History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 80

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1298

USA > Wisconsin > Richland County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 80
USA > Wisconsin > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 80

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).

No. 3 .- Third precinct to be called the Chip- pewa Fall Mill precinct-election to be held at the house of Jean Brunet, near said fall- bounded as follows: On the south by a line drawn due east from the month of Riviere Aux Boenf; on the east by the east boundary of said county; on the north by the north boundary of the aforesaid county ; and on the west by the Little Elk creek or river and down the Chip- pewa river on the south side of said river to the Mississippi thence down the Mississippi to the mouth of Riviere Aux Boeuf, or Buffalo river. The following named persons are here- by appointed judges of elections, for said pre- cinct: Lyman M. Warren, Jean Brunet and George P. Brisbois,

No. 4 .- South precinct to be called the Me- nomonee precinet, bounded as follows: On the north by the north boundary of the county; on the east by the Little Elk creek or river; on the south by the Chippewa river ; and on the west by the dividing ridge between the Menomonee river and the Aux Gallait river. The following named persons are hereby appointed judges of elections for said precinct: Hiram S. Allen, S. S. McCann and Arthur McCann.

No. 5. - Fifth precinet to be called the Aux Gallait precinct (the elections to be held at the house of T. A. Savage & Co., at the mill) bounded as follows : On the north by the north boundary of the county ; on the west by the Mississippi river; on the south by the Chip- pewa river ; and on the east by the dividing ridge between the Aux Gallait river and the Menomonee river. The following named per- sons are hereby appointed judges of elections for said precinct: George C. Wales, Henry Eaton and A. Richardson.

The following named persons were commis- sioners for 1844: David Clark, Jr., Joseph Morrill, William Curts. For the year 1845, the following named persons constituted the board: William Curts, Joseph Morrill and Henry Brandes. The next year (1846), Ralph Smith took the place of Henry Brandes. For 1847, the following persons were commissioners : William Curts, Ralph Smith and Edward Hughes. The commissioners for 1848-the last year of Wisconsin as a territory, were : HI. L. Dousman, Edward Hughes and Nathan Myrick.

At a session of the board of county commis- sioners begun and held at the office of the elerk of said board on the 9th day of January, 1849, in pursuance of law, Thomas J. De Frees and Jacob Spaulding appeared and filed their certi- ficates and oath of office as county commis- sioners of said county; and the board proceeded to eleet their chairman ; and, on examining the votes, Jacob Spaulding was found duly elected.

556

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

The board then proceeded to divide the county into four towns ; and the following is the description of said towns, to-wit:

PRAIRIE DU CHIEN (town No. 1) comprises that part of the county lying south of the line between townships number 9 and 10 north.

BAD Ax (town No. 2) comprises that portion of the county lying north of township number 9, and south of the line between townships number 16 and 17 north, including not only the whole of what is now Vernon county, but parts of the present connties of La Crosse and Craw- ford.

ALBION (town No. 3) comprises that part of the county lying north of the line between townships number 16 and 17 north, and south of the line between townships 22 and 23 north.

PINE VALLEY (town No. 4) comprises all of the county north of township 22.

The board then proceeded to designate the places in these towns, at which the first town meetings should be held, to-wit :

PRAIRIE DU CHIEN (town No. 1) at the court house in the village of St. Feriole.

BAD Ax (town No. 2) at the residence of Hiram G. Rice.

ALBION (town No. 3) at the residence of Jacob Spaulding, at Black River Falls.

PINE VALLEY (town No. 4) at the residence of James O'Neill.

The formation of Bad Ax and La Crosse counties, in 1851, of course blotted out from Crawford county, the whole of the towns of Pine Valley and Albion, and nearly all the town of Bad Ax. Since the reduction of Craw- ford to its present limits by the creation of those two counties, towns have been formed at I yarious times, until their limits have been fixed as we now (1884) find them, which limits will be fully defined in subsequent chapters.

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

559

CHAPTER XXVII.

TOWN OF BRIDGEPORT.

Bridgeport is in the southwestern corner of Crawford county. It is bounded on the north by the towns of Prairie du Chien and Wanzeka; on the east by the town of Wauzeka; on the south by Grant county, with Wisconsin river flowing between, and on the west by the Mis- sissippi river and the city of Prairie du Chien. It is composed of parts of townships 6 and 7, of ranges 5 and 6, west.

Bridgeport was included in the town of Prair- ie du Chien till 1872, when it was given a sepa- rate organization. The surface of the town is rough and broken by a series of ridges and val- leys so common to all the county. The soil too, is of a similar nature to the other towns; it being of clay on the ridge and in the valleys. In the latter, however it consists more of a loam mix- ture than on the ridges. All kinds of crops, in- cluding grass and vegetables are produced here with as large a yield as in any part of Crawford county.

The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul rail- road runs through the southern part of the town, and there is a station at the village of Bridgeport, where a wagon bridge crosses the Wisconsin river into Grant county.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

James and Samuel Gilbert, two brothers, were the first settlers in the town of Bridgeport. They came in 1826. James located on section 10, on the place now known as the Fairfield place, and his brother Samuel on the place after- ward owned by George Ward. The Gilberts

remained about six years, when they left the county.

RECOLLECTIONS OF MRS. JOSEPH ATHERTON.

In April, 1838, a party embarked in a keel- boat at Wellsville, Ohio, some distance below Pittsburg, Penn., their objective point being Crawford Co., Wis. This party eon- sisted of Elisha, and Elihu Warner, brothers, William Curts, Christopher Bowen, Jerrid Warner, Jackson Foster, and a man named Ravel. These men were all married, and had their families with them. Elias Bowen, Jo- seph Curley, James Foster, son of Jackson Fos- ter, and Richard Lane, were the young unmar- ried men of the company, together with three others, named Carr, Wickersham and Tyler. The party started down the Ohio river; but when not far from the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, finding their progress too slow, a bargain was made with the steamer, Nashville to tow them to St. Louis. From there to Prairie du Chien, they were towed by the steamer Burlington. After resting a day or two, they commenced the laborious task of ascending the Wisconsin river, by poling and fastening cables to trees on the bank, and thus pulling the boat against the strong current. One week of faithful toil in this way, brought them to Millville, on the south bank of the stream, in Grant county, where the party left the keel-boat, Kickapoo, (a name given it be- fore leaving Wellsville, Ohio,) except one fami- ly, that of C. Bowens, who remained on the boat a few weeks, until Mr. Bowen erected a

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

house in what was afterward the town of Wan- zeka.

Elihu Warner and his sons, remained at Mill- ville and there built a mill, the same year, 1838. William Curts left the boat at a point later known as Wright's Ferry, and moved his fami- ly into a vacant house, on what is now called the Fairfield farm, in the town of Bridgeport. Elisha Warner remained at Millville, the point of landing, for about ten days, when he also moved into the same house.

Jackson Foster lived at Millville a year or more, and then settled in Grand Gris valley, in what is now the town of Wauzeka, where both he and his wife died a few years later. The remainder of their family all left soon af- ter except Jackson, Jr., who was, years after- ward, in company with Ralph Smith, in the milling business at Wauzeka, but in 1882, moved to Dakota Territory. Mr. Ravel re- mained at Millville, until the winter of 1838-9, and then located a short distance from the pres- ent site of Bridgeport. He died in that village in 1859, his wife having died in 1853. Carr and Wickersham built C. Bowen's stone house in the summer and fall of 1838, and then re- turned to Ohio. Mr. Bowen occupied this house until his death in August, 1840. Elias, son of C. Bowen, married a few years later, and settled on the farm now, (1884), owned by A. J. Beesecker. Joseph Curley married a daughter of C. Bowen and lived in Bridgeport about twenty years, and then moved to lowa. Rich- ard Lane married the widow of John Ward, one of the early settlers of Bridgeport. He died in 1878. Tyler only remained a year or two. At the date of this band of pioneer's coming, the only settlers in this town, as now bounded, were the families of Seth Hill, and Francis Lapoint, who were then engaged in operating a pole ferry, on the Wisconsin river, at the crossing of the military road, where the village of Bridge- port now stands. John Brunet came in some time during 1838, and made a settlement.

The following is an amusing incident in regard to the above mentioned party, who came in on the keel-boat Kickapoo:

While the fatigued party were resting at Prairie du Chien, some of the sharp ones (speci- mens of whom can be found in all new conn- tries) espying the name of the boat, Kickapoo, supposed they knew the destination of the party; accordingly two or three of them, with their grub sacks, started post haste for the banks of the Kickapoo river, looking for the most desirable points at which a large company might settle. They marked such spots as "squatter's claim's" by hanging a pole on two forked sticks, a tree or two ent down and other sham work of improvement. Ilere these sharps settled down to eat their rations and watch for the pioneer keel-boat, Kickapoo but alas! like many another well laid scheme nothing came of it .*

FIRST EVENTS.t

The first marriage was that of William Keith and Emaline Craw, in 1841.

The first death was a child of John Allen's, in 1839.

The first school in the town was tanght by Delia Bowen, in a log building on the site of the present brick school house in district No. 5, in 1841.

Elisha Warner preached in 1838 the first sermon, holding services every Sunday for some time.

ORGANIZATION.

Prior to 1872 the territory embraced within the town of Bridgeport was included in the town of Prairie du Chien. It was at this date that the city of Prairie du Chien became an in- corporated city and owing to dissatisfaction in regard to taxes, the people of the southern part of the town of Prairie du Chien, petitioned the 7

* Mrs. Joseph Atherton, upon whose recollections reliance has been placed concerning the history of those who came in the Kickapoo, was one of the party.

+ It should be understood by the reader that the first events here spoken of bave especial reference to that part of the town of Bridgeport not included in the prairie about Prairie du Chien, as these are spoken of elsewhere in this book.

561

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

county board to be set off into a separate town; accordingly, in November of that year, 1872, this was done. The first election under the new town organization occurred April 3, 1873. John B. Davis, Charles Kahler, Lyman King, D. F. Haskins, and J. B. Davis clerks. The following officers were elected:

Joseph Atherton, D. F. Haskins and John Bunders, supervisors; Chancey Blancher, clerk; H. C. King, treasurer; Henry Barretta, assessor; John B. Davis, W. B. Hieklin and Sylvester Ault, justices of the peace.

Officers acting in 1883: HI. C. King, George Ward and Lewis Kenyon, supervisors; Henry Barretta, treasurer; Charles Kahler, clerk; William Curts, assessor; Terry Fairfield, O. E. Miller and Charles Kahler, justices of the peace.

SCHOOLS.

In 1884, the town of Bridgeport had two full and two joint school districts.

District No. I, had a brick school house, on section 10, town 6, range 6 west, valued at $245. Number of pupils, sixty-six.

District No. 2, had a log building situated on section 6, town 6, range 5 west, valued at $30. Number of pupils, fifty.

Joint district No. 5, with town of Prairie du Chien, had a frame building situated on section 33, town 7, range 6 west, valued at $275. Num- ber of pupils, forty.

Joint distriet No. 6, with the town of Prai- rie du Chien, also, was provided with a house in the last named town. Number of pupils from the town of Bridgeport, twenty-one.

About fourteen sections of the town were at this date attached to the independent distriet of the city of Prairie du Chien, for school pur- poses.

CEMETERY.

The town has but one cemetery; this is situ- ated on section 10, town 6, range 6 west, and was established in 1839.

RELIGIOUS.

The town of Bridgeport has never had a regular Church organization. In 1838, Elisha

Warner, one of the party who came on the keel boat Kickapoo, from Ohio, preached the first Gospel sermon listened to in the town. He preached from time to time at various places, wherever a few could be found, who wanted to be taught in divine things. lle was a man who exercised a positive influence for good over the people of Bridgeport. He was a christian by precept and practice. His kind heart made all men friends. It is said of him, "the chil- dren all loved him," and one says "even the dogs liked him." He was the pioneer preacher of the town; was always ready to conduct re- ligious services wherever and whenever people would meet for that purpose. llis wife died in 1858, aged sixty-four years. Mr. Warner died in 1875, from apoplexy. Elder Brunson, who had officiated at the funeral services of Mrs. Warner seventeen years previous, per- formed the same services for Mr. Warner, and feelingly announced the same hymn: "There will be no more sorrow there," at closing ser- vices at the grave. The memory of Elisha Warner and his good wife is fondly cherished by all the old settlers of Bridgeport.

STONE QUARRY.

One of the most extensive stone quarries of this part of the State, is found in the northwest corner of section 15, town 6, range 6, on land originally owned by 11. L. Dousman, but after a number of changes, finally came into the hands of Thomas Marsden, Sr., who began developing the same, in 1863, for the pur- pose of supplying stone for the State House at Madison. In 1882 the property was owned by Thomas Marsden, Jr., his father having died. Mr. Marsden, in company with Mike Menges, of Prairie du Chien, commenced to work this quarry on a very extensive seale, in 1883; the proceeds from the sale of stone during two years, amounting to $20,000, large amounts being used in the capitol at Madison, and in the famous archwork railroad bridge at Minne- apolis, Minn. The proprietors of this cele- brated quarry, employ the most improved

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

methods for quarrying, loading and shipping; they use large derricks, cables and cars, by which they convey the stone on an iron track to the line of the C. M. & St. P. R. R. A large number of men are constantly employed at a shop built for the purpose, in cutting and dressing stone for shipment, on orders for finished work, which goes to all the cities and towns of the northwest.

The stone found in this quarry is a magne- sian limestone, a mixture of lime and sand- stone, which, upon exposure to the elements, becomes exceedingly hard, thus rendering it a most valuable building material.

WISCONSIN RIVER BRIDGE.

By an act of the Legislature in 1854 or 1855, a bridge company was organized and incorpor- ated. E. W. Pelton was chosen president; William E Parish, vice president; B. F. Fay, secretary; I. P. P. Gentil, treasurer; E. W. Pel- ton, W. E. Parish, HI. L. Dousman, B. W. Bris- bois and Alfred Brunson, directors. This bridge was completed in the fall of 1857. It passed into the hands of James Hall, under a trust deed, about 1865, and from him to George M. Dickin- son and John Lawler. To aid in the building of this bridge, the town of Prairie du Chien took stock to the amount of $10,000, for which bonds were issued. The original capital of the bridge company was $30,000, of which $27,000 was paid up, including the bonds issned by Prairie du Chien. Upon the completion of this bridge the ferry at this point was abandoned.

VILLAGE OF BRIDGEPORT.

Dickinson opened a general store. Shortly after this he sold to William Snell. The same year, 1857, L. O. King, B. F. Fay and George M. Dickinson, erected large warehouses and did an immense grain business. In 1863, B. F. Fay built an elevator, which he sold to W. B. Hunt and it finally came into the hands of John Bidwell.

IT. C. King, of King & Barretta, built an ele- vator in 1868, on the site of their old ware house; this burned in 1874 and was rebuilt the same year.

In 1861 Anton Schmidt opened a hotel, which was burned the following year.

Another hotel was built in 1865 by John B. Davis, who sold to Frank Bacon about 1871. Bacon operated the house a year and sold to C. A. Mathews. He sold to Walter Hicklin and he in 1874 to Moses Barretta, who run it till 1881 and sold to George W. Keye, who a year later sold to William P. Hill and he to A. . I. Beesecker, who was operating it in 1884.

Moses Barretta opened a saloon in 1830, which in 1866 he sold to Henry Barretta, who after ten years sold to Frank Bacon. In 1881 Bacon sold to Thomas Nugent.

As before stated, George M. Dickinson opened the first store of the village. He sold to William Snell, who, in 1866 was succeeded by Coleman Brothers and they by King & Ken- yon in July, 1872. Six months later Mr. King bonght Kenyon out and the same year removed the stock to a new building; and in 1875 sokl the building and goods to Joseph Atherton, who the next year sold to C. A. Mathews. Mrs. Carrie Mathews owned and operated the store in 1884.

Bridgeport is situated on the line of the Chi- cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, near the Wisconsin river, on section 11, in town 6, of range 6 west. The land upon which the village In 1876 II. C. King opened a general store and in the spring of that year became associ- ated with Henry Barretta, who in 1884 sold back to Mr. King. stands was originally owned by H. L. Dousman, who, in 1839, sold 300 acres to Peter Barretta, Sr. Thomas Calanan, who was the first settler on the site of the village, erected the first house, "Con" Snell built a good store building and opened up a fine general stock in 1868, on the site afterwards occupied by King & Barretta. in 1855. A ferry was established in 1835, by John Brunet. In the spring of 1857, when the railroad was built to this point, George M. In 1872 he sold out to his brother William.

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

This store together with the goods was destroyed by the same fire which burned the elevator and other property in the village on March 14, 1874. Mr. Snell rebuilt the same year, but went out of trade the following year, 1875.

Thomas Neill started a blacksmith shop in 1870, continuing until 1881.

A postoffice was established at Bridgeport in the autumn of 1857. B. F. Fay was the first post master; he was succeeded by the following in their proper order: L. O. King, T. D. Cole- man, John B. Davis and H. C. King.

When the railroad was built through the village in the spring of 1857, the place became a flag station, and remained as such till 1867. The depot was destroyed by the disasterous fire that occurred on March 14, 1874, and was rebuilt the same year. The trestle work of the railroad bridge was all destroyed at the same time.

Jan. 15, 1884, the business interests of the place were as follows: H. C. King and Mrs. Carrie Matthews, general dealers; A. J. Bee- secker, hotel; 11. C. King, grain dealer; Thomas Nugent, saloon; 1I. C. King, post master.

Bridgeport has been one of the heaviest ship- ping points along the line of the C. M. & St. Paul railroad, between the Mississippi and Mil- waukee. Especially is this true of live stock, large amounts of which come from Grant county, over the wagon bridge, across the Wis- consin river, at this point. During the year 1883, it was no uncommon occurrence to see twelve car loads shipped per day, from this point.

PROMINENT CITIZENS.

Peter Barrette, senior, was born in Montreal, Canada, January 1800. In 1816, he came by the lakes, Green Bay, Fox and Wisconsin riv- ers to Prairie du Chien, and for five years .

worked for fur traders and others. In 1821 he married Theresa La Point, daughter of Charles Li Point. (For further notice sce recollections of Mrs Theresa Barrette). He was a farmer at the time of his marriage and followed farming for

some years afterwards. In 1835 he took the gov_ ernment contract for mail carrying from Prairie du Chien to Plattville and return, three times a week. At this time he moved out from the vil- lage and locating, established a pole ferry on the Wisconsin river, about two miles below the present village of Bridgeport.

There were no highways at this time, and mail was carried on horse back. Indian trails were followed until open country was reached, then the nearest "cross the country" route taken. In 1839 this ferry was abandoned, and he bought 300 acres of land of H. L. Dousman, and the ferry property in sections 11 and 12, town 6, range 6, now town of Bridgeport. The village of Bridgeport stands on part of this purchase. He changed his mail route, and operating the ferry, put on the route passenger wagons, and extras, and operated the same until 1854, when he went out of the mail service. He had pre- viously (in 1845,) bought a horse ferry boat at a costof $750, in and operated the same until 1857, when the Bridgeport bridge was built. He then sold the ferry to parties at Boydtown, where it was run a short time. His residence since 1839 was on the Dousman purchase, where he had a fine farm, and where he lived until his death, Aug. 5, 1863. His widow still lives on the old homestead with her grandson Samuel, son of Lewis Barrette. Their residence is a substantial, heavy walled stone house, the walls of which were made by John Brunette and the building completed by Mr. Barrette after his purchase of II. L. Dousman of the property. The house stands on an elevation, giving a fine view of the opening of the Wisconsin val- ley into the Mississippi valley, and the' Iowa bluffs beyond. In the family room stands a heating stove, in good condition, bought of Joseph Rolette's family in 1839. It had then been in use ten or more years. Peter Barrette, Sr., has left a long line of descendents. Ile had eight sons and four daughters. Susan, born Jan. 18, 1822, died in infancy; Louis, born Feb. 29, 1824, of Minneapolis; Charles, born Feb, 26,

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

1826, of Bridgeport; Peter, born March 7, 1829, of Prairie du Chien; Antoine, born May 20, 1831, of Prairie du Chien; Julia, born June 25, 1833, died in infancy; Moses, born Ang. 10, 1835, of Waterton, Dak .; Paul, born Sept. 22, 1836, of Prairie du Chien; Samuel, born Jan. 30, 1838, died in infancy; Henry, born July 20, 1841, of Bridgeport; Margaret, born March 5, 1844, died April 17, 1864; Philaman, born Ang. 12, 1846, died Dec. 20, 1857.

Charles Barrette is the son of Peter Barrette, Sr. He wasborn Feb. 26, 1826, in Prairie du Chien. Ile owns and resides on the Samuel Gilbert claim made about 1826. He has one of the best improvedfarms in the town, with good buildings. In 1849 he married Emily J., daughter of H. L. Dous- man, and lived with his father the first two years after bis marriage. In 1852 he moved into what is known as the mill farm of II. L. Dous- man, and lived there eighteen years. In 1870 he moved to his present residence. His wife died April 8, 1874. They have had born to them eight children-Virginia, born Sept. 20, 1850, wife of Thomas Ward. Theresa, born September, 1852, wife of Exis Brothers, and died Ang. 15, 1877; Jane, born Dec. 7, 1858, wife of Chas. Bran- des, of Wauzeka; Minnie, born December, 1860, of Nashua, Iowa; Susan, born in 1862, died in 1864; Mattie, born Feb. 9, 1864; May, born Dec. 15, 1865; Charles L., born in 1867, died in 1875.

Ilenry Barrette is the son of Peter Bar- rette, Sr. He was born July 20, 1841. IIe married Anna M. Kane, Jan. 3, 1864. She was the daughter of Bernard Kane, of Pitts- burg, Penn. She was born Sept 24th, 1841. They have eight children-Lizzie O., born Nov. 14, 1864, Jennie May, born May 1, 1866; George W., born Feb, 22, 1868; Walter II., born July 28, 1870; Louis B., born Sept 6, 1872; Willie E., born and died Sept. 27, 1874; Annie V., born Oct. 9, 1876; Mary Josephine, born May 16, 1878. Mr. Barrette is a prominent citizen of Bridgeport village, has been a long time in the mercantile trade. He has held the office of town treasurer since 1878, was the town asses-

sor five years previous, elected first term 1873, and ten years was a member of the school board.

REMINISCENCE OF THERESA BARRETTE.

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History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 80

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company Number of Pages: 1298

Author: Butterfield, Consul Willshire, 1824-1899. [from old catalog]; Union publishing company, Springfield, Ill., pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill., Union publishing company
Number of Pages: 1298