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 52
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538
HISTORY OF EAU CLAIRE COUNTY
Officers: O. H. Ingram, president ; J. T. Joyce, vice-president ; Marshall Cousins, cashier; M. E. Banmberger, assistant cashier ; M. B. Syverson, assistant cashier; Knute Anderson, assistant cashier. Directors: James T. Barber, George L. Blum, Byron A. Buffington, William L. Davis, Nathanael C. Foster, Edward S. layes, Andrew H. Hollen, Orrin H. Ingram, James T. Joyce, Her- man T. Lange, Sumner G. Moon, George W. Robertson, Kim Ros- holt, William J. Starr.
In July, 1878, HI. C. Putnam and V. W. Bayless organized the private banking firm of H. C. Putnam Company, and on January 26, 1885, they organized the Chippewa Valley Bank under the state law, capital $30,000, with the following officers: H. C. Put - nam, president; George T. Thompson, cashier, with an office on Grand avenue East next to the building now occupied by the Ean Claire National Bank. Later they purchased the building at the corner of Ean Claire and South Barstow streets and elected the following officers: B. A. Buffington, president; II. C. Putnam, vice-president, and George T. Thompson, cashier. This bank then increased its capital to $100,000 and continued in business until it and the Bank of Eau Claire were succeeded by the Union National Bank in 1906.
The Union Savings Bank was organized by the stockholders of the I'nion National Bank and opened for business in July, 1906, with a capital of $50,000. The following officers were elected : President, K. Rosholt; vice-president, A. H. Hollen ; cashier, John B. Fleming. Mr. Fleming was elected mayor in 1910 and was succeeded by Julius Rosholt, who retired during the year 1914. The bank occupies the building formerly owned by the Chippewa Valley Bank and the present officers are: K. Rosholt, president ; HI. S. Strandness, vice-president; John Barron, cashier; W. J. Mahoney, assistant cashier. The directors are practically the same as those of the Union National Bank.
The Eau Claire Savings Bank was organized under the state law in 1906 with a capital of $50,000 by the stockholders of the Eau Claire National Bank and the following officers were elected : W. K. Coffin, president; C. W. Lockwood, vice-president ; F. S. Bonchard, cashier. Mr. Bouchard died July 15, 1909, and was succeeded by ('harles W. Dinger, who still holds the position. The bank occupied temporary quarters on North Barstow street for a couple of years and then purchased and remodeled the building at the corner of North Barstow and Wisconsin streets, which it still occupies.
Augusta State Bank, of Augusta, was established in 1875 by
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BANKS OF EAU CLAIRE COUNTY
Ira B. Bradford. The bank has a capital of $25,000 and a surplus of $15,000, with the following officers: Ira B. Bradford, presi- dent ; C. E. Bradford, vice-president ; A. E. Bradford, cashier, and E. E. Thwing, assistant cashier.
It is generally understood that Augusta is soon to have another financial institution, of which the city is greatly in need, and is to be called the People's State Bank, now-1914-in process of organization.
First National Bank, of Fairchild, was organized May 9, 1904, with a capital of $25,000 and surplus $5,000, and on June 1 of that year opened its doors for business. The officers are N. C. Foster, president; W. K. Coffin, vice-president; W. F. Hood, cashier ; Elmer Fallett, assistant eashier. Its deposits on July 1, 1913, were $180,000, and the institution stands well in the finan- cial cireles of Eau Claire county.
The Bank of Fall Creek. This bank was organized in 1903 by K. Rosholt, G. E. Bartz, William Niebuhr, P. S. Lindenthaler, W. H. Frawley, J. E. Zetzman, F. C. Lanna and C. J. Lissack. All these were directors and K. Rosholt president, G. E. Bartz vice- president and C. J. Lissaek cashier at the time of the organiza- tion. Mr. G. E. Bartz died shortly after and J. E. Zetzman was appointed to fill the vaeaney of vice-president. The present officers are : K. Rosholt, president ; J. E. Zetzman, vice-president ; Henry Wise, cashier; C. W. Voechting, assistant cashier. The capital stock of this bank is $10,000, with surplus of $2,500 and deposits of $200,000.
CHAPTER XL.
HOTELS OF EAU CLAIRE.
In a newly established village the local tavern or hotel in most cases becomes the village club,-the social and political center. And a hotel is among the first businesses to be opened. This was true in the village of Eau Claire in the fifties and six- ties. This sketch will be divided into two parts, the first con- cerning the hotels of the present time, and the second part the hotels now out of business.
Of the present day hotels but three came down from ancient times,-the Eau Claire House, The Galloway House and the Kneer House.
EAU CLAIRE HOUSE.
The oldest is the Eau Claire House, located at the corner of South Barstow and Eau Claire Streets. The original structure was a frame building erected by Adin Randall in 1856. One historical account states the three lots were given Mr. Randall in 1856 for this express purpose by J. J. Reed, R. F. Wilson and William H. Gleason, but record of transfers does not verify this statement. The house erected by Mr. Randall contained nine sleeping rooms and was noted in its early days for the political and other meetings and festive gatherings held under its roof. At one time religious services were conducted in the hotel dining room, which was humorously designed as the "Pan and Kettle Church," owing to the clatter from the kitchen, where Sunday dinner was in preparation, being overheard by the worshipers, and it is feared taking their minds from things spiritnal to things material.
About September 23, 1858, Levi Slingluff rented and took possession of the property. Ile had formerly been in the hotel business at Fountain City. His son was a partner and the man- agement was under the name of Slingluff & Son. They retired from the business about May or June, 1865, and Robinson and Galloway beeame proprietors.
Mr. Slingluff engaged in the mercantile business and was elected County Treasurer.
Galloway and Robinson, in the fall of 1865, built an addition
540
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IIOTELS OF EAU CLAIRE
larger than the original building. It fronted 100 feet on Barstow street and was 34 feet deep. Their management of the house was short lived and in February, 1866, William Newton became the proprietor of the Eau Claire House. He operated the busi- ness very successfully until 1874, when he closed the house and leased the new building on the corner of Gibson and Farwell streets, which had been erected by Dr. W. T. Galloway. The name was transferred to the new location. In August, 1876, Mr. Newton returned to his own building and the property on the corner of Farwell and Gibson was renamed the "Galloway llouse." In 1879 Mr. Newton moved the frame portion of the Eau Claire House, selling it to Peter Hart. A brick building was erected in place of the old frame. Mr. Newton carried on the business until 1882 when he leased the premises to Foster Bros. They continued until 1887, when the management became Foster & Parkinson. Two years later Mr. Foster withdrew and Daniel MeGillis became associated with Robert E. Parkinson in the business.
Several years later Mr. McGillis withdrew and since then Mr. Parkinson has been the sole proprietor.
On the death of Mr. Newton the premises passed to his estate. On April 15, 1911, the heirs of the estate sold the fee to William H. Wolpert. Mr. Parkinson continued in the management of the hotel to which he held a lease.
On July 16, 1912, James T. Joyce bought the property from Mr. Wolpert and a short time thereafter sold it to Mr. Parkin- son, who is now proprietor of the business as well as the real estate.
GALLOWAY HOUSE.
The Galloway House was built by Dr. William T. Galloway. Operations were commenced in 1872 but the building was not ready for occupancy until 1874. The building still stands at the corner of Gibson and Farwell streets. Dr. William T. Galloway was one of the strong and able men who helped build up Eau Claire. He was born in February, 1818, and came to Wisconsin in 1854. In 1857 he located in Eau Claire as Register of United States land office on appointment of President Buchanan. In addition to his professional duties he carried on a land business and also interested himself in manufacturing, at one time owning a foundry.
An old friend and associate says of him: "As a physician, a politician and a man he had few peers in his day. True man-
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HISTORY OF EAU CLAIRE COUNTY
hood, honesty and integrity, with a strong will and determina- tion marked every step in his life."
He was greatly interested in political matters and was one of the leading Democrats of the county. Ilis personal mag- netism and high standing as a man gave him personal political strength. Five terms he served as an Alderman from the Second Ward, 1876 to 1885, inclusive. Was again elected an Alderman in April, 1890, and the last time he left his home was to attend a meeting for the organization of the Council. He died on May 9, 1890.
In the Masonie order he was very prominent and was hon- ored by having conferred upon him the grade of 33d degree.
A young physician, who has since attained great prominence in his profession, was associated with Dr. Galloway in the prac- tice for several years and considers his own success in a consid- erable measure was brought about by his association with Dr. Galloway, whom he regards as many years ahead of his time in his treatment of diseases.
The hotel was opened by William Newton May 1, 1874, under the name of Eau Claire House. Mr. Newton closed his own hotel of the same name, corner of Barstow and Eau Claire streets, but after two years he relinquished his lease and returned to his own building, taking with him the name. The next proprietor was a Mr. Barrup, who opened the hotel under the name of the Gallo- way House. He was only in the business for about three months, and then a traveling salesman named LaVergne assumed the management. After six months he was succeeded by Fred Han- son, who removed to Eau Claire from Hastings, Minn., and already had a reputation as a successful hotel man. In 1885 Mr. Hanson formed a partnership with Frank J. Matchette, but this partnership terminated within two years. Mr. Hanson con- tinued to run the hotel very successfully until his death on the night of November 3, 1887. Several years before Mr. Ifanson had married a most estimable lady, a Mrs. Richardson, who had been divorced from her husband. Her husband was a resident of St. Paul, and came to this city on November 3. He had been known to threaten the life of Mr. Hanson on a number of occa- sions. On the night of the tragedy he had partaken freely of liquor and visiting the hotel, shot Mr. Hanson and then himself. Mr. Hanson stood high in the community and was universally respected by his fellow citizens as well as the traveling public. Great regret was felt at his death.
The property then passed from the Hanson estate to Fred S.
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HOTELS OF EAU CLAIRE
and G. D. White, who continued the business until 1895, when the name of the firm changed to White & Smith, Charles L. Smith succeeding Fred S. White. In 1897 Mr. Smith became the proprietor and continued the business until 1902.
The title to the fee had, in the meantime, passed to the Brown estate of Madison, Wis. For some months in 1902, after Mr. Smith relinquished the management, the house was run by Dan R. Scammon. Mr. Scammon had no previous experience in man- ·aging a hotel but opened it at the solicitation of traveling men, with whom he was particularly popular. He continued the busi- ness until the house was closed for the purpose of remodeling the building. Dan R. Seammon was born about 1860 and had resided in Eau Claire practically all his life. He was a most companionable man, generous to a fault, who never lost an oppor- tunity to do a friend a favor or a kindness. A person in need was never turned away empty handed by Dan Scammon. Shortly after the closing of the hotel Mr. Scammon removed to the West and died suddenly while loeating timber at Alder Springs, Cal., August 8, 1910.
Following the remodeling of the Galloway, the house was rented by James H. Wade. Mr. Wade was a commercial traveler but had successfully managed the Stanley House in Chippewa Falls some years before. The hotel opened under his manage- ment July 10, 1903, and for the next ten years enjoyed a high reputation with the traveling public. In February, 1913, Mr. Wade disposed of his lease to Harvey B. Crane, who is at this time the proprietor of the hotel.
KNEER HOUSE.
The Kneer House was erected by Mathias Kneer, the first German settler in Eau Claire, where he located in 1856. The following year-1857-removing his family from Watertown, Wis. He first erected a small frame building on the present site of the Kneer House in 1861 and called it the Chippewa House. Four years later he erected a brick building next to the hotel, where he operated a grocery store until 1881. He then tore down the frame structure, replacing it with a brick building as it now stands, remodeled and transformed the whole into a hotel and named it the Kneer Honse, and conducted the same until his death in November, 1895. It is now one of the popular hostel- ries of Eau Claire; contains twenty sleeping rooms with a pleas- ant office and dining room and its central location and reasonable
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HISTORY OF EAU CLAIRE COUNTY
prices make it one of the desirable places for a stranger to stop. Since the death of Mr. Kneer the hotel has been conducted by its present proprietor, Mr. Fred Raddatz.
THE MCALLISTER HOUSE.
This hotel was opened at 675 Wisconsin street, in 1884, by Daniel and R. D. McAllister. Daniel died January 14, 1911. Business has been continued by the surviving partner. Their business has been successfully conducted from the start.
THE INN.
The Inn was opened in 1909 by Mort McMillan at 678 Wis- cousin street. Mr. McMillan had for a number of years previous to opening the hotel been engaged in the restaurant business. He has built up a fine patronage.
THE OPHEIM HOUSE.
This well known hostelry was conducted for about thirty years by Gustav K. Opheim, under whose able management it became favorably known to the public generally and received a large percent of patronage in the city.
THE COMMERCIAL HOTEL.
This building is situated at the corner of North Barstow and Wisconsin streets and is owned by Kopplin & Kuehl.
The building was erected in 1886 and opened as a hotel in the summer of that year under the name of the Frawley House. The house took this name from Thomas A. Frawley, one of the owners of the building and a prominent attorney. J. A. Pattee was the first landlord. There were frequent changes of land- lords. H. Isaacson, Mat Caruthers and Peter Killeen ran the house at various times and in the order named. Then for sev- eral years the house was closed. Julius Kopplin and associates purchased the premises and again established a hotel under the name of the Commercial House. The house is well patronized and popular.
HOTELS OF THE PAST.
The first mention of a tavern or boarding house is the "Gage and Reed's Boarding House," in 1852. This occupied the lots now covered by the Eau Claire Grocer Company's building, 410 Ean Claire street.
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HOTELS OF EAU CLAIRE
NIAGARA HOUSE.
The Niagara House was the first hotel to open on the west side of the river.
George A. Buffington located in Eau Claire in 1856. He was born June 29, 1825, in New York State, and came with his parents to Walworth county, Wisconsin, when seventeen years of age. in 1848 he sold his belongings and moved to Stephenson county, Illinois, but in 1850 returned to Wisconsin, locating in Dodge county. While there he was appointed under-sheriff and elected justice of the peace. He entered into the grocery and sales stable businesses and by good management, industry and economy laid aside several thousand dollars. He came to Eau Claire in 1856 and invested in real estate. He established the Niagara House on what is now Water street, on the west side of the Chippewa river. This seems to have been the first commercial hotel in this part of the town. January 2, 1857, the County Board of Super- visors created the town of Half Moon Lake and gave official recognition to the Niagara House as a public rendezvous by ordering the first town meeting to be held there on the first Tuesday in April, 1857. In the fall of 1857 Mr. Buffington dis- posed of the business.
George A. Buffington, from the time he located in Eau Claire to the date of his death in 1893. was one of the prominent and leading citizens. He was elected Mayor in 1876 and served as an Alderman from the Fifth Ward thirteen years. He engaged in the lumbering business and was very successful. Mr. Buffington was prominent in the Masonic fraternity and rose to the grade of 32d degree Mason. He disposed of the hotel business in the fall of 1857 and various parties from time to time undertook the management. In May, 1866, it was leased by Mr. Buffington to Fowler & Rolls, and a newspaper item of that day says: "The Niagara is the best and neatest house on either side of the river." The west siders celebrated the Fourth of July, 1868, at this hotel with a grand ball. Northam & James had become proprietors and the ball was also an opening of the house under their man- agement. In 1873 J. W. Snow became proprietor. In the fall of 1877 a Mr. Coverdale became landlord and gave the house a thorough reorganization and renovation. He continued the busi- ness for some months.
After being closed for some time the Niagara was burned in the early eighties. On the old foundation a grist mill was erected, known as the Acme Mill. It is stated a portion of the
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HISTORY OF EAU CLAIRE COUNTY
old original foundation is still in use. Later the property ceased to be used as a mill and now has been converted into a manu- facturing plant of the Schwahn & Seyberth Manufacturing Com- pany.
MONONGAHELA HOUSE.
(Britton House.)
The Monongahela House was located at about what is now known as 228 Water street. It was on the north side of the street. The Niagara House was on the south side of the street and but a little distance from the Monongahela. The house was opened about 1857 with William Gans as proprietor. He was afterwards widely and favorably known throughout the Chip- pewa valley as Unele Billie Gans the Ferryman. He continued in the hotel for about a year and one-half and then built a resi- dence on the Chippewa river at about what is now the corner of Grand avenue west and First avenue. This was where the ferry landed. He ran the ferry for some eight years, during which period occurred the famous Indian seare of 1862. The tradition comes down that the "Committee of Safety," who had gathered women and children at Reed's Hall and were preparing for de- fense, sent a representative to Mr. Gans with orders to under no circumstances ferry the Indians across the river. .
Ile was born December 18, 1813, in Springhill, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and died in Eau Claire April 5, 1886.
Following Mr. Gans as landlord came II. H. Deyarman, who conducted the business for several years. During that period Thomas Carmichael, afterwards a member of the Assembly, City Clerk, Alderman and a wheel horse of Democracy, presided at the bar.
In October, 1866, the house was purchased by Joseph IIadley and leased and ran by a Mr. Allen, who had formerly conducted the Falls House at Chippewa Falls. About 1873 G. W. Britton purchased the property and changed the name to Britton House.
In June, 1876, a Mr. Wright was proprietor of the hotel, the fee remaining with Mr. Britton. On June 15, at four A. M., the house was discovered to be on fire. It was the work of an ineen- diary. Cloths soaked in kerosene had been thrown about. The guilty party could not be discovered.
Early in May, 1881, the premises were leased from Mr. Britton by Rufus Farr, for many years the proprietor of the Chapin IIall House at Hudson. Mr. Farr's fame as a landlord spread over
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HOTELS OF EAU CLAIRE
both Wisconsin and Minnesota. He had been in business about cen days and had partially refurnished the premises when, on the early morning of Saturday, May 14, 1881, the building and con- tents were completely destroyed by fire. A late arrival, while preparing for bed, heard an explosion in an adjoining room and investigated. Receiving no reply to his calls, he broke in the door and rescued a drowsy guest, who had gone to sleep, leaving the lamp burning, which had exploded. The place burned rap- idly and a number of guests were driven out in scant clothing. The house was not rebuilt.
WELLS HOUSE-METROPOLITAN HOUSE.
In the Free Press of September 23, 1858, we find the follow- ing paragraph among the locals :
"Mr Wells, formerly of the 'Wells House,' of this place, has rented the Metropolitan Hotel and is to move into it at once. We understand Mr. Wells is a very good landlord."
And in another column :
"Mr. Smith Whittier has added an addition of 24 by 60 feet to the Metropolitan Hotel, the upper portion of which is divided into apartments for the guests at the hotel, the lower portion is intended for a store and has already been rented to Mr. William Newton, of Fond du Lac, who intends putting in a stock of ready made clothing as soon as it can be furnished."
A resident of that day, who came to Eau Claire in May, 1857, states Mr. Wells was running a boarding house at a point about where the Galloway House now stands and during the winter of 1857-8 conducted the Metropolitan Hotel. The building was located on the west side of Barstow street, about the middle of the block, between what is now Grand avenue and Main street. An examination of the files of the Free Press discloses no fur- ther mention of the Metropolitan Hotel, and it is supposed it passed out of existence some time in the carly summer of 1858. The Free Press of October 7, 1858, contained an advertisement of William Newton, announcing the opening of his clothing house in the Metropolitan block on Barstow street.
The Free Press of October 14, 1858, contains an advertise- ment of the Metropolitan, naming Samuel Wells and John E. Stillman as proprietors. On November 25, 1858, it is announced Mr. Stillman sells out his interest in the business to Jacob Austin, formerly of Black River Falls. In the news items in the same paper we find the following :
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HISTORY OF EAU CLAIRE COUNTY
"If anything can show forth in a proper and unvarnished manner the amount of business transacted in Eau Claire, the number of the arrivals at our hotels will be found the most reli- able. As we have published them for a few weeks past it will be seen that as many as 140 arrive at our hotels during a week, and the proprietors inform us that a great many names are never booked. With the Monongahela House on the west side of the Chippewa, we may put down the number of strangers who stop at our hotels every week at 200."
THE NORTHWESTERN HOTEL.
When first erected this building was named the Northwestern Hotel and then for a period was known as the Chandler House, and later the Central House. It stood opposite where the City Hall is now located, on the end of the block bounded on the north by Eau Claire street, on the east by Farwell street and south by Gibson street. The building was erected by William Ulrich, who had located in Eau Claire in 1854 and for a time was a millwright. Later he opened the first bakery in the village and then engaged in the hotel business. His son, George W. Ulrich, is claimed to have been the first white male child born in Eau Claire. A daughter, the wife of Hon. Horace E. Edgell, former mayor of Altoona, resides in that city. Mrs. Ulrich makes her home with Mrs. Edgell. Mr. Ulrich died April 14, 1891, after a long, hon- orable and useful career.
The Northwestern Hotel was erected in the summer of 1860 and managed by Mr. Ulrich himself. For a short time early in 1862 the business was run by Morsbach and Hank. In the fall of 1862 Chauney Chandler leased the property and changed the name to the Chandler House. He took the business with twenty- five years' experience as a hotel man and proved himself a popu- lar and successful landlord. November 30, 1862, the Chandler House tendered a banquet to all soldiers in the town, including those discharged as well as those on furlough.
Mr. Chandler vacated the premises on December 21, 1867, when he removed to his own building, which he had erected near the corner of Barstow and Ferry streets. The name was trans- ferred to the new house and Mr. Ulrich's property was renamed by him Central House.
The business was continued under Mr. Ulrich's management until the destruction of the building by fire in June, 1871.
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HOTELS OF EAU CLAIRE
THE CHANDLER HOUSE.
In 1862 Chauncey Chandler rented from William Ulrich the hotel building on Farwell street, between Eau Claire and Gibson street. It had been known as the Northwestern Hotel, but Mr. Chandler changed the name to the Chandler House. He con- tinned this hotel until his own building on what is now Grand avenne, between Barstow and River streets, was completed.
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