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 250

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 250

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In March, 1873, the Trempealeau" County Republican was established at Trempealeau, by C. A. Leith, and in 1874, the Messenger and Journal Record was issued at White- hall, by Bert E. Clark. To recapitulate briefly, it should be stated that. with the purchase of the good will of the Trem- pealeau Record, by Luce & Powers of the Galesville Jour- nal, the latter's name was changed to Journal and Record. In 1871, Powers sold his interest in the concern to H. S. Bunn, who in turn sold to one Burt, but subsequently re- owned and again sold, this time to his partner, Mr. Luce, who, in 1874, as already stated, sold to Clark, by whom the Messenger, the first paper at Whitehall, was published. Clark remained at the helm of the Whitehall undertaking for about one year, when his interest was bought out by the citizens (because, it is alleged, of disputes relative to the location of the county seat), who organized the Whitehall Printing Association, and continued the publication of the Messenger with Dan Camp as editor.

In 1874, the Independent, of Galesville was first issued, and in June, 1875, the Leader was started at Arcadia, by Messrs. Ileuston & llollenbeck, by whom its destiny was jointly directed, until March, 1876, when Heuston's moiety n the venture was purchased by the Hon. Noah D. Com- stock, who published the paper in conjunction with Mr.

Hollenbeck until March, 1877, when the latter with- drew.

In December of the same year, Mr. Comstock, who had been editing, publishing and managing the affairs of the Leader, solus, became wearied of the combined task, and sold out to C. A. Leith, who removed the Republican from Trempealeau to Arcadia, and consolidated it with his pur- chase, since when the Republican and Leader has been published at Arcadia with considerable success.

In 1878, N. P. Tucker established a small paper called the Free Press, at Trempealeau, where it was published for about one year, when its materials were removed to Gales- ville, for the purpose of "setting up " the Trempealeau County Democrat. The latter journal survived a year, in the village of its birth, but gradually weakening, was taken to Arcadia, in the hope that a change of air, so to speak, would prove beneficial. But it was too late, and after a few spasmodic efforts at recuperation, it yielded up the ghost in the fall of 1880.

On March 9, 1878, George E. Gilke issued the first number of the Independence Weekly News. Mr. Gilke remained as editor and publisher until February 26, 1880, when W. R. Allison assumed control, and changed the name of the sheet to the Weekly News Bulletin. Less than three months' experience were enjoyed by Mr. Allison before he sold the enterprise. Howe & Turnbull, the pur- chasers, substituted the Weekly News, and conducted it one month, when H. I. Turnbull became sole proprietor, re- maining so until June 24, 1880 (three weeks), at the ex- piration of which period, J. R. Faulds was received as part- ner, and in two months, or on August 8, 1880, absorbed his partner's interest, and assumed the entire responsibility of the venture, in which capacity he has since continued. In January of this year (1880), the Whitehall Printing Association was dissolved, and the Messenger and Journal, which, after the retirement of Mr. Camp from the editorial tripod, had been managed by George Eads and E. B. Wag- ner successively, was sold to F. E. Beach, who subsequently associated his brother, J. B. Beach, with himself in the publication of the paper. The paper is still owned and operated by these gentlemen, under the firm name of Beach Bros.

From the above, it will be seen that journalistic births in Trempealeau County have been numerous. While all have not reached an age where they can be esteemed per- manently secure, all have not fallen by the wayside, and those which have survived are worthy evidences of that suc- cess which attends industry and perseverance.

WHITEHALL,

the capital of the county, and the quiet, unpretentious abode of wealth and intelligence, lies hidden among the verdure of trees which line its streets, and shrubberies, which deck the gardens of residents, presenting many features of rural felicity to its citizens not more than to the traveler, as he hurries through on his journeys of business and pleas- ure.

In October, 1873, the line of road which connects the Mississippi with Green Bay had been completed to subse- quent Whitehall, and it was decided to establish a station at this point. This question being settled, llenry Ketchum, a land owner, appropriated sufficient for the purposes indi- cated, which T. II. Earl laid out, platted and divided into

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

fourteen blocks. This being completed, that gentleman, who had built himself a house, arrived on the ground and "side-tracked," so to speak, on one of the most cheerless and unauspicious days of that wonderfully peculiar season, which is still remembered as one of the severest the annals of severe annuals give any account. On the day Mr. Earl was engaged in procuring a site for his house, the thermom- eter marked thirty degrees below zero, and the freezing blasts and congealed atmosphere was propelled at a rate of miles per hour it was impossible to attempt resistance against. Notwithstanding these embargoes, the venture- some pioneer resident of Whitehall established a home for his families, and rested. He was the first to decide to per- menently settle in the village, and his domicile the first to be raised within its limits.

During the winter, no others came in, either to view the site of the town, purchase lots for residence or speculative purposes, or in any manner sought to identify themselves with the undertaking which was to develop within a brief period into one of the " loveliest villages of the plain." This was in part due to the inclemency of the weather, and in

supply this deficiency, the Empire Hotel was erected by Mr. Stratton, and the Exchange by S. L. Alexander. Another residence was added to the town, the second built, being that of George Olds, the pioneer purchaser of lots after the village had been surveyed and platted. A Mr. Cook came in and became a dealer in furniture, building a store for the sale of stock at the corner of Main and Scranton streets. lle was soon followed by Nelson Comstock in the same line of business, and was accompanied in his ventures by T. C. MeDermot, who opened a hardware store, as also by C. E. Scott and L. H. Whitney in depots for the sale of dry goods, groceries and notions. Camp's Block was erected this year, and B. F. Wing became a general merchant. The cause of education was also consulted ; and, the old school- house, which had served its purposes in years gone by, was razed to give place to the edifice which has since obtained in which to teach the young idea how to read, write and study decimals. ·

These included the improvements consummated during 1874. They were adapted to the nses which their building was sought to conserve, and some of them still exist, having

WHITEHALL.

part to other causes and combinations of causes, it would be difficult to designate or discover.

Early in the spring of 1874, however, voyageurs from distant sections began to come hitler, and, while many returned to the spot whence they hailed, there was not a few who remained, and have since grown into prominence with Whitehall-so named, by the way, after old Whitehall. a short distance above the present city, by Benjamin Wing and Ole Knudson.

Among the first to settle permanently were H. E. Getts and C. J. Lambert, former residents of North La Crosse. The former opened the first merchandise store in the village and soon acquired prominence in commercial circles. Mr. Lambert became associated with Mr. Earl in the building of a warehouse, which still stands, and commenced handling grain. Soon after, Daniel L. Camp was acknowledged as a citizen of the village, when he purchased wheat in the capacity of agent for Kelly & Ehore, factors in this cereal at Green Bay. As spring advanced, and the warm days of summer followed in its wake, the accessions to the popula- tion became more numerous. The insufficiency of accom- modations for the traveling public was severely felt. To

withstood the ravages of time and the elements, though during the summer a tornado swept over the village and unroofed the structures of Cook and Whitney, then in progress of construction.

Though the village was in its infancy, it was deemed a desirable location for the publication of a weekly paper, and with a view to consulting the public needs. Bert E. Clark purchased the Galesville Journal and Recorder from George S. Luce, and transporting its furniture, tackle and apparel to Whitehall, began the issue of the Trempeleau Messenger. And here, it might be observed, was inaugu- rated a poliey regarding the location of the county seat, which has not yet entirely subsided.

Business during the period herein mentioned, it might be observed. was "booming." The farmers found an accessible and available market for their crops, and the stores of merchants were thronged with cash customers. It is estimated that, including the crop of 1873, there had been shipped from Whitehall, at the close of the season of 1874, about 225,000 bushels of wheat, in addition to large quantities of oats, barley. corn, etc., etc.

Such, then, was the outlook which greeted factor and

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HISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY.

consignor as 1875 dawned upon the community ; and it may be observed that the anticipations born of this experi- ence were fraught with realizations. When the spring suc- ceeded winter, the arrivals of settlers were resumed, and gradually increased as the year advanced. Business, too, kept pace with the progress of events. Not the dilatory, devil-may-care quality to be observed to-day in some por- tions of the country, but a hurrying, bustling, prosperous type, so apparent in flush times in a new country. The commercial community was increased in point of numbers, wealth and influence by the arrival of Melvin Johnson, who put up a store, as also a dwelling-house ; by the arrival of A. J. Cady and others. Rogerson & Warner entered an appearance as dealers in hardware, and other branches of trade also were represented in new ventures. The demand for mechanical skill attracted hither William Blodgett, Joseph Augustine. A. J. Roscoe and James Hiner, the latter dividing his time and services between the bench and the pulpit.

About twenty-five dwelling-houses and stores were erected this year, it is estimated ; the new schoolhouse was made ready for occupation, and the Methodist and Baptist Churches were commenced. It should also be added that Carpenter & Coates took charge of Eimon & Kelley's wheat interests, and the changes coneluded were for the better. While there were many who came in, there were some who declined to remain, but their fortunes were in other directions.

The building requirements had by this time developed an immense lumber trade. So large, indeed, had this become that sometimes it was found difficult to supply the demand for home consumption without reference to the wants of country customers. As an illustration of this statement, it can be said that in the space of four years, or until 1877, one firm, T. II. Earl & Co., disposed of an amount aggregating in value the sum of $100,000.

From these facts it will be seen that Whitehall had become a prosperous town, and its ambition to secure the permanent location of the county seat not entirely without substantial claims. But that objeet of special interest to rival villages in the county was not to be obtained without a contest. Galesville still preserved the county records in the county building in that village, and declined to pass them over without protest, and the citizens of Arcadia would not be comforted because they were made their eusto- dian.

When 1876 was ushered into existence, as it were, there were some changes among the established residents who disposed of their properties at an advance to new-comers and moved on to farming. This branch of industry, by the way, had not been neglected meanwhile, and the nuin- ber of agriculturists who served in the field while the artisan, the merchant and the artificer builded the town, was gratifyingly large.

This year, to supply an increased demand, Martin V. Allen built the Whitehall House, and W. T. Tesser became tha owner, by purchase, of the Empire House, which he en- larged and improved. William Scott came in and offered his services as a carpenter ; Alonzo Tucker purchased the Ed. Cook House and advertised himself as a mason ; Eugene Webster and J. R. King severally opened livery stables ; M. C. C. Olsen was known as the village tailor and Edward Romander as the village harness-maker. This year, also, came R. G. Floyd, M. D., the first physician to locate per-

manently in Whitehall. A. S. Trow & Co. opened a lum- ber-yard, and Decker & Lawton a store of general supplies. Business continued excellent and numerous improvements were made. Notwithstanding these facts the campaign " waxed hot," and the intensity of feeling displayed by supporters of rival candidates is said to have been radical to the last degree. This year, too, to contest for the county county seat took shape. though Whitehall took no part, pre- ferring, in a taeit sort of a way, that Galesville retain the prize until its forces had been drilled and massed for active service.

Another feature of excellence in connection with the location of Whitehall was the freedom of its inhabitants from malarious and other diseases. The general health was good, and this desideratum, to which can be attributed a modicum, at least, of the success which attended the vil- lage, was during no year exceptional.

The ensuing year opened auspiciously, and during 1877 the volume of business transacted was greater than dur- ing any previous year, while the improvements were gen- eral. It is estimated that not less than two hundred and fifty thousand bushels of wheat were shipped. This year the Whitehall Mills were commenced by a man named Goi- den, who came in, as the sequel proved, with but about $500 in capital, and, enlisting the confidence of the com- munity, involved several citizens, who, to save themselves, were obliged to take charge of the property, and by whom it has since been conducted with dispatch, if not with profit. This year a Norwegian paper, Der Nord Staed, was established, but survived the storms of journalistic experi- ence but a year. A new boot and shoe store was added to the village, and A. G. Fossegaard established a tannery, which is still operated. The town hall was built in 1877, in anticipation, in fact, of securing the county seat. It is of frame, originally designed to be one story high. But the Odd Fellows subscribed $600 and the original plan was changed to make the building two stories high. It cost a total of $1,200. and was completed in time to be selected as a court house, when the county seat was finally removed from Arcadia to Whitehall by 600 majority on the popular vote.

The three succeeding years have not been attended with that success prior experiences would justify, the belief would be requited unto those who labored. The repeated failure of the crops to a large extent prevented this, but the people, confident that the opposite to that produced by these causes, can be realized with a removal of the causes know that they also serve who wait. No prettier village can be found in the county, with its population of 400, and the utmost prosperity is its desert.

The first school taught in the present village was by A. L. Sherwood, in a building that had always been used for that purpose, south of the court house. In 1874-75, the premises were removed and their absence supplied by the present structure, at a cost of $1,500. The school is graded, employing two teachers, and furnishing the means of educa- tion to an everage daily attendance of 100 pupils. It re- quires $1,200, for the annual support of the institution, derived in part by taxation on the basis of $1.50 on the $100, and although two-thirds of all taxes levied is willingly paid by property holders. to sustain a cause so meri- torious.

When George Olds creeted the second private residence on Main street, in the village, a short distance from the

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

depot. his house was selected as the post office, and himself as Postmaster. These selections have not since been changed.

Whitehall Mills were begun by William Golden, in 1877. and completed in 1878, by a party of capitalists. headed by T. P. Earl, who have since conducted and oper- ated them. They are among the largest in the State, being of frame. three stories high, 36x48 and supplied with five run of stone, with a capacity for cighty barrels of flour every twenty-four hours.

In this connection, it may be stated that there are three elevators in the village, one owned by HI. E. Getts, erected by Earl & Lambert, in 1873, with a capacity for 10,000 bushels ; the Decker & Lawton elevator, with 5,000 bushels capacity : and the Elmon & Kelly elevator, with 10,000 bushels capacity, both the latter being owned by Cargill & Van. Abundant means are furnished by these elevators, for the storage and shipment of grains, and these, as has been shown, have equaled 250,000 bushels in one year.

The village is supplied with a Baptist and Methodist Church, both of which are commodious, handsomely situated and finished. and furnishing ample accommodations for worshipers.

The former sect. it is stated, was organized in 1863, and from that date until 1875. worshiped at old Whitehall. In the latter year they disposed of to the Lutherans, and the present edifice erected at a cost of $1,500, and has since been occupied. The congregation is made up in a large degree of farmers of the surrounding country. The present pastor is the Rev. Mr. Dismon, and services are held semi- monthly.

The Methodist society was organized in 1867, though there had been preaching at intervals, from the year the country was first settled. The society held its meetings in schoolhouses, and formed part of the Arcadia charge until 1874, when it became a separate charge. The following year the present church was built in 1875, at a cost of $2.000.

The present pastor is the Rev. W. H. Chynoweth, and the congregation numbers about 100 worshipers.

Whitehall Lodge No. 15, N. W. B. A., was organized March 11. 1880, with fifteen members and the following officers : S. S. Miller, President ; F. E. Beach, Vice Pres- ident ; C. E. Scott, Past President ; L. H. Whitney, Secre- tary : O. J. Allen, Treasurer : Joseph Augustine, Chaplain. and G. G. Graham, Conductor.

The society is purely beneficial, the families of mem- bers being the beneficiaries. After death of members de- cedent's family is entitled to receive the sum of 82,000 from the society fund.

At present there are seventeen members, with the fol- lowing officers : O. J. Allen, President ; G. H. Olds, Vice President ; G. G. Graham, Secretary, and C. E. Scott, Treasurer.

Trempealeau Valley Lodge, No. 249, I. O. O. F., was organized August 27, 1875, with a compliment of members and the following officers : N. N. Green, N. G .; R. G. Floyd, V. G .; Daniel L. Camp, Secretary, and H. E. Getts. Treasurer.

Since that day the membership has been increased to sixty-seven, with the following officers at present in service : W. L. Manson, N. G .; Andrew Benson, V. G .; Daniel L. Camp. Secretary, and H. E. Getts, Treasurer.

Meetings are held weekly on Friday evenings, and the value of Lodge property is stated at $827.

Lincoln Cemetery Association was organized in 1862, at which time two and one-half acres of ground southeast of the village were purchased for burial purposes. The So- ciety was controlled by its regularly constituted officers until 1866, when the direction of its affairs was assigned to the town authorities, who retained possession until 1878, when they reverted to the assignors, by whom they have since been administered. The cemetery has been regu- larly surveyed and platted and is adorned with much arti- ficially as also by nature that will attract admiration.

The present officers are: D. Wood, President; H. C. Stratton, Treasurer, and L. D. McVitt, Secretary.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHIES.

MATHIAS ANDERSEN. of the firm of Anderson & Lar- sons, dealers in wines. liquors, etc .; came to America in 1872, having been born in Norway in 1843. He first worked at shoe making in the town of Trempealeau, and from there went to Lake City, Mian., where he remained for two years. In May, 1881, he came to Whitehall and started in his present business. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Trempealeau Valley Lodge, No. 249.

DANIEL L. CAMP, dealer in dry goods, groceries and drugs; was born in Waukesha Co., Wis., Feb 28, 1841. He first started in the mercantile business in that county in 1860, where he continued until 1867, when he engaged in the employ of Ellmore & Kelly, as traveling agent for their commission house. In 1874 he came to Whitehall and remained in their employ for one year as grain buyer and station agent. In 1875 he started in his present business. He does a business of $20,000 per annum. He was also editor and manager of the Trempealeau County Mes- senger and Whitehall Times until January 1881, and was local editor of the Fort Howard Monitor during the year 1874; is a charter member of the Trempealeau Valley Lodge, No. 249, I. O. O. F. When he first came to Whitehall there was not a building here outside of the railroad buildings and two warehouses.

CHARLES C. CRANE, farmer, Post-office Whitehall ; was born in New York City, July 29, 1819. Left there in 1854 and came to Wisconsin, first going to Johnstown, Rock Co., where he worked at his trade, which was that of carpentering and building, until May 1856, at which time he removed to Trempealeau. and there remained until 1862. He worked on the first saw-mill which was built in the Village of Trempealeau ; also built the first church there, in 1851, for the Congregational Society ; he weil remem- bers the big snow in the winter of 1856 and '57. when it was nearly three months that the roads were impassable between Trem- pealeau and thalesville. In 1862 he moved on to his farm, con- sisting of 120 acres, which he had entered in 1855, and where he still lives. In 1857 he saw a drove of nineteen elk on his place, this being the most of them that he ever saw together at one time. But other game was very plenty at that time, such as deer and prairie chickens, and fish were to be had in abundance from the river which runs through his farm. This stream used to be head- quarters for some Indian tribe, and many relics have been found, such as arrow heads, smoothing stones, etc. Mr. Crane was mar- ried in 1813, by Rev. Robert Street. to Miss Hannah Wade, who was born in Elizabethtown. N. J., in 1823. Their family consists of six children-Julia A .. now Mrs. Currier, of Minnesota; Anna M., now Mrs. Breed. of Whitehall : Sarah R., William A. E., Lillian J. and Charles E. W. He has held various offices in his town and county, having been County Coroner three terms ; a member of the Town Board of Lincoln, and School Clerk for sev- enteen years : Justice of the Peace seven terms, and Assessor for three terms, which office he still holds. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and was a charter member of the first lodge in the county.

WILLIAM H. DAVIS, miller ; was born in Ontario, Can- ada West, Nov. 17, 1854 ; came to Wisconsin in 1872 and went to Galesville, Trempealeau Co. and commenced clerking for W.

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HISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY.

Davis & Co., and in October, 1878, left there and came to White- hall, where he has been engaged ever since as miller. The White- hall Flouring Mills have a run of five buhrs, and a capacity for making eighty barrels of flour per day. Mr. Davis is a member of the A., F, & A. M., Decorah Lodge, No. 177, at Galesville. also of the I. O. O. F. at the same place.

THEODORE H. EARLE, dealer in agricultural implements and farmer ; was born in Ohio, April 18, 1836 ; eame to Apple- ton, Wis., in 1856, where he went to school, graduating from Lawrence University in 1861 ; he then went to New London, where he commenced teaching, at which he continued until 1863, when he was married to Miss M. L. Ketchum, who is a daughter of Henry Ketchum, President of the Green Bay & Minnesota R. R. for nine years Mr. Earle began farming in the town of New London, at which he continued five years, when he was ap- pointed General Purchasing Agent for the construction of the Green Bay Railroad. In 1873 he came to Whitehall, Trempealeau Co., where he erected the first dwelling house in the village, be- ing engaged for the first three years of his residence there with Henry Ketchum, as superintendent of his lumber business, on the line of railroad trom Merrillan to Marshland. In 1876 he en- gaged with C. N. Paine & Co., and has had charge of their busi- ness in Whitehall ever since ; said business having averaged since 1873 $20,000 per annum. Mr. Earle also owns an interest in the Whitehall Flouring Mills, and was Chairman of the Town Board of Lincoln for four years, having always taken an active part in all public enterprise of his town and county.

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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