USA > Wisconsin > Buffalo County > History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2) > Part 58
USA > Wisconsin > Pepin County > History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2) > Part 58
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
The Buffalo County Herald was founded at Mondovi, in 1876, the first issue being dated February 4. The founder was Walter L. Houser, after- ward Secretary of State. He conducted it a year and then sold to George E. Gilkey, who likewise conducted it a year. W. H. and Charles E. Edes then had it for a while. In 1879 the paper was suspended for a week, and the material sold to J. W. DeGroff. George E. Gilkey, however, resur- rected the paper and acquired the outfit. Mr. Houser again became inter- ested in the paper, and from 1881 to 1883 was the sole owner. Then he sold to J. C. Rathbun, but in 1885 again took it over, and in 1893 took W. H. Smith as a partner. In June, 1890, Mr. Houser changed the name to the Mondovi Herald, the name it still retains. In 1912, the paper was pur- chased by Frank L. St. John and E. F. Hohmann, and in 1914 Mr. St. John became the sole owner. The paper is well equipped for all kinds of news-
Digitized by Google
940
HISTORY OF BUFFALO AND PEPIN COUNTIES
paper and job work, having a cylinder press, two power job presses, a large assortment of type, a paper cutter, a stapler and a perforator. A linotype machine was added in 1917.
The Alma Blätter was founded in January, 1889, and published by Schmitz & Muller, the first editor being George Seiler of Alma. In No- vember, 1889, it became an edition of the Buffalo County Republikaner, with John Schmitz as publisher. In November, 1890, Paul F. Muller be- came the publisher. In September, 1892, the paper was consolidated with the Republikaner, its name becoming a sub-title of that paper. After No- vember, 1894, it was again published as a separate edition of the Repub- likaner until its suspension in June, 1910.
The Buffalo County News was established in July, 1898, by the Browne Brothers, who purchased the outfit of the Eau Claire Workmen's Gazette, and moved it to Mondovi by wagon. For the next three years it had a checkered career, its proprietors being Browne & Thomas, Kremer & Hos- kinson, and Lees & Petzold. Harry H. Scott purchased the paper in July, 1901, and has since been its editor and publisher. Taking a paper which had experienced rather an uncertain career, he built it into as strong a journal as is to be found in the county. Its circulation is in Buffalo, Trempealeau, Eau Claire and Pepin Counties, in all of which it enjoys con- siderable influence. Its equipment is good, including a typesetting machine, and in addition to the paper business, a satisfactory amount of job printing is turned out. Its politics are Independent Republican.
The Landsman was established at Cochrane by the leading business men in January, 1900, with Prof. John Schlosstein as editor. The plant was later acquired by a local firm of Meili & Guettinger, and edited by John Meili, present county clerk. August 28, 1914, when in its thirty-fifth issue of its thirteenth volume, the paper was sold to Emil Leicht, of Winona. Mr. Leicht continued it for some time in connection with his Sonntags Winona, retaining the old heading and using it as a supplement.
The Cochrane Recorder was established in December, 1914, by the business men of Cochrane, with D. I. Hammergren, of St. Paul, in charge. It has gone through various changes, and is now edited by Oliver R. Wei- nandy, the mechanical end being in charge of Emil Uttermoehl.
Digitized by Google
---
CHAPTER XV BENCH AND BAR (Edited by Theodore Buehler)
When Buffalo County was created, July 6, 1853, it was included in the Sixth Judicial Circuit, and court was ordered held at such times as the circuit judge should appoint. Hon. Hiram Knowlton was the first judge. He was followed in 1857 by Hon. George Gale of Galesville. Judge Gale, writing April 9, 1860, said of his earlier courts:
"The Circuit Court commenced its session yesterday with a small docket, but quite a large attendance of lawyers from La Crosse, Galesville, Trempealeau and Winona, among whom were E. F. Cook and Judge Lord from La Crosse and G. Y. Freeman of Galesville, and F. A. Utter of Trem- pealeau. The forenoon was principally occupied by the court in empanel- ling the Grand Jury and in naturalizing fifteen Germans, who were in attendance with their witnesses for that purpose.
"The Court House is at the lower town and is a very respectable brick building, but not yet plastered or finished inside. This building is, how- ever, quite an improvement over the building in which Judge Gale held his first court in this county in 1857. That building was the old pioneer log house, and the court was held in the parlor, fourteen feet square, with the old fashioned Dutch chimney back for the fireplace. Imagine, Mr. Editor, Judge Gale sitting behind a board table, in an old rocking-chair, with a straight back, on a floor too rough for the chair to rock; the walls hung round with rifles, coon skins, powder horns, Elk horns, and other collaterals of a hunter's shanty, with a docket of law cases numbering three, all stand- ing on default, and one divorce case standing on a bill taken as confessed for want of an answer, with a bar consisting of one loud-voiced attorney, arguing strenuously for judgment in all the cases without proof, and Judge Gale refusing them on account of the irregularity of the proceedings, for which Judge Gale's lack of knowledge of the practice is much deplored, and Judge Gale's predecessor, Judge Knowlton, often quoted and sustained with flattering compliments for his wisdom in always granting judgments in all such cases; and a small German audience, talking their own language aloud in spite of the rebukes of the German sheriff-poor souls, supposing they did not disturb the court and bar with their noise, inasmuch as their conversation was not understood ;- and you will get a fair picture of the first court held by Judge Gale. But Judge Gale is now law to the parties, audiences are still and kindly, the lawyers obedient and gentlemanly, jurors prompt, not only in attendance, but in following instructions, and Judge Gale experiences as little trouble among the Germans of Buffalo County as in any of the eight counties composing his extensive circuit."
In 1861 Isaac E. Messmore contested Judge Gale's seat. Judge Gale
941
Digitized by Google
942
HISTORY OF BUFFALO AND PEPIN COUNTIES
had been elected for the six years beginning January 1, 1857, as judge of the Sixth District, then embracing Crawford, Bad Axe, La Crosse, Monroe, Jackson, Clark, Buffalo and Trempealeau counties. But by an act of the legislature (approved March 30, 1861) the counties of Crawford, Bad Axe, La Crosse, Monroe and Jackson were constituted the Sixth District, and the counties of Trempealeau, Buffalo, Pepin, Dunn, Dallas, Chippewa, Clark and Eau Claire were constituted the Eleventh District. Judge Gale was by this act made judge of the Eleventh District. The governor on April 10, 1861, appointed Isaac E. Messmore judge of the Sixth District. The matter went to the Supreme Court (14 Wis. 164), and it was determined that the legislature had no authority to assign Gale to the Eleventh Dis- trict, and that the governor had no power to appoint Messmore to the Sixth. Judge Gale, therefore, remained the judge of the counties which consti- tuted his district at the time of his election. In 1862 the legislature placed Crawford, La Crosse, Monroe, Jackson, Clark, Buffalo, Trempealeau, Rich- land and Vernon in the Sixth District.
Judge Gale served until the end of 1862. Hon. Edwin Flint became judge January 1, 1863, and served six years. Hon. Romanzo Bunn went on the bench January 1, 1869, and served eight years, retiring to go on the bench of the United States Federal Court for the western district of Wis- consin. A. W. Neuman succeeded Judge Bunn late in 1869. He served seventeen years and resigned late in 1893 to become an associate justice of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin. When the county was placed in the Eighth Circuit, Egbert B. Bundy was on the bench of that district, serving from 1878 to 1897. He was followed in 1897 by Eugene W. Helms. Judge Helms resigned in November, 1913, on account of poor health, and died soon afterward. Governor Francis E. McGovern appointed George Thomp- son of Ellsworth. In April, 1914, Judge Thompson was elected to the full term which expires in January, 1921. The Eighth Circuit comprises the counties of Buffalo, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce and St. Croix.
W. H. Gates was the first lawyer in Buffalo County. He was also a physician. He came to Nelson's Landing in 1852, built the first store in Alma in 1855, and was the first postmaster. He was a justice of the peace and performed many marriages. After a long life here he moved to Gary, South Dakota, where he died.
The next attorney in Buffalo County was Marvin Pierce, who came here from Montoville, now Trempealeau, in 1853, after he had succeeded in lobbying a bill through the legislature creating Buffalo County, and locating the county seat on a stretch of sand owned by his brother, James A. Pierce, above Fountain City. Pierce had land interests in Bennett Valley and elsewhere in the county. He was the first county judge, elected in the fall of 1853, and was a prominent figure in Buffalo County life for many years.
So far as is now known, Wesley Pierce, brother of Marvin Pierce, was not a lawyer. However, he was elected as county attorney in 1855. His predecessor in the office, J. Adam Raetz, was a sturdy pioneer who made no pretense to legal education or training. It is also doubtful whether L. Seals, who became district attorney in 1857, was an attorney.
Probably the next lawyer after Marvin Pierce was Ferdinand Fetter,
Digitized by Google
943
HISTORY OF BUFFALO AND PEPIN COUNTIES
who settled in Fountain City in 1855. He was elected county judge in 1861, moved to Alma, and died there in 1876.
Augustus Finkelnburg came to Fountain City in 1855. A man of wide experience and education, he at once took a leading part in public affairs. He was the first county superintendent of schools in 1861, became county judge in 1865, was elected district attorney in 1869 and 1875; in 1874 served in the assembly, and in 1881-82 in the senate. He died in 1892. His son, W. A. Finkelnburg, likewise took up the practice of law. He moved to Winona, and continued in practice there until his death. His son, Karl, has succeeded him. W. A. Finkelnburg occupied several official positions in Winona, edited several editions of the ordinances of that city, was one of the prime movers in the establishment of the beautiful Levee Park there, and was an authority on archaeology, anthropology and geology.
Edward Lees came to Buffalo County in 1855 from Waukesha County, this state, which, in 1853, he had represented in the legislature. He settled about three miles east of Fountain City and at once became a leading citi- zen. When Belvidere Township was created in 1856 he became its first chairman, and as such served on the county board, of which he was chair- man. When Cross was set off from Belvidere the following year, he was likewise first chairman of that town. He was a dominant factor on the county board for many years. He practiced law as a partner of Ferdinand Fetter, but continued to live on his farm. He was a shrewd lawyer and a stickler for a strict interpretation of the law in county affairs. He was elected district attorney in 1859 and served until 1867. Elected again in 1871, he served four years more. In 1875 and 1876 he served in the assembly, of which he had been a member twenty-three years before.
Robert Lees, son of Edward Lees, came to Buffalo County with his parents in 1855, and settled with them in Cross Township. Upon his return from the Civil War, he took up teaching and the study of law, making his home in Gilmanton Township. In 1864 he became county superintendent of schools. In 1873 he served in the assembly. In 1881 he was elected county judge and served until his death, a period of nearly thirty years. In the meantime, in 1887 and 1889 he served in the state senate.
Conrad Moser, Jr., came to Alma Township in 1855. He was appointed county clerk in 1861, and was twice thereafter elected. At the close of his term he began the practice of law. In 1867-68 he served in the legis- lature, and in 1877 was elected county judge. In the middle eighties he went to California and died there in 1917.
John W. Whelan, the first lawyer in Mondovi, came to Mondovi in the fall of 1876. He had graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1871, and had studied law in Ft. Worth, Texas, and Eau Claire, Wis. He was the first university graduate to practice law in this county. In time he became the leading citizen of Mondovi and one of the leading men of the county. He started the first bank in the county, and was prominent in everything that favored progress and betterment.
J. W. Mckay came to Alma in 1857. After the war he wandered about for a while, and in 1877 settled at Mondovi, opened an office, and the same year was elected district attorney. He was re-elected the next term.
Digitized by Google
.
944
HISTORY OF BUFFALO AND PEPIN COUNTIES
After his retirement from office he practiced for a number of years at Mondovi and then went West.
The present bar of the county consists of Theodore Buehler, of Alma; P. H. Urness, S. G. Gilman and G. W. Gilman, of Mondovi; Oliver R. Wei- nandy, of Cochrane; M. L. Fugina, of Fountain City, and Grover Broad- foot, G. L. Pattison and Emil Buehler with the Colors.
The attorneys of neighboring counties, especially those of Winona, have had considerable practice here since the earliest days.
A number of attorneys have been admitted to the bar here who have practiced but little here. Several were the sons of lawyers. Andrew and Edward Lees, both prominent attorneys, are the sons of Robert Lees and grandsons of Edward Lees. Edward Lees, now a member of the Supreme Bench of Minnesota, read law in his father's office here as a young man. Andrew Lees also read law in his father's office. He practiced with his father for a while, and then went to La Crosse where he now resides. For a time he was in the office of Losey & Woodward there, then he was a partner in the law firm of Woodward & Lees, and now in the firm of Lees & Bunge, local attorneys for the C., B. & Q. Railroad. Theodore Buehler, the dean of the Buffalo County Bar, is himself the son of John Buehler, one of the principal organizers of the county, and his son Emil is now in the service. Ferdinand Fetter, the pioneer lawyer, has a son, Ferdinand Fetter, who is a lawyer of high repute. He is the author of "The Law of Equity," and the "Law of Common Carriers." He is now credit man for a leading firm in St. Paul, having formerly practiced in that city.
John McDonough was admitted to the bar in this county and practiced for a short time in Alma. He moved to Chippewa Falls in the early eighties, and then to Idaho, where he is a prominent figure in politics. He visited here and renewed his old friendships several years ago.
John P. Gleason, afterward a Winona attorney, was also admitted to the bar in this county.
Digitized by Google
CHAPTER XVI
BANKS AND BANKING
There were no banks in Buffalo County as late as 1890. In 1900 there were three. In 1905 there were still but three. These three had a total capital of $55,000, and combined deposits of $274,987.39. Their loans and discounts amounted to $194,854.66 and their surplus and undivided profits to $12,848.95. The individual reports were as follows : First National Bank of Mondovi: Loans and discounts, $141,886.00; capital, $25,000; surplus and undivided profits, $11,137.05; deposits, $208,834.12. Buffalo County Bank of Mondovi: Loans and discounts, $46,087.66; capital, $25,000; sur- plus and undivided profits, $1,579.75; deposits, $51,767.58. State Bank of Alma: Loans and discounts, $6,881.00; capital, $5,000; surplus and undi- vided profits, $132.15; deposits, $14,385.69.
In 1910 the number of banks had increased to six. They had a total capital of $105,000, and combined deposits of $1,108,749.15. Their loans and discounts amounted to $817,702.64 and their surplus and undivided profits to $76,302.55. The individual reports were as follows: Buffalo County Bank of Mondovi : Loans and discounts, $65,606.37 ; capital, $25,000; surplus and undivided profits, $40,019.26; deposits, $89,450.99. First Na- tional Bank of Mondovi: Loans and discounts, $222,151.91; capital, $25,000; surplus and undivided profits, $18,576.58; deposits, $317,012.65. First Na- tional Bank of Alma: Loans and discounts, $153,773.54; capital, $25,000; surplus and undivided profits, $4,440.51; deposits, $181,231.07. German American Bank of Alma: Loans and discounts, $128,658.60; capital, $10,- 000; surplus and undivided profits, $4,115.64; deposits, $157,959.56. First State Bank of Fountain City: Loans and discounts, $148,200.96; capital, $10,000; surplus and undivided profits, $5,694.20; deposits, $227,674.78. Farmers and Merchants Bank of Cochrane : Loans and discounts, $99,311.26; capital, $10,000; surplus and undivided profits, $3,456.36; deposits, $135,- 420.10.
In 1915 there were nine banks. They had a total capital of $165,000, and combined deposits of $2,158,027.43. Their loans and discounts amounted to $1,815,197.51, and their surplus and undivided profits to $73,- 960.32. The individual reports were as follows: Buffalo County Bank of Mondovi: Loans and discounts, $102,366.45; capital, $25,000; surplus and undivided profits, $5,119.20; deposits, $99,008.48. First National Bank of Mondovi; Loans and discounts, $435,413.52; capital, $25,000; surplus and undivided profits, $25,260.48; deposits, $533,906.15. First National Bank of Alma: Loans and discounts, $302,365.62; capital, $25,000; surplus and undivided profits, $10,000.00; deposits, $348,904.14. German American Bank of Alma: Loans and discounts, $222,584.84; capital, $10,000; sur- plus and undivided profits, $10,242.53; deposits, $245,323.14. First State Bank of Fountain City: Loans and discounts, $310,024.33; capital, $20,000;
945
Digitized by Google
946
HISTORY OF BUFFALO AND PEPIN COUNTIES
surplus and undivided profits, $5,617.45; deposits, $407,305.46. First Na- tional Bank of Nelson: Loans and discounts, $110,188.14; capital, $25,000; surplus and undivided profits, $1,264.66; deposits, $110,232.59. Gilmanton State Bank of Gilmanton: Loans and discounts, $53,208.70; capital, $10,- 000; surplus and undivided profits, $1,581.73; deposits, $55,824.17. Wau- mandee State Bank: Loans and discounts, $60,585.68; capital, $15,000; surplus and undivided profits, $2,250.00; deposits, $75,872.46. Farmers and Merchants Bank of Cochrane: Loans and discounts, $218,460.23; capi- tal, $10,000; surplus and undivided profits, $12,624.27 ; deposits, $281,650.91.
There are now ten banks in Buffalo County, three national and seven state. They are: The First National Bank of Mondovi, established in 1891; The Mondovi State Bank of Mondovi, established Nov. 1, 1900; The First National Bank of Alma, established in 1906; The American Bank of Alma, established June 25, 1906; The First State Bank of Fountain City, estab- lished Aug. 11, 1906; The Farmers and Merchants Bank of Cochrane, estab- lished Jan. 20, 1908; The First National Bank of Nelson, established in 1910; The Gilmanton State Bank of Gilmanton, established May 22, 1914; The Waumandee State Bank of Waumandee, established in 1914, and the Farmers State Bank of Modena, established in 1917.
The First National Bank of Mondovi, the oldest financial institution in Buffalo County, dates as a national bank from 1901, as a state bank from 1891, and as a private bank from 1888. The originators were J. W. Whelan and Frank H. Dillon, the former a lawyer and the latter a merchant. both of whom in their business handled considerable sums of money, and felt the need of a medium of financial exchange and deposit in the village. . Their plans were perfected in December, 1888, and a private bank opened. This business continued successfully until Jan. 12, 1891, when the Bank of Mondovi was incorporated under state laws with a capital of $15,000. The officers were : President, J. W. Whelan ; vice president, S. G. Gilman ; cashier, Frank H. Dillon; assistant cashier, John D. Pace; Ryland Southworth, Jacob Canar, B. S. Lockwood, O. A. Hawkins and Harvey G. Duncanson. Mr. Dillon died Jan. 1, 1892, and Ryland Southworth, previously a hardware merchant, succeeded him. February 17, 1901, the bank received a charter as the First National Bank of Mondovi, with a capital of $25,000 and a surplus of $5,000. The officers were: President, J. W. Whelan; vice presi- dent, S. G. Gilman; cashier, Ryland Southworth; assistant cashier, D. A. Whelan; C. W. Gilman, W. H. Church and Gard Miller. J. W. Whelan died June 3, 1906, and was succeeded as president by S. C. Gilman. Mr. Gilman was succeeded as vice president by D. A. Whelan, who was followed in 1908 by B. S. Lockwood. Mr. Lockwood died July 8, 1918, since wnich time Ryland Southworth has been the vice president. D. A. Whelan be- came cashier in 1915, following Mr. Southworth, and is still serving, having been in active service in the bank since January 1, 1901. In addition to these three officers, the directors are: W. H. Church, Jr., George Esbensen, Gard Miller and E. F. Turner. The institution is housed in a sightly struc- ture of brick with stone facings, erected in 1891. The original building, a short distance north, was destroyed in the fire of June 16, 1891.
The Mondovi State Bank was organized as the Buffalo County Bank,
Digitized by Google
947
HISTORY OF BUFFALO AND PEPIN COUNTIES
Aug. 4, 1900, when those who had previously subscribed for the stock, George A. Luetscher, A. Quarberg, W. P. Walker, Ole J. Ward, Alex Lees, Duerkop Brothers, S. N. Knudson, B. S. Lockwood, Jacob Canar, Harvey Borst, Macey W. Borst and H. L. Smith, met and selected as directors, Jacob Canar, Harvey Borst, Alex Lees, S. N. Knudson, B. S. Lockwood, Fritz Duerkop and Ole J. Ward. These directors elected as officers: President, Jacob Canar; vice president, Harvey Borst; cashier, H. L. Smith; assistant cashier, George A. Lutscher. Until the present building was completed in November, 1901, the business was carried on in quarters rented from Ruplinger & Clark. The first president, Jacob Canar, served until the reorganization in 1918. The original vice president, Harvey Borst, was succeeded in 1903 by B. S. Lockwood. In 1904 Alex Lees took the office followed April 1, 1905, by Ole J. Ward. In 1906, S. N. Knudson became vice president, succeeded in 1911 by Alex Lees. In 1913, Anton Quarberg succeeded him. The original cashier, H. S. Smith, was followed April 1, . 1905, by Alex Lees. He was followed in 1908 by Edward J. Ruplinger, who entered the bank in the fall of 1905, and became assistant cashier in 1906. The original assistant cashier, George A. Lutscher, was followed in 1905 by Wendell Woodruff. Then came Edward J. Ruplinger, followed in 1908 by H. J. Canar. In 1912 Alex Lees succeeded him and in 1916 Wayne Canar, who left to serve with the colors. Just previous to the reorganiza- tion in 1918 the officers were: President, Ole J. Ward; vice president, Anton Quarberg; cashier, Edward J. Ruplinger; assistant cashier, H. J. Canar. June 10, 1918, the institution was reorganized as the Mondovi State Bank. The officers are: President, Frank Pierce, Menomonie; vice president, George B. Orlady, Mondovi; cashier, Edward J. Ruplinger, Mondovi; direc- tors, Frank Pierce, Menomonie; George B. Orlady, Mondovi; Jacob Canar, Mondovi; Frank Carter, Menomonie; H. M. Orlady, Durand; Ole J. Ward, Mondovi; Thomas B. Wilson, Menomonie. The financial statement, June 29, 1918, was as follows: Resources-Loans and discounts, $92,243.90: overdrafts, $274.65; U. S. Bonds (Liberty Loan), $4,300; banking house fixtures and furniture, $12,480; due from reserve banks, $19,083.99; due from other banks, $5,003.01; cash on hand, $4,177.91; current expenses, $692.80. Total, $138,256.26. Liabilities-Capital stock, $25,000; surplus fund, $3,900; deposits, $109,356.26. Total, $138,256.26.
The Alma Exchange Bank was organized in the nineties but went out of existence in 1898. The same year Chr. Neumeister organized the State Bank of Alma, having a capital of $5,000. Frank Tritsch was the presi- dent and John A. Tritsch the vice president, while Mr. Neumeister was the cashier. Mr. Neumeister died in January, 1906, and the affairs of the institution were closed up.
The American Bank of Alma was organized in 1906, as the German- American Bank, with a capital of $10,000. Knute Johnson was the presi- dent, G. Ryffel the vice president, and P. E. Ibach the cashier. The pres- ent name was assumed in September, 1918. The officers are: President. P. E. Ibach; vice president, G. Ryffel; cashier, S. P. Ibach; assistant cashier, H. F. Ibach. The bank has a modern brick building fully equipped, and is doing much toward promoting the interests of the city. Resources-
Digitized by Google
948
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.