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 257

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 257

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While not nearly as large as its rivals in the county, there is none among them, it is claimed, in which the amount of business proportioned to the number of inhabi- tants is equal to that annually disposed of at Galesville. This is, in a great measure, due to the presence of the col- lege and the mill. The citizens of this bright oasis, so to speak, do not claim that the future will develop promises of a commercial or manufacturing character, but insist that in a few short years it will bear the same relation to Wiscon- sin. as an educational center, that is borne by the old college towns of New England to the Eastern States.

Decora Lodge, No. 177, A., F. & A. M., was char- tered in June, 1870, having some time previously received a dispensation, with fifteen charter members and the follow- ing charter officers : W. S. Wright, W. M .; J. J. Currier, S. W., and C. E. Perkins, J. W. In the past eleven years the organization has prospered and its roster of mem- bership largely increased. The present officers are: Isaac Wright, W. M .; James Wright, S. W .; G. G. Freeman, J. W .; Aaron Kribs, S. D .; C. R. McGilvroy, J. D .; E. F. Atkins, Secretary ; A. H. Kneeland, Treasurer, and C. S. Sheeren, Tiler. The number of members is stated at forty-two; the value of lodge property at $1,000; and meetings are held semi-monthly.

Galesville Lodge, No. 238, I. O. O. F., was organized October 30, 1874, with nine members, of whom the follow- ing were officers : C. E. Perkins, N. G .; W. G. Austin, V. G .; R. A. Odell, Permanent Secretary, and A. H. Knee- land, Treasurer. The present membership is forty-eight ; the value of lodge property, $1,100, and the officers are: F. H. Bidwell, N. G .; F T. Shaake, V. G .; T. B. Ryan, Secretary, and A. Tibbitts, Treasurer. Meetings are con- vened weekly in Ferrin's building.

Galesville University is located at Galesville, Trempea- leau Co., Wis.

It was founded by the labors of the Hon. George Gale, LL. D., assisted by donations of the citizens of Galesville, La Crosse, Winona, and a few other friends of education, mostly residents of Wisconsin.

The charter was obtained from the Legislature of Wis- consin in January, 1854. The Board of Trustees was orga- nized in 1855; the college building commenced in 1858: the preparatory department opened for students in May,

1859, and, the collegiate department, in September, 1861: the first college class graduated July 13, 1865.

Judge Gale, the founder, was the first President, though the educational and literary management of the institution was under the supervision of the Rev. Samuel Fallows, now Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church, Chicago, Ill.

Rev. Harrison Gilliland was elected President in 1865, and held this position till June, 1877.

The charter of the university authorizes a college of letters, of mechanic arts, of agriculture and colleges of law, medicine and theology. None of these have been attempted except the college of letters embracing the ordinary college course of four years, to which is added a preparatory school. In addition to the charter members of the Board of Trustees, the Legislature empowered the Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Wisconsin to elect a majority of the Trustees, giving that body a controlling influence in the management of the university.

In the winter of 1876-77, by act of Legislature, that power was transferred to the Presbytery of Chippewa, since which time the institution has been under its control.

While the influence and management are emphatically Christian, sectarianism is excluded.

In July, 1877, the new board elected Prof. J. W. McLaury. President of the University, who still holds that position.

In 1879, the President of the United States appointed Lieut. John L. Clem, U. S. A., Professor of Military Science and Tactics, thus adding military to the other departments of the university. The building is a handsome stone structure, situated in a beautiful campus of forty acres. Adjacent is a valuable farm of 187 acres.

The library contains about 4,000 volumes. Chemical and philosophical apparatus have been secured ; also valu- able cabinet collections of natural history.

In addition to the above property, funds for endowments have been secured, which the board intends to increase to $100,000 in the shortest possible time. The Rev. J. Irwin Smith, A. M., has recently been appointed Treasurer and Financial Agent.

The university embraces preparatory and college depart- ments. In the former, are four courses of study, viz., classical, scientific, commercial and normal, each leading to the Freshman class in college. The college includes two courses-cassical and scientific-of four years each, leading to the usual baccalaureate degrees.

Women are admitted on equal terms with men, pursue the same studies and receive like honors and degrees. Departments of fine arts and music have recently been added, which aim for the highest excellence.

The university is now well established, and is worthy the patronage of those who desire an education, and the confidence of the benevolent, seeking objects meriting their benefactions.

The first school taught in Galesville or Gale Township was in the summer of 1856, when Miss Margaret Van Ess undertook the venture in a small frame building which had been erected for that purpose, on the same lot and near the present site of the handsome brick building devoted to edu- cational purposes in the village. Miss Van Ess, in time, yielded place to her successors, and they, in turn, to others ; the number of pupils increased each year, and, early in the seventies, the necessity of enlarged accommodations became apparent. To supply this demand, the present structure of

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

brick, sufficiently commodious to meet every reqirement, and architecturally handsome to ornament the village, was erected in 1874 at a cost of 87,500. It is now occupied as a graded school, employing two teachers and requiring $1,600 annually to conduct, with an average.daily attend- ance of one hundred pupils. The present board consists of A. II. Kneeland, Director : II. W. Avery, Treasurer, and S. S. Luce, Clerk.

The post office was opened in 1856, with Dr. W. M. Young as Postmaster. in a house on the flats crected by Capt. Bartlett. Dr. Young remained in charge until 1867, when he was succeeded by G. W. Gale, who is still in the service. The mail facilities are ample.

Galesville Presbyterian Church was organized during the year 1856, under the auspices of the Rev. J. M. Hayes, one of the earliest ministers of the Gospel to identify him- self with the cause of religion in Trempealeau County. In 1859, the society was duly constituted under the Pastorship of the Rev. D. C. Lyon, and worship was regularly con- ducted in the private residences of members of the congre- gation. In 1860, the Rev. John Frothingham was settled in Galesville, and about this time efforts were inaugurated looking toward the building of a church. These efforts cul- minated in the erection of the present church edifice, which was completed in 1862 at a cost of $2,000, and has since been occupied.

The present congregation numbers fifty-six communi- cants, under the Pastorate of the Rev. J. Irving Smith.

The Methodist Church was organized at an early day. and, until 1875, the congregation worshiped in the court house, schoolhouse, etc. In that year, the present edifice, costing 84,000, was erected. The Rev. G. T. Morgans is the present Pastor.

In addition to those already mentioned, the Lutheran society is established in Galesville, where it was located in 1875 through the efforts of the Rev. Mr. Lunde. The present Pastor is the Rev. Mr. Sedgerblom, and services are held, as yet, in private residences.

Galesville Cemetery Association was organized Novem- ber 1, 1861, by the election of Isaac Clark, President; W. A. Johnston, Treasurer, and A. A. Arnold, Secretary. The association own eight acres purchased by George Gale, which has been appropriately laid out and ornamented for cemetery purposes.

The present officers are Isaac Clark, President; W. A. Johnston, Treasurer, and G. W. Gale, Secretary.

The property of the association is valued at $500.

Galesville Flouring Mills, the most extensive in the county, and among the most prominent, valuable and elab- orate improvements of the kind in the State, were born of the calamity which overtook Galesville in June, 1866, by the giving-way of the dam. The same year, Wilson Davis purchased the site, and in the following spring began the building of the present mills. Two years were occupied in their erection, and it was not until 1870 that the same were ready for work. The mills are of stone, laid on founda- tions seven feet thick, six stories high, with wheel pit and attie, and in dimensions are 50x70 feet. They are supplied with six run of stone, with five sets of rolls, two of porce- lain and three of iron, and turn out an average weekly product of eight hundred barrels of flour. The mills cost 8750,000.

To operate these mills requires the services of thirty men at a total weekly compensation of $200; and the

annual business is stated at $150,000. There is no single undertaking in Northern Wisconsin more valuable per se, as also to the district wherein it is located, than Wilson's Mills are to Trempealcau County, and the universal verdict seems to be that his enterprise is being deservedly encour- aged.

The village of Galesville and vicinity is rapidly becom- ing celebrated as the locality of mineral springs, the waters of which possess all the virtues which are claimed to be inherent in those, the fame of which long since became national. The first discovered, and, consequently, the best known, is Jordan's well on Dr. G. W. Young's place, at present occupied by Dr. Avery. It was discovered some years ago, and analyzed by Dr. Bode, of Milwaukee, in 1876, with the following result : Chloride of sodium, 0.1792 grains ; sulphate of soda, 1.9744 grains; bicarbonate of soda, 0.8904 grains; bicarbonate of oxyde of calcium, 6.500 grains; bicarbonate of magnesia, 8.163 grains; bicarbonate of protoxide of iron, 2.6632 grains; silica. 0.2880 grains; alumina, 0.6832 grains ; organic matter, 0.4816 grains, or 21.8332 grains solid salts in one gallon.

The next most prominent in importance is Sommer- field's well on Dacora's Prairie. Its waters are highly impregnated with iron, and, with other properties therein contained, are regarded as a superior tonic. Its analyza- tion discloses the presence of chloride of iodine, sulphate of soda, bicarbonate of iron, magnesia and lime, also silica. The leading characteristic of this spring is a preponder- ance of iodine, which is exceedingly rare and very valuable.

In addition to these, there is a sulphur spring which bursts out from the rocks near the old mill, and in which the crude sulphur is so predominant as that it can be easily distinguished floating upon the surface of the water. The medicinal qualities of this spring are undeniable. There is also a beautiful spring on the homestead property of G. Y. Freeman, recently discovered, the waters of which have been analyzed by Prof. Daniels, the State Geologist, who pronounces them valuable. These springs augment the natural attractions of Galesville, and time will certainly secure for them a reputation which will make the vicinity valuable as a summer resort.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ALEX. A. ARNOLD. East Side Farm, and raiser of short- horn blooded stock, See. 28, P. O. Galesville, is a native of New York, having been born in Dutchess Co., Oct. 20, 1833. Here he received an academic education, and was a graduate of the Ohio Law School at Poland, and was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Courts of New York and Ohio, in the year 1856, and of Wiseonsin in 1857, the year of his arrival in this State. He located in Galesville, Trempealeau Co., and practiced law until 1862, when he enlisted in Co. C, 30th W. V. I., of which he was appointed Captain, and served until the elose of the war. He then returned to Galesville, and bought the farm on which he now lives, improving it until he now has one of the finest farms and best homes in the county. He is also engaged in raising fine blooded short-horn cattle. Mr. Arnold was attor- ney of Trempealeau Co., and Co. Superintendent of Schools, before the war, and held several other county offices. He was elected member of Assembly in 1871, and of the Senate for 1877-78, being re-elected to the Assembly again for the year 1880, and was Speaker of the House. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Galesville University for several years, and has been both President and Secretary of the Trempealeau Co. Agri- cultural Society, being at present one of the Executive Committee

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HISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY.

of the State Agricultural Society ; is also a member of the A., F. & A. M., Decora Lodge, No. 177, being a charter member of the same. He was married to his first wife, Miss Hattie E. Tripp, of Wayne Co., N. Y., in the year 1859, who had one daughter. She died in July, 1861. The daughter lived until the fall of the following year, when she also died. Was married in 1869 to his sceond wife, Miss Mary E. Douglas, of Melrose, Wis. They have had four children, two of whom, Archie H. and Mary D., are living ; Roy D. and Kittie B. are not living. Mr. Arnold is now President of the Decorah Farmers' Alliance at Galesville.

WM. G. AUSTIN, foreman in W. Davis's cooper shop, at Galesville, was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., November 1, 1837. Leaving his native State in 1854. he came with his parents to Sparta, his father buying a farm in Monroe Co., said farm having been originally pre-empted from the Government by Frank Pettit. It was the first improved farm in the La Crosse Valley. Here the subject of this sketch remained until 1863, when he enlisted in Co. C, 19th Wis. Vol. Infty., serving until the close of the war. He then returned to Sparta, and engaged with F. C. Brock as cooper, remaining with him until 1868, at which time he removed to Galesville, and in January of 1870 began work for W. Davis. Mr. Austin is a charter member of the I. O. O. F., Galesville Lodge, No. 238, being District Deputy of the Odd Fellows there, and is also a member of the Good Templar's Lodge, No. 192. Was married in Kenosha Co. in the year 1856, to Sarah E. Fos- dick, daughter of Lyman Fosdick, who settled in that county in 1842. They have six children-Ida B., Catharine M., now Mrs. A. Bartlett, William I., Vinona E., Alma E , Sarah J.

HENRY L. BUNN, Town Clerk of Galesville, was born New York State July 10, 1843; is the youngest brother of R. Bunn, the former Judge of the Sixth Circuit Court of Wis- consin. He came to Trempealeau Co. with his parents in the year 1858, and was a graduate of the Galesville University in the class of 1869, having first attended that institution as a student in 1859. He was also a graduate of Bryant & Stratton's Com- mercial College at Chicago in 1868. Mr. Bunn has held the office of Register of Deeds for four years, and Clerk of the Court two years in Trempealeau Co., having been Town Clerk the past eleven years, and Justice of the Peace for three years, in connee- tion with the former office ; is now Secretary of the Trempealeau Co. Agricultural Society.

ISAAC CLARK. farmer, See. 29, P. O. Galesville, brought his family to Wisconsin in the year 1854, remaining in Green Co. a short time. He left his family there and came to Trem- pealeau Co .. where he bought a farm. He then returned for his family, and immediately moved them into his new house on the farm, it being a small frame house. In this they lived until 1862, when he ereeted his present residence. Mr. Clark was Chairman of the Town Board of Gale for the years 1861, '62 and '63; has also been Treasurer of the Trempealeau Co. Agricultural Society, of which he has been General Superintendent for a number of years ; he represented Trempealeau Co. in the Assembly in the year 1870; was born in Maine Jan. 1, 1826; his parents were of English deseent. He was married in the same State July 9, 1848, to Miss Emily French, by whom he has five children, Eugene F., Florence M., Genevieve, Wilford and Leslie. Mr. Clark is a member of the Deeorah Farmers' Alliance at Galesville.

WILSON DAVIS, proprietor Galesville Flouring Mill, was born in Missouri, March 4, 1827, and came to Galesville in 1866. Ilis mill which was erceted by him, was begun in 1867 and completed in 1869. It is situated on Beaver ('reek, at the foot of Cemetery Bluff, being 50x70, and seven stories high, meas- uring ninety-eight feet from base to summit, and is built of lime- stone, which is found near the village, and has in connection an improved crusher, by J. Y. Noye & Son, of Buffalo, N. Y. The mill has a capacity of making 180 barrels of flour per day, and has a cooper shop in connection, in which are made all of the barrels used in the mill. Mr. Davis employs in all about twenty men, shipping flour to Iowa, Minnesota, and in fact to nearly all

of the Western States. Mr. Davis also carries on a large store in Galesville.

JOSEPH DEAKIN, proprietor of the Commercial Hotel at Galesville; was born in England, April 12, 1826 ; in 1845, he came to America, first settling in Waukesha Co., Wis., where he took up a claim from the Government, on which he resided for twenty-five years; at the end of that time, he moved with his family to Milwaukee, where he engaged in a meat and provision market, at which he continued until 1875, when he became afflicted with a dropsieal complaint, and was given up by the best medical professionals in Milwaukee; he then moved to Galesville, where he opened a hotel, and the mineral water of that place has entirely cured him of his complaint. Mr. Deakin has just built an addition to his hotel, and now has a set of Turkish baths in connection with the house.

LARS H. FEIRING, saloon and billiard hall, Galesville ; was born in Norway, Dee. 11, 1845 ; came to America in 1870, and first settled in the village of Trempealeau, where he lived two years; then removed to Galesville, where he started a saloon. and in 1879, erected the brick building where he now does busi- ness, it being the only briek building standing in the village of Galesville in 1881. Mr. Feiring was married in 1875, to Miss Emily Olson, a native of Norway. Their family consists of four children-Hermer O., Wilhelm R., Olaf E. and Julius F.

GEORGE Y. FREEMAN, lawyer, Galesville; was born in Schenectady Co., N. Y., Aug. 13, 1827, being the son of Lewis and Mary Freeman, the former of English and the latter of Hol- land deseent The subject of this sketch is a graduate of Prineeton College, and in 1843 came West and commenced read- ing law with Hon. George Hale. He was married at Elkhorn, Walworth Co., Jan. 1. 1850, to Ann S. Hollinshead, who was a native of New York, and in 1852 returned to New York, where he still pursued the study of law with the Hon. W. D. Water- man ; he was admitted to the bar and remained there until 1858, when he came back to Wisconsin, being admitted to the bar in this State the same year ; in 1860, located in Galesville, where he has practiced his profession ever since, having one of the largest practices in the county. Mr Freeman has held the office of District Attorney of Trempealeau County for two terms. and was one of the organizing members of the Trempealeau County Agri- cultural Society, having been its Secretary for six years ; he is proprietor of the Aretie Springs at Galesville, they being situated about three-fourths of a mile from the village, at the head of the lake. The water has been pronounced by the State chemists as equal to the Waukesha mineral water. Mr. Freeman was a charter member of the A., F. & A. M .. Decora Lodge, No. 177; he has a family consisting of three sons-Charles E. and Edwin W., twins, born Oct. 1, 1860, and George R., born March 17. 1867.

GEORGE W. GALE, Postmaster, Galesville; was born in Washington Co .. Vt., July 11, 1842; came to Wisconsin in August, 1860, and settled at Galesville, Trempealeau Co., where he enlisted in the late war, in the 1st Wis. Battery, in September, 1861. After serving his country for three years, he returned to Galesville, which has since been his home; was appointed Post- master of that place in 1869, and still holds that office, also keep- ing in connection a book and stationery store, and at one time was Treasurer of Town Board of Galesville.

G. O. GILBERTSON, of the firm of Gilbertson & Myhre, general merchandise, Galesville ; was born in Norway June 6, 1848. Came with his parents to this country in 1857, and lived with them in La Crosse Co., Wis., where his father farmed in Lewis Valley ; here they remained for three years, and then moved to Trempealeau County, where he farmed with his father, and in 1871 went to the village of Trempealean, where he entered into partnership with Scarseth & llanson, in a general merchandise store. The firm continued the same for one year, when the other partners bought out Mr. Hanson, and ran the store until 1873, at which time the firm dissolved and Mr. Gilbertson went to Gales-

HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

ville and started his present business. Mr. Myhre becoming a partner during the same year ; they do an annual business of about 840.000.

SILVANE'S J. HARRIS, cooper, Galesville; was born at Oxford, Mass., October 27. 1824; he first came to Wisconsin in the year 1855, locating five miles west of Milwaukee, where he worked in a grist-mill ; in 1858 he came to Galesville and com- meneed as miller for Clark & Harris, where he was still engaged at the breaking out of the late war; he enlisted in Co. C. 30th Wis. Vol. Iuft., in August. 1862, serving until the close of the war, when he returned to Galesville and began farming, at which he continued for seven years : he then took up the cooper's trade, being employed at that ever since ; he is a member of the I. O. O. F .. Galesville Lodge, No. 238. Mr. Harris was married in 1848, in Massachusetts, to Sarah Jane Bond, who was born in that State ; now have living four children-Sarah Jane, Samnel F .. Charles H. and Willie W.

WELCOME A. JOHNSTON, insurance agent and farmer ; was born in Wayne Co., N. Y., Jan. 8. 1838; when he reached manhood he engaged at farming ; in 1853 he came to Wisconsin, where he lived. first in Walworth County for one year, and then came to Trempealeau County and engaged in the real estate busi- ness : here he remained until 1856, at which time he returned to New York, but after one year came back to Wisconsin ; in 1859 he went again to New York, where he was married to Miss Caro- line E. Smith, of Dutchess County. In April of the same year he returned to Wisconsin, and located at Galesville ; he is at pres- ent one of the Trustees of the Galesville University, and was a liberal contributor to that institution, which was built largely by subscription ; he is also a charter member of the A., F. & A. M., Decorah Lodge, No 177. at Galesville. Their family consists of three children-Frank W., Libbie T. and George S.

JOHN KELLMAN, jeweler, Galesville; was born in Sweden April 24, 1831 ; came to the United States in 1869; he settled at Trempealeau, during the same year, and started a jewelry store, which he continued for six years ; he then removed to Galesville, continuing in the same business. Mr. Kellman was married in Sweden and has now three children-Charley A., Alford J. and Frank .A.

DANIEL KENNEDY, JR., farmer, Sec. 16, P. O. Gales- ville ; was born in Franklin Co., N. Y .. Feb. 24, 1835 ; he came to Wisconsin with his parents, Daniel and Mary Kennedy, in 1853, and first settled in Walworth County ; he came to Trempealcau County in 1854. and commenced work for B. F. Houston on a farm ; he was the first man who turned sod with a plow in Braver ('reek Valley ; in the summer of 1854 he began improvements on a farm, on which he continued until 1862; he then moved to his present farin ; he was married in the fall of 1865, to Hellen Bid- well. daughter of (. I. Bidwell, who settled in Trempealeau County in 1855. Mr. Kennedy's pioneer cabin still stands about six rods north of his present residence, which was erected in 1875 ; he has held the office of Supervisor in the town of Gale for several terms, and been Assistant Superintendent of the Trempealeau County Agricultural Society.

JAMES KENNEDY, farmer and stock buyer, See. 2. P. O. Ettrick ; was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., July 4. 1843; he came to Wisconsin with his parents in 1853, locating in Wal- worth County, where they remained until 1856. They removed to Trempealeau County, locating on a farm, and on this same place the subject of this sketch now lives, it being the second im- proved farm in the valley of Beaver Creek. He was married Oet. 6, 1868, to Sarah J. Bowerman, of Canada, and they have three children -Lyslo J .. Lester C. and Lloyd. Mr. Kennedy has been Assessor for four terms in the town of Gale.

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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