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 58

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 58

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JOSEPH WALKER, Street Commissioner, Chippewa Falls, was born in Ireland in 1836. Came to America when ten years of age. Lived in State of Minnesota for sixteen years, engaged in farming. Came to Chippewa Falls in 1862, and was employed in saw mill for a short time. Enlisted in December of that year, in 7th Wis. Infantry, and served until the close of the War. Received a severe wound in left leg at Battle of the Wilderness, and returned to Chippewa Falls in 1865. Was Overseer of Highways for two years, Watchman in Court House building for four Winters, Street Commissioner in 1877 and 1878,

and re-elected in 1881. Married at Winona, Minn., in June, 1858, to Catherine Don, born in Ireland. They have ten children-Mary, Rose (now Mrs. Murray), William, Susan, Catherine, Joseph, Frank, Ellen, Annie, Agnes.

JOEL WATERMAN, now a resident of Fort Worth, Texas, came to Seneca, McHenry Co., Ill., in July, 1843. Came to Winnebago County in May, 1846, and came to Eagle Point, Chippewa Co., June 10, 1856. He was engaged in farming in the town of Eagle Point until December, 1859, when he came to Chippewa Falls and built a hotel where the City Livery Stable now stands. Conducted that until March, 1867; then engaged in lumber manufacturing, which he continued until 1870. Mill was located on Twin Lakes. In 1870 he built hotel on

the present site of the Waterman House. It was destroyed by fire, Dec. 24, 1872, but he immediately rebuilt it, and conducted it, with the assistance of his sons, Luzerne H. and Leslie E., until May, 1878, when he rented the house to them. One year later they purchased the property. Then Mr. Waterman went to Fort Worth, Texas, where he now carries on hotel business. He was born in Royalton, Windsor Co., Vt., Sept. 15, 1817. He was married in Waitsfield, Washington Co., Vt., Jan. 8, 1843, to Belinda Joslyn, who was born in that place, June 3. 1822. They have five children Jiving - Laura E. (now Mrs. A. D. Monahan, of Denver, Col.), born in McHenry County, Ill., March 2, 1844; Luzerne H., born in Waitsfield, Vt., Jan. 8, 1847; Leslie E., born in Utica, Wis., Nov. 9, 1849; Lillie May, born in Chippewa Falls, Sept. 8, 1860; and Jessie, born in Chippewa Falls, March 30, 1867.

LESLIE E. WATERMAN, of the firm of Waterman Bros., proprietors of the Waterman House, Chippewa Falls, was born in Utica, Wis,, Nov. 9, 1849, and lived in Omro from infancy until June 10, 1856, when he came with his parents to Chippewa County. He has carried on the Waterman House, in partnership with his brother, Luzerne H., since May, 1878. In 1879 they purchased the hotel. Prior to the time they became proprietors of the house, they had been associated with their father in carrying on the business. Leshe E. Waterman was married at Green Bay, Sept. 30, 1875, to Fannie E. Rossiter, a native of that place. They have one son.

GEORGE P. WARREN, farmer, Chippewa Falls, was born on Mad- eline Island, Lake Superior, at the old fort of Lapointe, Aug. 10, 1823. His father died when George was about two years of age, and he was left at Mackinac Mission, Mich., with three brothers. He remained at the mission about two years, when, with his brothers, he was returned to Lapointe. In the Summer of 1837, George, with his twin brother, was taken, via lakes and canal, to Brockport, and thence to Clarkson, N. Y. In the Fall of that year they were taken to Whitesboro', Oneida Co. and were placed in the Oneida Institute, or Manual Labor School. There he entered the printing office connected with the Institute, and remained until March, 1841. He then found employment on the Roch- ester Democrat, Thomas H. Hyatt, editor. His eye-sight becoming much impaired, he left the Democrat July 13, of that year, much dis- gusted with the world, without any destination in view, nor caring where he went. He brought up in Cleveland and entered a printing office, but was obliged to soon quit it on account of his eye-sight. He then enlist- ed as a canal-driver on a boat plying between Cleveland and Portsmouth, Ohio, and continued until the close of navigation. He then went to St. Louis and shipped as second steward on the steamer " Pre-emption," making regular trips between St. Louis and New Orleans, where he re- mained until April, 1842. He then by boat ascended the Mississippi and the Chippewa Rivers, and arrived at Chippewa Falls on the first day of May. He had contracted malarial fever and was suffering from dumb ague. The magnificent falls of Chippewa River was there, but there was no Chippewa Falls. He soon joined a party on a trip to Lake Su- perior, their outfit consisting of a few blankets, a small stock of pro- visions, and three birch-bark canoes. They poled up the Chippewa Kiver, portaging around the several falls. until they reached the junction of the Lac Courte Ouriells (Lake Coter Kay), when they ascended that river to Lac Courte Ouriells, through Grindstone Lake, till they reached the Na-ma-ka-gan River, making several portages from lake to lake. Up the Na-ma-ka-gan River to Long Lake by portage, and then by port- age over the highland dividing the waters of the Mississippi and Lake Superior. On the Divide he got a magical divorce from the ague, with- out the use of medicine, and he has never had a return of the disease since. They descended a river then known as the Little Pike, and at the outlet of Bad River they were upon the borders of the great lake, near the scene of his childhood and youth, and after an absence of five years. George's father, Truman Warren, was born in Vermont, March 12, 1800, and, as seen by the geneology of the Warren family, was a de- scendent of General Joseph Warren, of revolutionary fame. Ilis moth- er, Charlotte (Cadott) Warren, was the daughter of Michael Cadott, a learned Frenchman, who was fitted for the priesthood ; but, his health failing, he was sent on a voyage from Montreal to Lake Superior for his health, in company with a party of the old French voyagers. Ile re- gained his health and became fascinated with the life, and never return- ed home, but married an Indian woman ; and in his old age planted a mission on the beautiful Madeline Island, and there peacefully passed away in 1785, loved and honored by both whites and Indians, and a

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

prominent figure in early history of the Northwestern Territory. Mr. Warren was married on the 15th day of Dec., 1862, to Mrs. Rosalie Truckey. Her parents, Lovison and Angelique Desmaris, were both of mixed French and Indian blood, who came to Chippewa Falls in 1821 and opened a trading post with the Indians. Their early lives were spent around Lake Superior, Selkirk settlement and Yellowstone River, trading with the Indians and Mormons. Mr. Warren enlisted in United States service at Chippewa Falls in March, 1864, entering Co. K 36th Reg. Wis. V. 1. The regiment reached Washington on the 14th day of May ; proceeded down the Potomac, and disembarked at Bellplaine, and the next day marched to Spottsylvania, via Fredericksburg, and on the 19th joined Ist Brigade, 2d Division, 2d Army Corps, commanded by General Hancock. On the 30th they crossed the Pamunkey, where the rebels were drawn up in line of battle in a dense wood, in front of an open field. On the Ist of June they had a severe engagement along the whole line, and it was found necessary to make vigorous charges in front of the Ist Brigade, to prevent the enemy from reinforcing their left. Com- panies B, E, F and G were ordered forward as skirmishers, forming a part of the line which was to advance. The flank line, composed of veterans, advanced a few rods, fired, and retreated behind the works, leaving these four companies to advance without support. The result was, that out of the raw but brave 240 who advanced, more than one- half were killed and wounded, or taken prisoners. During the night the regiment advanced to Cold Harbor, and at 8 o'clock, A. M., on the 3d, advanced on the enemy by brigades and massed by regiments. The 36th took the lead in the brigade, and lost 64 in killed, and 126 in wounded, many of them severely. George Warren was shot through the left lung, shattering the left shoulder blade terribly. He went to the rear and was helped to the field-hospital, and for a time abandoned to die, as it was supposed he could not live, but he subsequently recovered, and was discharged from Emory United States General Hospital, on the IIth of March, 1865.

FRANCIS C. WEBB, proprietor of meat market, Chippewa Falls, was born in County of Cornwall, England, April 24, 1828. Came to Vermont with his parents in 1831. Came to Wisconsin in 1856. Resided for three years in Mukwanago, Waukesha Co .; afterwards for four years in Eagle, same county ; then for seven and a half years in Palmyra, Jefferson Co. From the latter place he removed to White- water, where he resided until he came to Chippewa Falls, in 1872. Was employed in the store of the Union Lumber Co. for about thirteen months. Commenced butchering business in IS74, and has continued in that ever since. He was married in St. Albans, Vt., Jan. 5. IS53, to Marcia Ann Fales. She was born in Brandon, Vt., March 13, 1832. Mr. Webb resided in Brandon, Rutland Co., Vt., prior to coming to Wisconsin. His mother, Sophia Webb., died in Vermont in 1850. His father, Francis Webb, died in Whitewater in 1874.

CHARLES WEISSENBORN, Chippewa Falls, was born in Prussia, Ang. 28, IS3S, and came to America in 1867, locating in Wi- nona, Minn., in the Fall of that year, and remaining eight months. He then went to Eau Claire, where he resided three years. He then engaged in the grocery and liquor business, in Augusta, for seven and a half years, and in running a hotel in Sauk City for two years and a half. He came to Chippewa Falls in November, ISSO. He was married in Sauk City, Oct. 24, 1870, to Louisa Speer, who was born in Sauk City in 1853. They have three children living-Henry Hermann, Julius Robert and Hermina Bertha; and have lost two children - Charles Edward, who died at the age of eleven months, and Leo, eight days old at his death. Mr. Weissenborn is a member of the A. O. U. W., and of the German Singing Society.

JOHN WEINBERGER, Chippewa Falls, was born in Bavaria, March 1, IS29, and arrived in America Sept. S. 1854, coming to Galena, Ill. He came to Chippewa Falls in January, 1855, and worked in a logging camp for three months ; then, after spending three months in LaCrosse, he returned to Galena and engaged in tailoring there until March, 1876, when he came to Chippewa Falls and engaged in ready- made clothing and merchant tailoring business. In IS7S he was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court. He then ceased dealing in ready-made clothing, but has continued his merchant tailoring. He was re-elected Clerk in 1880. He was married in Galena, Ill., in September, IS54, to Teresia Rosel, who was born in Bavaria. They have two children-John V., who is married and lives in Chippewa Falls, being Deputy Clerk of Circuit Court, and Edward. Mr. Weinberger is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F.

JOHN V. WEINBERGER, Chippewa Falls, was born in Bavaria, Dec. 12, 1852, and came to America in October, IS54, living in Galena, Ill., until the Fall of that year, when he came to Chippewa County. In the Spring of 1855 he went to LaCrosse, and in the Fall to Galena, where he staid until July, 1873. when he came to Chippewa Falls and engaged in carriage painting. When he became Deputy Clerk of the Circuit Court, Jan. 6, 1879, and has continued in that office ever since. He was married in Chippewa Falls, in April, 1876, to Bertha Schultz, who was born in Prussia. They have three children- Edward C., George H. and Laura A. Mr. Weinberger is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the German Order of Ilarugari.

CHARLES B. WESSELL, hardware merchant, Chippewa Falls, was born in Elkhorn, Walworth Co., Wis., Nov. 18, 1852 ; lived in that county until Aug. 15, 1873, when he came to Chippewa Falls. For two years he worked at his trade of tinsmith for the Union Lumber Co. He then engaged in hardware trade, in partnership with H. O. Curliss. A year and a half later he purchased the entire business, and has since car- ried it on without a partner. Mr. Wessell was married in Chippewa Falls, Dec. 21, 1874, to Frances E. Sherman, a native of Wisconsin. They have three children-Cora Stella, Alta May and Reuben Francis. Mr. W. is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and I. O. O. F.

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N.W. While

NELS. W. WHEELER, lawyer, Chippewa Falls, was born in Stur- bridge, Worcester Co., Mass., June 29, 1828, being a son of Hosea Wheeler, who died in 1862, aged sixty-four years. Mr. Nels. Wheeler was in Yorkshire, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., for a year prior to coming to Wisconsin in IS41. He located in the town of Somerville, Rock Co., at the east end of Jefferson prairie, in the Spring of that year. In 1847, he entered the office of Judge Keep, and remained with him until the Spring of 1850, when he went to Monroe, Green Co., and was in the office of Machin & Finch until April, IS51, when he went to Baraboo, and in 1873 came from there to Chippewa Falls. Mr. Wheeler was Dis- trict Attorney for nine years in Sauk Co, He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. He was married in the town of Greenfield, Sauk Co., in February, 1866, to Victoria W. Peck, who was the first white child born in Madison, in September, 1837. Mr. Wheeler was first married in Jan- uary, 1852, and had two children by that marriage, a son and daughter, twins, now twenty-five years of age.

ROBERT D. WIIITTEMORE, harness, saddlery, etc., Chippewa Falls, came to Wisconsin in 1866 ; located in Crawford County, and in 1867 went to Randolph and other places ; opened business in Sharon in 1868, which he continued six months ; was at Palmyra for one year, and came to Chippewa Falls in July, 1872 ; employed by Union Lumber Co. for eighteen months; purchased there harness shop, and has been in present business since. In 1862 was news-boy in 107th N. Y. Inf. for nine months ; was then in quartermaster's office as transportation clerk, at Hagerstown, for eighteen months; then in South Carolina for four months. Was born in Union, N. Y., Sept. 24, 1846 ; and in 1865 was in business there for a short time, and afterwards traveled. Mar- ried at Palmyra. Wis, Sept. 21, 1871, to Lottie F., daughter of Captain A. S. Porter, who was born at Palmyra, They have one child, Fred- erick E., born April 1, 1877.

ALEXANDER WILEY, of Wiley & Alexson, Norway House, Chippewa Falls, came to Wisconsin in 1868 ; located at Stevens Point, and worked in woods for two years; was employed in mines on Lake Superior, Mich., for three years; came to Chippewa Falls in 1874; was emplored a few months in saw-mill, then built present hotel building, in partnership with Nels. Alexson, and has carried it on since. Born in Norway, Oct. 15, 1845 ; came to America in IS68 ; married in Portage County. Feb. 27, 1874, to Sofhee Vohenson, born in Norway ; have two children, John and Ida.

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HISTORY OF CHIPPEWA COUNTY.

C. J. WILTSE, lawer, Chippewa Falls, came to Wisconsin in Sep- tember, 1850; located in Mukwanago, Waukesha Co., where he resided until 1862, when he came to the town of Lafayette, Chippewa Co., where he purchased a large farm and resided on it until 1868, when he removed to Chippewa Falls. He was County Judge from 1865 to 1868 ; resigned that position in the latter year. While in Lafayette he was Justice of the Peace, Town Clerk, and Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. Since coming to Chippewa Falls, he has been Member of the Legisla- ture, Justice of the Peace, District Attorney and City Attorney, holding the latter position for five years. Ever since 1868, he has been engaged in active practice of law. He was born in Clarence, Erie Co., N. Y., May 29. 1823; lived there until he came to Wisconsin. He was first mar- ried to Ellen M. Tanner, a native of Clarence, N. Y. She died Jan. 21, 1870. Six children by this marriage now living-Rachael R. (now Mrs. John Sellers, of Pine City, Minn.), Ellen, Alice (now Mrs. Hector C. McRea), Diana (now the wife of Judge William P. Swift, of Barron Co., Wis.), Thomas and Sarah. The Judge's present wife was Mary Frances Billiard. She was born in the State of New York.

CHARLES W. WITHROW, agricultural implements, Chippewa Falls, came to Wisconsin in 1855 ; located at Yellow River Mills, where he was employed for one and one-half years. He followed farming and lumbering for some years ; enlisted in 1862, in 30th Wis. Inf .; served for three years ; was with General Pope on the frontier ; came to Chip- pewa Falls in 1868 ; commenced grocery business, in partnership with J. N. Withrow. He afterward was in planing mill, with three others, for thirteen months, and then engaged in lumbering up to 1877 ; went to Black Hills, but returned in 1878, and opened a hotel ; went again to Black Hills in 1880, but remained only a short time ; opened present business in May, 1881 ; was elected Justice of the Peace in 1859, of Eagle Point ; held the office for four years ; was also Town Assessor of Eagle Point in 1861. Born in White Co., Ill., May 19, 1833; married there June 25, 1851, to Jerusha Hargrave, who was born in White Co., Ill. They have four children-Mary C. (now Mrs. John Hockenbrock), Charles H. (now in California), Emma and John Henry.

LOUIS J. ZIMMERMANN, cigar factory, Chippewa Falls, came to Wisconsin in 1867 ; lived at Milwaukee a very short time, and then went to LaCrosse, where he lived nine years ; learned trade there, and was employed at it for some years; then came to Chippewa Falls, in 1876; commenced business for himself in 1879. Born in Austria, Aug. 10, 1857; came to America in 1867; married in Chippewa Falls, Aug. 25, 1879, to Julia Gould, who was born in Chippewa Falls. They have one child, Frank,

BLOOMER.

This is a thriving village in the town of the same name, twelve miles from the Falls. It has 400 inhabitants. J. W. Williams, Postmaster. There is a saw-mill and grist-mill, owned by J. W. Smith. The planing, door, sash and blind mill is owned by George Brooks. These mills run by wa- ter, which seldom fails. There are six stores with general merchandise, two drug stores and two confectionery stores ; three saloons, which pay a license of $50 each ; three churches-Congregationalist, Methodist and Catholic. The Lutherans also have a missionary station there.

The oldest settler in town is Mr. Van Loon. J. H. Brown is the present Town Clerk.

It is in the midst of a good farming region. Good crops of wheat, barley, oats and hay are raised, with potatoes and other vegetables.

A newspaper, the Bloomer Workman is printed here, and edited by Mrs. Jenny Jones. C. T. Tillinghast, the School Superintendent, resides here; there is one other lawyer, and one doctor.

The town has just voted $25,000 in aid of the Chippe- wa Falls & Northern Railway.

In July, 1857, Sylvester Van Loon pre-empted the north- east quarter of Section 8, Town 30, Range 9 west, embrac- ing the mill site and the present village of Bloomer. Mr. William Priddy came up with him. They came up on foot, and went home in the same way. After finishing up harvest- ing in Sank County, they returned with teams, in Septem- ber, erected a log house, 14x36, about eight feet high, with shingle-board roof, and cut a quantity of hay. Mr. Van Loon returned with a team for his family, leaving Mr. Prid- dy to look after things. Mr. Van Loon came with his family and set up housekeeping late in the Fall, with a full stock of flour and pork; but a prairie fire had burned all

their hay. He sold one yoke of his oxen, and let out an- other yoke, and was obliged to purchase hay at a high price to feed several head of cows and young stock. The Win- ter following was noted for the remarkable depth of snow and excessive cold weather, making travel almost an impos- sibility. Deer could not run, and a great many were knocked down with clubs. Any man, equipped with a pair of snow-shoes and a club, could kill as many as he desired. Settlers replenished their larders in that manner.

John A. Smith, John McCarity, John Ogden and Boun Ogden, the same year, but a little earlier, settled about three miles further up Duncan's Creek. Settlers were obliged to go to Eau Claire to do their trading. S. H. Allen had then a small grist-mill at Chippewa Falls, a great con - venience to the early settlers. At this time, they got their mail at Chippewa City, where Stephen McCann kept a sort of post-office on his own account, though he was appointed Postmaster. On the 12th day of August, 1863, Mr. Van Loon was appointed Postmaster at Vanilla (afterwards called Bloomer), and he kept the office in his store, on the east side, near the bridge, until 1871, when J. I. Brooks was appointed ; then it was removed to the mill company's store. Mr. Andrew Jackson was appointed deputy, and served during most of Mr. Van Loon's administration.

In 1866, the village of Bloomer was platted. July 28, 1865, Messrs. W. B. Gage and Andrew Jackson opened a small store of general merchandise. Mr. Gage soon after died, and the business was suspended for a time. The same season, Messrs. Sylvester Van Loon and Leonard Barneshen erected a store, and were in business together about two years, when Mr. Barneshen sold out his interest to J. G. Wadsworth A year and a half later, Mr. Van Loon sold out his goods and retired from mercantile life. In 1858, Mr. Van Loon got out some timber, intending to erect a mill on the present site, which he owned, but abandoned it. Subsequently he ceded the mill privilege to Messrs. Good- rich & Smith, conditionally, and they went to work in 1865, erecting the mill, but before completing the structure, they sold out to Judson Smith, who completed it, adding a run of mill-stones. Subsequently, Messrs. J. I. Brooks and J. P. Macauley were taken in as partners At one time, Rev. I. Phillips owned an interest in the mill, which he sold to Mr. Macauley. The property has since been divided up, including a planing mill.

The Congregational Society erected a church in 1872. Pastor-Rev. Horace Wenty ; trustees, J. W. Smith and W. M. Cobban. The Temple of Honor have an organization, organized in 1878.

A grist-mill with four run of stones was erected a few years ago, to which power is supplied from the saw-mill and planing-mill dam, an excellent water-power made from Dun- can Creek, which runs through the village. The town is supplied with two hotels, the Detloff House and Smith Hotel. The former is managed by Mr. Charles Detloff, one of the pioneers of the place; the latter, by Mrs. Smith, widow of the founder of the house. The village has sev- eral well-filled stores, prominent among which are the hard- ware and furniture store of P. G. McMartin & Co., and Fred Becker, who are doing a thriving and growing trade. Prominent among the general merchandise establishments is that of Fred Adler, and that of F. W. Stees & Co. It has also the usual accompaniment of blacksmith and other shops.

The Bloomer Wl'orkman, published by George L. Jones, a very well conducted local sheet, of Greenback proclivities, first stepped into the arena of journalism in July, 1880. Mrs Jenny Jones, for many years familiar with the editorial duties of newspaper work, takes an active part in its publi- cation.

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HISTORY OF NORTHERN WISCONSIN.

The village of Bloomer, located in the town of Bloomer, in a good farming country, has a daily mail, and is having a railroad well under way.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

FREDERICK ADLER, P. O. Bloomer, was born in Austria, June 6. 1845 ; when only twelve years of age, unaccompanied by his parents, he came to America ; landing in New Vork in the Spring of 1857, where he learned the trade of furniture wood carving. Ile worked at the trade three years and then entered a grocery store where he staid one year. In the Fall of 1861, he presented himself as a recruit to the celebrated Wilson Zouaves, but was promptly rejected on account of his diminutive size. He then came to Chicago and got employment in a grocery store, where he stayed until the Fall of 1868, when he went to Sparta, and stayed one year, engaged in the same business. His next move brought him to Bloomer. The place then consisted of a combined saw and grist mill and a small store, owned by Andrew Jackson and his sister, Mrs. Gage, her husband having died shortly after starting in business. Mr. Adler opened up with a small stock of groceries, such as his means and credit would permit. His goods were mostly hauled by teams from Sparta, a distant of about 112 miles. Sometimes he got goods via La Crosse up the Mississippi and Chippewa rivers. lle was married in Chicago, Oct. 21, 1871, to Miss Korline Strauss of that city. The Great Fire occurred two days after his arrival there, burning ont her family. He was obliged to stay in the city three weeks, and his friends in Wis- consin supposed he was burned. Mrs. Adler was born in Germany, April 18, 1848. They have four children - Minnie, born August 10, 1872 ; Julia, July 20, 1874 ; Bertha, Sept. 8, 1876, and Josephine, Sept. 28, 1878.

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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