History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin, Part 95

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 95
USA > Wisconsin > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Richland counties, Wisconsin > Part 95

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).

Horace Beach kept the pioneer agricultural store.

The first lumber dealers were I. P. P. Gentil & Dorr, who operated as early as 1856-7.

Shipley & Peas run the first livery stable, beginning about 1853.

The first to deal in clocks and jewelry was Mr. Giles, who was in trade here just before the war, and here commenced the foundation of the great fortune he has since amassed in Chicago, where be has long since been one of the noted business men.

The pioneer picture taker was Alphens Wright, who located long before the art of tak- ing photographs was known. About 1850 was the date of his commencing to take dagnerro- types. D. A. Douglass was the second artist, who settled here. He was farther advanced in his profession, and taught Mr. Wright the pro- cess of taking both photographs and ambrotypes. Hle located in 1856, and continued in the busi- ness till 1865. His gallery was situated on Church street near where the city brewery was afterward built.

The first shoemaker in Prairie du Chien was a German named Sielgher, who commenced cob- bling in 1842. In 1856, J. T. Christoph came from New York city and opened a shoe shop, and in 1860 added a stock of boots and shoes. lle is still (in 1884)operating in this capacity.

The first restaurant in the place was run in connection with a boarding house, known as "Our Ulonse," which stood near where the French store building now stands. It was kept by John Pion, who is a native of Prairie du Chien. Hle was born in 1821, on the site of the present Railway House, and died Dec. 1, 1882. He had served two years in the United States army 1846-7, in a campaign against the Indians of the northwest. At one time he was counted among the wealthiest men in Prairie du Chien; but one reverse added to another till all was finally swept from him. The last twenty-five years of his life he suffered much from inflamatory rheumatism, contracted while in the army. It is said Mr. Pion was a "born gentlemen," and like most of the early French settlers, he was liberal and hospitable. His death added another to the long list of pioneers, who have

664

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

been gathered to their fathers, leaving only a few of that generation who lived on this beauti- ful prairie, and whose chief business was "dance, sing and make merry."

Mr. Pion was married in 1850, to Anna Bris- bois, a neice of Col. Brisbois, by whom he had ten children-John, Emma, Louis, Anna. Charles, Addie, Ella, Lotta, Johnny and Eddie. DIRECTORY OF 1883.

The following is a business directory of Prairie du Chien in December, 1883:

Brower, T. L., general store.

Brower & Son, drugs and groceries.

Beach, II., hardware and farm implements.

Bassett, Huntington & Co., grain dealers.

Butterfield, L. T., photographer. Baldwin, H., Tremont House.

Bridenbauch, M., Central House.

Chase, L. & Co., general store.

Crehain, Dennis, St. Paul Hotel.

Conant, Dr., Turkish Bath.

Case & Co., grain dealers.

Douglass, D. A., notion store. Evans, William, attorney.

Eddy, E., physician.

Famechon, J., French Store.

Fuller, C. S., attorney.

Frederick, M., harness maker.

Famechon, J., grain dealer.

Garvey Brothers, dry goods.

Grelle, Charles, furniture.

Griesbaugh, Christian, meat market.

llaskins, Le Roy, soap manufacturer. Hewitt, Byron, farm machinery. Jones, J. D., physician.

Kohn & Co., clothing. Knops, John, furniture. Lindner, G. L., eigar maker.

Levi, N. H., jeweler. Lockart, E. P., lumber dealer. Mathews, R. G., jeweler. Morrison. E., hardware. Nor, Frederick & Co., meat market. Poehler, II. C., groceries. Rosenbaum. S., groceries.

Reitemeyer, A. II., Vinegar Works. Rodgers, Edward, Sherman House.

Rodway, T. F., restaurant.

Schweizer, Mrs. J. G., Commercial Hotel. Schweizer, M. boots and shoes.

Staner & Co., saw mills. Shumann & Menges, brewery.

Steiger, A., physician

Samuels, A. F., physician.

Schumecher, R. R., restaurant.

Thomas, O. B., attorney.

Viele, L. F. S., attorney.

Wright & Co., drugs.

Weidenfeld, II., dry goods.

Webster, Daniel, attorney.

HOTELS.

The hotel, as well as the grist mill, saw-mill and blacksmith shop, serves as a vanguard to civilization, going up as it does in the midst of the wild, unsettled frontier, to give shelter and repast to the explorer and home seeker. Could the foundation stones of the carly taverns in the neighborhood of Praiaie du Chien but speak, they would, indeed, reveal history which can never be written. They would tell of men and women of whom we know but little, they would describe the manners and customs of those who, perhaps, tarried here but a few days, or maybe give us a volume of comic incidents which occurred within the superstructure above them. ITere the French and Indian traders assembled and told one another of their ex- ploits and the dangers through which they passed in search of worldly gain among the savage tribes of Indians, whose finest hunting ground was hereabouts. They would also make mention of the marriages, births and deaths and of dances and charivaries besides a thous- and other things which must have transpired in those early days around the public houses. But as these have been dumb listeners it is left for the historian to trace out, as near as possible the facts connected with the building and oper- ation of the first hotels of the city and such additional notes concerning those of a later

665

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

date as he may be able to find and then weave them together as a record of the hotels of this place.

There were several inns kept by the French settlers at a very early date; but the first record to be found of a licensed tavern was granted May 13, 1823, to John Brunet, by J. L. Findly, then county clerk. About the same time an- other was granted to John Dispouse, and a year later, one to James Reed. These were all three small concerns, and their history, however ex- tensive and interesting it may have been, has been lost by the flight of time; and all that is known is the facts above stated.

About 1839 Ezekiel Tainter built what was known as the Phoenix Hotel. This was on Main street, near the New York store building. In a few years Mr. Tainter sold to Edward Pelton, who operated it for a time, and from him the property passed into the hands of Mr. Keith. The next landlord was Deacon Hurd (Dennis J.), who continued for several years, and finally gave way to William Campbell, and he in turn to Alonzo Kane, who changed the name of the house to "Kane's Hotel." Ile con- ducted the house till 1861, when J. George Schweizer purchased and operated it till Nov. 8, 1873, at which time it was destroyed by fire, occasioned by the burning of .Mr. Boisvert's barn, as some thought, while others concluded it must have been willfully set on fire, while the barn was yet smouldering.

About 1834 a hotel was built on Bluff street, which in 1884, was used as a private house. This was called the Prairie House; it was a story and a half building, erected by a French- man named Baylee. Later it became the pro- perty of HI L. Dousman, but was operated by N. F. Hurd, also by Messrs. Parvin & Camp- bell.

In 1839 Alexander McGregor built a very substantial, spacious hotel in Lower Town, known as the Granite Hotel. This was con- structed of Prairie du Chien granite, and was

a fine building. It was destroyed a few years later by fire.

In 1857-8 a joint stock company erected a large hotel in Lower Town, known as the Bris- bois house. This was an immense house, built over the excitement connected with the com- pletion of the Milwaukee & Mississippi River railroad to this point. It was too large a house to be in any sense profitable to its owner, and so was operated but a few years. Its cost was $56,000. During the rebellion it was used by the government as a hospital. Later still, an unsuccessful attempt was made to have it util- ized by the State as a Normal School building; but having failed in this, its owners organized an independent college, known as the Prairie du Chien College. This proved a financial failure, and the building passed into the hands of the Catholics, who started a school therein, which also proved a failure. John Lawler then purchased the property and donated it to the Fathers of the Society of Jesus, who have added substantial and expensive improvements, and sustain one of the best schools in the State.

Another fine hotel was erected in 1856-7 by E. W. Mondel, at a cost of $40,000. This was known as the " Mondel," and was a very supe- rior house. Among others who conducted this hotel, were, A. M. Tryon, Mr. Van Velzer and Edward Pelton, who were experienced hotel men, and won the esteem their merit deserved as good landlords. This building was a fine three story structure, situated on Bluff street, the principal street of the city. It was de- stroyed by fire in December, 1880, and was not re-built.

The Railroad House, on the island, is the property of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company. This spacious building was erected in 1862-3, at the time the depot was moved from its original site in Lower Town. This is a fine structure, built of Milwaukee brick, and provided with all modern appliances for the comfort and convenience of the travel- ing public. The cost of the building was about

666

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

$35,000, exelusive of furniture. It is located within a few rods of the east bank of the Mis- sissippi river, near the depot, and from its rooms may be seen the charming river scenery.

Among the smaller hotels of the place are the Tremont, Sherman, St. Paul and Central hotels.

The building which forms a part of the Tre- mont House, is a pioncer structure, being built by H. L. Dousman, in 1826-7. It stands near the river, also close to the Milwaukee depot. It first served as a residence and Indian trading post. For many years it was operated as a hotel by HI. Baldwin, who added to its capacity, from time to time. In 1882 it was purchased by Walter Newick.

The St. Paul House was built in 1868, by Dennis Crehain. It is a small frame building near the Tremont and Railway Houses. Mr. Crehain, the proprietor, operated the Western Honse, at Lower Town, at an early day; he was also section boss seven years on the section run- ning east from Prairie du Chien, when the road was first constructed.

The Sherman was formerly known as the Minneapolis House. This house was built in 1875 and operated in 1884, by Edward Rodgers.

The Central House is situated in the center of the business part of the city, on Bluff street. This building was built for a residence, but converted into a hotel in 1877. Its proprietor m 1884 was M. Bridenbauch. What was known as the Wisconsin House, was built by J. George Schweizer, in 1856 or 1857, as a saloon; but soon after the marriage of Mr. Schweizer, he converted it into a tavern and continued to operate it till 1861, when he purchased the Kane House.

Last, though far from being the least, is the Commercial Hotel. This is a briek business block, remodeled into a hotel in 1881, by J. George Schweizer. It stands on the corner of Bluff and Prairie streets, facing the south and east. It contains many elegant rooms on the first, second and third floors; also a fine billiard hall and bar are run in connection with the

house, both of which are conducted in a credita- ble manner. Since Mr. Sehweizer's death in May, 1882, the house has been operated by Mrs. Schweizer, under the management of her two sons, George and Charles. The Commercial has telephonic connection with all parts of the city, as well as with the city of McGregor. Another pleasing feature of this hotel, is the beautiful crystal-like stream of mineral water, which proceeds from the famous artesian well, and flows within a few feet of the office door. With all these surroundings, the stranger is made to feel at home, while he remains at the Commereial.

BANKS.

In 1837 a bank was started at Prairie du Chien ealled the Prairie du Chien Ferry Co. Handsome bills were issued. George W. Pine, president, H. W. Savage, cashier. It did not circulate well here, as it had no charter. It did less damage than most of the wild cat institu- tions of that day.

The first successful attempt at the banking business, was in 1856, when a Milwaukee capi- talist, Anson Eldred, opened a banking house at Lower Town, known as the Bank of Prairie du Chien. After a few years this concern was moved to Upper Town and finally failed.

Another bank was opened in the winter of 1856-7, by Chase Bros., called the Exchange Bank. This was located on Water street. This institution was in operation a few years and then elosed up, its capital being invested in other directions. Another bank known as the Exchange Bank, which is at this time, (1884) is the only bank of the place, was founded in 1872, by C. M. Seley, who sold to Aaron Denio, in 1880. The eash capital of this institution is $10,000.

FLOODS.

Prairie du Chien, situated as it is on the prairie land between the two bluffs, which form the valley of the Mississippi river, has been the scene of many great inundations, the greatest of which are spoken of in this conection.

667

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

In the month of May, 1826, a great flood oc- curred, at which time the river was higher than it had ever been known to the white settlers. At this point it was twenty-six feet above low water mark. The troops then garrisoned here, abandoned the fort and took possession of the higher ground east of the slough. The next remarkable flood was in May, 1859. In the vicinity of the round house in Lower Town, there were several houses, where the inmates would have been drowned had they not taken refuge in the upper story or at their neighbors. Front street was only passable by boats, and the merchants in that section were damaged by hav- ing the water fill the basements. All the islands in the river were submerged and the channel over one mile wide. The main town was indeed an island, the bridge across the slough was covered with water at both extremi- ties and a part of it carried down stream.

Another sweeping flood occurred about the 20th of June, 1880; the Mississippi and Wiscon- sin rivers were then higher than they had been known for over forty years. The saw-mills and railroad companies sustained heavy losses in this flood. During this freshet assistant super- intendent Collins and roadmaster Mitchell came from Woodman, a station on the Milwaukee road, about twenty miles distant, in a skiff, and found the water to be four feet over the railroad track in many places. Nine hundred feet of the track was washed away between Boscobel and Woodman, and the entire Wisconsin bot- toms were inundated. The people living at Frenchtown, just north of the city, were com pletely surrounded by the waters of the Missis- sippi, and lost all their farm and garden pro- duets. On the Iowa side of the river, twenty- five miles of the Dubuque & Minnesota rail- road was submerged and all trains abandoned. During this flood a party of musicians chartered a large boat of Louis Martin, and with quite a number of friends took a sail over the submerged portion of the city, the 4th ward. The musicians were: Mr. Humphreys, James Ilicks, 1

A. K. Graves, Mrs. Newton, Mrs. McKey, Miss Jennie Morrison, Mr. and Mrs. Newman, vo- calists; Mrs. Le Clere, organist; Mr King, vio- linist, and Dr. Samuels, guitar accompaniment. It is said the boat glided along over the peaceful waters, while the pale moon lent her mild light, peeping out oceassionally from the scattering grey clouds, while the sweet strains of music floated pathetically over the "transient sea of waters." After serenading some friends in their half submerged houses, the boat was moored at the steps of the railway eating house, the inmates of which were greeted by a long serenade and there invited by the genial land- lord, Col. Williams, to partake of the bounties of his table, after a nice little welcome speech.

The latest, the severest and by far the most extensive flood ever known to the people of the upper Mississippi valley, occurred in October, 1881. It commenced about the first of the month, and continued for about three weeks, devastating towns, cities, mills, railroads and bridges. In Prairie du Chien, the mills were all shut down, and the hands thrown out of em- ployment. Boats took the place of wheeled vehicles for conveyance through the principal streets. The hay erop all along the Mississippi valley was ruined, and large numbers of stock were drowned.

REMAINS OF THE MILITARY POST.

There exists no point in the northwest, around which so much of historic interest clusters, as that of the city of Prairie du Chien, especially, is this true concerning the old government quarters, the remains of which have to be pointed out to the stranger. in order that he may dis- cern that the spot was onee a military post, where stood one of the most substantial and important forts along the Mississippi river. Where Ft. Crawford stood with its massive walls of solid masonry, bidding defiance to the charge of a mighty enemy, now towers the walls of the Catholic school building. Where the shrill sound of the bugle at roll call, was heard, now rings forth the convent bell. The

668

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

last picket guards about these grounds have long since beat their "spears into pruning hooks and their swords into plowshares," and many of them been laid away at rest; and where they once stood guard by night, the street lamps of the city serve as silent sentinels-befitting em- blems of peace.

The grounds occupied by the Fort were pur- chased of J. H. Lockwood and James Doty, in 1829. They consisted chiefly of farm lots Nos. 33, and 34, which contained 160 acres.

One of the early frame houses in Prairie du Chien was erected by James H. Lockwood; this house was upon the grounds purchased for the garrison and was the residence of various army officers among whom were "Zac" Taylor, then colonel in the United States army, having com- mand of this post for a number of years prior to his promotion to the presidential cbair.

After the close of the Civil war, all the gov- ernment property at this point, was sold, the fort and other military buildings torn down and the material of which they were constructed, utilized for private purposes, as well as the land upon which they stood. No longer were they needed as a bulwark of defence; thus, stone by stone, the buildings were removed. John Lawler purchased the grounds about the fort; also portions of the government building. He donated the spot where the fort stood to the Roman Catholics, who erected a convent, upon the exact spot. The old flag staff from which "Zae" Taylor unfurled the stars and stripes in those early days, has been carefully preserved by Mr. Lawler, and still supports the prond flag npon all publie occasions, and indeed waves "Over the land of the free, and the home of the brave." At the present (1884), nothing of note remains to remind one of the old garrison, except the building, once used as an army hos- pital; the stone structure previously used for the storage of the munitions of war, and the offi- cers cemetery where sleep the beroic dead.

The hospital is a low one story stone building erected in the form of a right angle, with broad

porches extending along the entire frontage. Within this hospital were performed some of the most noted surgical operations known to the profession. As one passes by this building, half in ruins, and exposed to the commons, they are reminded of other times, of days when each ward within this hospital was occupied by the sick and dying, whose groans were heard throughout the garrison. "Oh the enormnity of war !" The munition buildings stand just north of the hospital. These are two story stone buildings constructed in the most substantial manner. The wood work having nearly all decayed, or been removed, the naked walls alone stand as monuments of the past.

The officers' cemetery is situated just north of the John Lawler property and is but a small en- closure,reserved by the government and cared for in a very creditable mannerby Mr. Lawler, who has great respect for the departed dead: A tight board fence surrounds the graves, a number of which contain tombs of old style, provided with a brick work three feet above the ground, and this surmounted by a thick marble slab about 3x7 feet, upon which is carved various inserip- tions to the memory of those whose remains rest beneath. The privates were buried at an- other part of the garrison grounds and when the lands were disposed of by the United States so many of these remains as could be found, were removed to the officer's cemetery and by a special act of Congress, head boardIs were placed by these "unknown" graves.

With each recurring spring time, the citizens of the place observe Decoration Day, and they are sure to remember these earlier graves with a peculiar tenderness and there bestow their choicest garlands.

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE.

In the year 1814 Faribault, after whom Fari- banlt, Minn., was named, an early trader of the upper Mississippi, was robbed of a large stock of goods at the village by the Winnebagoes. A slight earthquake was noticed this year.

669

HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

1818 .- Col. John Shaw built a grist . mill at Fisher's coulee four miles above the prairie where the Dousman mill now stands.

1821 .- The first steamboat appeared here this year. It was owned in St. Louis and called Virginia.

1826 .- In the month of May occurred a great flood of the Mississippi, the highest of more modern times. The water at Prairie du Chien reaching twenty-six feet above low water mark.

1832 .- The cholera raged here severely this year, and 100 soldiers died in two weeks.

1836 .- The population at this time was 850.

1837 .- The county authorities levied a tax to build a bridge across the "Marais de St. Feri- ole." It was built between what is now the Catholic church and the Dousman residence, and floated away soon after.

1842 .- The first publie school was taught this year by Miss Rice, who afterward became the wife of Jerrud Warner.

1849 .- Louis Mayard was killed by Theophi- lus La Chappelle, and his house burned. The latter was tried in November of that year and not found guilty, on the plea of insanity.

1856 .- During this year Alexander McGregor, built and put in operation a steam ferry boat, to ply between Prairie du Chien and the village of MeGregor.

1857 .- The first train of cars reached Prairie du Chien April 14; a grand reception being tendered the passengers.

1859 .- On the 12th of May another inunda- tion took place, the water being higher than had been known for ten years. The islands in the river were covered, the main town, an island and the bridge over the slough under water.

EVENTS OF INTEREST.

In July 1832, two river gamblers came up the river to this place. They had taken the small- pox somewhere below, which made its appear- ance on them here, and from which they died. The disease spread from them to the inhabitants and Indians. Some of the former died, but more

of the Indians, In Wanbasha's band, where Winona now stands, 140 died. The contagion was said to work its way west to the Missouri river, scattering death among the poor natives. The Mandan villages were said to have lost all but sixteen sonls. The Winnebagoes in this vicinity died by scores and hundreds, and their remains were scattered along the river banks and in the woods, unburied, and eaten up by the wolves.

For some time prior to 1858, the towns on the upper Mississippi were known to be the lurking place of a gang of robbers and thieves, and this year the depredations that were committed in the neighborhood of the prairie, made it evi- dent that they had come up the river to extend their business. About the Ist of May, a crowd of villainous looking fellows were observed about the town, and a few days after, an elderly man in passing through the place to his home in the country fell into their hands and was plundered of everything. Shortly after, a jewelry store in the town was broken into and robbed of property to the value of $2,000. These vaga- bonds were seen in the streets with revolvers and bowie knives insulting those who came in their way, and threatening "to clean out the town." The proper authorities were insufficient to discharge their duties, and the rowdies were allowed to do pretty much as they pleased. These events created a great deal of excitement among the inhabitants, and a vigilance com- mittee was appointed, who arrested some twelve of these characters, and put them in the jail. A meeting of the citizens was called, and it was decided that something must be done to rid the town of these rascals. The prisoners were brought to the court house and examined, and it was decided that six of the principal ones should have their heads shaved and receive ten to thirty lashes on the back, and sent down the river ; one of the number, a negro, was ap- pointed to do the shaving. The sentence was duly enforced. A few of the number were dis- charged, on due and proper admonition, and

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 95

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