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 299

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 299

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).

LOUIS GRIGNON, river pilot and logger. Came to Grand Rapids in July, 1848, and engaged in logging and running the river, which occn- pation he still follows. His father, Charles Grignon, was born and brought up in Oshkosh. Lonis Grignon was born at De Pere, Aug. 17, 1829; lived there until 1843, then went to lowa, remained there about five years, then came through Portage City, remaining there a short time, and then to Grand Rapids in 1848. Was married, Aug. 15, 1856, to Miss Catharine Maloney, of Portage City. Have one child, George, who was born Aug. 27, 1863.

CENTRALIA.

This city was organized after the April election in 1874. The first Mayor was R. C. Moore. He was followed by S. B. Coleman and Reuben C. Lyon. The first City Clerk was J. T. Houston, followed by R. C. Worthington, J. W. Cocoran, E. B. Rossier, G. L. Williams, L. O. Garrison and E. B. Rossier, the present Clerk.

The census of 1880 gave Centralia 800 and over; now there is probably 1,000.

It is located on the Wisconsin River, on the right bank. Previous to its incorporation as a city, it was a part of the town now called Port Edwards.

Grand Rapids, across the river, was one of the earliest settled points on the river, and while most of the business and all of the manufacturing was on that side, the whole thing is reversed, so far as manufacturing is concerned. The exhaustion of the pine logs in the neighborhood, and the distance to run them down the river, has closed the mills there, while new ones have sprung up in Centralia, and there seems to be no reason why the city will not have a steady growth and continued prosperity.

INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS.

Machine Shops .- Batrick & Mahoney. The concern was started on the Grand Rapids side of the river, in 1869, and ran there for ten years, by A. J. Robb. It was constructed by John Rabling. It was removed here in 1870. A spe- cialty is made of turbine wheels, gang-edgers, trimmers, saw- mills and steam engines, with repairing.

Hard Wood Manufacturers .- Mackinnon & Griffith, F. Mackinnon and C. L. Griffith. Manufacture spokes, hubs and wagon stock in great variety, to the extent of $75,000 a year. Started in 1879. It is an extensive establishment *

Wharton Bros., manufacturers of pine lumber. W. G. and J. H. Wharton constitute the firm. The planing mill is near the railroad station, the lumber mills are at Seneca, or what is now called Vesper, about twelve miles west. They have a capacity of 35,000 per day.

Chair Factory .- F. Haertel, proprietor. Has been in operation several years. It was formerly a shingle mill, and is a valuable industry.

Machine Shop and Foundry .- F. W. Bremmer. Repair- ing machinery a specialty, models, brass castings, etc.

Flouring Mill .- Centralia has one of the best flouring mills anywhere, the flour having a wide reputation and being sold as fast as it can be delivered, which is at the rate of 150 to 200 barrels a day. It has stones and rollers. The firm name is Coleman, Jackson & Co. The mill is on a splendid mill privilege, on a part of the Wisconsin as it goes around an island in the upper part of the city.

Physicians .- George De Marr, C. W. Whitney, P. Hurley. Attorney .- E. B. Rossier.

Hotels .- Landry House, John Landry, proprietor; New Star House, Alf. Noiseux, proprietor ; Kellner's restaurant. Meat Market .- McCarthey & Daily.

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

Grocery and Drug Store .- R. O. Worthington ; also flour and feed.

Wagon Works .- Wagons, buggies, sleighs, with repair- ing and horse-shoeing, J. F. Moore, proprietor.

Lyon Brothers -Manufacturers of and dealers in Wis- consin River pine shingles, also wood turning.

Trade. - Joe Lamadeleine, fancy groceries, tobacco, shelf goods, etc. Garrison & Whittlesey, general merchan- dise ; large stock in great variety. G. A. Corriveau, dry goods, groceries, clothing, hardware, etc.

Railroads .- What was formerly the Valley road, now a division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, runs through Centralia, with a depot on Cranberry street. The Green Bay, Winona & St. Paul runs through the northeastern part of the town, but the station is on the Grand Rapids side of the river. T. E. Nash is the station agent of the C., M. & St. P. Co. The through freight carried from here fills 1,500 cars each year, while the way freight will fill 500 cars, and for passenger fares, $1,200 a month is received.

Judge Henry Hayden, of Centralia, was shot dead, Oc- tober 9, 1879, at the door of his office, by W. H. Cochran, cashier of the First National Bank, of Grand Rapids; was at the time the head of the law firm of Hayden, Rossier & Baker. He was a prominent Greenbacker. Cochran was subsequently tried for murder, at Neillsville, Clark Co., and adjudged not guilty, by the jury.

St. John's Episcopal Church .- This society has a good church edifice, and is the only one on this side of the river. There is at present, service on the first and third Sunday of each month by Rev. J. W. Armstrong.

Ancient Order of United Workmen, Centralia Lodge, No. 75, instituted, December, 1879. This is a flourishing institution, and meets every Thursday evening at Garrison's Hall. S. N. Whittlesey, M. W .; E. B. Rossier, recorder ; has thirty members.

A. W. IV. G., Centralia Encampment, No. I, meets ev- cry Saturday eve in Garrison's Hall. C. O. Baker, G. C.

City Officers .- Mayor, R. C. Lyon ; Clerk, E. B. Rossier; Treasurer, F. H. Jackson; Marshal, A. C. Green ; Physi- cian, Patrick Hurley.

Post-office .- N. Johnson, Postmaster; sales of stamps, etc., about $1oo per month. Pigeon-hole boxes rent for 25 cents a year, lock boxes at $1.

The oldest inhabitant, John Mascott, who is still hale and hearty, and lives in the original log house, with its other log buildings, put up by him as one of the first settlers, claims to be 105 years old. He is a Frenchman and speaks very little English, and he must have been past middle age when he settled here, or he would have picked up the lan- guage.

Perhaps one-quarter of the citizens of Centralia are Ca- nadian French. They are industrious, intelligent, and a valuable acquisition.

Schools .- There is a remarkably fine brick school-house, with graded schools and good teachers. The educational interests of the town are always cared for.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

GEORGE A. CORRIVEAU, merchant, Centralia, was born in Quebec, Canada, Feb. 4. ISSt. His father, Peter Corriveau, was a con- tractor and builder, and also carried on a f rin. Ile had five girls and seven boys, of which George A. is the youngest. George remained at home unti four een years of age, when he engaged asclerk for four years in Montreal, then worked seven years as carpenter in Rochester, N. Y. He spent one Winter in Michigan, and then in the Spring of IS58, came to Centralia, Wis. Built first wagon shop and blacksmith shop in Centralia. Commenced as merchant in 1$66, built his present store in 1879, hasalso a store at Pittsville. Mr. C. was married, Dec. 12, 1860, to Miss Cotey, of Grand Rapids, Wis. a niece of F. Beron. Ilave seven children.

GEORGE E D. DEMARS, M. D., Centralia, was born March 31, 1849, in the city of Cleveland, Ohio. His father was of French parent- age and his mother of Scotch. George received his literary education at Brooklyn Academy ; was graduated at Western Reserve Medical Col- lege, Cleveland, Ohio, in 1874 Remained in Cleveland and practiced a year, and in 1875 came to Centralia, Wis., and commenced practice as a physician. Ile was married, May 18, 1875. to Miss Emeline Lafond, daughter of J. E. Lafond, a banker, then of Montreal, now of Chicago, Ill. They have two children, Everett and Maude.

ELIAS S. ERICKSON, came to Centralia in 1855, and cagaged in Inmbering and most of the time since has followed the same business. Ile went to Nevada in 1872 and stayed there seven years, lumbering and mining. lle was born in Burosan, Sweden, May 13, 1835, and came to the United States in 1854, and went to Chicago, then to Elgin, and the next year came to Centralia, Wis. In 1862, he enlisted in the 23id Wis. V. I., Co. C, and served to the close of the war, and left Mobile, Ala., July 4. 1865, and was chischanged at Madison, July 20. Ile was under Gen. Grant at siege of Vicksburg, and with Cen Banks at the Red River expedition, and at the siege of Mobile, Ala. He entered the service as a private and was discharged a sergeant. Ilis father, John Erickson, died before Elias was born, and his mother died when he was only four years old. He has three sisters and one brother living.

FRANK GARRISON, merchant, Centra ia, son of Orestes and Viola (Snelden) Garrison, was born in Greenwood, Mellenry Co., Nov. 18, 1852. His father moved to Centralia, Wis., in December, IS54. and bought the mill property on the Centralia side of the river, since known as the " Garrison Mills," and engaged in the manufacture of lumber. Ile died in June, 1875. Mrs. G. is living with her son Frank, They have five children, three of whom are living-Charles B., Lewellyn O., Frank; Elma (Mrs. S. S. Bensley) died in 1862, and Henry in 1863. Frank commenced business as merchant in 1875, and in January, 1$79. took in Whittlesey as partner. lle was married, March 22 1876. to Miss Celia Rossier, daughter of E. B. Rossier, of the Centralia Enterprise. They have two children, Emil B., and Orestes. Mr. G. has been Postmaster at Centrala five years, and also member of the County Board.

WILLIAM H. GET T'S, painter, Centralia, was born in Wilks Barre, June 11, 1845. The family moved to Lake View, near Oregon, Dane Co., Wis., in 1817, where his parents still live. William H. enlisted in Co. H. 31st Wis. V. I., as private, in 1862, and was mustered out as corporal, July, 1865. His regiment went to Nashville, and went with Sherman to the sea. He was disabled by the cars running off the track, July 17. 1864, near Kingston, Ga., by which accident, he received a severe contusion of the back and chest, and his right leg was fractured; this laid him up in hospital, until January 1865, when he rejoined his regiment at Savannah. Ile came to Centralia in 1866 and engaged in painting. He was married, June 11, 1870. to Miss Sarah M. Page, of Armenia Juneau Co., Wis. They have threechildren, Grace E., Minnie A., and Guy.

GILBERT J. JACKSON, miller, Centralia, was born in Dumfries- shire, Scotland, May 4. 1843 Came to the United States in 1856, and settled in Delaware Co., N. Y. Soon after the Rebellion broke out, he joined the Sth Independe it N. Y. Battery. October, 1861, and served during the war. Among other engagements, he was at the siege of Yorktown, battles of Williamsburg and Fair Oaks, was before l'eters- burg and was engaged most of the time in the latter part of the war in raiding. After he was mustered out, July 6, 1865, he came to New York City, and remained there about nine months; then came to Eureka, Wis., near Oshkosh, in the Spring of 1866, and engaged in various kinds of lahor. Went into the steamboat business in the Spring of 1869 on the Wolf and Fox rivers, under the name of the Wolf River Trans- portation Company, and continued this business about five years. Came to Centralia in March, 1874, and bought into the Centralia Flouring Mills, now owned by Coleman, Jackson & Co. Mr. Jackson was mar- ried in 1867, to Miss Flora Dickinson, daughter of W. C. Dickinson, of Eureka, Wis.

WILLIAM T. JONES, merchant, Centralia, was born in Geneva, Wis., Nov. 21, 1856. His father, John Jones, moved to Madison, Wis., in 1869, where he still resides. Ile received a common and high school education in Madison. Came to Grand Rapids in 1872 and clerked for Spafford & Compton four years ; then entered into partnership with Spafford, where he remained until the Spring of 1$79, when be formed a

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HISTORY OF WOOD COUNTY.

partnership with L. M. Nash, in their present business of dealers in hardware, building material and agricultural machinery. Mr. Jones was married, Dec. 25, 1876, to Miss Carrie Compton, of Grand Rapids. They have one child, Della.

REUBEN C. LYON, retired, Centralia, was born in Franklin- ville, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y. He remained with his father, Jonathan H. Lyon, until about twenty-one years of age, when he took a trip West. through Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. Came home and remained about a year, then went down the Allegheny and Ohio, and up the Mississippi to Galena, Ill. After tarrying there a few months, came to Grand Rap- ids, Wis., arriving May 16, 1846, and has lived here ever since, Here he engaged as carpenter and millwright for about two years, then in company with A. B. Sampson, built a saw-mill in 1849 and 1850, and ran it some seven years; then sold it to T. Hurley. In 1861, bought the Whitney mill, on the Centralia side of the river, and erected the first shingle and planing mill in this place, if not on the Wisconsin River. Sold out the planing mill in 1880. Mr. L. was one of the incor- porators of the Wisconsin Valley Railroad, also a member of the con- struction company that built it. Was married, Jan. 14, 1849, to Miss Esther J. Hill, of Illinois. Have six children-Lydia (now Mrs. I. T. Houston, of Stevens Point), Theron, Clark, Reuben, Henrietta and Russel.

FALKLAND MACKINNON, son of Capt. L. B. Mackinnon, ot English Royal Navy, who, while on a visit to Washington, in 1849, made the acquaintance of Gov. Doty, who persuaded him to visit Wis- consin. They came to Cleveland, and from there, on a Government boat, came to Green Bay, and together drove to Menasha, where the Governor had property, on Doty's Island. The Governor secured a loan from the captain, and in due time he was obliged to foreclose. The cap- tain lived here some time, returning to England, occasionally, to look after his interests there. Being a non-resident, his property here suf- fered considerably, and finally, the young man, Falkland, who was born May 19, 1849, near Richmond, Surry, England, came to America to care for his father's interests, in 1873, remaining thirteen months. In August, 1875, he came to this country with a commission to report as to the value of certain iron mines, which work was satisfactorily executed. In 1877, he was recalled to England by the sudden death of his father, at the age of fifty-nine. On his return, he became interested in the Me- nasha Wooden Ware Company. Was afterward in the lumber business in Wausau. Sold out there and came to Centralia in 1878, in the hard wood lumber business, where he still is. It is related that the first night, while stopping with Gov. Doty on the island, the captain occu- pied the ground floor, with an open window, against which a large wooden tray was placed, to be upset if a bear should poke in his nose ; and, sure enough, a bear came and awoke the captain, who seized his gun, and they had bear steak for breakfast the next morning.

JOHN F. MOORE, carriage manufacturer, Centralia, was born in Rushville, Susquehanna Co., Pa., April 3, 1851, and lived there until January, 1872, when his father, John L. Moore, came to Centralia and bought a marsh of 400 acres and commenced preparing it for cranberry culture. Here he died Jan. 25, 1873. John F. engaged in blacksmith- ing at Centralia for about two years, when he returned to Pennsylvania and remained there until 1879, when he returned to Centralia and en- gaged in the business of carriage making and blacksmithing, which he still follows. He was married, at Waverly, N. Y., April 26, 1878, to Miss Emma Hasbrouck, of Centralia, Wis.

LAWRENCE M. NASH, merchant, Centralia. Came to Centralia Aug, 9. 1879, as station agent on G. B. & M. R. R., and the next year had charge of the Wis. Val. R. R. depot at Centralia, which position he held until Jan. 15, 1881. In April, 1879, formed the partnership with Wm. T. Jones in the hardware business. Mr. N. was born in Stoughton, Wis., Jan. 28, 1854. His father, Lawrence Nash, moved to Milwaukee and then to Granville, where he died. Mr. L. M. Nash was married, Sept. 25, 1877, to Miss Amelia Lefe- bore, of Centralia. They have two children, Lawrence Eugene and Amilla Wm.

WM. A. PEESO, dentist, Centralia, was born at Rooseboom, Ot- sego Co., N. Y., June 1, 1846, Resided there until 1868, when he came to Centralia, Wis. He was graduated at Cherry Valley Acad- emy, then learned the profession of dentistry at White Creek, Wis., and has been practicing in Centralia since. He was married to Miss Celia M. Hughes, of Centralia, Sept. 9, 1873. Have two children- Cedric and Louis.

E. B. ROSSIER, editor Enterprise, was born at Vevay, near Gen- eva, Switzerland, Dec. 2, 1832. He came to the United States in 1851, and settled in Madison Co., Ill .. and followed farming there until 1858. Came to Centralia, Wis., and engaged in mercantile business for the first twelve years, and then became cashier of the bank of Grand Rap- ids in 1870, and so continued three years. Was superintendent of construction of the Wis. Val. R. R., and for the past two years editor and publisher of the Enterprise, a Greenback paper, and is also a mem- ber of the law firm of Rossier & Baker. Was Chairman of Board of Su- pervisors, Wood Co., for 1877 and 1878. Has been Postmaster at Cen-

tralia about ten years, and City Clerk. Mr. R. was married, Nov. 3, 1853, to Miss Caroline Mennet, of St. Louis. Have four children- Celia (now Mrs. Frank Garrison), Alfred, Edmond and Emiele.

WM. S. SCOFIELD, fruit and restaurant, Centralia, was born in Laurens, Otsego Co., N. Y., March 9, 1848. His father, David Scofield, a farmer, moved to Friendship, Adams Co., Wis., in 1857, and remained there four years, then went back to Otsego County. Wm. S. came to Baraboo, Wis., in August 1868, whither his parents followed the next year. While at Baraboo he followed painting, and was most of the time in charge of the painting department on the Madison Division of the C. & N. W. R. R. In 1876 he moved to Portage, where, after one year, on account of ill health, he was obliged to quit painting, and then he went on to his father's farm at Friendship. He came, in 1879, to Centralia, and opened a fruit store and restaurant. He was married, May 5, 1873, to Miss J. Alleda Sharpe. They have one child. Frank S. He has been Town Clerk, and is a member of the I. O. O. F.

GEORGE W. WHITNEY. M. D., Centralia, was born in Cum- berland Co., Me., April 12, 1833. Was educated in Portland. Grad- uated at Maine Medical School in 1854. Practiced at the Marine Hos- pital, Boston, previous to coming to Grand Rapids in 1855. Was the first physician who settled here. Was married, June 20, 1857, to Miss Elizabeth Anson, of Portland, Me. She died July 24, 1863, leaving one child, Willis, who was born July 23, 1863. Was married, July, 1865, to Miss Emily Hanson. by whom they have one son living, Max.

MARSHFIELD.

This is a post-village in town of Marshfield, county of Wood, located on Section 8, Town 25, Range 3 east, with a population of about 800. The town and village take their name from J. J. Marsh, of New York, who was the owner of the greater part of the town, but who has since disposed of nearly all of it.

In April, 1871, two brothers, named Louis and Frank Rivers, settled here, coming from Necedah, Juneau Co., this State. They purchased from Marsh a large portion of the present village, and toward the latter part of April built the first log house in the village. This house was located upon the site of the present depot of the Wisconsin Cen- tral Road, and was used by the Rivers as a dwelling, store and tavern. In June, 1871, the brothers were joined by Peter McGingan, who also opened a small store and saloon. During this year, there were a number of settlers came to the village, and buildings began to be put up with a rush.

At this time the Wisconsin Central Railroad Company were constructing their present line, and it made the new village very lively. In September of same year, the line was completed as far as Marshfield, a depot erected, and Mr. Fred Buck appointed agent. This proved a great in- centive for settlers to stop here, and it began to fill up rap- idly.

In 1872, Jerry Conture, G. Hoghdon and Peter Bell settled here, each building a house and branching off into business. In 1874, Conture built the first frame house in the village, on South Depot street. This was the commence- ment of a different style of dwellings, and during this year and 1875 the village had no less than twenty-two frame buildings. Louis Rivers, the pioneer of the village, says : " My brother and myself came here in April, 1871, at the time the Wisconsin Central was constructing its road through this country, thinking it would be a good point for lumbering business, providing we had good facilities for shipping. When we came, there was no one in this region at all, and after we had our bargain ratified (over which we had some little difficulty), we concluded that, as the laborers

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

on the road would soon reach our point, a shanty erected to be used as a boarding-house would not be amiss. We then set to work and erected the first house in the present vil- lage. This we used as our dwelling, as a tavern, store and saloon. We also claim the credit of doing the first lumber- ing in this section, in fact, the first in the town of Marsh- field. This was very hard, laborious work for awhile, as, having no mill in the town, we had to haul it to the railroad and ship to De Pere. This was after the road had been com- pleted to this point."

In 1872, the post-office was established, and Louis Riv- ers appointed Postmaster. Rivers acted in this capacity until June, 1877, when he was succeeded by the present in- cumbent, E. S. Renne.

The first school in the village was established in the Summer of 1873, with Miss Clara Davis as teacher. The first couple united in the holy bonds of matrimony were Louis Bennett and Miss Florence Hoghdon, in the Fall of 1873. First birth in the village was Inez Goodwin, in the Fall of 1875. The first death was F. Ludencke, January, 1875. In 1879 the first church was built, it being erected by the Catholic denomination.

Lumbering is the principal business in Marshfield. In 1878, C. Upham & Brother built the first saw-mill in the village, and in August, 1880, a large planing mill. The average number of feet of lumber per day, turned out by this firm alone, amounts to nearly 75,000 feet. They have, in connection with their lumbering business the largest general store in the village, and employ altogether about 150 hands.

This same year the Webster Manufacturing Stock Com- pany, of Menasha, built a large hub and spoke factory, em- ploying about twenty men and boys. They ship on an av- erage, seven cars per week.

A stave mill, built by Messrs. Simms & Brother, in 1881, is one of the largest of its kind in the whole State, and em- ploys some sixty-two hands. In the Fall of the same year a grist mill was built, with two run of stone, which are driven by an engine of thirty horse-power.

In August of this same year, 1880, the Post-office was converted into a money-order office, the first order issued being to John Cole, for $22.50, on the second day of Au- gust, 1880. The first one was received by A. C. Miner, August 23, and called for $8.90.

Since 1872 the village has grown wonderfully. At that time there were but one or two stores, poor ones at that, and at the present time there are sixteen, consisting of gen- eral stores, drug store, hardware stores, and furniture and clothing stores.

There are two district schools, with still another in pro- cess of building which will cost the sum of $3,500-the last one, built in 1877, costing $1,400.

The Marshfield Bank, with a capital of $25,000, was es- tablished on the first day of January, 1880, and does a reg- ular banking and exchange business. It is a branch of the Clark County Bank, which was established, October 16,

1874. The Marshfield Bank has for its officers: Presi- dent, Levi Archer, and Cashier, L. A. Arnold.

This village is still under town government, having nev- er been incorporated.

The village supports one weekly paper, edited by the founder of the Centralia Enterprise, C. H. Clark, called the Marshfield Tribune. The initial sheet of the Tribune was issued on the twenty-second day of October, 1879, and it has proved to be a great success, being a fresh, newsy pa- per, well edited, giving all the county news, as well as fur- nishing a well recapitulated list of the current items of the day. The Tribune is independent in its politics, and broad enough in its views to satisfy the most exacting. Mr. Clark, the editor and proprietor, has long been identified with the Wood County press, having established the Cen- tralia Enterprise, May 22, 1879, which he afterward sold to Judge Henry Hayden, on the twenty-seventh day of Sep- tember, same year.

The village of Marshfield supports three congregations, the Catholic, Presbyterians and German Lutherans. The Catholic Church was built in 1879, at a cost of $2,500. This denomination has a membership at the present time of about 100 families. The first pastor was the Rev. Father Schuttlehoffer, who delivered his first sermon in August, 1878. He was succeeded in August, 1881, by the Rev. Father Scholler, the present pastor. It is owing, in a great measure, to the energy and never-flagging efforts of Father Schuttlehoffer, that the church was built and paid for. " The name of this worthy man will long be held in grateful re- membrance by this church, for his zealous and untiring efforts to establish the church on a solid basis. The value of church property is estimated at $4,000.

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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