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 57
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The first exclusive elothing store was started in 1868 by William ("Bill") MeClure, who had come from Sparta. He kept a good stoek and did a prosperous business.
L. L. Williams came from Ohio in 1869. IIe came to work in the postoffice for Harris Searl, but as the job was not just to his fancy he rented a little building at the rear of the Searl & Carter store, on Stone street, and put in a small stock of books, stationery, confectionery and small notions. He prospered from the start and after a couple of years he moved to where Paul's drug store now is, put in a stock of jewelry and a larger stock of stationery and notions and continued to prosper.
E. J. Horton and William Fulton built a blacksmith shop on the present site of John Anderson's shop, and Mr. Fulton was the smith in charge. Horton sold out to Eph Crockett, and John Anderson, who had arrived in the village in 1869, bought them out. He moved the shop across the street in 1874 and built a briek shop.
In the early days, as now, there frequently arose disputes between neighbors. To assist in the settlement of these disputes there were no regular attorneys and so the disputants adopted a better method. William Young, who was an oracle in the com- munity would be called upon to espouse the cause of one dis- putant while Harris Searl would take up the side of the other. The case would then come before the justice of the peace, John
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F. Stone, or some other, and a determination of the matter would be made in due and lawful form. If the problems were too knotty, Alexander Meggett or W. P. Bartlett would be summoned from Eau Claire. About 1867 B. F. Chase came from the southern part of the state and opened a law offiee. R. D. Campbell opened a law office in 1868 and a few years later J. C. Crawford eame to compete with them and nurture litigation. From those days the village was not in legal darkness.
There was no regular doetor in those days either, and William Young, whose father was a doctor, eared for the physical ills of the people. He became quite famous for his treatment of certain ills, especially cancer, for which he had an almost certain remedy. Later Dr. D. C. Spencer came, about 1868, and established a good practice which he continued for many years. Dr. H. P. Waldrous soon followed. Ile was a homeopathist and became famous for his peculiarities and for his many eures.
About 1867 "Changhi" Chandler, famous in those days as a newspaper man, started the Augusta "Herald." After about a year he sold out to Charles Warren and soon after Warren sold to a man by the name of Brown. The "Herald" was discon- tinued after a couple of years and the village was without a news- paper until 1874. W. H. Waterbury was appointed postmaster in 1869, succeeding Harris Searl, and moved the office into the building later occupied by A. E. Perry as a barber shop. He also retired from partnership with Heard & Livermore and put a stoek of general merchandise in the building with the postoffice. Prior to 1869 Tom and Tim Tusker had built the shop which stands on the southwest corner of Stone and Spring streets, later occupied by the Vietory Mereantile Company as a warehouse. They conducted a blacksmith and wagon shop and did a pros- perous business. They sold the shop later to Austin Russell, and it was occupied for a time by P. Bonnot as a wagon shop. A. W. Russell and son Ira had built a store building on the southeast corner of Lineoln and Spring streets, and occupied it for a time with a stoek of dry goods, Mrs. Russell keeping a millinery store in the rear part. The Ricks eame about this time, John, Michael and Charles, with their families and soon became industrial factors. They had come from Germany about a year before and settled, briefly, at Ripon, Wiseonsin, in 1868, coming here the following year. August, the oldest of the Michael Rick family, eoming a year later, 1870. Ren Halstead had sueeeeded Ilarris Scarl as landlord of the Augusta House, and be. in turn, had been succeeded by H. Sargent and he by Henry Welch. E. F.
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Ober, who had come from Vermont, a young man of good address, worked in the hotel for Welch, clerking and attending to business generally. Ed Matteson, another young man, worked in the store for "Bill" MeClure, as clerk.
Jerome Hardy was running a saloon, and a man by the name of Ilanson kept a tailor shop just where cannot be learned at this late date. A building had been built between Bolton & Victory's and the corner, and A. C. White occupied it with a meat market. W. H. Roberts had a wagon shop and J. L. Ball had built the planing mill in 1878. In the beginning of 1869 the West Wis- consin railway had been completed to Humbird and that place became the base of supplies for Augusta. Freight and stage lines were established, and business was on the boom. Harvey Plum- ley came that year and went into partnership with Hackett and the Stone Bros. in the hardware business. Robert MeGwine, a man of extraordinary talent, had a harness shop. He was a good workman, but so fond of liqor that his labor was too frequently interrupted by his worship at the bacehanalian shrine. Charles and John Taggart arrived, the former in 1869 and the latter in 1870, both hustlers, to be heard from later. The railroad came in the fall of 1869 and business took a new life. A depot was built, telegraphie communication established with the world and Augusta was on the map. Jim Smith was the agent in charge at the depot and things moved at a more lively gait. An old barn that Charles Buekman had built somewhere just east of where the Methodist church now stands, had been moved to the railway right of way by J. C. Haekett and established as a flat warehouse. John Hurst occupied one end of it and C. A. Kirkham the other end, both to buy grain, wheat principally. Buckman's second addition to the village plat was made in 1868 and Stone's addition in 1869. S. J. Hutchins purchased the interest of the Stone Bros. in the hardware store and later bought out Haekett and Plumley. Frank Searl worked for him in the store at that time. In 1872 L. O. Ilickot succeeded Jim Smith as agent at the station and two new elevators were built, one by Warren Bros., since burned, and one by L. Ermingham & Co., grain dealers, of Milwaukee. Then P. Brown and his son-in-law, a Mr. Eaton, came from Black River Falls and bought out the S. J. Hutchins hardware stock. The Jacksons, father and son, of whom no previous men- tion has been made, had been here for some time doing various lines of business, and at the present time the elder Jackson ran the Sheridan House. John O'Brien bought out A. C. White's meat market and A. C. Riek came from Ripon and the two started
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a market. Later William Hertzke, who came from Ripon, bought out Mr. O'Brien and he and Mr. Rick continued the business for several years. Meanwhile the two buildings on the southwest corner of Stone and Lincoln streets had burned and Stone and Victory built a brick building on that corner and occupied the same with an enlarged stock of drugs and groceries. Harvey & Plumley built a basement next west, but did not finish the build- ing. George M. Bell, who had been a clerk in the store for Warren Bros. occupied the store vacated by Stone & Victory, with a stock of general merchandise. O. A. Williams came from Ohio in 1871 and entered into partnership with his brother, L. L. Williams. The following year they built a building on the south side of Lincoln street and put in an enlarged stock, adding watches, clocks and jewelry. H. Fust had a tailor shop in the rear. In 1874 S. MeClatchie, who had been in the employ of Loomis, Gallette & Breese, at Portage, Wisconsin, came and as the representative of that firm bought the Joseplins Livermore stock in the old building on the corner. It was rather a gloomy prospect for S. M. in the little tucked up place and he soon arranged to move into the place where George M. Bell had been, the old Bolton and Victory building. Ira B. Bradford, who had been admitted to the bar in 1873, came with his wife to the village. They began housekeeping in rooms, upstairs in the Humphrey house, and Mr. Bradford opened a law office in rooms upstairs iu a frame building on the south side of Lincoln street. How well he succeeded the after history of Augusta will disclose. Griff O. Jones came in 1874 from Columbia county, Wisconsin, and started the Augusta "Eagle," the first office being upstairs in the frame building being occupied by Vantyne & Beebe on the south side of Lincoln street. Later when the bank block was finished he moved upstairs over where the postoffice now is, and the "Eagle" has since been published from that plaee.
In 1875 Williams Brothers built a brick building two stories on the basement which Harvey Plumley had built near the corner, and they occupied the same that year, again inereasing their stoek. Fred Williams, who was then but a kid, had arrived from Ohio in 1873. Tom Hoefer was working for Williams Bros. as jeweler and watchmaker. From him Fred learned the trade, and when the stock was removed to the new building Fred was ready to take charge of the work, which he did. John Anderson built his brick shop in 1874 and continued to pound away as though he had to. The same year I. Bradford moved his office into the rooms over the new Williams Bros. store. He and Russell
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Hackett started the Augusta bank that year in the same rooms, and at the start L. C. Humphrey was the cashier. The Beebe block was first built in 1876, a two-story brick building, double front below and a hall in the whole of the second story. "Bill" MeClure moved his clothing stock from across the street into the west half of the new building, and Loomis, Gallette & Breese occupying the east half, S. M. Clutchie in charge. E. F. Ober was a salesman with the firm at that time. Up to this time Angusta had never had a large fire. Only three of the business buildings were of brick and the time was ripe for a purging.
Prior to 1877 there were two institutions of which no mention has yet been made. N. Marte came about 1870 and started a fur- niture store in a building just south of where the O'Brien & Cutland livery stable stood. He was a thorough workman and did a good business. Later he moved to the north side of Lincoln street. L. A. Brace and B. H. Walrath started a dry goods store in the A. W. Russell building on the southeast corner of Stone and Spring streets. Mr. Levi Wałrath did tailoring in the rear of the store and his wife continued the millinery business which Mrs. Russell had established. In 1877 the buildings on the north- east corner of Stone and Lincoln streets were burned to the ground. Riek and Hertzke's market occupied the middle build- ing, Lupps and Marte had a saloon in the corner building and the north building was unocenpied. As soon as matters could be adjusted arrangements were made to rebuild. Bradford & Hackett had bought the corner lot. A. C. Rick owned the middle lot and John F. Stone the north lot. They arranged to build the block together and it was accordingly done. It was built of solid briek and at the time and for several years was the finest building in the city. When completed the Angusta bank was moved into the corner and Mr. Bradford occupied the upper front with his law office and A. C. Riek occupied the middle portion. Who first occupied the north portion is beyond the knowledge of the writer. Later it was occupied by Fuller Bros., who came from Columbus, Wisconsin, with a stoek of dry goods and clothing. At the begin- ning of 1880 the space from Beebe's block to the Williams Bros. store was occupied by Warden buildings. During that year a fire broke out and burned the whole row. This fire was a great cleaning up, and the following year the row was rebuilt. P. Brown, who had bought out his son-in-law, Eaton, built a substantial brick building next to Williams' and occupied it with his hardware business. J. F. Beebe built on his lots from his block to where Aug. Arndt's furniture store now is. Nick Marte built the fur-
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niture store and occupied the same with his business. J. R. Rundlette built the next east for a drug store, and H. C. Van- tyne, who had succeeded Vantyne & Beebe, built next for his shoe store. S. Axtel, who had come from Columbus and started a dry goods store, following Brace & Walrath in the A. W. Russell building built the next, a large store building which he occupied with his business. This left but a narrow, vacant lot in the burned district. On this vacant lot B. F. Brown built in 1883. In 1880 Plummer & Finch came from Reedsburg and bought the grist mill from John F. Stone and took possession June 21 of that year. They remodeled the mill, making it a completely equipped modern mill. Later they put in a steam power plant to relieve the water power.
G. W. Purnell came from Merrillan in 1880 and put a large stock of hardware in the west half of the Beebe block, and cut considerable ice for a couple of years, then moved back to Mer- rillan. Dr. E. M. Rogers came in 1882 from Dodge county and opened dental offices over what is now Riek's saloon. Later he moved into the rooms over the Williams store and still later into the building where Dr. D. W. Babcock had his office. Ed Ober and Henry MeBain had bought an interest in the Breese, Loomis & Co. stock and the firm was Ober, McBain & Co. McBain retired within a year and the firm became known as E. F. Ober & Co. W. H. Dodge, who had occupied the little old building, corner of Stone and Lincoln streets with a small stock of hardware, had moved the same into the frame building first west of the Beebe block. J. C. Hackett and W. D. Hebard, who had been in the machinery business for years, bought the stock from him in 1880 and continued the business there for a couple of years. In 1882 Hackett and Hebard moved into the building vacated by Parnell. In 1883 W. S. Cox, C. A. Cox and Frank L. Clarke formed a co-partnership under the firm name of Cox Bros. & Clarke, and on September 1, 1883, opened a stock of general merchandise in the B. F. Brown building. After three years they moved into the Beebe block after the fire in 1886.
In 1886 J. B. Button was appointed postmaster by President Cleveland to succeed W. H. Waterbury. He moved the office into a frame building west of the Beebe block. That winter fire again visited Lincoln street, burning the Beebe block and west from there to as far as where the "Times" office stood in 1906. To the east it burned to the Marte store and then crossed the street, taking everything from W. F. Rick's saloon to where Pehlke & Honadel now are. After this fire the postoffice was moved to the
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bank block. In the spring of that year Frank L. Clarke was appointed postmaster to succeed J. B. Button. John F. Beebe proceeded to rebuild most of the burned district on the north side of Lincoln street. Shortly after the big fire the old building on the corner of Stone and Lincoln streets, occupied by Whiting as a restaurant, was burned. E. F. Ober & Co. bought the lots and at once built the brick building that now stands and occupied the same with their business. John F. Beebe rebuilt on his vacant lots and when the original Beebe block was rebuilt the west half was occupied by llackett & Hebard. The same year Cox Bros. & Clarke moved from the B. F. Brown building next to Hackett & Hebard.
The Augusta "Times" was started January 1, 1890. It was purchased by Frank L. Clarke and C. W. Warner, and about two years later Warner retired and Clarke continued the publication until January 1, 1904, when E. G. Herrell purchased the outfit. In 1883 F. E. Williams bought the watch, clock and jewelry business from his brothers and conducted the same at the old stand for a time. Later he moved into the B. F. Brown building. S. Axtel sold his store and business in 1889 to Strauss and Levy, and in 1898 Mr. Levy bought the Stranss interest. F. Dauffen- bach came in 1889 and bought the hardware business of P. Brown. In 1897 he sold to H. F. Erchler, who came from Reedsburg, and two years later Erchler sold to O. F. Brager. The Beebe block was again visited by fire in 1894. It was occupied at the time by Cox Bros. in one part, and Hackett & Ilebard in the other. Hackett & IIebard did not resume; Cox Bros, retired during the time between the burning of the building and its rebuilding.
CHAPTER XLIV.
AUGUSTA CHURCHES.
METHODIST.
When Erastus Buckman and Charles Buekman and family and John F. Stone and family came to Augusta the Word of God had probably never been proclaimed there, although, it may be, that some Catholie missionary journeying across the state may have been attracted there by the beauty of the scene, and, faith- ful to his trust, he may have preached there to the Indians. This, however, is but a thought of fancy and not at all likely, as the seene was very much removed from the pathways that led from post to post. But when the pioneers had come, and the habita- tion of the white man had been established, there came a long- ing for the gospel of Christ, the spiritual uplifting. The spiritual need was pressing at times and it is related that when a little son of William Arris had died there was no one spiritually quali- fied to even offer a prayer, and that finally Mr. William Young was prevailed upon and very reluctantly he prayed for God's blessing to rest upon and bless the gathered few, to comfort the bereaved ones and cherish the soul of the little one who had been called to enter the higher life. But the spiritnal wants of the people had not long to wait. Rev. John Bean, an itinerant preacher, came that way and stopped with John F. Stone and family, and preached to the people and prayed with them at Mr. Stone's home. Shortly after this he met Rev. John IIolt and told him of Angusta and urged him to go there.
It has been said that Rev. Holt was an ex-pngilist. However this may be, we cannot doubt that if all reports of him are true he had the courage and the strength of a gladiator, and it is known that in fighting the good fight he struggled mightily against the force of sin and for the establishment of the King- dom of God among men. He came to Augusta and preached to the people, and in the fall of 1859 at the distriet conference had Augusta added to his eharge, which was known as the Alma cir- cuit. Rev. L. R. Davis was his assistant and they had fifty-four appointments in the circuit. The country was wild, the roads uncertain and the people were poor. The preacher went on horse-
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back from place to place, preaching the gospel, helping the people with the good cheer of Him who commanded: "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world."
Rev. IIolt preached the first funeral sermon in Augusta, that of Helen Dodge. In 1860 the circuit was properly organized, with Rev. Thomas Mason in charge. Later he enlisted in the Four- teenth Wisconsin Volunteers and went to the front. He was killed in battle, fighting valiantly for his country. In 1861 Augusta was assigned by the conference to the Chippewa dis- trict, Rev. Chauncey Hobart, presiding, Rev. Albert T. Johnson in charge of Augusta. Rev. Mathias Woody was the preacher in charge in 1862 and was followed in 1863 by Rev. J. B. Rey- nolds, who shortly after enlisted and went to the war. The cir- cuit then included Augusta and Osseo and Rev. Woodley reported fifty members and probationers in the circuit, Thompson Valley being the stronghold of Methodism. Rev. G. W. Carpenter was sent by the conference of 1864, and he was followed in 1865 by Rev. Thomas Crouch. A committee was appointed that year to buy or build a parsonage, and as a result of their efforts six lots were bought for that purpose. The parsonage was not built there that year, however.
Rev. Darius Breese supplied the charge in 1866 and built a parsonage in the lots that had been secured the previous year. In 1867 Rev. Frank W. Dighton was sent, with Rev. W. E. Con- way as assistant. That year the Methodists and the Congrega- tionalists held union services in the school house, a small building that stood until 1905 on Lincoln street, where the new German Lutheran church now stands. A union Sunday school was organ- ized, with Parker Warren as superintendent. Previous to this time services had been held from place to place at first, then in school houses as they were built throughout the circuit. Iu 1868 Rev. William Stanton supplied the charge, living at IIum- bird and coming on horseback to supply the charge. In those days the work of the Methodist preacher was strenuous indeed. They worked hard, prayed without ceasing, and frequently took their allowance in wheat, which they hauled to Sparta and sold at a price that would scarcely pay for the hauling. They went their way rejoicing, however, preaching the gospel as they jour- neyed on. Rev. D. Clingman was assigned to the charge by the conference of 1862, and he remained two years. During his
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.
pastorate the church was built, he having been sent for that pur- pose. The membership of the church was small and most of the members were not too greatly supplied with worldly goods. They were filled with the spirit of Godliness, however, and went carn- estly at work with Rev. Clingman to build a temple wherein they might worship. For a brief history of the building of the temple we quote from an article by Mrs. E. J. Heard, published some years ago in the Augusta "Eagle":
"To any but Bro. Clingman the prospects would have been discouraging. With a small membership and all poor people, but being rightly named, and a German, with all a German's push and vim he began to look around for the material to build a church. Already he, with the Tosker Bros., had secured a piece of ground and had built a little chapel to hold service while building the church. It was afterward finished into a dwelling house which is now owned and occupied by W. HI. Smith. Mr. Fletcher Donghton came nobly to the assistance of Bro. Cling- man. Owning a tract of land he gave the privilege of entting timber enough for the church and also to pay for the sawing. Then came the work of getting the timber sawed and drawn to the mill. As the custom was in war time, some volunteered and some were drafted to do this pleasant work. Mr. John F. Stone readily agreed to saw the lumber on shares, and so the lumber was provided for. The site for the church was provided (where the church now stands), the stone for the foundation was drawn in the winter and as soon as the ground was free from frost the foundation was laid by Bro. Clingman with appropriate cere- mony. At the southwest corner the church rests on the corner- stone. In the cavity of this stone was deposited a 5, 10, 25 and 50 cent piece of paper money, called script, some coins, pictures of pastor and family, a copy of the Angusta "Herald," published by D. W. Brown, copies of our church periodical, a hymn book, a discipline and a Bible." The Bible was one that Mr. Tasker had carried through the war and had been wet through many times by rain while the owner had slept on the tented field during Sherman's march to the sea. The stone was sealed by Caleb Russell. The brick of which the church was built were a local product, made by Darius Stone, Charles Ferguson, Harry Burnes, John Hainer and the Tasker brothers. The brick were laid by Horace Polley, Caleb Russell, Frank Ilorel and Sam Blatchford. The plastering was done by Charles Horel and the painting by a Mr. Baker from Durand. A fine, clear-toned bell was hung in the belfry and a little room over the vestibule was fitted up
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wherein to hold services when it became too cold to hold them in the chapel. This little room held the whole congregation, with space in plenty to spare.
The church was dedicated December 18, 1870. On the evening before the dedication it was discovered that there was no Bible rest, and a committee of two, consisting of Lester A. Heard and Eliza Jane Babcock, was appointed. This was amusing. Lester was not quite beyond his teens and Eliza was on the west side of thirty, both were extremely bashful and those were their court- ship days. The committee was in session until three o'clock next morning, but when adjournment was taken the Bible rest was ready.
Bishop Fallows preached a splendid sermon full of spiritual uplift and encouragement, and at its close announced that the church which had been built at a cost of $6,000 was in debt $2,700. Ile made an eloquent appeal to clear the church from debt before dedication. The appeal was responded to and a sufficient sum was pledged to clear the indebtedness. The church was then dedieated, but so many failed to meet their pledges that the society found itself discouragingly in debt. Mrs. Ileard in her story of the church says :
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