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 38

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 38

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).

In the following may be found the date of the organization of each of the towns in the county :

Wanmandee

1855

Maxville 1848

Belvidere

1855

Milton, 1857, reorganized .. 1870

Alma.

IS56

Glencoe 1858

Nelson

1857

Modena 1860

Naples

1857

Canton

1865

Gilmanton 1857

Montana

1867

Cross_

IS57

Dover IS-I

Buffalo

1857

Lincoln

OFFICIAL.

The plats of the United States survey of the land ad- joining the Mississippi River, as far up as Buffalo River, were filed in the land-office at Mineral Point ; and on

157

HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY.

the eleventh day of July of the same year, Adam Weber and Christian Wenger purchased the land now covered by the plat of Wanmandee and Truman's ad- dition, and consequently became the first freeholders in Buffalo County. Others immediately secured titles to land at various points. Every one was anxious to found a city. Christian Wenger, Victor Probst and Rudolph Beiner chose Alma, then known as " Twelve Mile Bluff ;" the Pierce brothers, from Ohio, secured possession of the present site of Fountain City ; while Claus Lietsch selected Belvidere, near the present site of Buffalo City, as the future metropolis. The three years succeeding this date are characterized by indi- vidual struggle, hard blows and rigid economy. with nothing of special interest occurring. In the Winter of 1852-3, the population of the county had increased to such an extent that there were citizens enough to fill the list of county offices, with a few votes to spare to do the cheering. Accordingly, a purse was made up for expenses, and Marvin Pierce selected to lobby the Legislature, and in January, Buffalo County' was set off from La Crosse County, organized for judicial purposes, and the first election held in the Spring of 1853. The county as organized then embraced all the territory between the Black and Chippewa rivers on the south and north, and from the Mississippi River on the west extended to about where the eastern line of Trempealeau County now is on the east. In January, 1854, an act was passed and approved by the Legisla- ture adding territory from Chippewa County, and by an act approved the 24th of March of the same year, that portion of La Crosse County lying west of the main channel of the Trempealeau River was attached to Buffalo County. Subsequently, a strip was cut off the east side to assist in forming Trempealeau County, leaving Buffalo County in the shape which it now repre- sents and has since retained.

By the same act, which was passed, and by which the county was organized, in January, 1853, the county seat was located on Section 1, Town 19, Range 12 west. The first county election, as above stated, was held in the Spring of 1853, the polls being opened at "Holme's Landing." Eighteen votes were cast at this election, sixteen of which elected Marvin Pierce as County Judge. The remaining officers were elected as follows: James M. Pierce, Register of Deeds and Justice of the Peace; Adam Raetsch, District Attor- ney ; John Buehler, Sheriff ; J. B. Altermadt, Clerk of the Circuit Court ; T. B. Hake, Clerk of the Board ; Henry Georke, County Surveyor. The first Board of Supervisors were Marvin Pierce, Andrew Baertseh and John P. Stein. The first meeting of this Board was held on the second day of March, 1854, when it was decided that the building on Section 8, Town 19, Range 11, owned by Henry Georke, should be the temporary court-house until a building could be ob- tained at the county seat. They also decided that the dwellings of the county officers should be their respec- tive offices until rooms could be provided at the county seat. Grand Jurors were also appointed at this meet- ing to serve at the first term of court. The first term of the Circuit Court was held at the house owned by Henry Georke, on Section 8, in the town of Buffalo, on the sixteenth day of October, 1854. The court was

presided over by William Knowlton, at that time Judge of the Sixth Judicial District. The attention of the court was first occupied with two divorce cases. About this time considerable dissatisfaction took place relative to the location of the county seat, but this will be spoken of to a greater extent elsewhere.

At a meeting of the County Board, March 11, 1857, the boundaries of the following towns were defined : The town of Buffalo to contain all of Townships 18, 19 and 21, in Ranges 10 and 11, west of the Trempeal- ean River; also Townships 21 and 22 in Range 10 west. The town of Belvidere to contain all of Townships 19, 10 and 21 in Range 12 west, with the exception of Section 25 in Township 21, Range 12 west. The town of Alma to contain Township 21, Ranges 12, 13 and 14. The town of Bear Creek (now Nelson and Max- ville) to contain all of Townships 23 and 24, Range 13 ; also that part of Townships 23 and 24 lying west of the Chippewa River ; also the west half of Town- ships 23 and 24, Range 12 west. The town of Naples to contain all of Townships 23 and 24 of Ranges 10 and 11, and also the east half of Townships 23 and 24, Range 12 west. The town of Waumandce to contain all of Townships 21 and 22 of Range 11 west ; also all of Section 25, Township 21, Range 12 west. These towns have all been subdivided since, and new towns organ- ized, as the country was settled, to meet the demands for a more local government.

The first State tax levied on Buffalo County was in 1854, and was $122.50. The county now pays a tax amounting to $5,601.34.

Previous to 1866, the three counties of Buffalo, Pepin and Trempealeau constituted an assembly dis- trict, but during the year above mentioned " Buffalo District " was formed, including all of Buffalo County excepting the three northern towns of Naples, Can- ton and Maxville, which, together with Pepin County, form an assembly district. Conrad Moser, Jr., was the first Assemblyman from Buffalo District, being elected in the Fall of 1866, and serving in the Legislature in the Winter of 1866-7. The present member of As- sembly from Buffalo District is Richard R. Kempter.

COUNTY SEAT TROUBLES.

The business of the county was first attended to at Fountain City. Soon after, a great uproar was caused by the discovery that in the act organizing the county, the land set apart for court-house purposes-Section 1, 19, 12, west-was located upon the prairie point, about three miles above Fountain City. The Pierce brothers owned the land described in the act, and platted the prairie into lots, blocks, public squares and wharves. Providence floated a stray raft of lumber to the sandy shore of the embryo city, which they quickly seized and converted into a court-house, at a cost of about $100. In due time in the name of the law, the county officers were notified to occupy this building, on the plea that acts done elsewhere were illegal. Accord- ingly, in 1859, with disgusted countenances, the officials prepared to attend to their duties in the dryest of all places, the place taking the name of " Upper Fountain City." Yet Fouutain City slept not, nor despaired of regaining the seat of government. That same year a stock company was formed, and soon a stately brick

158

HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

edifice was constructed at the corner of Main and Spring streets, at a cost of about $800. This was fitted for public offices and court-room, and upon being ten- dered to the County Board, the question of its being brought back was submitted to the people at the April election in 1859. This resulted favorable to Fountain City, and the seat of government once more found a more congenial home in the village, but not to remain. The spirit of rivalry ran high, and by an act approved March 15, 1860, the question of the removal of the county seat to Alma was submitted to the people at the April election. The result of this election was carried to the Supreme Court, the question being whether the commissioners had the right to throw out the votes of certain towns, which they believed had voted illegally. The court denied them that privilege, and an actual count of all votes cast gave Alma the majority, she having in the meantime donated a $2,000 building to the county for court-house purposes. The itinerant county seat accordingly moved up the river eighteen miles to the village of Alma, where it has since remained. The question of its removal to Buf- falo City was agitated in 1861, and an election granted, but the effort proved a failure. The court-house was built at Alma in 1861, and the county now has build- ings valued at $10,000, and the majority of the people are seemingly satisfied.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

This society was organized June 10, 1862, with Robert Henry, president, and John W. DeGroff, sec- retary. Their first fair was held in the town of Lin- coln in September of that year, at which time $126 were disbursed for premiums. The total receipts for that year amounted to $1,202.15, and the total dis- bursements to $1,175. They at first rented grounds in the town of Lincoln, which they held for five years, when they rented their present grounds in the town of Alma for ten years. The present officers are Thomas Shane, of Modena, president ; Frederick Homan, of Waumandee, vice-president; Robert Lees, of Alma, secretary, and Erik Alme, of Nelson, treasurer.

THE PRESS.

The first paper established in Buffalo County was the Fountain City Beacon, published by L. M. Rose and R. Beeson, and edited by Dr. T. G. Hake. The first number was issued on Friday, July 18, 1856. Beeson remained only one week, when his place was taken by Frederick A. Wheelock, who also withdrew in about two months. On the 29th of November of the same year Rose sold out to J. Ketchum Averill. The same year the Beacon passed into the hands of a stock company, and August 1, 1857, became the prop- erty of Charles G. Patterson, who continued its publi- cation till October, 1858, when it expired, and the press and material were moved to Eau Claire.

In September, 1857, J. Ketchum Averill started the Fountain City Advocate which also sought the shades in about six months. The attempt was not again re- peated until 1860, when the Buffalo County Advertiser, a small, four-column sheet, made its appearance, under the supervision of Marvin Pierce and C. Bohri. It lived until 1861, when it withdrew from the vain

world and became a thing of history. The next at- tempt was in April, 1861, when the Buffalo County Journal was established at Alma by James M. Bracket and -Rockwell. It was at that time a six column folio, and carried at its mast-head the name of Alma Journal, under which it lived and starved alternately with the following proprietors : Bracket & Rockwell from 1861 to 1863; Dick Copeland from 1863 to 1865 ; Jacob Iberg & Co., from 1865 to 1866; John Hunner in 1867 ; Morse & Hunner in 1868; Perkins, McBride & Ostrander in 1869, who changed its name to the Alma Journal and Beef Slough Advocate. The name of the firm and of the paper being alike too long and in a half-starved, poorly-clad condition, it became the property of George W. Gilkey, who changed its name to the Alma Weekly Express. Gilkey's administration terminated in 1871, when the paper was sold to Hunner & DeGroff. Mr. DeGroff sold out in less than a month, and C. L. James, a son of the English novelist, became associated with Mr. Hunner. During the presidential campaign of 1872, Mr. Hunner disposed of his interest to John W. DeGroff, when the firm became DeGroff & James. In the Spring of 1873, Mr. James sold his interest to A. Rockwell, who after a few months trans- ferred it to J. W. DeGroff, who has since been its edi- tor and proprietor. In June, 1879, he changed its name to The Buffalo County Journal. He has also en- larged its pages and has ever since published a first- class country newspaper. The Journal has had many "ups and downs," principally "downs" but it has passed all the reefs and rocks in safety, and to-day stands upon a solid foundation. It is a staunch Repub- lican in politics, not of the " stalwart" order, but a firm supporter of the theories held by President Garfield. It is a newsy, well-edited, well-printed, spicy local paper. It receives a liberal support from the business men of the place, and is the official paper of the county.

The Buffalo County Republikaner, a German paper, was established at Buffalo City, March 15, 1861, by C. Lohmann. G. G. Oppliger obtained the manage- ment of this paper October 12, 1861. May 28, 1864, he moved it from Buffalo City to Fountain City, per- ceiving that Fountain City offered better facilities and guarantees for permanent business. Mr. Oppliger remained as publisher and proprietor until the 1st of April, 1869, when he sold out to Major J. T. Hauser. Joseph Leicht, the present editor and publisher, pur- chased the paper November 4, 1871, since which time the editorial chair has been an honored and lucrative institution. The Republikaner is one of the most ex- tensively circulated German papers in the Northwest. There is also at this date a paper published at Mon- dovi under the name of Buffalo County Herald, by W. L. Hauser and George E. Gilkey. The press of the county is in able hands, and is a most useful medium for the diffusion of local and general intelligence.

BEEF SLOUGH.

In the western part of the county is a body of water that is worthy of special mention, recognized under the name of " Beef Slough." This is formed from the waters of the Chippewa River, part of which, forsak- ing the main channel about six miles from its conflu-

159

HISTORY OF BUFFALO COUNTY.

ence with the Mississippi River, leads off across the lowlands, being at a variable distance of from one to three miles from the Chippewa River. Its large num- ber of expansions, diversions and branches with all of the resulting islands and lakes, form a complete net- work of the territory between itself and the river. As it nears the Mississippi, some part of its waters enters that river by bayous, while the main body, or Beef Slough proper, passes down three or four miles farther, and empties into Buffalo or Beef River. The current in the slough is very slow, there being almost none. On this account it is of incalculable value as a log har- bor, and probably is the largest and best log harbor in the State. Two large corporations are at present at work here in the booming, sorting and rafting of logs. Much legal strategy, legislation and lobbying were necessary before these companies were allowed to oper- ate. The cities on the upper Chippewa-Eau Claire and

gether employ from 300 to 500 hands during the driv- ing season at a daily compensation of about $700. They daily handle, on an average, between 3,000,000 and 4,000,000 feet of logs. So far during this season they have sorted and rafted 300,000,000 feet. Exten- sive improvements are now yearly made for houses, piers, side, shore and sheer booms, necessitating large expenditures of money, and their operations in this line have become an extensive source of wealth to Buffalo County.

VILLAGE OF ALMA.

The village of Alma, the county seat of Buffalo County, comprises within its present corporate limits all of Sections 26, 27, 28, 34 and 35, and all of Section 25 west of the Buffalo or Beef River, Town 22, Range 13 west; also all of Sections 2, 12, 13 and 14, in Town 21, Range 13 west. The village proper, or platted part, is one mile in length, reaching from the center of Section 2 on the north, to the

ALMA.

Chippewa Falls-fought the project at every point, on the ground that the enterprise would seriously impede, if not totally destroy, navigation in these waters. However, in April, 1866, an act was passed by the State Legislature, allowing certain men as an organized company to erect such piers, wing-dams, side, shore and glancing booms as were necessary for turning in and holding logs, provided, that such improvements should in no manner hinder or prevent the free pass- age of boats to and from points above. Accordingly, the erection of these was soon commenced, and now the works extend up the slough for a distance of five miles, and represent a total cost of construction and valuation of perhaps $2,000,000. The rights of the " Beef Slough Manufacturing, Booming, Logging and Transportation Company," were further defined in an act passed by the Legislature and approved March 14, 1870. This has already become a stupenduous affair. It, as above stated, is now operated by two companies -"The Beef Slough Manufacturing, Booming, Logging and Transportation Company" and the "Mississippi Log- ging Company," the officers of the latter being Frederick Weyhanser, president ; Artemus Lamb, vice-president ; Thomas Irvine, secretary. These two companies, to-

center of Section 12 on the south. It owes its peculiar shape to the bluffs which rise to nearly an abrupt altitude of from 400 to 700 feet, leaving but a narrow strip of land between their base and the river suitable for building purposes. The town is built on the side of the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, and its location might be easily compared to a two-story house; upon the first floor is found the business portion of the town, while the second story is occupied by the court-house and jail, the school-house, churches and residences. Among the early settlers of Alma, Victor Probst and John C. Wecker have the honor of being the first. They came from Galena, Ill., and reached the present site of Alma, on the twen- tieth day of August, in the year 1848. Mr. Probst is still a resident of the county, while Mr. Wecker is now residing in Minnesota. Messrs. Probst and Wecker built a slab shanty from slabs found floating in the river, on the lot now owned and occupied by Jacob Bollinger as a residence. They lived together for two years in this shanty, keeping bach- elors' hall, when Victor Probst built another house on the lot now owned and occupied by Otmar Probst. About this time the population of the embryo village was increased by the settlement of Joseph Berney ; this was in the Fall of 1849. He moved into the same shanty with Messrs. Probst and Wecker, and remained with them during the Winter and following Summer. The next settlers were John Mar-

160

HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

tin and his brother Nicholas, and Mathias Hammer. They came together in April, 1851. Rudolph Beimer came in the Spring of 1853 ; he purchased the whole of Martin's claim, and lived for a while in the slab shanty first built by Probst and Wecker. The next settler was Abraham Schmoker, who bought land of Mr. Beimer, and built the house where Fritz Schreiber now lives. Nicholas Gilman was the next settler. He built the house where Lawrence Kessinger now lives. This brings us down to the Summer of 1855, when W. H. Gates settled and opened the first store, in the building now occupied by Weber and Gesell, as a photograph gallery and jewelry store. With the ex- ception of the patronage of the few settlers, his trade was with the raftsmen who used to land at Alma, to repair damages sustained in passing through Lake Pepin, and crossing the Beef Slough Bar. In the Fall and Summer of 1855 the population of the village was largely increased. Among the number who came were John Hemerich, John Hunner, John R. Hurlburt, John Kerchner, John M. Hem- erich, Philip Craft, and - Beyer, also G. F. Haisch, William Briggaboos and others. Among those who came in 1856 were M. Ulrich, the Fricht brothers and John A. Tester, who, in company with Peter Polin, opened a store in Au- gust, 1856. This was the second store opened in the vil- lage of Alma. From this date Alma began to assume a metropolitan appearance. Building after building appeared in quick succession, and it was destined soon to become the commercial center, as well as the outlet for the agricul- tural products, of the slowly extending settlements, in the north and east part of the county. Included within the above are not the names of all those who located within the during the dates men ioned, as their names have dropped from the page of public existence and the memories of their pioneer associates, but the seeds which dropped into their lives sprang up into a rich harvest, and when they left their pioneer life here, they also left some good deeds, as every age and civilization of the world, in departing, leaves some token of its great and valiant men, its pure and noble women, reminding us that they have lived, toiled and triumphed, telling us of their sorrows, joys and ambi- tions, which they, like us, sought to gratify. But let us re- turn to the events of 1855. During that year, W. H. Gates bought a piece of land of Victor Probst, and, in company with him and Ira Mead, laid out the plat of Alma. The surveying was done by A. W. Miller, then a resident of Hudson, now of Maxville, in this county. The same gentleman surveyed Victor Probst's addition, in the upper part, and Probst and Wenger's addition in the central part of the present village. In the same year Beiner and Marty laid out the lower addition, the surveying being done by Augustus Finkelnburg, then, as now, a resi- dent at Fountain City. The village was named at the time the survey was made, by W. H. Gates, and how it came to be named Alma, we will let him explain in his own words : "I took an atlas and commenced to look for a short name that could be spelled and pronounced. I ran across the name ' Alma' on the map of Russia, and adopt- ed it at once".

The first school was taught in Alma in 1856, Dr. John Ehing being the first teacher. He received his certificate of qualification from Philip Kraft, then Town Superinten- dent of Schools.

The first minister who came to Alma was a representa- tive of the German Reformed Church. He did not hold a regular meeting but administered the rite of baptism to children.

The first hotel was built and kept by John Hurtburt in 1856. The house is still standing and is now used as a tenement house and occupied by a number of families.

The first post-office was opened in a building, now occu- pied by Weber & Gesell as a photograph gallery and jewelry store, in 1856, with W. H. Gates as Postmaster. He has since been followed by Peter Polin, from 1857 to 1863 ; C. A. Boehme, from 1863 to 1870; M. Fetzer, from 1870 to 1872; Julius Ginzkey, from 1872 to 1876; L. P. Hunner, from 1876 to the present date.

The first blacksmithing was done by John Von Wyl in 1858, who built a shop and conducted the business for a number of years. This building is now occupied as a dwelling-house.

In 1857 or 1858 the first warehouse was built by John A. Tester and Peter Polin. This has since been refitted and converted into a hotel,- "The Massasoit House " - kept by Emil Leonhardy.

The first marriage ceremony was performed in July, 1856, the contracting parties being Abraham Schmoker and a Miss Hang.

In 1860, after a sharp contest that went even to the Supreme Court of the State, this village became the seat of government of Buffalo County, and in 1861 the present court-house was built at a cost of between $8,000 and $10,000, the county offices in the meantime occupying the house then occupied by Dr. John Ehing.

The Beef Slough Booming, Manufacturing and Trans- portation Company, commenced their operations in 1867, having their head-quarters at Alma.

In 1868, Alma was separated from the township of Alma by a special act of the Legislature, and was incorpora- ted as a village, since which time it has maintained a sepa- rate municipal existence. The first officers of the village were Conrad Moser, Jr., President ; William Ehrich, John A. Tester, Frederick Lane, William Briggaboos, Trustees ; J. J. Seen, Clerk ; Jacob Wirth, Treasurer. The present officers of the village are Emil Leonhardy, President; Charles Peluneck, Frederick Fisher, Julius Wilk and Peter Grass, Trustees; William Hoefling, Secretary ; Charles Neumister, Treasurer; Charles Urfer, Assessor ; George Vogt, Marshal.

The following have held the position of President of the village since its incorporation : C. Moser, Jr., two years; Peter Polin, one year; Fred Lane, one year; John A. Tester, two years; John Hunner, one year; Richard R. Kempter, two years; Ferdinand Fetter, two years ; J. W. DeGroff, one year ; R. R. Kester, one year, and Emil Leon- hardy, one year.

In 1870 a hook and ladder company was organized, and they soon obtained the purchase of a hook and ladder truck, with all its equipments. Through some mismanage- ment and a little misunderstanding, this organization ex- pired. It has since, from time to time, been reorganized, but at present there is no regular hook and ladder com- pany. In 1876 a hand engine company was organized to take charge of a hand engine, together with about 500 feet of hose, which had a short time previous been purchased. This organization, likewise, never has existed for any length of time, consequently there is not at present any regular organized fire company; although, in case of any emergency caused by a fire, the hand engine and other material come into active service, and every one puts forth his best efforts in assistance.

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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