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 48

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 48

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).

MATHIAS JOHNSON, general store and Postmaster, Quinney. Born in Norway, in 1814. He emigrated to America in 1840, and re- mained in New York for five years, employed at sail making, which was his trade. He then moved to Racine Co., Wis., where he was employed rigging vessels, and in a mill. In 1852, he went to Depere, and in 1860 moved to Calumet County, and went to farming, taking the post-office in 1867. In 1842, he married Miss Hannan Gooder. They had nine children, five now living. He lost his wife in 18SI. Mr. Johnson be- longs to the Lutheran Church.

J. M. MERRILL, M.D., Stockbridge. Born in Medina Co., Ohio, April 16, 1837. He came to Calumet Co., in 1851, and went to farming in the town of Chilton. He enlisted, in 1861, in the 4th Wis. V. I .; was mustered out in 1864, and returned to Chilton ; but, in 1865, sold his farm, and began the study of medicine with Dr. La Counte. He attended the Chicago Medical College in 1867-8 and 1868-9, and then returned to Stockbridge and began practice. He opened a drug store in 1874, but sold it in 18So. In 1856, he married Miss Jennie Thompson, of Stockbridge. They have five boys-Fred William, Frank D., Charles W., John E. and Park E. Dr. Merrill belongs to the I. O. O. F., and is a member of the Baptist Church.

CAPT. R. J. NEEDHAM, wagon factory, Stockbridge. Born in Wayne Co., N. Y., March 8, 1828. He remained in his native county for nine years, and then went to Onondaga County, where he learned the trade of wagonmaker. He came to Wisconsin, and located in Cal- umet County, in 1850. He then went on a trip through the Southern States, and, returning in 1861, enlisted in the 4th Wis. V. I., but was transferred to the cavalry in 1863. Ile was mustered out a captain in 1865. On leaving the service, he returned to Stockbridge, and once more resumed business. lle has held the office of Chairman of the Town, and was Treasurer for some four years. Ile is a member of the I. O. O. F.

C. W. THURSTON, farmer, P. O. Stockbridge. Born in Onei- da Co., N. Y., Jan. 19, 1829. He lived here till he was seventeen years of age, his father being a farmer and miller. Ile shared in the same work, attending meantime the district school, and afterwards the

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

Dicksville Institute. In 1846, with other members of the family, he came to Wisconsin, settling on Lot 32. In 1847, he taught school, teaching, in all, about ten terms. In 1856, he moved on to the lot where they live at present. He has been prominent in politics. In 1854, he was Sheriff of Calumet County; has been Register of Deeds, and în 1873 was elected County Judge ; was County Superintendent of Schools, and has been Chairman of both Town and County boards. He has been married twice-the first time in 1854, his wife dying in 1871; the second time in 1873, to Miss Bourne, of Stockbridge. By the two mar- riages he has six children. Ile helped raise a company and enlisted in the 16th Wis. V. I., and was discharged in 1865. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and belongs to the I. O. O. F.

BROTHERTOWN.

The village of Brothertown, like Stockbridge, is the center of a fine farming country, and does a good general business. The people of these two places were the earnest pioneers of Calumet, and as long as the county depended upon water communication were the leaders in its business. Other villages, however, which acquired railroad facilities, have passed them.

The Holland Settlement was commenced by Father Godhard in 1848. He arrived in that year with twelve families, and an industrious little village soon extended over into what is now the town of Woodville, Calumet County. W. Kempen was the first settler. Elias Beach arrived during the first year and opened a hotel on the military road. As there was much travel over that thorough- fare, but two houses between Stockbridge and his tavern, and only one between his place and Wrightstown, Brown County, Mr. Beach was well patronized. In 1852-54 the Irish commenced to arrive, and in 1855 the Kersten Broth- ers located near the settlement. When the Town of Wood- ville was organized in 1852, George M. Beach was elected Chairman. Among others who greatly aided in increasing the prosperity of the Holland settlement were Nicholaus Frank and Louis Mangold.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

J. H. HAIGHT, general store, Brothertown. Born in Otsego

Co., N. Y., March 2, 1844. Ile came to this town with his parents in 1855, and lived on a farm. When he was eighteen years of age, he en- listed in the regular army, 15th Regiment, 2d Battalion ; was discharged on account of disability. Returning home in 1863, he attended school in Sharon, Canada ; returned in 1866. In 1867 he opened a store here, but went out of business in 1868. He again entered business in 1869, under the firm name of Haight & LaGrange. They carried a stock of about $3,000, and did a business of $10,000 a year. He married in 1868, and has two children. Mr. Haight was elected Town Clerk, and held that office for thirteen years, and in 1877 was elected to the Legislature, and has the postoffice since 1881. Ile belongs to both the Masonic and the I. O. O. F.

A. T. LAGRANGE, Haight & LaGrange, general store, Brother- town. Born in Albany Co., N. Y., in 1814. He had a common school education, and was reared in the vicinity of Albany ; was there when the first locomotive started. He is of French descent. He came to Wis- consin in 1856, locating in Fond du Lac County, in Eden. Becoming ac- quainted in 1868 with his present partner, they went into partnership. In 1836 he married, and has four children.

GEORGE G. PHILLIPS, general store, Brothertown. Born in Chemung Co., N. Y., March 31, 1824. In 1845 he went to Rhode Island, where he worked in the cloth rooms of the cotton factories, and returning to New York, he married in 1848, Miss Phobe Angell. In 1854 he came to Wisconsin, and went to farming in Calu met County. He established his store in 1868, as Phillips & Son. He has also a cheese factory, and deals in grain and produce, having a branch store in Kau- kauna, run as Wirtz, I'hillips & Co. Mr. Phillips has four children, ard has served the public only in town offices.

MILTON SPRAGUE, blacksmith, Brothertown. Born in Brocme Co., N. Y., Aug. 22, 1821. At twelve years of age he shipped on a man- of-war, and for sixteen years remained in the U. S. service, visiting most of the ports of the world. When he left the service he was a captain of forecastle. In 1849 he returned to Broome County, and married Miss Elizabeth Ellwood, and in 1857 came to Wisconsin, and located in Cal- umet County. His wife died in 1880, and two of his sons. He has five children now living-Milton, Alec, Kate, Mary and Frank.

MATHIAS BROWN, hotel and saloon, St. John. Born in Prus- sia, Germany, in 1831, and emigrated to America in 1848. He at or ce came west, and stopped in Fond du Lac County, where he farmed till 1871, when he came to St. John, and built his hotel. He was appointed Postmaster in 1872, which office he now holds. In 1858 he married Miss Stine. She died, leaving a family of eight children. He married again, a Mrs. Becker, and they have two children. They belong to the Catholic Church.

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HISTORY OF CHIPPEWA COUNTY.

CHIPPEWA COUNTY.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

Geographically the county is in latitude 45 to 46, and from Town 20 to 40 inclusive, and Range 1 east to 10 west, giving 78 miles extension north and south and 60 east and west. It has an area of 1,412,471 acres, and only 125,000 under cultivation. The State owns 30,000 acres of school lands, which are in the market at $1.25 per acre. The railroad companies, through the various land grants own 150,000, which they hold at from $3 to $5 per acre or more. The timber lands amount to 1,000,000 acres, including hard woods. Chip- pewa Falls is near the southwest corner of the county, which is bisected by the river from northeast to south- west, and has a dozen or more branches of more or less importance on either side; on the east there is Paint, Yellow, Fisher, Swift, Flambeau, Thorn and Nail. On the west are the Duncan, O'Neill, Mud, Court Oreilles, West Fork and Little Chief.

Twenty-five miles north of the city is a group of numerous lakes, and several lakes in the northwest corner of the county quite large in size, and still others in the northeastern part.

No very extended examination of the formation of the county has ever been made. What an exploration with an artesian auger would develop can only be sur- mised by the imperfect surface indications. In general terms then, the upper part of the county is underlaid with the granitic, or azoic rocks, covered usually with drift from the Huronian system. In the southern part the soil is made up of alluvium with the disintegrated Potsdam sand-stone as a foundation.

Hon. Geo. P. Warren has in his yard a water-worn boulder, eighteen inches or more in diameter, of sand- stone, which has one side enameled, half an inch or so in thickness, following the inequalities of the surface. This curious rock, which is clearly a sand-stone, with part of its substance transformed into quartz, seems to strengthen the growing theory of the aqueous rather than the igneous origin of even the azoic rocks. No lime-stone has been found in the county and conse- quently the water is soft.

As to the character of the soil, it is unquestionably rich in the mineral constituents necessary to the pro- duction of good crops, but it requires to have a part of its production, or its equivalent, returned to its bosom every year. The amount of vegetable mould is not so abundant that one can go on cropping, generation after generation, without exhausting its fertility.

Mr. Allen has a garden which he has treated gener- ously for many years, and the luxuriance with which corn and other crops grow there is really surprising, considering the latitude. There is considerable hard wood lumber, which, of course, while the more easily cut pine remains, will be comparatively neglected ; when, however, the scarcity of pine begins to be felt, the hard woods will gradually take its place.

Chippewa County is a great success so far as lumber is concerned, and as a farming country well watered, and with a workable soil it is even more val- uable ; but when we come to mineral productions, no promises can be made in that direction. What may lie buried beneath our feet time only, in the restless hands of energy and enterprise, can tell. As to building material it is inexhaustible. When the billions of feet of lumber shall have been appropriated to man's use, the clay and the rocks will remain.

As to the practical geology of the county it need only be said, that whether its place in the order of creation shall be found nearer the igneous period, or the post pliocene, it is a goodly land, for the most part a virgin soil awaiting the coming of the husband- man, and with the ability to reward him for all his toil.

THE CHIPPEWAS.

The Indians, having no literature, and of course no written history of their own, have a remembrance of events more clear and distinct than those who depend upon the written or printed page for their preservation. And any one who has never given the subject attention would be surprised to see how long a time can be cov- ered by tradition, through a single intervening witness between the occurrence and the one relating the inci- dent.

To illustrate this point : the writer has seen a man who lost his arm at the storming of Quebec in 1759 and heard from his lips the story of that conflict in 1839, when ten years of age, the old soldier being nine- ty-nine years of age; and should the boy who heard the story live to be ninety and tell it to another of ten, he living eighty years afterwards and repeating the tale from one who got it from the man participating in the event, it would be 240 years after the battle, with a single intervening witness.

Now the Indians have a language quite complete in words representing natural objects and describing events and names of places, although deficient in terms to describe mechanical works, arts or science, or any of the concomitants of civilization ; and their tradi- tions must have a certain amount of value to the his- torian and a few of them will be here presented. The name " Odjibewa," which the English tongue has trans- formed into Chippewa, signifies, "the dwellers in a contracted place," evidently applied to these people during their long residence at the foot of Lake Super- ior, or " le Sault de Ste. Marie." It is supposed that this tribe, coming from the northern part of the New England States, struck the Great Lakes on the north of Lake Ontario, following along Lake Erie, without having touched Niagara Falls, as they make no mention of that, and via the coast of Lake St. Claire and Lake Huron to Mackinaw, or Mee-she-mee-ke-nak, the "Great Turtle," as they called the Island of Macki- naw. The Oh-dah-wa [Ottawa] branch of the Odjib-

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

ewa tribe took its course up Lake Michigan [Me-she- gane] the great lodge of the Great Turtle or " Mani- ton." The main body of the Odjibewas must have lingered a long time around the shores of Georgian Bay and Lake Huron, until finally reaching the Sault Ste. Marie, having been in a more or less constant state of warfare on the journey, which must have been much slower than the children of Israel. The scene of their principal traditions is about this place and up to the head of Lake Superior, having gradually moved along the south shore, making frequent excursions down the Sauteur or Chippewa River. Another branch, the "Bois Forts," of the Algonquins, as they were called by the English, whose native name was Sah-guan-da-ga- win-ena, or "men living in thick undergrowth of tim- ber," proceeded on the north of Lake Superior. Their bands had few warlike experiences compared to those south of the lake, who encountered the Mis-qua-kee, or Sacs, and the Oda-gah-mee, or Foxes, and gradually crowded their way, finally reaching the Apostle Isl- ands. On one of them, Madiline, they located, not daring to locate on the main land for fear of the Daco- tas or Sioux. These people were at that time in what might be called a flourishing condition. It was many generations ago. From the colony at Madeline Island, bands proceeded to the mouth of the Brule River, thence down the St. Croix, and finally establishing themselves at various points, reached Sandy Lake, Leech Lake, and other places on the upper Mississippi. Their finally overcoming the Sacs and Foxes was evi- dently owing to their superior weapons, for, in addition to some guns in the later period, their arrows and spears were iron or steel pointed. The reasons for be- lieving this general account of the voluntary or forced migration of this powerful tribe from the Atlantic coast, are that, among other things, many names of New England landmarks are found in the Chippewa language, and indeed the language itself is the Algon- quin, with such contractions and modifications as time and changed surroundings and circumstances would create.

There is an Indian reservation, called the Courte de Oreilles, in the northwest corner of the county. The following is an enumeration of various bands of Indians : Red Cliffs, 726; Bad River, 734; Lac Courte de Oreilles, 1,709; Lac De Flambeau, 666 ; Fond du Lac, 404; Grand Portage, 267 ; Boise Forte, 769. Total, 4,630.

That our readers may see a specimen of the Chip- pewa tongue, the opening sentences from the record of a talk held some years after the treaty alluded to, will be here presented :

" Eji gikendang isa aw Anichinabe iw o wawin damagowinan megwa bisan namao abipan anodj ejiwin- sod Anichinabe.

" Ningoding dach madwe gigido aw Ningitchi mich- omisinon madwe sagaswead dach iniw Onidjanissan imidi ' Gibi Saging,' Prairie du Chien."

Translation .- " This statement made by the Indians, according to the best of their knowledge, in regard to the promises made to them while living in peace among themselves.

" At a certain time there came to us the word of

our Great Father, calling us to a council to be held at Prairie du Chien."

The Indian name for their own race is Ani-chi-na- be, and the name of the tribe is Od-jib-wa, which the English or French, or both, transformed into Chippewa. The original word certainly should not be lost. The accent is on the second syllable-Od-jib-wa.

By an act of the Territorial Legislature, approved February 3, 1845, Crawford County was divided. The part set off took the name of Chippewa County. It embraced all of that district of country lying west of Portage County, as enlarged by the act of February 18, 1841 ; all east of St. Croix County, as prescribed by the Legislature of 1840; and all north of a line commencing at the mouth of Buffalo River on the Mississippi ; " thence up the main branch of Buffalo to its source, thence along the dividing ridge between the waters of the Chippewa and Black rivers, until it reaches the head waters of Black River, thence in a direct line due east to the boundary line of Portage County," which line was made the northern boundary of Crawford and the southern boundary of Chippewa. The county was organized from and after the first gen- eral election, which occurred on the fourth Monday of September, 1845. At this election, the people were required to select the various county officers, and also commissioners to locate the county seat; the seat of government being fixed temporarily at the mouth of the Menomonie (Red Cedar) River, at or near the res- idence of Mr. Lamb. The county was attached to Crawford for judicial purposes. By an act approved March 29, 1853, the county of Chippewa was organ- ized for judicial and county purposes, from and after November, 1853, at which time there was but one town in the county. By this act the voters were required to elect three Supervisors and all the town officers at the election in November, and also such county officers as they were entitled to by their organization ; the lat- ter were required to hold two years, or until their suc- cessors were chosen. The county seat was, by the same act, located at Chippewa Falls, and the Super- visors were required to select the site for the buildings in such a part of the village as they should deem most conducive to the interests of the county, and should also take immediate steps to secure their erection. The first Circuit Judge was N. S. Fuller ; first Treasurer, H. S. Allen ; first District Attorney, H. S. Humphrey; first Sheriff. Blois Hurd. Since the formation of the county, it has greatly decreased in size, having given territory to the counties of Buffalo, Pepin, Dunn, Clark, Eau Claire, Barron and Burnett, but still embraces a tract of country seventy-eight miles long and sixty miles wide-3,744 square miles, or about 2,396.160 acres- which is divided into 104 townships. Of this area, four townships belong to the Chippewa Indians, in a reservation around Lac Courte Oreille in the northwest corner. About two-thirds of the entire county is owned by private individuals: one-fifth by the United States ; about 50,000 acres by the State of Wis- consin, and the balance by the West Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Central and the North Wisconsin railroads. There are, by estimate, over 1,500,000 acres of pine lands in the county, which at the present rate of con-

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HISTORY OF CHIPPEWA COUNTY.

sumption will last for fifty years. Large portions of these pine lands are interspersed with groves of oak, maple, ash and other hard-wood varieties.

ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.

The county was organized December 29, 1854. George P. Warren was Chairman of the Board of Supervisors ; Stephen S. McCann was the other Super- visor ; Samuel H. Allison, Clerk. The first business transacted was the appointment of E. A. Galloway, J. M. Baxter and John C. Flannegan to locate a road to the capital of Dunn County. Th. E Randall was ap- pointed superintendent of its construction.

It was voted to lay out a road to the mouth of Clear Water River. William Wiley, Piere Riess and Jesse S. Gage were chosen as Commissioners, and J. E. Ran- dall, Superintendent. A petition for a road via Dun- can's Mill to Bloomer was deemed improper, and re- jected. The road authorized to Eau Claire (Clear Water) via Frenchtown and the Blue Mill was, after mature deliberation, declared " highly injudicious and unnecessary."

James Ermatinger, Henry O'Neil and Daniel Mc- Cann were appointed to lay out a road to Vermillion Falls. Ermatinger was made superintendent. The next meeting was February 1, 1855. James Reed, who had been elected Supervisor, having refused to serve, Elias W. Galloway was appointed to fill the place. Moses Reevis, who, it seems, had been elected Constable, declined the honor, as also did William Riley, as Justice of the Peace. William J. Young was authorized to procure copies of the United States Survey field notes in relation to the county. The resolve in relation to the Duncan's Creek road was subsequently reconsidered. At a meeting on February 16, the Board provided a court-room in the second story of H. S. Allen's carpenter shop. On motion of S. S. McCann, James Reed was fined $10 for refusing to act as Supervisor.

The outline of every town is irregular, and some of them fifty miles in the longest extent. They contain much more territory than in a township of Govern- ment survey.

The names of the several towns are : Anson, Au- burn, Bloomer, Big Bend, Flambeau, Eagle Point, Ed- son, Lafayette, Sigel and Wheaton. The county has for neighbors-on the north, Ashland; on the east, Price, Taylor and Clark; on the south, Eau Claire ; on the west, Dunn, Barron and Burnett.

The growth of the county has been as follows : 1850, population 615; 1855, 838; 1860, 1,895; 1865, 3,278; 1870, 8,311; 1875, 13,997.

The census of the county, as recorded in 1880, is as follows: Chippewa Falls, 4,003; Auburn, 1,230; An- son, 730 ; Bloomer, 1,886; Big Bend and Flambeau, 589; Eagle Point, 2,626; Edson, 884; La Fayette, 1,903; Sigel, 849; Wheaton, 1,287. Total, 15,987.

There are 1,794 more males than females in the county. Of the whole number, 10,048 are natives. and 196 are colored.

Present county officers: Sheriff, Frank Colburn ; Under Sheriff, John O. Putnam ; Treasurer, E. P. Hastings ; Deputy, Angus McDonnell ; County Clerk, James Comerford ; Deputy, W. W. Crandall; Regis-

ter of Deeds, Edward Emerson; Deputy, U. Domi- nique ; Clerk of Court, John Weinberger ; Deputy, J. V. Weinberger ; District Attorney, William R. Hoyt; School Superintendent, C. D. Tillinghast; County Judge, R. D. Marshall; Municipal Judge, Henry Cole- man ; Surveyor, S. A. Carpenter; Coroner, A. E. Bentley ; County Board : city-First Ward, G. D. Vollaincourt ; Second Ward, L. F. Martin; Third Ward, W. L. Pierce ; Fourth Ward, E. H. Everett ; Anson, D. G. MeKay ; Auburn, Charles Spencer ; Bloomer, Henry Lebeis ; Big Bend, E. M. Miles ; Eagle Point, Ludwig Meyer ; Edson, N. Leith ; Flambeau, Gilbert Swenson ; Lafayette, W. R. Melville; Sigel, Alexander Sherman ; Wheaton, Southmaid. County Lumber Inspector, Duncan L. McKay.

The following have served as members of the As- sembly from Chippewa Falls :

1861, Rodman Palmer ; 1864, Thad. C. Pound ; 1866, 1867 and 1869, Thad. C. Pound ; 1871, James A. Bate ; 1872, John J. Jenkins; 1873, Albert E. Pound ; 1874, James A. Bingham ; 1875, Th. L. Halbert ; 1876, C. J. Wilse ; 1877, Louis Vincent ; 1878, A. R. Barrows ; 1879 and 1880, Hector McRae ; 1881, J. A. Taylor.

Thad. C. Pound was Lieutenant Governor in 1870 and 1871. J. M. Bingham was Lieutenant Governor 1878 to 1881, two terms.

The Court House is a substantial structure of brick and was built in 1872, at a contract price of $37,500. It is situated on Bridge street in the center of a park embracing a whole block. The style may be termed composite ; it is of brick 60x80 feet. The basement can be used in part as a jail ; is eight feet in the clear. The first story fifteen feet, the court room twenty-four feet. The hall is fourteen feet wide below, and fifteen above. The offices are large and convenient. J. A. Bates was the engineer.

Big Bend. - The town of Big Bend occupies the northwestern part of the county, it consists of at least twenty-nine townships. It has six school houses be- sides one on the reservation. The schools are taught by women, who receive $40 per month. On the chain of lakes near the big bend in the river, is a steamboat put there by Elisha Swift in 1880. Mr. Swift also owns a shingle mill there. One of the old settlers in that region is Joseph Bellsile who, by three aboriginal wives, has twenty-one children, and the number of his wives' relation he has to support is fabulous.

Among the characters in that neighborhood is an old Indian who was four years old at the time of the storming of Quebec during the old French war; was twenty-one years of age when the Declaration of Inde- pendence was signed, and is now 126. His hair is sil- ver white, and he is so doubled up that he has little trouble to make both ends meet. He is still able to dispose of a full ration.

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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