, Canada. Ozemi Forest, 6, Canada. Mary Forest, one month, Wisconsin. Maria Forest, one month, Wisconsin. Tusand Peridam, 62, farmer, Canada. Lucy Peridam, 65, housekeeper, Canada. Chas. Aman, 31, farmer, Canada. Georgia Aman, 33, housekeeper, Canada. Charles Aman, 10, at home, Canada. Noah Aman, 2, Missouri. James Aman, one month, Wisconsin. Edward Pluid, 25, blacksmith, Canada. Julia Pluid, 25, housekeeper, Canada. Edward Pluid, 1, Wisconsin. David DeMerse, 41, farmer, Canada. Aurelia DeMerse, 35, housekeeper, Canada. Salomi DeMerse, 13, at home, Canada. John DeMerse, 11, at home, Canada. Ernest DeMerse, 1, Wisconsin. Jno.

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HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

DeMerse, 27, farmer, Canada. Louisa DeMerse, 16, housekeeper, Canada. Jno. Hendrich, 62, farmer, Prussia. Salomi Hendrich, 52, housekeeper, Ba- varia. P. Hendrich, 27, farmer, Prussia. Louisa Hendrich, 20, housekeeper, Prussia. Jno. O'Neil, 26, farmer, Ireland. Amelia O'Neil, 25, housekeeper, Massachusetts. Mary O'Neil, 6, Wisconsin. Chas. O'Neil, 4, Wisconsin. Ellen O'Neil, 2, Wisconsin. Jno. O'Neil, nine months, Wisconsin. Chris Helstadt, 27, farmer, Germany. Margaret Helstadt, 63, housekeeper, Germany. Albra Gortman, 31, farmer, Switzerland. Joseph Gortman, 26, farmer, Switzerland. Frank Naire, 30, farmer, Austria. Joseph Pigeon, 23, farmer, Canada. Myhill Bonly, 31, farmer, Switzerland. Peter Daster, 35, carpenter, Switzerland. Christ Pregnett, 42, farmer, Hesse Darmstadt. Dora Pregnett, 34, house- keeper, Hesse Darmstadt.

Emil Armstein, 45, farmer, Switzerland. Antionette Armstein, 34, house- keeper, Germany. Matilda Armstein, 14, at home, Wisconsin. Emil Armstein, 7, Wisconsin. George Armstein, 5, Wisconsin. Rodolph Armstein, 3, Wis- consin. Katharine Armstein, 1, Wisconsin. Anna Calgher, 43, housekeeper, Switzerland. Emil Calgher, 16, farmer, Switzerland. Bessie Calgher, 12, at home, Switzerland. Frederick Calgher, 7, Switzerland. Christ Grist, 43, farmer, Switzerland. Jno. Dietz, 45, farmer, Hesse Darmstadt. Henry Dietz, 14, at home, Wisconsin. Henry Sawyer, 33, lumberman, Canada. Charlotte Sawyer, 30, housekeeper, Wisconsin. Henry Sawyer, 5, Wisconsin. Mary Sawyer, 2, Wisconsin. Edward Carr, 56, logger, Canada. E. LeFoch, 23, logger, Canada. Zetic Rieve, 20, logger, Canada. Joe Rabargi, 33, logger, Canada.

William Young, 43, overseer in camp, Canada. Sawler, 43, foreman in camp, New Brunswick. Bards Thompson, 25, teamster, Norway. Ole Rom- berg, 27, logger, Norway. Jno. Haukins, 18, logger, Canada. Cor. Gilmanson, 21, logger, Norway. Peter Sanderson, 23, cook, Norway. Edward Sebeth, 21, logger, Germany. James Mathews, 27, logger, Canada. James McNeil, 33, logger, New Brunswick. Jno. Lynch, 26, logger, Canada. Arthur O'Keif, 23, logger, Canada. Ole Peter Thone, 25, logger, Norway. Jno. M. Johnson, 24, cook, Norway. Ole Swiver, 23, logger, Norway. Jno. Sacrison, 19, logger, Norway. Peter Yorsted, 25, logger, Norway. Austin Ryan, 22, logger, New Jersey. Lars Jacobson, 20, logger, Norway. James Drugan, 24, logger, Canada. Louis Baupre, 22, logger, Canada. Jno. Wiseman, 24, logger, Canada. James McCullum, 28, foreman, New Brunswick. Robert Wheeler, 23, logger, Canada. S. W. Schofield, 34, foreman, Maine. Canute Erickson, 23, logger, Norway. Thomas Gonga, 35, logger, Canada. August Merrison, 43, foreman, New Brunswick.

Arch Downs, 47, logger, New Bruswick. Jno. H. Larson, 22, cook, Norway. A. Thompson, 24, logger, Norway. John Vold, 32, logger, Norway. Jno. Rusk, 25, logger, Canada. Lars Money, 20, logger, Norway. J. M. Holmes, 32, car- penter, Canada. Wm. Kaughan, 40, logger. James Hickey, 27, logger, Canada. Peter Scou, 26, overseer in camp, Norway. Andrew Scou, 24, cook, Norway. James Harrington, 53, overseer in camp, New Brunswick. J. Paulson, 19, cook, Norway. Geo. Gilbertson, 22, logger, Norway. Mart Brakin, 21, logger, Norway. Casp Brockmeir, 45, overseer in camp, Germany. Nelson Hyacith, 20, logger, Norway. Erick Gilbertson, 22, logger, Norway. Andrew Hovey, 32, logger, Norway. Inglert Edwards, 28, overseer in camp, Pennsylvania. Peter Dobl, 26, blacksmith, Norway. Oliver Lenad, 30, carpenter, Norway. Chas. Brown, 30, logger, Baden.

Rich Gilliski, 56, boss in camp, New Brunswick. Wm. Borts, 33, farmer, Prussia. Austina Borts, 33, housekeeper, Prussia. Amelia Borts, 6, Prussia. Oliva Borts, 3, Prussia. Bertha Borts, six months, Wisconsin. Fred Mark- white, 34, farmer, Prussia. Dorah Markwhite, 38, housekeeper, Prussia. Wilhelmina Markwhite, 12, at home, Prussia. Bertha Markwhite, 8, Prussia. Wm. Markwhite, 8, Prussia. Augusta Markwhite, 1, Wisconsin. Fodemon Block, 32, farmer, Prussia. Wilhelmina Block, 35, housekeeper, Prussia.

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Frederick Block, 8, Prussia. Albertine Block, 6, Prussia. And. Hanson, 25, works in pinery, Norway. Wm. McAuley, 56, boss in camp, Scotland. Chas. Fuller, 35, farmer, Connecticut. Amelia Fuller, 38, housekeeper, Canada. Maud Fuller, 8, Canada. Florence Fuller, 7, Canada. Jno. Fuller, 6, Canada. Wm. Fuller, 3, Canada. Charlotte Fuller, one month, Wisconsin. Jno. N. Plato, 38, miner, New York. Melissa Plato, 22, housekeeper, Vermont. Martha Plato, 19, school teacher, Vermont. W. B. Sampman, 45, farmer, Vermont. Herbertz Sampman, 10, at home, Wisconsin.

Ole Oleson, 45, farmer, Norway. Elizabeth Oleson, 38, housekeeper, Nor- way. Margaret Oleson, 11, at home, Norway. Mary Oleson, 9, Norway. Jane Oleson, one month, Wisconsin. George Gregorson, 25, farm laborer, Norway. Mary Gregorson, 72, Norway. Emily Gregorson, 27, housekeeper, Norway. Herbert Hanson, 29, farmer, Norway. David Jewelson, 35, farmer, Norway. Antionette Jewelson, 30, housekeeper, Norway. Elizabeth Jewelson, 6, Nor- way. John Jewelson, 1, Norway. David Beadle, 38, farmer, Vermont. Adelade Beadle, 30, housekeeper, Canada. Ellen Beadle, 17, at home, Vermont. Edson Beadle, 15, at home, Vermont. Lillian Beadle, 10, Vermont.

A. D. Fuller, 25, farmer, New York. Julia Fuller, 24, housekeeper, Canada. Charlotte Fuller, 4, Canada. Wm. Farley, 35, farmer, Wisconsin. Cora Far- ley, 32, housekeeper, Wisconsin. Arthur Farley, 14, at home, Wisconsin. Ma- tilda Farley, 10, at home, Wisconsin. Ole Monteson, 37, farmer, Norway. Rachel Monteson, 27, housekeeper, Norway. Alex Anderson, 27, farmer, Swe- den. Sophia Anderson, 25, housekeeper, Sweden. Chas. Anderson, 13, at home, Sweden. Lars Abraham, 39, farmer, Sweden. Hannah Abraham, 36, housekeeper, Sweden. Abraham Abraham, 3, Wisconsin. Lars Abraham, 1, Wisconsin. Chris Bunchord, 41, farm laborer, Norway. Caroline Bunchord, 34, Norway. Carrie Bunchord, 9, Norway. Olena Bunchord, 7, Norway. Paulina Bunchord, 4, Norway. Christoph Bunchord, 1, Norway. Carrie Ole- son, 10 (adopted), Norway. Ole Peterson, 33, farmer, Minnesota. Gregor Gregorson, 42, farmer, Norway. Emily Gregorson, 30, housekeeper, Norway. Gilbert Gregorson, 10, Norway. Ole Gregorson, 8, Norway. Nellie Gregorson, 3, Norway.

Halver Knutson, 35, farmer, Norway. Rachel Knutson, 26, housekeeper, Norway. Gilbert Knutson, 36, farm laborer, Norway. Mariette Batson, 40, farmer, Norway. Ellen Batson, 16, housekeeper, Norway. Caroline Batson, 14, housekeeper, Norway. And. Sanderson, 50, farmer, Norway. Ellen San- derson, 50, housekeeper, Norway. Louis Sanderson, 22, farm laborer, Nor- way. Ole Peterson, 35, farmer, Norway. Anna Peterson, 27, housekeeper, Norway. P. Christianson, 45, farmer, Norway. Georgiana Christianson, 47, housekeeper, Norway. Anna Christianson, 6, Norway. Caroline Christianson, 3, Wisconsin. Peter Christianson, 10, Wisconsin. Charles Brown, 27, farmer, Sweden. Anna Brown, 25, housekeeper, Sweden. Phil Brooks, 25, wagon maker, Pennsylvania. Anna Brooks, 24, housekeeper, Pennsylvania. Jno. C. Rosbach, 30, farmer, Mecklenburg.

CHAPTER XI

LOGGING DAYS AND LUMBERING INDUSTRY

Barron County, in the early part of the last century, was densely covered with forests, amid which sparkled sky blue lakes and rippling streams.

The northern third was stocked with a mixed forest of pine and hard- woods, the pine prevailing except on the ridge in the northwestern part of the country. In the central part was a great stretch of pine forest with a thin mixture of hardwoods, and occasional hardwood groves. The southeastern

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HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

one fifth of the county, widest along the east line, was sandy jackpine and oak openings.

The county was first chosen as the scene of logging operations in 1847 and work was started the next year. The work of denudation went on for half a century, and in 1897, just fifty years from the time that operations here were determined upon, the forests were practically gone.

In that year, 1897, a Government report showed that most of the pine has been cut, except in the extreme northern and northeastern towns. The stand- ing pine was in isolated bodies and was estimated at 150,000,000 feet. The hardwoods were culled, and in nearly all parts of the county damaged by fire. The scattering bodies of better hardwood were believed to represent a stand of about 250,000,000 feet, in which oak, basswood, birch and maple entered in nearly equal proportions. The swamps of the county were reported bare of merchantable timber in any large quantities.

Between the two dates lies a story of toil and hardships, of ambition and heartbreak, of fortunes and reputations made, of hopes realized or aspira- tions shattered, a story of drudgery and thrills, a story of the draining of the very life blood of the county's wealth, only to make way for the development of a still greater wealth along other lines.

The story of Knapp, Stout & Co., afterward the Knapp, Stout & Co. Com- pany, is inseparably interwoven with the first half century of the county's history. It was they who logged nearly all the county.

Captain William Wilson came from Fort Madison, Iowa, in 1846, and explored lands along the Chippewa river, as the result of which he and John H. Knapp, also of Fort Madison, purchased a half interest in a little saw mill situated at the mouth of what is now Wilson Creek, in what is now the city of Menomonie. They started work June 1, 1846, and in the fall bought the remaining half interest. August 19, 1850, Captain Andrew Tainter, of Prairie du Chien, purchased a fourth interest. Aug. 20, 1853, Henry L. Stout, of Dubuque, Iowa, bought a fourth interest and the name was changed to Knapp, Stout & Co. May 1, 1854, Thomas B. Wilson became a member of the firm, and a number of years later John H. Douglass, of St. Louis, a nephew of John H. Knapp, became a member. March 18, 1878, the firm was incorporated as the Knapp, Stout & Co. Company, with a capital stock of $2,000,000, which was doubled in 1882. The shareholders were John H. Knapp, Jelry L. Stout, Andrew Tainter, William Wilson, Thomas B. Wilson and John H. Douglass. John H. Knapp was made president; Thomas B. Wilson, secretary; and John H. Douglass, treasurer.

The company made vast purchases of pine lands in this region from the Government at $1.25 an acre. In 1863 it bought 10,000 acres of pine land and the mill at Waubeck from C. C. Washburn. In 1879-80 it purchased over 100,000 from Cornell University and the Northwestern and Omaha railroads. Other extensive purchases were also made.'

In 1847, the year after he had formed his partnership with John H. Knapp, and bought the saw mill at Menomonie, Captain William Wilson, with two men, started up the Hay River on an exploring trip.

Reaching the mouth of Vance Creek they followed that stream for a short distance. Then they cut across the country, in a northeast direction, and in time came out on a bluff, overlooking the Hay River. Here lay the apex of a sightly prairie, narrowing among the hills to the immediate northward, and stretching to the southward in ever increasing expanse. Hazel brush grew in profusion, and here and there were to be seen patches of scrub oak.

A vision of the future when the rich timber lands of this region would become the scene of busy logging operations was already in Captain Wilson's mind. He foresaw that a central camp would be necessary, he realized that with the difficulties of transportation it would be wise to start a farm to supply the camp with food and fodder, and he contemplated also the advan- tages of a mill at such a camp.

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HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

The land upon which he gazed from the top of the bluff on that historic day answered every requirement. An advantageous situation on a swift flowing creek into which emptied many smaller streams flowing through heavily wooded acres; a sufficient drop to afford ample water power; and fertile land awaiting the plow of the husbandman.

"Prairie Farm," he exclaimed, as his eye swept the landscape and measured its resources. To this day the name has remained. A camp was established soon after Capt. Wilson's visit.

In 1848 Captain Andrew Tainter, who had been connected with logging and mill activities at Chippewa Falls and along the Menomonie, started logging some eight miles north of Turtle Lake, with four ox teams, and a few helpers, mostly Indians and half breeds. His wife, Poskin, gave her name to the region. When he reached Menomonie with his drive in the spring, he intended to take the proceeds and follow the Gold Rush to California.

Instead, he became interested in the operations of the Messrs. Knapp and Wilson, and soon after, as already stated, became a third partner, thus as he used to say, discovering a gold mine in the timber of Wisconsin instead of in the quartz of the Pacific Coast. The story is that Knapp & Wilson were unable to pay Captain Tainter for his logs, and so persuaded him to join his activities with theirs.

With this beginning Prairie Farm gradually developed. At the head- quarters here, all the supplies, equipment and provisions were kept, and from here sent out. At the farm established here, the mules, oxen and horses were stabled, and hay, oats, potatoes, other vegetables and a little grain raised for the camps. In 1863 a dam was established there for the purpose of facili- tating the handling of logs. The same year a sawmill was built for the purpose of getting out lumber for building operations in the neighborhood.

After the establishment of the camp at Prairie Farm, operations were extended further northward along the Hay River and its tributaries.

About 1856 the company extended its Menomonie River operations into the county, and gradually established camps further up the Menomonie and its tributaries. The camp was established at the present site of Barron in 1860, on the present site of Rice Lake in 1868, and on the present site of Chetek in 1872. Other less pretentious camps were scattered here and there in the woods.

The cruisers entered the magnificent forests and selected suitable places for cutting, a camp was put up in a location convenient to this cutting, the lumberjacks and teamsters arrived, the great trees were cut off, the logs were floated down the river to enrich Menomonie, and where a short time before the great primeval pines threw their splendor of living green, the skies soon beheld a desolate ruin of stump and brush, frequently swept by fire.

In the seventies the Knapp, Stout & Co. was said to be the greatest lumber corporation in the world. In 1873 this firm owned 115,000 acres of pinelands on the Chippewa and Menomonie rivers, from which it cut and manufactured during the year in its various steam and water-power mills, 55,000,000 feet of lumber, 20,000,000 shingles, and 20,000,000 lath and pickets. It maintained at Menomonie in addition to its mills a foundry machine shop and blacksmith shop, a grain warehouse of 40,000 bushels capacity, and a grist mill in which its yearly requirements of flour were ground. It owned six large farms in Dunn and Barron counties, containing 6,000 or 7,000 acres of improved land, upon which were raised its supplies of wheat and pork. It conducted general merchandise stores, the annual sales of which amounted to $750,000. Large lumber yards were maintained at Reed's Landing, Dubuque and St. Louis. Twelve hundred men were on its payroll.

The activities centered at Menomonie. There, each fall, gathered a motley crew from near and far. Some came from Europe, some from Canada, some from the older states, some from other parts of Wisconsin. Some lived near Menomonie. Indeed many of the men who had families settled on farms in

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HISTORY OF BARRON COUNTY

Dunn County, either permanently, or for a while until they could select homes further up the Menomonie valley.

From Menomonie they came into this county. Some went to Prairie Farm, and from there spread into the surrounding camps further up the Hay River valley, or across to Barron and Rice Lake, and up the Menomonie and Yellow river valleys. Others came directly up the Menomonie to Chetek, Barron and Rice Lake, and from these points spread to other camps.

Some of the loggers walked. Others were brought in by the company teams.

A picturesque sight along the tote roads in the early seventies were the four-mule wagons, bringing loggers and provisions from Menomonie to the camp at Rice Lake. A start was made at Menomonie early in the morning and the route led through Colfax to Sand Creek in Dunn County, which was even then well settled, and where a stop was made for the night at a farm house. From there the route led into this county and to Chetek, where the second night was spent. From there the teams followed a route which skirted to the east of the Cranberry marsh, at Cameron, and led to the camp at Rice Lake, and the men usually took a shorter route on foot, passing the foot of the cranberry marsh where Knapp, Stout & Co. had built a logging dam.

The tote roads were an interesting feature of Barron County life. They led everything through the woods and stumps to the logging camps. The main routes were fairly well cleared and gradually developed into well-traveled highways. The branch routes were of the roughest description, merely a trail cut out, with here and there a larger stump pulled out to make the going a little better, or a small log thrown down to fill a depression.

As the years passed, many of the workers in the lumber camps began to settle in Barron County. A site was selected, a little clearing made, and cabin put up, as the beginning of a farm. The family and household goods were brought in carts or wagons along the tote roads, and then carried on the backs of the pioneers into the claim in the woods. There the men worked in the growing season, clearing a little land each year, putting in a few crops, and wresting a scanty livelihood from the soil.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 10

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1767

Author: Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge
Publication date: 1922
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1767