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 62

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 62

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By an act of the Legislature, approved July 6, 1853, Clark County was created out of Jackson Coun- ty, and made to embrace the same area it has since claimed, except the north tier of townships, which were set off to Taylor in 1875. The county was organ- ized into a single town, Pine Valley, and its first offi- cers were: James O'Neill, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, with Hugh Wedge and James French, 1

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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.

Supervisors ; B. F. French, Treasurer, and Samuel C. Boardman, Clerk.

In 1853, Samuel Weston, accompanied by David Robinson and others, arrived in the county from Maine, and, locating on Black River, two miles above Neills- ville, established a village called Weston, and com- menced running logs down the stream. When the county was set apart, a petition praying that the coun- ty seat be located at Neillsville was submitted to the Legislature. While in transit, or after the petition came into the possession of that body, Neillsville was stricken out and Weston substituted, in which condi- tion the same was adopted. When this was brought to the knowledge of residents favoring Neillsville, it created consternation, indignation and determination. Measures were at once taken to correct the wrong, and through the intervention of a Mr. Gibson, at that time in the Legislature, an act was passed authorizing the people to vote on a change of the county seat from Weston to the northwest quarter of Section 14, Town 24, Range 4 west, where Neillsville now stands. This took place in November, 1854, and as the relative prominence of the two places depended upon the re- sult of the election, a great struggle took place be- tween the rival factions. There were two polling places in the town : O'Neill's and Parker's tavern, eleven miles below Neillsville, but at neither place, it is said, were the ballots of imported voters rejected. The vote at Neillsville resulted in a majority of four for Weston, and of that cast at Parker's was twenty- one in favor of Neillsville, thus deciding the issue. The whole number of votes cast was 104, making the net majority in favor of Neillsville seventeen, and while the latter place would have remained the center of operations for lumbermen, regardless of its being so selected, there can be no question but that its prosper- ity has been largely due to its being the county seat.

At the election for county officers in the Fall of 1854 also, resulted in the selection of George Hall for Sheriff, B. F. French Treasurer, and S. C. Board- man County Clerk and Register of Deeds. Chauncey Blakeslee was County Judge, but was succeeded by R. Dewhurst, the most important act of whose official career is said to have been his walking from Neillsville to Loyal, twenty miles, in order to marry an impatient couple pleading at the altar. This year a Mr. Howard, Mr. Pope and family, Mr. Wage and family, C. W. Hutchinson, and probably I. S. Mason were among the arrivals. The former settled in the town of Grant and opened farms; the latter engaged in logging on Wedge Creek.

The county having been set apart and the county seat located, it was determined to lay out a village and perfect arrangements for projecting improvements. At that time, as will be remembered, the county con- tained but one township - Pine Valley. Since that date the domain has been apportioned as follows : Levis Township in 1857; Weston in 1859; Lynn, 1862; Loyal, 1863; Mentor, 1867; Grant, 1868; Eaton, 1870; Beaver, 1871; York, Hixon and Sher- man, 1873; Colby, Unity, Maville and Washburn, 1874; Sherwood Forest, Hewett and Warner, 1875; Thorp, 1876, aud Wether in 1880.

Accordingly, James O'Neill appropriated four acres

to village .purposes, and caused the same to be sur- veyed and platted by Allen Boardman, a practical sur- veyor. The village then presented the appearance of to-day, nor a promise that has since been realized. There was two or three little cabins, Robert Roix's hotel, Dr. Baxter (the first physician to settle in the county ) occupied a hut, as also did Nathan Boardman, Nathan Clapp, Mr. Dickey, B. F. French and the first settler, James O'Neill.

The was really the first village formally laid off in the county.

From this date on arrivals were no more numerous than during the previous years. Some were coming in all the time, it is said, but they generally located at or near the village, otherwise proceeding to the lumber regions. Indians abounded for many years, and in their disputes with the rough characters who occasion- ally strayed among the loggers, were generally worsted. Along in 1856, two men, named Pettengill and Page, known to be desperate characters, encountered a half- breed Indian trading with a Frenchman named La Chapelle, themselves being also traders. They be- came involved in a dispute with the Indians, which ended in a shooting bee, three of the Indians being killed, one of them roasted on the fire in the cabin of Pettengill and Page. The latter fled, and some time afterward Pettengill met the half-breed at Hunsicker's tavern, twelve miles north of Neillsville, when he de- liberately shot him dead. The chief visited Mr. O'Neill, who was County Treasurer at the time, and was by him directed how to proceed; but nothing came of the matter, the accused having succeeded in eluding justice.

In 1856-7, it is said, the settlers experienced hard times and much suffering-proving a source of discour- agement to a majority of the population, at least those who had but recently arrived. Wages dropped to noth- ing, and when money was received, there was no cer- tainty of its being worth fifty per cent. of its face for the payment of necessaries, or lands. It often became worthless in a day. An instance is recorded of a resi- dent having received his Winter's wages, with which he proceeded to La Crosse to pay for lands, and was obliged to borrow money there to make the deficiency between the price of the real estate and the diminished value of his money. But these days have long since passed away, and for years Clark County has been making steady progress.

During the war, the county subscribed men and mon- ey to meet the levies made upon her resources for mate- rial to be sent to the field ; but between 1857 and 1865, the exits were more numerous than the arrivals. In the latter part of the war, lumber appreciated in value and attracted a number of new comers. In 1867, the village of Greenwood was laid out, and two years later Humbird was similarly apportioned. Between 1860 and 1870, Neillsville improved gradually ; but until 1876, or thereabouts, the increase in population, devel- opment of the country and building up of the villages, was so gradual as to be scarcely perceptible. During the few years succeeding 1876, remarked one of the oldest settlers in the county, there have been more arrivals and more business than during the period of the county's growth prior to that date. This was due

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to the railroad and other improvements which were completed in those years, and attracted a generous im- migration, principally from Maine and New York, who located in villages where they became merchants and professionals-in the lumber district and on farms.

To-day, the population of the county is not far from 12,000, and while there is a large number of towns with- out permanent residents, there is no portion of the county available for agricultural purposes, but what is utilized therefor. The facilities for getting to and from the outside world are excellent, by turnpike roads and railway lines. The latter include the Central Wiscon- sin, in the northeast portion of the county, the West Wisconsin, passing the southwest corner, the Green Bay & Minnesota, and more recently the Chicago, Saint Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha, which operate a branch of their main line, from Merrillon to Neillsville, fur- nish every advantage for the transportation of passen- gers and commodities.

1 . The religious element is largely represented, and in an educational point of view, the county is fully up to the times, there being school-houses in every nook and corner where there are pupils to avail themselves of such advantages.

Clark County possesses an immense wealth in the large pineries to be found within its territory, as also an exhaustless soil for farming purposes after the tim- ber has been appropriated. With the advantages of good roads and with railway lines at every accessible point, it must be admitted that it stands a fair chance of ranking with the most desirable counties in Wiscon- sin, at no distant day.

The first court-house was of frame, two stories high, 40x50 in dimensions, and erected by J. & T. Furlong, on land donated for that purpose, in the center of vil- lage of Neillsville, by James O'Neill. Its cost was $1,800. The building served its purpose until 1875, when it was removed, and is now ocenpied as a hard- ware store, opposite the Reddan House. In the latter year, the present handsome structure was erected. It is of brick, two stories high, the roof being surmounted with a cupola on which stands a statue of Justice. It was completed in the Spring of 1876, under contract with C. B. Bradshaw, and was built at a cost of $35,000.

The county jail was built in the Summer of 1881, by James Hewett, C. Blakeslee, James O'Niell, Sr., and James Sturdevant, who, as security on the bonds of County Treasurer, Allen, were compelled to make good a deficiency discovered in the funds that official held in trust. Part of this obligation was paid, and the balance liquidated by the erection of the jail and Sheriff's house. The former is of brick, compactly built of brick, perfectly secure, well ventilated and lighted, and possessing sufficient accommodations for the times. The residence of the Sheriff is of frame. The total cost of the premises is stated at $7,000.

The county poor-house is located in the town of York, where it was erected in 1880, by Chauncey Blakeslee, in payment of a claim held by the county against Mr. Blakeslee, who was also security on the bonds of County Treasurer, Allen. The building is of frame, with accommodations for twenty-five paupers, and cost $7,000. Attached to the poor-house proper is a farm of 160 acres, upon which is raised crops, by the

sale of which revenue is derived for the support of the institution. The house is now under the care of R. C. Evans, and shelters four inmates.

THE PRESS.

Early in the Spring of 1857, through the efforts of Beriah Brown, at that time, and previous, Chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee, William C. Tompkins was persuaded to locate in Neillsville and establish the pioneer journal of the county. The paper, which was of limited dimensions, was first issued on the 7th of March of the year in which its editor was persuaded to change his base from Weyauwega to Neillsville, under the name of the Clark County Advo- cate, with a future that was regarded as promising. Political changes the year of its establishment, in- cluded the editor of the Advocate among those who experienced a change of heart so to speak, and upon his entrance into the Republican fold, a spirit of oppo- sition to the paper he controlled began to manifest it- self very sensibly. In a brief period after his political apostacy, Tompkins sold the Advocate to J. S. Dore and S. W. Dickinson. This change of ownership was accomplished through the efforts of B. F. French and was regarded as a piece of strategy of unprecedented merit. The purchase was consummated, but upon de- manding a transfer of the good-will and portables in- cluded in the bill of sale, a tart refusal was returned by A. J. Manley, employed in the office, when Dore & Dickinson departed whence they came, by another way, and reflected upon the situation of affairs amid sur- roundings the reverse of cheerful.

Not to be defeated, however, the material of the- Trempealeau Times, which had, in the meantime, had been utilized to the publication of the Trempealeau Pioneer, was purchased from the Utters of the latter place, and removed to Neillsville, where on the 14th of October, 1861, the Union and Flag, a new creation of Dore & Dickinson, was flung to the breeze and at- tracted considerable notice. In the Spring of 1863, Tompkins laid down the paste-brush and scissors to take his subscribers by the hand for a farewell shake, and left the county. The Advocate, though owned by A. J. Manley, being still continued by C. W. Carpen- ter who remained in charge until 1865. In February, 1864, the Flag was furled, metaphorically speaking, and the county was with but one paper until Jan. 31, 1867, when J. S. Dore began the publication of the Clark County Journal with himself and E. E. Merritt as editors.

At this time there was considerable rivalry between the Journal and the Advocate which was decided in favor of the former, and Manley discontinuing the publication of the latter removed to Minnesota, Merritt at the same time dissolving his connection with the Journal and locating in St. Louis. The Journal thenceforward until Oct. 25, 1867, enjoyed the field solus with all the profits, privileges, and appurtenan- ces thereunto belonging, when Merritt returned from St. Louis, and issued the first number of the Clark County Republican, being associated in its editorial management with H. H. Hand who retired after six weeks toil, and remained afar from Neillsville journal- ism until 1870.

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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.

The election of 1868 was a triumph of the Repub- lican party, and the new paper began to dwell in the green pastures that had previously been occupied by its rival, though the editorial control of the latter was held by Joseph Benedict a brilliant writer who died in 1870. The Journal labored hard to sustain itself ; Hand returned to the editorship of the Republican and the two papers were soon involved in a quarrel which was only abandoned when Hand resigned at the sug- gestion of the Republican's friends a short time prior to election. The result of that event precipitated the suspension of the Journal, and the Republican grew fat in the sunshine of official favor and local patronage, (becoming the property of C. J. Cooper, with D. T. Lindley editor, in March, 1873,) until June, 1873, when the Clark County Press was started by H. J. Hoffman in the cause of Reform. These two papers continued to dwell together unawed by each other until April, 1876, when Hoffman purchased the Repub- lican and began the publication of the Republican Press which he still conducts, his brother, E. L. Hoff- man, officiating as associate editor.

About the same time the Enterprise was located at Colby in Colby Township, but succumbed in time, and the interior of the county remained without a paper until 1879, when the Colby Phonograph was established at that place by Shafer Brothers with Samnel Shafer as editor. On July 7, of the same year, L. B. Ring started the True Republican at Neillsville, and on Oct. 8, 1880, N. Schultz began the publication of the Ger- man American also at the latter place, the only jourual in the county published in German.

All these papers are doing a paying business, are well conducted, and conclusive evidences of the type of enterprise the inhabitants of Clark County illustrate.

The Clark County Agricultural Society was organ- ized on the 15th of March, 1873, with a large member- ship and the following officers: John S. Dore, presi- dent; L. J. Glass, secretary, and W. T. Hutchinson treasurer, the vice-presidents, being selected, one from each township. The same year the association pur- chased forty acres of ground in Section 23, paying therefor $1,200; and completed improvements at a cost of $2,500, whereon exhibitions have been annually given with profitable results. The present officers are : J. F. Canon, president ; F. J. Vine, secretary ; Charles Stuntzky, assistant secretary; H. Schuster, treasurer, and I. B. Philpot, marshal.

PINERIES AND LOGGING.

The pineries of this portion of Wisconsin, speaking comprehensively, commence on Black River and extend to Iron Mountain, within twenty miles of Lake Supe- rior, a large portion of the way alternating with hard woods. The first pine down the river is gray pine, and jack pine, with scattering trees of red, white and Norway pine. Proceeding up the river, gray pine di- minishes and where a change of the sandy soil to a loam clay and in wet places to hard pan occurs, the red pine disappears and lofty groves of white pine alter- nate with splendid tracts of hard wood timber, com- posed of sugar-maples, ash, oak, etc. It is estimated that white pine covers fully one-fourth of the soil of Clark County, being located in Hixon, Thorp, Warner

and Mentor towns, the " cut " from which is taken to the Mississippi River by way of Eau Claire River and Beef Slough, and in Colby, Mayville, Beaver, Weston, Loyal and Unity towns, whence the logs are run through Black River to La Crosse. The pine is taken off by cutting trees near to Black and Eau Claire riv- ers and their tributaries, in the season which com- mences about the 1st of November and continues through the Winter, hauling the same to the streams, and " driving" them down to the mills at high water. The "drive " is accomplished by starting the logs into the stream and following them up to prevent jams or break them up when the logs lodge, which they at times do in such quantities that they dam up the river, and so remain until the increased volume of water sweeps it away with a terrible crash. The logs are run down untethered until they reach the mouths of the rivers, where they are caught in " booms " or harbors provided by the consignees, the balance being rafted and run be- low. The losses entailed by logs drifting into sloughs, becoming stranded on the banks, and being stolen by river thieves, were much larger in an earlier day than now.

Title to these lands is perfected by purchase and transfer, though in some cases lumber dealers contract for the lumber as it stands, and after a careful estimate is paid for at so much per 1,000 feet, the purchaser procuring its felling and delivery at the mouth of the river. The principal lumbermen operating in Clark County are : N. H. Withee, Bright & Withee, D. J. Spaulding, E. Sawyer, C. C. Washburn, the Eau Claire Lumber Company, Giles & Helloway, James Hewett, C. L. Coleman, A. & P. Colburn, Robert Schofield, Cullen Ayers and others who are engaged on the Black and Eau Claire rivers.

It is estimated that 2,500 men are employed in the pineries on Black River, and 800 in those tributary to Eau Claire River. In early days, lumbering was not so extensively carried on. During the war, the price of lumber appreciated and an increased force became nec- essary to supply the demand. This of course brought a large immigration of laborers into Clark County, few of whom, if any, remaining, however, and by 1868, every point at which logs were accessible was peopled with the logger and his bands. The supply has gradu- ally grown in dimensions, varying to some extent, some years being greater than others, but the average each year since 1868 is estimated at about 200,000,000 feet from the Black River, and 80,000,000 feet from the Eau Claire River district. All logs cut are described by a mark, the original of which has been duly claimed and the claim attested and recorded, as also with the own- ers' initials stamped upon either end of the log. The business is the mainstay of this portion of Wisconsin, and has been instrumental in the settlement and build- ing up of villages and hamlets in Clark County.

NEILLSVILLE.

The village of Neillsville, and county seat of Clark County, situated near the junction of O'Neills Creek with Black River, is usually conceded to be one of the best built villages in the State. It has mostly been built up within the past ten years, and the builders have indicated, in all that they have done, that they were intent alike in

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tasteful and permanent work. Until very recently, the vil- lage has been cut off, so to speak, from the outside world, with which communication was had only by means of a stage which connected with distant railroad stations, and the passenger, when he first visited Neillsville, was surprised at the appearance of a New England village in these north- ern woods. It stands near where Black River tears itself from confinement among the hills, to make a graceful curve through rich valleys to the village site. The village itself, hemmed in on nearly every side by hills, limiting the pros- pect to groves that climb gentle declivities, while to the rear O'Neill's Creek rushes complainingly and fretfully onward, until its waters are mingled with those of Black River.

In the center of this secluded spot, at once lovely and romantic, stands the quiet, unpretentious, yet thriving vil- lage, and as the visitor walks lazily over its limits, listening to the murmurs of the rippling waters of the creek and the rush and sometimes roar of the river, or watches the mist, as it hangs in twilight curtains about the hills, it requires no poetic imagination to trace in his mind's eye a long caval- cade of romance, chivalry and heroism proceeding from this spot in the days of barbaric domination, in its march over the world. And he, too, will muse upon the genius that once haunted the neighboring forests, may be, which has departed forever, and a gloom not unlike superstitious dread will only be dissipated when the past vanishes and the present rises before him in all its beauty and magnifi- cence.

As already related, the village was laid out and platted in 1855, by James ()'Neill, and named in his honor. The year before, as will be remembered, the county seat was located here, after a lively contest, and to this fact is largely due its present prosperity.

At that time, O'Neill's residence and mill, with Samuel Ferguson's bachelor's hall and his blacksmith shop, which stood on the lot where a brickyard has of late years been carried on, were the only buildings to be seen on the four acres appropriated to village purposes. Immediately the news of Mr. O'Neill's action had been promulgated, settlers began to come in, purchase lots and make improvements. The first of these was Robert Roix, who erected a tavern where the Rossman House now stands, and this was fol- lowed by the construction of two frame buildings for store and residence purposes. They were put up by James O'Neill, and stood, one opposite the Rossman House, the other further north, near the creek. The same Spring, N. M. Clapp settled in the village and built a house on the site of O'Neill's brick building, wherein the Neillsville bank is now located, and Dr. L. M. Baxter put up a residence on the present site of Gates's mneat-market. The same year Frank Cawley came in, also W. K. Dickey, who built a wagon shop and residence where Dewhurst's office now is, and that Fall, Clinton & Quaile brought hither a stock of goods from Black River Falls, and became the first mer- chants in the village, being domiciled and doing business in the building built by O'Neill opposite the Rossman House. These were the arrivals and improvements of 1855.

On the 26th of February, 1856, the first murder to take place in the village of Neillsville happened. It seems that, some time in the year 1854, Moses Clark and William Paulley became involved in a quarrel at Black River Falls, in which the latter was brutally treated. On the date above indicated, Clark met B. F. French in the store of Clinton & Quaile, and a demand was made on him for a receipt for moneys advanced by French. Some argument followed, and during its progress Paulley interpolated an opinion of Clark, which was far from complimentary, add- ing that he owed him money, and when asked for it, Clark beat him like a dog.

" Yes, and I'll do it again," replied Clark.

" You will, will you?" shouted Paulley. Upon which Clark advanced towards him. He had nearly reached his victim when Paully drew a revolver and fired two shots into Clark's body, from the effects of which he never recovered. He was taken to Plattville, in Grant County, where he lodged at the residence of Gideon Hawley, lingering till June 30 following, when he died.

Paulley was indicted for manslaughter, tried, convicted and sentenced. After serving out his term at Waupun, he removed to Black River Falls, where he died.

The arrivals of 1856 included R. Dewhurst and G. W. King, who were the first lawyers to settle in Neillsville; James Hewitt, who began operations by working on the first bridge erected across Black River; W. W. Lemon, who settled in the town of Levis; Daniel Gates, first locating at the mouth of Wedge Creek, but moving to Neillsville in 1861 ; etc., etc .; also Robert Douglass, who built a black- smith shop where Meinhold & Curn's store now is ; Miles Murry, who erected a residence on the site of Dudley's harness shop, and a blacksmith shop adjoining on the east. A Mr. McCaleb came in this year, and put up a little frame, still standing, directly north of Dudley's, and Phillip Reiss- man opened the first furniture store, on the present site of Boardman's house. In May, James and Edmund Furlong, the former with a family, and James Lynch and family were accessions to the place. The Furlongs built where now stands the Reddan House, and Lynchs on the lot they have since occupied, adjoining their residence of to-day. Anson Green purchased Roix's Hotel; Gustavus Sterns settled at Molin's Rapids this year ; Daniel Gates at Wedge's Creek, but have since become residents of the village, as did Orson Gates the same year.

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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