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 147

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 147

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Hiram Goddard's Mill .- This mill is located on French Island, about half a mile northwest of the city limits. Its erection dates from 1875, when it was built by C. B. Dawes, of Muskegon, Mich., under the direc- tion of Mr. Goddard. The land appurtenant to the mill, and used for a yard, etc., comprises fifteen acres. The mill has excellent machinery, and has a sawing capacity of 5,000,000 feet per year. The first Summer it was operated, the lumber cut reached 2,000,000 feet, of which amount 500,000 feet were retailed here and the remainder rafted to down-river points.

In 1876, operations were begun in the second week in April, and kept up until September. The mill ran to half its capacity for a full season, cutting 2,500,000 feet of lumber, all being rafted, except 400,000 feet. In 1877, the third season, work was begun May 1, and continued until the middle of September. The busi- ness done amounted to about the same as the previous year, 2,500,000 feet being cut, which, with the excep- tion of 300,000 feet, was rafted. Of shingles, 2,000,- 000 were manufactured together with 500,000 laths.

In 1878, work was begun the second week in April, and continued 120 days, during which time the timber cut aggregated 2,000,000 feet. Of this, all but 300,- 000 feet was rafted. The laths cut amounted to 400,- 000, and 140,000 shingles were also turned out. In 1879, the mill started up on the 10th of May, and run about five months, turning out about 3,500,000 feet of lumber, which, with the exception of 500,000 feet was rafted down the river. Between 500,000 and 800,000 laths were turned out this year together with about 2,500,000 shingles. The hands in this mill receive from $1 to $3 per day. There are employed around and about the mill about fifty persons, including a few boys and girls. The mill is substantially built and con- veniently arranged, and is well and economically managed, and in the enjoyment of a fair share of pub- lic confidence and patronage. Mr. Goddard is a thorough business man, and very far-seeing in the management of his mill and all the details looking to its success.

C. H. Nichols & Co.'s Saw-Mill .- This mill is sit- uated on the Black River, about two miles north of the city limits. Its construction was commenced in the Spring of 1856, by Messrs. Royse, Boice, Melville & Co., and completed in June of that year, J. S. Nichols doing the work, and Peter Sardin was the first sawyer, and a man named Mitchell was the first engineer. J. S. Nichols performed the duties of superintendent and manager. The first year the mill was operated, it showed a capacity of 16,000 feet per day, and the amount of lumber cut was 2,500,000 feet, all of which was rafted except 900,000 feet, which was sold at retail in this market. In 1859, the mill was sold to C. M. Nichols, but it remained idle until 1860, undergoing repairs in the meantime. It was then operated steadily until 1864, when it was not run at all, as the water in

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

the Black River was unusually low, causing a great scarcity in logs. The average price of lumber from 1857 to 1865 was between $13 and $15 per thousand. The price gradually increased from 1865 to 1868, which was the period of plentiful currency in good times, reaching, in the latter year, $22 per thousand. In 1873, the mill was purchased by C. H. Nichols & Co. The " Co." comprises two names, and the firm in full is Messrs. C. H. Nichols, F. E. Nichols and Frank Pooler. After these gentlemen purchased it, they materially changed it and increased its capacity, ena- bling them to turn out 45,000 feet of lumber, 30,000 shingles, and 10,000 laths per day. These were rafted South as quickly as manufactured, and sold in the down-river markets. But very little attention was be- stowed upon local or retail trade.

The property was valued at $25,000. A fifty-acre lot is owned and occupied by Messrs. Nichols & Co .. in connection with the mill. They have a vested title of the riparian rights for a mile along the east shore of Black River, in the matter of handling logs, tying up rafts, etc. Twelve men are employed in sorting and rafting, at a daily compensation of about $25.

Nichols & Co. also own a planing mill, which is run in connection with the saw mill. It is one-eighth of a mile east of the latter. It affords employment to five men, and is fitted up with machinery of the latest and most improved patterns. This mill runs about three months in the year.

Messrs. Nichols & Co.'s mill was entirely consumed by fire, October 5, 1880. About ten days after this, a corps of carpenters went to work, in laying the found- ation for a new one, and their present large mill was completed and the first sawing done on the ninth day of May, 1881. After running one and a half days, they shut down for the purpose of arranging some little defects. On the fourteenth day of this month, however, a full force of men went at work, and they have been in constant operation since. This mill is in size 36x144, and has a capacity of 120,000 feet of lum- ber in twenty-four hours.

They employ 102 hands in the mill -including a few boys and girls in the lath and shingle rooms-at a daily compensation of $160. They have now in pro- cess of construction a number of rafting sheds. A larger portion of the lumber cut is rafted ; however, in the Fall, about 2,000,000 feet are piled in the yard at the mill. The entire cost of the mill amounts to $35.000.

John Paul's Saw Mill .- In 1860, John Paul pur- chased the ground upon which his saw mill is now built, from Nathan Myrick and Daniel Cameron, and erected thereon a saw mill, with a capacity of from 10,000 to 12,000 feet per day. His whole investment amounted to about $2,000.

The mill ran about five months the first season, cutting 800,000 feet of lumber, all of which was re- tailed here at about $8 per thousand. The capacity of the mill and its business gradually increased un- til 1868, when it was destroyed by bursting of the boilers.

With laudable energy and enterprise, Mr. Paul at once set to work to rebuild the mill, and in six weeks from the time of the calamity, another large mill was

completed and put into operation. Since 1868, im- provements were made each year, by the addition of machinery, and its capacity was increased from 130,000 to 150,000 feet per day. In 1878, about 14,000,000 feet of lumber were turned out, 9,000,000 feet of which were piled, and the remainder shipped.

In the Winter of 1880 and 1881, new buildings - throughout were erected, the dimensions of the main building being 64x190, with two additional wings, one 24x120, and the other, 20x32. The engine and boiler house, constructed of stone and iron, is 42x50. The motive power consists of two engines, each 22x24, with a capacity of 600 horse-power, and eight boilers, 44 inches by 24 feet, and also one steam double pump, which feeds the boilers. The machinery in the mill consists of two double log rotaries ; two gangs, one of for- ty-one saws and the other twenty-eight saws ; two, five- saw edgers ; two, four-saw automatic slat and edging cutters, with lumber trimmers of a capacity to corre- spond. The machinery for the manufacture of lath and shingles has a sufficient capacity to cut all the lath and shingles required in the manufacture of 150,000 feet of lumber per day. Connected with the mill is also one of Summer's patent double dry-kilns ; a log slide, which Mr. Panl patented in 1877, and on account of its worth is now in use in all the large saw mills throughout this section of the country ; planing and matching machines of a capacity to supply all the de- mands of his immense trade. The entire cost of this structure amounts to $85,000. Mr. Paul has two lum- ber-yards in La Crosse ; one at the mill, and the other on the eastern outskirts of the city. Besides these, he has also yards throughout Southern Minnesota and Dakota, at the following places : Rushford, Lanesboro, Fountain, Wykoff, Spring Valley, Dexter, Albert Lea, Alden, Wells, Mapleton, Good Thunder, Delevan, Huntley, Sherburne, Jackson, Lakefield, De Forest, Edgerton, Pipestone, Airlee, in Minnesota, and Flan- dreau, Egan, Dell Rapids, Madison and Wentworth, in Dakota Territory. Of the amount of lumber sawed yearly, two-thirds of it is piled in the La Crosse yards and shipped to these branch yards, while the remaining one-third is rafted in the Mississippi River to Sonthern markets. About 10,000,000 feet is constantly kept in the La Crosse yards, and about 5,000,000 feet at the branch yards. The logs supplying this mill come from the Chippewa, Black and St. Croix rivers. In 1880, Mr. Paul sawed 30,000,000 feet of lumber, and mann- factured 12,000,000 shingles and 6,000,000 laths, this being more than was ever before sawed by any individ- ual mill on the Mississippi River. In the manufacture of such an enormous amount of lumber, Mr. Panl em- ployed three hundred hands, at a daily compensation of $550. This is one of the largest mills in the North- west. It is every-where regarded as first-class, and the ready market it meets with proves that it has no super- ior in popular favor.

N. B. Holway's Saw-Mill .- This mill is situated on the Black River, in North La Crosse, near the railroad track of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, and its premises include an area of four blocks. It was purchased from Robert Ross, by N. B. Holway, in 1876, and he worked it until June, 1877, when it was de- stroyed by fire. In no way disheartened by the calami-

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HISTORY OF LA CROSSE COUNTY.

y, he soon set to work to rebuild the mill, which was ompleted and ready to resume operations in the follow- ng Spring. The size of the mill is 44x152, substan- ially built, and the machinery introduced is among thie ostliest and latest improved in this part of the coun- ry, and the arrangements throughout the mill are the nost complete. The capacity of the engine that drives he saw-mill and the shingle-mill is gauged at 100-horse- ower, and there are five boilers. The engine house is built of brick and iron, and large fire-proof iron doors ead from the engine-room to the mill. The saw-filing oom is on the second floor, on the south side, and near he center of the building. There are two steam car- iages, one on each side of the mill. The cutting capacity of the mill is $100,000 feet per day. In the Fall of 1880, water-pipe was laid through the mill remises, and runs through the two stories and all along he roof of the building, enabling persons to cover the ntire roof with water in case of fire.

In 1878, the mill ran three months, during which time t cut about 4,000,000 feet of lumber. It would have un longer had not a somewhat serious accident hap- ened to the machinery. Early in June, one of the volts of the engine gave way and was carried into the machinery, breaking badly and causing incalculable lamage. This necessitated the shutting down of the machinery for about two months. In 1879, work was egun in the middle of May, and the mill run steadily intil November 11, having cut about 8,000,000 feet of umber, manufactured 5,000,000 shingles, and about 1,500 cords of slab-wood. The year 1880 excelled all previous years, and with a steady run night and day, from April 6 until November 14, with the exception of two weeks in June during high water, the mill turneul ut 18,500,000 feet of lumber, 7,250,000 shingles, 1,000- )00 laths and 7,500 cords of slabs and all of this with only two circular saws. Nearly all the lumber, shingles nd lath manufactured by Mr. Holway is rafted down he Mississippi River to all lumber markets between La Crosse and St. Louis, the principal markets being Keokuk, Iowa, and Hannibal, Mo. Common lumber has old for all the way from $7.50 to $12 per thousand ; first grade of shingles from $2.50 to $3; second grade rom $1.75 to $2.25 ; lath, $1.50 to $1.75 per thousand. The cost of running the lumber down in rafts averages 5 cents per thousand. Slabs sell at the mill it $1.25 per cord ; $1.50 to $1.75 per cord, lelivered at houses or on steamboats. The nill employs, 150 hands, including the employes of the shingle and lath mills. The wages range from $1.25 o $5 per day, averaging about $1.50. Mr. Holway is he only lumberman in La Crosse that pays any atten- ion to the sale of saw-dust. This article is being sifted ind kept clear of bark and sticks, and sell at 50 cents per cord at the mill, and is shipped to customers by railroad at $8 per car. The sale of this article is in- creasing very rapidly.

Withee's Saw-Mill .- This was a large mill, having several buildings as necessary appurtenances, all of which occupied in the aggregate an area of six acres. It was located on French Island-a short distance north of the city and opposite Onalaska on the west, and is cached by a bridge which crosses Black River. It was built by William Listman, who commenced work in

October, 1872, and finished it the following May. The property was valued at $35,000 when the mill was com- pleted in 1873. Hixon & Withee, with their customary enterprise and energy, lost no time in supplying it with machinery and getting the mill in fine working order, and active operations were begun without delay. They started out with sixty employes in all departments of the mill, who received an average of $1.75 per day. During the Summer of 1873, the lumber sawed amounted to 6,000,000 feet. All this was rafted down the Mis- sissippi to Hannibal, where, in conjunction with Capt. Pettibone, a former resident and Mayor of La Crosse, Hixon & Withee owned auother saw-mill. The average cost of rafting lumber to down-river points is $1 per thousand, and men engaged in that work received from $2 to $3 per day in 1873.

During the Summer of 1874, about the same number of hands was employed, and the lumber sawed amounted to about 5,000,000 feet ; of this, 3,000,000 feet was rafted to Hannibal, the remainder being piled up at the mill. During this same season, William Listman assumed control and management of the mill, while his son, Charles Listman, entered upon the duties of superintendent and book-keeper. During the Winter of 1874-75, from six to ten men were employed in re- pairing the mill and enlarging the capacity, and con- siderable new machinery was put in.

In 1875, logs were plentiful, and the amount sawed amounted to 8,000,000 feet, of which all but 1,000,000 was rafted to Hannibal, the remainder being piled in the mill-yard, as were also 3,000 cords of slabs turned out that year. A like aggregate of Inmber was cut during the Summer of 1876. Of this amount, 800,000 feet was piled in the yard, and the remainder rafted to Hannibal. During the Summer of 1877, on account of the lowness of the water, but few logs were available, and the mill was in operation only a little more than two months. The amount of lumber cut amounted to 3,000,000 feet, all of which was rafted. The Summer of 1878, in all essential particulars, was a repetition of the preceding one, the mill running only ten weeks cutting 3,000,000 feet, all of which was likewise rafted. In 1880, 11,700,000 feet of lumber was cut.

This was a magnificent mill in all its apartments. The engine, which was manufactured at the shop of Thornely & James, in the city of La Crosse, is as fine a one as can be found any where in the East. It was put up in the Winter of 1875, had four boilers, and its capacity was rated at 100-horse power. The mill was two stories in height, and had a capacity of G0,000 feet of lumber per day. During the same period it could turn out 26,000 shingles, or 2,500,000 per year. The aggregate expenses were $100 per day. The boom be- longing to the mill is a large and strong one, and can easily and safely hold 5,000,000 feet of logs.

This mill, a model of perfection, was entirely con- sumed by fire on the 15th day of May, 1881. The loss amounted to $25,000, with an insurance of only $9,000. It is now being replaced by a new one of larger dimensions, being 48x192, and will, when fin- ished, cost about $30,000, and will have a capacity of 60,000 feet per day.

La Crosse Lumber Company's Mill .- This fine mill was erected in 1871, the owners being C. C. Washburn,

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

Abner Gile, N. B. Holway, Ruel Weston, J. H. Wes- ton and G. R. Shepherdson. It was constructed under the direction of Samuel Moffitt, of Muskegon, Mich. On June 17, 1872, it was started up for the first time. A large number of hands were employed, their average daily wages being 82.25. But very little work was done that season in the manufacture of shingles and laths. In 1873, work was begun in April and con- tinued to September. During that time the lumber cut reached 11,000,000 feet, while 5,000,000 shingles were manufactured and 3,000,000 laths were turned out. The lumber was nearly all rafted. About 4,000 cords of edgings and slabs were sold during the season, the prices ranging from 75 cents to $1.50 per cord. The business of 1874 was almost a repetition of that of 1×73. and it would be superfluous to enlarge upon it by giv- ing the items. In 1875, C. C Washburn bought up all the stock and the mill passed into his hands.

No change worthy of mention was made in the ad- ministration of the mill with the exception of I. L. Nevins assuming the management, and under his super- vision the mill has since been run, with the able assist- ance of F. A. Copeland. In April, 1875, it was put into operation and run about four months, cutting 9,- 000,000 feet of lumber. One-third of this was piled in the appurtenant yards and the remainder rafted to lumber markets down the Mississippi River.

In 1876, the lumber cut reached the aggregate of 15,000,000 feet, the season lasting from the middle of April until the 1st of October. One-third of this was piled and the remaining 10,000,000 feet was rafted. The average daily wages that season was $2. In 1877, work was begun in the latter part of April, and con- tinued until the middle of July, when, owing to scar- city of logs, it had to be discontinued. For this brief season, however, the cut aggregated 6,000,000 feet.

On June 7, of that year, the mill had a very narrow escape from destruction by fire, which originated in the ventilator over the boiler, and consumed the entire roof of the engine house before it could be extinguished. In 1878, the lumber cut was about 7,500,000 feet, a little over half of this was piled and the remainder rafted down the Mississippi River. About 4,000,000 shingles, and 1,500,000 laths were also manufactured. This year, work was started in May. It is intended to cut 10,000,000 feet, 4,000,000 of which will be piled and the remainder rafted down the river. The pros- pects for a big business are very flattering.

There are from 150 to 175 men employed in and about the mill, with F. A. Copeland, assistant manager and book-keeper ; A. G. Nevins, manager of the yard ; G. L. Kingsley, superintendent of the mill ; M. Erick- son, engineer. The dimensions of the main building are 56x156, and it is two stories in height. The ma- chinery consists of double and single rotaries, and it has two gang-saws, one of which has thirty and the other forty saws. The shingle mill is 24x48, and con- tains one double block machine, which cuts on an average 75,000 shingles per day. Three engines im- part the necessary motive power to this vast labyrinth of machinery. The largest of them is gauged at 600- horse power, the second in size at 500, and the third at twenty. A double pump, supplies the necessary drinking water, and is also available, in cases of emer-

gency, to extinguish fires. In addition to this is a regular fire-pump, which for safety is kept in a fireproof compartment. The planing mill, another of the aux- iliary buildings, has notably fine machinery, consisting of one double surfacer, one flooring machine, a molding machine, etc. An area of twenty-seven lots is occu- pied by the mill, its auxiliary buildings, and for yard purposes. This property, as it now stands, has cost at least $200,000, and La Crosse is justly proud of it.

WHOLESALE BUSINESS.

Mons Anderson, wholesale and retail dry goods .- This house, now generally recognized to be at the head of the wholesale and retail dry goods trade in the Northwest, is located on the corner of Main and Sec- ond streets. In connection with its wholesale and retail business, its extensive millinery, manufacturing and other departments, almost give it the right to be classed as a furnishing house. The building is 120x 140 feet, four stories, five floors, airy, cheerful and per- fect in every detail, affording every convenience to employe and patron. The basement is used for domes- tics and full packages ; the main floor for retail depart- ment: the third floor for carpets and offices ; the fourth floor for wholesale dry goods ; fifth floor for notions. In 1878, the office building, 18x40 feet, two-story, was built and properly connected with the main building. Although giving employment in this establishment to sixty-seven persons, the character of its head is felt in every member, and order and system prevail through- out. He is ably assisted by his two sons, Alfred H., as buyer and manager of the wholesale department, and Samuel W., book-keeper of the retail department, who are peculiarly fitted for their allotted duties ; hence it follows that there is never a lack of efficient co-opera- tion with the chief on all sides.

Charles B. Solberg, wholesale dealer in groceries .- In 1861, Mr. Solberg opened his first stock of groceries, and up to 1870 conducted that branch of business in the Levy block, when he built on his present site, on the corner of Third and Pearl streets. The building was a three-story brick, 40x80. In 1876, a two-story addition was built on in the rear of the main building, 60x70, which is wholly devoted to the wholesale busi- ness, while the first story of the original building is given to the retail trade, the two upper stories being rented for offices, a hall, etc. Mr. Solberg early se- cured a large amount of the Scandinavian trade, and always doing business in a prompt and strictly honor- able manner, he has retained his old customers. Their indorsement of his character brought him new ones, and his business has gradually increased until it has assumed very large proportions. In 1861, the first year of his business, his sales amounted to $65,000. In 1880, they had increased to $385,000, and for the year 1881, will no doubt foot up 8400,000.

J. W. Toms & Co., wholesale dealers in crockery, stoneware and glassware, began business on Front street in La Crosse, in September, 1865, occupying one small room and basement. In 1-77, their business de- manded more room, and they secured the two stories above their first stand. Three years later they moved to more commodious and larger stores on Main street, but five years ago were compelled to secure still larger

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HISTORY OF LA CROSSE COUNTY.

quarters, and moved into their present location, No. 36 Main street, where they occupy five floors, 22 x 80, and have a larger storeroom on the river front contiguous to the C. M. & St. P. R. R. track. They began buying goods directly of the English potters in 1866, and have maintained those relations until two years ago, when the perfection to which American pottery had been, brought, and the favorable terms their immense handling enabled them to secure, induced them to rely

Phoenix-like. Mr. Rau rose from the fire and established himself in the Esperson Block on Main street. In 1868, he began the erection of his present 80x35 feet stone building, which was completed in 1869. About 1872, his dry goods department was abandoned, and he has since given his whole attention to crockery, groceries and feed, at Nos. 14 and 16 North Third street. In 1880, he opened a wholesale department, and has since established an extensive trade through Wisconsin.

MONS

MONS ANDERSON BUILDING.

almost altogether upon domestic manufacture. Their trade has steadily grown until they rank among the largest and best known China houses in the Northwest. Their trade lies largely in Southern Minnesota and Eastern Dakota, but they also cover the western part of Wisconsin and Northern Iowa to a considerable degree.

John Rau & Son, wholesale dealers in crockery glassware and stoneware. The business of which this is a continuation was established in 1867, in the Block Building on Third street, by Rau Brothers under the firm name of John Rau & Bro. They continued to retail groceries and dry goods until 1869, when, in the " Third street fire" of that year, they were burned out.

Iowa and Minnesota. In 1881, John Rau, Jr., was admitted as partner, and the firm became John Rau & Son. Connected with his store is a frame warehouse, 20x40 feet, and another on Main street of brick, 20x45 feet.

Hogan & Cook, wholesale grocers. J. J. Hogan, one of the earliest and most prominent of the business men of La Crosse, commenced his career in April. 1859, as a retailer of groceries and supplies for steamers and rafts. Commenced jobbing, in a small way, the second and third year. He remained on Main street six years. In 1864, removed to No. 12 Front street, becoming a partner in the Northwestern Union Packet Company, of which he was the purchasing agent.

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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