USA > Wisconsin > Trempealeau County > History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin > Part 38
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stone was placed at the head of the grave and the facts of her genealogy engraved upon it. In the summer of 1911 the body was removed across the little creek and is now resting about a rod south of the road. Mr. Gardner and son, Bert Gipple, Dr. Mailer and myself, with one or two others, assisted in the transfer of the body to its new resting place. A few years after her death, on motion of A. A. Arnold at a meeting of the village board, it was decided to christen the little lake at the edge of the village Marinuka, which is an abbreviation of the woman's full name, Marie Nounka. Byron Olds has written and published a song entitled, 'By Marinuka's Moonlit Shore.'"
Geographical Landmarks
Chapultepec Peak is named from Mount Chapultepec, Mexico, at whose base, two miles from the City of Mexico, the Battle of Chapultepec was fought Sept. 12 and 13, 1847. Charles J. Cleveland, whose father was a veteran of that battle, was an early settler of Big Tamarac. In the spring of 1856 he located at Big Bend, in charge of the lumber and rafting business of Thomas Douglas. In one of his trips to La Crosse in 1856, he purchased a rifle, and instead of returning home by the usual route, he sent his team by a hired man, and returned by way of McGilvray's Ferry, traveled through Galesville, up along Beaver Creek, and crossed the divide into Trempealeau Valley. He observed a mountain on the top of that valley, which appeared to him to resemble the description of the Mexican mountain described by his father. He therefore called it by the name of Chapultepec.
Chimney Rock is a towering, ragged pile, caused, as other similar formations in Western Wisconsin, by the erosive action of the wind, snow, frost and rain, wearing away the surrounding formations and leaving the rock in its present shape and condition. The work of erosion is still going on. The rock is the highest point in the vicinity. It was originally called Devil's Chimney and was a landmark to guide the traveler of the early days. The rock is now obscured by trees.
Decorah Peak was named from the Indian dynasty of Decorah, of which extended mention is made in the Indian chapter in this work. The name is variously spelled, the form "Decora" being possibly in more general use in Trempealeau County than the form "Decorah" used in this history. Charles E. Freeman writing to Stephen Richmond on Jan. 21, 1912 (manu- script in the library of the Trempealeau County Historical Society) says: "I remember quite distinctly a visit my parents made to Decorah's encamp- ment at the mouth of the Little Tamarack, when I was very small. My father saw him and tells me that he was lying down, resting upon his elbow. He was naked to the waist, and was the finest specimen of manhood he ever saw, tall, big-muscled and having the appearance of a bronze statue. He was nearly blind and was very old. There is a legend that a battle was fought on the Black River, just south of Decorah's Peak, and that after Decorah's warriors were beaten he hid himself in a cave of the peak until it was safe for him to make his way to Prairie du Chien. In confirmation of this, Bert Gipple, editor of the Galesville Republican, tells me that when a boy attending Gale College, he, with several others, accompanied a man
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from Washington, D. C., over to the Peak and was there shown a place where Indians had been buried. The boys dug into the mound and found a confused mass of many skeletons in a very mouldy and decomposed con- dition. One skull, however, was well preserved. This they took home and gave it to the Winona High School to place in their museum. This mound is about 40 rods south of the Peak. Mr. Gipple says he looked for the mound some years after this and found it only with the greatest difficulty." The Prairie was originally called Scotch Prairie, but gradually assumed the name of the Peak.
Oak Openings, or The Openings, was the name applied by the early settlers to a stretch of land embracing parts of Caledonia and Trempealeau townships. The name is self-explanatory. The fall and spring fires since the earliest time had swept down the valleys and the bluffs and over the Prairie from the northwest, dying out when they reached the southern part of the Prairie, where they encountered the region of sun-dried and wind-swept sands. Thus safe from fires, and protected by the Mississippi and Black rivers, the timber made a struggle for life in what was a small desert, converting it into a desirable tract for agricultural endeavor.
Trempealeau Prairie is one of the distinctive geological features of the county. The causes that have made the Prairie are explained by George H. Squier elsewhere in that work.
Whistler Pass is one of the remarkable geographical formations of the county. The winds from the northwest sweep through it with great force, and with a whistling sound that has caused many to make an incorrect guess as to the origin of the name. It has been said that Selfus Spain, an early settler of Cross Township, in Buffalo County, and later a resident of Foun- tain City, gave the name. He and his family crossed the pass in 1856, having to chain all the wheels to get his wagon down the bluff. He camped at the foot of the bluff on the north side, and during the night noted the moaning and whistling of the wind in the depression of the hill over which he had just passed. However, the name of Whistler's Pass had been given some time previous. Reese Whistler had filed on a claim in section 14 in 1853, but so far as is known did not then settle there. In 1855 Martin Whistler settled in Pine Creek Valley and opened a trail over the hills into a branch of Tamarack Valley to meet the road leading to Trempealeau, his market-place. This trail became the main road into the upper part of Pine Creek Valley and later was the main road from Trempealeau to Arcadia. The portion over the divide toward Whistler's place was known as Whistler's Pass. Ichabod Wood, also an Englishman, came and settled near Whistler within about a year. Of the unusual scenery in this vicinity Dr. Pierce has said: "Last August we drove up the west side of Tamarack Valley and over Whistler's Pass. It was a lovely day, cool and refreshing, and breezy, and the farmers were busy in the spreading harvest fields cut- ting grain. From Whistler's Pass it was a beautiful sight down the Tama- rack. and off on Trempealeau Prairie. Field after field of yellow grain spread out over the country and here and there the grain was shocked. On the stubble fields the red wild buckwheat showed its gaudy color. Far across the prairie the Trempealeau bluffs loomed green against the blue
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sky. Then we turned and on the other side of the Pass, in Pine Creek Valley, a new panorama opened to view with broad fields of golden grain and green meadow lands. What scenes one encounters along the country road, among our cozy Wisconsin hills in the summer time. Strange-shaped bluffs peering down with their green slopes adorned with grazing herds of cattle, rocky peaks with their white limestone, and then the little valleys, the woodland haunts and waving grain and rustling cornfields."
Valleys and Cooleys
Trempealeau County is filled with valleys and cooleys, all bearing a local name, usually the name of the first or most prominent settler in the locality. The names of hundreds of these vales are yet to be gathered by the earnest historian of future years. The origin of a few of the typical names is here presented :
Abraham's Cooley, six miles north of Galesville, is named from Abra- ham Madson, a native of Norway, who came to Trempealeau County from Coon Valley, Vernon County, in the spring of 1863 and here spent the re- mainder of his life. Following Mr. Madson the early settlers in the valley were Andrew Anstensen, Ole Olson Sorgendahl, Johanes Nelson Berge, Andrew Lebakken and Christian Breningen.
Bill Valley was named after one of its earliest settlers.
Bruce Valley is named for Nathaniel P. Bruce, who settled in the valley in the fall of 1867.
Borst Valley was named after Martin W. Borst, who located several sections of land there at an early date and opened up hundreds of acres of this choice soil to grain and tame grass.
Crystal Valley, situated several miles from Galesville, was settled in 1854 by John Marten. It was named by H. W. Maughmer.
Fitch Cooley was named from Joseph Fitch, who was frozen to death while carrying hay to his oxen in that cooley in the winter of 1863-64.
Fuller Cooley is so called from a man of that name who settled in the cooley and was killed by lightning.
German Valley was named from several German settlers, among them the Coop and Berkanauer families.
Holcomb Cooley was named after Al and Abe Holcomb, who purchased or by homestead claim took up lands there from which they removed the timber to their sawmill on the Prairie. A son of Abe Holcomb, Henry Hibbard, lived on these lands in the fall of 1870 and for several years afterward.
Hungary Valley, also called Latsch Valley, takes its name from the large number of Hungarian Poles who settled in the valley from 1865 to 1870, the first to come being Frank Pellowski, whose sons, Jake, Frank and Barney, are all prominent men in the county.
Korpal Valley was named from John Korpal, an early settler.
King Valley was named from James King, long its most prominent settler.
Lake Cooley is named from Henry Lake, who settled there in 1856 and secured extensive tracts of land. He was widely noted for his hospitality,
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keeping open house for all the travelers coming up over the ridge from French Creek.
Latsch Valley was named in honor of John Latsch, a native of Switzer- land, who in 1856 settled near the creek at the mouth of the valley which is located a few miles above the present village of Dodge. He later became founder of the firm of Latsch & Son, wholesale grocers at Winona. From 1865 to 1870 a number of Polish and Hungarian settlers located in the main valley, and the name Hungary Valley came to be applied. By some the whole valley is called Hungary Valley, by some it is called Latsch Valley, while others apply the name of Latsch Valley to the region where Mr. Latsch settled, and the name Hungary Valley to the main portion of the valley.
Lewis Valley is named from Captain John D. Lewis, a veteran of the Civil War and of the Colorado Indian campaign, who settled in the valley that now bears his name, in May, 1866. He lived in the valley the remainder of his life and became one of the county's leading men.
Meyers Valley was named after Nic, Casper and Peter Meyers, who settled on farms there in 1856.
Newcomb Valley was named from Isaac and Harold Newcomb, who settled in the main valley in 1866.
Niffin Cooley, the valley of Niffin Creek, which flows into Lewis Valley, is named from Lewis Niffin, who took a claim on the creek, four miles above Arcadia, and remained there about a year.
Niphon Valley was the name originally applied to Lewis Valley.
Norway Cooley was so named because all its early settlers were of the Norwegian race. The first to arrive was Knudt Leofson Strand, who is still living there on his old homestead. Mr. Strand, who came to America with his wife and one child in 1861, had located in Vernon County, Wiscon- sin, where he heard such favorable reports of Trempealeau County that he resolved to investigate them. With a friend named John Gunderson he came to the county in the summer of 1863 and, selecting a pleasant location in Holcomb Cooley, the two men began cutting hay. But hearing of good land to the northward they started out on a further trip of exploration and after a long tramp reached the mouth of one of the most beautiful cooleys they had ever seen. Here Mr. Strand determined to locate, and accord- ingly went to La Crosse and filed claims. In the following spring he came back and built a hut, also a shed as shelter for some stock he had brough' with him. In June of the same year, 1864, he brought his family and began in earnest the task of developing a farm.
Reynolds Cooley, Preston Township, was named from Edmond M. Rey- nolds, an early settler. The ridge over which the early settlers came into this valley from the Ettrick country is now pierced by a great "cut" to allow the passage of the Ettrick & Northern Railroad.
Travis Valley is named from Joshua Travis, an Indian herb doctor who settled in the valley at an early date. The valley is often incorrectly called Traverse Valley, but the man's own signature shows the correct spelling.
Tappen Cooley is named from Ole O. Tappen, who settled in the valley in 1857.
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HISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY .
Tracy Valley was named from A. D. Tracy, a distinguished early pioneer who arrived in 1858, and settled in the valley in 1859.
Tromp Cooley is named from John Von Tromp, a carpenter by trade, who in 1855 settled on what is now the Bernt Peterson farm. He afterward sold and secured a farm across the Trempealeau River at the mouth of the valley which has since been called in his honor. He afterward moved to Iowa.
Thompson Valley was named after three brothers by the name of Thompson, who settled there and opened large farms now the homes of their children.
Vosse Cooley is in the southeastern corner of Trempealeau County. Nels Anderson Evangorhougen settled in the valley in 1856. He was known as Vosse Nels and the valley took his name.
West Prairie received its name from its geographical position in regard to the Trempealeau Prairie.
Wickham Valley was named after James Wickham, long its most promi- nent settler.
Zabrinski Valley was named from Joseph and Anton Zabrinski, who settled there in 1865.
CHAPTER XV
BIOGRAPHY
The intimate life of the community is best told in the personal stories of its citizens. Biographical facts not only provide permanent geneological material for the families of which they treat, and valuable information for the historical investigator, but also furnish inspiration for worthy emula- tion. In so new a county as Trempealeau there are few men who have not started as poor boys and attained their success by their own efforts. The story of their equipment for the struggle by birth, training, environment and experience is of vital significance. So, too, is the story of the men of the younger generation, who with better preparation and under more favorable circumstances, have taken up the work which their fathers have laid down.
Therefore in supplementing the general county history, the publishers of this volume and their staff have gathered biographical data from some eight hundred leading families of the county. The list is comprehensive and thoroughly representative. The research involved in collecting the material has extended over a period of two years, and during that time the opportunity has been opened to all of those who desired their family story thus recorded and preserved.
It is manifestly impossible to include every family of the past and present ; such a task would be beyond human ability. The criticism that in such a work many worthy families are omitted is of little force; the scope of the book might be trebled, yet still omit many a family whom some one would like to see thus honored. And while the story of many of those here included is no more worthy of preservation than the story of many who are omitted, those here printed are thoroughly typical and represent every phase of the county's citizenship.
These biographical and geneological sketches have been gathered from personal interviews, from records and from newspapers. They have all been submitted to some member of the family most concerned. While it is believed that a high degree of accuracy has been maintained, the respon- sibility rests with the families themselves and not with the publishers. In a few cases sketches submitted for correction have not been returned. In such instances the duplicate has been printed, containing the facts as originally gathered.
The difficulties of gathering such a vast amount of material are many. Even brothers and sisters often give widely varying accounts, not only of the facts and dates concerning their parents, but even of the rendering of their parents' names. In a few instances, where an agreement was impossi- ble, both versions are here given.
All personal estimates of life, character, accomplishments, worth,
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influence and ability have been added by the board of editors, constrained by a desire throughout to avoid extravagant laudations, though in many instances such laudations would be most thoroughly deserved.
John O. Melby, for many years a leader in the business, political and financial integrity of Trempealeau County, was born Oct. 15, 1845, at Askim, Smaalenenes Amt, Norway. He was reared to farm pursuits and received a common school education. As a young man he was employed for five years in a clerical position in Christiania, and during this period attracted the favorable attention of several prominent citizens. But at the advice of his friends, who saw in the young clerk those talents which in after years were to be the foundation of his success, he determined to seek the wider opportunities of the new world. Accordingly, bidding fare- well to his old associates, he embarked for America in 1869, and found his way to Omaha, Neb., where he remained but a short time. Thence he came to La Crosse, Wis., where he was employed for a short time in the saw mills. It was in 1870 that he came to Ettrick, in this county, and secured work as a clerk in the general store of Iver Pederson, in whose employment he remained for five years. While a resident of that town he was elected to the office of town treasurer, a position he held for four years. His character as a man, his ability as an official, and his willingness to render services to his fellowmen whenever needed made him well known' throughout the county, and in 1874 he was elected registrar of deeds of Trempealeau County, which office he held continuously until 1887. He was a conscientious official, and discharged the duties of his office with dignity and ability. Especially was his influence marked among his fellow countrymen, who, finding themselves in a new land with new laws and cus- toms, constantly sought his competent advice. From 1887 to 1888 he was cashier of the Bank of Galesville, and it was upon retiring from this office that he entered upon his notable career as near the end of the latter year he began the operation of a private bank.at Whitehall, which he conducted as such until 1894. In 1894 he organized a stock company and incor- porated this as a state bank under the name of John O. Melby & Co. Bank. In 1906 the charter of this bank was extended and the capital stock increased to $50,000. He was president of this institution from its crea- tion to the date of his death, June 12, 1909. The Times Banner, in summing up his life and work after his death said of him: "In the death of Mr. Melby, Trempealeau County loses one of its leading citizens and White- hall its most lofty type of a Christian gentleman. For almost a quarter of a century he has been identified with the business, political and social life of the county, and perhaps no man in all its history has enjoyed such a wide cricle of personal friends as he. From every section of the county people came to him with their problems and troubles, and this is especially true of those of his own nativity, whose inability to speak the English language or whose lack of knowledge concerning our laws made them hesi- tate to confide in others. To those he gave his time and the benefit of his intimate business knowledge with a patience and kindly interest that early in life endeared him to all who knew him. How much of his time he has thus devoted gratuitously to others will never be known, nor can we ever
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estimate what his advice and help thus taken from his busy life has done for the peace of communities, the tranquillity of homes, and the upbuilding of characters in the county and even beyond its borders. With a modesty becoming his generous nature, these are all closed incidents for which he made no charge and kept no record. Only once has he held public office, that of registrar of deeds of Trempealeau County, and his services in that capacity were so highly appreciated that it was with difficulty that he could retire at the end of twelve years of continuous service. Time and again in later life he refused the offers of high political honors to devote his time to his business and his family. Perhaps no stronger testimonial of his clean and rugged character could be written than the record of the birth and steady growth of the banking institution that bears his name. For twenty-one years this institution has been almost the sole depository for the wealth of the county seat and the surrounding territory. During all those years it has stood with the strength of a Gibraltar. Whether the financial tide ran high or low, the people's faith in this bank never faltered, chiefly because of their unquestioned faith in the man at its head. He died possessed of a comfortable fortune, and always gave with a liberal hand to every worthy charity and to every cause looking to the improve- ment of the social and educational conditions in the village of Whitehall. In his boyhood he joined the United Lutheran Church of Norway, and has always been an earnest Christian worker, giving liberally to the aid of church work, regardless of denominations. The Methodist Episcopal Church of Whitehall owes much to his enthusiastic work and liberal sup- port. The best epitome of the life and character of John O. Melby was his request, as the end drew near, for a simple Christian burial, and his acceptance without fear and with quiet resignation of the infinite decree. John O. Melby is gone, and the light of his kindly presence on the streets of Whitehall is dimmed by death, but the influence of his upright Christian life will remain with us to cheer and guide the generations yet to come." Such encomiums but briefly skim the surface of the real depths of his character, his worth and the meaning his life had on the community. He furnished backing for several financial and business institutions through- out the county ; he encouraged many a worthy business enterprise that had a part in the upbuilding of Trempealeau County villages. In Whitehall there was scarcely any phase of the village's activity in which he did not have a part. His benefactions were widespread, his hand was ever open. The blessings which the people of Whitehall will receive from the park which he and his wife presented to the village will increase yearly. Mr. Melby was especially happy in his domestic life, and in his home and family he took his greatest pride. At the beginning of his career Nov. 3, 1875, he married Jennie L. Beach, at Ettrick, and her influence and encouragement were important factors in his success. Their home was brightened by five chil- dren. Two died in infancy. Kathryn F. is the wife of Judge Robert S. Cowie of Whitehall, Charles B. is cashier of the John O. Melby & Co. Bank of Whitehall, Marie A. is the wife of Harold W. Dawdy of Onalaska, Wis.
Jennie L. Melby, the inspiration and companion of her husband in all his efforts, was born at Charlotte, Vt., Oct. 9, 1847, daughter of Charles
- - -
Jennie L. melby.
CHARLES B. MELBY
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Grant Beach and Caroline Barnes Beach. In 1854 the family moved to North Ferrisburg, Vt., where she attended the common school. In 1859 she attended the seminary at Charlotte, and in 1864 the select school at the Hollow, in North Ferrisburg. In 1866 she entered the female seminary at Middleburg, Vt., remaining there, however, only one year, as her parents then left for Wisconsin, where Mr. Beach owned a farm near Ettrick. Shortly after coming west she began a term of school in the settlement now known as Hegg. The following winter she taught in what was then known as the lower district of Scotch Prairie; then the next two terms in Ettrick, and finally a term of school in what is known as the Beach dis- trict. At the close of the term she returned to Vermont, where she remained about a year, returning to Wisconsin in 1872. On Nov. 3, 1875, she was married to John O. Melby, at Ettrick, Wis. In 1876 they moved to Galesville, where they remained until the county seat was moved to Arcadia, leaving Galesville in the fall of 1876 for Arcadia, where they resided until the fall of 1877. At that time the county seat was moved to Whitehall, to which place they came to remain until the present time. Mrs. Melby was always active in community endeavors wherever she was located, especially in the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she is a leading member. Being deeply interested in music, and possessing an unusually sweet voice, she was prominent in all musical organizations until late years. She was a charter member of the local Woman's Chris- tian Temperance Union and its first president. She was also an active member of Ivy Chapter, No. 115, O. E. S.
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