USA > Wisconsin > Buffalo County > History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2) > Part 57
USA > Wisconsin > Pepin County > History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2) > Part 57
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In addition to its excellent public school system, Alma has the Buffalo County Training School for Teachers, established in 1902. Four churches are represented here, the Swiss Reformed, the Evangelical Association, the German Lutheran and the Catholic. Christian Science services are also held. Among the fraternities may be mentioned the Blue Lodge and East- ern Star of the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen, the Woodmen of the World, the Royal Neighbors and the Beavers. The people have always taken a deep interest in music, and the Alma Concert Band
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of thirty pieces, and the Ladies' Orchestra of twenty pieces are important factors in the life of the city.
There are several natural parks in the vicinity of Alma. Back of the city, the picturesque bluff is owned by E. F. Ganz, and a private roadway winds through the wood land to its top, a short distance back from which his home is located. At the top of the bluff, Mr. Ganz has installed a flag pole which can be seen for many miles up and down the river.
Among the business and professional activities of Alma may be men- tioned the newspaper, two banks, five hotels, three garages, a brewery, six grocery stores, two boot and shoe stores, a lumber yard, an oil station, two coal and wood establishments, a wiring and electric light supply house, one grain elevator, one grain and produce warehouse, two millinery estab- lishments, three hardware stores, three general stores, two agricultural implement dealers, two blacksmiths, eight saloons, one livery stable, one stock yard, one flour and feed establishment, one drug store, one fur estab- lishment, one tailor shop, and an investment company, as well as a physi- cian, an attorney, a photographer and two real estate dealers.
The first school in Alma was taught in 1856, by Dr. John Ehing, a grandfather of Otto F. and William D. Ehing, proprietors of the Union Hotel. He received his certificate from Philip Kraft, town superintendent of schools, and taught in the house which, with alterations, is now occupied by Darwin Ulrich. A school building was erected in 1868. This was aban- doned in 1867 when the present school was erected on the present site, the old school building being converted into a jail. The school building has been modernized from time to time, and is now well equipped with modern conveniences and appliances. The principal, H. H. Lubenberg, has for many years past been connected with the Buffalo County Training School.
The first postmaster at Alma was W. H. Gates, who opened the office at his store at the corner of Orange and Main streets. He was appointed in 1856 and served something over a year. Since then the postmasters have been: Peter Polin, 1857-63; C. A. Boehme, 1863-69; Mathias Fetzer, 1869-72; Julius Ginzkey, 1872-76; L. P. Hunner, 1876-85; M. W. MacDon- nell, 1885-87; G. M. Reinhardt, 1888-1890; J. W. DeGroff, 1890-91; D. J. Mckenzie, 1891-93; Herman Schoepp, 1893 (a few months) ; Theodore Buehler, 1893-97; E. F. Ganz, 1897-1913; Theodore Buehler, Jr., 1913 to the present time.
Fountain City
Fountain City, the first permanent settlement in Buffalo County, is attractively situated on the banks of the Mississippi, under the shade of the overhanging bluffs. Many of the houses and gardens are located on terraces built into the sides of the bluffs, giving to the place a picturesque- ness which has attracted the admiration of travelers from near and far.
The city is incorporated, has good churches and schools, good fire pro- tection, pure water from artesian wells, some sightly buildings, and a good representation of business concerns. Social life is not neglected, and espe- cial attention has been paid to musical affairs. For several years it has been the center of government improvements on the river in this vicinity, and this has added to its business importance.
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The Parish of the Immaculate Conception also maintains an excellent parochial school housed in a suitable brick building of two stories. The usual eight grades of study are maintained.
The religious life of the village is represented by four churches, Cath- olic, Lutheran, Reformed and Evangelical.
Situated at the outlet of one of the richest farming countries in west- ern Wisconsin, the city is unusually well supplied with business houses. It has a bank, a newspaper, three good hotels, a mill, an elevator, a brewery, a lumber yard, two planing mills, two garages, a foundry and machine shop, a cigar factory, three agricultural implement dealers, a bottling works, a shoemaker, a blacksmith, a plumber, two contractors and builders, a pho- tographer, a drug store, a meat market, a milliner, three clothing 'stores, two hardware stores, a grocery and a bakery and confectionery store. The professions are represented by a physician, a lawyer and a dentist.
Fountain City was incorporated as a village in 1870. J. B. Oenning was the first president.
The place continued as a village until April, 1889, when it was incor- porated as a city. Charles R. Bechman was the first president, H. Roet- tiger was first treasurer and Henry Friedel the first assessor. From the first ward the officers were: Alderman for three years, A. Dressendorfer ; alderman for two years, M. Feuerhak; alderman for one year, William Schuster; county supervisor, George Schwoebel; justice of the peace, F. Roettiger ; constable, John Spehn. From the second ward the officers were: Alderman for three years, William Heck; alderman for two years, F. H. Bitter; officer for one year, Jacob Stoll; county supervisor, John Schmitz; justice of the peace, R. W. Feigel; constable, M. Fiedler. The present mayor is Dr. Paul J. Reinhardt, the clerk is Paul Fugina, the treasurer is Paul Rudiger, while the aldermen are Samuel Schaffner, William Wild and Valentine Thoeny from the first ward and Romeo Kaste, Alexander Bachler and Emil Florin from the second ward.
A year after the village was incorporated, fire protection had its origin. December 4, 1871, Liberty No. 1 was organized as the nucleus of the fire department, with Fred Roettiger as chief and Fred Baechler as assistant, with sixty members composed of the leading citizens of the village. The equipment was increased from time to time and in January, 1893, an engine was purchased from the Ahrens Fire Steamer Co. The city is now well equipped for fighting fire. The water is furnished from artesian wells. Electric light service dates from January, 1889, when Henry and Frederick Roettiger installed a plant at their planing mill. These gentlemen still hold the franchise, but the current is furnished by the Wisconsin & Minne- sota Light & Power Co. The city hall, a brick structure erected in 1879, still proves adequate for its purpose, and public gatherings are held in the Concordia Hall.
Education has been an important factor in the development of Foun- tain City. As early as the winter of 1854-55 school was taught in a log house owned by John Buehler, the teacher being Mrs. J. R. Penny. The first schoolhouse was built of brick by Henry Teckenburg in 1859. A new schoolhouse was erected in 1867 at a cost of some $7,000. The present
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school is a substantial brick building of six rooms, modern in every respect. It was built in 1900, the officers of the board at that time being Martin Fugina, president ; Charles Prussing, clerk; and F. J. Bohri, treasurer; the cost with equipment being $15,000. There are seven teachers including the principal, and aside from the usual graded and high school studies, a major commercial course is maintained.
The first postoffice was opened in 1854 with James M. Pierce as post- master. His successors were: Henry Teckenburg, 1855 to 1857; R. W. Feigl, from 1857 to 1858; Henry Teckenburg, from 1858 to 1861; Augustus Finkelnburg, from 1861 to 1862; M. W. Hamman, from 1862 to 1863; Selmar Carthauser, from 1863 to 1870; Fred Morckel, from 1870 to 1873; John Maurer, from 1873 to 1874; Tobias Voegli, from 1874 to 1886; John Bernhardt Oenning, from 1886 to 1898; J. Anton Oenning, from 1898 to 1916; and Andrew Baertsch, from 1916 to the present time.
Cochrane
When the Chicago, Burlington & Northern was opened in 1886, the advantages of a railroad station near to Buffalo City were apparent. Con- sequently the railroad company bought a tract of land on the present site of Cochrane, and transferred it to the St. Paul Land Co., a co-ordinate or- ganization. This company platted the village of Cochrane and began selling lots.
The first purchasers were J. L. and G. M. Rohrer, who had been farm- ing in the vicinity, and saw their opportunity of embarking in the hardware trade in the new village. They at once erected a building on the corner where G. M. Rohrer's large business house now stands, and started in busi- ness. At the same time J. B. Hofer bought the corner opposite, and erected what is now the Herold Hotel. J. G. Runkel erected a general store the same year. Paul Huefner erected a warehouse. The Kemp store was opened in 1887. J. P. Schnug erected a general store in 1888. About the same time, H. E. Kochenderfer started a blacksmith shop. Fred Laue, of Alma, opened a lumber yard with Adolph Buecker as manager. With this beginning, the village has enjoyed a substantial growth.
For some ten years after the village was started the old one-room schoolhouse continued to do service. Then a second room was added. The present modern brick school building of four rooms was erected in 1915 at a cost of some $18,000. It covers ten grades of study and is doing excellent work.
The village has two churches. The Methodist Episcopal church is a substantial wooden structure erected in 1893. Previous to its erection, the Methodists of this vicinity attended service at Buffalo City. In 1901 the German Lutheran people erected a brick veneer church of ample propor- tions, and in 1914 put up a parsonage of the same material. Three lodges are represented here: Rose Valley Camp, No. 883, M. W. A., White Rose Camp, No. 1220, Royal Neighbors of America, and Oak Leaf Council, No. 797, Yeoman of America.
A while after the village was organized, an attempt was made to establish the industry of basketmaking. The Cochrane Basket Factory
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was incorporated by the local business men, and the manufacturing started. It did not, however, prove the success anticipated, and the project was abandoned. A co-operative cheese factory was erected soon after the vil- lage was started. Many years afterward it was replaced by the present creamery. The Pepin Pickle Co. of Winona maintains a pickling station here, and makes quite extensive shipments.
The village has a newspaper, a bank, two hotels, two general stores, a lumber yard, an elevator, a concrete block factory, two hardware stores, one of which has furniture and undertaking departments, two agricultural implement establishments, one of which deals also in live stock and the other in automobiles, a garage, a meat market, a harness store, a jewelry store, a livery and draying establishment, a wall paper dealer, a blacksmith and machine shop, a barber, a fur dealer, a contractor and builder, a phy- sician, a dentist and an attorney, and two insurance men, one of whom also deals in real estate. Many of the buildings which house these various activities are sightly structures of brick, pebble dash or cement blocks.
Cochrane was incorporated as a village in 1910. The first president was G. M. Rohrer, the first clerk was John Meili, the first trustees were J. B. Hofer, Fred Kurtsweg, H. E. Kochenderfer, Ferdinand Hansen, A. R. Molink and J. L. Rohrer. G. M. Rohrer is still the president. D. H. Herold is the clerk. The trustees are A. H. Rohrer, Frank Gahnz, Ferdinand Hansen, R. C. Heuer, John G. Thoma and Charles A. Siewert.
There are some excellent village improvements. A fire in 1911 re- sulted in the organization of a volunteer fire department the following year. The apparatus is housed in the village hall, a wooden structure erected in 1911. In 1912 the village was bonded for $7,000 and a water- works system installed. The reservoir is located 300 feet above the level of the village and affords ninety pounds pressure for fire protection. Prep- arations are being made for the installation of an electric lights system by the Wisconsin & Minnesota Power Co. In 1916 the main streets were macadamized, and these streets are also lined with cement walks. The Kockwelp Park is a two-acres natural park west of the school grounds, in charge of the Cochrane Park Club organized in 1917. The people of Coch- rane and vicinity are much interested in music. The Excelsior Band was organized as early as 1890. In 1892 it was reorganized as the present Fireman's Band. The Cadet Band was organized in 1916.
Nelson
James Nelson, an Englishman, settled on the Mississippi, at the mouth of the Chippewa, probably in the early forties. He was there in 1844, and the place was already known as Nelson's Landing. At that time Nelson's Landing was a popular stopping place for those who came up the Missis- sippi in the winter time along its west bank, and crossed over at the foot of Lake Pepin into the Chippewa Valley for the purpose of visiting the logging camps along the upper river. Although his name was given to the township, the present settlers know nothing of Nelson, where he came from or where he went. For a time a ferry was maintained between Nel- son's Landing and Reed's Landing in Minnesota.
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Settlers gradually began to come into the town, but the greatest influx came in the middle fifties. With the other early settlers came Jacob Smelzer, George and John Butler and Jacob Gould, who located in the pres- ent vicinity of Nelson Village. With the establishment of the ferry and the building of the road across the bottoms, the present site of the village became a natural stopping place for travelers.
In 1884, after the Chicago, Burlington & Northern was surveyed, the village of Nelson was platted around the present site of the depot. But the residents were determined that the village should be established on the terrace, where the nucleus had already been started. Consequently John Butler erected a frame building and opened a general mercantile estab- lishment, which he conducted until 1902. The railroad came in 1886. In that year Fairview was platted, including the present business center of the village of Nelson. The same year an addition was platted to the village of Nelson. With the opening of the railroad, Edmund Geibel erected and opened a store near the station. For a time the rivalry between Fairview on the present site of the business center, and Nelson at the depot con- tinued. In 1888, Fairview had a store, a blacksmith shop and several saloons, while Nelson at the station had the depot, coal sheds, warehouses, a store, a hotel and two saloons. But in time the business center grew up in what was then known as Fairview, and the combined village took the name of Nelson.
The village is not incorporated, but is a flourishing hamlet of between 300 and 400 people, nine miles north of Alma, three and a half miles east of Wabasha, and sixteen miles west of Durand. It has a national bank, a two-room brick school built in 1890; Union, German Lutheran and Cath- olic churches, lodges of the Modern Woodmen, Royal Neighbors and Beavers, electric light service, an elevator, an hotel, two general stores, one grocery and confectionery store, one meat market, one livery, one garage and farm implement establishment combined, one farm implement establishment, two saloons, one barber shop, one blacksmith shop, one real estate dealer, one hardware store and one lumber yard.
Modena is a flourishing village in section 23, Modena township. It has about 100 inhabitants and has German Lutheran, Norwegian Lutheran and Methodist Episcopal churches, a two-room graded school, a Farmers' State Bank, a hotel, a Farmers' Co-operative Creamery, the Modena Roller Mill, two general stores, a garage, an implement dealer, and a blacksmith shop.
Gilmanton is an attractive village with a mill, a creamery, a bank, four general stores, two hardware stores, one drug store, one hotel, a barber shop, two temporary saloons, two garages, and two blacksmith shops. There is a Union church and a new high school. The Modern Woodmen have a hall and the Beavers also have a lodge here.
Buffalo City, the oldest incorporated city in Buffalo County, is the smallest city in Wisconsin. It has no business houses of any nature. There is a city hall and lock-up, a good modern school, German Lutheran and Catholic churches, and a number of pretty residences. A natural grove furnishes a pretty park.
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Anchorage is located in Waumandee Township.
Bohri is a small community center located in the southeastern part of Cross Township.
Bluff Siding, located on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, in Buf- falo Township, two miles from Winona, was formerly the site of an exten- sive lime-burning industry. Its business activities are now represented by a store, hotel, and two saloons. There is a schoolhouse in the vicinity.
Cream, nine miles east of Alma, in the Little Waumandee Valley, south- ern part of Lincoln Township, has a general store conducted by Adam Rettcher, a cheese factory and a saloon. A school and church are also located there.
Cross, a small community center in Cross Township, contains a store, saloon and hall.
East Winona is a junction point on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy and the Green Bay & Western Railways, and is situated in Buffalo Town- ship, at the east end of the Burlington bridge.
Glencoe is a neighborhood in Glencoe Township.
Herold, five miles east of Alma, in Belvidere Township, is the site of a general store, a blacksmith shop, a school and a Methodist Episcopal church.
Lookout, in section 22, Dover Township, has a general store, of which Leon Larson is the proprietor, a cheese factory, a school and a Norwegian Lutheran church.
Marshland, a junction point on the Green Bay and Northwestern rail- ways, is an important shipping point for the fur and fish industries. It is also a center for the marsh draining and land reclaiming enterprise. It contains a store, hotel and two saloons.
Misha Mokwa, situated in the town of Nelson, 15 miles northwest of Alma, contains a general store, conducted by P. M. Jacobson, a blacksmith shop and feedmill.
Montana is in Montana Township.
Mayville Station is in Maxville Township, on the Chippewa Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul.
Praag, fourteen miles east of Alma, in Lincoln Township, is a small community center containing a general store, conducted by Miller & Mat- tausch, a store and a saloon combined, and a school.
Plumer's Station is in Nelson Township, on the Chippewa Valley divi- sion of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul.
Trevino is a railroad station at the junction of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Chippewa Valley branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, in Nelson Township, not far from the mouth of the Chippewa.
Urne is on the boundary between Modena and Nelson Township.
Waumandee, a small village with a population of about 100, is located on a river of the same name in Waumandee Township, fifteen miles south- east of Alma. It contains a general store conducted by Fred W. Wirten- berger, a brick garage, two blacksmiths' shops, the Farmers' State Bank and two saloons. It also has a postoffice, a good modern public school and a German Catholic church with a two-room parochial school building.
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Postoffices. Nearly all the neighborhood and community centers had postoffices in former days. The present postoffices are at Alma with three rural routes, Cochrane with two rural routes, Cream with one rural route, Fountain City with four rural routes, Gilmanton with one rural route, Modena with one rural route, Mondovi with seven rural routes, Nelson with two rural routes, and Waumandee with one rural route.
Anchorage in section 30, township 21, range 11; Burnside, section 3, township 23, range 13; Beef Slough, at Camp No. 1, on Beef Slough; Cross, section 5, township 19, range 10; Glencoe, section 28, township 21, range 10; Eagle Creek, section 7, township 21, range 11; Eagle Branch, section 36, township 21, range 11; Lookout, at present location of that hamlet; Marshland at the railroad station of that name; Maxville in a store on Maxville Prairie; Misha Mokwa at the present hamlet of that name; Mon- tana in section 36, township 22, range 11; Urne in section 8, township 23, range 12; and Urban, situated in the upper part of Little Waumandee Valley have been discontinued.
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CHAPTER XIV
THE PRESS
There are five weekly papers in Buffalo County, the Buffalo County Journal, of Alma, established in 1861; the Cochrane Recorder, of Cochrane, established in 1914; the Buffalo County Republikaner, of Fountain City, established in 1861; the Buffalo County News, of Mondovi, established in 1898; the Mondovi Herald of Mondovi, established in 1876.
The Fountain City Beacon, the first paper in Buffalo County, was established in 1856, the first number being issued at Fountain City on Friday, July 18, of that year. The editor was Dr. T. G. Hake. The first publishers were L. M. Rose and R. Beeson. With the second issue, Beeson sold out his interests to Frederick A. Wheelock, who withdrew in about two months, leaving Rose as the sole owner. November 29, 1856, Rose sold to J. Ketchum Averill. He sold out to a stock company. On August 1, 1857, the paper became the property of Charles G. Peterson, who con- tinued it until October, 1858, when it was suspended. The press and mate- rial were removed to Eau Claire. In December, 1856, the paper had the sub-title "and Buffalo, Dunn, Chippewa, Trempealeau and Clark Counties Advertiser," the addition being made with the hope of securing the print- ing of the delinquent tax lists of those counties. The paper supported the candidacy of John C. Fremont in 1856, but later was Democratic.
The Fountain City Advocate was started in September, 1857, by J. Ketchum Averill, after he had sold out the Beacon. It was published for about six months.
The Buffalo County Advertiser, a small four-column sheet, was started at Fountain City in 1860, by Marvin Pierce and C. Bohri. In 1861 it was discontinued.
The Buffalo County Republikaner was started at Buffalo City, in 1861, the first issue being dated March 15 of that year. At that time, Buffalo City had aspirations toward county seat honors, and the paper was for the purpose of presenting its claims. It was published by Charles Lohmann, headed by a committee of citizens. In July the paper suspended, but on October 12 it was revived by G. G. Oppliger, who purchased it from the committee and removed it to Fountain City, May 12, 1864. April 1, 1869, he sold out to John F. Hauser. Mr. Hauser, on November 4, 1871, sold to Joseph Leicht. January 21, 1881, Mr. Leicht established the Westlicher Herold at Winona, and the Republikaner was sold to Frederick Hepp and John L. Uttermoehl, with the latter as editor. Mr. Uttermoehl retired in 1885 and his place was taken by Jacob Meili. John Schmitz and Paul F. Muller acquired the paper in 1887, and the latter became the sole owner in 1888. In 1896 the Republikaner Publishing Co. was formed and took over the paper, selling to Emil Wittzack and Henry Rath in October, 1899. In December of that year, Mr. Rath retired, leaving Emil Wittzack as the
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publisher. In 1910, Justin Landwehr became the owner. The paper was Republican until Mr. Leicht bought it, since which time it has been Demo- cratic. It is published in the German language. The facilities are good, and the office is fully equipped for job and custom printing.
The Buffalo County Journal was established at Alma in April, 1861, by Brackett & Rockwell, the editor being James M. Brackett. In June, 1862, he sold to R. H. Copeland, who changed the name to the Alma Journal. Brackett again came into possession in June, 1864. Ten months later he sold to Jacob Iberg and John Hunner, but was retained as editor. John Hunner became sole owner in 1867, and took C. Moser as partner the fol- lowing year. In 1869, Perkins, McBride & Ostrander became the owners and changed the title to Alma Journal and Beef Slough Advocate. The next owners were George W. Gilkey and John E. Stillman, who changed the name to the Alma Weekly Express. In 1871, John Hunner and J. W. De- Groff conducted the paper for a month, after which Mr. DeGroff was suc- ceeded by C. L. James, son of the English novelist, G. P. R. James. In 1872, Mr. DeGroff succeeded John Hunner. In April, 1873, A. Rockwell succeeded Mr. James. A few months later Mr. Rockwell retired, and Mr. DeGroff became the sole owner. In June, 1879, he changed the name to the original title of Buffalo County Journal. In 1890, Mr. DeGroff was suc- ceeded by Edwin F. Ganz. Mr. Ganz edited the paper for the long period of twenty-three years, and in this capacity had an important influence in shaping the destinies of the county. When he purchased the paper it was an eight-column folio. He soon made it a six-column quarto sheet. He also improved the mechanical facilities, putting in a typesetting machine and other equipment. In 1913 he sold to Stroebel & Buehler, who added further improvements, including a Mergenthaler linotype machine. The office is now thoroughly equipped for newspaper and job printing, having cylinder and job presses, good type, and many modern facilities. Stroebel, who had been foreman at the plant for some time before he became a part- ner, has charge of the mechanical features of the work. Theodore Buehler, Jr., the editor, is the son of Theodore Buehler, dean of the Buffalo County Bar, and grandson of John Buehler, a prominent factor in the organization of the county. The circulation of the Journal is 1,800 copies weekly in addition to its exchanges and free copies.
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