USA > Wisconsin > Eau Claire County > History of Eau Claire county, Wisconsin, past and present; including an account of the cities, towns and villages of the county > Part 37
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The few hotels as well as the improvised forts were filled with women and children who had thronged in from the country fez miles around. The day passed, eitizens and refugees alike were forcibly alive to sounds which might mean attack from the dreaded Indians. At nightfall mothers hushed their children to sleep and longed for daybreak. Valorous citizens of every rank, profession or trade, were at their stations of defense, with pike pole, axe or shotgun listening for the stealthy tread of the wily Sioux. But at sunrise the cheerful mien of the brave defenders
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proved that the foe had existed only in the imaginations of excited minds, refugees returned to their deserted homes, village housewives replenished their pantry shelves, which had been freely emptied to feed the invading hosts, and returned to cus- tomary duties with thankful heart-the valley settled down to its wanted calm-and "the Indian scaree" became an idle tale to furnish amusement in days to come.
Mr. Thomas MeBean has to say in regard to an article pub- lished in a neighboring newspapers wherein Mr. Warren L. Brad- shaw, of Durand, mentioned an incident which occurred in the lower Chippewa Valley, in which the Chippewa and Sioux Indians met in conflict near Chippewa Falls and three Chippewas were sealped. "It calls to my mind," says Mr. McBean, "that when I came to Chippewa in 1856 the talk was still fresh of a fight between the Chippewas and the Sioux on the bluff across from the Chippewa river from the Blue Mills (now Lake Hallie) that ocenrred in the fall of 1855. At that time and for years before the big woods over on the Menomonie was the dividing line between the hostile Chippewas and Sioux. 'Thus far thou shalt come but no farther,' was the war ery, although they fought wherever they met. On this occasion a band of Sioux crossed the 'dead line' and were met by a band of Chippewas on the Chippewas Bluff, and an all day fight in the woods and brush took place. Who were victorious it was hard to tell, for as night came on the Sioux decamped for a 'Happier hunting ground.' The Chippewas came to the Falls with the mangled remains of their Sioux left on the field of battle, and as the braves marched back, around their neeks hung the trophies of war; some had a head, some an arm, others a leg and different parts of the anatomy decorated the valiant warriors. That night a big war dance was held over by the big mill, bonfires were lit, the tom-toms brought into play, and the night was spent in a grand pow-wow. This, it is said, was the last fight that took place between the Chip- pewas and the Sioux on Wisconsin soil."
CHAPTER XXIII
THE CITY OF EAU CLAIRE.
In Mareh, 1872, the residents of Eau Claire obtained a charter from the legislature whereby the villages became a eity. It is picturesquely situated in the valley of the Chippewa river, and is protected on the northeast side and northwest by two ranges of hills, or series of bluffs, through which the river runs. Directly in front of them, and due north, is Mount Simon, the highest of the hills. On the south is a sweeping range of bluffs, which turn to the southeast, and, turning again due east, form the southern bank of the Eau Claire river, with Mount Agnes in the southeast corner and Mount Tom due east. West of Half Moon lake is another range of bluffs, so that the city is surrounded by hills. except at the inlet and outlet of the Chippewa river. The city is well watered by the river named and the llalf Moon lake on the west, in the center of which is Island Park.
The city is divided into three parts, known as the North, East and West sides. They are all well laid out in streets, espe- eially on the West side, most of which run from north to south and east to west. They are nearly all graded and aggregate sixty-five miles in length. The principal business thoroughfares on the East side are: Barstow, Kelsey, Eau Claire, Gibson and River streets. On the North side: North Barstow, Galloway, Madison and Wiseonsin streets. On the West side: Water, Bridge, Bellinger and Menomonie streets. The majority of the business houses are of brick. The leading residence streets on the East side are Farwell, State, River and Summit, Marston and Gilbert avenues. Those on the West side are : Niagara, Hud- son, Lake and Bridge streets, Broadway and Seeond, Third and Fourth avenues. On the North side are: Wisconsin and Gallo- way streets. The finest residences are on the West side and in the southern part of the East side.
The whole eity is well lighted by electricity -- the power for which is obtained from the Dells dam on the Chippewa. There are five commodious cemeteries, one at Forest Ilill, on the east side ; Lake View cemetery on the plateau immediately beyond the bluffs west of Half-Moon lake, and four on the north side-two Catholic, one Norwegian and one Jewish.
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These are under the control of the city council, and every effort will be made to beautify them. New additions have been opened for each cemetery, and a plan has been developed under which lot owners can provide for perpetual care of the lots through the income from special deposits they may make. Lake View overlooks Carson Park on its lovely island below, and is bordered on the north by Buffington Heights, the latest of the parks added to the city's beauty places.
Eau Claire has a population of nearly twenty thousand people, is the county seat of Eau Claire eounty, is situated at the junction of the Chippewa and Eau Claire rivers and is 84 miles east of St. Paul and 231 miles northwest of Chicago. In and tributary to Eau Claire there are about 100,000 H. P. of water, making it the great waterpower city of northern Wisconsin. The Chippewa Valley Railway, Light and Power Co. have just completed a hydro-electric plant at Cedar Falls, which will bring 12,000 H. P. to Eau Claire to be used for manufacturing and power purposes. On the three railroads which enter and leave the city forty-eight trains pass through daily. Nineteen million people ean be reached within less than eleven hours' travel from Eau Claire. There are about one hundred and eleven factories and all are busy. Eau Claire machinery is sold all over the world. The $100,000 Y. M. C. A. building, the Public Library, and the Eau Claire Club are the best of buildings for the purposes they serve and are unsur- passed in the state except in Milwaukee. There are three hos- pitals, one tuberculosis sanitarium and a eounty asylum. A shale and gravel roadway extending from the cemeteries on the north side to the line of the city limits on the Chippewa road, a distance of 21/2 miles, has just been completed. The Eau Claire automobile owners contributed one-half the eost of this improvement, which forms a splendid thoroughfare nearly half the way to Chippewa Falls, these two cities being also connected by an excellent street car service. The interurban street car line between Eau Claire and Altoona is of great value, and doubtless the Wisconsin-Minne- sota Light and Power Company will soon extend lines to other neighboring cities, Menomonie, Mondovi, Augusta, and Bloomer.
There are two miles of forest drive in Putnam Park, and when the parks lately donated to the city are united by the proposed parkway system there will be a continuous stretch of eharming scenery for many miles through and around the city to be en- joyed by beauty lovers in earriages, automobiles, or on foot. There are two miles of briek pavement in the eity streets and nine miles of macadam and many miles of concrete sidewalk.
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The present commission plan of city government was inaugu- rated in April, 1910, Eau Claire being the first city in Wisconsin to adopt the plan. All municipal business is managed by the mayor and two councilmen who maintain a strict supervision of the various eity activities. The city owns the waterworks system and administers the same through the council. The rates are ex- tremely low and it is difficult to keep pace with the demand for extensions.
There are twenty-one miles of sewer, ineluding the storm water and sanitary drainage system. Additional sewer work is demanded every year and is being provided as rapidly as possi- ble. The lighting plan at present eovers 154 are lights. A new system has been laid out for the addition of a large number of lamps which will include a high illumination district extending from Madison to Jones street on Barstow and from Farwell street to Second avenue on Grand avenue.
There are six theaters, including the moving picture houses, and three large hotels, the Eau Claire, the Galloway, the Com- mercial, and a number of smaller ones.
The city's assessed valuation is about $10,500,000. The net bonded indebtedness will be less than $200,000.00, including the recent issue of $75,000 for the new bridge.
The bank clearings are over ten millions for the year 1913.
The city has a thoroughly adequate natural drainage. The street grades are good, and have a sufficient fall to rapidly clear themselves of water in time of storm. The soil is extremely porous, thus making it possible for the city to be healthy without as complete a sewerage system as would otherwise be necessary. There is abundant means for the disposal of sewage. With the Chippewa river running through the eity from north to south and the Eau Claire passing through much of the thickly inhabited portion, together with the Little Niagara stream, south of the east side, which will, in the future, be very valuable as a sewage re- eeptaele for that portion of the eity, and Half Moon lake, which can be used at any time when necessary, the complete sanitation of the city is at all times assured. There are many miles of sewers, including separate and distinct systems, each having an outlet of its own. All the paved streets are well provided with catch basins for conducting the water from the surface to the sewers, which empty themselves into the two rivers. The sewage is thus transported via "The Father of Waters" to the Gulf of Mexico.
The highest point under the established grade, that is the highest street that has a grade established on it, is 151 feet above
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the low water level of the Chippewa river. The levels all run, taking the low water mark of the river as a base or level datum. This base is 180 feet above Lake Michigan, which is 589 feet above sea level. Hence the city is 769 feet above sea level at the low water mark of the Chippewa river, and the main portion of it 31 feet above this mark, so that, on an average, it is 800 feet above the sea level. The elimate is pleasant, healthy and invig- orating, the yearly mean temperature being 46 degrees Fahren- heit. The average mean temperature of winter is 20 degrees, of spring and autumn 47, and of summer 72. The prevailing winds in the spring are from the northeast, in the summer from the south and southeast, and in the autumn and winter from the west. According to the reports furnished the State Board of Health and vital statistics, Eau Claire is one of the healthiest cities in the United States.
The different sections of the city are linked together with six highway bridges, four of these span the Chippewa river, one connecting the north and west side, and three, the east and west sides. The first mentioned is a combination bridge of steel and wood. The first of the other three is of steel and connects Grand avenue east and Grand avenne west. The next in order is of solid concrete, nearly finished, connecting Summit avenue on the east side with Water street on the west side. The last is a wooden structure connecting Shawtown with the vacant land on the east side. There are also bridges across the Eau Claire river connecting the east and north sides, one of which is of solid con- crete and the other of steel. The floods of 1880 and 1884, as fully appears in the article devoted to floods, destroyed the several bridges then existing at these several locations, and those men- tioned here are such as have been erected since.
In January, 1857, preliminary instructions were given by the Board of Supervisors for the construction of a bridge across the Eau Claire river, between Chapman & Thorp's and Carson & Eaton's mills on the north side and opposite Dewey street on the south side. There was $750.00 appropriated for this purpose, and the bridge was open to the public in 1859. Previous and up to this time a ferry had been operated between the two points by Adin Randall. A new structure was erected in 1874 by the Eau Claire Lumber Company at a cost of $2,947.00, and in 1887 an iron bridge was substituted for it at an outlay of $10,000. The bridge, a wooden structure, across the Eau Claire at Barstow street was washed away by the flood of 1884 and a new one built in its place. The other bridge in the heart of the city is that of Madison street,
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and connects the two northern sections of Eau Claire together. There are also two bridges in the southern and southwestern sec- tions of the city across the Chippewa. The Mississippi Logging Company had two foot bridges over the Eau Claire, one at its lower mill and the other at its upper mill.
According to the act approved March 28, 1889, revising the original charter of the city, and the several amendments thereof, the territory and limits of the city are all of sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, and 30, of township 27 north, of range 9 west, and lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 and the east lialf of the northwest quarter of section 25, and the east lialf of section 24 of township 27, north of range 10 west.
Since the incorporation of Eau Claire as a city the following gentlemen have held the office of mayor: Hiram P. Graham was the first mayor, he having been elected in 1872, and served two terms. He was followed by J. P. Nelson in 1874, G. E. Porter in 1875, G. A. Buffington in 1876, L. M. Vilas in 1877, W. F. Bailey in 1878-79, George W. Chapman in 1880, J. F. Moore in 1881, Dr. E. T. Farr in 1882-83, W. F. Bailey in 1884, H. D. Davis in 1885, D. W. Day in 1886, John Grinsell in 1887, W. A. Rust in 1888-89, George B. Shaw in 1890, John Hunner in 1891-92, John Ure in 1893, George H. Hopper in 1894, T. A. Cameron in 1895-96, Henry L. Day in 1897, W. HI. Frawley in 1898, S. S. Kepler in 1899, David Douglas in 1900-01-02-03-04, and 1905, William Rowe; 1906- 07-08-09, W. H. Frawley. The present mayor, John B. Fleming, was elected in 1910, and by re-election has held the office till the present time.
THE SAWDUST WAR.
In the early 80's Eau Claire was known throughout the country as a great sawmill center. The industry had developed from the early 50's and but few labor disputes or difficulties had occurred.
Early in July, 1881, agitation for a ten-hour day was started and on Monday, July 18, with scarcely any warning, several hundred men employed by the Eau Claire Lumber Company quit work at an early hour in the morning. Their demand for a ten-hour day was refused. A procession was formed and the strikers went around several of the other mills, compelling all men to quit work and join their ranks. They were successful in gaining recruits at every mill but one, that of Sherman Bros., on the east side of Half Moon Lake. The fires were put out at some of the mills and in several instances physical violence was
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resorted to, to induce the workers to leave. As days went by the excitement became more intense and labor agitators made threats of destruction of the milling properties.
Mayor E. J. Farr kept Governor William E. Smith informed of the condition of affairs. The Governor came to the city and personally investigated the trouble, with the result that on July 22, 1881, General Edwin E. Bryant, Adjutant General of Wis- consin, issued Special Orders No. 20, directing Lieutenant-Colonel W. B. Britton to assemble A Company (the Janesville Guards), B Company (the Bower City Rifles), and the Beloit City Guard for active service at Eau Claire. Lieutenant-Colonel Chandler P. Chapman was ordered to assemble the Lake City Guards, the Governor's Guard, the Guppy Guard, and the Watertown Rifles and proceed to Eau Claire. Captain B. F. Parker, at Mausten, was also directed to assemble his company and proceed to Eau Claire. All of these companies arrived the following day and reported to the Mayor, Hon. E. J. Farr. In all there were about three hundred and seventy-five officers and men. Shortly before their arrival some of the more prominent strike leaders were arrested.
A portion of the companies encamped on Randall Park, which was named "Camp Farr," and others at the County Court House. The presence of the troops in the city had a quieting influenee and the differences between the employers and the employees were finally settled. A portion of the troops remained until July 28.
Previous to the departure of the soldiers, the ladies of the west side served a banquet to officers and men. Mayor Farr and a number of leading citizens were also present and made addresses complimentary to the conduct and discipline of the troops.
Among people of note who had their home in Eau Claire we mention the widow of G. P. R. James, the English historian and novelist. Mrs. James dwelt here with her two sons for many years after the death of her husband in Venice, where he was then British Consul-General. She was a woman of refinement, strength of character and many lovable traits which endeared her to all who knew her. Also the wife of Ole Bull, the renowned violinist, passed a part of her childhood in the village, and after her marriage to the eminent musician was a frequent visitor here with her father, the Honorable J. G. Thorp.
CHAPTER XXIV.
EAU CLAIRE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
By JAMES P. WELSH,
Prior to 1872 Eau Claire was composed of three villages, West, East and North Eau Claire, each under a separate government. While East Eau Claire was the greatest sufferer from fire in those early days, it appears that West Eau Claire was the most pro- gressive in regard to fire protection. Eau Claire, dating from the year 1856, down through the years of its infancy and until such a time when there was some organized effort made for fire extinguishment, suffered greatly from the ravages of fire.
I will herewith review a few fires which in those early days were considered of a serious nature. On January 19, 1864, a fire occurred on the corner of Barstow and Eau Claire streets, com- pletely destroying a building occupied by John Horan. The eiti- zens .worked with great energy and finally succeeded in prevent- ing the further spread of the fire. This was the first fire that occurred on the east side of the river. The Free Press comments on this fire and points the necessity of a hook and ladder company for this place. On January, 1866, what was called the Williams bloek fire occurred, one of the sufferers in this fire was the Free Press, being the second time that they burned out ; previous fire occurred in 1864. On September 27, 1866, the Free Press came out strongly in an editorial urging upon the people to organize a fire department. On August 8, 1867, Daniel Shaw & Co.'s mill burned, thereby sustaining a loss they could ill afford in those early days. On October 17, 1867, the Free Press again advocated the organization of a fire department. November 8, 1867, the Lower mill on the Eau Claire river, owned by Chapman & Thorp, burned. On January 23 the Free Press again urged some fire pro- tection. Thursday, May 15, 1869, Eau Claire House barn destroyed; large body of river men succeeded in stopping spread of fire. On May 27, 1869, a disastrous fire oceurred, destroying the two blocks on the west side of Barstow street between Main and Gibson, also one block on the east side of Barstow street between Main and Kelsey (now Grand avenue E.). A hard fight was suecessfully made at Main street to stop the fire. The stop
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was made at Mommoth Wooden Store of S. Marston, in which the post office was located, S. E. corner of Main and Barstow. Com- ment was made by Free Press that a small hand engine might have saved much property; loss estimated at $150,000.00. June 16, 1869, Johnston Hall building, in West Eau Claire, burned. H. H. De Yarman, owner. Insurance, $11,000.00. September 27, 1869, building opposite Niagara House, in West Eau Claire, occupied by E. C. Monroe harness shop; D. P. Barnes as fanning mill manufacturing; building adjoining the Anthony Schaefer liquor store ; extraordinary labor prevented spread of fire. Janu- ary 26, 1870, unknown cause of fire in J. P. Nelson's barn. Busi- ness honses destroyed. E. Robert Hantzsch distillery; Foster & Jones grocery store; Buck & Anderson, hardware; Ed. Munden, grocer .; John Moe, jewelry ; comment by Free Press, one fire engine could have stopped fire. This fire was west of Barstow, near Main street. August 18, 1870, residence of D. Kennedy caught fire. Capt. Frank Hatch, chief of fire department, LaCrosse, and editor of LaCrosse Leader, happened to be riding by at the time. Ile combated the fire successfully. January 19, 1871, Weber Hall, corner Main and Barstow, building back of hall occupied by Hor- rigan & Groundwater tailor shop. G. B. Chapman & Co.'s estab- lishment adjoining on Barstow street, threatened. Loss, $16,- 000.00. June 24, 1871, fire James Nobes' bakery, Gibson street. Communicated to adjoining structures. Nearly entire block in ruins. Nobes' bakery insured for $2,000.00. White tin shop insured for $3,000.00. F. R. Skinner frame building on Eau Claire street, insured for $1,650.00. E. R. Hantzsch saloon, insured for $800.00. Total, $7,450.
April 24, 1875. A block of buildings now occupied by the Y. M. C. A. property was entirely destroyed by fire which included the W. H. Bailey paint store; M. E. Stearns shoe shop; James Black, barber ; William Burns, dwelling, and the American House, which was owned by Peter Hart.
May 5, 1875. Our jail, a large wooden structure located on Doty street between Main and Gray streets, was destroyed.
August 20, 1875. The Graham & White Co. plant (now the Phoenix Manufacturing Company) burned to the ground. This plant at that time was located on north side of Eau Claire river, directly opposite the W. H. Hobbs garage.
April 23, 1882. A fire occurred, entailing the largest loss ever snstained in the city of Ean Claire. This fire occurred on Water street, completely destroying three blocks of buildings situated between Fourth and Sixth avenues. Two blocks on the north side
LOWER EAST SIDE, 1870
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EAU CLAIRE FIRE DEPARTMENT
and one on the south side of Water street. Seventy-three build- ings were burned, of which thirty-three were business houses, and destroyed property to the extent of $250,000.00. Fire brands from a steam boat while moving out from its landing at the foot of Fourth avenue ignited rubbish near an oil house and from there spread very rapidly. Wales Willard, engineer of Fire Engine No. 1, with admirable fidelity to his trust, stood by his engine and worked it effectively upon adjoining property while his own house and shop, a short distance away, caught fire and burned. No. 1 Engine House was also destroyed in this fire.
Early in the year 1870 three six-gallon fire extinguishers were provided for East Eau Claire, to be kept at the residence of each of the three trustees of the village. B. J. Churchill was one of the trustees at that time and answered many alarms of fire with the chemical strapped to his back. In the same year a hand fire engine was purchased by West Eau Claire which proved somewhat of a failure; later (1874) it was sold to Matt Johannes for $7.50, he buying it for his boys to play with. On January 27. 1871, a new third elass Silsby steam fire engine, purchased by West Eau Claire village, arrived amid great rejoicing. This was the first substantial fire fighting apparatus that was purchased in Eau Claire. About this time Captain A. M. Sherman was identified with the fire department, also was in charge of the police. Nathan Rundle was at, or about this time, foreman of our only fire company, located at the site now occupied by No. 5 hose company, the new steam engine was also loeated there and christened the W. F. Bailey ; this was brought about by Mr. Bailey furnishing some funds toward the purchase of the engine. This engine was given its initial test by taking water at the foot of Fourth avenue and forcing it through 1000 feet of hose and over the Baptist church spire, on the corner of Niagara and Fourth avenue, then they forced water through two lines of hose to a height of eighty feet. This test took place January 30, 1871. W. II. Willard was given charge of this engine at this time, he being the first full paid fireman to serve in the Eau Claire Fire Department. His term of service, dating from January, 1871, to May 6, 1885, at which time he resigned to accept the position of superintendent of our water works system, a position which he still holds. The W. F. Bailey engine went into reserve in 1885 and was sold January 16, 1900, to the W. S. Nott Co., of Min- neapolis, for $500.00.
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