History of northern Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development, and resources; an extensive sketch of its counties, cities, towns and villages, their improvements, industries, manufactories; biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers; views of county seats, etc., Part 115

Author: Western historical co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1052

USA > Wisconsin > History of northern Wisconsin, containing an account of its settlement, growth, development, and resources; an extensive sketch of its counties, cities, towns and villages, their improvements, industries, manufactories; biographical sketches, portraits of prominent men and early settlers; views of county seats, etc. > Part 115

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J. E. SMITH, M. D., Wonewoc, was born in Washington, Ohio, in 1848. A. the age of seventeen, he commenced the study of medicine, reading with Dr. H. T. Grier for four years, during which time, in the Winter of 1867-8, he attended the Medical College at Ann Arbor, Mich. During the Winter of 1869-70, he attended lectures at the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, where he graduated, March 1, 1870, being but twenty-one years of age at that time. After leaving college, he returned to Washington, Ohio, where he practiced medicine, carrying on a drug business at the same time, for six years, when, in September, 1876, he came to Wonewoc, where he is now following his profession. Dr. Smith is a Democrat, a member of the A. O. U. W., and a Mason. On the eighteenth day of October, 1871, he was married to Mary H. Michener, born in Belmont Co., Ohio, June 3, 1851. They have five children- Charles M., Frank D., Bessie Lee, Mary S, and Blanche.

R. A. WILKINSON, attorney, Wonewoc, was born in Yorkshire, England, in IS47; emigrated with his parents to the United States in 1857, and came direct to Wisconsin, settling in Sauk County. When at the age of twenty-one, he was admitted to the Bar, and in 1867, he was married to Mary Jane Lycan. She was born in Sank Co., Wis., in 1848. They moved to Manston, Juneau Co., in 1869, where Mr. W. followed the practice of law until 1877, when he came to Wonewoc, and is now dealing in general produce, agricultural implements, etc. He is also proprietor of the Junean House. Mr. Wilkinson has held varions local offices, has been District Attorney two terms, Chairman of the County Board one term, a member of the same two terms, and is at present Chairman of the Town Board and President of the village of Wone- woc. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the I. O. O. F. The children ate Clarence R., Samuel, Cland and Mattie.

GEORGE WILLARD, liveryman, Wonewoc, is the oldest settler of Wonewoc, a native of Vermont, born at Burlington in the year 1820. Moved into the State of Michigan in the year 1837, stopping at Allegan one year. Then in the Fall of 1838, he went to Chicago, where he lived about three years. He then came into the State of Wisconsin, living in Kenosha County about eighteen months, when he returned to Chicago and spent the Winter, and the following Spring came to Baraboo, Sank Co., Wis., where he lived about nine years, during which time, in part- nership with his brother Edmund, he built the second saw mill located on the Baraboo River, and as there were no railroads in Wisconsin at that time, he hauled the iron from Chicago with teams, a distance of 175 miles. In 1851 as they were getting all their logs from up the river, they concluded to build a mill nearer the forest, and accordingly came to Wonewoc, built a saw mill, and with the exception of J. T. Clement, who was their millwright, were the only settlers of the place for two years. In 1855, the mill was destroyed by fire, but they rebuilt it, and in 1858 sold the same, after which, for about twelve years, Mr. Willard followed various occupations, took a trip to the Rocky Mountains and other places of note. In 1869, he moved to Mauston, rented an elevator, and dealt in general produce for three years, when he returned to Wonewoc, living on his farm two years ; then he moved into the village, dealing in wood for the railroad company about two years, when he en- gaged in the livery business, which he is still following. In December, 1847, he was married to Lucinda Washburn. They have seven children -Lucretia, Harriet E., Frederick, Emma, G. M., Edwin A. and Chester A.

UNION CENTER.

This thrifty station, located on Sections 16 and 21, in the town of Wonewoc, is two miles north and west of the village of Wonewoc. Its numerous business houses and

prominent residents are represented by the following biog- raphical sketches :

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

HENRY BARNEY, manufacturer, Union Center, was born in Jef- ferson County, N. Y., in May, 1852. When six years of age, the family came to Wisconsin, and stopped at Ripon about six months, at the end of which time they came to Junean County, and settled at Wonewoc, where he lived until fifteen years of age, when they went to Mauston, where he finished his education and worked in a store two years; then ran a peddling wagon one season ; then worked on a farm one season. He next spent one year traveling over some of the western country, after which he returned to Wisconsin and followed logging near Wonewoc a short time ; then burned lime two years; and Feb, 22, 1877, he was married to Hattie A. Sweet, a native of Wisconsin, born in Junean County, July 12, 1860. They have one child living, Ernest Waldo, born May 4, 1880. He then followed teaming at Wonewoc for two years, after which he purchased an interest in the saw mill of which he is now sole proprietor, and is doing a business of about $7,000 a year.

M. M. CORSAW, dealer in produce, Union Center, was born in Pennsylvania in June, 1832. In 1844, the family emigrated to Wiscon- sin, settling in the town of Exeter, Green Co. At the age of seventeen, Mr. Corsaw went into Dane County, and worked at his trade as carpenter and joiner for about seven years, during which time he became a firm believer in Spiritualism, and performed some wonderful feats as a medium. But at present does not believe in spirits, attributing his feats more to electricity. He then came to Richland Center, where he fol- lowed his trade for two years, when, on account of his wife's sickness, he returned to Dane County, in order to employ their family physician, Dr. Fox. After remaining in Dane County about two years, he went to Vernon County, and followed farming as an occupation for about sixteen years, when he sold his farm, and in 1873 came to Union Center, and engaged in the mercantile business, which he followed with success until March 19, ISSI, when he sold his store, and is now dealing in general produce, also hoop poles, handling about $12,000 per year of the latter. Has held various local offices, is a Republican in politics, a member of the I. O. O. F. and a Mason. He has been married three times ; in 1855, to Harriet Johnson, born in the State of New York, and died in August, 1857, leaving one child, Lillian, now living near Milwaukee : Ang. 29, 1859, to Martha Custer, born in Ohio, and died August, 1870, leaving three children - P. Earl. Chas. W. and Lester E., all living at home ; Aug. 21, 1872, to Mary Barge, born in Pennsylvania. They have one child, Carrie M., born June 18, 1879. Mr. Corsaw enlisted in the 43d Wis. Vols., in 1864, and served until June, 1865, when he was discharged on account of disability occasioned by a tumor on the liver.

F. L. DAVIS, station and express agent, Union Center, was born in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., in 1848, and at the age of thirteen years, started out to battle with the world. Coming to Wisconsin, he stopped in Adams County about six months, and then went to Vernon County, where he was engaged in teaching school for about six years, after which he attended school at Jefferson one year, since which time he has been station and express agent at Union Center. He owns a fine lot, on which he is building one of the best two-story houses in the village. July 15, 1876, he was married to Laura Abbott, a native of Wisconsin, born in Vernon County in 1857. They have two children, Leora May and an infant boy. He is Republican. Has been Justice of the Peace two years, and is at present Notary Public.

JOB N. GRANT, farmer, Sec. 8, P. O. Union Center, is one of the early settlers and prominent men of Juneau County. He is a native of England, born in 1832. When eight years of age, he was brought by his parents to the United States, and lived in the State of New York until 1850, where he received a common school education and worked at farming. He then came to Wisconsin ; stopped in Jefferson County one Summer, after which he came to what is now Junean County, and in 1851 settled on the place where he now lives. In the Fall of IS52, be cut the road from his place to Wonewoc, and also helped open the road to Manston, over which he drove the first team. In March, 1853, he went to California and remained six years and three months, where he was engaged in farming and teaming, and cleared just one dollar above expenses during the entire time. He then returned to Wisconsin and purchased 160 acres of his present farm, but he now owns 240, much of which is well improved and has good buildings. Nov. 17, 1863, he was drafted into the army but paid $300 for a substitute. Is a Demo- crat in politics. Has been a member of the Assembly one term and held various local offices. Was married in 1859, to Julia N. IInff, born in Philadelphia, l'a., in 1840. They have five children-William R., Mary E., B. H., Phoebe L. and Charles N.

REV. FATHER GEORGE KELLER, Catholic priest, Union Center, is a native of Europe, born in Alsace in the year of 1823, where he was well educated in French. Emigrated to the United States in 1854, and went direct to St. Paul, Minn., where he was ordained as priest, and in 1857 built the first German church in St. Paul. In 1858, he went to Faribault, where he had charge of several counties until

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN

1869. He then went to Duluth, where he remained until 1873, after which he came to the La Crosse Diocese and was located at Eau Claire, Eagle Point, Menomonie, Durand and El Paso, until the Fall of 1876, when he went to Prairie du Chien and remained about six months, since which time he has been at Elroy, Union Center, Greenwood and Wood- land. Rev. Keller's principal business is to build churches, which he has done at nearly all places where he has been located. He is a very pleasant, sociable gentleman, liked by all who know him.

R. G. KINGSLEY, merchant, Union Center, was born in Cleve- land, Ohio, in 1853. In IS56, the family moved to Wisconsin and set- tled first in Monroe, where he received a common school education, and at the age of fifteen commenced railroading as telegraph operator and station agent on the W. W. R. R. now the C., St. P., M. & O. R. R. and followed the same about seven years, being stationed at St. Paul during the list four years, after which, in the Fall of 1876, he went to Tomah al engaged in mercantile business for about fifteen months. He then went to Norwalk and followed the same business at that place until the Fall of 1880, when he came to Union Center and has since carried on a general mercantile business. June 9, 1879, he was married to Maggie M. Mooie, a native of Canada. They have one child, Mabel Louise, born Feb. 22, ISSI. Politics, Republican.

II. SCHUENFMAN, hotel-keeper. Union Center, was born in Ger- many, in IS40; emigrated to the United States in 1864, settling first at Watertown, Wis., where he was employed in the machine shops of the C., M. & St. P. R. R. for two years, when he came to Junean County, engaging in hotel-keeping for two years and saloon business for nearly five years at New Lisbon, when he sold out and came to Union Center ; built the Union Center Hotel and has since been keeping the same. June 12, 1873. he was married to Margaret Aegerter, born in Ft. Atkin- son, Wis. They have one child, Louisa. Mr. S. is a Democrat in pol- itics, a member of the I. O. O. F. and a Mason.

CHARLES SLEEPER, manufacturer, Union Center, was born in Vermont in IS33, and in IS37 the family moved to Erie Co., N. Y., where he received a common school education ; learned the wagon-maker's trade, and at the age of eighteen concluded to see some of the country, and accordingly traveled over a great part of the United States for about five years, working at his trade in different localities, after which, in IS60, he was married to Julia Peterson, a native of Wisconsin, born in Dane County, in 1834, and lived in Illinois until 1864. when he moved into Wisconsin, settling first in Green County, where he was engaged in farming about one year, when his wife died, leaving two children, Mil- dred and Ira. He then sold his farm and was traveling around in dif- ferent localities until January, 1876, when he was married to Mary E. Jackson, born in Binghamton, N. Y., in July, IS51, and engaged in the manufacture of staves at Lavall, Sauk Co., which business he followed about three years, when he sold his interest and acted as machinist for the Wonewoc Manufacturing Co. about eighteen months, putting up all their machinery and making all their patterns and teaching their men how to build wagons hy machinery, after which he was foreman of the factory until the company failed and changed hands. He then, in May, ISSo, purchased the Forbs & Thompson mill property, which he has greatly improved, and is now running the same. Is a Democrat, but takes little interest in politics except to perform his rights as a citizen.

GERMANTOWN.

Germantown is a small village, situated at the junction of the Wisconsin and Yellow rivers. The important in- dustries, are the mills of Messrs J. Arnold and McQueen, Davis & Co. The former manufacture annually, 5,000,000 feet of lumber and the latter, 7,000,000. Outside of the supply stores connected with the mills, there is the usual

representation of business. The lumber manufactured is run down the Wisconsin River to the Mississippi Valley, which furnishes a market. The village has a graded school and Masonic lodge, also a Lodge of Good Templars. The only religious institution in the village is a mission of the Methodist Church.

WERNER.

In the Winter of 1849-50, John Werner sold out his in- terest in the firm of T. Weston & Co., at Necedah, and, in 1856, located at the present village of Werner, in German- town, and subsequently became its original proprietor. The first settlement made in the village of Germantown was in 1848, by Uriah Hill and Usal V. Jeffreys, for T. Weston & Co. The shanties and other improvements were situated on the present site of that village. In 1851, Messrs. Weston & Co. sold all that part of their claim to Walter B. Gage and Jacob Gundlach. The land was purchased from the Government in the Fall of 1852, and subsequently Messrs. Gage and Gundlach laid out and platted the village of Germantown. In 1856, Messrs. William & D. R. W. Williams purchased an interest from Mr. Werner, and erected a saw-mill at that place. This property has changed hands several times, and is now owned by McQueen, Davis & Co. In 1859, Mr. Werner built another saw-mill a short distance below the village, and in 1860, sold it to its present proprietor, Mr. J. Arnold. Michael Banfield and Frank Canfield made the first settlement in the town of Armenia, near Cranberry Creek, on the road leading from Necedah up the river.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

E. R. McQUEEN, manufacturer, Werner, was born in Oneida Co,. N. Y., in 1824. Received a common school education and followed lum- bering in said county until 1861, at which time he came to Wisconsin and first settled at Necedah, where he acted as foreman of the mill now owned by J. W. Bradford & Son until April, 1870. He then went in partnership with L. F. Davis and John G. Wightman, purchased the mill property at Werner, and the business has since been carried on under the firm name of McQueen, Davis & Co. The firm employs on an average ahout 100 men, and manufactures about 10,000,000 feet of lumber annually. Mr. McQueen has been twice married-in 1859. to Elizabeth Hurd, a native of Pennsylvania. She died at Necedah, Wis., in 1863, leaving two children, Alonzo W. and Elizabeth, both living in Allegany Co., N.Y. In the Fall of 1868, he married Abba llaxton, a native of Rhode Island. They have two children, Henry and Mabel.

JOHN G. WIGHTMAN, Mauston, was born in Connecticut, Ma ch 2, 1848 ; was a resident of the State until sixteen years of age. Hle then came to Werner and worked for the firm of E. D. Wightman & Co. until 1870, since which time he has been a partner in the firm of Mc- Queen, Davis & Co. He was married in the Spring of ISSo to Miss Nel- lie E. Goodrich, then of Werner, but formerly of Chicago,

395

HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.

JACKSON COUNTY.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

This county is in the western part of the State, in the second tier of counties from the Mississippi River, and about the center of that portion bounded by the same stream.

The surface presents great diversity being divided by numerous ridges into high and low lands. The soil in the central and eastern portion is a sandy loam, in- terspersed with numerous swamps adapted to hay grow- ing, where also are found extensive cranberry marshes. The soil of Trempealeau Valley is especially rich and the home of many of the wealthiest farmers in the county.

The entire region is abundantly supplied with water, while numerous streams furnish complete drainage ; the Black River and its tributaries draining the east- ern and southern parts, Trempealeau and its affinents the western and northern districts ; Black, Trempea- leau, Beaver and Beef rivers each having its course through the valley lands and each separated from its neighbor by a series of ridges, forming divides, four in number, which are tillable only to a certain extent. The county is about equally divided into land suscepti- ble of the usual cultivation, that adapted to hay grow- ing and cranberry culture, and a portion that is a sand bed.

The first is productive of all the cereals of the lati- tude, especially wheat, with quantities of rye, oats, barley, hops and potatoes. Grasses grow luxuriantly, while clover, wild and tame hay return large crops. Apple, peach and pear do not flourish in this region, but small fruits and vegetables grow in abundance. In later years the finer breeds of horses, cattle and hogs, have been introduced into the county, and considerable interest has arisen in that direction. All kinds of game is found, and wolves are occasionally captured, where- by sheep-folds are less liable to be visited by these mutton-loving animals, and premiums are secured for the scalps of the carniverons beasts.

Railroad facilities are good, there being the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha, completed in 1869, which en- ters the county on the third township west of the south- east corner and departs from the second east of the northwest corner, crossing the county diagonally, with a branch line completed to Neillsville, in Clark County, during July, 1881, and the Green Bay & Minnesota, finished in 1874. It enters centrally on the east, and describing a curve two miles to the north, enters the Trempealean Valley ; passing theuce southwest it de- parts at a central point on the western limit. The junction of the two roads is at Merrillan.

The only one of the Lower Silurian formations oc- curring in Jackson County is the Potsdam sandstone, which forms the basement rock of the southern por- tion, the Archæan rocks rising to the surface in the

northern portion, and the bed of Black River. The peculiar irregularities of the line of junction between the two formation, the extension southward along the stream valleys of long strips of crystalline rocks, the corresponding northward extension, along the divides of the sandstone and the difficulties met with in trac- ing the boundary are very apparent.

The larger portion of the sandstone area in eastern Jackson County is within the region of heavy timber, chiefly pine. In the western part small pines mingle with the small oaks that are characteristic of nearly all of central Wisconsin, the growth of timber in nearly all of these portions being scant and small and associated with a loose sandy soil. On the 1.orthern part of the divide between Yellow and Black rivers, however, the sandstone is deeply buried bencath clay drift, as a result of which excellent clay soils, and a heavy growth of hard wood timber are to be found.

Usually the sandstone of Jackson County is but a thin covering upon the crystalline rocks, which appear in all of the deeper stream valleys. High bluffs of the sandstone, however, occur, carrying its thickness up in to the hundreds of feet, and bearing witness to the great thickness which once must have existed.

Along Black River, from Neillsville to Black River Falls, sandstone is quite frequently exposed in or near the banks of the river, the bed of which is on the crys- talline rocks.

On the southwest quarter of Section 3, Township 24, Range 2 west, west of the river, is a sandstone outlier 175 feet high, and about one-third of a mile in length, the upper portions of which are perpendicular ledges of bare rock. The sandstone is heavily bedded, indurated, coarse grained and light colored. From the summit of the bluff a number of other similar outliers can be seen, dotting the country to the west and south and one or two to the north.

At Black River Falls, the crystalline rocks are largely exposed, the river passing through a gorge in the gneiss and granite. The ground rises rapidly from the river on both sides, especially the western, and on both sides the granite and gneiss are overlaid by sand- stone. At the top of the hill on which the High School building stands, wells pass through eighty feet of sand and gravel into sandstone.

Opposite Ledyard's old mill in the bend of the river below the village, twenty-five feet of sandstone over- lie the gneiss. The sandstone here is the usually coarse crumbly rock and includes layers of greenish and red- dish shale, the lowest layer being a fine conglomerate eight inches in thickness.

Near the railway depot on the west side of the river is a quarry in the sandstone layers belonging just above those exposed at the mill. The quarry face is fifteen feet high and traversed by strong vertical joints. The

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN

stone is heavily bedded, mueh indurated, of a light color, and composed of alternating very coarse and finer grained layers, all being composed of rolled grains of glassy quartz. Some of the layers show cross-Jam- ination.

About a mile southeast of the depot is a very bold sandstone outlier, rising about 250 feet above its base. In the lower slopes the sandstone is mostly concealed. Above is a perpendicular, jagged crest, over 100 feet high, the prevailing rock, on which is a white to buff- colored, fine grained, firm sandstone, composed of sub- angular to rounded quartz grains, and containing near the top numerons iron stained impressions of obolella polita, but no shells.

About one mile west of Black River Falls, on the road westward to the Trempealeau Valley, is an ex- posure of thin bedded, coarse, brownish, crumbling sandstone. with numerous white fragments of shells, which, in some of the layers, make up most of the rocks. The outerop appears to be 130 to 150 feet be- low the obolella sandstone of the bluff near the depot.

In the various exposures in the vicinity of Black River Falls we have a total thickness of sandstone of about 350 feet, with two fossil horizons made up, one 200 and the other 300 feet above the gneiss base upon which the pile rests, and both showing obolella polita.

On the west side of Trempealeau Valley, in Jack- son County, is a peculiar isolated bluff, known as "Silver Bluff." At the east end the bluff is 165 feet high, the lower slopes being covered with a talus from the ledges above. Near the summit is exposed a hori- zontally and very plainly bedded, hard, white quartzite which rings like steel when struck with the hammer. The layers are alternately thin and thick, and brown- ish weathered, and include interstratified layers of variable sandstone. The quartzite shows distinctly lines of lamination, and has a very plain granular text- ure, being composed of grains of vitreous quartz which appear as if fused together, and is quite translucent. Following the bluff along the brow of its southwest face, the quartzite layers are seen to continue for about a third of a mile, when a sudden rise in the bluff of eighty feet exposes thin bedded, firm, dark reddish brown, highly ferruginous sandstone, of a medium grain, and composed of rounded grains of glassy quartz, which are stained, both externally and inter- nally, by iron oxide. On the north flank of the hill, at the same elevation as the quartzite on the opposite side, an eight-inch layer of hard white quartzite is seen between heavy beds of white or variable sandstone.

INDIAN OCCUPATION.

The larger portion of Jackson County was origi- nally the home of the Winnebagoes. Like most other Indians, but little is known of their origin and history. They are supposed to have come from somewhere on the Pacific coast, and during their progress eastward, encountered hostile tribes, with whom they engaged in war until their numbers were reduced to less than 2,000. In 1839, they were visited by Nicollet, on the shores of Green Bay. They afterward occupied the country about Winnebago Lake, the Wisconsin and Black rivers. In 1832, a small portion of them par- ticipated in the Black Hawk war. In 1848, they were

removed to Minnesota, from Iowa, but afterward be came possessed of a reservation in Blue Earth County, Minn., south of Mankato. They were well satisfied there, and made considerable improvement, but the mas- sacre of the whites, in 1862, by the Sioux, put a veto upon their progress. About this time, the antipathy and indignation of the whites against all Indians, caused the Government to repossess itself of lands, and remove them to Crow Creek, in Dakota.

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Author: Western historical co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company Number of Pages: 1052

Author: Western historical co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 1052