USA > Wisconsin > Buffalo County > History of Buffalo County, Wisconsin > Part 49
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Farmer
Nelson
do.
Farmer, Storekeeper . Farmer
Glencoe. .
Glencoe
Blacksmith & Farmer
Alma (Town) Alma (Town) .. do
Farmer do Butcher, Laborer
Nelson
Alma . ..
Waumandee Farmer
Belvidere
Belvidere. ...
do.
do.
do.
do.
Dakota
do.
do. do. do.
Alma (Town)
Alma (Town) .. Farmer
Modena.
Modena.
do.
Gilmanton .... Waumandee Alma (Town)
Gilmanton. . | Waumandee Alma (Town) .. do.
do. do.
do.
Minister
do. do. do.
Alma
Nelson
Cross
do.
do.
Waumandee do.
Died 1879. Chippewa Falls ..
Teacher etc
Belvidere
Belvidere
Glencoe. Alma (Town) .. Alma ...
Mason, Blacksmith
Belvidere ..
Belvidere
Farmer
Buffalo City ..
Alma
Shoemaker
Naples do.
. ..
Naples ..
do.
Farmer & Teacher
See Org. & App. .See Appendix.
See Org. & App. . See Appendix.
Cross
.. See Appendix. do.
Glencoe. .
Alma (Town) Alma ..
Alma
Colorado
Farmer. Agent, Hotelkeeper do. do.
Farmer do.
Nelson
Modena.
do.
Nelson
do.
Alma
Clerk
SeeOrganization.
do.
Waumandee
Gilmanton Nelson
Dover
Died 1870. ..
do.
Farmer do. do.
Farmer
Glencoe.
Hotelkeeper
Alma (Town) Maxville
600
LIST OF EARLY SETTLERS.
EARLY SETTLERS, CLASS III.
NAME.
BIRTHPLACE.
DATE OF SETTLEMENT
Nold, Gottlieb
Wetzlar, Pru sia
1864
Newton, Roland H.
Cateraugus Co., N. Y
1864
Newton, Sylvester L
Alleghany Co., N. Y
1862
Nally, Walter
Ireland
1862
Owen, Louis.
England .
1861
Patzner, Joseph
Silesia, Prussia
1865
Preston, Curtis O
Providence, Rhode Island
Philippi, Nicholas
Near Trier, Prussia do.
April 1863.
Pfund, Adolf.
Canton Schaffhausen
Fall 1863
Pember, Dan. B
Randolph, Vt.
Oct. 1865.
Rosenow, Fritz
Prussia
1862
Rockwell, Auren
Canaan, Conn. .
March 1862 ..
Ripple, Mathes
May 1863 .. ..
Rosenow, John
Liepen, Prussia
April 1864
Rabbas, Fred.
1862
Rabbas, Henry
Dec. 1861.
Ruppert, Charles
Spring 1862
Rebhan, P. V.
Spring 1862
Rupp, Caspar.
Seis, Canton Grisons
May 1865.
Schneider, Franz
Bohemia .
1863.
Schneider, Fred .
Diesbach, Cnt. Berne
1865
Sendelbach, Jos.
Bavaria .
1862
Shane, Thomas
Montour Co., Pa
Aug. 1861.
Sweet, Eri P.
Oct. 1863
Sweet, W. H.
1865
Oesdorf, Prussia.
Novem. 1864
Steinke, F.
Starkhuette, Prussia
May 1864
Steiner, David.
Gocppingen Wuertemberg Briesenhorst, Prussia
Oct. 1865 1862
Schultz, J. F
Hesse-Cassel
1865
Norway
1861
Schwendimann, John Sexauer, G. Jacob
Koenigshaffhausen, Baden
1862. May 1865.
Semling, Anton
Wuertemberg
Schmelzer, Jacob
Pennsylvania.
1864
Scharr, Ulrich. Vaihingen, Wuertemberg 1861. Trowbridge, Charles H. Cataraugus Co., N. Y. 1863 . .
Unadmgen, Baden do.
Riple Gregory
May 1863 ... May 1862.
Reinhardt, G. M.
Schwarzbach, Saxe Meiningen Doehren, Prussia do.
Bavaria do.
New York state do.
Schulte, Martin
Schwedes, Christopher Serum, Nels.
Canton Berne.
1862
May 1861. 1861.
Philippi, Philipp
LIST OF EARLY SETTLERS.
601
EARLY SETTLERS, CLASS III.
FIRST LOCATION.
PRESENT LOCATION.
TRADE, BUSINESS OR OCCUPATION.
REMARKS.
Nelson
Nelson
Farmer.
Canton.
Canton
Printer, Farmer ..
Gilmanton
Gilmanton .. Glencoe
do.
Canton.
Canton
do.
Milton
Milton
do.
Canton.
Canton.
do.
Glencoe
Alma
do.
SeeOrganization.
Modena
Modena .... Died 1865 .. Belvidere . . Modena
do.
See Org. & App.
Glencoe.
Montana .. Arcadia
do.
Saloon
Waumandee
Montana ..
do.
Nelson
Alma
Farmer, Ins. Agt. etc ..
See Organization
Alma.
Died 1886.
Wheatbuyer etc.
do. Waumandee do. do.
Waumandee do.
do.
Montana Died.
do
do.
Alma
Butcher
Waumandee Modena ..
Modena
do.
do. do
Died 1887. .. Modena
do,
FountainCity Canton ..
Buffalo
do.
Belvidere
Belvidere
do.
do.
Lincoln
do.
Alma Nelson ... do.
Modena.
Farmer
Glencoe ..
Dodge Center, Minn Fountain C ..
Carpenter etc.
Alma (Town)
Alma (Town) .. Farmer
Nelson ..
Nelson. do.
do. do.
Mondovi
Mondovi ...
[Carpenter
... See Appendix. do.
do.
do
Wheatbuyer etc Farmer
Sailor, Blacksmith, Teacher, Farmer Farmer
... See Appendix.
Gilmanton ... Buffalo City ..
Modena
do.
Alma
Graindealer, Veterinarian ..
Farmer
do.
Alma.
Waumandee Farmer
do.
... See Appendix.
Canton.
do.
Alma
Tailor.
Wagonmaker
do.
do.
Farmer
Glencoe
602
LIST OF EARLY SETTLERS.
EARLY SETTLERS, CLASS III.
NAME.
BIRTHPLACE.
DATE OF SETTLEMENT
Tester, J. W.
Rongellen, Cnt. Grisons
1861
Thoeny, Christian
Canton Grisons.
1863
Thoeny Jacob.
do.
1865
Thoeny, Henry
do
1865
Wismolek, Jacob
Poland
Summer1861
Walker, Jas. E.
England .
Nov. 1863 ...
Weisenberger, Jacob
Baden
April 1863 ..
Wohlwend, Martin
Lichtenstein
1863
Wohlwend, Frank
do
1863
Walker, Matson.
Huntington Co., Pa.
1861
Dinger, Charles.
Gera, Germany
1865
Liefering, John
Herzig, Luxemburg.
1865.
APPENDIX TO CLASS III.
Mrs. Elizabeth Bach and her first husband, Caspar Schmitz kept the first store and saloon in the Waumandee.
John Durish now of Arcadia, but formerly of the Town of Montana, says he is well pleased with the country, especially Buf. falo County, and thinks that those who think differently have to blame themselves for their dissatisfaction, especially in view o the advantages of present times over those of the early pioneers.
John Hunner, now of Eau Claire, the brother of L. P. Hunner of Alma, gives the following narrative: "First business after land. ing was hauling wood. In the fall of 1862 engaged with Iberg Bros. Was with them about two years and bought them out. Ir buying them out I also bought the Alma Journal and published it until the summer of 1872. After purchasing Iberg Bros.' inte rest in the store, conducted the business for two or three years and then sold out, Became one of the charter members of the Bee Slough Co., was elected Secretary and Treasurer, which positior I held two or three years, and at the same time formed a part nership with Conrad Moser, jr., in the law business; was admitted to the bar in 1865, I think. Sold out my interest at Alma ir 1872, and moved to Eau Claire, and in partnership with Jas. M Brackett, the former publisher of the Alma Journal, started the
603
LIST OF EARLY SETTLERS.
EARLY SETTLERS, CLASS III.
FIRST LOCATION.
PRESENT LOCATION.
TRADE, BUSINESS OR OCCUPATION.
REMARKS.
Alma
Alma
Hardware Merchant ...
Alma (Town) Alma (Town) .. Farmer
Nelson
Nelson.
do. do.
do.
do
Waumandee
Waumandee Mason and Farmer
Canton ..
Canton.
Farmer
Waumandee Nelson
Died
do.
do.
Dakota
do.
Maxville
Maxville.
do.
Alma
Died 1886
Gardener
Canton
Canton
Farmer
Daily Free Press." The further adventures of Mr. Hunner do not relate to this county.
Thomas Litchfield remarks: "Mrs. Litchfield's first husband was Ezra Hutchinson, who bought 80 acres of land on the East side of the Beef River at the same time as B. J. Claflin and A. P. Loomis. He settled in Hutchinson Valley in 1856, and died in 1860, of diphtheria, being the first victim of that terrible disease in this county."
John Leonhardy, our present Sheriff, has the following to say : "Went to Colorado in April 1868 returned December 1869, to the town of Alma, where I was engaged in farming until 1887, when I entered upon my office, hold the farm in the town of Alma yet."
Frederick Morgan was farming while fn Waumandee, but practiced medicine in Illinois and New York state. His son
Vesper Morgan wrote such a lengthy history of the family and of every individual member of the same, that it would fill more than three pages of common print, and compels me in justice to my readers and myself, to decline its publication. Mr. V. Mor- gan himself says that not a single member of the family now lives in the county. He himself, however, will be remembered by many persons, especially in Waumandee, as a teacher and occasional bookagent, also as a candidate for County Superintendent of Schools in the election of 1879. He is now studying law at Chip- pewa Falls.
Montana
do.
604
LIST OF EARLY SETTLERS.
Rowland H. Newton says: "Came from Ravenna, Portage Co., Ohio, to Durand in the fall of 1861, moved to Lima, Pepin Co., in spring 1862 and about the first of April 1864 to my persent place of residence."
Sylvester L. Newton, was a Lumberman before settling in this county, and a Sergeant in Company D of the Second Regiment of Minnesota Infantry.
Auren Rockwell came to Alma March 16th, 1862, and bargained for the land where we now reside. Returning to my native place in Connecticut, I brought my family out here, but finding that J. K. Benedict, brother of Mrs. Rockwell had gone to Wabasha, I brought them to that place, where they lived until Oct. 20, 1864, on which day they moved into the house I had built on the farm. They have ever since been living there. I was eight years in the Agricultural Implement business, but am now living with my family and expect to remain here. Stock and horses are our spe- cialities.
Eri P. Sweet, reported by Mrs. Sarah C. Sweet: "Eri came from New York to Burns, La Crose Co., where we were married; moved from there to Modena. He enlisted for the first time in Nov. 1861, and the second time in 1865."
TO THE LIST OF CLASS IV. INTRODUCTION.
I have to remark that my intention was at first to draw a rigid line at 1865, but a few beyond that period having accumulated, I did not want to destroy them, and had, therefore, to extend the time to 1870, beyond which I did not enter any. There are some reasons for that:
1st. 'As not all citizens could be named, nor all were Early Settlers in our sense of the term, the older ones had, of course, a precedence.
2d. Of those who came later the natural chances are for being still alive, and present, and their acquaintance could be made read- ily enough, and much better than from a book.
It is true the natural chances do not always hold true in ex- perience, and many of the later settlers have died, or left for other parts, while many of the earlier ones are living and still present. Indeed there seems to be more endurance and a firmer attachment to their homes among the old settlers, at which we should not be
605
LIST OF EARLY SETTLERS.
surprised, considering the many privations and hardships they had to pass through in acquiring them, which on one side makes these acquirements more dear to their hearts, while a repetition of the process in other quarters is not so very desirable.
606
LIST OF EARLY SETTLERS.
EARLY SETTLERS, CLASS IV.
NAME.
BIRTHPLACE.
DATE OF SETTLEMENT
Auer J. G ..
Cnt. Schaffhausen
1867
Auer, Jacob ..
do
1867
Brunkow, David.
Doelitz, Prussia ..
1869
Bitzan, Thomas
Cecha-Hadka, Bohemi!
1868.
Beissel, Anton
Heppingen, Rh. Prussia.
1867
Breuer, Fritz
Deinst, Hannover
1866
Clark, David
Herkimer Co., N. Y
1870
Hass, Lutzi.
Canton Grisons
1866
Kleiner, Peter
Baden .
1867
Latschaw, Jacob K.
Berks Co., Pa
1870
Michaels, Carl jr.
Prussia .
1866
Moser, Fred.
Canton Berne.
1868
Meili, Jacob
Bonstetten, Switzerland
1866
Pelunek, Charles.
Wranan, Bohemia
1866
Schladinsky, Chas.
Altflies, Prussia.
1866
Schmidt, August
Prussia
1866
Schneider, Lawrence
Oberschlages, Bohemia.
1867 .
Unser, Simon ..
Rastadt, Baden.
1866
Walker, Silas.
Greenville, Mercer Co., Pa
1866
White, John.
Twidale, Kent, England ..
1866.
Ziebertowsky, Albert.
Berent, Prussia.
1868
CONCLUSION.
Looking back upon the tedious labors, the many disappoint- ments in collecting the reports, which had to form the basis of this list, and the weary task of making it up, I can not but regret that they are not more complete, and that they are in many respects not as accurate as I imagined them to be when I set out upon their compilation. There are about 650 names in the different classes, and about 630 of them in the three most important ones, yet they would be fuller if my arrangements had everywhere found the desired co-operation. Starting out I had 700 blanks printed in English, and 500 in German, and was obliged after- wards to have 200 more printed in the former language. These blanks were sent out to individuals, to friends and to agents, as it was impossible for me to visit every one, especially during the time of writing up the whole book. Personally I have, neverthe-
607
LIST OF EARLY SETTLERS.
EARLY SETTLERS, CLASS IV.
FIRST LOCATION.
PRESENT LOCATION.
TRADE, BUSINESS OR OCCUPATION.
REMARKS.
Alma
Alma
do
Durand ..
Carpenter & Furniture Saloon .
Nelson
Nelson.
Farmer
Lincoln
Lincoln
do.
Alma
do.
do.
Buffalo.
Buffalo
do.
Modena
Modena. .
do.
Cross
Died 1882 ...
do.
Alma.
Alma (Towa) ..
Miller
Misha Mokwa Misha Mokwa . ..
Carpenter & Builder, at pres. Hotel
Alma (Town)
Alma (Town) .. Fariner
Gilmanton.
Gilmanton ...
Farmer&Cheese dairy
Milton
Fountain C. Teacher, now Editor ...
Alma.
Alma.
Saloon & Machine Agt Farmer
Bluff Siding ..
Bluff Siding Waumandee
do.
Marshland
Marshland. ..
Farmer, now Hotelkeeper
Canton
Canton.
do. & Carpenter ...
Modena.
Died
do.
do.
Modena ...
do.
Marshland ... Marshland ..
do.
less, collected fully one-half, if not more, of the names,but I owe thanks and acknowledgment to many friends in this matter as well as in others connected with this work. Foremost in this stands my friend, Leonhard Fried, of Eagle Valley, in the Town of Cross, in which town Mr. Louis G. Barth, Mr. G. Bohri, and John More exerted themselves for me. In Fountain City, Mr. Geo. Schuster collected about thirty, Mr. Harper a good number in Waumandee and Montana, Mr. Geo. E. Gilkey in Gilmanton, Mrs. Claflin in the same town, and Mr. W. W. Wyman in Mondovi, Mr. A. H. DeGroff in Maxville, and Erick Alme in Nelson. Concern- ing the remarks contained in the appendix to the different classes, I have cut off all the more exclusively personal matters, unless they were illustrative of some particular experience of a more gen- eral order. In the column of "Remarks" in the tables I gave refer- ences to some previous chapter in which the name reported would
Waumandee
608
LIST OF EARLY SETTLERS.
be found, either as a county officer, or a member of the legislature of this state in the senate or assembly. But it is not necessary to waste more words about it. I have conscientiously endeavored to collect the matter, and if I have not succeeded to perfection, I must beg every one who should happen to have been omitted to ask himself the question, whether he has exerted particular dili- gence to be inserted.
609
TOWNS.
TOWNS.
I am aware of the chance that some people will be a little dis- appointed with the history of the "Towns." Those, especially, who have been reading such books as the "History of Northern Wis- consin," or the "History of La Crosse County," may have become somewhat amused, if not fascinated, by the stories told there about who settled first, or built the first house in a town; who was the first to be born in it, who contracted the first marriage, and finally who was so unexpectedly accommodating to die first. All that may be, or may have been, a merit, and should, perhaps, not be omitted or forgotten. Yet, after the lapse of so many years, it is sometimes very uncertain, at least I have found it rather difficult, to find satisfactory evidence of these and similar matters. I have come to think that so many people did not take interest enough to remember things that happened much later, and therefore but little reliance could be placed upon stories about things which hap- pened so much earlier. I have also found that now and then those knew the most of such things who had no chance whatever to testify from actual experience. Another feature of the books named is the large number of biographies, going at times into the minutest details of a person's history, which could not be of any interest whatever to any one, not even to the subject of the sketch himself, as it was put down in print. Not that I would accuse those, upon whom these descriptions were inflicted, of vanity. They would answer questions, and the agent of the compilers would note down the answers and assume the wish of having it printed. But, while a few were thus supposed to be favored, how many were forgotten? No one will deny the importance of certain indi- vidualities in the development of certain towns or localities, but we should never forget that frequently by favorable conditions and opportunities persons have acquired a certain local and tem- porary prominiscence, who under different circumstances might
610
TOWNS.
have been entirely overlooked, and that many an individuality was overlooked, or at least undervalued, which under more favor- able circumstances might have shone out brilliantly.
This book pretends to be a history of Buffalo County, and as each town and corporation is an integral part of the county, each is entitled to as much consideration as any other. The older towns have the longer history, and this will not be overlooked, but as all new towns have once been parts of the older ones, the events before the separation can not be repeated intelligibly in the history of the newer ones, and would certainly no longer be inter- esting, if repeated. Instead of biographies I have introduced an impartial list of " Early Settlers " to which I refer the reader.
In the history of a town the interesting points scem to be:
1. A topographical description, including extent, horizontal and perpendicular configuration and adjoining towns.
2. Time of setting off, organization and important alterations and their causes.
3. History of settlement and develpoment; causes of the latter.
4. Population. The number of the present population and its increase during the years between the census of 1880 and that of 1885 are found in the respective tables for the whole county.
5. Schools and other improvements. Much of this is related in the chapter on Education and that on Transportation.
In all these respects I intend to be as brief as possible, and not to repeat those statements, which had to be made in the pre- ceding chapters.
In the following the towns and corporations will be mentioned in alphabetical order. Adjoining towns of Pepin and of Trempea- leau Counties will be named on the authority of the Atlas of Buf- falo and Pepin County published 1878 as to Pepin Co., and the Atlas of the State of Wisconsin by F. H. Walling published 1876. as to Trempealeau County. There is a possibility of changes hav- ing been made in the names of towns in the latter county since the time, but I am not aware of any official information of it.
611
TOWNS.
CITY OF ALMA.
The city of Alma comprises the following territory :
A. In township 21, Range 13, Sections: 2, 11, 12, 13, and 14 all of which are fractional.
B. In Township 22, Range 13, Sections: 25 West of Beef River, 26, 27, 28, 34 and 35, all of which are also fractional.
It has a length of five miles in a straight line north and south, but consideraly more along the Mississippi. Its width is greatest on the northern boundary line, and least on the line between Sections 2 and 11, the corner of Sections 1 and 2, 11 and 12 being close to the Court House, only 6.80 chains from the Mississippi. It is bordered on the West by the river, the course of which at that place is fully described in " Topography ." On the Eastside it joins the Towns of Alma and Belvidere, the former of which comes into the actual city on the corner above described, a few lots having been laid out around the Southwest corner of Section 1. On the South the Town of Belvidere also adjoins, while along the Northern boundary line the Town of Nelson extends. For about five miles high and steep bluffs extend, there being no level land between them and the river and sloughs, except the bottoms or islands. The city proper, is situated on the slope of the bluffs, and has but two streets running in the direction of the river, though quite a number crossing them, of which, however, but few are practicable, though some of them have been put into such a condition between Main and Second Streets as to afford communi- cation. Second Street is from 50 to 60 feet above the level of Main Street. The railroad, running close to, or in fact upon part of Main Street in the Lower Addition, it was found necessary to build a graded road from the junction of Main Street with North Street, to the junction of Hill Street with Second Street in order to prevent accidents to teams becoming frightened by the approach of trains, Of the founders of the place a lengthy ac- count has been given in the chapter on Early Settlement and Pio- neers. What wa, the Village, and is now the City, of Alma, was part of the Town of Alma, which was organized in March 1856, or rather by the Annual Town meeting and election in April of that year. This election was held at the house of John Marty accord- to resolution of the county board. In 1868 it was found desirable to dissolve this connection and the place was incorporated as a
612
TOWNS.
village. Owing to some defects in the charter, which could not readily be amended, the citizens applied for a city charter, which was granted by the legislature of 1885. The first Mayor of the new city 'was Martin Polin; he was succeeded by Charles Schaettle, jr. The present Mayor is Hon. John W. DeGroff. The different parts of the city were laid out as follows:
Plat of Alma May 1855, recorded in Vol. 4, page 57.
Victor Probst's Addition May 6, 1855, recorded in Vol. 4, page 67.
Probst and Wenger's Addition May 8, 1855, recorded in Vol. 4, page 61. All these parts were laid out by A. W. Miller, who is now a resident of Durand, Pepin Co.
The Lower Addition was laid out July 9, 1855, recorded Vol. 1, page 389. This was surveyed by Mr. Finkelnburg.
Beiner's Alteration and Addition was laid out Feb. 26, 1859, recorded in Vol. 4, page 562. This was surveyed by Robert Strohmann.
Moser and Hatcher's Addition was laid out April 14, 1871, re- corded in Vol. 17, page 147.
Louis Mueller's Addition was laid out April 19, 1877, recorded in Vol. 23, page 556.
Becker's Addition was laid out June 30, 1877, recorded in Vol. 24 Page 7.
All these were laid out or platted by L. Kessinger.
The Upper Subdivision consists of different parcels of land laid out at different times, all situated in Lot 2 of Sec- tion 2 Township 21, Range 13, lying East of Main Street and North of Walnut Street. This plat was recorded for the convenience of describing these parcels by numbers, thus obviating the long descriptions in assessing the same, into which errors would almost unavoidadly have crept at some time or other. See Vol. 34, page 198. Within the corporation, but about two miles north of the actual city is the
Village of North Alma, situated in Section 26 and 27 of Town- ship 22 Range 13. It was laid out April 1, 1870, recorded in Vol. 16 page 417. This village was laid out by L. Kessinger, by order of Francis Palms of Detroit, Mich., who was one of the principal stockholders of the Beef Slough Co. Camp No. 1 and the offices of the Mississippi River Logging Co. are situated upon lots. The
613
TOWNS.
railroad depot of Beef Slough station, and Beef Slough postoffice are also located within its limits.
The lives of the pioneers of Twelve Mile Bluff, as the place was called in former times are described in the chapter on Pioneers. After their time others began to arrive. One of the most impor- tant families was that of John Marty, consisting of himself and wife and one daughter. The latter was married to W. H. Gates, February 23d, 1856, the second marriage on record. The Martys, John and his brother Nicolas, arrived in 1851. There seems to have been but little activity in any thing until the place was laid .out in lots. The business of the early settlers was making shingles and getting out cordwood. About the same time with the Martys Mathias Hammer, now of Lincoln, arrived. They got their mail from Reeds Landing, Minn., and did all their dealings of store goods at Galena, Ill., giving their orders to the steamboat captains, who would bring the goods on the next trip up the river. The goods needed at that time included provisions of all kinds, flour pork, etc. besides articles of clothing and tools for work carried on. The first business opened at Alma was a saloon, kept by a man named Beyer, who had come from Keokuk, and it was lo- cated in a shed adjoining the house or shanty of John Marty. In 1855 the following houses were built: By Gates, J. A. Hunner, John Hemrich, Philipp Kraft, J. R. Hurlburt and E. E. Heer- man. They were all along Main Street, above Olive Street, except that of J. R. Hurlburt which was on the corner of Second and Orange Streets. Hurlburt and Kraft opened hotels, the former the Alma House, the latter the Wisconsin House. The brewery of John Hemrich was also built the same year. About a year or perhaps two before that time Rudolf Beiner had arrived and taken lodging in the old shanty built originally b/ V. Probst and J. C. Waecker, and in company with John Marty he laid out the Lower Addition. Most of the above information I have received from Mr. Gates, who was for a long time a prominent citizen of Alma. He was of versatile talents, and undertook a great many things, without, however, achieving any decided success in any particular one. Among other things he kept hotel in both, the Alma House and after that the Sherman House, after the latter had been built. He was elected Register of Deeds in 1857 and Sheriff in 1863. I think he kept the first store in the place in the house on the corner of
614
TOWNS.
Orange and Main Streets, which is at present occupied by Mathias Ruben as a bakery and fruit store. Mr. Gates was also elected to many local offices, and, I think, was the first chairman of the Town of Alma. He is now a practicing physician at Gary, Deuel Co., Dakota Territory. He was also the first postmaster of this place, the office having been established in 1856. This office, the establishment of which shows, that the place had become of some consideration, has since its establishment been administered by the following gentlemen:
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