History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 91

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 91
USA > Wisconsin > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 91

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).

"Now, therefore, I, the above named William Woodbridge, do, by virtue of the power and authority in me vested, constitute the whole of that traet of country comprehending the said village of Prairie des Chiens, which lies within the bounds hereinafter described, into a town- ship to be known and called by the name of the

"Borough of Prairie des Chiens," to-wit: All that country which lies within the following boundaries: Beginning at the confluence of the river Ouisconsin with the river Mississippi, thence in a line at right angles with the course of said river at the point aforesaid to the boundaries of the said Territory; thence up the said river along said boundary line to a point opposite from the entrance into said river Mississippi of a small run or creek known by name of Fisher's creek; thence up said creek four miles, or to its souree if it should not be found four miles long; thenee to the confluence of the river Kickapoo with the river Ouiscon- sin; thence along said river to the place of be- ginning.

"Given under my hand and the great seal of said Territory at Detroit this seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one, and of the independence of the United States of America the forty-sixth.

WILLIAM WOODBRIDGE." The borough (township or town) of Prairie du Chien continued in existence until 1828, when it was superseded by the town of St. An- thony; which included, as shown in a previous chapter, the whole of Crawford county, the di- mensions of which were very large. The town last mentioned continued until 1849, when the county was divided into four towns, one of which was called the town of Prairie du Chien. It included nearly all of the county as at pres- ent circumscribed. Since that date it has been shorn of territory until in 1872 it was reduced

636

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

to the present limits. It is bounded on the north by the town of Eastman, on the west by the town of Wauzeka, on the south by the town of Bridgeport and the city of Prairie du Chien and on the west by the Mississippi river and comprises parts of town 7, of ranges 6 and 7 west.

The surface of the town is very rough, ex- cept, the beautiful prairie land between the bluffs and the Mississippi river, which is about one and one-half miles wide. The western part of the town is cut by numerous lagoons, setting back from the main channel of the Mis- sissippi river. The ridges originally had good timber, but has long since given way to the axe of the settler; and where once stately forest trees grew now a second growth has sprung np. The soil is a heavy clay on the ridges, while the valleys, especially that of the Mississippi, contains a mixture of sand.

FIRST SETTLEMENT.

The first settlement in what is now (1884) known as the town of Prairie du Chien was made at what is called Frenchtown, a suburb of the city of Prairie du Chien, and which is loca- ted on the "Prairie" midway between the bluff and the east bank of the Mississippi river two miles north of the city. This settlement dates back nearly a century, and was first called "Popple." The name "Frenchtown" began to be used about 1850.

Dennis Courtois was the first white man who settled at this place. In 1820 he made affida- vits showing himself to have been in the com- try as early as 1792, at which time he and his wife came from Canada.

Claude Gagnier settled on farm lot No. 13, in 1794, and died leaving a family as residents of the place.

Francois Cheneviere came in 1806 and mar- ried a half blood Indian woman. In 1810 he erected a two horse sweep power grist mill which was in use till 1838.

Piere Chelofan came from St. Louis and set- tled here in 1812.

In 1813 a Canadian named Le Blonde came in, married a squaw and raised a family. Ile died in 1843. About this date came Mr. Golla- nan and wife from Canada. Ile died at French- town in 1867, and his wife died in Missouri in 1880, at the age of 103 years.

Frederick Stram, native of Switzerland came with his family in 1826. They came by way of the Red river of the north, accompanied by .Joseph Boothe and a man named Mercheau with their families. The latter remained only three years, but Mr. Boothe remained till the time of his death in 1867. His widow married Modest Corden.

In 1836 Ezekiel Tainter settled on the bluff in the town of Prairie do Chien, on what is now known as the Nickerson farm.

The next to venture out and make settlement on the bluffs, were E. Putnam and John Miller. ORGANIC.

The following is a list of the first town offi- cers of the town of Prairie du Chien:

Alfred Brunson, chairman; Joseph Atherton, Aaron Hazen, supervisors; Theodore Bugbee, town clerk; Isaac P. Perrit Gentil, town treas- urer; Isaac P. Perrit Gentil, town assessor; Alfred Brunson, town superintendent of schools; Anson B. Cay, Daniel II. Whaley, William E. Keith, constables; Wiram Knowlton, James H. Lockwood, Joseph Atherton, and Aaron Hazen, justices of the peace.

The first annual meeting was held April 3, 1872, when the following officers were elected: John Folsom, Thomas McGrath and Flavien Cherrier, supervisors; M. E. Norris, clerk ; An- drew Bosch, assessor ; Joseph Pinz, treasurer ; M. I. Donnell, Patrick La Vell and M. Lech- nier, justices of the peace.

Officers of 1883: Thomas MeGrath, chair- man; James Norris, Joseph Wilharber, super- visors ; D. H. Quilligan, town clerk ; Judson Lareviere, assessor ; Theodore Bay, treasurer ; Thomas J. Quilligan, John H. Folsom, justices. SCHOOLS.

At the present time (1884) the town is divided into three full and four joint school districts :

637

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

District No. 9 has an old frame building, on section 12, town 7, range 7 west. Number of pupils, forty-five.

Distriet No. 10 has a brick house situated on section 10, town 7, range 6 west, valued at $200. Number of pupils, thirty-six.

District No. 11 is provided with a brick building on section 9, town 7, range 6 west, valued at $300. Number of pupils, thirty.

Distriet No. 6, joint with Bridgeport and Wauzeka, has a frame house, in good condi- tion, located on section 23, town 7, range 6 west, valued at $700. Number of pupils, eighty-three.

Distriet No. 4, joint with Wanzeka, in which town the school house is located. Number of pupils, six.

District No. 5, joint with Bridgeport, with building in last named town. Number of pupils, twenty-five.

Sections 29 and 30, town 7, range 6 west, are attached to the city of Prairie du Chien, for school purposes.

FLOURING MILL.

The first flouring mill in all this section of the State of Wisconsin, aside from the hand mills and other rude contrivances used before the American settlement proper was effected, was constructed in 1810, by Francois Chene- viere. This was propelled by two horses and a sweep, and was used till 1818, when Col. John Shaw built a water power mill, on what is now known as the Dousman mill farm, which is situated on Mill Coulee creek, on section 6, town 7, range 6 west. It is stated by the old French settlers, that the owner of the "horse power mill" took one-third for grinding.

The mill on Mill Conlee, is the only one in the town ; it was rebuilt in 1840, by Joseph Rolette, and in 1883, by George E. Jacobia. An entire new foundation was placed underneath the building, the old time overshot wheel, so moss-covered and water-soaked, taken out and a modern Turbine wheel put in and new ma- chinery throughout, making it a very valuable

mill. But little business has ever been trans- aeted in the town, except what was carried on in a small way at Frenchtown.

Louis Stram opened a grocery store and also handled liquors quite extensively, from 1854 to 1872. He kept a hotel there for many years, while Prairie du Chien was yet in its infaney.

CITY OF PRAIRIE DU CIIIEN.

This city, which is the county seat of Craw- ford county, is situated on the east bank of the Mississippi river, in the extreme southwestern part of the county, and is one of the oldest places in the State of Wisconsin, dating from 1781.

Before the whites (who were Canadian French) first located on the Prairie. it was in- habited by the Fox Indians, whose chief was named Dog (Chien in French); and it was from this it took its name, which was subsequently given to the village.

Of all the charming city sites in the great and far-famed upper Mississippi valley, perhaps none excels Prairie du Chien in grandeur and beauty. Surrounded as it is by the mountain-like bluffs on either side of the river, which flows on in its ceaseless current toward the far off ocean, the picturesque scenery is ever a feast to the eye.

The prairie on which the city is laid out is a sand and loam plain, about two miles wide at the south end, running north about seven miles, to a point, the whole embracing about seven sec- tions of land. The site of the city stretches along the Mississippi river about two miles; nearly all of which affords a good steamboat landing, and averages about one and a half miles in width.

This place is situated about 300 miles below St. Paul, in Minnesota and seventy miles up the river from Dubuque and Dunlieth; is 600 miles from St. Louis and 1,800 from New Orleans by way of the meanderings of the Mississippi river, and is ninety-eight miles west of Madi- son and 198 miles from Milwaukee. The plat- ting of the city shows much taste as well as

638

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

practical design, the streets being laid out at right angles and the blocks of convenient size for both business and resident purposes. The river at this point is a mile and a quarter wide, includ- ing islands; the whole valley, from the bluffs on the east to those on the Iowa shore, is about three miles in width. This level plain, walled in as it is by these everlasting hills, which in many places rise into great altitude, their sur- face covered with a carpeting of green and scattering timber, with here and there a pre- cipitous rock eropping out in bold relief, lends a beauty to the city and its environments, which must be seen in order to be fully appreciated.

Another prominent feature of the city is its artesian wells, which are not only curiosities but also of great utility. One of these fountains is situated within the city park and throws a con- stant stream of the purest, most health-giving water of any well in the world. This stream, which doubtless has its source in a distant part of the State, furnishes the city with water for do- mestic use, for fire protection and flows down on either side of the principal business streets, over stone gutters, which are kept clean and white by this never-failing stream, that supplies a cooling draught for both man and beast. This well attracts the attention of the stranger as he visits the city and leads him to exclaim, "A thing of beauty is a joy forever!"

Here and there throughout the city may be seen a very substantial class of business build- ings and public edifices. Especially great pride is taken in the schools and church buildings of the place. These, together with the court house, which is a stone structure, situated in a charming public square, the surface of which is shaded by the dark green foliage of the pine and cedar-have come to be a pride to the peo- ple of Prairie du Chien.

This point was made the terminus of the Milwaukee & Mississippi River railroad, in April, 1857; it being the most northern point on the river to which the iron steed had found

his way. In 1884, this was known as the Chi- eago Milwaukee & St. Paul line.

RECORDED PLATS.

The various plats of Prairie du Chien were filed for record as follows:

Original plat, Sept. 11, 1837. This plat was purchased of Amable and Lenore Moreau, by Thomas P. Burnett, for $65.

Lockwood's addition, Dec. 26, 1840.

Streets, additions, April 9, 1839.

Power's addition, Sept. 9, 1840.

Beaumont's addition, Oct. 31, 1842.

Dousman's addition, Nov. 16, 1842.

E. Power's addition, April 8, 1843.

Parish's addition, Dec. 5. 1855.

J. Y. Smith's addition Sept. 26, 1856.

MeGregor's addition April 27, 1856. Clark's addition, Dec. 22, 1855.

Marsh's addition, Sept. 1, 1856.

Union plat by H. L. Dousman et al, Sept, 27, 1856.

First addition to Union plat, June 4, 1857.

Beaumont's addition, Aug. 12, 1856.

Lower Prairie du Chien, June 14, 1856. Extension to Union plat, March 13, 1858.

At the present time, (1884), the principal part of the city is on the high ground in the rear of the old village of St. Feriole. What was known as the "Main Village" at an early date, lay immediately along the east bank of the Mississippi river, and is now occupied by the railroad yards, ware houses, and lumber yards.

"Lower Town" is that part of the city situa- ted about a half mile down the river from old St. Feriole Here, the railroad shops are loca- ted, and other business interests, yet the princi- pal business of the city is done on the old site of St. Feriole, about midway between the two bluffs.

AMERICAN SETTLEMENT.

A history of the first settlement of Prairie du Chien, largely by Canadian French, will be found in a previous chapter. We here com-

639

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

mence the narrative when the Americans began to settle very rapidly on "the prairie."

Hercules L. Dousman, who was of Cana- dian French origin, came to the village in 1826 or 1827, in the employ of the American Fur Company, and speedily rose to wealth and distinction. Some men who were stationed here in the military service of the United States made selection of eligible location within a a short distance of the prairie, to which they returned after their term of office expired; among whom may be mentioned Edward Hughes, John MeClure, J. P. Hall, and Daniel Frost. Be- tween 1830 and 1835, the names of Tainter, Miller, Putnam and Martin, were identified with the history of this place.

In 1832 I. P. Perrit Gentil, afterwards for many years county treasurer, located here. J. F. Mills came in 1834, for the purpose of en- gaging as tutor in the families of Col. Taylor and Indian agent Street, but entered the quar- termaster's office, and subsequently rose to dis- tinetion in civil life.

Another arrival of 1836, was Alexander Mc- Gregor, who was one of the principal men and, in that year laid out the lower village. He also established that year a ferry acress the Missis- sippi. After laboring assiduously to build up the lower town, he removed in 1847, and became the founder of the city on the Iowa side, which bears his name.

In this year (1836) the fever of speculation, then running rampant over the country, reached this place, and property ran up to fabulous heights. Two land companies were organized, who bought up all they could get of the private land claims below the garrison, and laid it out into city lots. But failing to succeed as they wished, this part of the city remained only on paper for several years.

A man by the name of Van Dorn, from Mich- igan, full of the idea of Chicago and Milwaukee, came to this place and finding no land in market except the private land claims, bought up some claims on Government land not yet surveyed in

the Wisconsin bottoms, which are low and marshy, and subject to annual inundations. This he platted on paper, and went east and put into stock, at $200,000, $100 per share, and imposed on many honest men, who supposed they were buying shares in the city of Prairie du Chien, for so he called his marsh. He paid for his claims in Michigan wild cat money a few days before those banks exploded. He had to leave the country, and the last heard from him he was in Texas.

In this year population began to increase. Many who were bound ultimately for Iowa and Minnesota, made this their stopping place till they could prepare their future homes. Several new houses were put up, and permanent resi- dences made.

Among the number who came to Prairie du Chien in 1837, were Losen and Seth Hill, II. W. and Thomas Savage.

Concerning Prairie du Chien in 1857, and what its future prospects might be, the Rev. Alfred Brunson at that date wrote:

"The town plat lies two miles along the river, and runs back one and a half miles, on an average, covering an area of about three sec- tions. But the present inhabitants, numbering about 3,000, are scattered over the equivalent of seven sections, all of which can, and probably will be occupied for dwellings and business in a few years.

" We have one large steam flouring, and one steam saw mill; we have three lumber yards; five brick yards; four lime kilns, and stone quarries withont number. Several millions of brick have been made and laid up during the past season, in dwellings and large stores and ware houses. And by the aid of furnaces brick are being made during the winter at the rate of 3,000 per day, and will be ready to be laid up as soon as the ensuing spring opens.

"Three graceful churches, and one in the course of building, together with two other places of divine worship, honor the morals and religious tastes of the people. A high school

640

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

and suitable number of district schools supply the wants of our children and youths for edu- cational purposes; and an academy and several more churches are in contemplation.

" We have several lines of daily, tri-weekly and weekly stages, plying in Wisconsin, and the same from McGregor, which may be con- sidered as a part of this place, plying in Iowa and Minnesota, all centering to this place, in view of the railroad and steamboat travel.

" The railroad is at the time of this writing, finished up to a point of twenty miles from this place, and the track is being laid at the rate of half a mile a day. The grading and bridge building keep out of the way of the rail layers, and the cars are expected to reach this place in February next.

" During the past season the steamboat arri- vals have averaged ten or twelve a day, none of which were owned at this place. But arrange- ments are now being made by which four freight boats are to be put on in connection with the railroad, and also four daily boats expressly for passengers, to receive the passengers from the trains, and go at a speed never yet attained on this river, and ply between this place and St. Panl, and the intermediate ports. By this ar- rangement freight will not be permitted to lie at the depot for weeks before it will be forward- ed; and passengers will not be left without beds nor be compelled to hang upon the guards to get a passage, as it has been to some extent the past season or two; one of the boats of the greatest speed is to ply between this place and Dubuque, daily.

"This place offers at this time, the greatest facilities for wholesale dealers, for manufactor- ies, and for all kinds of mechanics and laborers. This may be seen at a glance from our position. The town site is ample for buildings, without the expense of grading, piling or wharfing, and the facilities for receiving and sending out goods, wares and merchandise, are exceeded by no place west or north of Chicago.

"Hundreds of buildings would now have been up and occupied by families and traders, if ma- terials and men could have been at command; and as soon as these can be obtained, building will progress with great rapidity. Hence the opening for mechanics, lumber, and other ma- terials for building.

" A foundry on a large scale is very much needed. Buildings with iron fronts are being put up, and stoves by the hundred are being sold, mill irons are in great demand, for all the country about us, various kinds of machinery are being erected, and for all these and every other kind of castings, we are under the neces- sity of sending below, while we have within 100 miles of us, at and near the falls of Black river, iron ore enough to supply the entire north- west with that material, which could be easily and cheaply floated down the current to this place, and strong indications of iron ore are abundant within twenty miles of us.

"People of all kinds and descriptions find am- ple employment; laborers are in great demand and all at the highest wages, say from $1.50 to $3, and in the opening of next spring far greater numbers of them will be required to supply the demand. Several large wholesale and retail stores, commission and forwarding houses, be- sides numerous dwellings were the last season added to our former stock; and these will be greatly increased in the coming year, together with several new and spacious hotels, and the depot buildings, now partly up.

"The manufacturing of plows, chairs, car- riages, furniture, book-binding, ete., would find every encouragement; planing, turning and other useful machinery will find ample employ- ment. An additional printing press is much wanted and would find a good support.

"Enterprising farmers and dairymen are in great requisition, and a better country for them the sun never shone upon. Butter, cheese, eggs beef, pork, poultry, etc., and all kinds of garden vegetables are in great demand, and in the coming season, will be more so.

643

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

"Flouring, grist, and saw-mills are much needed, and good sites, both for water and steam power are abundant; and for a grist mill by water power, near the town, a good mill- wright and miller, would find good encourage- ment from the present proprietor.

"It is expected that in the coming season, and to increase as time rolls on, from 500 to 1,000 people will arrive and depart daily, but at present, our hotels, though of a good quality could not entertain more than 150 comfortably; hence the call for more accommodations of this kind.

"The health of the place, though it has been greatly misrepresented by those whose interest it was to do so, we affirm to be generally good; fully equal to any other on the river, and far su- perior to any place below us. We have had no sickness, except what was common to the country, and even at that, not as much as many other places reputed to be healthy. In all the ravages of the cholera, not a single case origi- nated here. Visitors to the place, who were looking for a future home, have been to our cemeteries and finding so few new graves in a population of some 3,000 have come to the sage conclusion that comparatively but few die among us, and on inquiry, have found that they were mostly from causes common to human na- ture, and not from any local cause particularly.

"We decm it prudent to say but little. We do not claim to be prophets, nor possess the attributes of fore-knowledge. The intelligent reader can draw his conclusions from the fore- going facts, as satisfactorally to himself, as if done by ourselves. The growth of the west, though a fixed fact, can hardly be appreciated, except from actual observation. The nnprece- dented growth of Milwaukee and Chicago, is known to be owing to their position, and local advantages; and the principal purchases of real estate among us are from those places, who, viewing our prospects of rapid growth, from the same canse as theirs, have paid and fixed upon prices for lots corresponding with prices with

them when they were about of our present dimen- sions, and though those who wish to purchase for speculation, as would be natural for them to do, talk as if our prices were too high-that is too high for them to expect the advance they would like to receive-yet, if they be- come owners, relax nothing in their high esti- mate of the value of their lots. But the fact, that business men from such places, are purchas- ing, building, and removing their families to settle among us; and the fact that business men of the highest character for enterprise and foresight, from Buffalo, New York, and other eastern cities are also coming, purchasing and settling among us, are favorable omens of the magnitude of our future position, in a commer- cial point of view. We are at this time ahead of what Milwaukee and Chicago were twenty years ago, and having advantages to start upon that neitherof them had at that time, it is not deemed visionary to suppose that in less than twenty years, we shall be equal to what they are now.

"The above was read and adopted by a large and respectable meeting of the business men of the place, held at the Mondell House, Dec. 10, 1856, and is published at their request."

The Courier, of Jan. 8, 1857, says: "A line of steamers is building, to run in connection with the railroad from Prairie du Chien to St. Paul; that during the year past, two new brick hotels have been completed, and two others re- modeled; two steam ferry boats, to cross the river to McGregor, have been purchased; one new church, erected; three splendid brick blocks, nineteen stores, two breweries, one steam flouring mill, and about a hundred dwell- ing houses put up, besides the extensive works of the railroad company. Five brick yards, two stone quarries, three lumber yards and one saw-mill have been inadequate to meet the demands required for improvements."

INCORPORATION.

In 1822 it was enacted by the governor and judges of the territory of Michigan "that all the

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.

History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 91

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