USA > Wisconsin > Vernon County > History of Vernon County, Wisconsin, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 91
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678
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
tion will be presented a history of each of the various lines of trade, giving the first and that in 1484, interwoven with the personal history of some of the most prominent business men.
The first general merchandise store in Viro- qna, was established by Rufus Dunlap, in 1850, as has been stated.
The next general merchandise store was started by Henry Nichols & Sons, in the spring of 1852. They put up a building on the corner now occupied by Clarke Brothers' store, which was the first store building erected in the vil- lage. It was about 20x60 feet in size and one story high. This firm continued in business until 1857, when the father retired and the sons under the firm name of L. W. Nichols & Brothers continued the business for one year. At the expiration of this time M. C. Nichols withdrew and bought out Powell & Dawson. Henry Nichols withdrew and started a store at Liberty Pole. L. W. Nichols conducted the business for about one year, when he removed the stock of goods to the Mississippi river. About two years later he came back to Viroqua and became the partner of M. C. Nichols, as Nichols Brothers. This continued for about five years, when he moved to Iowa. Later, he returned and again went into partnership, re- maining until 1877, when he went to Kansas, where he still lives.
Henry Nichols, one of the pioneer merchants of Vernon county, was a native of Providence, R. I., born Nov. 22, 1790. He was the son of a sea captain. After the death of his father, he removed with his mother, whose maiden name was Burnham, to western New York. From there, after the death of his mother, he removed to near White Pigeon, Mich. There he was married. His wife lived but a few years, and after her death, he removed with his only child, George S., to Ohio. Leav- ing his son there in care of friends, he went to St. Louis, Mo., and joined the Ashley expedi- tion, which was sent in 1823, by the Ilndson Bay Company, to trap for furs and trade with
the Indians in the Rocky mountain region. About fifty men started on the expedition, and after spending two years traveling over the whole territory between the Yellowstone and Platte rivers, and enduring many hardships and privations, and having many conflicts with hostile Indians and wild animals, he, with but eighteen others, returned. After spending a year or two on the lower Mississippi, he settled in Hancock Co., Ill., where he married Delia Whitney, a daughter of Luther Whitney, with whom he lived on a farm near Warsaw until her death, which occurred in 1848. During his residence there, he served one term as probate judge of the county. In 1849 he moved with his family to Le Claire, Scott Co., Iowa, where he commenced his mercantile life. In 1852 he moved to Vernon Co., Wis., where, with his son Luther, under the firm name of H. Nichols & Son, he started the pioneer store of Viroqua. He continued in business until 1857, when he retired. In 1856 he was married to Mrs. Lydia Van Wagnen, with whom he lived until her death in 1870. He was a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church for more than half a century, and took an active part in moral and religious work, and at the advanced age of eighty-five years, loved and respected by all who knew him, he died at his home in Viroqua, June 28, 1876.
'The following lines appeared in the Vernon County Censor, of July 19, 1876:
IN MEMORY OF THE LATE HENRY NICHOLS. .
BY W. HAUGHTEN. A soldier of the cross long tried; In manhood nobly brave; The helping hand to none denied, And faithful to the grave.
Farewell! Tous a sad farewell- Dear friendships holy claim; No stain upon thy record fell, No shadow on thy name.
We shed for thee no hopeless tears; We would not stay thy flight ;- For, wearied with the weight of years, Thine was a glad good-night
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
Good night !- But o'er that purple sea, Beyond the shadowy shore, A cloudless morning breaks for thee, Where storms do beat no more.
Farewell, till in that land we meet, Where no sad tear is shed ;- Thy work was done; thy rest is sweet, Blest with the holy dead.
Kind hands were near thee to the end, And blessings round thee fel) ;- Good night, O, Father, Christian, Friend, A long, a last farewell."
Hle was the father of ten children, all of whom, excepting George S., were born in Hancock Co., Ill. George S., was born near White Pigeon, Mich., and settled in the town of Sterling, in this county, in 1849. He served four years in the 8th regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infau- try, and in 1866, removed to Martin Co., Minn., where he still resides. Chloe died in childhood. Sophronia married John C. Elliott, and moved to Hamilton, Butler Co., Ohio, where she died in 1856, at the age of thirty years. Luther W., went with his father to Iowa; from there to Wisconsin, where he remained until until 1877, when he moved to Speareville, Kan., where he now resides. He was married in 1855, to Alinira C. White, daughter of William F. White, one of the old settlers of the county. Henry B., went from Iowa to California, in 1850; from there to Wisconsin in 1854. He was married in 1858, to Lizzie Williams, who died a few years afterward. In 1862 he assisted in raising a company of the 19th regiment, Wis- consin Volunteer Infantry; was commissioned second lientenant and was subsequently made captain. After the close of the war, he located at Norfolk, Va, where he married Sallie A. Shipp, and where he still resides. William died in boyhood. Marshall C., is the only one of the family now a resident of Vernon county, a short biography of whom will be found in another page of this history. Mary Ann died in Le Claire, Iowa, in 1851. Josephine and Horatio died in childhood.
The next general merchandise store estab- lished was that of Dunlap Brothers. About 1853 they opened up a stock of goods in a tem- porary building which stood about where the Park Hotel now stands. They remained in business about one year, when they closed out.
The next general merchandise establishment was started by H. W. McAnley, in 1854, in a building which had been erected by Terhune & Bullard upon the corner just north of that occu- pied by the Nichols store. For a time he was in partnership with George McCormick, and finally closed out.
In 1855 Anson Keeler started a general mer- chandise store in a building which stood where the Buckeye House is now located. He ran the business alone for a short time, when he associ- ated himself with others under the firm name of Keeler, Fowler & Co. The Co., being John R. Casson. Willliam C. McMichael was also interested in the business for a time. They were finally succeeded by H. Greve, who con- tinned until during the war, when he closed out his stock. He went from here to Sparta, and finally to St. Paul, where he has become very wealthy.
Shortly after, or about the same time that Keeler started, Johnson Smith opened a general merchandise store in the building now occu- pied by Samuel Layne as an agricultural imple- ment depot, which stands just opposite the bank. Smith remained in business until he failed, a few years later.
In 1855 Add Clark, then of Prairie du Chien, put up a part of the building now occupied by J. II. Tate, and established a general merchan- dise store. He remained in business about two years, when he sold to Isaac Pennell, who moved across the street and purchased a build- ing which stood where Brown's furniture store is now located. Pennell remained in business until 1864, at which time he disposed of his stock. J. H. Tate secured a portion of the stock.
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
At about the same time Powell & Dawson es- tablished a general merchandise store in the building now occupied by G. W. Morgan as a photograph gallery. In the summer of 1858 they sold to M. C. Nichols, who remained in the same building three years, when he re- moved to the building now occupied by Peter Nelson's grocery store. In 1873 he removed to the building now occupied by the Clarke Broth- ers which he had erected. He continued in busi- ness until 1882, when he sold the general mer chandise department to the Clarke Brothers, and continued the drug business one year, when he closed that out. During these years his brothers were at different times in partnership with him.
W. F. Lindemann was about the next to en- gage in the general merchandise business. About the time of the breaking out of the war he opened up a stock of goods in what is now the postoffice building. He is still in trade one door south of the postoffice in the new brick building which he erected a few years ago. Melvin Chase is now his partner, the business being carried on under the firm name of W. F. Lindemann & Co.
In 1864 J. HI. Tate established a general mer- chandise store in the building which had been erected by Add Clarke. He has since moved the old building back and erected the store building which he now occupies; still carrying the same line of goods.
In 1866 1. K. Buck moved in town from his farm and started a general merchandise store in the back part of the building now occupied by Smith & Lytle. He afterwards erected the front part of the building and continued in business until 1869, when he sold to N. Me Rie. This gentleman conducted the business until 1879, when he closed out all but hardware and drugs. In 1883 he sold the stock of hardware to Smith & Lytle, and moved his drug store one door south, where he still remains.
In 1870 Rogers & Henry started a general merchandise store in the building now occupied
by the Slade meat market. This building has since been much remodeled. About 1879 H. D. Williams became a partner and the firm be- came Rogers, Henry & Williams. Mr. Wil- liams erected the fine brick block in which the store is now located.
In 1875 Tollefson & Hazen established a gen- eral merchandise store in the building now oc- cupied by O. Tollefson & Co. They continued for several years, when Mr. Hazen bought out the interest of his partner; shortly afterward moved to one door south of N. McRie's drug store, and continued until he closed out his stock in 1881.
II. H. Wyatt in 1879 started a general mer- chandise store in the building which had been occupied by Mr. Hazen. He continued a little over two years, when he went out of business.
In 1881 Tollefson & Omundson established themselves in the general merchandise business in the Proctor & Tollefson building. About one year later Joseph Omundson withdrew and started the store which he still continues. Mr. Tollefson still conducts the original business under the firm name of O. Tollefson & Co.
In 1884 the dealers in general merchandise were: W. F. Lindemann & Co., J. H. Tate, Rogers, Henry & Williams, Clarke Brothers, O. Tollefson & Co. and Joseph Omundson.
The first to handle drugs in the village was Dr. E. W. Tinker, who kept a small stock in his office, which he opened shortly after he came here, in 1854. Powell & Dawson were next to keep drugs and were the first to keep a reg- ular assortment. They opened up a stock in connection with general merchandise, in 1856, in the building now occupied by G. W. Morgan, the photographer. They continued in business until 1858, when they sold the establishment to M. C. Nichols. Mr. Nichols kept the drugs in connection with other goods until 1882 when he sold the general merchandise department to Clarke Brothers and continued to deal in drugs until the fall of 1883, when he sold the stock and went out of the business
681
HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
While he was in trade he erected the building occupied by the Censor and Clarke Brothers, also the one occupied by W. T. McConnell and Charles Douglass. The next drug store was started by N. McRie in 1868-9 in the building now occupied by Smith & Ly- tle as a hardware store, which he bought of I. K. Buck. He remained in that building until June, 1883, when he moved one door south, in- to the brick building which he now occupies. For many years Mr. McRie handled a line of general merchandise. He is still in the drug trade. The next drug store was started in 1879 by G. A. Bacon, of Baraboo, Wis., in a build- ing which he erected and which is now occupied by the store of Joseph Omundson. Mr. Bacon continued in business about one year when he sold to Thomas Jerman. Mr. Jerman remained in the same building until he completed the briek building which he now occupies. In 1884 the drug trade was represented by N. MeRie and Thomas Jerman.
The hardware line for many years was kept in connection with general merchandise. The first exelusive hardware store in the village was started by N. W. Winter. He was a tiu- ner by trade and put a stock of tin and hard- ware upon the shelves of the Johnson Smith building. He continued in business for about six years when he sold out.
The next exelusive hardware store was started by Edward Everett shortly after the close of the war. He opened up in a building which he erected that stood just opposite the present Park llotel. He continued in business until the summer of 1883, when he sold to L. W. Ady & Co., who are still in business, occupying a brick building which they erected. L. W. Ady started the next hardware store in 1879, in a building erected by Col. Butt. He remained in that building until the summer of 1883, when he moved to the building opposite the Park Hotel, having taken in David Strawn as a partner and bought out Edward Everett. Smith & Lytle established the next exclusive hardware
store purchasing the hardware department of N. McRie's store and are still in business. In 1884 the representatives of this line were: L. W. Ady & Co. and Smith & Lytle. J. P. Joyce has a tin shop, and keeps a stock of tinware and a little hardware.
The grocery line has always been handled by the general merchandise stores. The first ex- clusive grocery store was started by Emanuel Wise, during the war, in the building now occu- pied by the butcher shop. He continued the grocery business a short time and finally worked into general merchandise. He is now located at Victory. The second exclusive grocery store was started by Calvin E. Morley, in 1879, occupying the present Peter Nelson building. Ile remained in business about one year, when he sold to Peter Nelson, who is still in the busi- ness. William T. McConnell established the next grocery store in the building erected by M. C. Nichols, where he is still in trade. Dur- ing the summer of 1883 Albert Bliss estab- lished his grocery store. In 1884 the exclusive dealers in groceries were: Peter Nelson, Wil- liam T. McConnell and Albert Bliss.
In an early day there was but little, if any. need for furniture stores, as nearly all the settlers and certainly all the carpenters manu- factured home-made furniture. Probably the first in the village to make the manufacturing of furniture a business was Ole Larson. The next was T. J. DeFrees. W. W. Weeden was also engaged in this business in an early day, and afterward he, in company with O. C. Weeden, established a machine shop, equipped it with a turning lathe and made quite an important enterprise of it. They moved into a building that had been erected for a union church, which has since been moved to Main street and fitted up for a dwell- ing. The first regular cabinet shop in the vil- lage was started by Calvin Morley. He worked at the trade for several years, making house- hold furniture and doing other cabinet work. His shop stood near the residence of Judge
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
Terhune, and is now occupied by Calvin E. Morley as a dwelling. The first regular furni- ture store was started by T. B. and Charles Brown. T. B. is deceased, but Charles still carries on the business in partnership with Joseph Pulver, occupying the same building. In 1881 C. C. Olson started a furniture store in the old court house building, which has been discontinued.
The first jewelry store was started by D. C. Hope, about 1859, in a building which stood where J. II. Tate's store is now located. He remained in business for several years and then moved his stock of goods to Sparta. lle is now in Eau Claire, Wis. J. H. Tate kept a jewelry store in connection with his stock of general merchandise, for a number of years. The next jewelry store was started by Joseph Buckley, who is yet in business. Mr. Leach ran a store of this character for about one year after the close of the war. Charles Douglass started his jewelry store shortly after the rail- road was completed to Viroqua. In the fall of 1883 Edgar Ely put in a stock of goods and opened a jewelry store in part of Clarke Brothers' store. The three jewelry stores in the village in 1884 were run by Joseph Buckley, Charles Douglass and Edgar Ely.
The clothing line has always been handled in connection with general merchandise, until August, 1883, when A. Grossman, of Sparta, established a branch of his main clothing store here.
The first restaurant or confectionery store in Viroqua was started by Daniel Ainsworth in 1858. Hle occupied a building which stood where Chapman's restaurant is now located. He remained in business about one year, when he left.
The next store of this character, in Viroqua, was started by Emanuel Wise, in 1864, occu- pying a building that has since been torn down, which stood near where Slade's building now stands. Later he took up a line of general mer- chandise and continued in business here until
1877, when he moved his stock to Victory, where he is still in business.
The next restaurant was started by H 11. Chapman, in the building which he still oceu- pies. Among others who have been engaged in this line are: Thomas Allen, A. L. Russell, W. S. White, George Nichols, Fred Holden and L. Cobb. In 1884 this line was represented by II. 1I. Chapman, P. Palmer, Doxrud Brothers, and W. Mabie. Doxrud Brothers have a bakery in connection.
This first bookstore in the village was started by Mr. Lindley. The second by J. A. Somerby. In 1884 the only bookstore in Viroqua was the extensive establishment of F. M. Towner.
The first meat market in Viroqua was estab- lished by W. F. Lindemann. He is the present banker. Among those who have been engaged in this business are: Jere Chapman, A. L. Rus- sell, Joseph Snodgrass, HI. H. Chapman and Eu- gene Custer. In 1884 there was one meat mar- ket in Viroqua, owned by Wise & Devlin.
In 1884 there were two billiard halls in Viro- qua, owned and operated by T. C. Ilurlbut and Eugene Custer.
About the first to deal exclusively in agricul- tural implements at Viroqua, was S. P. Layne, who is still in trade. Fred Holden was also at one time engaged in handling agricultural im- plements. In 1884 the dealers were: S. P. Layne, A. L. Russell, Coates & Company, Pul- ver Brothers and Thomas Kelley.
The first lumber yard in Viroqua was estab- lished by Wharton Brothers & Lytle, who opened, in 1879, on the ground now occupied by I. W. Blake & Co. They sold to Dodge & Newbury, and they, in turn, to I. W. Blake & Co. I. W. Blake & Co. started the second yard, and, having absorbed others, are still in busi- ness. Dodge & Newbury started the next yard in 1880, and sold to Blake & Co. N. MeRie was next in the field, establishing the business which he still continues to run. In 1884 the
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HISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
dealers in lumber were: I. W. Blake & Co. and N. McRie.
In 1884 the insurance agents in Viroqua were: John Dawson, II. Trowbridge and Warren Davis.
The first tailor to locate in Viroqua was John Everett, who opened a shop here in 1856 and is still in business. In 1884 the tailors were: John Everett, H. C. Dean and Mr. Meidal.
The first livery stable in Viroqua was started by Edward Coe, in 1858, in a barn which he erected. He continued in business until 1882, when he sold to llewey & McKitrick, who are still in business, using a barn back of the Tre mont Hotel. E. Goodell established his livery business in July, 1870, occupying the same barn that he now nses.
The first blacksmith to locate at Viroqua was Orin Wisel, the first county clerk, who came here from Liberty Pole, in the town of Frank- lin, in 1850. He did not erect a shop, but did some blacksmith work out of doors. Ile remain- ed in the village about one year, when he moved to Readstown. The first regular blacksmith shop in the village was started by L. D. Mars- ten, who came here in 1852 and opened up in a
little log building which he erected near the present location of the Buckeye Hotel. Later, Daniel Hinsworth became a partner. They continued in business three or four years, when Mr. Marsten removed to Crawford county. In 1856 S. A. Robinson came from Liberty Pole, in the town of Franklin, and opened a black- smith shop in a little building which he put up on the southeast corner of block 3. Ile ran the shop until the time of his death. David Onstot started the next shop. He was in busi- ness for several years, when he removed to Kansas. Among other blacksmiths in Viroqua since that time are: Andrew Russell, J. D. Lawrence, J. H. Tate and Samuel Metcalf. In 1884 the business was represented by the fol- lowing: E. A. Stark and Pulver Brothers, in connection with wagon making; Benjamin Williams, James Smith and Eugene Gaines.
The first wagon repair shop was started in 1855 by Mr. Gibson, who came from Ohio. The wagon`shops of the village, in 1884, were run by E. A. Stark and Pulver Brothers.
The brick making interest is among the most important of Viroqua's industrial enterprises. The first yard here was started in 1855 by Thomas Gillett and Charles Skippens. They laid out the yard in the southwest part of the village, near what has since been called the "brick pond." They remained in the business only a couple of years. Many persons have at different times been interested in this enter- prise. In 1884 there was only one brick-yard, which was owned by Moody & Son. It is lo- cated just east of the village.
In 1884 there was one marble shop in the village. It was owned and operated by Burt W. Battels.
The first harness shop in the village wax started by W. S. Purdy in a little building that had been erected by J. E. Newell, which stood just back of Col. Butt's law office. Judge Purdy continued in the business for several years and was finally succeeded by his son, B. F. Purdy, who is yet in business. They erected the building in which the business is now carried on. In 1884 there were two shops in Viroqua-that of B. F. Purdy and Ferguson & Zitzner.
The first barber shop in Viroqua was started in 1862 by Thomas Bryant in the Skippen's Hotel. A little later he went into the service and during his absence Charles Skippens did some barbering. In 1884 there were three bar- ber shops in the village.
The first regular dentist to locate here was Dr. Ely, who is still in practice. Dr. Goechen- eur is also one of Viroqua's dentists.
About the first to make dealing in grain a special business was W. F. Lindemann. The principal dealers in this line in 1884 were: Fred. | Eckhart and Coates & Co.
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IHISTORY OF VERNON COUNTY.
In 1884 the most prominent carpenters and huilders of Viroqua were: Henry Allen, I. W. Blake & Co. and Willis Mabie.
BANKS.
The first bank established in Viroqua, was by August Nifenecker, in 1856, called the Moneike Bank. Ile occupied the upper story of a build- ing which stood where J. H. Tate's store is now located. Mr. Nifenecker remained in business about one year, when he elosed out the bank. A few years later, he removed to Bad Ax, now Genoa, where he was killed by W. S. Tib- bitts. An account of the affair is given else- where.
The second bank was the Bank of Viroqua, which was established by W. F. Lindemann and Jeremiah M. Rusk, in December, 1879. It is still owned by the founders, occupying a sub- stantial brick building, which was erected by W. F. Lindemann.
HOTELS.
The first hotel in Viroqua was erected by Rufus Dunlap, in 1850. It stood upon the lot now occupied by the Park Hotel. The main building was about 16x24 feet in size, and a story and a half in height. A wing was bui t on each side, making the building about 24x36 feet in size. It was originally a log building, but was afterward weather-boarded over the logs. It contained six rooms. One room suf- fieed for kitchen, dining-room and sitting- room, one for the office, the rest being bed roams. Rufus Dunlap opened the house as the Dunlap Hotel, and continued to run it for about six years. After this, it was not used as a hotel, and the timbers were finally utilized in the con- struction of a barn.
The second hotel erected in Viroqua was the old Buckeye House. It was erected by W. F. Terhune and William A. Bullard in the sum- mer and fall of 1852, and stood upon the now vacant lot on the corner just north of Clarke Brothers store. The building was abont 24x36 feet in size, and one and a half stories high. The hotel was opened as such by Terhune &
Bullard. They were succeeded by Jeremiah M. Rusk, the present governor of Wisconsin, as landlord. The next landlord was George Bush, who ran it for several years, when its use for hotel purposes was discontinued. The build- ing was afterwards owned by Dr. James Rusk, and then Carson Graham, whose property it was when destroyed by fire in 1878. Mrs. Gra- bam still owns the lot npon which the building stood.
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