History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 9

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

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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).

A few of the settlers had enough money to own a yoke of oxen. Most of them, however, hired the owner of a yoke of oxen or a pair of horses or mules at Menomonie, to bring their goods along the highway or tote road to the point nearest the claim, from which the goods must be carted to the cabin upon the backs of the men and older boys, the women and children helping as they could.

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Most of the settlers had a stove, cooking and eating equipment, bedding, flour, bacon and salt, and little more beside. Furniture was made on the little clearing with an axe. For clearing and farming, many had but an axe, a shovel and a hoe.

A few brought a pig or two, and mayhap a chicken or two. Only a few had a cow, though many secured one soon after their arrival. Often the cow was used as a beast of burden.

A fortunate feature, however, was that oxen, mules, horses, cows, pigs and other live stock could usually be purchased from Knapp, Stout & Co.

When provisions were needed, the men trudged to far away Menomonie, Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, or other places, and brought back flour and other food on their backs. Stories are told of men who even brought in stoves in this way.

With the coming of winter, the men-folk, even those who eventually intended to make a living by farming, made for the woods, with the older boys. Those who had horses, or mules, or oxen, were fortunate, for these they could also take into the woods as a source of profit.

Drear indeed was the lot of the devoted mothers left with the children in the lonely cabins. Wild beasts ranged the woods, Indians were sometimes in the neighborhood, neighbors were far away, letters and reading matter was a rare treat. There were chores to do, the animals to look after, the household tasks to perform. Often provisions ran low, sometimes illness and even death stalked across the humble threshold.

In addition to the other duties, many of the women, especially those from the European countries, spent their extra time in carding, spinning and knitting. The cherished possession of many such families is now a spinning wheel brought far across the seas, and upon which some devoted mother spun as she dreamed dreams of a future in which she and the husband should have attained prosperity and comfort, and when the children should have grown to adult years, an honor and comfort to their parents, and happy in the possession of the comforts and opportunities of which she and her hus- band were denying themselves. The yarn being spun, it was knit into mittens, socks and even jackets to supplement the meagre supply of clothing.

In some of the neighborhoods there were schools which the children could attend part of the year. They were of the crudest kind, usually with hand hewed benches. But for a number of years the more isolated children received only such instruction as their mothers could give them.

Happy indeed were the mothers, when some traveling minister or priest came along, held a meeting or mass at their home, baptized the children, and gave them Bible or catechism instruction. Some of the pleasantest memories of many of the older people now in the county is that the first meetings of the congregation in their neighborhood were held in their humble cabins.

For a number of years but little was raised on the little clearings except the food needed by the family. This was supplemented by wild game, and such staple provisions as could be purchased at the far away stores out of the slender family funds. Wheat and corn were taken to distant mills and ground into flour. Meat was dried and cured in the back yards, or hung up, preserved by the intense cold.

As the acreage of the clearings was increased, a little surplus, especially of rutabagas, hay, oats and meat could be sold to the lumber company.

There was but little cash in all the country. The lumber companies paid for the most part in script and orders good at a company store.

The Knapp-Stout company itself was doing considerable farming during these years, and as already noted, the settlers on the more open land were progressing a little faster with their farming, and raising crops of a more general nature than those in the little clearings in the woods.

It should be repeated however that until toward the close of the past century, lumbering was the dominating occupation in Barron County, farming

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was secondary. Old settlers tell us that even toward the close of the nineties, or sometime later, few people had the vision to realize that a wide measure of prosperity could ever come to the county, or that the land would ever reach any more than a nominal value.

Failure to grasp the realization of the future possibilities of the county was in some measure due to the fact that the general opinion, based on the nature of the pine lands in many other portions of the state, and in many other states, is that pine land is sandy and unproductive. The pine soils of Barron County, however, are of the greatest richness, and susceptible to still further improvement to an almost unbelievable degree, by the use of scientific methods.

The first county assessment in Barron County of which there is any record was taken in 1869. It is probably not absolutely accurate, but nevertheless gives a general picture of conditions at that time.

The assessor found 40 horses which he valued at $4,020, a little over $100 apiece. There were 275 neat cattle valued at $9,645. Probably a goodly portion of the 275 were oxen and steers. Many mules were then used by the Knapp-Stout people, but only 21 were assessed, their value being placed at $2,220. The sheep and lambs assessed numbered 35 and were valued at $81.00. The swime numbered 58 and were valued at $377. There are now many single farms of 80 acres in the county which have more hogs and sheep than were in those days to be found in the whole county.

There were 121 wagons, carriages and sleighs, assessed at $3,805, and the manufacturers and merchants stock was assessed at $700. Fourteen watches were valued at $122. Other personal property was assessed at $11,- 654.00, bringing the total assessment of personal property to $32,624. The acres of land assessed amounted to 103,533, upon which was placed a valuation . of $229,426.50.

D. T. Boswell certified the assessment roll as town clerk and verified it as county clerk.

The organization of the county and the increasing activity of the logging operators brought quite a few new families to the county in 1869 and 1870, new cabins were put up in the woods, new clearings made, and additional live stock brought into the county.

The population of the county increased from thirteen in 1860 to 538 in 1870. The assessment of 1871 showed considerable increase over that of 1869. The number of horses assessed had more than doubled so that in 1871 there were 93 on the list. The number of neat cattle was also more than doubled, the assessed number being 603. Only six mules and asses appear. The sheep had increased but three, being numbered at 38. Wolves were plentiful, and sheep raising was an uncertain occupation. The number of swine had increased five times, the number assessed being 290. Swine were not hard to raise among the trees and stumps, they furnished food for the families, and as stated found a ready market at the lumber camps. There were 23 watches and 261 wagons, carriages and sleighs. The value of the merchants and manufacturers stock was placed at $2,600. Other personal property was valued at $26,772, making a total personal property assessment of $61,459. The number of acres assessed was 131,964, upon which a valuation of $254,606 was placed. The total assessed valuation of the county was $316,065.

The county had a small exhibition as a part of the state exhibit at the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia in 1876. Feb. 29, of that year, A. Dewey, Ed. C. Coleman and H. J. Sill were appointed a committee to get this exhibit ready, and $25 was appropriated for the purpose. A touch of humor was added when it was voted that the committee be named a standing one to serve 100 years to the next Centennial.

The population of the county increased from 538 in 1870 to 7,023 in 1880. One railroad, now the Omaha, in the western part of the county, was put

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through in 1877-79. Several villages were platted between 1875 and 1880 but none were incorporated until later. Eleven townships, Chetek, Sumner, Stan- fold, Rice Lake (now Stanley), Prairie Farm, Dallas, Lakeland (now Cumber- land), Cedar Lake, Maple Grove, Clinton, and Turtle Lake were organized from the original town of Barron, before the census of 1880.

The assessment of 1881 showed 1,216 horses; 4,654 neat cattle; 173 mules and asses; 1,809 sheep and lambs; and 1,456 swine. Horses, carriages and sleighs to the number of 1,243 were valued at $16,075. Watches to the number of 128 were assessed at $1,386. Pianos and melidions to the number of 63 were valued at $2,240. The value of merchants and manufacturers stock was placed at $81,338. There was $350 in bank stock assessed at Rice Lake. The value of all other personal property was placed at $73,405, making a total personal property assessment of $306,229. The acres of land assessed had nearly trebled in the ten years since 1871, the 1881 assessment being on 378,112 acres. The value was still low. The assessed valuation of $858,880 meant an average valuation of less than $2.50 an acre. Platted lots were assessed at $44,457 and were located at Rice Lake, Cumberland, Barron and Chetek.

Between 1880 and 1890, the population was more than doubled, increasing from 7,024 to 15,416. Cumberland was incorporated as a village in 1881 and as a city in 1885. Rice Lake and Barron were incorporated as cities in 1887. The new townships of Vance Creek and Oak Grove were organized. The Omaha line in the western part of the county was built in 1882-83; the Soo line in the central part in 1884.

Along the line of the Omaha in the western part of the county were Turtle Lake, Perley (section 8, town 34, range 14), Comstock, Sprague (section 24, town 35, range 14), Granite Lake (section 17, town 36, range 13), and Barronett.

Along the line of the Omaha in the eastern part of the county were: Cartright, Chetek, Cameron (then North Cameron), and Rice Lake. Along the line of the Soo were Turtle Lake, Poskin (now abandoned), Poskin Lake (then called both Poskin Lake and Cosgrove, now the village of Poskin), Barron, North Cameron and Canton. Prairie Farm was quite a village, and Dallas a thriving hamlet. Sumner was in section 31, Sumner township, and Ironwood was a settlement in section 33, Cedar Lake.

Between 1890 and 1895 the population increased to 20,122. Chetek was incorporated as a city in 1891, and Cameron as a village in 1894. Dovre, created years before, was organized as a township. But there were as yet no telephones, no rural mail delivery, no automobiles.

The year 1895 was toward the close of the logging period. Farming did not reach its modern scientific basis, but agriculture was nevertheless assum- ing considerable importance.

No one as yet fully realized the tremendous possibilities of agriculture in the county, but with the passing of the timber resources, it was evident that the people must make their living exclusively from farming, if the county was to progress. A few leaders here and there were seeing the light, and urging the introduction of blooded dairy stock, and the opening of co-operative creameries and cheese factories.

Although the population has nearly doubled since 1895 (from 20,122 to 34,281) the elements of nationality in the county remain about as they were then. In fact since the early logging days there has been little practical change in the ratio, the Scandinavians leading, the Germans next, the Cana- dians next, and a scattering from other countries. In 1895 the census showed 3,484 born in Norway and Sweden, 1,023 born in Germany, 615 born in Canada, 179 in England, 79 in Ireland, 15 in France, 8 in Holland. Of the whole popu- lation of 20,122 there were 14,097 native born. It must be understood, how- ever, that the Americans of English stock do not figure largely in the list, most of the 14,097 being children born in the state of Scandinavian, German

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and Canadian parents. Since that time while the ratio, as stated, has remained about the same, among the dominant nationalities, there has been an influx of Italians, Russians, Poles, Finns, Bohemians and Hungarians.

Of the 561,000 acres, in round numbers of land in Barron County, only a little over 43,000 acres were cultivated in 1885. In 1895 there were but 264,819 acres classed as farm lands, of which but 79,260 were improved. In farm woodland there were 60,745 acres, and in unimproved land, 124,814 acres. The farm land was valued at $2,528,037 and the farm implements at $76,848. In 1905 there were in round numbers, 136,000 acres of improved farm land.

In 1895 there were 2,326 farms, of all sizes, and the value of agricultural products was $140,827.05.

In that year there were in the county 5,795 milch cows, valued at $123,911. The cheese produced amounted to 18,270 pounds, valued at $1,714. The butter produced amounted to 528,125 pounds, valued at $72,834. Thus the entire value of butter and cheese produced was $74,548, less than the value now produced in a single month by the Barron creamery. Most of the butter and cheese made was on farms. The census of 1894 shows two creameries, one in Cumberland Township and one in Cumberland city. One cheese factory is reported in Oak Grove Township.

The potato industry, now second in importance to dairying in the county, amounted in 1885 to little more than a garden crop. The acreage planted was 760 and the bushels raised amounted to 86,443. The next ten years showed a rapid increase, so that in 1895, there were 3,164 acres planted, yielding 151,002 bushels, valued at $62,722. Following the industry into the modern period, the year 1905 shows 5,962 acres yielding 614,336 bushels.

The survey of 1895 showed 4,047 hogs in the county, valued at $19,353. During the year 3,087 hogs had been slaughtered, valued at $29,325. The cattle and calves in the county numbered 11,169, valued at $166,709. During the year 2,827 cattle and calves had been slaughtered, valued at $35,439. The 5,795 milch cows, valued at $123,911, have already been mentioned. There were 12,391 sheep and lambs in the county valued at $20,065. During the year 2,858 sheep and lambs had been slaughtered, valued at $5,068. The wool produced amounted to 33,790 pounds, valued at $4,225. There were 4,724 horses and mules, valued at $267,100.

The census of 1895 also showed 2,715 acres of wheat, yielding 32,890 bushels, valued at $17,621; 2,215 acres of corn yielding 35,133 bushels, valued at $15,765; 12,062 acres of oats yielding 192,250 bushels, valued at $56,064; 232 acres of barley yielding 3,013 bushels, valued at $1,397; 2,131 acres of rye yielding 31,220 bushels and valued at $1,497; 215 acres of beans and peas yielding 1,722 bushels and valued at $2,400; and 140 acres of root crops, yielding 16,824 bushels, valued at $3,789.

The hay harvested amounted to 21,349 tons, valued at $175,924; the timothy seed, 77 bushels, valued at $197; the clover seed, 31 bushels, valued at $165; and the flax seed, 6 bushels, valued at $9.

The maple sugar produced was placed at 395 pounds, valued at $44; the maple syrup, at 224 gallons, valued at $294. The 1,444 colonies of bees pro- duced 35,574 pounds of honey, valued at $6,185; and 341 pounds of wax, valued at $4,015.

Few people believed in 1895 that apples could be raised in the county. The census showed a production of 47 bushels. There were but 25 pounds of cultivated grapes. Three acres were planted to berries, yielding 52 bushels, valued at $128.

In the more populous communities considerable farm machinery was being used in 1895. The survey showed the following items: Mowers, 601, valued at $14,925; horse hay rakes, 557, valued at $7,112; horse hay loaders, none; reapers, 125, valued at $3,157; self binders, 192, valued at $11,767; threshing machines, 22, valued at $8,097; farm wagons, 1,313, valued at $27,- 454; carriages, 574, valued at $13,292; plows, 1,333, valued at $9,813; potato

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planters, 5, valued at $267; drills and seeders, 91, valued at $1,645; horse corn planters, 4, valued at $76; horse corn cultivators, 681, valued at $2,798.

The miscellaneous items for 1895 are also interesting. The lumber, shingles and lath produced were valued at $575,180, the other wooden articles at $49,850. There were 35,900 yards of woolen fabrics produced, valued at $16,664. Iron goods produced amounted to $600 and leather goods at $1,000. The flour made amounted to 34,755 barrels, valued at $120,077. There was also 1,500 barrels of beer brewed, valued at $10,500.

But despite the evidences of agricultural progress shown in the census of 1895, which marks the dwindling years of the lumber era, the county was then scarcely developing from a wilderness. It is true that there were pros- perous farming communities, with a few good homes, but these settlements were scattered. Less than one seventh of the county was under cultivation, vast stretches of wild land were to be found on every side, the landscape pre- sented a dreary aspect.

A better day, however, was approaching, and with the dawn of the new century the forces were forming, the influences were at work, which were to result in the glorious story of modern agriculture and dairying, a story which had written the name of Barron County in the foremost ranks of the prosperous Wisconsin communities, and well in the front among the flourish- ing agricultural regions of the whole country.

CHAPTER X

THE FIRST SETTLERS

The story of the early settlement of Barron County has been told in the previous chapter regarding early agriculture. The loggers began operations at Prairie Farm in 1848. Levi Vance settled over the line in Dunn County, section 5, township 31, range 13, in 1850. John Banks settled near the county line in the present town of Prairie Farm in 1855. The census of 1860 showed as permanent residents of the county only two families, and two single men: John Banks and George W. Jones, being the family men and farmers, and Thomas Snyder and Joseph Abair being the two single men, and hunters. There may, however, have been a few cabins missed by the census taker.

In 1870 there were 538 persons living in the county. In the mean time, a few had come and gone, especially bachelor homesteaders, pre-emptors or squatters, who stayed for a time and then sold out such rights as they may have acquired. But such temporary residents left but little impression on the county. It was those living here in 1870 who may be considered as the real pioneers of the county's progress.

The splendid library of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin has in its possession, among a priceless store of other documents, the original census schedules for the Ninth Federal Census (1870). Through the courtesy and help of Joseph Schafer, superintendent of that society, and his assistants, the editor of this work has secured a transcript of that portion of the 1870 census, which applies to Barron County, and it is given herewith as a valuable contribution to Barron County history as well as a memorial to those sturdy pioneers who paved the way for present prosperity.

The list gives the actual residents of the county living here in the early summer of 1870. Other men who later established their families here had been in the county and worked here, but had not at that time located here.

The list gives the name, age, occupation and birthplace. The spelling used is that of the original transcript:

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Isaac Sprague, 35, farmer, New York. Jane Sprague, 32, housekeeper, Michigan. William Sprague, 12, Michigan. Charles Sprague, 8, Wisconsin. George Sprague, 6, Wisconsin. Frank Sprague, three months, Wisconsin. Samuel Chambers, 25, farm laborer, England. Thomas McGovern, 23, farm laborer, Maine. Fautson Kusner, 20, farm laborer, Hesse Darmstaat. George Bridgam, 20, farm laborer, Maine. Josiah Harmon, 18, farm laborer, Wiscon- sin. Andrew Gilbertson, 22, farm laborer, Norway. Zach Johnson, 35, black- smith, Norway. Jacob Smittle, 22, farm laborer, Baden. Albert Staege, 20, teamster, Baden. Canute Johnson, 25, farm laborer, Norway. Ole Woodside, 20, farm laborer, Norway. Edward Maetmite, 25, carpenter, Germany. Levi Miller, 42, carpenter, Pennsylvania. Frank Miller, 22, farm laborer, Wis- consin. Ole Hermanson, 21, farm laborer, Norway. S. K. Young, 43, painter, Kentucky. Elizabeth Young, 18, housekeeper, Wisconsin. Ellen Young, 16, housekeeper, Wisconsin. Hannah Newhall, 56, school teacher, Connecticut. Wilson Hodge, 22, farmer, New York. Mary Hodge, 27, housekeeper, New York. Ellsworth Hodge, 8, New York. Ida Hodge, 7, New York. Clara For- ward, 69, Vermont. Frank Gallato, 33, farmer, Switzerland. Hannah Gallato, 22, housekeeper, Mechlenburg. Robert Kipp, 24, farmer, New York. Helen Kipp, 20, housekeeper, New York. William Pitts, 63, farmer, New York. Anna Pitts, 35, housekeeper, New York. Belle Pitts, four months, Wisconsin. William Van Waters, 21, teacher, Ohio. William Pitts, 23, farm laborer, Minnesota. Jno. Pitts, 16, farm laborer, Wisconsin. Jane Pitts, 14, at home, Iowa. James Pitts, 8, at home, Wisconsin. Francis Finley, 56, farmer, Penn- sylvania. Margaret Finley, 46, housekeeper, Pennsylvania. Alfred Finley, 23, teacher, Pennsylvania. Chas. Finley, 21, teacher, Pennsylvania. Samuel Finley, 16, teacher, Pennsylvania. Edward Finley, 13, at home, Wisconsin. Henry Doorley, 41, farmer, Wurtemberg. Katharina Doorley, 36, house- keeper, Wurtemberg. Frank Doorley, 18, at home, Pennsylvania. Harry Doorley, 16, at home, Pennsylvania. Laura Doorley, 14, at home, Pennsylvania. Julia Doorley, 12, at home, Pennsylvania.

W. S. Grover, 38, farmer, Maine. Angeline Grover, 32, housekeeper, Maine. Flora Grover, 12, at home, Maine. Wilbur Grover, 11, at home, Maine. Woodbury Grover, 10, at home, Wisconsin. Stephen Grover, 8, Wisconsin. Warren Grover, 6, Wisconsin. Benj. Grover, 4, Wisconsin. Jno. Grover, 2, Wisconsin. Lucy Grover, six months, Wisconsin. Jno. Rafferty, 30, farmer, Ohio. Wm. Rafferty, 24, farmer, Ohio. Mary Rafferty, 50, housekeeper, Ire- land. Mary Rafferty, 20, housework, Ohio. Francis Valley, 22, farmer, Canada. Emily Valley, 22, housekeeper, New York. Emma Valley, 8, Wisconsin. Frank Valley, 5, Wisconsin. Clara Valley, eleven months, Wisconsin. Clinton Smith, 25, blacksmith, New York. Eliza Smith, 22, housekeeper, New York. Elmir Smith, 4, Wisconsin. Mary Smith, 2, Wisconsin. James Smith, 60, farmer, Canada. Mary Smith, 58, housekeeper, Canada. Vanderman Kellog, 41, farmer, New York. Abraham Kellog, 77, farmer, New York. Martin Statter, 29, cook, Ohio. Benjamin Kellog, 40, farmer, New York. Louisa Kellog, 30, housekeeper, Hesse Darmstaat. Elmir Kellog, 8, Wisconsin. U. S. Grant Kellog, 6, Wisconsin. Abraham Kellog, 2, Wisconsin. Lydia Miller, 11 (adopted), Wisconsin. Wm. F. Cole, 39, farmer, Kentucky. Mary Cole, 29, housekeeper, Pennsylvania. Belle Cole, 9, Illinois. U. S. Grant Cole, 6; Wis- consin. Hiram Pelton, 44, farmer, New York. Deborah Pelton, 44, house- keeper, New York. Ada Pelton, 16, at home, Wisconsin. Alva Pelton, 14, at home, Wisconsin. Maynard Pelton, 12, at home, Wisconsin. Earnest Pelton, 4, Wisconsin. Fannie Pelton, seven months, Wisconsin.

Casper Rosbach, 34, farmer, Mecklenburg. Mary Rosbach, 29, house- keeper, Pennsylvania. Julia Rosbach, 9, Wisconsin. Jno. Rosbach, 7, Wis- consin. Wm. Rosbach, 5, Wisconsin. Henry Rosbach, 2, Wisconsin. Dora Rosbach, seven months, Wisconsin. George Speilman, 57, farmer, Mecklen- burg. Caroline Speilman, 45, housekeeper, Mecklenburg. Charles Speilman, 21, farm laborer, Mecklenburg. Anna Speilman, 10, New York. Mary Speil-

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man, 10, New York. John Meyers, 54, farmer, Switzerland. Julia Meyers, 45, housekeeper, Wisconsin. Angeline Meyers, 7, Wisconsin.

August Rhomheild, 30, farmer, Saxony. Eva Rhomheild, 28, housekeeper, Saxony. George Rhomheild, 10, at home, Wisconsin. Jacob Rhomheild, 7, Wisconsin. Frank Rhomheild, 4, Wisconsin. Henry Rhomheild, three months, Wisconsin. W. C. Maine, 47, gunsmith, New York. Elizabeth Maine, 28, housekeeper, New York. Martha Maine, 14, at home, Wisconsin. Eugene Maine, 11, at home, Wisconsin. Allen Maine, 7, Wisconsin. Ella Maine, 3, Wisconsin. Christian Aas, 23, cook in camp, Norway. Nelson Lolen, 24, logger, Norway. Ole P. Sneen, 24, logger, Norway. S. A. Lumgum, 40, coal burner, Norway. Wm. B. Pollard, 42, foreman in camp, New Brunswick. Jno. Erickson, 40, logger, Norway. Rich Bennett, 21, logger, Canada. M. Holland, 26, logger, Ireland. Frank Malay, 20, logger, Ireland. Albert Kiepen, 24. logger, Pennsylvania. Samuel Sneen, 25, logger, Norway. Peter Thol, 28, logger, Norway. Peter Vance, 18, logger, Canada. Ole K. Larson, 23, logger, Norway. Aleson Sickey, 23, logger, Norway. Samuel Johnson, 26, farmer, Sweden. Eliza Johnson, 23, housekeeper, Sweden. Amanda Johnson, 1, Wis- consin. Peter Emlis, 53, farm laborer, Sweden. Stennah Emlis, 53, house- keeper, Sweden. Jno. Nelson, 32, farmer, Sweden. Christina Nelson, 27, housekeeper, Sweden. Andrew Nelson, 4, Wisconsin.

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History of Barron County Wisconsin, Part 9

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

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