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 136

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 136

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When the decision to remove the savages to Crow River Reservation was promulgated, as may be readily inferred, it was not accepted with a spirit of resigna- tion or willingness to accept the situation. The Indian character is notoriously deficient of those characteris- tics which breed these excellent virtues. On the con- trary, they swore they would not go, and employed every means available or to be availed of to give em- phaisis to this determination. Dandy and his band were particularly severe in their denunciation of the move, and specially determined not to go. In May, the excitement ran high, and fears of trouble were ex- pressed. During that month, a number of the head men among the Indians sought Mr. Levy and asked permission to hold a council in his house, which was granted on con- dition that the participants remained sober and refrained from manifesting too much war They accepted those stipulations and returned to their camp, a short distance up the river. The next morning, the river was crowded with canoes, filled with Indians

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painted to represent them in the most unamiable mood, with feathers in their hair and other evidences of war- like intentions. The spectacle, while aboriginal, and in some respects attractive, was not calculated to inspire the settlers with a peace of mind indescribable, but the boats were rowed to the village, where they unloaded and the march to Levy's house began.

Upon reaching that domicile, they were surprised to find it locked, as Mr. Levy had omitted to mention the matter to his wife, and she, fearful of an attack, had closed up the premises and retired to an inner room for safety. After some delay, admission was obtained and the powwow carried on in the dining-room each Indian with a pipe betwixt his teeth, smoking, reflecting and expectorating with a solemnity that would have defied the profundity of a philosopher to imitate or emulate, and secured for each the lasting disgust of Mrs Levy. Here they remained for two hours perhaps, when, hav- ing concluded their business, they vacated the premises and returned whence they came, their canoes plowing the waves of the river, the surface of which appearing in the sunlight bright and sparkling as the burnished shield of Achilles.

There was no trouble resulting from the council, neither was the decision to move them affected thereby. Communications were addressed the authorities at Washington by those kindly disposed toward them, to which no attention was paid, and in June, they were sent further West to grow up with country, accompan- ied by White, Marks and Horton, settlers in La Crosse. In 1849, those who escaped the first emigration, fol- lowed in the footsteps of their brethren, and a dissolu- tion of the partnership of Levy & Snow was decided and accomplished upon the following basis : Snow re- ceived the farm at the mouth of State Road Cooley, and Levy, the Spaulding claim, while the goods in stock were divided between them. Subsequently, Levy pur- chased the claim of Ann While, and came into pos- session of about one-fourth of the river front.

The year 1849, was rather more eventful than 1848 had been. The country was then a paradise lost about the sources and tributaries of the Mississippi. It has since become a paradise regained, with enchanting, un- limited possibilities. Previous to the departure of the Indians, a gigantic struggle had been in progress be- tween them and the whites, between races, between the picturesque and civilization for the possession of the rich uplands and fertile prairies of the Northwest. To-day, drifting down the great water-way on a radiant morning, the voyager will recall nothing in his travels more varied and interesting than the city of La Crosse and its history. The home of the savages less than a half century ago, it is now the home of wealth, enter- prise, education, refinement.

New Year's Day, 1849, was celebrated with consid- erable ceremony, and included among its attendant concomitants those usual to the season and occasion. Drinking, dancing and shooting were indulged until participants were incapacitated by reason of exhaustion or other and more persuasive influences. The Winter commenced early, and the roads in every direction be- eame permanently impeded at a comparatively early period. Communication was thenceforward during the remainder of the season by ice. The stores and empty

rooms in and about La Crosse were packed with goods and wares. awaiting transportation, and unable, by rea- son of the absence of facilities, to secure it. In this emergency, a party of French was obtained, and their services employed in conveying freight and passengers to points between Galena and St. Paul, by means of horses and sleighs. The result was that activity was apparent at La Crosse, and the travel near the present city quite large. Indeed, during the snow blockade experienced this year, the visitors to the new settle- ment were unusually numerous, but scarcely any of those who came remained, and none of them were iden- tified with the subsequent growth of the settlement, village or city.

The embargo continued until late in the Spring, when its causes departed as unexpectedly and expedi- tiously as they had come in. When the snow and ice were gone, which was in April, the river was opened and traffic resumed, with the arrival of the " Highland Mary," Capt. Atchison, a profitable and elegant steamer for the days in which it was operated. Thereafter, dur- ing the Spring, the accidents and incidents of life on the prairie were similar to those previously encoun- tered, save that they may have been rather more nu- merous, as the number of the inhabitants increased.

On the 5th of April the first death by accident is recorded, being that of William, son of J. M. Levy, who met his death under the following circumstances : Along on the evening of the day in question, he guided his horse to the river to water him, preparatory to con- cluding the evening's chores. The spot selected was at a point opposite the foot of Pearl street, approached from an incline, and to the water's edge by a steep bank. The lad had reached the latter place, which he was carefully descending, followed by the horse, when he slipped, and falling, was thrown directly under the animal's feet. Before he could regain his equilibrium, the horse had stepped on the head of his victim, frac- turing the skull, and inflicting wounds from the effects of which he died on the following morning, and was buried the same afternoon.

The settlement at this time counted on its roster of inhabitants a shiftless fellow named Napoleon Frank, the height of whose ambition seemed to be to covet his neighbors' goods, become pugnaciously intoxicated, and after beating his wife into submission and helpless fear, lie down to sleep, undisturbed by any other agencies than those indigenous to Bacchanalian revels. During this Spring, " Scoots " Miller was robbed of flour which had been landed from a passing boat and left to await a purchaser, and the owner was in a quandary as to whom the guilty party would prove to be. Soon after, Napoleon procured sufficient money to purchase whisky enough to get him in that condition of muscular inebriety, when he hungered to thrash the madame, and thus ac- coutered he wasted no time in hunting up the object of his malevolence. She was found at home as usual, and having administered a thoroughly subduing course of discipline to the defenseless victim, laid him down to contemplate other conquests in the dim land of alcoholic romance.

While he slept, Mrs. Napoleon, out of all patience at his brutality, and declining longer to act as a co-partner in his crimes, visited " Scoots," and after detailing the

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abuse to which she was subjected at brief intervals, concluded with the story of his peculative acts, includ- ing that by which he acquired title to the flour, the disappearance of which had proved to be a most inex- plicable conundrum to its legitimate owner. When these dark ways and not altogether vain tricks of the sly Napoleon were brought to the knowledge of Justice Miller, there was not, as might be supposed, mounting in hot haste. On the contrary, "Scoots " and his con- freres conferred for some time before deciding upon a course of action. But when a policy was adopted, there were neither lack or want of means employed to pro- cure its exercise. In the case under consideration, di- plomancy and skill combined to release the wife, and relieve the settlement. To make a long story short, she was sent to St. Paul, and he given a certain length of time to make his exit in an opposite direction, which, candor compels the admission, he was not slow toavail himself of. But, embarking in a canoe, kept con- veniently in order for emergencies, he turned its prow in the direction of the Gulf and sailed. This was the first citizen of La Crosse exiled from his adopted home, yet he was permitted to return after a brief absence, but the mysterious disappearance of portable property never afterward became frequent.

The foregoing suggests another case illustrating the presence of strong-minded women in La Crosse, as well as types of effeminacy requiring the arm of something stronger than law to urge their defense. When Levy & Snow dissolved, George Fetherlein was left a debtor to the former, with only an assurance to liquidate when able, to commend him to an unlimited indulgence. This was rather a discouraging outlook, but the cred- itor accepted the situation, and agreed to wait Fether- lein's convenience. One day in the Summer, the latter unexpectedly offered a cow in settlement, and, to close up the account, the offer was accepted. When the chattle was delivered, the delivery was accompanied by a proposal to transfer a calf thereto belonging for a consideration. This was accepted, and the purchaser (Mr. Levy) gathering up a rope on the following morning, walked over to the vendor's cabin to take possession of and guide the youthful bovine to his herd. He reached the Fetherlein homestead while yet the sun was in the east, and, announcing the object of his visitation, prepared to bind his property, to the end that its escape would be prevented. He had no sooner completed the preliminaries in that behalf before he was apprised of the presence of an opposing force, in the presence of Mrs. Fetherlein, who first protested, and, without waiting to ascertain the effect her elo- quence would have, began an assault with such force and arms that retreat was the only defense which re- mained for the victim. Acting upon this conclusion, he hesitated not to lend the enchantment of distance to his oppressor, and fled precipitately across the prai- rie, followed by Mrs. Fetherlein. Both ran furiously through the damp grass, and, for a time, the successful competitor was extremely difficult to name. Mr. Levy gained some little advantage at the outset, but was handicapped by the loss of his slipper, and once it looked as though the "swift-winged" madam would overhaul and vanquish her nimble-footed antagonist. But, at the critical moment for him, she abandoned the

chase, and he reached home breathless and in his stock- ing feet. When the coast became clear, Mrs. Levy ventured out and secured possession of the slippers, and both acknowledged that a cow without a calf was by no means the worst phase of existence in a new country. They had become resigned to the situation, when, on the following morning, the cause of the dis- turbance was carted over to Levy's mansion by Fether- lein, and delivered to its legitimate owner. "That was many years ago," observes Mr. Levy, when referring to its occurrence, "but I never will forget it, nor Mrs. Cameron's attempt to cause the arrest and prosecution of certain parties for an alleged assault," while Mr. Levy was Justice of the Peace, for which that gentle- man could not be charmed into issuing the papers.

At this time, Mrs. Cameron occupied a position of prominence, assured, if not select or enviable. Scarcely any event occurred with which she was not identified, from a social gathering to a public meeting, from a picnic to a funeral. The Fourth of July was cele- brated with pomp and circumstance this year, in a grove near the present cemetery, and largely attended. Citizens, Black River lumbermen and Mrs. Cameron were present, and the latter contributed materially to the entertainment and its conclusion. The speeches are represented to have been pointed and eloquent. the toasts appropriate, the edibles appetizing and the fluids inspiriting. Late in the afternoon, at a moment when satiety and surfeit were the prevailing features, Mrs. Cameron hurried to a safe distance and revived expir- ing energies by publicly challenging the males in at- tendance to catch her and exchange what, it was thought at the time, would be osculatory compliments. The crowd accepted the gauge thus proffered, and ran, pell-mell, in pursuit of the prize. There was racing and chasing over the prairie, into the forest, across gullies and cooleys, but, when the capture was effected, Mrs. Cameron rewarded her admirers with kisses manufactured by candymakers. whereupon the recipi- ents became exercised, and, in the flush of disappoint- ment, refused to be comforted. The crowd dispersed soon after, the orators and celebrants of the male per- suasion, as a rule, returning to the village, where they became intoxicated, while the ladies recovered from the fatigues of the day.

ORGANIZATION OF LA CROSSE COUNTY.

In February of this year, a bill was adopted by the Legislature of Wisconsin, providing for the division of Crawford County, and the organization of La Crosse and Bad Axe Counties, the former to be constituted out of that portion of Crawford County lying north or west of the limits of Bad Axe County, which was de- scribed as follows: Beginning at the northwest corner of the county of Richland, thence running south on the range line between Ranges 2 and 3 west, to the north- east corner of Section 24 of Township 11, north of Range 3 west, thence west on the section line to the boundary line of this State, in the main channel of the Mississippi River, thence northerly on the boundary line of this State in the said river to the point of inter- section of said boundary line, and the township line between Townships 14 and 15 north, thence east on said township line to the northeast corner of Town-

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ship 14, north of Range 1 east, thence south on the range line between Ranges 1 and 2 east, to the south- east corner of Township 13 of Range 1 east, thence west on the township line between 12 and 13 to the place of beginning.

The act further provided for an election for town and county officers to be holden on the first Tuesday of April next ensuing, for the location of the county seat at La Crosse upon condition that the people fur- nish suitable buildings, and for other purposes of minor importance.

Accordingly, an election was held at the time des- ignated, when there were thirty-six votes polled, with the result as follows: Timothy Burns was chosen Chairman ; Lloyd L. Lewis, Supervisor ; C. A. Stevens, Town Clerk ; Robert Looney, J. Bean and James Reed, Justices of the Peace; Lodowic Lewis, Treas- urer, and Lorenzo L. Lewis, Town Superintendent. At this time, as has already been noted, La Crosse County embraced the present counties of Jackson and Trempealeau, and was of immense dimensions.

Immediately upon the organization of the county, the town of La Crosse was surveyed by William Hood, a surveyor, who had settled here late in 1850, or early in 1851. The original plat was made on land owned by Timothy Burns and H. J. B. Miller, and now con- stitutes the most valuable portion of the city, being com- prehended within Fifth, River and Mount Vernon streets and the Mississippi River. There were origin- ally 34 blocks and 266 large lots. While the survey was in progress, Levy, La Due, Stoddard and Cameron, foreseeing that La Crosse was at some time in the near future destined to become a large city, endeavored to procure an extension of the streets then being laid out down through their claims, and thus make at the be- ginning, a village of straight streets, with some system, and suggesting the river front be vacated for levee purposes. But Burns and Miller decided to plat their own land only, leaving petitioners to lay their claims out as additions to the original plat. This fact gives the reason for whatever lack of symmetry there may seem to be in the surveys of some of the streets.

In April occurred the first fire in the county ; the first case of cholera following in June, and that suc- ceeded by an election of county officers in the course of the Summer.

The fire was the result of a defective flue-of late years the inevitable cause cited by experts in their efforts to solve the mystery of a conflagration when no other explanation could be framed-located in Mr. Levy's domicile, and extinguished by the help of those attracted to the scene, with water-buckets and pails, before the loss was irreparable. As it was, the roof was charred and the interior defaced ; but these defi- ciencies were at once made up, and the hotel continued as attractive as it had been when alone in the wilder- ness.

The first case of cholera occurred in June, Jolin Col- lins being the victim. It was at the time of Mr. Levy's building his frame house adjoining the hotel he had put up in 1847, and where now stands the International. The weather was excessively warm and sickly, and no surprise was manifested when Mr. Collins was taken

down, though it was not anticipated that his attack would result in cholera. Through the day, Mr. and Mrs. Levy, who had seen some of the phases of the disease while it was epidemic in the United States four years previous, suspected the malady was gravitating in that direction, directed the treatment administered so as to harmonize with that recommended when the cholera had been the result of medical diagnosis. Their patient, however, seemed not to rally, but rather to grow worse. " The medicine didn't seem to ope- rate," remarked Mr. Levy, when detailing the symp- toms and process employed to afford relief. "In other words, the attack was so violent as to be beyond the reach of medicaments appeared to us all." Neverthe- less, stronger medicines were applied, and after a criti- cal period, continuing until daylight of the morning after which he was taken, the patient perceptibly im- proved. About 2 o'clock in the morning, those having him in charge noticed that his shoulders and spinal col- umn were very much discolored, and made up their minds that he was beyond the reach of mortal help. Notwithstanding which, he was cared for all the more solicitously with results both gratifying and permanent, as was evidenced when Mrs. Levy, who had retired late at night, resumed her watch. He ultimately re- covered under careful nursing ; but the effects of this terrible experience were visible during his life-time, and he attributed his recovery, as do the surviving members of his family, to the treatment administered by and the attention of Mr. and Mrs. Levy.

The case created some excitement among the inhab- itants of the town, yet no panic followed, as would be the case in thickly settled communities. But in those days, men, and women too, for that matter, were cal- loused to fear and insensible to circumstances that would to-day be regarded as critical. The type of men and women who flourished in the early history of the West were radically different from those who came after, in many instances ; more of bone and muscle, and less of superfluous matter than possess types of suc- ceeding generations ; more of genuine gold and less of gilt ; more common sense and less of sugar candy. As communities are built up and their influence is ex- tended, they become wealthier and thereby educate an effeminacy which is expressed in the deterioration of the energies, capacities and endurance of those who are directly benefitted by these pecuniary accretions.

The case of cholera was soon forgotten in the rush of events, to be remembered only by the beneficiary and his relatives, and the election came on, resulting in the choice of Timothy Burns as Judge of the Coun- ty Court, William T. Price as Register of Deeds. Clerk of the Court and County Treasurer, and Robert Looney, Clerk of the Board. The officials had scarcely qualified before the regular election, provided for by the act organizing the county, to be held in November, took place, with the following result: George Gale, Judge ; A. Eldred, Sheriff ; F. M. Rublee, Treasurer; C. A. Stevens, Register of Deeds, and Robert Looney, Clerk of the Court and Clerk of the Board.

On the 11th of November, the first meeting of the Board of County Supervisors was convened, the Town Supervisors having met during the Summer in the

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frame building then in process of building by John M. Levy. At the latter meeting, Wyram Knowlton was the Chairman.

THE COUNTY SEAT.

The conditions under which the county seat was located at La Crosse were that suitable buildings be erected without delay. But the truth is there was no other point which could be so designated. Settlements were limited to the village, save, as already indicated, on farms which had not yet become productive. Yet there was necessity for buildings to accommodate the growing population, to accommodate public meetings, to provide ways and means for religions observances and educational privileges. To supply all these wants and to conform to the provisions of the act of organ- ization, it was decided this year to erect a court-house, and a court-house was erected that remained a monu- ment to their ambitious and architectural ethics for nearly twenty years.

It was constructed of lumber procured on Black River (all lumber was obtained from the lumber re- gions which then bordered and still line that stream of peculiar color and eccentricities, creeping its way at times sluggishly from the north, until it empties into the Mississippi at its confluence with the La Crosse), late in 1851. The design had been prepared though, and when the material was delivered, little delay was experienced in putting it into shape, raising the frame and having it safely covered before Winter. Work was continued on it during the succeeding weeks with such advantageous results that a school was opened therein by Abner S. Goddard soon after the holidays. The court-house was 26x36 in dimensions, two stories high, and became the scene of many an adventure and other experience that should have been preserved for posterity. It was proposed and completed by men who have not passed entirely beyond the memory of some who still survive, and who will be preserved in the history of that city on the banks of the inland sea, the waves of which glide onward to the ocean, as long as the city continues.

THE UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE.

The land office was removed here in June, with Col. Theodore Rodolf, Receiver, and the Hon. Cyrus K. Lord, Register. This year, these gentlemen erect- ed an office on Third Street, adjoining the Tallmadge House, and began business with no help but that furnished by themselves. But this did not last long. The entries hecame so numerous that a force of from ten to fifteen clerks was necessary, and then, al- though laboring from daylight to dark, not nearly as much was disposed of as was hoped for or expected by thosew ho were anxious to enter claims.

The scenes that were witnessed about this office were exciting, and of a character that, in these days even of push and mercurial uncertainty, seem calculated to excite the risibles of the least excitable persons. The motto was, first come first served, and the applicant who could first make his claim or present his bid, was the chief, it might almost be said, among ten thousand. Men began their vigil at the dawn of the day, and tarried late in the ranks to accomplish their object, while those

who came late, like the foolish virgins who had failed to trim their lamps, were, to appropriate the vernacular of a later day, "badly left." Sometimes men remained in line all night to secure an audience when the office opened, while some hired substitutes and contained themselves in patience, biding their time.

In 1853, the entries were comparatively nominal in number until the latter part of that year, but in 1854 they increased in a wonderful ratio - became epidemic, as it were, without benefit of clergy, metaphorically speaking. Then it diminished, and gradually dropped off until the railroads came in about June, 1856, and made their selections of lands, after which the office was temporarily closed and the duties of its officers sus- pended. Early in 1853, the entries, it might be here observed, of lands in La Crosse County, as defined by the last survey, were made at Mineral Point, through Washburn & Woodman, Milton Barlow, Charles G. Hanscom and Kramer & Clinton - the latter, bankers, and, with those mentioned, residents of La Crosse.

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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