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 16

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 16

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St. Joseph's Catholic Church was built in 1859. In 1861 additions were made. Since then other improvements have been made, till now it is one of the most beautiful churches on the lake. It is situated on a high elevation overlook- ing the harbor, at the north end of the village. The first pastor was Father Chebul, who remained till 1871. From that time till 1878, no regular services were held, though missionary services were held often. Since 1878 Father Casimirus, of the Franciscans, has been in charge. In 1878 a convent was established, in connection with the church, under charge of Superior Sister Louise ; every new year a new sister takes charge. By the end of the year, (1881), a school-house will be finished and will be under charge of the sisters. The Catholic cemetery is near the church. This church has a large congregation, its seats are always full, people coming from all the islands and sur- rounding country to attend. They have also a school at Buffalo Bay Indian Reservation.

HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

Saw-Milis .- First saw-mill was built in 1856, by Mr. Ka- hoe, for the Bayfield Land Company. It was burned January, 1857. It was rebuilt by Mr. . Kahoe in the Summer of 1858. After changing hands several times it was pulled down. Capt. R. D. Pike built a shingle mill in 1869 ; additions were made in 1870, and since then other improvements have been made, at different times, so that now it is one of the most complete saw-mills in northern Wisconsin ; has the best of improved machinery, some of the machin- ery being Mr. Pike's own patents. Manufactures some fish barrel staves. Capacity of mill 40,000 feet per day, for season 4,500,000 feet. Most of the logs come from Bay- field County. Shipment goes mostly to Chicago and the Manitoba country. The mill has a dock up to which the largest boats on the lakes can float. Mr. Pike has his own water-works, having a reservoir on the hill above the mill getting a head of fifty-eight feet fall, enough to throw a large stream over the mill at its highest point. Pipes are run along over roof of the mill, and at the opening of a valve the whole roof can be flooded.

Superior Lumber Company was organized in 1881 for the purpose of manufacturing Inmber. The mill will probably be located at some point on Chequamegon Bay. The officers are A. C. Fuller, president; H. M. Fuller, vice-president ; T. J. Potter, treasurer ; J. H. Knight, sec- retary.

Fish Creek Booming Company was organized in 1881 for the improvement of Fish Creek. The officers are A. C. Fuller, president ; R. F. Sprague, vice-president ; I. H. Wing, treasurer ; John H. Knight, secretary.

Fishery .- In 1871 the fish business began to assume large proportions, when N. & F. Boutin engaged in it. They have continued ever since. The catching and pack- ing of fish is one of the great industries of Bayfield. It is estimated the business for 1881 will amount to $250,000, and is the largest shipping point on the lakes. White fish and trout are caught. Fishing is done with gill nets, trap nets, and seines, by white men and mixed bloods; in Winter by gill nets, and hooks through the ice. The "catch "in the Winter amounts to 150 tons. The fishing grounds are around the islands. Shipment goes mostly to St. Paul, Minneapolis, Chicago, Buffalo and Eastern trade. N. & F. Boutin employ about 150 men; ship about 12,000 barrels a season. Fred Fischer employs about thirty men ; puts up about 4,000 barrels. Other parties have been en- gaged in this business but are now out of it.

In 1871, the fish business becoming so large, and the demand for fish barrels increasing, Louis Bachand started a factory for the manufacture of fish barrels, since which time others have gone into it. The timber for the barrels comes from the surrounding country. Louis Bachand em- ploys about thirty men, and his manufacture for a season amounts to 12,000 barrels. Fred Fischer employs about twenty men, and manufactures about 10,000 barrels a season

Boat Building .- This branch of business is carried on quite extensively, a large number of " Mackinaw " boats being built every year, mostly for fishing purposes. Antoine Lemorieux is the principal builder.

Bayfield Press. - The first paper published in this place was the Mercury, in August, 1857, by Hamilton & Hatch, who received a bonus from the Bayfield Land Company composed of Ilon. H. M. Rice, St. Paul, Minn .; Il. B. Sweeny, B. F. and C. F. Ritterhouse, and Ilamilton G Faut, banker at Washington, D. C. This paper was pub- lished about one year. The next newspaper enterprise was the Bayfield Press, which made its appearance October 1, 1859, by Joseph H. Campbell, of Ontonagon, with Rev Wm. B. McKee, editor, assisted by Joseph McCloud and Cyrus K. Drew, which was published about two years and

a half, when it was suspended, and the material purchased by S. S. Vaughn. In the Summer of 1870, Sam S. and Hank O. Fifield revived the Press, and continued its publi- cation about two years, when it was removed to Ashland, June 1, 1877. Sam S. Fifield moved the office back, and commenced the publication of the Bayfield Press again, with Morris Edwards as business manager. In the Spring of 1879, D. L. Stinchfield became editor, and conducted it until April 1, 1880, when the present proprietor, Isaac H. Wing, purchased the office of Sam S. Fifield. Mr. Stinchfield continued as editor till Spring of 1881, when D. H. Pulcifer came in.

November 30, 1857, the Bayfield Lyceum was organized, with the following officers : J. Harvey Nourse, president ; William McAboy, vice-president ; A. Tate, secretary ; S. S. Vaughn, treasurer. The society used to meet every week, when debate and reading of essays would be the order of an evening. The society continued till it was merged into the Bayfield Library Association, March 9, 1875, with the following officers : J. H. Knight, president; B. B. Wade, secretary ; Andrew Tate, treasurer. This new Society flourished, till some of its members going away, it became reduced in membership so that now no meetings are held. Of the original members in the Lyceum only five remain here-J. H. Nourse, R. D. Pike, Andrew Tate, George Stark and Joseph McCloud.

Bayfield Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 215, was chartered June 14, 1881, with the following charter members : Robert Inglis, S. E. Mahan, O. Flanders, P. W. Smith, A. O. Hay- wood, John Banfill, A. Tate The officers installed June 24 were : Robert Inglis, W. M .; S. E. Mahan, S. W .; O. Flan- ders, J. W .; A. Tate, treasurer ; N. J. Willey, secretary ; P. W. Smith, S. D .; F. W. Herrick, J. D .; Thomas Doherty, tyler.

On January 1, 1873, Sheriff Nelson Boutin, Capt. R. D. Pike and a party of seventy-five chosen men went over to Ashland as a company to quell the railroad rioters. After stopping there ten days they returned. Having had this little of military life, they conceived the idea of forming a new'military company and joining the State militia. The company organized February 25, 1873, with the following officers : R. D. Pike, captain ; John Gonyon, first lieuten- ant ; Duffy Boutin, second lieutenant. These officers have continued to date, with the exception of second lieutenant. Duffy Boutin resigned in 1878, and B. B. Wade was elected to fill the vacancy. He resigned in 1879, and F. M. Her- rick was elected, who is the present second lieutenant.

Bayfield Hydraulic Company was incorporated March 16, 1870. First officers were : S. S. Vaughn, president ; Asaph Whittlesey, secretary ; John Banfill, treasurer ; T. J. L. Tyler, superintendent. The company built a reservoir above the village, on a small stream that runs down a deep ravine through the village. This stream is supplied with springs that line the ravine for a long distance. The com- pany have exclusive control of the water for ten miles. By damming at the reservoir they get ninety-eight feet head. Mains made of logwood pipes and other small pipes have been laid throughout the village, giving all an opportunity to have fountains and pure spring water at a moderate rate by a system of water tax. The whole is one of the finest natural water-works in the country. The present officers are : Andrew Tate, president ; B. B. Wade, secretary; Isaac H. Wing, treasurer ; P. W. Smith, superintendent.

Bayfield & Ashland Telegraph & Telephone Company was incorporated in 1880, with a paid up capital stock of $1,500. The building of the line commenced in 1880, and was finished by October the same year. The line is about twenty-six miles long, and telephone connection is made between Ashland and Bayfield. The officers are : R. D.

HISTORY OF BAYFIELD COUNTY.

Pike, president ; Frederick Fischer, vice-president ; I. H. Wing, treasurer ; S. E. Mahan, secretary ; J. H. Knight, superintendent.

The La Pointe Indian Agency was located at Bayfield in May, 1860, Col. Cyrus Drew, Indian Agent. Prior to re- moval it was at Superior. Col. Drew was succeeded by Asaph Whittlesey, who was succeeded hy Col. John H. Knight, when Gen. L. E. Webb came in. He was succeeded by S. M. Clark, who was succeeded by Dr. I. L. Mahan. He was succeeded by S. E. Mahan, who was succeeded by the present agent, W. R. Durfee.

United States Land-office was established at Superior in 1853. It was removed to Bayfield in 1860. The district was set off from the Willow River district in 1853, and comprises all of that part of Wisconsin lying north of north line of Town 40 and west of the west line of Range 2 east. George Hyer was the first Register, followed by Daniel Shaw, who was succeeded by William McAboy. In June, 1861, F. W. Bartlett came in, who held till April, 1867, when V. Smith succeeded, and in April, 1871, Col. John H. Knight came in, who has held it ever since. First Receiver was E. B. Dean, who was succeeded by T. Rush Spencer in 1858. He was succeeded by Benjamin Thompson, July 1, 1860. In the Fall of the same year Asaph Whittlesey was appointed and held till the Fall of 1868, when Joseph H. Nourse was commissioned. He held till 1872, when the present Receiver, Isaac H. Wing, came in.

Smith's Hotel was built by Resau & Bono in 1856 ; was opened by Mr. Bono. It was then called the Bayfield Ex- change. It was bought in 1862 by P. W. Smith, the present proprietor. The building has been improved, and several additions made at different times. It has a capacity for sixty people ; has a large dining-room with a seating ca- pacity of seventy. It is a two story frame, in the shape of a letter L, 90x75 feet, with a verandah running around in front.

The Fountain House was built, not as a hotel, in 1856, by Antoine Bardon, who first occupied it. It was not opened as a hotel until 1877, which was by John B. Bono, the present proprietor.

The Lake View House is a large boarding-house. There are numerous other boarding-houses, public and private.

CABLE.

This is a little place in the southern part of the county, below Long Lake, the present terminus of the northern di- vision of the C., St. P., M. & D. R. R. The post-office is called Gunderson.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

CHAUNCEY T. ANDREAS, jeweler, Bayfield ; was born in Sparta, Wis., in 1859, son of Jere and Elizabeth Wise Andreas. He was brought up and educated in his native town ; learned the jeweler's trade of L. D. Merrill, of that place ; went to Mather, Wis., for two years ; went to Bayfield, Wis., in January, ISSI, and opened a jewelry store.

HON. JOHN BANFILL, retired, Bayfield, was born in Topsham, Vt., Feb. 12, ISII. He remained at home till 1823, and then moved to Dover, N. H., and from there to Boston. In 1835 he went to New Orleans to work at his trade, the mason's, and while there vol- unteered to go with the expedition that was to search for the body of Maj. Dade, who had been killed by the Indians. After returning to New Orleans he went north to New York, and then to Albany. In IS38 he went to Lancaster, Grant Co; moved to Prairie du Chien and kept the Grant House, and then took contract to build the court- house in Clavton Co., Iowa. Ile returned to Prairie du Chien and kept the Prairie House, but sold out and went to St. Paul and built the Rice House. He then built a saw-mill and bought a farm sixteen miles up the Mississippi River. While here he was sent to the State Senate ; was also Postmaster at Winona. In IS6I he moved to Bayfield, Wis., where he kept hotel. Since coming to Bayfield he has been School Treasurer, Judge of Probate Court from 1870 10 1878, Chairman of County Board, and has held other offices. In IS38 he married Miss Nancy Foster, of New York City. He is a member of the Masonie fia- ternity.

LOUIS J. BACHAND, County Clerk, Bayfield, was bom in Two Rivers, Manitowoc Co., Wis,, April 17, 1853, where he remained till 1862, going thence to Chicago to attend school. In 1866 he came to Bayfield and in 1870 engaged in fishing, which he carried on till the Spring of 1878, when he was elected Assessor. In ISSo he was elected County Clerk for Bayfield. He is a member of the Catholic Church.

IION. N. BOUTIN, of the fum of N. & F. Boutin, fish dealers, Bay- field, was born in Canada East, Aug. 17, 1831. With the family he moved to Detroit in 1837. where he lived eleven years, and then moved to Mackinaw, and soon afterward to Manitowoc Co., Wis. While there he was in the mercantile business. He moved then to Kewaunee County, and while there was sent to the Legislature. He then returned to Mani- tow oc, where he engaged in fishing up to the year 1870, when he moved to Bayfield and established the firm as it now stands. He has been a politician more or less, holding the position of Sheriff for years, and in 18So was elected County Treasurer. In 1848 he married, then being only seventeen years of age, Miss Conture, of Detroit. They have had four children, Mary, now Mrs. Mahan, being the only one living.

FRANK BOUTIN, firm of N. & F. Boutin, fish dealers, Bayfield, was born in Canada East, September, IS33. and followed the fortunes of the family till coming to Bayfield, where he entered the fish trade and gen- eral merchandise business with his brother Nelson. They have $200,000 in their business, handling 1,500 half barrels of fish in the Summer, and about Ico tons of fresh fish in the Winter, employing about 100 men. In IS53 Frank married Miss Mary Iandre, of Canada. They have six children : James, Frank, Emily, Lucy, Mary and Anita. Of his broth- eis four were in the 27th Wis. V. 1 .- Joseph C., Duffey, Solomon and Felis.

DUFFEY BOUTIN, saloon, Bayfield, was born in Detroit, Mich., Dec. 15, 1845. He moved fiom place to place engaged in fishing- Mackinaw. Whiskey Island, St. Helena Isle and Two Rivers, where he remained till 1850 ; then to Kewaunee and on to Bayfield, where there are now living several brothers, Benoni, Edward, Felis F., Nelson, Frank, Joseph C., Duffey and Solomon D. In 1868 he married Miss Lawrence. They have three children-Walter, aged thirteen; Nettie, eleven ; and Lafayette, thice. Ile has been Deputy Sheriff. His brother Joseph is also married and has a family of seven children living. He has also three sisters, Emily Clara and Adeline.

J. B. B'ONO, hotel, Bayfield, was born in Detroit, Mich., April 14, 1832. When five years of age, went with his parents to Sault St. Marie, where his father, John Bono, died in 18So, at the advanced age of 106 years and six months. J. B. left there in IS54, and went to sailing and fishing. He came to La Pointe in 1855, and there kept a boarding- house ; then coming to Bayfield, he kept the first hotel in the place ; in 1867 he sold out and went to his trade, shoe-making ; in IS70 he began his present business of hotel and a meat market with grocery store ; in 1853 he married Miss Berron, of Michigan. They have five children- Alice (now Mrs. Welcome), Albert, Julia, Hattie and Henry. The fam- ily attend the Catholic Church.

James Chafemail

JAMES CHAPMAN, merchant, Bayfield, was born in Sault St Marie, Mich., May 22, 1853. His parents moved from there to Mack- inaw, and from there he attended Erie Academy in Erie, Pa. In the Summer time he engaged on a revenue cutter, and went to school in the Winter. He came to the iron region on Lake Superior in 1849, locating at Marquette. Ile was one of the first settlers there. Ile took an iron claim for S. McKnight, and then worked at proving up. He was in Detroit in 1854, and had been at the treaty between the Chippewas on Lake Superior and Mississippi and the Government. He returned to Marquette and remained until 1856, when he came to La Pointe. IIe came to Bayfield, and in 1861 was employed in the Indian Agency, and was Postmaster from 1856 10 1864. In IS71 he went into general mer- chandise business. In 1858, was elected the first Register of Deeds for Bayfield, holding office till 1868; has been Supervisor of town and county, and Deputy Collector of Customs. He attends the Episcopal Church.

HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

COL. L. D. CRUTTENDEN, real estate, Bayfield, was born in Georgetown, D. C., March 2, 1822. Ile lived there till 1838, then moved to St. Louis, where he remained till 1846 ; then up the river to l'rairie du Chien, Wis. ; in 1849, to St. Paul, in the Indian trade, and afterwards formed a partnership with R. P. Russell at St. Anthony. He then went to Little Crowing, where he stayed until 1855, in the meantime repre- senting this section in the Territorial Legislature, and then in the State House in 1857-8. He was appointed Register of United States Land- office in 1859. by President Buchanan. In February, 1861, he was made captain and assistant quartermaster ; was promoted to colonel and inspec- tor of the quartermaster's department, and in 1865 was mustered out, and in 1869 came to Bayfield. He was elected Register of Deeds in 1872, which he has held since ; also Town Clerk since 1874 ; has held deputies in town and school offices. In 1861 he married Miss Lucy F. Green, of Granville, Ohio. They have one child, H. Rice. They attend the Epis- copal Church.

FRED. FISCHIER, general store, Bayfield, was born in Hanover, Germany, Nov. 8, 1847 ; was brought an infant to America, landing in Baltimore in January of that year. He lived after that in St. Louis, and in 1867 went to Milwaukee, and afterward to Michigan. In 1869 he went to St. Paul ; in 1873 came to Bayfield and opened a saloon. In IS79 he went into the fishing business and general merchandise. Ile has been on the Town Board for four years, and is now Chairman of the Town and County Board, and is one of the Masonic fraternity. In 1873, he mar- ried Miss Elvina Topel, of Sheboygan County. They have four children- Henry, Fred., Charlie and Alfena.

T. PATRICK HOWLEY, boarding-house, Bayfield, was born in Kilkenny Co., Ireland, Nov. 1, 1823. He came to America in 1840, landed in New York, and went from there to Connecticut where he farmed and worked in a factory. In 1847 he took a trip to California, and stayed till 1861, when he enlisted in the 3d V. I., Co. I. He was mustered out in 1865, and from California he returned to Connecticut. In 1866 he went to Milwaukee, where he was until 1870. In 1874 he reached Bayfield, and opened the Lake View House. In 1857 he mar- ried, but Jost his wife, and in 1874 married Miss Bridget Shildah, of Ireland. He has been Constable from 1874 to 1877.

A. C. HAYWARD, Postmaster, Bayfield, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., March 8, 1828, where he lived until 1857, when he removed to Supe- rior City, Wis., where he remained seven years, engaged in house build- ing and acting as Assistant Postmaster. Coming to Bayfield in 1864, he engaged in the mercantile business. He was then appointed Postmaster and has held the position ever since. He has been Deputy Collector of Customs of the port of Bayfield, Clerk of Court, and has held position on the school board. In 1855 he married Miss Elizabeth Sutton, of New York. They have one child, a daughter, Mattie. Mr. Hayward is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

COL. JOIIN II. KNIGIIT, Bayfield. Was born near Dover in Kent Co., Del., on Feb. 3, 1836; was educated in New York at Char- lotteville, Schoharie Co., and at Fairfield, Iltikimer Co. Studied law three years under Hon. N. B. Smithers, at Dover, Del. Graduated at the law school Albany, N. Y., in 1859, and in same year was admitted to practice in Delaware law courts, and formed a partnership with llon. George P. Fisher at Dover. When the war broke out he responded to the call of President Lincoln for the three months' troops and raised a company ; was mustered in as first lieutenant, preferring the captaincy

to go to one having some knowledge of theries ; stived in his company until mustered out at the expiration of term of service ; was immedi- ately appointed assistant adjutant-general of volunteers and tendered a commission of captain in the regular army-the latter was declined and the former accepted, and he was assigned to the staff of Brig .- Gen. H. H. Lockwood, where he served until the Spring of 1862; meantime having accepted a captaincy in the regular army he was in April on his own request ordered to his regiment (18th U. S. I.), then serving under Gen. George H1. Thomas at the siege of Corinth. Served with his regi- ment from that time in the Army of the Cumberland until January 1864, just after the battle of Mission Ridge, when he was ordered to Detroit, Mich., as mustering and disbursing officer. Shortly after entering upon this duty was appointed chief mustering officer and acting assistant pro- vost marshal general of the State of Michigan, in which capacity super- vised the re-organization of the Michigan regiments ; execution of the draft laws and finally the disbandment of the Michigan regiments. He held the following commissions in addition to those above stated : Colonel of Ist Del. C .; brevet major and lieutenant-colonel in the regu- lar army. l'articipated in a number of engagements and battles during the war during the time of his field service, beginning with the first battle of Bull Run and ending with the battle of Mission Ridge. He was detached from his regiment during his service in the Army of the Cumberland at a number of times by Gen. Thomas for important duties. His health was completely broken down during the war, and has only recovered it during his residence in Wisconsin in the pure climate on the south shore of Lake Superior. He was relieved from duty at Detroit, Mich., in February, 1867, and remained on leave of ab- sence until in October, same year, when he received orders and joined his regiment at Ft. Sanders, Wyoming Ter. In the Spring of 1868, he commanded the troops assigned to protect locating and constructing parties of the Union Pacific Railroad between Ft. Sanders and Ft. Bridger, and established his headquarters in the western end of Bridger's Pass; was ordered to Camp Douglas, Salt Lake City, in November, 1868, and remained at that post until in April, 1869, commanding the post a portion of the time. In the Spring of 1869, he elected to be dis- charged from the army under the Act of Congress reducing the regi- ments in the regular army, and returned to his home at Wilmington, Del. Shortly afterwards, in May, 1869, was assigned by the President, agent for the Chippewa Indians of Lake Superior, and was ordered to Bayfield, Wis., whither he went and assumed the duties of Indian Agent, which he performed about one year and was relieved by the civil ap- pointee. In the Fall of 1870, he resigned his commission in the regular army, and established his residence at Bayfield, Wis. In 1871, was ap- pointed Register of the United States Land Office at Bayfield, and still retains that position. In 1863, was married to the eldest daughter of Levi G. Clark, of Wilmington, Del. She died on June 29, 1867, leaving one child, Engenia B., who is still living. In 1874. he married a sister of his first wife, from which union he has four children-Susan B., Clark M., Mary Emlen and Elizabeth K. He is a member of Oriental Lodge of Masons of Detroit, Mich., and of the Episcopal Church,

ALONZO KNIGHT, book-keeper. Bayfield, was born in Kent Co., Del., April 13, 1854. He attended Mt. Vernon Grammar School in Philadelphia, then the High School, and finally went to Pierce's Busi- ness College. On leaving school, began keeping books. In 1878 he cleiked in Philadelphia. In 1881 he came to Bayfield, arriving the 29th of May. He is engaged in keeping book's for his brother, Col. John H. Knight. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and cer- responds with his home paper, The Dover State Sentinel.

ERVIN LEIHY, general store, Bayfield, was born in Oswego Co., N. Y., Oct. 12, 1822. llis early life was passed on a faim, and at eighteen moved to Illinois. Later he bought a farm on Bad Kiver and moved to it in 1846. In 1870 he moved to Bayfield, built his present residence and opened a store, and is engaged in clearing another farm on Sioux River, about eight miles from the village. In 1851 he married Miss Morrin, of La Pointe. Their children are-Hannah (now Mrs. Newland), Eunice (now Mrs. Inglis), Eliza (now Mrs. llerbert), Charles, Charlotte (now Mrs. Boutin) and Phoebe. Mr. Leihy was member of Town and County Board for Ashland, while living on Bad River, and in 1871 and 1872 was Supervisor in Bayfield, and is now on the Board. He has held other offices.

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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