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 225

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 225

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The St. Croix County Court was held for the last time at Stillwater in 1848. Aaron Goodrich was on the bench ; Harney Wilson was Clerk ; A. M. Mitchell, United States Attorney ; H. Le Moss, Attorney for the County ; and John Morgan, Sheriff.

The special election required by the new order of things was held in August, and a new list of officers were selected. Philo Aldrich, Ama Andrews and W. H. Morse were the Canvassing Board. Returns were also to be made to the Clerk of Crawford County, who was empowered to issue certificates of election.

The county was again, and for the last time, reduced in size, through an act of the Legislature, in March, 1852, by the creation of Polk County on the north and Pierce on the south, Hudson remaining the shire town. The county is twenty-four miles from north to south, and thirty from east to west. It is bounded on the north by Polk, east by Chip- pewa and Eau Claire, on the south by Pepin. and on the west by the St. Croix River, the boundary of Minnesota.

The county has no debt, although it once voted $25,000 in aid of a railroad project, but for some reason the bonds were not executed.

. The taxes in 1871 were-State, 88,387.86 : county, 814,242.25. St. Croix County valuation in 1880, $5,381,-

1,78

HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

192. State tax, 810,928.33. Population-1850, 625; 1855, 2,040; 1860, 5,391; 1865, 7,255; 1870, 11,039; 1875, 14,956; 1880, 18,838.

The present county officers are : County Judge, S. C. Simonds ; Treasurer, William Whewell; County Clerk, Robert Dinsmore ; Clerk Circuit Court, S. J. Bradford ; District Attorney, H. F. Woodard : Sheriff, Joseph Kelly ; Under Sheriff, R. Hodgins ; County Superintendent, Betsey M. Clapp : County Physician, E. S Farnsworth ; Surveyor, John T. Conductor; Chairman County Board, Guy W. Daily.

The court house was built in 1857, and cost $30,000 or more.

The Hudson Post Office is a third-class office, the Post- master being appointed by the President at a salary of $1,600. The other offices in the county are as follows : Boardman, Baldwin, Bouchea, Brookville, Cylon, Deer Park. Emerald, Hammond, Hersey, Jewett Mills, New Center- ville, New Richmond, Pleasant Valley, Somerset, Star Prairie, Warren, Wilson and Woodside. As it is slack- water up to the Falls of St. Croix, in Polk County, regular lines of steamers constantly ply between the Mississippi and Stillwater, a few miles above Hudson, and other points. Barges and rafts are thus handled with safety whenever the river is open. The West Wisconsin Railroad was con- structed through the county. and the Northern Wisconsin branches here near Hudson. These roads, having passed through many vicissitudes, are now in the hands of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Company. The officers of this company are Il. H. Porter, President ; Philetus Sawyer, Vice President ; C. W. Porter, Secretary.

There are two passenger trains east and two west daily. The Northern Wisconsin branch is well up in Bayfield County, and will, at no distant day, be extended to Lake Superior.

Hudson &. River Falls Railway .- This company was organized September 6, 1878. The directors from Hudson were John Comstock, T. E. Williams, C. L. Hall and A. D. Andrews, and Mr. Stevens from River Falls.

The road was opened for travel October 26, 1878, and the event was duly celebrated by an excursion, addresses, dinner and toasts.

This road runs from River Falls to Stillwater, with connections to St. Paul by the road from there, as well as connecting with the through line of the C., St. P., M. & O. road, which now owns the road.

River Transportation .- The importance of the St. Croix River, the western boundary of the county and State, cannot be overestimated. There have been several vexatious bars that have always interfered with navigation more or less. An appropriation to remove snags, leaning trees, old cribs and other obstructions to the channel has been judiciously used by Maj. Allen, of the United States Engineers, and by next season there will be a great improvement, so that the annoying delays often witnessed by loaded boats will be avoided. About 827,000 will have been recently expended on the river by the close of 1881.

About 12,000 passengers were carried on the river in 1880, and this unmber must constantly increase. The logging and lumber business is the principal item of freight : and, as this wanes, manufactured hard-woods must more than supply its place, and the wheat which is largely raised in the county may find itself afloat here, not to leave the water route until landed in Europe.

In this county, wheat is the great staple commodity, and, in 1880, the acreage of wheat sown was 104,571, and the yield 1,114.171 bushels, or about 10 bushels to the acre, which is below the average. In 1881, when the thrashing is well under way, a careful estimate places the number of bushels for the county 1,307,137, or about 12} bushels to the acre. At present prices, this will give a million or more dollars to the farmers for their wheat. The acreage, on other leading growths for 1881, is: Oats, 27,212 ; corn, 8,000; potatoes, 1,150; barley, 1,604 ; rye, 520. Of hay, the yield is 22,500 tons; number of fruit trees in the county, 14,000 ; and the number of milch cows 8,000. These figures, which are a close approximation to correctness, will show the character and extent of farming operations in the county, and will be valuable for future comparison.

The county agricultural society, which has been a great benefit in developing the agricultural resources of the county, was organized as early as 1858. and the interest has been well kept up.

A society also exists in New Richmond, which takes in the northern part of the county.

There are in the whole county 100 schoolhouses, with 106 rooms, and, while in some places in the county the dis- tance is quite great, the average attendance is well up, in proportion to the number of scholars enrolled.

Betsey M. Clapp is the County School Superintendent. and the management of the schools shows painstaking judgment and care. The school fund belonging to St. Croix in 1880 was $2,720.74. A teachers' association ineets once a month.

St. Croix County furnished its full quota of sturdy men for the war. Several years ago the survivors formed a St. Croix Valley Soldiers' Association, Dr. King, President ; Gen. Harriman, First Vice President ; Maj. Fulton, Second Vice President; Dr. Johnson, Corresponding Secretary ; Capt. Kelly, Recording Secretary ; Capt. Spencer, Treas- urer. The association attended the re-union in Milwaukee, in June, 1880.

In the early times, with Prairie du Chien as the nearest seat of justice, and only a single magistrate, with a limited jurisdiction, it is easy to believe that justice was often dis- pensed with in a most remarkable way.

At one time a man made an assault upon another and beat him to a jelly, as the witnesses testified. This was up the river some seventy-five miles. The man was arrested and the complaining witness came down with a party of his friends. They procured five gallons of whisky, and went down to Cottage Grove to try the case before Esquire J. S. Norris. The court was duly opened, a jury of six men em- paneled, and, about the time the jug was empty a verdict was found fining the man $300 and costs, or, in default, to go to jail at Prairie du Chien. The prisoner had no money, and, as it would cost the county at least $100 to get him down there, the finding was finally changed to placing the man under bonds to keep the peace for one year in the penal sum of $300, and the complaining witness and the Justice jointly went on the bond ! thus patriotically saving the county the expense of further proceedings.

In the year 1849, and for several years, Iludson seemed destined to outstrip St. Paul as a metropolis of the North- west, on account of the obstruction of the navigation of the Mississippi at " Pig's Eye " Bar. Minnesota was organized as a Territory in March, 1849, and the village of IIudson,

949

HISTORY OF ST. CROIX COUNTY.

being on the Wisconsin side of the river, the residence of the Governor was established at St. Paul, and Hudson, with all its advantages of river communication, was compara- tively lost sight of by men seeking homes in that region.

A land office was established in Hudson in 1849, F. P. Catlin, Register, M. S. Gibson, Receiver. John O. Hen- ning was afterward Receiver and Dr. Otis Hoyt, Register. In 1861, the office was removed to the Falls of St. Croix.

There were twenty tax-payers in 1849, owning property valued at 84,949, and eighteen voters only could be mus- tered. The assessment roll a few years later was, 1852, $25,513; 1853, $32,238 ; 1855, 845,000 ; 1856, $140,000.

The land office entries for the first eight years were as follows: 1849, 16; 1850, 15: 1851, 148; 1852, 79; 1853, 371; 1854, 1,576; 1855, 2,440.

They very rapidly increased in 1856, which was a year of great prosperity and growth for the city and county. Money was quite plenty, and could be had, on undoubted security, at 3 to 5 per cent a month !

line, carrying it from a direct line to the north, across Wil- low River on a high trestle, and by a long curve bringing it back to cross the St. Croix at the mouth of the Willow. This improvement will be an obvious advantage to Iludson as well as to the railroad.

At North Hudson, there is the railroad station, the head- quarters of the land department of the railroad, the round- house and repair shops, and a post office, John Richardson, Postmaster. The mills of Comstock, Clark & Co. are lo- cated here, and this firm also has a cooper-shop here. There is also a log boom on the Willow River. A city government was organized May 4, 1857. A. D. Gray was Mayor, Octavius Bell, City Clerk. The following- named gentlemen have been Mayors of the city to the present time : A. D. Gray, Alfred Day, Silas Staples, John Comstock, S. II. Clough, A. D. Richardson, C. R. Coon, H. F. Hum- phrey, J. H. Brown, Simon Hunt, L. North, C. H. Lewis, Henry L. Wilson, A. J. Goss, P. Q. Boyden, D. C. Ful- ton, M. A. Fulton and Samuel Hyslop, since 1878. City

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CITY OF HUDSON.

HUDSON.

This city is beautifully situated, just below the mouth of Willow River, on the east side of Lake St. Croix, an expan- sion of the river at that place. The city ceeupied a series of terraces along the lake bank, affording from the upper ones a fine view of the lake, and the hills of Minnesota with the spires and outlying portions of Stillwater.

There are three prominent peaks arising in the southeast part of the city, the highest being 232 feet above the surface of the lake.

The city is handsomely laid out, with streets of eon- venient width and blocks of suitable size. Formerly the business street was near the river ; that is now occupied by the railroad, and the present business is on the street above, Second street.

The depot of the River Falls branch is at the foot of Walnut street, on the lake shore. The trunk line depot is at North Hudson, as it is called : changes now going on in the location of the line will make it more convenient. Per- sonal and local interest had deflected the road from a straight

Clerks-Octavius Bell, Henry A. Wilson, Joseph Green, A. W. Hall, L. S. Seymour, seven years, and J. A. Bunker for twelve years.

The present city officers are : Mayor, Samuel Hyslop; Treasurer, Th. Ryan ; Assessor, J. D. Chubbuck ; Police Justice, W. S. Evans ; City Clerk, J. A. Bunker; Presi- dent of Conneil, ITorace Barlow.

The city has one steam fire engine, procured in 1872. The first engineer was Samuel Whitehead. George Willis was his successor, and J. E. Harrington is the present en- gineer in charge. There is now a volunteer corp of assist- ants.

There have been several notable fires in lEndson. On Friday, May 3, 1872, there was a very extensive fire, de- stroying the Chapin Hall House, valued at $50,000, and $35,000 worth of property besides. On the 14th of the same month another fire burned 30,000 bushels of wheat and other property. including the furniture of the Chapin HIall House, which had been saved from the previous fire. Previous to these fires, on the 19th of May, 1866, the

HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

whole business part of the village on Second street was completely swept away.

Churches .- Hudson is quite well supplied with churches, and its clergy will compare favorably with other places of like size.

Methodist .- In the latter part of 1852, the Rev. Mr. Richardson, a one-armed man, was stationed here, and, in 1853. a church was organized. The following is the list of ministers to the present time : Revs. William Hamilton. A. J. Nelson. T. M. Fullerton, Isaac Springer, E. S. Har- ris, E. S. Havens. J. E. Irish, H. Goodell, A. D. Dexter, J. S. Thompson and M. C. Benson, the present Pastor.

A new church was built, and dedicated on the 12th of September, 1875. Rev. M. Chaffee and Rev. Mr. Mooney were present and assisted in the service, Rev. II. Goodell being the Pastor. The present membership is eighty- five.

The Presbyterian Church was organized on the 22d of December, 1855, under the care of Rev. Charles Thayer, with ten members. The first chapel, now used as a hall, was built in 1857. at a cost of $800, including lot. The present edifice was erected in 1874, at a cost of $9,000. The parsonage has ten rooms, and was built in 1860. The following clergymen have been connected with this church since its organization : Charles Thayer, William Speer, John C. Caldwell, H. A. Humphrey, J. Stewart Reed, D. H. Rogan, James Agnew, Bradley Phillips, Sanford C. Fisher and Walter R. Frame, the present Pastor, who came November 11, 1879. Ruling Elders, from the first : Sampson Hartman, L. Humphrey, D. C. Fulton, John M. Nash and George Slater. The total membership has been 181, and there are 100 on the list now.

Congregationalist .- The first church of this denomina- tion was organized in 1861. Through the instrumentality of Rev. Mr. Marshall, a church was erected that year, at a cost of 82,000. The following ministers have occupied the pulpit since that time : Regan, Thorp, Woodruff, Foster, Safford, Ayers, Brown and Rev. Mr. Corwin, now here.

First Regular Baptist .- This society was organized in 1852, under the pastoral care of Rev. Samuel T. Catlin, from Maine. IIe was followed by Rev. A. Gibson, Rev. Mr. De Bois, D. F. Gross, William F. Nelson and T. E. Keeley, who remained nearly eight years, and the present Pastor, William Hartley, who has been here nine years. The first church was built in 1855. The present one in 1866, at a cost of $6,000. The parsonage was purchased in 1876. There are ninety-six members.

St. Patrick's Catholic .-- The first church was built in 1856. The corner-stone of the present building was laid on Sunday. August 23, 1874, by the Right Rev. Michael Heiss, Bishop of La Crosse. The following Rev- erend Fathers have been stationed here: J. J. Magee, A. Godfert, N Mignanlt, N. Stehle, Charles Verweyst, Peter J. Larin, M. Conley and T. A. Kelly, the present Pastor, who came in June, 1875. There are 200 families worship- ing at this church. A building formerly used as the Hinckley Military School has passed into Catholic hands, and is now occupied by the Sisters for a school.

Norwegian Lutheran Church .- This society took an organic form in 1876, when the present edifice was erected, although there had been service in town long before this. Rev. O. J. Hazestad, supplied from Pierce C'o. The Rev. II. J. G. Keroy is the present Pastor. The church cost $2,000, and twenty families worship there.

Willow River Cemetery .-- Amah Andrews presented four acres for a cemetery, which has been all sold, and five acres have recently been added.

Educational .- Hudson is fully abreast of the times in the matter of education. There are three schoolhouses. That in First Ward has a single school-room. The Second Ward house has six rooms and accommodates the High School and the lower grades. The Third Ward house has two rooms. Nine teachers in all are employed. A. B. Dudgeon is the Principal of the ligh School. The Su- perintendent is N. II. Clapp.

Banking. - The early banking operations of Hudson were not on a large scale. The issue of currency based upon a certain number of kegs of nails, with layers of Mex- ican dollars on top, were not very extensive.

The St. Croix Valley Bank was organized in 1855. It was a bank of issue, and the currency purported to be pay- able at Gordon, the headquarters of the bank. Search to find the place has been as fruitless as that to find a North- west Passage. This institution did not survive the panic of 1857.

The Hudson City Bank. organized in 1855. John O. Henning, President; W. S. Gibson, Cashier. It went out of business in December, 1861.

The Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank, started in the summer of 1857. It was a State bank, and went out late the same fall.

The First National Bank was organized in 1863. Capi- tal $50,000. John Comstock, President ; Alfred J. Goss, Cashier. The present officers are John Comstock, Presi- dent ; A. E. Jefferson. Cashier : J. A. Andrews, Assistant Cashier. It now has a surplus of $25,000, and $10,000 undeclared dividends. The foundation for this bank was laid by Alfred Goss, who had a private bank from some time in 1856, which was not a bank of issue, but did a legitimate banking business.

The IIudson Savings Bank, organized in 1870. Alfred Goss, President: A. J. Goss, Cashier. Does a general banking business.

Hotels .- The principal hotels are the Chapin Hall House and the Commercial. A new one near the Commer- cial is in process of erection.

The Chapin HIall House was first built in 1867. In 1872, it was burned. It passed through various hands ; was rebuilt and opened in August, 1879. II. A. Taylor is the owner, and James F. Spencer is proprietor.

The Seeley House is a substantial hotel, and there are several others under foreign auspices.

Newspapers .- Quite a number of newspaper enterprises were started as early as 1850 Among them was the St. Croix Enquirer, by Sexton & Johnson.

The Hudson Journal started in the winter of 1850. W. B. Schaffer had charge of this until 1854, when he sold to Col. Hughes. In 1856, this paper had become the Chron- icle, and, during that campaign, Col. Hughes published the Pathfinder in the interest of Fremont.

The Hudson Republican was started by Col. James Hughes, Aug. 31. 1854. Only a single number was issued.

The North Star .- This journal appeared above the horizon of Hudson on November 18, 1856. Edward Thwing was editor. This continued to shine until absorbed by the Times, in 1864.

The Shield and Banner was in existence a certain time about 1856.

95 1

HISTORY OF ST. CROIX COUNTY.

On the 13th of July, 1860, II. A. Taylor bought the Chronicle, which had fallen into the hands of Beal & Dens- more, and started the Hudson City Times. On the 13th of September, 1864, the Star was absorbed, and the paper be- came the Star and Times. C. A. Clewell became associ- ated with Mr. Taylor. remaining until 1879, when he was alone. In January, 1879, B. J. Price became associated with him. Now Mr. Taylor goes to Marseilles, as United States Consul, and Mr. Price remains in charge.

The True Republican came into existence November 1, 1871, under the management of D. C. Fulton & Bro. January 1, 1875, it was sold to John E. Glover and G. L. Sharretts. In 1876, the firm became Sharretts & Cline. December 1, 1878, James Cogswell bonght Sharretts' inter- est, and he, with G. D. Cline, now publishes the paper.

Fraternal Societies .- St. Croix Lodge, A., F. & A. M., No. 56, instituted 15, 1855. Benjamin Allen, Otis Hoyt and Edward B. Singleton, first officers. The lodge has a written charter signed by G. W. M. H. M. Billings and William R. Smith, Grand Secretary. Present officers-William Beggs, W. M .; C. F. King, S. W .; C. T. Peterson. J. W. : G. R. Hughes, Secretary.

St. Croix. R. A. Chapter, No. 44; instituted February 17, 1874. First officers-W. Herrick, D. C. Fulton and T. E. Williams. Present officers -- G. L. Sharretts, H. P .; C. F. King, K .; M. D. White, S. ; William Beggs, C. of Il .; C. L. Catlin, P. S. ; M. Herrick, Secretary.

St. Croix Commandery ; instituted August 28, 1879. William II. S. Wright was E. C. Present officers-A. L. Clarke, E. C .; A. E. Jefferson, G .; D. F. Harding, C. G .; C. L. Catlin, P .; D. C. Fulton, J. W.

A .. O. U. Workmen ; instituted November 10, 1880, with fourteen members. A. N. Priester, P. M. W .; W. T. Blum, M. W .; M. A. Hall, Secretary. Present officers -Z. C. Holmes, P. M. W. ; A. J. Craig, M. W. ; J. W. Priester, Recorder. Now has thirty-six members.

Odd Fellows-Colfax Lodge, No. 85; instituted January 22, 1855. C. R. Jones and Fred Durand were among the first officers. The lodge flourished until the war of 1861. when it suspended. Reinstated January 16, 1868, by M. F. Gallop, H. S. Clapp, J. M. Whaley and others. Present officers-F. E. Harrington, N. G. ; James Weston, V. G. ; Oscar Lneks, R. S .; H. W. Crosby, P. S .; P. Q. Boyden, T.

Silver Encampment, No. 46; instituted December 6, 1871. Charter members-J. J. Lucks, Th. Porter, J. H. Houghton, J. H. Brown, Simon Hunt, J. H. Childs and George Watson.

Rebecca Lodge, instituted November 19, 1871, has a large membership.

Hudson City Lodge, No. 486, I. O. G. T., has had a membership of 108; now has 56 active members. The officers now are Mrs. O. P. Dyer, W. C. T .; Miss Olive Churchill, V. T. ; Miss Della Childs, Secretary ; Robert IInghes, F. S .; Miss Jennie Nash, T .; M. C. Benson, Chaplain ; Charles Otis, M.

The Patrons of Husbandry flourished for a time. A council was organized January 7, 1874, with the following officers : A. C. Poor, Asa Parker, E. B. Holmes and G. M. Street.

St. Croix Valley Horticultural Society was organized several years ago ; but has been allowed to decline.

Boat Club, organized May, 1881. It has twenty active members ; James Cogswell, President ; F. O. Craid. Secre- tary and Treasurer.

The St. Croix Bible Society .- This society was orga- nized early in the history of the county, and its character and operations have not been unlike that of Bible Societies everywhere. The present officers are W. Herrick, Presi- dent ; W. II. Crowe, Treasurer ; J. A. Andrews, Secretary.

Old Settlers' Club .- J. O. Hennings, President ; Simon Ilunt, Secretary.

Building and Loan Association, organized March 1, 1877. with the following Board of Directors : D. C. Ful- ton, M. Hlerrick, J. M. Childs, G. B. Hunt, C. Y. Denni- son, A. J. Buel, Matthew Ellis ; M. Phipps, Secretary, and William II. S. Wright, Treasurer.

Young Men's Christian Association, instituted in Octo- ber, 1865. William E. Safford, Vice President, and C. F. Burdick, Secretary. Now has twenty-four members. Present officers-H. C. Baker, M. Herrick, Vice President ; J. A. Andrews, Corresponding Secretary ; F. M. Gibson, Recording Secretary ; Frank Nyc, Treasurer. Their read- ing room is open daily.

Ladies' Library Association .- This institution has a valuable library, which is loaned to the Young Men's Chris- tian Association, on condition that the room is kept open, and supplied with periodicals. The best women in Hudson are interested in this society. Mrs. Fred Goss is the Presi- dent ; Miss Ella Richardson, Financial Secretary and Treas- urer ; Mrs. J. W. Bashford, Recording Secretary ; Mrs. P. Q. Boyden, Mrs. Horace Barlow and Mrs. Alfred Day are prominent members, there being twenty-five in all. Miss Ella Richardson is Librarian.

Industrial Enterprises .- Hudson Thrashing Machine Co .; incorporated November 10, 1880, with the following officers : P. B. Lacy, President; A. L. Clark, Secretary ; A. J. Goss, Treasurer. Executive Committee, William G. Swan, Terrence Kenney and the President. The company mannfactures a thrashing machine called the " Wisconsin Governor," which claims a variety of improvements. The present President and Manager of the company is J. C. Snyder. The machine is patented by Sullivan Chris- tofferson.

Comstock, Clark & Co .- Their flouring-inill was first established Baldwin & Son. It has thirteen rnn of stones, and turns out two to three hundred barrels of flour a day. Mr. Clark is the Superintendent. The firm also has a flonr, grain and feed store, under the charge of Mr. Isman. In 1879, the firm expended $15,000 on their mills in improve- ments.

Hudson Manufacturing Company .- This is a new com- pany, just organized, with the following Directors and offi- cers : J. C. Schneider, President; W. H. Phipps, Vice President ; A. A. Kelly, D. C. Fulton, C. R. Jones, John H. Humbir, C. R. Coon and Thomas Hughes.

Wagon, Carriage and Blacksmithing .- S. Hyslop has a manufactory for wagons, carriages, etc. Ile began in 1868, and turns out good work that finds a ready sale. Fle is a practical man, and deals in a square, honorable way.

S. H. Williams also manufactures buggies, sleighs, etc. Furniture .- Beard & Co. succeeded to the business of Nash & Co., in 1870. Do good work and have a growing business.

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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