History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, Part 34

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

USA > Wisconsin > Trempealeau County > History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin > Part 34

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Independence had its beginning in 1876, and received its name from the fact that the Centennial celebration of American Independence fell on that year. The agitation for a village at this point started in 1873, when it became certain that the Green Bay & Lake Pepin, now the Green Bay & Western, was to build a railroad down Trempealeau Valley, and a propo- sition was made that the town of Burnside aid the company by voting bonds of $20,000. But at a special election held for that purpose, May 3, 1873, the result was 9 for and 93 against the proposition, with one vote deficient.

During the summer of 1873 the question of a depot was strongly agi- tated. The railroad agreed to build a depot in the town if given a bonus of $5,000, and a special election was held Nov. 10 to vote on the question of granting bonds to that amount. The vote stood 29 for and 53 against. The vote resulted from the agitation over the location of the depot rather than from opposition to voting the bonds. At that time the present town

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of Chimney Rock was a part of Burnside. Those living in the north part of the town wanted the depot on the northeast side of Elk Creek, while those in the southern part of the town wanted the depot about a mile south of Elk Creek at New City.

New City was quite a flourishing hamlet. It had been started about 1869, when Elliott J. Carpenter came to the mouth of Travis Creek and constructed a dam and a mill, also opening a small store. He was followed by Michael Fugina, who opened a store and saloon, and by Peter Eichman, who opened a tavern and saloon. Henry Gibson opened a small store and was appointed postmaster. Carpenter sold the mill to Albert Bautch and Gibson sold his store to David Garlick, who succeeded him as postmaster.

A man named Fancher had a blacksmith shop there, also.

At the Corners, half way between New City and the present site of Independence, Ed Gorton erected a store, and across the road from him, Ernest Walthers erected a small tavern and saloon.

In the fall of 1875 the question of a depot was again strongly agitated. J. C. Noteman, at that time station agent at Dodge, took up the matter with the officers of the railroad with the result that the railroad agreed that if the people would raise $5,000 by subscription, giving their notes for that amount, the request would be granted. It was finally agreed that the de- pot was to be located between Elk and Travis Creek, and that George H. Markham was to hold the notes until the railroad company should fulfil its part of the contract. If the railroad failed to build the depot the notes were to be returned to the makers. The full amount was subscribed, and the depot was erected at its present site in the spring of 1876.

At this time the present site of the village was a wheat field, oper- ated by Lawrence Pampuch. David M. Kelly secured a tract of land here, and on May 13, 1876, had John Stewart lay out a town. The letter which Mr. Kelly wrote to George H. Markham, thanking him for his hospitality at that time, is now preserved by the Trempealeau County Historical So- ciety. Lots in Independence were offered for sale on May 25, the first to purchase being David Garlick, Edward Elstad and J. C. Taylor.

Then came an influx from New City, Gorton, Walthers, Fugina and Garlick all moving in. Gorton moved his stone building to the southeast corner of block 2, at the corner of Third and Washington streets. Walthers moved his tavern building to lot 6, block 1, on the east side of Second street, between Washington and Adams streets. This building is now occupied by the Farmers & Merchants Bank. Later, north of this building, Walthers erected a large structure, with rooms for a saloon and store on the first floor, and with a public hall on the second floor. This hall was the social cen- ter of Independence for many years. Fugina moved his store to the north- west corner of block 2, at the corner of Third and Adams streets. Later he erected another building to the east. Garlick erected a building east of the Fugina buildings, on the south side of Adams street, between Second and Third streets. In the lower front room of this place he kept the post office and a small store. Mrs. Garlick was the first lady to take up her resi- dence in the village.

J. C. Taylor erected a drug store at the southeast corner of block 1, on

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First street, between Washington and Adams streets. Block 1 was irregu- larly shaped, the southeast corner being cut off. When Mr. Taylor's build- ing burned, he succeeded in having the village abandon a part of the alley, so that the present building covers what was originally the alley south of his first building.

Cyrus J. Lambert and O. P. Larson opened a store in the Walthers building, and also started buying grain. Later this firm erected a large building on the southeast corner of block 2, at the corner of Second and Washington streets, the present location of the Lambert Brothers, who now conduct a general store as the successors of their father, Benjamin F. Lam- bert, who entered business here April 9, 1879.

E. H. Warner erected a hardware store on the north side of block 2, between Second and Third streets. The history of this store is most in- teresting. Christ Meuli bought the store in 1877, and A. W. Liver entered his employ. Meuli later took in L. F. Danuser as a partner, and the com- pany became Meuli & Danuser. Then Meuli sold to Ferdinand Horst and the firm became Danuser & Horst. In the meantime, since 1883, A. W. Liver has been conducting a place of his own. In 1888 he bought out Horst and the firm became Danuser & Liver. In 1894 Christ Torgerson bought out Danuser and the firm has since been Liver & Torgerson. The Lang Brothers opened a harness shop on the present site of Paul Sura's place of business on the west side of Second street. Nick Theisen opened a shoe shop on Washington street. Later he erected a brick building and moved into it.

Ira Smith opened a lumber yard for White & Emery, on the site of the present lumber yard. The same year Artemus Emery himself came and took charge. Years later he sold to E. S. Hotchkiss. George Hiles opened a lumber yard and sent George Hibbard here to conduct it. The Payne Lum- ber Company, of Oshkosh, opened a lumber yard where the present stock- yards are located. Charles Hallenbeck was the general manager of the Payne interests in this region, but confined his attentions largely to Ar- cadia, while Charles E. Davis conducted the yard here. J. C. Noteman was the first station agent and the first elevator man. Giles Cripps, Noah Com- stock and Mr. Noteman erected a warehouse, the one now used by John Sprecher & Son. For several years all the grain bought in Independence by the different firms went through this warehouse. Noteman lived in the station until his home was completed. John Sprecher came here as the representative of Krumdick & Muir, implement dealers and grain buyers, of Arcadia, where he previously worked. In 1878 he bought out Krumdick, and a year later bought out Muir. In 1897 Mr. Sprecher sold a half interest of the implement business to William Steiner, and the firm became Sprecher & Steiner. In 1897 Mr. Sprecher sold his remaining interest to Mr. Steiner. He still retains his grain business under the name of John Sprecher & son. Nathaniel Nichols, a lawyer, came over from New City. Dr. W. R. Allison located here, and Drs. Lewis and Brandt, of Arcadia, opened a branch office here, Dr. Brandt attending to most of the practice.

J. W. McKay opened a hotel on the south side of Washington street, across from Gorton's store, which he called the Tremont House. While

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HISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY

the building was being erected he had kept boarders in a nearby shack. The following year he sold to William R. Trumbull, who put on an addition, and changed the name to the Trumbull House. Later the name was changed to the Welcome House.

Edward Elstad built a saloon about the middle of the south side of block 2, on Washington street, between Second and Third streets. Later he erected a store where the firm of Elstad Brothers was established. Hans Melgard opened a saloon at the northeast corner of block 2, at the corner of Second and Adams, where the Sura garage is now located. Andrew Anderson opened a saloon east of the Walthers building on the south side of Adams street, between First and Second streets. Eugene Webster opened a livery on the west side of Second street, where the warehouse addition to the Lambert Brothers' store is now located. West Snow opened a liv- ery east of the Tremont House.

Thus the business of the village started. In addition to the places of business many residences have been put up. Among them were two build- ings north of the present business section, which were intended as hotels. The main road then skirted the foot of the hills west of the village, and crossing Elk Creek, continued eastward along the present road to Whitehall. But this route was soon abandoned for one passing through the center of the village and the hotels were never opened as such.

In 1877 a number of important enterprises were started. S. M. New- ton erected the dam and mill at a-cost of about $22,000. Later this mill came into possession of Noah Comstock and James Gaveney, of Arcadia, bought the mill and controlled it the remainder of their lives. Ira Smith put up the Merchants Hotel at the foot of Washington street. Previously he had operated a small hotel on the north side of Washington street, just north of the present Lambert Brothers' store. John W. Runkle started a furniture store and undertaking establishment. It was this year that Ar- temas Emery erected the residence south of the tract which has since been a landmark.

· The village gradually grew, the business section stretching from the depot north and west. The residence section stretches north and west of the business section west of the artificial lake, north from the bridge east of the lake, and south and west of the depot.

Blair

The village of Blair is one of the best shipping towns of its size in the state. The village has about 500 people within its borders, but there are twenty families living just outside the corporate limits in the town of Preston.

It is situated in the east central part of the county and is surrounded by some excellent stock farms. The farmers are enterprising and a big majority of them have fine herds of full-blooded stock.

Blair can well feel proud of its municipal improvements. The electric light and waterworks systems are municipally owned and the power for op- eration is both water and steam. The main streets are macadamized and it has recently purchased a large market square.

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There is a credited High school, two large Lutheran churches and a Baptist church ; a large village hall; two banks; a newspaper ; a flour mill; a creamery, and the usual stores, garages and other places of business.

In 1894 an application was made to the circuit court for Trempealeau county for incorporation. The territory embraced was the southeast quar- ter and south half of the northeast quarter of 16-21-7, and comprised 241.68 acres. The application was signed by E. L. Immell, T. I. Gilbert, L. S. Fenny, G. A. Slye, J. W. Dalton, J. E. Mayer, Ole O. Moe, H. Thorsgaard, J. O. Gilbert, J. Leasum and E. O. Gilfillan. The survey was made by Geo. M. Adams. The census, taken by Oscar T. Gilbert, gave the proposed village 324 residents. The judgment was entered on September 6, by O. B. Wyman, circuit judge, and a vote was taken on October 16, which resulted as fol- lows : 50 for incorporation and 43 against.

At the first village election held on October 30, 1894, the following of- ficers were chosen: Village president, M. A. Peterson; trustees, E. Berg- seng, J. E. Thorstad, Lars Hanson, H. Knutson, O. H. Benrud, C. O. Hanson; supervisor, Morris Hanson ; clerk, S. H. Neperud; treasurer, H. T. Thomp- son ; marshal, W. H. Welch; justices of the peace, O. A. Brekke, H. N. Hal- vorson ; police justice, F. M. Immell; constable, Lars Hanson. The question of issuing corporate bonds in the sum of $3,000 for the purpose of construct- ing a waterworks system for the village was submitted to the electors at a special election held May 28, 1898. There were 68 votes cast, of which 64 favored the proposition and 4 opposed.

The electric light system was constructed through private subscrip- tion together with moneys in the general fund, the village having been bonded almost to the constitutional limitation. The lights were installed in the early part of 1901, and the shares owned by the individuals were grad- ually taken over by the village in the following five years.

On Sept. 8, 1911, an election was held for the purpose of authorizing the village board to borrow $10,000 from the trust funds for building a village hall. At the election there were 45 in favor and 39 against. The matter was protested before the trust board and the loan held up until the middle of the year 1913, when it was granted. On August 29 of that year the village board let the contract for its construction for the sum of $11,850, and the building was completed and opened for use in February, 1914.

A movement was made in the spring of 1917 for the extension of the corporate limits of the village so as to include a number of families of the town of Preston, living east of Blair, but the proposition was defeated by a vote of the people.

There is no village park, but the High school has ample grounds and the magnificent grove of Thomas Hogan near the banks of the Trempealeau is used for picnic and recreation purposes.

Following is a list of the present officers of the village: President, J. O. Knutson ; trustees, A. E. Bratland, E. C. Hanson, A. L. Thompson, A. S. Fenney, G. W. Metzgar, E. L. Immell; village clerk, A. J. Sather ; treasurer, O. B. Borsheim ; assessor, C. O. Grinde; supervisor, K. S. Knutson; justice

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of the peace, K. H. Skaar; police justice, Ebert Olson; constable and mar- shal, Sid Jacques.

The vicinity of what is now the village of Blair was a center of travel long before the railroad was projected through Trempealeau Valley. From further down the main valley, from many a vale and cooley, and from over the ridges, came the travel into the older Jackson County region, especially to Merrillan, where the pioneers of the eastern Trempealeau County sold their wheat and where they secured lumber to build their houses and barns. One of the principal routes came up from Bear Creek over the ridge, led north through Reynolds Cooley, joined the Trempealeau Valley road as at present, just west of what is now the Ettrick & Northern right-of-way, ran east on the section line a quarter of a mile, turned north on the dividing line of section 16, past what is now the United Lutheran church, thence across the Trempealeau River on a bridge some distance west from what is now the mill bridge, and then eastward up the Trempealeau Valley, north of the river.

A few rods west of where the Reynolds Cooley road joins the main road, lived Martin Hanson. Just north of the north end of the Reynolds Cooley road lived Carl O. Strum. This farm was a famous stopping place, where the settlers arriving in the evening on their return journey from Mer- rillan, found it convenient to rest before undertaking the slow and toilsome trip over the ridge. Many a night found the house filled to overflowing with drivers and the barns and yard crowded with teams and vehicles. Just east of where the Reynolds Cooley road joins the main road, T. I. Gil- bert, about 1870, opened a small store, moving to that location from Mound Spring, four miles east. Ole Strum lived a short distance south of what is now the United Lutheran church. On the east edge of what is now the village was the house of Duke Porter, while his mother and her family lived still further east. North of the river, west of where the road after crossing the bridge, turned east toward Jackson county, was the South Bend postoffice at the home of Ebenezer Thurston, "Yankee" Thurston, as he was called by his foreign-born neighbors.

Early in 1873, the railroad being assured, and a station at this point having already been decided upon, John Van Ness, Orrin Van Ness and Henry Thorsgaard came over the ridge from Ettrick and selected on the snow-covered flats the location for a mill. These men had all been active- ly interested in the milling industry in western Wisconsin for several years, and at the time of this trip, Mr. Thorsgaard was employed by John Van Ness in the mill which Orrin Van Ness had built at Ettrick, Orrin Van Ness himself being in charge of a mill near West Salem. Mr. Thorsgaard became the active factor in the Blair mill and in a few years bought out the Van Ness interests. He rebuilt the mill after it was burned in 1880, sold it in 1883, and is now actively engaged in the grain business.

As soon as the snow was off the ground in the spring of 1873, active op- erations were commenced. Two forty-acre tracts were purchased from Ebenezer Thurston for a mill and pond, lumber was hauled from Merrillan, and men put to work on the dam, the mill, the bridge and a dwelling for Mr. Thorsgaard. At the same time the tracks for the railroad were being

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laid, and every farmhouse along the line was crowded with workmen. While the work was in progress, a farmer named John Thinbacken broke through the old bridge with a yoke of oxen, and the mill bridge received all the traffic. Soon afterward a road was established from the mill south to the main highway.

The depot was erected not far from the mill. Two warehouses and a lumber yard were opened in the same neighborhood. The business cen- ter developed on higher ground several blocks south of the mill. Even Ber- seng opened a hotel, the first business establishment in the new village. Three years later an addition was built. This hotel was an important fea- ture in the village life until it burned in 1916. In the hall on the second floor were held dances, public meetings and theatrical entertainments, and many an entertainer since famous played behind its oil footlights in the seventies and eighties.

Some time during the summer of 1873, T. I. Gilbert & Co. moved from Strum's Corners to the new site, and within a short time other places of business had started, including C. C. Hanson's general store, John E. John- son's hardware store and John Hanson's drug store.

In the meantime Ebenezer Thurston had given forty acres to the rail- road, and on a part of the Porter estate, Duke Porter had platted a village which he called Porterville. The Hiles & Ketchum plat of Blair, the rail- road plat, was filed April 16, 1877. Later the land was the subject of con- siderable litigation, and the title to some of the best land in the village re- mained long in dispute, some of the railroad officials claiming that the plat belonged to them personally instead of to the railroad as a company.

In 1891 the business section of the village was entirely wiped out by fire. The conflagration took place at about noon on July 27, and rapidly destroyed several blocks, leaving on the east and west a blacksmith shop, on the north the hotel, and nothing else but blackened ruins.

Undaunted the citizens started to make plans for rebuilding. For a time there was considerable talk of remodeling the village plat and estab- lishing a public square around which the business houses would be grouped, but the owners were unable to agree upon a satisfactory plan, for the stores were eventually rebuilt on their former sites.

Eleva

Eleva is a popular trading center in the northern part of the county on the Mondovi branch of the Omaha. It is located on the north bank of the Beef River, and is intersected by the Big Creek. Trout Creek comes in from the south a short distance east. The mill pond is north of the village. The business section is west of the creek, while the area east of the creek is, ex- cept for the creamery entirely devoted to residences.

The churches are of the Norwegian Lutheran and Methodist Episco- pal faith. The sightly brick school building of four rooms covers twelve grades of school study.

The bank, mill and creamery, the two elevators and a lumber yard are in flourishing condition, and the usual business houses are well patronized.

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A private park consisting of a two-acre grove east of the mill pond fur- nishes health and recreation.

The electric light service was inaugurated in December, 1914. The vil- lage furnished the plant and Henry Ruseling erected the building. The power is furnished from the Ruseling mill.

Eleva was incorporated in 1902. November 29, 1901, Alex A. Arnold made the survey under the direction of N. I. Gilbert, M. C. Whipple, Even Bratberg, A. C. Danuser, Ole Halverson, F. J. Hartman and F. E. Brown. The next day, F. J. Hartman took the census and found a population of 314 persons. A petition was duly presented to the court by N. E. Bersing, Ole Halverson, Even Bratberg, O. A. Breakey, Ole Vold, A. C. Danuser, F. J. Hartman, J. Vold, J. B. Rice, E. S. Englesby, H. H. McNish, F. E. Brown, K. Jenson, N. Gregerson, N. B. Nelson, Carl Voss, Peter Steen, N. I. Gil- bert, A. P. Davis, Wm. Jackson, Martin Olson and C. H. Elkinton. The court granted the petition January 14, 1902, and ordered an election to be held February 11, 1902. The election resulted in 53 votes for the proposition and 11 against it.

The first election of officers was held March 11, 1902, and resulted as follows: President, F. J. Hartman ; trustees, N. Gregerson, Andrew Olson, F. E. Brown, Ole Vold, K. Jenson and William Cleasby ; clerk, G. H. Snoyen- bos ; treasurer, N. E. Bersing ; assessor, Sever Nicholson ; supervisor, Henry Ruseling ; constable, A. C. Danuser ; police justice, N. I. Gilbert; justice of the peace, H. H. McNish and F. Mason.

Situated on the broad flats of the Beef River Valley, Eleva, like nearly all the other villages of Trempealeau County, is situated at a natural center of travel. A long stretch of the Beef River Valley, and the fertile expanses of Big Creek and Trout Creek are immediately tributary to it. Through this point in the early days, passed the stage lines from Fairchild to Mon- dovi, and from Eau Claire to Independence and Whitehall in the Trem- pealeau Valley.

In this locality, probably about 1876, Philo Englesby erected a hotel on a small hill overlooking Big Creek, the present site of the home of H. H. McNish. Jan. 20, 1877, Geo. O. Babcock platted the village on land of E. J. Carpenter and R. P. Goddard. About this time Mr. Carpenter built the dam and the grist mill, since replaced by the mill of Henry Ruseling. Mr. Goddard put up a store on what is now the northwest corner of Main and Mondovi streets, the present site of the Fogland Brothers' store. In his store the postoffice was kept. In the year that followed, a number of busi- ness houses went up. John Redfield put up a blacksmith shop. A. C. Hal- langer built a large store, Knute Jenson a blacksmith shop, Martin Olson a hardware store, W. W. Wyman a drug store, Thomas Olson a confection- ery store, Ole Halverson a meat shop, Henry Moxen and John Cook a board- ing house. The Methodist church was also erected.

The railroad came through late in 1889, and on Dec. 13, 1889, an ex- cursion was given to celebrate the installation of the first passenger service. The first mail arrived by train Feb. 18, 1890.

Dec. 30, 1889, Henry Ruseling, who owned a mill there, shipped the

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first load of flour sent on the railroad, and Gilbert & Hallanger shipped the first load of stock and grain.

At that time, as at present, the center of the village was at the inter- section of Mondovi and Main streets. The arrival of the railroad brought several additions to the business life of the village. Gilbert and Hallanger put up an elevator, an outside concern put up another elevator, N. C. Foster opened a lumber yard, and Knute Jenson and David Odell opened hotels.

Osseo

Osseo is a thriving village on the Mondovi line of the Omaha. Its busi- ness section parallels the Beef River, and a dam provides a pretty artificial lake for bathing and boating. The residences are sightly and commodious, and reflect in their architecture and surroundings the New England country from which many of the pioneers hailed.

The principal municipal improvement is the beautiful and thoroughly modern high school completed in the spring of 1917 at a cost of about $35,- 000. Electric lights have been furnished for several years by the Lee & Son mill. The old schoolhouse has been refurnished and refitted as a village hall.

The chief industries consist of the mill at the village, the mill a short- distance away, a cheese factory and a creamery. Two banks and a newspa- per are in a flourishing condition.

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History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, Part 34

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