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 255

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 255

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The village continued to improve until 1879, during which year it was incorporated, when it was sorely stricken by the " Dakota Fever," and has never recovered. Since that calamity, Arcadia has been at a standstill, so to speak, but the industry, enterprise and thrift of its inhabitants, must combine to prevail against less substantial competition in the near future, when the days of " rush " and " busi- ness booms " will once more be experienced.

The population of the village is estimated at 700.

The town of Arcadia was organized into one school district, April 24. 1857, and a meeting of the school direct- ory held in the month of May following at the residence of David Bishop. Soon after, as already stated. the first school was opened under the auspices of Sarah McMasters, and from that day to this, the cause of education has never faltered.

In June, 1860. other school districts were organized, and the old schoolhouse in the village was substituted by an entirely new structure. When a court house became neces- sary, this was appropriated to that purpose, and the present brick academy, of large proportions and handsome finish, erected at a cost of 86,000. Here the youth of the village are educated, and here is offered the advantages of the grad- ed system, beginning with primary and concluding with high school graduation. During 1880, the average daily attendance was 150 scholars. The annual cost of operating the institution is stated at $2,200; four teachers are em- ployed. and the system is under the control of a Board.

MANUFACTURING.

W. P. Massuere & Co.'s flouring mills, located in Old Arcadia, are the pioneer mills of the town, having been erected in 1860, at a cost of $2,000. In 1873, the mills were destroyed by an overflow, entailing a loss of $5,000, but rebuilt the same year, and operations resumed in the spring of 1874. They are supplied with two run of stone, with a capacity of 200 bushels daily, and represent a valua- tion of $7,000.

Miller & Bears' mills, located at a distance of two miles from the village, were erected in 1872, and have since been continuously operated. In 1874, the present owners pur- chased the enterprise for $6,000, and conduct their purchase as a custom mill. The mills are supplied with two run of stone and are capable of grinding 100 bushels daily.

The Areadia Woolen Mills were begun in the spring of 1876. by Dyke. Allen & Co., but completed during the same year, at a cost of $5,000. Four hands are employed, at a weekly compensation of $30, when the enterprise is operat- ed to its full capacity. producing an annual revenue of $7,- 500. The goods are sold in Minnesota, Iowa and Wiscon- sin, and the investment is said to be valued at 87,000.

Arcadia Brewery, situated at some distance from the village, in an easterly direction. were erected in 1876, by Bion & Co., at a cost of $7,000, who carried on the business of manufacturing beer until the spring of 1881, when the establishment became the property of J. M. Fertig. The brewery possesses a capacity for manufacturing 1.500 barrels of beer annually, and are valued at about 810,000.

In addition to these, it may be here stated, the village contains three elevators ; W. P. Massuere & Co.'s and A. E. Smith & Co.'s, both erected in 1873, and each with a capacity of 2,000 bushels, and that of J. C. Muir, erected in 1874, and capable of holding 8,000 bushels. The ship- ing of grain in Arcadia is done through these agencies and amounts to 250,000 bushels annually.

RELIGIOUS.

The organization of Methodist Episcopal society was perfeeted in 1857, under the auspices of an itinerant min- ister of the Wesleyan faith, with Collins Bishop, Anna Bishop, Narcissa Robertson and Rhoda Shelley, as the con- stituent members. Services were conducted at the residences of members until an increase in the members of the congre- gation required more extensive quarters, when the school- house was secured and appropriated to their uses. This was continued until 1876, when preparations looking to the erection of a house of worship. meanwhile in progress, took shape, and resulted in the building of the present edifice, which was completed during that year at a cost of 85,000. It is of frame, of a quaint Elizabethan order of architecture,

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HISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY.

handsomely finished, and with accommodations for a congre- gation of 500 persons. Since 1857, the society has in- creased in members and now has a roster of forty commu- nicants.

The value of church property is stated at $6,000.

The Evangelical Association, composed of Germans, was organized in November, 1875, under the direction of the Rev. J. P. Field, and with twenty members. Immedi- ately upon the completion of its organization the society contracted for the erection of a church, which was begun the same year, and finished during the spring of 1876. The church is 20x30, of frame, with capacity for an audi- ence of 300, and cost $700. completed and furnished. The present membership numbers thirty, and is under the pastor- ate of the Rev. M. C. Werner.

For some years the Baptist Society was active in Arca- dia, where it still has a frame church edifice. But a combi- nation of circumstances caused its disorganization, and at present its influence is quiescent.

In addition to the above, there are two Catholic Churches in the town, one Polish and one German, at which services are regularly held.

Societies .- Arcadia Lodge, No. 201, A., F. & A. M., was organized under a dispensation granted May 10, 1875, under which it worked until June 13, 1876, when it was regularly chartered, with Stephen Putnam, W. M .; D. B. Stitt, S. W. and G. E. Bradt, J. W. The lodge now num- bers forty-two members, with Stephen Putnam, W. M. ; John Muir, S. W .; David Holcomb, J. W .; F. C. Allen, S. D. : S. T. Robertson, J. D .; W. C. Brooks, Secretary ; James Gavney, Treasurer, and John Dennis, Tiler. Meet- ings are regularly convened every second Tuesday in the lodge rooms on Main street, and the value of lodge property is quoted at $500.

Until recently the Odd Fellows supported a lodge in the village, but meetings have been discontinued, and the char- ter has been surrendered.

Arcadia Lodge, No. 24, A. O. U. W., was organized April 24, 1878, with twelve members and the following officers : Dr. M. W. Waterman, P. M. W. ; Dr. George N. Hidershide, M. W. : Peter Richtman, G. F. ; Timothy Selek, O .; George Joos, G .; Jacob Schneller, I. W. ; Christian Von Wald, O. W .; N. Mueller, Recorder ; Charles Hensel, Financier : G. Gasal, Receiver. Since that date the membership has increased to forty-two, and a gratifying degree of prosperity has attended the society. The present officers are : A. E. Smith, P. M. W .; George Smart, M. W .; John Maurer, G. F .; T. Edelback, O .; Timothy Selek, G .; John Bion, I. W .; Anton Frohn, O. W .; G. Gasal, Receiver; A. E. Smith, Financier, and Joseph Farlin, Recorder. The organization is in a flour- ishing condition, and meetings are held weekly on Thursday evenings.

Trempealean County Bank was established at White- hall May 10, 1878, and, after remaining a year at that point, removed to Arcadia, where it became an established fact June 1, 1879. The bank is a private undertaking, incorporate:l under the laws of Wisconsin, carrying a capi- tal of $25,000, and doing a general banking, exchange. real estate and loan agencies.

The officers are : James II. Allen, President, and Frank C. Allen, Cashier.

The cemetery comprises a small tract of land one mile southeast of the village, set apart by the town of Arcadia

for burial purposes early in the sixties. It is under the control of the town officers, and though it has been platted and appropriately laid out is susceptible of improvement. This, it is anticipated, will be accomplished at an early day.

The Arcadia Mineral Springs are situated about half a mile west of the village, in a romantic and beautiful spot, and, their waters, it is claimed, are composed of the best health-giving properties for the cure of dyspepsia, liver, kidney and stomach complaints and other physical derange- ments. It was discovered in 1878, on lands belonging to George Hiles, and the virtue of the waters induced MIr. Hiles to complete its development, and contract for the erection of a large and handsomely designed hotel for the accommodation of those desirous of testing the qualities of the waters. The building was quite completed during the spring of 1879, when it was destroyed by fire and the pro- ject abandoned. The spring is much sought by villagers and residents of the county generally as a remedial agent. The following is the analysis :

GRAINS.

Free carbonate acid. 4,2346. Sulphate of sodium. .3658.

Bicarbonate of sodium ...... 51,6598. Sulphate of polassium .2616.

Bicarbonate of magnesium .. 9,2834. Chloride of sodium. .3121.

Bicarbonate of calcium ...... 15,9886. Alumina .1121.

Bicarbonate of iron. .6321. Silica 2,3416.

Total .85,1918.

Also slight traces of bicarbonate of manganese, phosphate of sodium, iodide of sodium and organic matter.

Mail facilities of an indifferent and wholly unreliable character were endured by the pioneers, until their increase in numbers demanded more adequate conveniences, and a post office was opened in Old Arcadia, under the official charge of G. D. Dewey. This was in 1859, or thereabouts, since which date the affairs of the service have been success- fully administered.

The office was retained in Old Arcadia at such places as were selected by succeeding Postmasters, when it was removed to Lower Town, where the office is still retained.

The following officials have served since the establish- ment of the office by the Department: G. D. Dewey, G. T. Strong, J. D. Rainey, George Matschenberchen, M. H. Campbell, James A. Quinn and James Gavney, the present incumbent.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

WM. W. BARNES, Chairman of Town Board of Arcadia ; was born on Long Island, at Cold Spring Harbor, May 17, 1838 ; removed to Wisconsin in September, 1856, and first lived at Black River Falls, Jackson County, where he was engaged, first at lum- bering and then as pilot on the Mississippi ; here he was married in the fall of 1857 to Miss Olive A. Nettleton, a native of New York State. In the spring of 1879 Mr. Barnes moved to Arca- dia, which has since been his home ; his family consists of two children-Zue and Olive ; he has been a member of the Village Board ever since it was organized ; was a sailor on the Atlantic Ocean for five years, and was at one time second mate. and at another, supercargo of merchantman.

JOHN W. BLAISDELL, proprietor of the Mineral Springs Hotel at Arcadia; was born in Wyoming Co., N. Y., March 9, 1830 ; he first came to Wisconsin in 1849, locating in Fond du Lac County, where he lived for two years ; then returned to New York State, where he learned the miller's trade ; then came back to Wisconsin and engaged at milling in Waupun for nine years ; then went to Oshkosh ; from there to Fond du Lac, and then back to Wanpun, where, in February, 1865. he enlisted in the Co. D. 50th Wis. Vol. Infty., serving until January, 1866. After the war he returned to Juneau Co., Wis., where he followed milling

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN

until 1876; he then removed to Arcadia, and engaged at the lum- bering business, which he continu d until January, 1881, at which time he purchased the hotel, of which he is now proprietor. The hotel is one of the largest and bes' in the county. It is sup- plied with the Arcadia Mineral Springs water, and has suitable accommodations for summer tourists.

WILLIAM BOORMAN, farmer, Sec. 4, P. O. Arcadia ; was born Jan. 28, 1830, in England ; remained there until twelve years of age, when he came to America with his parents in 1842, and lived with them on a farm near Chicago. Ilis father died when he was seventeen years old, and as he was the oldest of the family he took charge of the farm ; in 1853 he moved into the city of Chicago, where he was married the same year to Miss Elizabeth Orekly, and afterward moved to Jersey Co., Ill., where he farmed until 1855, at which time his mother died ; he then came to Wisconsin and settled on a farm in La Crosse County, on what is known as the Brice Prairie, where he lived until 1865, and then came to Trempealeau County.

ISAAC A. BRIGGS. M. D., farmer and stock dealer, P. O. Arcadia ; was born in Windsor Co., Vt., April 20, 1816 ; came West with his parents when sixteen years of age, and lived with them in Kalamazoo Co., Mich., where he went to school, intending to educate himself as a physician ; he continued there until 1852, at which time he came to Green Lake Co., Wis., where he prac- ticed his profession for eight years ; in 1860 he came to Trem- pealeau County, and settling on the farm where he uow lives, has practiced his profession in connection with farming. Dr. Briggs has held the office of Town Assessor and Justice of the Peace in the village of Arcadia. and is an active worker in the M. E. Church; he was married in 1844 to his first wife, Miss Caroline Tyrell, of Michigan, who died in 1849; in the year 1851 was married the second time to Miss Elizabeth Briggs, of Vermont, by whom he has four children-Warren S., Della C., Harry A. and Asa G.

DANIEL C. DEWEY, farmer, Sec. 33, P. O. Arcadia; was born in Delaware Co., N. Y., April 16 1828, being the son of Aaron and Dolly Dewey, the former, a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of New York ; his father was a soldier in the war of 1812. The subject of this sketch first came to Wisconsin in 1847 and entered a quarter section of land in Dodge County, on which he lived for four years and then sold out and went back to New York, he remaining there five years, and was mar- ried in the meantime to Josephine Trumbull, who was born in New York ; in 1859 they moved to Wisconsin and settled on the farm where they now live. Mr. Dewey was elected Chairman of the Town Board of Arcadia in 1861, and in 1862 he entered the army and served nine months as Sergeant in the 30th Wis., Co. C, Infty. Vol .; he was then disabled for further service, and being discharged he returned home. He has been Assessor in his town for two terms, and is an active worker and member of the M. E. Church, and also a member of the A .. F. & A. M., Arcadia Lodge No. 201.

JOHN M. FERTIG, of the firm of Fugina Bros. & Fertig, dealers in general merchandise at Arcadia, and proprietor of the brewery at the same place, was born in Germany, Jan. 28, 1852. He came with his brother to America in 1868, and stayed in Baltimore, Md., for two years, and, in 1870, came to Buffalo County, Wis., where he clerked for J. and M. Fugina, merchants. In the spring of 1875, he came to Arcadia, where he became a partner of the above firm and erected the brick block, where they now do business, in the year 1878, it being the largest brick busi- ness block in the county. He became connected with the brewery at Arcadia in 1880, and now runs it in connection with his other business. It has a capacity for making 1,000 barrels of beer per year, and was the second brewery in the county. Mr. Fertig is a member of the Village Board. The firm of Fugina Bros. & Fertig do an annual business of from $35,000 to 850,000.

JAMES GAVENEY, Postmaster at Arcadia, and farmer, Sec. 5 ; was born April 5, 1825, in Ireland. In 1850, he came

to America, first living in Mineral Point, Wis., where he worked at mining for two years, and then went by the overland route to California, where he remained for five years mining, and, in 1857, returned to Wisconsin and made Arcadia his home. Mr. Gaveney owns nearly 1,000 acres of land in Trempealcau County, and is also a partner of N. D. Comstock in the Independence Flouring- Mills. He has held various offices in his town, and has been a member of the Masonic Fraternity since 1854. He was married in 1860 to Miss Mariah M. Briggs, who is a native of Vermont.

OLIVER A. HEGG. farmer, Sce. 5; P. O. Independence ; was born in Norway, March 1, 1842. He came with his parents to America in 1842, first living at Blue Mounds, Dane Co., on a farm, where he remained until 1861. when he enlisted in Com- pany K, W. V. I, and served throughout the war, being pro- moted to First Lieutenant in October, 1864. He was married while home on a furlough to Miss Jane MI. Anderson, who was born in Norway. After being mustered out of service, he returned to Dane County and farmed until 1869. when he moved to Trempealeau County, where he took up a soldiers' claim of 160 acres in the town of Arcadia, and was one of the first settlers in his neighborhood. He has been engaged ever since in farm- ing and teaching school during the winters, having taught the same school ever since the district was organized, up to the present date. He has been a member of the Board of Supervisors of Arcadia for two years, also Chairman one year. Has a family of five children-Mariah, Ellen E., Amanda, Clarence B. and Idah J. : one sou, Gabriel, who died March 5, 1881.

GEORGE N. HIDERSIIIDE, physician and surgeon at Arcadia, was born in Brussels, Belgium. June 13, 1549. Left there in 1857 with his parents and came to America, where he located with them on a farm in Winona Co., Minn. ; he then went to live with an English family to learn the English language, and. after being with them thirteen months, he returned home and went the to District school until 1866, he then attended the Winona Normal School for three years, and was a graduate of the class of 1869; he then began reading medicine under Dr. G. F. Whitherell, of Lyons, Iowa. After two years' study, his health failed and he returned home and engaged in the farm machinery business for one year, he then attended the Louisville Medical College and graduated there in 1875, and, in the same year, came to Trempealeau County, where he entered into partnership with Dr. F. L. Lewis. After practicing with him for one year, they dissolved partnership, and Dr. Hidershide has since practiced alone in the town of Arcadia. He is a member of the North- western Medical Society, and also of the American Medical Society.

IVER JACOBSON, Under Sheriff of Trempealeau Co., Arcadia, was born in Norway July 25, 1851. He came to the United States with his parents in 1871, and first located with them in Waupun, but after remaining there one year they re- moved to Vernon Co., where the subject of this sketch attended school during winters, and during summers he clerked for Mons Anderson & Co., and other parties, in the city of La Crosse. During the year 1875 he run a branch store for the above firm in that place. In 1876 he was a candidate for City Clerk in La Crosse, but was defeated by 140 votes, and in 1878-79 was Under Sheriff under Halstead. He Was married in the spring of 1879, to Miss Julia M. M. Mills, of Arcadia, and in July of the same year he moved to Arcadia, where he has since been engaged with Seth Mills reading law. He is a member of the A., F. & A. M., La Crosse Lodge, No. 190, and also of the I. O. O. F., Riverside Lodge. No. 192.

CHARLES A. LEITH, son of John Kenneth Leith, Ad- jutant of the 12th British Infantry, was born in Plymouth, En- gland, Nov. 14, 1842. Hle received a classical education at the grammar school in Kingsbridge, Devonshire, England, and in 1860 emigrated to the United States and settled in Trempealeau C'o., Wis. Ilis first occupation was that of a farmer, but he soon found that his physical nature was not well adapted to the busi-

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HISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY.

ness. He then apprenticed himself to learn the printing business, commencing as a printer's " devil," he passed through all the gradations and vieissitudes ineident to the attainment of a full knowledge of the " art preservative." In January, 1864, he en- listed in the 1st Wis. Battery of Horse Artillery, and served until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. Return- ing once more to the stick and rule, he soon purchased a half in- terest in the Galesville Transcript, and since that period has published and owned several newspapers, and is at present owner and publisher of the Trempealeau County Republican and Leader, the leading paper in the county, published at Arcadia. In April, 1866, he married Miss Martha Gale, of Galesville, Wis., and soon after moved from that place to Trempealeau, Wis., where he now resides. Mr. Leith has held several minor offices of trust, and among them was that of Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue, for three years, for the counties of Trempealeau, Buffalo, Clark and Jackson. Politieally, Mr. Leith has always been a Re- publican, but one of the Conservative order ; has taken a great interest in county politics and is one of the leaders of the party in that county. .

DAVID MASSUERE, proprietor of the Arcadia Flouring Mills, Arcadia ; was born Aug. 27, 1816, in Coos Co., N. H., being the son of Lewis and Rachael Massuere of that place. Left home in 1835, and went to Massachusetts, where he worked at shoe-making for seventeen years. In 1852, at the time of the great mining excitement, went to California, where he followed mining for three years, returning to Massachusetts in the year 1855. He came to Wisconsin in 1856, and located in Winne- bago Co., where he bought a farm of 350 acres from the Govern- ment, which he farmed for four years; and, in 1860, came to Arcadia, which has sinee been his home. He has been a member of the Town Board for three terms, and of the School Board five years. He owns one-third interest in the general merchandise store of Massuere & Co. ; and, in 1871, ereeted the Areadia Flour- ing Mill, which has a run of two buhrs and a large custom. In 1876, the mill was damaged by a flood to the amount of $1,200, but it has been repaired. He was married, in 1843, to Miss Susan Carlis, of Massachusetts, by whom he has four children --- Lewis, who is a resident of Arcadia, and served four years in the war in the 3d Wisconsin Battery ; Susan E., now Mrs. Henry Proctor, of Texas ; Wilbur P. and Ella, now Mrs. Frederick Rob- inson, of Arcadia.

ALBRO C. MATTERSON, blacksmith and farmer, in old town of Arcadia; was born in New York, Jan. 12, 1820. He came to Wisconsin in the year 1843, first locating in Washington Co., where he lived for six years. In 1849, he moved to Rich- land Co., where he remained four years, working one year in the lead mine. In the spring of 1857, he came to Arcadia, and built the first blacksmith-shop in that town, near where Miller's flouring mills now stands, and has worked at his trade and farming ever since. He was married, May 25, 1843, in New York, to Miss Charlotte Broughton, by whom he has six children-Adiolina, now Mrs. B. Matherson ; Malvina A., now Mrs. I. Roe ; Harvey ; Mariah, now Mrs. George Nistey ; James and Seward.

SETH MILLS, attorney and counselor at law, residence Arcadia, was born in New York, July 2, 1831. Living there until he was eight years old, he came with his parents to Michigan and remained there until 1849, receiving a common school educa- tion. He began teaching when only seventeen years of age. In 1849 he removed to Wisconsin, first going to Dodge Co., where he continued teaching. Ile commenced reading law in the office of E. P. Smith, at Beaver Dam, in 1866, and in 1878 and '79 he attended the Madison Law School. He was admitted to the bar in the State Federal Court, June 19, 1879. He came at once to Arcadia and began practicing his profession. He enlisted in the U. S. Veteran Vol. Engineers in 1865, serving until the close of the war. Mr. Mills was married in 1852, at Beaver Dam, to Miss Prudence L. Swarthout, a native of New York. Mr. Mills was engaged nearly all of the early part of his life in teaching, having

taught for thirty terms in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. He was Principal of the Mazeppa Graded School in the latter State for two years.

JOHN MAURER, of the firm of Bohri Bros. & Maurer. dealers in general merchandise at Areadia; was born in Switzer- land, July 6, 1832. In the year 1855, he came to America, and first located at Fountain City, Buffalo Co., Wis. After remain- ing there one year, he moved on a farm in Waumandee Valley, Buffalo Co., consisting of 220 acres, which he bought from the Government. Here he remained until 1864, at which time he moved back to Fountain City. where he kept a hotel known as the Eagle House. After running this for ten years, he sold out, and, in 1874, was appointed Postmaster of Fountain City, which position he resigned on account of poor health in the spring of 1875, and moved to Arcadia, his present home. He was Chair- man of the town of Fountain City; also Treasurer and County Supervisor of the same place, beside a number of other offices. He was married, July 5, 1855, in Milwaukee, to Miss Catherine Moss, who was a native of the same country as himself

NICHOLAS MUELLER, carpenter and builder, Arcadia, is a native of Germany, and was born in August, 1848; came with his parents in 1856 to America, living first in Ozaukee Co., near Port Washington, on a farm. In 1860 they moved to Buffalo Co., near Fountain City. In 1866 the subject of this sketch went to Winona, Minn., where he bought a hotel, known as the Wisconsin House. This be managed for a year and then learned the carpenter's trade, which he has followed ever sinee; in 1874 came to Arcadia where he worked at his trade, having twelve men in his employ, for four years. During that time he built the Arcadia Planing Mill, of which he sold his interest in the spring of 1881. He has held the office of Town Supervisor, and also been one of the Trustees in the town of Arcadia ; he was married in 1873 to Miss Mary Sehaffer, of Arcadia; they have three chil- dren -- Maggie, John and Henry.

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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