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 144

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 144

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As elsewhere, citizens of Southern politics and sym- pathies, resided in La Crosse, and while all urged the enforcement of the laws and maintenance of the Union, there were many who differed honestly as to the means to be employed in that behalf. While repudiating the practical application of the resolutions of 1798, they insisted that violations of the Constitution defeated the objects sought to be gained. One class labored for the Constitution and Union, another for the Union with or without the Constitution. This division of senti- ment caused interminable disputations, which were characterized by intense feeling on both sides, not alto- gether obliterated by the lapse of years.

For nearly a year after the war, business is said to have been the reverse of brisk. It was the calm that succeeds the storm. At the expiration of that period, the city again grew rapidly. Trade was extended to remote settlements in Minnesota and the Territories ; manufactures increased ; public and private improve- ments began to become prominent in various portions of the city ; additional schools were provided for the education of youth ; new religious and secular societies were organized; agricultural interests prospered and increased, and mercantile ventures were vastly bene- fited ; new railroads were incorporated, projected and built during this decade ; the bridge and internal im- provements of immense value were mooted and pro- vided for. As the years succeeded one another times became better and better, and, before the dawn of the centennial decade, steady progress, with every appear- ance of ultimate success, was made in the departments essential to municipal, public and private growth, not- withstanding the temporary paralysis of business caused by Black Friday. The year 1870 gave bright promise for the future, and the career to which this was the in- troductory annual has not entirely failed of a complete fruition of such promise. Hard times have affected La Crosse as they did other points. The failure of Jay Cooke, followed by the panic of 1873, left its mark throughout the Northwest.

THE PRESS.

La Crosse has had abundant opportunities to test the value of newspapers as aids in building up a busi- ness center ; and, as a general thing, its citizens have always manifested a liberal spirit or purpose toward the various journalistic enterprises that have been inaugu- rated in their midst. It must be truthfully said that in dispensing their patronage to the press, the citizens of La Crosse have been tolerant and magnanimous, as they have been reasonably generous to journals of all parties. It may be difficult to correctly estimate the advantages derived by La Crosse, in a business point of view, from the influence of the press, which at various times has called into requisition respectable, if not em- inent, talent in the advocacy of local interests, which have had a tendency to inspire its citizens, as well as friends, far and near, with hope and confidence in its prosperity.

In every community there are shriveled souls, whose participation in the benefits of enterprises is greater than their efforts to promote the public welfare. These are the men who will never subscribe for a newspaper, but will always be on the alert to secure, gratuitously, the first perusal of their neighbor's paper. These are the croakers, who predict evil, and disparage enter- prise. But, with very few exceptions, La Crosse has never been afflicted with such drones. On the con- trary, as patrons of the press, La Crosse citizens have established a good name. As records of current hist- ory, the local press should be preserved by city and county governments in their archives for reference. But even now, it is difficult or impossible to find any complete files of the press of La Crosse. There should be some means devised by which press records might be preserved and made accessible, as part and parcel of the current history of the times. Still, by diligent search and much inquiry, enough data has been gleaned to supply a tolerably accurate record of the city press , but if any inaccuracies or omissions are noticeable, they may be attributed to the absence of completeness in the files.

Nearly all of the issues of the first newspaper pub- lished in La Crosse, the Spirit of the Times, have been seattered and lost. Several years' files of the second newspaper established here, the Democrat, have been removed from the State. The files for five or six years of the third newspaper instituted here, the Republican, were destroyed by fire in 1864. The presence of citi- zens who have been familiar with the history of La Crosse journalism, and the existence of many volumes of these publications, enable us to give not only a fair sketch of the journals, editors and publishers of this city, but also to reproduce some items of local inei- dents which the older settlers will verify, and which new-comers will peruse with interest. So, in order to impart value to this department, a feature of La Crosse history, we will endeavor to call up recollec- tions of occurrences which will cause many of the older settlers to say, "that's so;" while some of the more recent comers will confess that La Crosse pio- neers were a lively lot of delegates.

The Spirit of the Times, under the proprietorship and

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HISTORY OF LA CROSSE COUNTY.

management of Messrs. P. A. & A. D. La Due, in 1852, was the pioneer enterprise in La Crosse journalism. Their hand press, type and small stock of materials for a newspaper and printing office were brought hither from Prairie du Chien. It was a small paper and ably edited in the interest of Mr. A. D. La Due and his friends in the Democratic party. Its proprietors and patrons had various purposes in establishing the Times, and it soon became evident that a conflict was inevit- able. The village of La Crosse was very small, but the county, as then organized, was very large. The Assembly District in which was La Crosse, in 1851 and 1852, reached from the Wisconsin River to the valley of the Chippewa, and included Black River. This Senatorial District was larger than our present Congressional District. Thus, while the land owners of La Crosse Village desired a journal that could keep the attractions of this locality prominently before the people far and near, this large tract of country em- braced a good many bright and ambitious men, who had aspirations for political and legislative honors. It does not appear that the Times filled the bill as a sat- isfactory exponent of local business enterprise; but there is no doubt it kept Mr. A. D. La Due's claims for political honors prominently in view, to the annoy- ance of his enemies.

Hon. Albert D. La Due came to La Crosse from Eastern Wisconsin ; he was a man of no ordinary ability. He had little or no property to back his efforts in maintaining a position of influence in his party and in the community ; but his talents as a writer and as a political manager called into requisition a powerful com- bination of ambitious and influential men to keep him in check. He had been in the Wisconsin Assembly of 1851 from Sheboygan, and succeeded in being elected in 1852, to represent the counties of La Crosse and Chippewa in the Assembly of 1853, after having en- countered and overthrown the combined opposition of many able antagonists, including such men as County Judge, subsequently Circuit Judge, Hon. George Gale, who had removed to La Crosse from Walworth County, which he had represented in the Second Constitutional Convention, which framed the Constitution of Wiscon- sin in 1847-48, and also in the State Senate in the years 1850-51 ; Mr. Francis M. Rublee, who came to La Crosse in 1851, from Eastern Wisconsin, and had been Sergeant-at-Arms in the Territorial Legislative Assem- bly of 1840-41; Hon. William T. Price, who had rep- resented the counties of Crawford and Chippewa in the Legislative Assembly of 1851 ; Col. Chase A. Stevens, who represented the counties of La Crosse, Buffalo and Chippewa in the Legislative Assembly of 1855, and other prominent citizens who did not relish the onward march of Editor La Due, who was backed by such in- fluential men as Col. Thomas B. Stoddard, subsequently the first Mayor of La Crosse ; Dr. William J. Gibson, who represented this Senatorial District in the Leg- islatures of 1855 and 1856, and many other gentle- men of influence and ability, who co-operated with La Due.

No one called another a carpet-bagger in those days, for they were all carpet-baggers. But there were bright, sharp, energetic and plucky men among those La Crosse pioneers ; and any adventurer who encount-

ered this crowd of vigilant citizens, and mistook them for unsophisticated "flats," would soon discover the mistake ; for he would not be long at work before he would find they were abundantly able to stand their hand in any contest that tested manhood.

By reference to Mr. La Due's address to the electors of this large Assembly District, in 1852, there is no reason to doubt that the campaign was conducted with considerable bitterness. He was accused by Judge Gale of violating a written pledge about his action as to supporting Mr. W. T. Price for the State Senate, notwithstanding Mr. La Due's declared preference for Dr. Gibson for Senator ; and the result showed that a man from the south end of the district, Mr. Sterling, won the prize. La Duc cantioned Democrats to " be- ware of split tickets," as Mr. C. A. Stevens was cireu- lating Democratie tickets, with the name of Mr. George Farnum, the Whig nominee, in place of Mr. La Due, for Assemblyman. At the very outset of a truthful and candid statement regarding the press of La Crosse, the faet cannot be concealed that, here as elsewhere, it is difficult to determine to what extent or degree the proverbial industry, civility, docility and amiability of the average editor or publisher of a newspaper are at- tributable to the salutary restraints that are thrown around him by that blessing in disguise-a chattel mortgage. Mr. La Due set the fashion in La Crosse, or brought it hither ; and if his successors, heirs and assigns in journalism have not all followed his example in this respect, the exceptions have been so few, and the violations so void of flagraney, as to entitle those who have departed from Mr. La Due's example to lenient treatment.

A chiattel mortgage may be a spur to vigilance and industry, and perhaps prevents a newspaper from be- coming arrogant, saucy, overbearing and dictatorial ; but it is an awkward and troublesome encumbrance for a poor editor or publisher to carry, when he has foes who are on the alert to become his creditors long enough to foreclose the mortgage and strip him of his type and press. In thousands of cases, political vul- tures have prowled around to find some poor fellow who is struggling for existence in a printing or news- paper office, and demanded his servility or hurled him to ruin. Mr. La Due's Spirit of the Times was squelched by the foreclosure of the chattel mortgage within a year from its commencement. The rate of interest, or usury, in those days, on land entries and nearly all loans in the West, ranged from three to five per cent. a month, three per cent. a month having been regarded a moderate rate of usury on ample security. This mortgage was a small sum for a political and local organ of its importance.

M. W. W. Ustick, who was in no way identified with the contending forces, except as a compositor on the Spirit of the Times, accidentally became the pur- chaser on a bid that he regarded safe, and which he supposed would be raised by the other bidders, and sold the property to Col. Chase A. Stevens, who found journalism " a hard road to travel." Before he obtained possession or use of his printing materials, some por- tions of the type and press suddenly disappeared, and are supposed to be yet in the bottom of the Mississippi. Truth permits the statement that this was probably

498

HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

the only press in La Crosse that ever took strongly to and progressive community. The La Crosse Democrat, water. Mr. La Due, who had also held the office of although lacking the support received by its succes- sors, was an improvement upon its predecessor; but it was not a bonanza for its owners, who, after a year of unprofitable experience in journalism, gladly retired from the field of newspaper strife early in 1854, after doing valiant service for the Democratic party, and making La Crosse favorably known throughout the country. Town Superintendent, left La Crosse for Minnesota in 1857, and became engaged in land business that yielded him better revenues than he derived from the Spirit of the Times, which ceased early in 1853. Mr. La Due's residence in La Crosse is now occupied and owned by Hon. John M. Levy, on South Fourth street, between Germania Hall and the dwelling of Messrs. C. & J. Michel. Mrs. La Due died at Wells, Minn., in the Autumn of 1880. Mr. La Due is yet in Minneaota.

The La Crosse Democrat .- Col. Chase A. Stevens re- plenished his printing-office, and secured in Madison, a partner and practical printer, Wm. C. Rogers, who had been trained to the printing business and political journalism in Albany, N. Y., under the examples, in- spiration and discipline of the two political newspaper giants of those times, Thurlow Weed, of the Albany Evening Journal, and Mr. Croswell, of the Albany Ar- gus. Col. Stevens was a Democrat, and Mr. Rogers was a Whig. The La Crosse Democrat, edited by C. A. Stevens, and published by Stevens & Rogers, com- menced May 1, 1853. Those were eventful and stir- ring times in the history of La Crosse. The pioneers were hopeful, enterprising and persevering. Strangers were welcomed as long-lost brothers. Everybody who arrived was cordially embraced by the residents as if he were just the person they were waiting for to send to Congress, or to become Governor. It is not easy for those who never witnessed the process of starting a city to comprehend the watchfulness and attentions of its founders in regard to visitors, explorers and new- comers in search of homes in a locality which gives the best promise of growth and prosperity. La Crosse was remarkably fortunate in this respect, as it fell into the hands of bright, prompt, active, resolute men of hope, nerve and energy, and if they made vivid and gorgeous pictures of future greatness for this city, they certainly did their utmost to achieve success, and have their favorable predictions verified. John M. Levy's cordial welcome to La Crosse made strangers feel that they had found a father, who would adopt them as his children, and those pleasant greetings were invariably accompanied by substantial tokens of genu- ine friendship. "Scoots" Miller, from Skaneateles, N. Y., with his inexhaustible fund of wit and humor, was more entertaining than a circus. Francis M. Rublee, who came to La Crosse in April, 1851, when there were only five families here, had no equal in setting forth the glorious prospects of the " Gateway City.' lle was a valuable friend of La Crosse, as he was ever- lastingly engaged in business enterprises of various kinds, and inspired all who came in contact with him with hope and courage, and was determined this should be a great railroad center and commercial metropolis. Lieut. Gov. Timothy Burns, Judge George Gale, Col. C. A. Stevens, Deacon S. T. Smith, Revs. J. C. Sher- win and W. H. Card, were among the vigorous starters of La Crosse. With the incoming of such elements for building up society and business, it is not surpris- ing the rapid progress of settlement in La Crosse dur- ing the years 1852-53-54, should have ushered into existence newspaper improvements in keeping with the growing resources and demands of an ambitious

A perusal of the issues of this paper, during the year of its publication-1853-54-by Messrs. Stevens & Rogers, leaves a favorable impression of its ability and usefulness. Let us glance at some of its contents. Here is a choice item :

MARRIED .- In this village, July 21, 1853, by Rev. W. H. Card, Mr. Mons Anderson to Miss Jane Halverson, both of La Crosse.

TIMBER THIEVES .- From an article a column and a half long, in re- ply to one from the Minnesotian, the Democrat seems to have been favorable to the timber thieves, and quotes the report of Capt. Estes, United States Superintendent of Public Lands for Wisconsin, to the effect that " the interests of the whole Northwest were so intimately blended with the lumber interests, that to enforce, to the full extent, his authority and the present laws, according to the old construction of them, would ruin hundreds of our best and most enterprising citizens, and destroy, in many instances, the growth of our most flourishing settlements-sound, judicious and discreet."

RAILROAD .- Levi Burnell, secretary of the La Crosse & Milwaukee Railroad Company, under date of Milwaukee, July 7, 1853, called in the second installment of $5 per share from the stockholders. Judge Gale was also announced to canvass the upper country for stock subscriptions.

MAIL STAGE .- Announcement was made in issue of August 23, 1853, that Messrs. Parish & Heart, have the contract for carrying the mail be- tween La Crosse and Baraboo, via Sparta, once a week each way ; and that they will run a good covered wagon on this route for the accommo- dation of passengers, with stages twice a week between Baraboo and Madison, and between Baraboo and Portage.

Only a few of the eleven columns of advertisers are now alive and doing business in La Crosse. Let us look att them. At the head of the first column on first page, stands the card, and on the fourth page stands the ad- vertisement, of the oldest druggist in La Crosse, and iu the Northwest, our genial and excellent townsman, George Howard, on Front street, and here also, as we live, are the advertisements and cards of our popular and successful City Treasurer, George Scharf, as dra- per and tailor, on Front street ; M. M. Manville, as wholesale and retail dealer in stoves, tinware, etc., on Front street ; Howard Cramer, attorney, counselor and solicitor, and general land agent, Black River Falls, Jackson Co., Wis .; W. W. Ustick, dealer in furniture, stoves, groceries, saws, etc., on Front street ; T. C. Fuhr, stoves, etc., on Front street ; John M. Levy, forwarding, storage and commission merchant, and wholesale and retail dealer in pork, flour, grain, liquors, provisions, dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes, hard- ware, crockery, stoneware, etc., etc., on Front street, opposite his wharf-boat ; S. T. Smith & Co., wholesale commission and forwarding merchants, No. 3 Front street ; N. Hintzen, groceries, provisions, etc., Front street ; F. M. Rublee & Co., two columns of announce- ments of dry goods, groceries, crockery, boots and shoes, etc., etc., No. 2 Front street ; C. C. Washburn and C. Woodman, attorneys at law and land agents (offering to locate lands on credit), Mineral Point, Wis. ; and notice of United States Land Office sale, over the names of Cyrus K. Lord, Register, and Theodore Rodolf, Receiver.

The year 1854 bronght new and greater demands

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HISTORY OF LA CROSSE COUNTY.

upon the press of La Crosse. After the La Crosse Democrat was discontinued by Messrs. Stevens & . Rogers, in the early part of 1854, arrangements were made for the publication of two newspapers instead of one. For the greater part of the previous year, the Democrat had to perform double service : as, besides pleading the cause of the Democracy under the editor- ship of Col. Stevens, a portion of every issue was at the disposal of Samuel D. Hastings (then a resident of La Crosse, subsequently State Treasurer from 1858 to 1866 inclusive, and now a citizen of Madison, Wis.), for the advocacy of Temperance, and a mild sort of anti-slavery Republicanism. Each of the two parties needed an outspoken and reliable party organ. Under the auspices of the United States Land Offices and prominent members of the Democratic party, the La Crosse National Democrat, owned, edited and published by Col. Theodore Rodolf and Judge Cyrus K. Lord (Receiver and Register of the United States Land Office ), commenced July 6, 1854.

On the 11th of October, 1854, Mr. Fred. A. Moore bought Col. Rodolf's interest in the National Democrat ; and Dr. A. P. Blakeslee bought Judge Lord's half of the concern on December 12, 1855, after which, until the sale of his interest to Mr. C. P. Sykes, November 10, 1859, Dr. Blakeslee was managing editor, and practically the sole publisher, as Mr. Moore contrib- uted to the local department of the paper at pleasure, and left the doctor in undisputed control. Dr. Blakes- lee was a sharp and pungent writer, a vigorous speaker, a great reader, a keen observer, and a terrible adver- sary. He followed the political fortunes of that por- tion of the Democracy that recognized Stephen A. Douglas, as leader. When stormy campaigns were in progress, the National Democrat was "a scorcher," and it was no child's play to encounter the vigorous doctor's trenchant pen, or withering speech. He could both write and talk, and any adversary who incurred his displeasure, felt admonished that the day of awful reckoning had surely come. Those who remember Mr. Moore's peculiar style of journalism will not need to be reminded that local items were his jewels. He cared little or nothing about politics ; but delighted in "happening around" when least expected, to seize upon occurrences and incidents which would be aired, sometimes to the deep chagrin of persons who little thought he would dare to publish the particulars of af- fairs that they considered strictly and sacredly private, but which he regarded as "legal tender " and public property.

The La Crosse Independent Republican-This paper, edited and published by William C. Rogers, com- menced August 16, 1854. It was a thirty-two col- umn weekly newspaper, neatly printed, with new ma- terials, in the best style of the printer's art, and will compare favorably with any newspaper of its size and resources at the present day. The mechanical execu- tion of the Independent Republican was perfect. The local department of the paper was fairly and fully worked up. The general news and miscellany received merited attention ; but the editorials of the Independ- ent Republican lacked the vim, clearness and force which characterized the pointed and pungent produc- tions of the National Democrat. It was, however, cus-

tomary in those days to enlist in editorial service such persons as felt inspired to instruct the people in regard to political and local affairs ; and thus both papers, al- though somewhat lacking symmetry of purpose, con- trived to " tell the truth, the whole truth," and some- times, perhaps, more than the truth. At any rate, it is safe to say, they maintained the freedom of the press without mental reservation. Mr. Rogers' health was not robust. He was a practical printer, a shrewd poli- tician and a straight Whig Republican ; but he was a quiet and unpretentious man, and did not attempt to splurge in his writings or business. He had in his of- fice, as foreman and assistant for several years, a noted character, who would attract the attention of any mul- titude at a horse fair, ward caucus or world's conven- tion. The older residents of La Crosse, who were here from 1855 to 1860, will just lay down on the grass, or carpets, or floor, and roll over with contagious laughter at the mention of "Gov. Seward's friend," Mr. Norman Eastman, he with the flat nose and slit lip.

Of the year 1859, very few newspaper items can be gleaned until the latter part of the year, when three daily papers were ushered into existence. Without go- ing into particulars as to the circumstances under which they were established, we will refer to the closing year of the La Crosse Weekly National Democrat, under the management of Dr. Blakeslee and ownership of Messrs. Blakeslee & Moore, and the closing year of the La Crosse Weekly Independent Republican, under the man- agement and ownership of Mr. W. C. Rogers. Both of these papers had been ably conducted, considering the means and patronage at command of publishers in a new and sparsely settled country. The character- istic features of the two papers were as distinct and unlike as their publishers. The National Democrat was vigorous and stormy ; the Independent Republican was steady and gritty. Typographically, Mr. Rogers' paper kept the lead, while the local and general news as well as the literary miscellany of the Republican had been admirably and evenly maintained throughout the six years of his editorial and business management. Its patrons stood by the Republican devotedly. It seems to have been judiciously and conscientiously conduct- ed. In the meantime, politics had assumed an unpre- cedentedly intense form, and the Republican party did "carry the war into Africa" by its determined resist- ance to the encroachments of the Pro-slavery Democ- racy. The Democratic party became divided by the aggressive movements of the Republican party.

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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