USA > Wisconsin > Buffalo County > History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2) > Part 67
USA > Wisconsin > Pepin County > History of Buffalo and Pepin Counties Wisconsin (Volume 2) > Part 67
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The Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Church of the Evangelical synod of Iowa and other states, located on Pine street in Pepin, has been established for many years. The first services were held about 1886, at the public schoolhouse, and continued to be held there subsequently, at in- frequent intervals, for several years, being presided over by the Rev. Mr.
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Kurz. Under his successor, the Rev. F. A. Schaffnit, the services were held above the printing office, which is now the pickle factory. The charter members were William Jahnke, John Jahnke, F. A. Ficker, C. H. Schuleter, F. C. Heinemann, F. Seyffer, Phillip Pfaff, H. Singen, D. Ehemann, F. De- bertin, J. Schneecloth, C. Kircher, H. Glassbrenner and H. Singen. The congregation grew in strength and in 1889 erected the church edifice on Pine street, which was dedicated September 15, the same year, and is still in use. The parsonage was built in 1903, the last year of the Rev. C. Baetke's pastorate. The successors of the first pastor, Rev. Mr. Kurz, have been as follows: Rev. F. A. Schaffnit, 1889 to 1892; Rev. H. Claassen, 1893 to 1896; Rev. Flachmeyer, 1896 to 1898; C. Baetke, 1898 to 1903; J. Preu, 1903 to 1907; Rev. Kreuger, 1907 to 1910; A. Boer, 1910 to 1913; Rev. Schultz, 1914 to 1915; A. C. Huth, 1915 to the present time. Among the prominent members past and present may be mentioned Phillip Pfaff, C. H. Schlueter, J. Henry Thies, August Thies, Herman Jahnke, Henry Glassbrenner, William Jahnke, John Betz, Henry Schneecloth and Julius Thies.
The First National Bank of Pepin was originally organized as a state bank, with a capital of $10,000, being incorporated April 10, 1911, by E. Langers, T. S. Saby, C. J. Thies, J. H. Thies, Ole Hem, C. E. Peterson and E. S. LaFrance. The first officers were: E. Langers, president ; T. S. Saby, vice president; Arthur Schilling, cashier. No change in the official board has since occurred. The bank opened for business Sept. 29, 1911, the bank building being erected in that year. On Feb. 26, 1915, the capital was in- creased to $25,000, and on April 14, the same year, the institution was con- verted into a national bank, the guiding principle of which has always been "Fair and square dealing, and the promotion of anything for the good of the community."
The Pepin Creamery Company, located in the village of Pepin, is a co- operative concern, organized in 1910 by E. S. LaFrance, C. J. Thies and C. L. Von Haden, with a capital of $4,600. The creamery is a successor to the Farmers' Co-operative Creamery of Lost Creek Valley, which was taken over by Mr. Von Haden, the machinery being moved to Pepin when the present creamery was started. The present building, two stories high, with living rooms above for the butter maker, was erected in the year of organization, 1910, and butter making started. In 1914 the company added to the plant a storehouse and supply room. The creamery has now 100 patrons, having 700 cows of mixed grades. The present officers are: Andrew Grund, president; C. L. Von Haden, secretary, treasurer and manager.
Lakeport, formerly called Johnsonville, the site of the first settle- ment in Pepin County, is a pretty little hamlet of a few residences, on the shores of Lake Pepin, about two miles from Pepin. It was founded by John McCain. McCain began lumbering in the upper Chippewa region in 1841, and soon became a pilot on the Chippewa and Mississippi rivers. He se- lected a claim on the present site of Lakeport, in 1844, and moved thereon in 1846, his cousin, W. B. Newcomb, the first settler of Pepin, assisting him. At the time of his arrival this region was practically a wilderness,
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as the influx of settlement had not yet begun and the land was not yet open to pre-emption. At one time there was considerable rivalry between the two embryo villages, but Pepin soon outdistanced Lakeport.
STOCKHOLM
Stockholm Township is in the extreme western edge of Pepin County. It is irregular in form, being bounded on the north by Pierce County, on the east by Pepin Township, and on the south and west by Lake Pepin. The township contains the supposed site of the fort of Nicholas Perrot, probably erected in the summer of 1688. Remains, believed to be those of the fort, have been discovered in section 20, township 23, range 15. The first settlement dates from 1851, when Eric Peterson settled in the village.
Stockholm is an incorporated village on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, beautifully situated, overlooking the broad expanse of Lake Pepin. It is a small, but prosperous place, with a population of about 250, and express, telegraph, telephone and banking facilities. Its business enterprises include three general stores, one hardware store, one feed store, a blacksmith shop and a garage. There are two churches, a Swedish Baptist and a Swedish Mission.
The first settler in the village was Eric Peterson, who fixed upon a location here, and on March 16, 1852, entered his claim to land in sections 12 and 13. Later, he returned to Sweden, and was married.
In the spring of 1854, during his absence, a colony of his fellow coun- trymen arrived, among whom may be named Jacob Peterson, John Ander- son, Eric Frieck, Lars Olson and Frank Nelson and their families, who came up from Illinois, where they had spent the winter. Jacob Peterson put up a log house and in this all found shelter until each family was pro- vided with a separate house. Later in the year John Anderson put up a frame house. In the fall Eric Peterson returned with his wife, who, on the day of arrival, gave birth to a child, Matilde, the first white child born in the settlement. The next spring several of the settlers planted some corn and potatoes and other crops. The colony prospered and in 1856 plans were made for the establishment of a village. The name of Stockholm was selected, and A. W. Miller laid out the plat on land of Eric Peterson, Jacob Peterson and John Anderson. Eric Peterson opened a store, and George Rickerd established a hotel. This year Abram Josephson and Annie Peter- son were married, the first marriage in the township. A Swedish Evan- gelical Lutheran Church was organized by Rev. Eric Norelius, of Red Wing, and a small house of worship erected. The financial panic of the following year, 1857, was scarcely noticed in the little settlement, as they had little intercourse with the outside world. Gradually the settlers came in, all of the same nationality, and scattered not only through the town- ship, but also into the surrounding region, of which Stockholm became the center. 'In 1860 a steam feed mill and a grain warehouse were erected by Eric Peterson, and in 1873 A. D. Post erected a grain warehouse. In 1886 the railroad came through.
In 1906 Stockholm was visited by a fire, which destroyed a whole block, consisting of two residences, a hardware store, drug store, livery
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stable, saloon and hotel. In 1909 the store of Larson & Swanson was destroyed by fire.
The village of Stockholm was incorporated in November, 1903. The first officers were: Andrew Bock, president; Paul Hilkie, Andrew Strom- berg, Verne Brownlee, Harry Brownlee, C. J. Swanson, Joe Sirvas, trus- tees ; E. M. Larson, clerk; E. N. Peterson, assessor; W. F. Gearing, police justice.
The present officers are: A. F. Peterson, president; E. N. Peterson, Julius Hanson, Victor Wahlstrom, Martin Larson, Elvin Blomquist and Wickford Josephson, trustees; Harold Larson, clerk; E. T. Josephson, su- pervisor ; A. F. Peterson, justice; Anton Peterson, treasurer; Charles G. Swanson, police justice, and Olaf Matteson, assessor.
The first school in Stockholm was a Swedish school, taught by a young man from Sweden. The district school was started in 1858, or 1859, in a small frame building that had been used as a house of public worship. The teacher was Amelia Smith. In 1877 a school was erected with two departments. In 1905 a brick school building of four rooms was erected. There are two teachers, the work covering the usual eight grades and one year of high school work.
The Stockholm postoffice was established in 1860, with John Rosen- berg as the first postmaster, since which time the postmasters have been Andrew Gilberg, P. Sandquist, August Sahlstrom, A. F. Peterson, Alfred Abrahamson, Erick Peterson, Karl A. Peterson and Andrew Bock, the last mentioned, who is now serving, having been appointed July 6, 1897. His assistant is Mrs. E. D. Bock. Stockholm was made a domestic money order office thirty-five years ago, or about 1883, and for about twenty-three years. has been an international money order office. The first rural route was established in 1904, with Levi W. Newmann as carrier. In 1906 Route No. 2 was established, with A. F. Peterson carrier. The establishment of the rural delivery caused the postoffice of Lund to be discontinued. This was a farm house postoffice, six miles north of Stockholm, with a semi- weekly mail service.
A new era in the business life of Stockholm village was inaugurated July 28, 1916, with the opening of the Stockholm State Bank. This bank was incorporated Dec. 7, 1915, by Andrew Bock, Chris Olson, L. Holmer, John Lingren, Fred Bruckman, O. G. Kinney, Levi W. Newman, Morton Larson and Herman Larson. The first officers were: O. G. Kinney, presi- dent; Anton Peterson, vice president, and H. R. Anderson, cashier. The board of directors was composed of O. G. Kinney, Anton Peterson, E. T. Josephson, Morton Larson, Charles E. Moline, August Edlin and Fred Bruckman. The bank building, which is owned by the bank, was erected in May and June, 1916, the front being of concrete granite. It is provided with a burglar-proof time-lock safe, and is thoroughly modern in equip- ment. At the stockholders' meeting Jan. 17, 1917, C. Olsen was elected a director in the place of Fred Bruckman. At the stockholders' meeting Jan. 31, 1918, H. R. Anderson was elected a director in place of O. G. Kinney, and at the directors' meeting on the same date, E. T. Josephson was elected president in place of O. G. Kinney. The present officers of the
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'bank are: E. T. Josephson, president; Anton Peterson, vice president, and H. R. Anderson, cashier. The present board of directors consists of E. T. Josephson, Anton Peterson, Morton Larson, Chris Olsen, Charles E. Moline, August Edlin and H. R. Anderson. The officials of this long-needed institution thus define its policy : "To treat our customers as liberally as is consistent with safety and always be 'on the square.' We stand for our country first of all." The bank's report of condition, March 4, 1918, showed the following items: Resources-Loans and discounts, $66,758.80; over- drafts, $676.74; bonds, $300; banking house, $2,701; furniture and fix- tures, $2,217.55; expenses, $481.75; due from approved reserve banks, $19,558.97; due from other banks, $160.05; exchanges for clearing house, $571.39; cash on hand, $4,197.04; total, $97,623.29. Liabilities-Capital stock paid in, $10,000; surplus fund, $1,000; individual deposits subject to check, $31,274.15; time certificates of deposit, $50,767.10; cashier's checks outstanding, $4,582.04; total, $97,623.29.
The Stockholm Co-operative Creamery was incorporated in 1915, with a capital of $5,000, by E. T. Josephson, Tom Carpenter and Theodore Gus- tafson. Mr. Gustafson was made president, Mr. Carpenter, vice president, and Mr. Josephson, secretary and treasurer, with James H. Malles as man- ager, and E. O. Anderson and L. C. Fosberg. The official and governing staff still remained unchanged. The present building of concrete blocks was erected in 1916, operations being commenced June 15, that year, and in the fall a warehouse and coal house were added. The report of business for 1917 is as follows: Number of pounds of milk received, 222,540; but- ter fat, 62,762 pounds; for which the patrons were paid $26,134.49. The amount of butter made was 77,217 pounds, for which the sum of $30,155.21 was received, $244.16 being received for buttermilk. The factory has 150 patrons with an average of about ten cows each, the latter being mostly of mixed grades, but with some Guernseys and Holsteins.
Mrs. Hannah Bast, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah M. Peterson, was born in Sweden, and, in 1853, when nine years old, embarked with her par- ents on a sailing vessel for America, their ultimate destination being Wis- consin. Landing at Boston after a voyage of ten and a half weeks, they came west by rail to Peru, Ill., at which place they hired teams to drive them to Moline, where they remained until May, 1854. They then took passage on a Mississippi River steamer coming north, and after an unevent- ful trip disembarked at Lakeport, then called McCain's Landing. In de- scribing the rest of the journey and subsequent experiences, Mrs. Bast says: "Father rigged up a sort of a skid, on which we piled our household goods and supplies, and to which he hitched the oxen, and we started for Stockholm, walking all the way and driving our cows. In those days we used to go down the river to Dubuque and get our supplies and provisions. When we arrived here there was nothing but oak trees, grass and snakes. Father built the first house in the town, which was a small log structure, and the first spring father cleared some land and planted potatoes and corn, and after that followed farming. The second summer we were here
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they had a great time at a maypole dance, a fiddler from Red Wing fur- nishing the music. In those days people seemed more friendly and sociable than they do now."
The First Swedish Baptist Church, of Stockholm, was organized by the Rev. M. L. Lelley, of Eggleston, Minn., being incorporated Nov. 5, 1887, by N. A. Erickson, chairman; M. Lind, secretary, and G. Lind, N. A. Erick- son and M. Lind, trustees.
WATERVILLE
Waterville Township is in the northwest corner of the county. It is well watered by the Eau Galle River and many small creeks, among which may be mentioned Arkansaw, Little Arkansaw and Porcupine Creeks. Dead Lake extends into the southeastern corner. Originally the town was nearly all heavily wooded, being a part of a large tract of hardwood timber lying in Pepin, Pierce and St. Croix counties. In the eastern part are the Chippewa bottoms, and in the southeastern part in Dead Lake Prairie. There were two centers of early settlement, Arkansaw Village and Dead Lake Prairie.
Arkansaw Village, the scene of many an historic event in the early days, is now a hamlet of about 200 people, on Arkansaw Creek, a short dis- tance west of the Eau Galle River, and about two and a half miles from the Chippewa River. It is connected by stage with Durand, four miles away, and the mails are brought from that place twice each day. From here three rural routes carry mail to the surrounding countryside. Its present industries consist of a creamery, a flour mill, a sawmill, a general store, a hardware store, a blacksmith shop, a barber shop and a hotel. There is a good store here and a Methodist Church. The waterpower here is very valuable, and will doubtless, at some future time, be used to the fullest extent.
The story of Dead Lake Prairie is told under the head of Frankfort Township, by Mrs. David B. McCourtie. It was first settled in 1852 by Grant and Elisha Stevens.
The early history of the village centers about the activities of Willard F. Holbrook. He came down from the Eau Galle Mills in 1854, with his brother, George, selected a site and, in 1855, built a log house. He also built a sawmill, and in February, 1856, commenced sawing. At this time he started making furniture in one corner of his mill, and, in 1866, he erected a separate factory for this purpose. In 1870 he formed a partnership with James Pauley, of Reed's Landing. The mill was enlarged, a new furniture factory erected, a store was built and opened, and the manufacture of potash and pearlash started. The factory was burned in 1872, but was re- built the following year. At one time this factory employed as many as thirty-five or forty hands, and did an annual business of $30,000. In 1881 the mill was sold to E. C. Bill. He made furniture for a number of years, then sold to S. Z. Dickson, who converted it into a basket factory under the management of J. L. Throne. About two years later it was acquired by S. L. Plummer, who sold the buildings. In 1885, Mr. Holbrook erected a
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steam planing mill for the manufacture of furniture and lumbermen's supplies. He operated it until his death, in 1887, when it was purchased by S. L. Plummer. It was afterward burned.
In the meantime, a village had been built. It was platted Oct. 10, 1857, by Willard F. Holbrook, the platting being done by G. C. Wolcott. About this time H. M. Miles put up a small waterpower roller flour and grist mill. It was later destroyed by fire and rebuilt. It was washed away in the flood of 1878, but was rebuilt and given an enlarged capacity. The year of 1870, in which Mr. Holbrook increased his activities and erected his store and a new factory, marked the beginning of a new era in Arkansaw. To accommodate the growing travel, a hotel, the Cropsy House, was erected. It was later turned into a private dwelling. In 1870 Abel Parker put up a sawmill, and conducted it until his death, in 1883, since which time it has been occupied by his son, Joseph Parker. In 1871 H. M. Miles, the proprietor of the pioneer flour mill, opened a store, in partnership with Miletus Knight. The next year, 1872, Forest H. Hillard and Victor Rounds opend a drug and variety store. Many new residences were also put up to accommodate the increase in population. The residences for the most part were built on the plateau overlooking the creek, while the business section was in the valley. It was also in 1872 that Stephen Cliff erected the Cliff House, which he operated for many years. It was burned, but rebuilt by Henry Parsons, and after a few years sold to Thomas Richardson, the present landlord. The Miles & Knight store is still running, the present owner is Henry Hartung. The Hillard & Rounds store was sold to the I. O. O. F., which was organized in 1881, and of which David B. McCourtie and George Willis were the first members to be initiated. The upper story is used as the hall, and the lower part as kitchen and dining room.
The prosperity of the village was interrupted by the great flood of 1878, which carried away three dams, all the bridges, the grist mill, and many barns and residences.
Educational facilities have been enjoyed since 1856. A little school- house, with one room, was built in that year, and the first teacher was Minnie Kelton, who afterward became the wife of T. N. Schwartz. It was destroyed in the flood of 1878. The next schoolhouse was a log building, which was later made into a residence, and is now occupied by August Schultz. In 1883 a two-roomed building was erected by H. M. Miles, and a graded school established. In 1911 it was made into a two-story building of four rooms by William Cross. Four teachers are in charge, giving in- struction in the eight grades, and in two years' high school work.
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The first marriage in the village was solemnized, Nov. 20, 1857, the contracting parties being Willard F. Holbrook and Mary Ames, of Waubeek Township, this county. In the early days of the village mail was received at the Dead Lake postoffice, of which Jacob S. McCourties was the post- master. Whoever happened to be making the trip to the McCourtie store was asked to bring back the mail for the other neighbors. The postoffice was moved to the village about 1864, with Miletus Knight as first post- master.
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Mrs. David B. McCourtie has many interesting stories to tell of early days in Arkansaw and the neighboring environs of Dead Lake Prairie. She says, in part :
"I have heard, and he often repeats the story, my husband, David B. McCourtie, tell how he and his brother, Charlie, used to come here to fish in the Arkansaw Creek. In the years 1854-1855, the creek abounded in trout, the real speckled trout, I would not dare tell you how long they were, or how many they could catch in such a short time, for it would be called a fish story, but I will say that as fast as they would drop their hooks in the water they would pull out a trout.
"At this time not a white man lived in or very near Arkansaw, and the Indians would not catch a trout, as they thought that the trout kept the water pure. Before the flood of 1878, the Arkansaw creek was narrow, but deep, and the water as clear as crystal.
"In the year 1855 Willard F. Holbrook came and built a log house just large enough for himself, about half way from the present sites of the bridge and the church. In the spring of 1856 he planted a little patch of potatoes about where William Snow's house stands, and I have often heard my husband tell of one time after the potatoes had matured he and his brother came trouting here together, and after a good catch, went with Mr. Holbrook to the potato patch, built a hot fire and roasted potatoes in the ashes while broiling the trout on a stick.
"In the winter of 1855, William Fletcher, who lived on the Eau Galle bottoms, started for Dead Lake Prairie to do some trading, and as was then his custom, he took his gun. Striking an elk track he followed it to where the church now stands, and succeeded in killing it. He then went to the store, which was owned by J. S. McCourtie, and telling his story, offered the flesh as a present, saying that all he wanted was the hide. Accordingly, David B. hitched the oxen to the sled and went with Mr. Fletcher, secured the elk, which dressed, weighed 400 pounds, and brought it home, where it furnished the material for many a substantial meal.
"The first time I crossed the bridge in Arkansas, the stringers were round poles or trees, twelve or fifteen inches through, flattened on one side, and stretching from bank to bank, covered with planks, about ten in number, fastened down with wooden pins. In 1878 it was washed away, and as the creek then became wider and deeper, a larger bridge was built, with a very low railing. This bridge was also washed away, and was re- placed with a framed wooden bridge. After some years, this gave away, while William Richardson and his horse were crossing it. Mr. Richardson escaped uninjured, but the horse received injuries which necessitated its being killed. Then an iron bridge was built. This too, was carried away by a flood some ten years or so ago. It was replaced by the present bridge, an iron structure about 75 feet long, and some eighteen to twenty feet above the water."
The Waterville Co-operative Creamery Company, located at Arkan- saw, owes its inception to S. L. Plummer, who founded it at the time he organized the Plummer Mercantile Company, of Arkansaw, in 1889. For the first five years operations were carried on in a frame shed next to
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the planing-mill, and then a better frame building was erected and used. The business was started on a small scale, but has gradually increased. About the year 1900 the Waterville Co-operative Creamery Company was formed and took over the business, and in 1917 the company erected a good concrete factory, installed with a complete modern equipment for butter manufacture. The seventeenth annual report of the company for the year ending Jan. 2, 1918, shows that the amount of butter manufac- tured sold for $157,016.00, an increase of about $30,000.00 over the figures for 1916.
The Woodmen Hall Company, of Arkansaw, was incorporated May 11, 1903, with a capital stock of $2,000, by Ernest M. Miler, W. C. Thompson, G. F. Hibbard, E. L. Curtis, James Knight and Adam Coburn. In 1913 the capital was increased to $3,000.
The Arkansaw Telephone Company was incorporated Dec. 17, 1907, with a capital of $5,000, and with F. G. Hibbard as president, and E. L. Curtis, secretary.
Henry W. Barber was one of the earliest settlers in Frankfort Town- ship. He came here in 1855, and in the spring of 1858 brought his bride here. Of her early experiences, Mrs. Barber, at an Old Settlers' meeting said in part :
"On the morning of Nov. 25, 1857, just as daylight was breaking over Chautauqua's grand old New York State hills, in the presence of friends and neighbors, Henry W. Barber and myself, Cecelia A. Dickson, pledged our mutual love for life. The tables were spread, and as soon as the wed- ding breakfast was eaten and congratulations extended, we left for my husband's boyhood home, three hundred miles further east in Livingston County, in the same state. After returning to my mother's home about four weeks later, we received friends and visited about until the first of February, when I bade my dear old home goodbye, and with a brave trust- ing heart started for this then wild new home, feeling that whatever was in store for my husband, I was ready and willing to share it with him.
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