History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, Part 117

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Pierce, Eben Douglas
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Chicago Winona : H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1318

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"Truth crushed to earth shall rise again ;

The eternal years of God are hers."

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Some General Matters.

In the foregoing sketch some events and matters pertaining to the people generally rather than to any particular portion of the town have been omitted.

The burning of Bear's Mill, April 26, 1880, belongs to this class of events because of the discussion which followed and the fact that Bear had to sue the company which had insured the mill. The mill was built by J. R. Bear in 1879, on the south half of the southeast quarter of Section 4-22-7. From the beginning, many people thought the building of the mill a foolish venture, and after the fire some were unkind enough to say that the burning of the mill proved that the owner had also discovered his mis- take. However, the result of the lawsuit did not sustain this suspicion, for Mr. Bear recovered his insurance.

The greatest affliction suffered by the people of Pigeon was the loss of numerous children from repeated epidemics of diphtheria. So fatal was this disease that it usually claimed a victim in every home where it entered. From the home of Lauritz Sinrud, in January, 1888, five children were taken in a week.

The most destructive storm which has visited the town since it was settled occurred June 24, 1914. A large number of expensive barns and sheds were blown down, but fortunately no human lives were lost.

The division of the Lutheran congregation in 1884, over doctrinal differences, was an event of more than ordinary importance, and cause for grief among many earnest seekers after truth. Happily, time and a now reunited church have healed the wounds caused by that unpleasant occurrence.

The question of a railroad through the valley has agitated the people on two occasions. First, prior to the building of the Green Bay & Western. A survey then made, it is claimed, showed that the company would have saved thousands by building their road through the Pigeon Valley instead of the Trempealeau Valley, but did not do so because the promoters got larger bonuses in following the latter route.

In November, 1884, the Freeport & Northern submitted a proposition to the town for a sale of its stock in exchange for $6,000 in municipal bonds to be issued by the town. Nothing was done except to discuss the matter.

In 1912 and 1913 a determined effort was made by local people to interest capital in the building of a road through the valley to connect with the Omaha near Fairchild. This project also went to sleep. But some day the dream of T. R. Kittelson and others who sacrificed so much time four or five years ago to bring about this object will come true.

There are many characters and events connected with the history of this town worthy of particular mention which have been omitted for want of space. May I therefore be permitted to state that I have in course of preparation a history of this town in which it is my purpose to describe separately every farm and its several occupants, from the beginning to the present time, so far as the facts can be ascertained. This history will prob- ably never be published by me, but the manuscript, I trust, will always be

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accessible in the archives of the Trempealeau County Historical Society. And when death and time shall have removed all the witnesses of early events, may coming generations find this labor of love a source of interest and inspiration .- (Dated at Whitehall, Wis., Oct. 24, 1917.)

Pigeon Township is in nearly every respect a typical western Wisconsin township. A geographical unity, lying in the valley of a picturesque river, supporting near its head a flourishing village without a railroad, flowing past two deserted villages, and having its mouth at the county seat, it was first settled by New Englanders, and gradnally pos- sessed by the Seandinavian element. Hon. Hans A. Anderson, who for some thirty years has been gathering historical material regarding the county, has taken a particular interest in this township, and the article which is here presented is a splendid example of the thoroughness of the material which he is leaving to posterity, as well as a valuable his- torieal review of a typical Wisconsin community. It is to be hoped that in the years to come Judge Anderson will treat of the other townships in the county with the same completeness .- F. C-W.

CHAPTER XXIII.

MORE HISTORICAL PAPERS.

Trempealeau Mountain Park. Trempealeau Mountain, the thrilling history of which has been told in earlier chapters, is soon to be a state park. John A. Latsch of Winona, whise benefactions have given to the people of Minnesota a vast reserve lying north of Winona along the Mis- sissippi, proposes to make the gift to the state in order that the resi- dents of Trempealeau County may enjoy the pleasures to be found in romping at play over this unique mountain and the land at its base. These are people who live in the county where his father, the late John Latsch, lived and was engaged in farming for many years. Latsch Valley, in Trem- pealeau County, has carried Mr. Latsch's name through the years. The donors will make the mountain a memorial to his father, as he has his rich gifts to the city of Winona. The deed that Mr. Latsch will make will be to the Wisconsin Historical Society through the conservation body.

Four years ago residents of Trempealeau County interested themselves in the proposition of preserving this rare mountain. They found barriers, however, in the effort to purchase the property from the individual owners. Finally, after Judge H. A. Anderson, Whitehall; Attorney F. C. Richmond and Attorney E. E. Hensel, both of Arcadia ; and Dr. E. D. Pierce, Trem- pealeau, had decided that the project was too great and the difficulties too serious to make immediate action possible, the proposition was abandoned for a while. Dr. Pierce, however, was determined that the plans should be carried out. His interest in the matter brought the attention of Mr. Latsch to the mountain and the surrounding territory, and in June, 1916, the project began to take definite shape. Now Mr. Latsch owns practically all of the land on the mountain, in all about 130 acres. He also recently purchased the Brady farm across the bay and opposite the mountain. This is to be a portion of the park. In this farm tract are over 200 acres.

Because the mountain is an island and its treasures not easily accessible to the "commercial pirates," much of its original growth and peculiarities have been retained. Probably nowhere on the upper Mississippi is there a more unusual bluff, not only because of its scenic prominence but because of its unusual contour and the rare plants that grow upon it.

There are over 30 varieties of wood on Trempealeau Mountain, among them the Chinkopin, southern locust that blossoms and has pods like bean- pods. There are thousands of kinds of wild flowers. ¿ mong the shrubs there is the famous gensing and it was a place where Indians came for years to secure "medicine." The rare wild huckleberry grows there. Apart from the other bluffs surrounded by water, the mountain has preserved its orig- inal flora. It cannot be pastured. That explains why the ladyslipper, the painted cup, the quaint showy orchid, the hepaticas, the anemone, the

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trillum, the blue and yellow violets, and the jack-in-the-pulpit all can be found there.

On the mountain there have been built many of the famous mounds, some of them still unexplored. In recent years wonderful discoveries have been made. These mounds, it is proposed, will be restored and its timber and flora kept intact for the future generations.

The residents of Trempealeau County have expressed to Mr. Latsch a feeling of gratitude for his eagerness to assist in preserving so great a treasure. He has won their everlasting thanks for presenting the moun- tain. Important and extensive improvements will be made to the mountain and the park by the State Society.

The settlers looked upon Trempealeau Mountain in the earliest day as a historic landmark-a guiding hand in the wilderness-and that feeling has been handed down so that the people today of this vicinity have a friendly interest in the old mountain and regard it as their historic home ground. People have heard its traditions told-its singular place in his- tory-beheld its beautiful part of the Mississippi River scenery and in the evolution of things no wonder that they have come to have a sentiment in favor of its preservation in a wild state so that it may be handed down to future generations adorned in all the glory of its old-time attire.

Many citizens of Trempealeau and vicinity have in the past expressed a desire to have the mountain preserved as a State park. The Trempealeau County and State Historical Societies have been interested in it, but it remained for John A. Latsch, of Winona, to offer a solution for the problem for acquiring title and turning it over to the State. It is desired to preserve the mountain in its natural grandeur, keeping its flora intact and re-estab- lishing its despoiled mound, erecting suitable markers and making cozy by-ways through its woodlands so that the botanist, the geologist, the bird student and whoever else may enjoy the call of the wild, may come and drink their fill of outdoor glory.

Galesville University, recently renamed Gale College, is located at Gales- ville. It was founded by the labors of the Hon. George Gale, LL. D., assisted by donations of the citizens of Galesville, La Crosse. Winona, and a few other friends of education, mostly residents of Wisconsin. The charter was obtained from the Legislature of Wisconsin in January, 1854. The board of trustees was organized in 1855; the college building commenced in 1858; the preparatory department opened for students in May, 1859, and the collegiate department in September, 1861, the first college class graduated July 13, 1865.

Judge Gale, the founder, was the first president, though the educational and literary management of the institution was under the supervision of the Rev. Samuel Fallows, later a Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church, Chicago, Ill. During the years in which the building was under construc- tion the school was conducted in the county court house.

The first epoch in the history of the school includes the years between 1859 and 1877. It was deemed desirable to place the institution under the control of some church organization, and this was accomplished when, in 1859, the Methodist Episcopal Church accepted this trust, which remained

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in its charge until the year 1877. During this period the school board labored under great difficulties. A considerable amount of money was re- quired to erect the building, and to meet the requirements from time to time, and being in the early settlement days, the number of those who were able to render pecuniary aid was very small; hence the burden fell heavily on these few. The attendance, which had averaged about 50 students per term, was greatly decreased by the outbreak of the Civil War. Many of the young men in attendance responded to their country's call for soldiers. This decrease in attendance added to the difficulty of meeting the financial requirements. But, with the firm conviction that the attainment of greater educational facilities was worthy of their best efforts, the pioneers willingly assisted to the extent of their ability, and the enterprise was not abandoned.

In 1861 Prof. Fallows resigned his position as principal, and was suc- ceeded by Mr. Magill, who served in that capacity only a short time, and who was in turn succeeded by the Rev. J. L. Farber, of New York. Rev. Harrison Gilliland was the next president, and he was elected to fill the office of president of the Board of Trustees, which had been made vacant by the resignation of Judge Gale.

For a time after President Gilliland took charge the school seems to have prospered, the records showing an attendance of more than 100 students per year. But the financial condition of the institution caused the officers much anxiety, and application for aid was made to the church. The Conference of the M. E. church accordingly passed a resolution to raise a sum of $50,000 among its members. An attempt to solicit this money was made, but proved futile.

President Gilliland then tendered his resignation, and recommended that the institution be placed under the control of some religious denomina- tion which was able to render the necessary financial support. Accordingly, in 1876, the Chippewa Presbytery then in session in La Crosse was requested to appoint a committee to confer with the local board for the transfer of the control of Galesville University from the M. E. church to the Presbyterian General Assembly. After some reluctance the charge was accepted by that body, and a board of trustees was appointed which assembled for the first time on May 15, 1877. This body made provision for ascertaining and meeting claims against the institution and for procuring pecuniary means for the operation of the school. The course of study was readjusted so that the schedule, instead of being collegiate grade, was modeled after the plan of Philip's Academy. A Normal Course for teachers was also devel- oped. A faculty was appointed with R. S. Winans as president. The following year John W. McLawry was made president, and Rev. John Moore, the resident pastor, also became a member of the faculty.

At a meeting of the officers in March, 1878, a resolution was made to petition the War Department to provide for an instructor in military tactics and drill in Galesville University. This petition was granted, and in 1880, Lieut. John L. Clem, known in the story of the Civil War as the Drummer Boy of Chickamauga, was appointed as such instructor and entered upon his duties at once. This arrangement which provided military training for the young men at the university was a happy one. The real advan-

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tages to be derived from such training were appreciated, and a lively interest was aroused, which together with the well-deserved popularity of Lieut. Clem, combined to attract a large attendance of students. This increase entailed the need of more room and the enlargement of the building was agreed upon. In 1881, the building, which originally was two stories high. was enlarged by the addition of a third story, thus providing space for more students and also for drill room in winter.

Lieut. Clem was succeeded in 1882 by Lieut. G. N. Chase, who served in that capacity until 1883, when the military department was discontinued. In January, 1884, the main building was destroyed by fire. This was such a terrible blow to the institution that for a time its fate seemed dubious. But such was the untiring zeal of the friends of the institution at home and abroad that in the course of a year a new building was erected on the site of the one destroyed. For several years during the early '80s excellent work was done at the college. Under the able guidance of such scholarly men as Moses Peters and E. O. Hagen, a large number of young men, since prominent in their professions, laid the foundations of their education. Rev. McLawry, having tendered his resignation, Dr. J. Irwin Smith assumed the presidency in the year 1886, and continued in the discharge of the duties appertaining to that office for a period of two years. Rev. Smith had pre- viouslý rendered the institution valuable aid in the capacity of financial agent. In the early '90s the attendance began to decrease from year to year, until the number of students became so small that to maintain the institution under those conditions was impossible. Something had to be done to give the school a new impetus.

In March, 1901, the deliberations, which finally resulted in the transfer of the control of the institution from the Presbyterian Board of Trustees to the Lutheran Synod, were commenced. The La Crosse Conference of the Lutheran Synod, then in session in La Crosse, elected a committee to go to Galesville for the purpose of examining the property, and to confer with the local board to determine the conditions under which the transfer might be effected. The committee, after having performed its duty, reported that by the payment of $6,500 the transfer could be made. The city of Galesville pledged itself to furnish $2,500, and the purchase was made in August, 1901.

It was deemed necessary to make extensive repairs on the building before the school could be opened. A sum of more than $2,000 was con- tributed by members of the Lutheran congregations in the district and judiciously expended in repairing and improving the building. This work was completed in the fall of the year 1901. On the first day of December the institution was dedicated, its name being changed from Galesville University to Gale College. Prof. H. G. Stub, of Minneapolis, performed the ceremony. On the following day the school commenced its work under the new administration with Rev. L. M. Grimmestad, who has since remained with the school, as president.

The time during which the school has been under Lutheran supervision has been a period of success and constant progress. The old courses have been improved, and additional courses have been introduced. In 1908-1909 a music department was established, which has now become a permanent

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and prominent feature of the school. During the same year the Classical and Scientific Courses were introduced, taking the place of the Academical Course. To the Commercial Department was added a Four-Year Course leading to the degree of Bachelor of Accounts. All of these courses, as well as the Luther College Preparatory and the Normal Parochial Courses, have continually been improved and broadened. In addition to the courses mentioned above, some work of Collegiate grade has also been carried on.

Musical and literary organizations have always played an important part at Gale College. A band was organized by Prof. A. F. Giere in 1903. Several tours were made during the summer months. Perhaps the most successful was the tour of 1909, when a distance of 800 miles was covered, the route of travel being through Western Wisconsin and Southern and Central Minnesota. An orchestra was organized by Prof. H. Onsgard in 1911. This work is now being successfully carried on by A. M. Fredrickson.

The Utile Cum Dulci, a literary society organized by students of the

All students are school 35 years ago, is still in a flourishing condition. members. Normannalaget is a Norwegian society based on the same gen- eral principles as the Utile Cum Dulci. At this point may be mentioned the Gale College Club, organized in 1906, which has for its objects the lending of moral and financial support to the institution. All friends of the school are kindly requested to become members of this organization.

Literary activities are being stimulated further by the publishing of The Gale Pennant, a student's publication, first issued in 1908.

The work of the school is facilitated by a good library, the value of which was much increased by a careful cataloging in 1912-1913.

The Boys' Dormitory, built in 1906, furnishes comfortable accommo- dations for 55 students. The Ladies' Hall, completed in 1915, is a beautiful structure which accommodates about 50 students. This building contains also a gymnasium which fills a long-felt need.

For a church home the students have the Trinity Lutheran church, a pleasant and attractive building, erected by the Galesville congregation of the Norwegian Lutheran Synod in 1909 .- (By L. M. Gimmestad, President.)

The advantage of a college of this size and order, is the individual atten- tion that can be given pupils to develop them in accordance with their mental qualifications and ability. In other words it brings out the indi- vidual brain strength and character of the pupil, thus enabling action on the part of the faculty, along the most beneficial lines, in other words, give the students a harmonious education.

The faculty comprises the Rev. L. M. Gimmestad, A. B., President, and a staff of five assistants, each well qualified for the work of education. It well becomes the character of this work to compliment Rev. Gimmestad on the splendid success he is making of the college and in qualifying the graduates for the position in life they desire to occupy. He is also entitled to the gratitude and unqualified consideration of all those who are interested in the college. He has sacrificed his personal ambition in a worldly way, to build up an institution creditable to himself and the denomination he repre- sents. He is a scholar of fine attainment, an orator of finished ability, and

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a man of affairs, who honors Galesville and its people by his association therewith.

Arcadia in 1876. Arcadia Village, succeeding Old Arcadia, was started in the winter of 1873 when the railroad came through, and grew in 1874 and 1875. In the spring of 1876, when the flood came, the flats already con- tained a village of considerable size, the business houses being scattered along Main Street both sides of the track, and on side streets.

The depot was located on the present site. Northeast of it was the elevator of Elmore & Kelly, and still further along the elevator of Krumdick & Muir, who also dealt in agricultural implements. Along the track south- west of the depot, and across the street, were the elevator of the W. P. Massuere Company and the farm implement warehouse of A. E. Smith & Co., on opposite sides of the track from each other, and further southwest, and like the Smith Company on the east side of the track, was the elevator of Canterbury & Smith. East of Elmore & Kelly was the lumber yard of J. W. Hiles, of which Henry Wirtenberger was the manager, and east of the Krumdick & Muir elevator was the lumber yard of H. Ketchum, of which C. E. Hollenbeck was the agent.

East of the depot, on the north side of Main Street, was a saloon owned by George Hiles and operated by James Hiles. Then came the livery barn of Le Vant Johnson. Next was the lumber office of H. Ketchum. Next east was the E. J. Gorton general store. Then came a vacant stretch of land. Further east there were two buildings, the first being the blacksmith shop of Nichols & Pike, and the second being the millinery store of Mrs. Rance Jones.

The Arcadia Hotel, of which John Eckel was the proprietor. occupied the present site of the Wolfe Opera House. South of this on the east side of the street, there were three buildings, the first going south, being the meat market of John Nickly, the second being the dry goods and grocery store of Mutz & Stariha, and the third being the saloon of J. K. Cysewski.

East of the Arcadia Hotel, on the south side of Main Street came the office of Drs. Frank L. Lewis and George N. Hidershide. Next was the Burt House, of which John and Richard Burt were the proprietors. Then came the general store of W. P Massuere Company. Next, on the corner of Washington street was the drug store of I. R. Bryan & Co.

East of Washington Street on the present site of the W. P. Massuere Co. was the hardware store of the Merrill Brothers, L. G. and Benjamin. In the upper story of this building the Masonic order met. Considerably east of this was the poolroom and saloon of W. W. Barnes. Still further to the east was the Shamrock Hotel, of which A. Flynn was the proprietor. South of the Merrill Bros. hardware store, and on the east side of Wash- ington Street was the Merrill Bros. lumber yard.

West of the depot on the north side of Main street there was a large vacant space. The present site of the Fugina Brothers Fertig Store was a swamp. Between the track and Commercial (Grant) Street, north of Main street and west of the track there was not a business house except the John D. Rainey Commercial Hotel, which stood on its present site. On the west side of Commercial Street, and north of the present site of the

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Fugina Brothers Fertig Store, was the livery barn of the Bigham Brothers. Next north was the saloon of Matt. Danuser. Next was the tailor shop of Tim. Selck. Further along was the store of Bohri Brothers & Hensel. Still further was the saloon and restaurant of George Kump.

There were no business houses on River Street except the shoe and repairing shop of Henry Klug, who was on the corner east of Jackson Street and south of River Street.

On the north side of Main Street, west of the present site of the Fugina Brothers Fertig Store, was the meat market of Anton Baertsch. Then going west came the furniture store of Zeph Dupois (in the upper story were the offices of Capt. J. D. Lewis and P. H. Varney), the restaurant of Emile Dohlan, the saloon of Gregory Ripply, the tin shop of Thomas E. Murphy, and the millinery store of Mrs. F. A. Morgan. Next west, and on the corner of Jackson Street was the Fugina Brothers & Fertig store.

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History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, Part 117

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Pierce, Eben Douglas Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Chicago Winona : H.C. Cooper Number of Pages: 1318

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Pierce, Eben Douglas
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Chicago Winona : H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1318